Photographers: let's hear about your set ups!
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weltweit
Well-Known Member
Aha.
Camera Insurance | Specialist cover from under £20
I am not sure I have any invoices now for my gear, most of it was bought a long long time ago
eta: I suppose I could go down the photo of the gear route if I can get my camera to date and time stamp the image, but what would I take a photo of my camera itself with
?
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FridgeMagnet
Administrator
It just comes under my home contents, which also covers damage and theft outside the house.
If it’s gear used for earning money, policies generally won’t cover it though.
If it’s gear used for earning money, policies generally won’t cover it though.
alsoknownas
some bloke
I've been trying to find an EVF to use as part of a rig (chest supported, rather than a shoulder rig), but they are just soooo expensive!
Anyway, I found a place that was doing a clearance deal on the Zacuto Flip EVF, which is an old, quite low-res, but well-featured model, which I think they still sell but tend to keep a bit quiet about because they want people to buy the newer, pricier, Gratical range.
Ordered the EVF at half price. Will report back.
It does seem a bit perverse to replace the perfectly brilliant EVF on my GH5S (3,680,000 pixels) with a much lower resolution model (384,000 pixels
), but I'm doing it to add a point of contact for handheld stuff, so it will only be an occasional compromise.
Anyway, I found a place that was doing a clearance deal on the Zacuto Flip EVF, which is an old, quite low-res, but well-featured model, which I think they still sell but tend to keep a bit quiet about because they want people to buy the newer, pricier, Gratical range.
Ordered the EVF at half price. Will report back.
It does seem a bit perverse to replace the perfectly brilliant EVF on my GH5S (3,680,000 pixels) with a much lower resolution model (384,000 pixels
), but I'm doing it to add a point of contact for handheld stuff, so it will only be an occasional compromise.
alsoknownas
some bloke
As I say I'm going to (slowly) build a rig for my camera. So far I've assembled a cage and an EVF. I appreciate that most here are stills photographers so probably won't need to consider this, but any experience or opinions on support rigs?
alsoknownas
some bloke
Found an excellent summary article on mechanical vs electronic shutter here:
Electronic v mechanical shutter modes - Lumix G Experience
weltweit
Well-Known Member
Yes, that is an interesting article and it explains well why mirrorless cameras still have a mechanical shutter. I did find it a bit strange that electronic shutters can fire so fast but still have these side effects. Perhaps I need to revisit the article and re-read it.
mhendo
Aussie in San Francisco
Just bought myself a used Nikon AF-S 300mm f/4D IF-ED, in excellent shape, for $US400. I thought that was a pretty good deal.
More interesting than the lens is the guy who I bought it from. He is a long-time pro, who has done lots of work for Sports Illustrated and ESPN. This is probably his most famous shot:
More interesting than the lens is the guy who I bought it from. He is a long-time pro, who has done lots of work for Sports Illustrated and ESPN. This is probably his most famous shot:
HoratioCuthbert
Deep seated inconsequence
iPhone
FridgeMagnet
Administrator
I've got myself a Leica M9 - that's their first full-frame digital for those of you who don't keep up with overpriced camera news. I got an M6 (film) last year and some lenses, so at least I didn't have to get any more of the latter.
Honestly, the main reason is that I've been feeling very alienated from digital cameras recently, yet do still like the convenience and quality of shooting digital. Even the ones I like the most - e.g. the Panasonic GX8 - pull me out of the environment when I'm using them, and seem really badly set up. I think camera manufacturers are in the state of phone manufacturers pre-iPhone... engineering companies who have no feel for how people actually use their products. There are a few counter-examples but really, most cameras are horrible to use, and even if you understand them completely they still take you out of the moment.
The M9 on the other hand is uncomplicated and manual to the extreme. You could just set your ISO and white balance once and never have to look at the screen again. You select aperture on the lens and shutter speed on a dial and you focus completely manually, through a big, bright, optical viewfinder - in use, the only digital feature you come across is the shutter speed in the VF if you're using aperture-priority metering (and that's just a very old-school LCD-type display).
I'm not 100% used to it yet, there are some small differences from the M6, but so far I am happy. Compared to modern cameras it has poor high ISO performance but honestly, I don't care that much - I don't shoot fast action in low light, I rarely use anything over 800.
Honestly, the main reason is that I've been feeling very alienated from digital cameras recently, yet do still like the convenience and quality of shooting digital. Even the ones I like the most - e.g. the Panasonic GX8 - pull me out of the environment when I'm using them, and seem really badly set up. I think camera manufacturers are in the state of phone manufacturers pre-iPhone... engineering companies who have no feel for how people actually use their products. There are a few counter-examples but really, most cameras are horrible to use, and even if you understand them completely they still take you out of the moment.
The M9 on the other hand is uncomplicated and manual to the extreme. You could just set your ISO and white balance once and never have to look at the screen again. You select aperture on the lens and shutter speed on a dial and you focus completely manually, through a big, bright, optical viewfinder - in use, the only digital feature you come across is the shutter speed in the VF if you're using aperture-priority metering (and that's just a very old-school LCD-type display).
I'm not 100% used to it yet, there are some small differences from the M6, but so far I am happy. Compared to modern cameras it has poor high ISO performance but honestly, I don't care that much - I don't shoot fast action in low light, I rarely use anything over 800.
weltweit
Well-Known Member
RoyReed bad luck mate, how many clicks did it have?
If it is too much to repair, there are lots of used Nikon bodies on www.mpb.com
If it is too much to repair, there are lots of used Nikon bodies on www.mpb.com
RoyReed
Must fly!
Only 25,000 shutter cycles.
I've already been looking at second-hand prices - about £375 for good D7100s, £450 for D7200s and £675 for D7500s. I'd really like a D500, but I don't earn my living with photography any more, so can't justify the price. Let's see what Fixation say first.
editor
hiraethified
I've got this annoying thing with my original GR. It's taken around 37,000 shots so I've had my money's worth, but the flash has broken and the sensor is really covered in dust. I hate throwing away stuff away but without a flash and a filthy sensor it's pretty much useless. If I had time I might have a go at a DIY sensor clean but it's as fiddly as fuck.
FridgeMagnet
Administrator
I never ended up getting the sensor cleaned on mine. I did send it off to one bloke via a local camera shop who said "yeah I can clean that" and then a couple of weeks later said "no actually I can't". Cheers. Ricoh has an official U.K. repair partner but honestly I might just eBay it as "not working needs sensor clean" as I would worry about using it even after the sensor was cleaned.
editor
hiraethified
I had it cleaned once but then they quoted an outrageous amount the second time. It appears that some GRs are more susceptible to dust than others as my current one has fared better (but still not without some dust).
RoyReed
Must fly!
Possibly, but it's 4.5 years old, and the 150,000 quoted shutter life is never guaranteed. I'll see what Fixation say first. They're approved Nikon agents.
Nikkormat
Well-Known Member
Since I posted two years ago, I have made a few changes:
Primary cameras: Nikon F2AS & F3HP for film and D700 for digital.
Lens/Tripod/Flashgun etc: 24 f/2.8, 50 f/1.2, 55 f/3.5 macro, 105 f/2.5 and 200mm f/4 manual focus lenses, 28-105, 50 f/1.8 and 105mm f/2.8 macro AF-D lenses. Nikon SB-15 flash, Uni-Lock 1700 tripod, Domke F3X bag.
What you like and don't like about the camera: The F2 is perfect. The F3 viewfinder LCD is crap, otherwise it is perfect. The D700 is new to me and I am still getting to know it.
Secondary cameras (and what you use them for): Fujifilm X-T1 & 35mm f/2 lens: small and light and easy to travel with, and produces excellent jpegs. Minolta Autocord medium format TLR - only one roll through it so far but the image quality is outstanding, and the camera is beautiful.
Plus and minus points of your other cameras: I can't get on with focus peaking when using manual lenses on the Fuji (hence buying the D700); the drive, metering and exposure compensation dials are too easily turned accidentally; the rubber covering is shit and has come loose; the port door is bent and now held down with tape; otherwise I love it. The Autocord is fantastic; I bought it to replace my big, heavy Mamiya C220, and I do not regret it. The focus leaver is a notorious weak point, but mine is intact.
Ideal/dream camera set up: I have it. I still dream of a digital F3 though...
Photo software used: gThumb for basic jpeg editing, Darktable for RAW.
What kind of photos do you take: City scenes, a bit of everything.
Who are your photographic heroes (and what you like about them): Fan Ho - his use of light and shadow is beautiful.
Favourite photo sites: The blog on Anatomy Films is always worth a read.
My photos are on Instagram and Flickr.
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weltweit
Well-Known Member
On web sized images people can't tell the difference between my 37mpx D800 and my 14mpx Motorola smartphone. I usually post images downsized from my Nikon but recently i also posted pics from my smartphone, no comments about reduction in quality.
For large sized prints the difference would be obvious but at web sized it is harder to tell!
For large sized prints the difference would be obvious but at web sized it is harder to tell!
FridgeMagnet
Administrator
For the internet about 2-3MP is fine in practice, and huge prints can (counter-intuitively) work fine from less detailed media than smaller ones, because they are viewed from further away. The megapixel race is dumb. I would say the maximum you might actually need in the output file, unless you're cropping quite severely or have some other special purpose, is maybe 16MP tops, 12 being mostly fine. But a 12MP file from full frame will look an awful lot better than 12MP from a phone camera.
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editor
hiraethified
You know what? I'm debating moving back to Micro Four Thirds and getting the new Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III. The thing that pushed me into going full frame was taking football pics in the badly lit Dulwich Hamlet ground but now that they've got no shortage of snappers I'm fed up with the extra weight.
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III review | Digital Camera World
The Sony A7ii is a great camera but you know that thing when you buy something but never get to love it? That's how I feel about the Sony set up, even though it takes cracking pics. The lenses weigh a ton, but I prefer to use the Sony RX1 and even the Huawei P30 phone is doing a brilliant job of capturing the night shots I like.
*continues to mull,,,
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III review | Digital Camera World
The Sony A7ii is a great camera but you know that thing when you buy something but never get to love it? That's how I feel about the Sony set up, even though it takes cracking pics. The lenses weigh a ton, but I prefer to use the Sony RX1 and even the Huawei P30 phone is doing a brilliant job of capturing the night shots I like.
*continues to mull,,,
weltweit
Well-Known Member
editor you must have a different view on change to me, it takes me a while to be used to a camera and I tend to keep it until it breaks and I have to replace it. In 20 years I had just 3 bodies, the first for 2 years (I still have it) the second for probably 16 years and the one I have now which is heading for its second birthday.
I would imagine it could be expensive to chop and change, compatible lenses for example?
I would imagine it could be expensive to chop and change, compatible lenses for example?
editor
hiraethified
I had an Olympus OM2 for about 20 years but seeing as I make a bit of money out of my photography - and cameras are a bit of a hobby - I don't mind buying new gear and losing a bit of cash if I later decide to flog it off. It's just a case of finding the right tools for the job and the ones that suit me best.
Nivag
Well-Known Member
I'm still using my canon 40D and can't decide what to upgrade to.
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