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What Do You Use as Your Main Camera?
I’m getting really curious about you guys. I’ve long since realized that my favourite part about writing is interacting with my readers in the comments, via email and in person.
I like hearing what people have to say about what I write, even when they disagree with me. Actually, especially when you disagree with me: That’s when I’m most likely to learn something new!
That said, I’ve decided to run polls on here every once in a while. It’ll sate my curiousity and help me structure what kind of articles I write.
So without further ado, I give you the first poll ever run on goldengod:
Loading …Those of you reading by RSS feed or syndicated on my LiveJournal may not be able to see or participate in this poll normally. I’d really appreciate it if you could take five seconds to click through and answer the poll.
Get specific about your gear in the comments, if you’d like! I’d love to know what everyone prefers to use and why.
Nadya Said,
July 1, 2007 @ 12:25 am
I have a Panasonic FZ50 - according to DPReview, it’s “SLR-like” - still considered a “digital compact”, this thing isn’t actually very compact, and is about as close as I could get to a dSLR without actually having one. :) I still put it under “digital compact” though because it’s not an SLR, just wants to be one.
I didn’t get a dSLR because I enjoy playing with the settings and getting a “live preview” of the image I’m about to take without having to see it after I’ve taken it to check if it’s correct. Silly reason really, but there ya go. Plus it has all the lens I’ll ever really need (12x optical zoom), and I don’t want to start a lens collection by getting a dSLR because that just screams “expensive”. My lil Panasonic does what I want it to, and gives me all the manual functions and freedoms of the dSLR. :)
I really miss my film cameras at my parents’ home, though - Canon AE1 Program with a huge telemacro lens (was a very generous gift from someone my parents know, I used it all through university), a Russian rangefinder FED1 circa 1930s, purchased on Ebay for $40 and still works perfectly! I also have a FED5c (FED1 was first in series, FED5c last), a Russian Smena 8M (thanks Grandpa!) and a lens-less Zenit 3M (thanks Brian!). :)
I would like to get an actual compact camera, though, because the Panasonic is a bit too much to lug around. But I’d want one with all the manual functions too, because everything on auto would drive me crazy. For sheer sexiness of camera, I’d pick a Canon G7, because it looks like a rangefinder… and I loooooove rangefinders.
Andrew Ferguson Said,
July 1, 2007 @ 1:00 am
Nadya! I’m flattered, I didn’t know you were a reader :P
I’ll admit something embarassing here. When I first got my Rebel XT and unboxed it, I thought it was broken. The live preview on the LCD just wouldn’t work and, having glasses back then, using the viewfinder was an inferior option.
I felt a little silly when I found out it didn’t have live preview, none of the SLR’s did. They’re starting to add it in now, though. If I recall correctly, the Canon 1Ds Mk III has it. It’ll filter down.
I was reading a review on the G7 earlier. I like it as a digital compact, but I haven’t decided if I’m going to get a compact for when I don’t want to lug my dslr yet or not. We shall see…
Nadya Said,
July 1, 2007 @ 1:39 am
Of course I am! Mainly through Livejournal feed, and I suck at comments, but I always look forward to reading your blog :) That and Brian keeps linking to you! There’s no getting away! hehe.
How are they going to add live preview to SLRs? :O
That would be so useful!
I didn’t know they didn’t have live preview either, until I was showing my first dSLR to a customer at work (Black’s Photo), was my second day training maybe. That was a bit embarrassing, especially considering I’d used a film SLR all through NSCAD! “…You can see the picture as you take it! See? …No… no wait, *smackhead*, dSLR, sorry no you can’t. But other than that little detail, this is the kind of camera with the most ummm control over your pictures you can have! yeah…” :P
The only thing stopping me from getting a G7 is the fact that it’s about as expensive as my FZ50 was! Or at least, it was as expensive when I worked at Black’s last year. It was my favourite camera to show to customers at work, though.
Andrew Ferguson Said,
July 1, 2007 @ 3:33 am
I’m not sure of the exact mechanics, but I gather the loud ‘clunk’ is the engaging of an extra mirror to point the light elsewhere. You can see it in action:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=BhmgCoShfys
Press release:
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0702/07022208canon…
Renee Said,
July 1, 2007 @ 5:53 am
See, I also did not know that there was no live preview when I opened my Nikon D40X. I kind of figured it out eventually.
I’ve been using cameras for a very long time, since I got my first camera in a McDonald’s Happy Meal. I loved manual - I think the digital medium makes it easier for anyone to take a picture, as opposed to people with artistic skill. It takes a lot to make a film picture look good - with digital, anyone can apply filters and auto settings to create a beautiful picture.
That being said, I’ve used a digital for about the last 3 years. I had a Kodak Easyshare 3.1 mpx, and I’ve used everything from a Canon Powershot to a Rebel XT, to the new Sony camera. I’ve recently jumped to a Nikon D40X, which I’m still getting a feel for, but am also enjoying.
I will always have a soft spot in my heart for the classic Minolta and Pentax SLRs.
Luis Cruz Said,
July 1, 2007 @ 10:10 am
Most of the time, I use a Canon 350D - that’s the camera I own, and the camera I bring around with me most of the time. For the most part, it has a 28-70 f/2.8 Sigma on it. Until I can replace my lens, this is my usual kit.
Occasionally, when I need a longer lens for some events I shoot (like concerts), I borrow my friend’s Nikon D200 with a 70-200 f/2.8 Sigma mounted on it and that becomes my main camera - at least for that night.
Ed Z Said,
July 1, 2007 @ 1:55 pm
I started shooting with a 1967 pentax spotmatic and 50/1.4 and 135/3.5 lenses. Later I moved to a Minolta film slr setup, and eventually to a minolta dslr (maxxum 7d) when that camera finally kicked the bucket I moved back to penax dslrs, the k100d and the k10d are great.
went with pentax over canon/nikon b/c of the in-body antishake and the wonderful prime lenses. I’ve never really been happy with the results from a pocket cam, mainly I can’t take the shutter/focus lag.
the pentax k100d with the 21 and 40mm primes weighs under 3lbs (total)! and is compact enough to fit in a large coat pocket or small shoulder bag, so taht’s my “portable” setup, with the k10d for more “serious” work
Aaron Said,
July 2, 2007 @ 4:27 pm
My first SLR-like camera was the Olympus E-20, but I quickly became tired of it. The lens quality wasn’t too good, and it’s a “prism”-based SLR, which lacks the flexibility and charms of a real moving mirror.
I upgraded to the Canon EOS-10D and that began my love affair for Canon and the dumping of countless dollars into lenses and accessories. After several years and even one or two serious photography trips, I decided it was time to upgrade. The 20D, 30D, Rebel XT, and Rebel XTi had all come out by that point, so I got the EOS-5D.
I don’t imagine I’ll need another new camera for a long time. The 5D does everything I need and more. Canon glass is second to none.
Avelino Said,
July 3, 2007 @ 11:37 am
I’m using a Rebel XTi, an upgrade from the original Digital Rebel I used in college. Started out with the kit lens, a Sigma 28-70mm zoom, and have since added an EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro to the arsenal. Next up, a nice wide angle and a flash.
From time to time I still dabble with film. My dad gave me his old Canon AE-1, and I have 150mm, 50mm and 20mm lenses for that rig. Absolutely great color and clarity. Sure gets expensive to develop though.
Bela Said,
July 6, 2007 @ 1:34 pm
Hi There!
First of all: I love your blog!
And for the question
I use mostly three cameras:
1) In the piuctures that are meant for Photoshop or the web in general, I use my Konica Minolta Dimage A2 - the most flexible and reliable camera I have met yet. Considering that I’m on a budget as a student.
For example:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bela-beier/445090…
2) Outside and for special pictures I use my twenty-three year old Minolta XE-5, with 5 objektives - a macro, one 18-50, one 30-100, a 150-400 ands a 100 to 230.
For example: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bela-beier/275646…
3) “On the road!” I always have a Panasonic Lumix DMC with me, that fits neatly into my pocket and does quite acceptable pictures. But mostly - documentation, reminders and stuff like that. Nothing fancy.
Andrew Ferguson Said,
July 6, 2007 @ 1:47 pm
For readers, you should probably note that the second link Bela posted there is mildly NSFW; there is visible nipple! Hide the childrens! :P
@Bela: Thank you for the compliment! :)
I really like the idea of having a multi-camera arrangement so that you can choose different ones for different situations. I just can’t afford it at the moment :P
I like the first photo you posted quite a bit. The blue tone gives the photo some extra oomph and separates it from other eye photos, which I see pretty often. I’ve also added you as one of my Flickr contacts.
I’m currently using my 2 megapixel cameraphone for stuff on the go like documentation and reminders. It works pretty well, but I keep forgetting that my phone *has* a camera, so I never remember to look at the photos.
Bela Said,
July 7, 2007 @ 1:17 am
Ups, I’ve forgotten that in Northern america you consider things like that already NSFW - my mistake.
@Andrew: This “setup” with more than one camera isn’t that expensive. For example, my SLR is quite old, and some 10year-old professional Cameras are available very cheap - either auctions or used or if a Photo-Saler closes his doors. And there you have the Lenses for either extreme situations or “planned” shots. And developing filmstrips isn’t very expensive, so with an old and by now cheap camera you can have the “high quality” if you need it.
But I wouldn’t recommend using analog as your primary camera…
There’s that budget again ;)
Ajay Ravichandran Said,
July 7, 2007 @ 9:38 am
Hey…great blogs with great articles. I myself am an amateur photographer who got into the world of SLR camera about 6 months back and it has been a grat journey so far. I use a Nikon D50, (which is old fashion now because of D40, though i bought it only 8 months back). I mostly use my 18 - 55mm wide angle lens for most of my shots…cause it is so easy to use and causes less blurring even at low shutter speeds. I also use a 70mm to 300 mm telephoto though i feel that without a good qualiy tripod, shooting at 200 or 300 mm produces a lot of blurring.
Also a polarizing filter and UV filter are important accessories that I use. Of course your post on Polarizers on photocritic was really helpful.
My next step would be to move to either a D80 or the d200 series…but not right now cause I’m still learnign to use my D50
Andrew Ferguson Said,
July 7, 2007 @ 11:54 am
No worries, Bela.I don’t mind links to artistic nudes on here, I just make sure to mark them so people don’t accidentally open them at work.
Hahaha, thanks for the advice. I’ve been thinking about getting a medium format film camera as my next purchase, but I haven’t decided yet.
Hawkeye Said,
July 18, 2007 @ 5:45 pm
For 2 years I used the Panasonic DMC-FZ2, IS, Lieca 12X optical, 2.8 throughout. I love this camera… I travel extensively around the world on business and I have photos clicked from each trip. Its semi-pro, allowed me to go Av or Tv when I needed, EV compensation, the works. I outgrew it about a week ago and bought myself a Pentax K100D + 28-55 + 50-200 + 3 filters :) So why did I get new gear, esp a DSLR? I was getting limited by the 2 MP of the old one, also the noise above 200 ISO was pretty bad.
I was almost sure I would buy the DMC-FZ50, or perhaps the new Canon 5SIS. I did a huge amount of research for nearly a month, and somewhere along the way I realized that these prosumer cameras are going the wrong way. Pushing 8, 10, 12 MP with the dinky sensor that they have is not good. I checked like a zillion camera review websites and actual photos and concluded that the Panasonic was out because of their problem with noise. And whatever people think, Panasonic is no worse off than Canon or the others when it comes to noise in the prosumers.
So the only thing left to do was go for a DSLR… and in the remaining part of the month narrowed it down to Pentax K100D, after also considering Canon 350D and the Nikon D40. Why? IS built into the body and the extra LCD screen. So now I am experimenting with the Pentax and I am extremely happy with the camera and the results!
Nadya Said,
July 18, 2007 @ 8:39 pm
It’s great that everyone found a camera that they like! :)
However I’d like to mention one thing in defense of the FZ50 since I’ve been using it quite a bit - despite what people on forums say, I find the noise levels of the FZ50 perfectly acceptable. I keep my camera on ISO100 or 200, and have only used ISO1600 once - in the zoo’s nocturnal animals section, when I wanted to take a picture without flash to disturb the critters! It acted like night-vision - grainy, green, but perfect for that look, and just what I expected of ISO that high anyway. ISO100-200 I find turns out perfect on the FZ50. I’ve taken nice night shots of Christmas lights
The noise levels on the FZ50 pretty much mimic the grain of conventional film - anything over ISO400 will of course be grainy - that’s the nature of film itself!
How close do you usually crop your photos? That’s the only time you’d really need to worry about grain/noise. FZ50 gives you 10 megapixels to play with - noise doesn’t even show up in 4×6 prints, nor even in 12×10 prints. And if it does, it’s what conventional film would have looked like, too.
(The only thing with the FZ50 - if you get the chance to use one, turn that damn Venus noise-reduction engine thingamajig right down to LOW. Noise will look like a watercolour effect if it’s on even Medium or High. Other than that, don’t worry about noise too much, as the same thing is what your conventional film camera would have done.)
Nadya Said,
July 18, 2007 @ 8:41 pm
whoops! I meant to say - “I’ve taken nice night shots of Christmas lights at ISO 100 and a long exposure, and found them to be perfectly smooth.” sorry, dunno where half that sentence disappeared to in previous comment!
I’ll shut up now. *hugs her FZ50* :)
All the comments on here are so making me want to try all these other cameras though, too! I’ve yet to discover the fun of experimenting with lenses…
Hawkeye Said,
July 18, 2007 @ 10:49 pm
@nadya: you must get a Pentax ;)