Photography

[Yuiichi]

Thanks for the tips baseballboy - unfortunately, I don't have a tripod. The only camera stuff I have is my Nikon E5600, which my dad actually got for Christmas last year. He never really uses it, so I stole it.

It's an OK 5 mega-pixel camera, but is by no means even close to being the top of the line (of 5 MP cameras). This will have to do, I guess, till I can afford another camera.

[divigation]

Photography Books:
For Technique, there is nothing better than Ansel Adams 'The Camera', 'The Negative' and 'The Print'. They are all for film photography (as if there is any other kind), I have no books on digital, nor can I imagine ever reading one unless I was being tortured.
For matters of content, I would highly recommend Terry Barrett's 'Criticizing Photographs'.

As for Cameras:
My 8x10 View Camera is my pride and joy. I also have a Graflex 4x5 Field Camera, Pentacon Six TL 6x6, Contax 645, Nikon F4, Nikon D70, Pentax Optio 750z (x3) and a Pentax Optio A20 (the camera that is always in my bag or on my belt now). Then I have a ton of other 35 mm and pinhole cameras and enough lenses to go around with the different cameras.

I shoot anything that matters on film. As nice as it is to have a dSLR, the D70 blows. Nikon's color on their digitals is crap. I have a whole score of Nikkor lenses, so I am not going to buy a Cannon that actually does a good job and then have to buy a whole host of lenses as well (well, I would if I could afford to). The Pentax Optio's are my camera of choice when shooting digital. For point-and-shoot cameras, they do a great job. The 750 is a nice, fully manual camera that kicks in 7MP and my A20 is the newest in the Optio line with a 10MP sensor that takes exceptional cameras with all the cheesy features that people like, such as face finder and shake reduction and all the stupid pet and flower modes and what not. But it takes great images, great color, for a digital.

As for images, I will post up some shots in the near future...

[baseballboy828]

Well, even if you don't have a tripod, still try it. If you are really in to it, or even kind of in to it, pick up a Sunpak 8001UT Tripod. They are very cheap (only $35), very light, and pretty sturdy. Of course, I'd love to have the Linhof Profi III Tripod ($2,417.50) and Really Right Stuff BH-55 Ballhead ($455), but I can't exactly justify those purchases.

By the way, my setup is:

Powershot S2 IS
Sunpak 8001UT Tripod
Lowepro Bag
512+128MB SD Cards

My favorite photography book would be The Digital Photography Book, by Scott Kelby. I recommend to people like me, who have been in photography for a while, and know your way around. I'd been looking for a book for People on about a 6 or 7 on the photography scale, with 10 being Ansel Adams, 8 and 9 being pros, 7 being semi-pro, 5 being decent, and 1 being my aunt . This book is perfect for those who are a 6 on that scale, and have been wading through tons of books for people that are 2-4 on the scale. I was overjoyed to find this.

[divigation]

Slik is another company that makes psychotically affordable tripods, similar to the Sunpak. I have three of the Slik's for working with digitals. They are not really something you would want to put a substantial camera on, but for smaller digital cameras and dv cameras, they can't be beat on affordability. And generally B & H Photo is a great place to find them. Consequently, if you are ever in NY City and are a fan of photography, you have to go the B&H for a visit, it is a thing of beauty. An amazing store run by Hassidic Jews that is just wonderful, I would explain it but it does no justice to how cool the place is. Check it out next time you are in Manhattan.

[baseballboy828]

I own Ansel Adams' 'The Camera', 'The Negative' and 'The Print' as well as a few digital books. I find that the film books are usually better quality advice, but the fact that the author talks about choosing films brings them level with some of the better digital books such as the Scott Kelby one I mentioned. I love B&H. The only thing to remember is that it's closed (and does not accept online orders) on Friday night and saturday because of shabbat.On Sunday or any weekday, if you have a chance, just go in. If you have any ineterest whatsoever in photography, you'll be amazed. Great store.

[nicks]

Originally Posted by divigation

Consequently, if you are ever in NY City and are a fan of photography, you have to go the B&H for a visit, it is a thing of beauty. An amazing store run by Hassidic Jews that is just wonderful, I would explain it but it does no justice to how cool the place is. Check it out next time you are in Manhattan.

I'll second that. Even if you just enjoy electronics in general, it'd liken it to going to disney world. haha Seriously though, the way the place runs is a sight to behold. definitely worth a trip.

When I was in NYC almost 2 years ago, I stopped in there and picked up my Canon Rebel XT about a month before it was 'officially' for sale. worked out nicely for me!

[The Stig]

Originally Posted by baseballboy828

Well, even if you don't have a tripod, still try it. If you are really in to it, or even kind of in to it, pick up a Sunpak 8001UT Tripod. They are very cheap (only $35), very light, and pretty sturdy. Of course, I'd love to have the Linhof Profi III Tripod ($2,417.50) and Really Right Stuff BH-55 Ballhead ($455), but I can't exactly justify those purchases.

LOL. The Linhof is over-priced! Gitzo is just as good for much less dollars. I've had a steel Gitzo for 20 years and it's scratched and beat up but still does the job fine supporting my camera - a 500 series Hasselblad. Gitzo is more money than many others and the carbon-fiber ones are very light which is an advantage if you travel a lot. A friend of mine is a very serious and brilliant photographer - he has a carbon Gitzo for his 4x5 view camera and bought it largely because of the weight factor while travelling/hiking.

I'd never seen a RRS ballhead before but I cruised over to their site and looked at their goods. Very nice, all posed on top of Gitzo (!) tripods. I guess a trip to Samys is now in order

Anyone want to buy my old Gitzo ballhead? It's a medium sized one which fits the Studex tripod but will probably fit on top of anything.

[baseballboy828]

I just searched B&H for the most expensive tripod. It was not necessarily the best. How much are you selling the ballhead for? I might be e=interested depending on the price.

[bengraves]

=D
This is already my fav thread here, haha.

I bought my first camera last April, a canon powershot A620. Since then I've discovered the awesomeness of photography! I haven't had any classes or other experience other than just getting out there and taking pictures I think look good. Just recently I got a Canon 400D from my wife for Christmas, and a 50mm lens to replace the kit lens that comes with it.

I took these two pictures with the 400d recently, and the last one with the powershot.

[bengraves]

sorry about that, updated this to show the images correctly