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| Does a DSLR make your photography more serious? | Rate Topic |
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| Posted by Eric: Thu Sep 18th, 2014 14:40 | 1st Post |
| I've been experimenting with the Fuji system for leisure photography. Have even converted a Fuji for IR so my travel pack is as light as it can be (Fuji XE1IR, Fuji XT and 3 lenses covering 18-200) I've been happy with most of my results to date. I wish the batteries were as long life as Nikons, but basically I can't complain at their performance. But something is missing! I am trying to decide if scaling down equipment to lightweight compact equipment actually influences the merit you place on your photographs. Does holding DSLR make you feel more like a 'proper' photographer and this VERY feeling adds worth to the action and result? There is no doubt holding my phone up to capture something is not only a last resort but almost a 'what the heck' feel to it. Doesn't matter if I miss the shot! So I am trying to decide if these mirrorless cameras are REALLY the way forward or are they sitting midway between the 'what the heck' shots and the 'I used my DSLR to capture this' interns of quality and WORTH. Right now I am glad I haven't sold my DSLRs (it's ok Robert, I don't want the D200IR back, lol) because I feel there may be something in this perception. What do others think about the impact of using lesser cameras for convenience?
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Robert: Thu Sep 18th, 2014 16:03 | 2nd Post |
| I think there are many facets to this. BTW, with all my coming and going over the last month, Michael has put the D200 IR 'somewhere safe' so even I don't know where it is right now!!!  You have often mentioned you wouldn't dare produce your compact camera in a commercial situation, although you feel the compact would take just as good a photograph as your 'proper' camera... When I am taking 'serious' photographs I use my D200 usually in 'Aperture priority' mode, if I am just taking family snaps, or recording the progress of my car build, I use either my iPhone or the D3100 in fully auto mode, I just want the result, don't care how I get there. I almost always use a tripod for serious photographs, for snapshots I rely on the VR or something solid to lean the camera on. The annoying thing is... many of my 'snapshots' are just as good as my 'serious' photographs, some perhaps better... One of the factors is the compacts will probably have greater limitations than proper cameras, one that leaps to mind is the ridiculous depth of focus, with almost everything pin sharp, NOT what I like. Give me an FX f1.4 wide open please! An item on the news this evening about Turner and Constable, apparently Constable went out with sketch pad and pencil and sketched various 'components' of a scene, went home to his studio and laid out the sketches to form an entire picture, a kind of early photoshop? He seems to do UK with a pencil and sketchpad... I don't think it's so much the kit as the man (or woman?) using it. I would still prefer even a D1 over my iPhone though, from the point of view of getting the job done in style. When it comes to tools I much prefer to use good quality professional gear, but if I were stuck anything that will do the job would be pressed into service. Although I'm not sure I could bring myself to use a PC... LOL There ARE limits!  My two cents/
____________________ Robert. |
| Posted by Gilbert Sandberg: Thu Sep 18th, 2014 16:11 | 3rd Post |
| Eric, My two cents. When I carry anything less than a real SLR with nice glass (I own more than I can carry) any picture-taking feels like the convenience you mention, not serious photography. I have never used a camera like the V1 series, but I have used smaller camera's like M-Leica and several Nikon Coolpixes. When I did get a chance to hold an early V1 series camera it felt like any other bit of consumer electorincs, whatever the Nikon marketing-speak. To get back to your question (...way forward...): I do not think so, just consider the users-influence on the picture-taking process and the availability of real glass. Regards, Gilbert
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| Posted by jk: Thu Sep 18th, 2014 16:25 | 4th Post |
| Well I have all my Nikons and a pretty good set of Fujis (X100, XPro1, XE1, XT1) with Samyang (Fuji mount)8mm, plus Fuji 14mm, 18mm, 35mm, 60mm, 56mm, 18-55mm and 55-200mm. I would part with my Fuji 18mm and 60mm lenses but none of the others. I want the new lenses coming 140-400 and 90mm f2.0 but depending on price I may skip the 90mm. My Nikons provide me with fast AF and high quality at a heavyweight carry, my Fujis provide quality where fast AF is not required. If Fuji release a camera with AF that equals the Nikons then that is the day they go to eBay. At present I want a 24MP Fuji which will be equivalent almost of my D800 plus a long telephoto 140-400mm. Oh I am waiting to see what is released in Feb 2015 at CP+ show as I expect a 24MP Fuji either in the form of an XPro2, or XE2 or XT2. My XPro1 will then be converted to IR use. I still use my Nikons for paid work only because I cant afford to miss capturing an image when it is fast moving action but for portraits I use my Fujis.
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Graham Whistler: Fri Sep 19th, 2014 04:58 | 5th Post |
| There is a place for both I am impressed with the quality of my little Sony RX10 (far better than the Nikon V1 I only had for a few weeks) but it would take a lot more to make me give up my Nikon DSLR kit with all the top quality lenses and super auto focus etc. Next week I am off to Islay Scotland for 2 weeks of serious Nikon D810 photography so hope the weather holds!
____________________ Graham Whistler |
| Posted by jk: Fri Sep 19th, 2014 06:17 | 6th Post |
| Well at leadt you wont need your passport Graham.
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Iain: Fri Sep 19th, 2014 08:32 | 7th Post |
| I was thinking of down sizing my kit but my problem is not a one of being taken seriously with a smaller camera as more the way it feels in my hands. I have used a pro body with a built in grip for so long that it just doesn't feel right when I use a small camera. Something I might have to work on.
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| Posted by Eric: Fri Sep 19th, 2014 10:44 | 8th Post |
Iain wrote:I was thinking of down sizing my kit but my problem is not a one of being taken seriously with a smaller camera as more the way it feels in my hands. I am not concerned with other peoples perception of these camera systems or their ability to capture quality images. Provided the action isn't fast the Fuji delivers D3 quality. But it's my personal response to a 'lesser' body in the hand that concerns me. I am struggling to apply myself with the same ATD I have with my Nikons. I also miss the FX size viewfinder. This is frustrating.
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by Gilbert Sandberg: Fri Sep 19th, 2014 11:53 | 9th Post |
| Eric, re: miss the FX size viewfinder. I could not agree more... And what to think of the sense of timing: I have used the 35Ti as a high-end compact, but the slow AF systen destroyed any sense of timing, the same goes for my current Coolpix. Regards, Gilbert
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| Posted by Eric: Fri Sep 19th, 2014 14:12 | 10th Post |
Gilbert Sandberg wrote:Eric, The new Fuji focusing speed is much improved. But I was photographing birds close up yesterday and I kept 'missing' the best pose by fractions of a second. Nikon would have caught them. It's not so much the actual lock on speed...it's the (millsecond) hesitation between the pressing of the shutter and it 'doing' the focus. It's not instant enough for fast moving subjects. I ended up testing my previous years experience in predicting movement to get the shots. All very well but it was harder work than it could have been....and 28deg in shade, standing in open sunlight made me very tetchy. Lol
____________________ Eric |
| Posted by TomOC: Sun Sep 21st, 2014 00:50 | 11th Post |
| Eric- I think the same analogy can be made to using a tripod. Surely you take more care when you go to the trouble of setting up a tripod, leveling the camera, adjusting perspective with a PC lens... At the other end of the spectrum is the ability to just GRAB shots...you can do it with either an x100 or a D3 with heavy lens but it's easier to be there at f8 with the fuji. That all said, I find myself using the fuji's in many more ways than I was originally. I use the D3 or D800 for architecture shots and fast moving dogs but that's about it...oh yeah...the D300s with tele for wildlife or sports  But I love my Fuji's... using them every day and not feeling any less serious...more like I've jumped in a time warp back to the 60's (and I'm not using the one zoom I bought and stored on the shelf...just primes and only carry one with me). It's all in your (my) head !!! Tom
____________________ Tom O'Connell -Lots of people talk to animals.... Not very many listen, though.... That's the problem. Benjamin Hoff, The Tao of Pooh |
| Posted by jk: Sun Sep 21st, 2014 03:10 | 12th Post |
TomOC wrote:Eric-Feel the same about my Fuji XT1 with 18-55 I seem to use it most. I am debating whether to get a XE2 or wait for the XE3 in 2015. I want a camera I can use and fire remotely. I can use my triggertrap with the XE1 but it is more to carry around.
____________________ Still learning after all these years! https://nikondslr.uk/gallery_view.php?user=2&folderid=none |
| Posted by Eric: Mon Sep 22nd, 2014 10:10 | 13th Post |
TomOC wrote:Eric- When questioned about the lesser quality of SLRs over plate cameras, Ansel Adams supposedly said that the biggest contribution to lesser image quality was the ease and speed of making the exposure. There is no doubt a tripod helps, as does thinking and taking time over the exposure. This is what I do every day when I shoot commercially. But it's the tendency to grab shots with less attention to detail that concerns me. Are we accepting a subliminal slip in quality for the expediency of equipment? I had a great day shooting a castle today. Was clicking away like a man possessed. It will be interesting to see how many lemons ...or mildly citron flavour...result. Lol
____________________ Eric |
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