My other hobby purchase

[Sparktrician]

If I stared on flat, paved surfaces, I'd be right there with a custom-fitted Systainer in black and yellow.  I'd even have a ball head on the handle, too.  [big grin]

 

[NuggyBuggy]

Yeah, I started with a D80, then moved to the D300, D700, then D800. 

 

I started the serious digital progression with a Fujifilm S7000, then migrated to the D80 and finally to the D90 which is everything the D80 wasn't.  Every time I think of moving up, I think of the additional weight and plethora of features that I never use, then look at my reliable, relatively light D90 with a new appreciation. 

I left out  my non-DSLR progression.  I started with a Coolpix 5400, then wanted to go as small and light as possible, so got a P&S (I *think* it was a Pentax Optio S10) that could fit in an Altoids tin. I thought that was awesome until our first was born and I wasn't getting any shots because of its long lag, slow start, and poor low-light performance.  Then I moved to a couple of Fuji F30s - which were relatively awesome in low light for a P&S. 

Finally I bought the D80, and I can honestly say, my pictures improved immensely and immediately.  But to be honest, when I picked up the D80 in the store, I thought there was no way I could lug that beast around, but as soon as I started seeing the pictures, all the weight issues were forgotten.  Each time I stepped up (to D300, D700, D800), I initially thought that the new camera was way too heavy and bulky, but each time the picture quality and low light performance was worth it - until I hit the D800 where I don't really see a difference.

But in the entire progression, the biggest jump was from P&S to D80. Compared to the D800, the D80 really is svelte.  But it's not full frame.

Sparktrician, if you haven't checked out the OMD, you should ! I have one too and it's a gem.  In low light with no flash, I can often do better with the OMD at a slow shutter speed than with my D800 and super fast lens - because it's image stabilization is really all that.  The option to run with or without one or two grips is awesome, and the MFT lens lineup is really quite good.

For the first time in my life, I've gotten to the point where my camera gear is good enough that I'm not always looking to upgrade ( I also have a Sony RX100 which is a wonderful P&S).  In fact, I'm seriously considering dumping all my full frame gear - until I realize how much of a bath I'll take on some nice lenses (200 f/2; 300 f/2.8,  85 f/1.4, etc) and that I'll regret the things the big DSLRs can do.
 

 

[Sparktrician]

Sparktrician, if you haven't checked out the OMD, you should ! I have one too and it's a gem. 

Man, I must be asleep at the switch today.  What is the OMD you refer to?  I'm not familiar with that designation.  I'm really impressed by the Fujifilm X-E2, I must say, and my shoulders tend to agree. 

 

[carlb40]

Sparktrician, if you haven't checked out the OMD, you should ! I have one too and it's a gem. 

Man, I must be asleep at the switch today.  What is the OMD you refer to?  I'm not familiar with that designation.  I'm really impressed by the Fujifilm X-E2, I must say, and my shoulders tend to agree. 

OMD is Olympus OM Digital, their retake on the old film cams now digitized.

 

[Sparktrician]

Sparktrician, if you haven't checked out the OMD, you should ! I have one too and it's a gem. 

Man, I must be asleep at the switch today.  What is the OMD you refer to?  I'm not familiar with that designation.  I'm really impressed by the Fujifilm X-E2, I must say, and my shoulders tend to agree. 

OMD is Olympus OM Digital, their retake on the old film cams now digitized.

Thanks for the clarity.  While I really loved my old OM-2, it seems that every Olympus product I've ever had crapped out on me at the most inopportune times, and the OM-2 was no exception, to my sadness.  My Nikons have never left me with egg on my face. 

 

[JCLP]

I love photography almost as much as woodworking and after 5 years of using a Nikon D200, an eternity in this field, I ordered a Nikon D610.  It's my first full frame DSLR, a full 24mp beast!   Fortunately, I started this hobby during the film days so I have some fairly decent full frame lenses to use.  I almost went whole hog and got a D800 but it's a 36mp and it creates huge files!  I also heard that for that particular camera, it is really meant to be used on a tripod as an alternative to a medium format as with those many MP, camera shake is a real concern and takes excellent technique to get a really sharp image.  One very cool feature of the 610 is it also doubles as a 1080 HD video camera as well.  That will come in really handy on vacations and kids concert recitals so I won't have to bring two cameras all the time.  I need to get some bigger SD cards as well.  I don't know why I do this to myself, I always gravitate towards expensive hobbies!   [big grin]  I'm also a member at the Nikonians.org website and those guys are just as fanatical about their Nikon gear as we are about our Festools!  It's fun!

Glad to see I'm not the only Photographer/Woodworker on the FOG. It all started with my son playing his first hockey game over 10 years ago. Now during the hockey season I slow down on the cabinet making and concentrate on action photography of all the little superstars. i have upgraded to a D300 which is used for team/individual posed photos as I shoot approx 50 teams. My D3S, best sport action camera on the planet, is used with my f2.8 300mm VR and my f2.8 70-200 VRII. I shoot close to 50,000 photos during the winter months. My photo archives have over 1,000,000 hockey action shots and all categorized by team and year. Here's a couple samples.

 

[RC]

Nice shots JCLP  [thumbs up]

 

[es07Eric]

No Canons?

I too shoot Canon!  T4i, 7D, 5D, 5DII, 5DIII and a bunch of lenses  [tongue]

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[RC]

5dm2 + f/4 L-glass here ;-)

 

[dpetrzelka]

There are days I really miss shooting film - my old M4-P with collapsible 50/2 Summicron, and an M6 Classic with MP finder that would wear a tabbed 50/2 Sum. or the razor sharp 35 Summicron Asph.

I used to get Kodak 5222 ( Double-X ) which is a black and white cinema film and developed it in my bathroom. You could order shorts of it from a guy in LA for pennies a foot. Souped in Xtol, it was great stuff.

Of course, like most, I'm all digital now.

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[tiralie]

Of course, like most, I'm all digital now.

Leica digital?
Did you keep the M4 and M6?
Tim

 

[dpetrzelka]

For better or worse I sold ll my film gear, M4-P and M6 along with it. One to a photojournalist who was headed to Africa for some documentary work. He spent several weeks in jail there - so at least i know they were being well used .

As for Leica digital, I wouldn't be on this forum if I didn't appreciate the pinnacle of engineering and insist on having the right tool for the job - but I just can't justify modern Leica bodies or glass. I was fortunate enough to take a street photography course in Portland OR when the M Monochrome first came out. The Leica rep rolled in two suite cases with every lens Leica makes, and a Monochrome body for each of us to use. We were like kids in a candy shop - just sign your name on a waiver and borrow anything you want for two and half days of street shooting. Wonderful photographic tools. The big focus of the course was taking photos "about things" rather than "of things' - dramatically changed the way I look at fine art photography.

Its all iphone, Canon 40d, 5D, and 5DmkII these days.

Of course, like most, I'm all digital now.

Leica digital?
Did you keep the M4 and M6?
Tim

 

[ryan_k]

I'm a proud Leica Monochrom owner, and it works beautifully with older M glass.  I've used almost every camera out there and nothing resonated like the MM.

This was with a 1954 collapsible 50mm summicron:

'61 Corvette with a '54 Lens by ryankarr, on Flickr

I'm 50/50 digital vs film, I shoot 4x5 large format, a 6x7 rangefinder and a Hasselblad Xpan in addition to my Monochrom and Sony A7.

 

[alkaline]

There are days I really miss shooting film - my old M4-P with collapsible 50/2 Summicron, and an M6 Classic with MP finder that would wear a tabbed 50/2 Sum. or the razor sharp 35 Summicron Asph.

I used to get Kodak 5222 ( Double-X ) which is a black and white cinema film and developed it in my bathroom. You could order shorts of it from a guy in LA for pennies a foot. Souped in Xtol, it was great stuff.

Of course, like most, I'm all digital now.

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Beautiful collection. Congratulations!!!

[wink]

 

[SittingElf]

All Canon here. DSLRs: 7D, 5DIII, 1DX. Nine lenses, all "L's" except the 1-5X Macro, and all 2.8 or wider. Gitzo legs, Really Right Stuff heads, Canon flash units incl two macro's.
Video equip: One HV20, Two HV30's, XH-A1

The 7D goes with me to Nigeria and other overseas locations. (Won't take the full frames due to potential theft...especially the 1DX). 5D3 primarily studio or workshop, and the 1DX for fine art, and fast moving shots including sports.

One of my captures:

Drone Launch off of U.S. Naval Ship. 0-250MPH in 2.3 seconds! (7D - 12th shot of burst)
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My Son on his German Soccer Team (1DX - 70-200 2.8L)
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Wish I could quit flying and make even 1/2 of the income with Photography and Woodworking.  Sigh..... [sad]

Cheers,

Frank

 

[tiralie]

... and Sony A7.

What lens are you using on the A7 and how do you like it?
Nice photo BTW.
Tim

 

[alkaline]

Nice boy Frank, here I teach my son to ride. A daughter also. Photography is a passion. As well as collecting. Have a nice day

[wink]