i approve of this message!

go out and shoot, people. it is the single, sole requirement of being a photographer.

What Ken said.


In fact, when I got my 50D, my first few shoots with it were absolutely terrible. I contemplated going back to the XTi.


It wasn't after hundreds of clicks, and lots of time understanding the camera did I started seeing results. Most of the improvements aren't even related to the quality of the picture, but the comfort. I love the larger size of the body, I also love the 3" screen that shows what the picture will look like isntead of the XTi screen.

On a few occasions, I've seen it out perform the XTi, like when focusing in a dark area, the 50D is a lot quicker. But I've shot in low light with the XTi before, and I was fine with it.


Like what most good photogs out there say, it's the person holding the camera, not the camera

I wholeheartedly agree. I'm trying to get a kit I can use w/o any "issues" just in terms of how I think, and just keep one ****ing kit for quite a while. I hate having **** people want. That's also the part of me that really wants to go back to film. It's also why I don't like 1 series or big 2.8 zooms, they draw too much attention and everyone thinks it's the equipment.

Originally Posted by ride5000

i approve of this message!

go out and shoot, people. it is the single, sole requirement of being a photographer.

yes.

yup definitely the photographer not the equipment..

I have red ring syndrome.

Originally Posted by Markitos

For me it's totally the equipment--that's why I bought the 1D, so I could complete my uber l337ness!

that's wasn't directed at you, but more my wife's family...
or random people when we're out and about....



I just hate having people spot the camera and oogle it while I'm shooting is all. Granted a 5D/D700 aren't that much smaller, but it's something on my mind.

^ Remember at Elias' bday? Same camera, but I had the brick...

Thanks Sam. I think people forget this a lot, and its a pretty crazy hobby when you think about it.

Originally Posted by s7khan

Like what most good photogs out there say, it's the person holding the camera, not the camera

Wellllllll... that's not entirely what I'm saying.

The point is that in terms of "quality", it's really amazing what tools are available to us right now. For $400, I have a setup that can produce really great results. I mean, Jesus... if I had this when I started out as a teenager... I can't even imagine.

Does that mean that gear doesn't matter? Absolutely not. There is no way in hell I could walk into a Flyball tournament with a D50/35G combo and produce the same level of quality on a consistent basis that I produce with the D700 and a 70-200/2.8, period. Believe me, I wish I could - and I started shooting the sport with a Digital Rebel. Would I produce better quality than a complete n00b? Of course - but better gear (and the right) gear helps me get the most out of it.

The point of this is to just revel in the range of options that we have. I think it's ****ing fantastic that I can get this sort of quality out of the D50 for shooting my friends and family, but it's also great that when conditions warrant it I have a lot of great options on the other end of the spectrum.

Ultimately - just don't think I'm so caught up in technology that I can't see the different needs that each of us brings to photography and don't appreciate what we have.

All my photos up to this point were with a D50 and that ****s only 6.1 mp way to rub that lens in ma face sam!

BTW, does the D50 af older lenses? A guy at work was asking about D40s which I know don't, and I think D60s don't, but some entry level nikon does right?

He's also coming from an FM though, so ALL his lenses are MF anyway. But they'll work on a digital body right? I'm just not sure with all Nikon's acronyms....

Originally Posted by subimatt

^ Remember at Elias' bday? Same camera, but I had the brick...

exactly. And exactly why I don't like that lens or the idea of the nikon version. I love the size of the siggy, but it's a siggy, and right now I'm a bit down on 3rd party and AF reliability.

basically, do I just say **** it and force those who I'm around often to adjust (Nikki even commented on the 14-24mm tonight) or go for primes all over again. Starting fresh has been nice because I get to re-evaluate what I shoot with, but also a PITA because I have to make these decisions all over again and some are harder because of the different options (or lack of in some cases).

Originally Posted by Idjiit

The point is that in terms of "quality", it's really amazing what tools are available to us right now. For $400, I have a setup that can produce really great results. I mean, Jesus... if I had this when I started out as a teenager... I can't even imagine.

yeah, that's the one thing I wish I could change about my past if I could. Go back and give myself a DSLR for college or even highschool... Nothing fancy, but maybe a UWA zoom. I didn't shoot nearly enough when I lived in MT for all the cool **** we did, having digital would have clearly changed that. I also would have loved to have been able to blog (or even handwrite a site) more back then. I've honestly REALLY enjoyed doing the blog for my family and I probably use it as much as they do to look back on Elias life so far.

Originally Posted by jacobsen1

BTW, does the D50 af older lenses? A guy at work was asking about D40s which I know don't, and I think D60s don't, but some entry level nikon does right?

He's also coming from an FM though, so ALL his lenses are MF anyway. But they'll work on a digital body right? I'm just not sure with all Nikon's acronyms....

it af's my 28 prime and thats old as ****.

Originally Posted by Idjiit

D50/D70 > D40/D60/D3000.

Originally Posted by Markitos

I know--I'm just still kind of in awe of this camera--it's so grotesquely overqualified for a lot of my shooting (though it will be nice!)

yeah, that's why I eventually got rid of mine. I bought it for sequences and never used it, then the bulk got to me. I'm really hoping to get into sequences now that I can again.

Originally Posted by Idjiit

That's another nice thing about the D700 - you get the performance without the "stigma" of having the big-assed camera wherever you go. The Mark III definitely drew a lot more unwanted attention.

c'mon ladies flock my lemons when I shot a body grip.

which is why Sam and I only use grips when we must?

Originally Posted by jacobsen1

which is why Sam and I only use grips when we must?

Idk I like it. especially at the school varsity girls soccer games

and monopods give extra attention too.

Originally Posted by Kilonad

RRoDttW? (red ring of death to the wallet?)

exactly! '

I just re-evaulated and updated my gear insurance and the amount would seriously have me rethink this hobby if It wasnt a business.

Originally Posted by Idjiit

...that we live in wonderful times, as photographers. Despite the nit-picking that it seems like some of us engage in as photographers on this forum, let me be really clear:

We have a really, really fantastic range of equipment available to us right now. The amount of quality you can get out of even the most inexpensive dSLR out there is stunning, when used in the right conditions.

I submit, one of my favorite photographs in a while - taken with my $400 combination of the Nikon D50 and the Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G:



So, take what I say with a grain of salt when I'm talking about high ISO performance, etc. There are types of shooting where those sorts of performance aspects makes a difference - but not everyone needs that kind of stuff. And even the "lowly" cameras available to us are technological marvels and we should feel lucky living in such times.

Wow, that is simply an amazing picture man. I've never seen it and love it. If you have a link to it on your flickr let me know so I can favorite it please

Originally Posted by s7khan

Like what most good photogs out there say, it's the person holding the camera, not the camera

Actually the saying is more along the lines of "It's not the arrow, it's the Indian"

I'll check the pic out when I get home.

Totally and whole-heartedly agree.

I shoot with a D700/24-70 a lot and still produce crap captures, but I blame myself. I don't shoot near as much as I should, which is the only thing that makes one a better photog., not matter what the equipment.

BUMP!

I just wanted to reiterate Sam's point on this. I've been going though old shots and re-processing them for my new galleries on BJP.com. While the old cameras were good, it's very easy to see when I'm processing a 10D or 1Dii file. I will say I've been pleasantly surprised by some 1Dii files (especially when I shot RAWs, I sucked at JPEGs settings back then which is why I never loved that camera), but it's very easy to see when the ISOs crept up to even 400...

On the same note, I've also be processing some old film shots I scanned last year. Grain is annoying (and it'd be nice to have exifs so I could know what ISO is actually was w/o getting our the negs again! ) but DAMN is there a TON of detail in 645. The DR is pretty amazing too.

Anyway, it's a great time to be a gear whore. I'm incredibly happy with my current kit and I appreciate it even more when looking at older digital shots.

Originally Posted by Idjiit

...that we live in wonderful times, as photographers. Despite the nit-picking that it seems like some of us engage in as photographers on this forum, let me be really clear:

We have a really, really fantastic range of equipment available to us right now. The amount of quality you can get out of even the most inexpensive dSLR out there is stunning, when used in the right conditions.

I submit, one of my favorite photographs in a while - taken with my $400 combination of the Nikon D50 and the Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G:



So, take what I say with a grain of salt when I'm talking about high ISO performance, etc. There are types of shooting where those sorts of performance aspects makes a difference - but not everyone needs that kind of stuff. And even the "lowly" cameras available to us are technological marvels and we should feel lucky living in such times.

Originally Posted by Markitos

I just love taking photos... have been looking through some stuff, and I'm just glad to have all the images. I can't pick one to print for my bathroom wall, though... UGH!

I'm having one of those days where I'm just really glad I started down this path.

Am I te only one that found this funny?? (sorry for the hijack)

Originally Posted by Markitos

I just love taking photos... have been looking through some stuff, and I'm just glad to have all the images. I can't pick one to print for my bathroom wall, though... UGH!

I'm having one of those days where I'm just really glad I started down this path.

nice!

I also love shooting. I've been having more fun with my non serious blog shots lately and they've seemed less like work and I've had a few more shots come out that I really love. We all (Nikki Elias and myself) sitting by the iMac watching the screensaver though. It just randomly tosses up images from the site so basically the last ~3 years. It's crazy to see how much I've shot.

I've been down on my landscaping though, but (I think) that's 99% because we've had **** sunrises, and not much I can do about that....

Some of the most fun I've had shooting in the past few months has been dusting off my 25-year-old F3 and running some HP5 through it.
Just goes to show that you don't need the latest and greatest to truly enjoy the medium.

Originally Posted by Tylersladen

Idk I like it. especially at the school varsity girls soccer games

and monopods give extra attention too.

I love my monopod, it rocks and allows me to keep an extra steady shot (yeah I know you know this...)

It's also got a big ass CANON written down the side of it. So yeah, every time I go to my nephews games they are always looking my way. Plus the fact that I have a massive backpack on my back that has a tripod stuck to the side of it, lol.

I don't really get annoyed with the people asking me questions at this point though, I guess I'm just too new to the game of having a good camera.

That reminds me, I have to deplete my battery now so that I can charge it back up and then take it to my nephews game tomorrow....