New street shooting toy

[abufletcher]

Ever since getting my D70 I'm been trying to adopt my shooting habits with it

to be more in line with my "Leica style" manual shooting. There seems to be

a natural assumption that once you "go digital" you have to buy into the whole

automation kit and caboodle.

 

Anyway, I've been exploring the use of manual lenses on the D70. With AIS

lenses the D70 won't meter and the shutter only fires in M mode. The dialed

in shutter speed is displayed in the VF but that's it. Still I haven't found doing

without a meter any problem at all after shooting with my RF's for a year. If

fact it's even easier with digital because you just blow off a frame and look at

the histogram instead of taking a meter reading. Anyway, I've found I can

pretty much forget about worrying about exposure.

 

But I still didn't have the ideal "street" wide lens. Instead I was mostly using a

largish 20-35/2.8 Tokina AF lens. Well, the other day I was over at the local

camera shop and saw a used 24/2. It's perfect for my D70. Anyway, here's a

sample of the selective focus possible at f2 -- combined with the ability to dial

in ISO 1600 this is a great low-light combo.<div></div>

[el_fang]

<I>"There seems to be a natural assumption that once you "go digital" you have to buy into the whole automation kit and caboodle."</I>

<p>Agreed, I never understood such stupidity either. Maybe manufacturers should start shipping the cameras already set to M mode so dumbasses who don't know any better can discover for themselves that automation can be turned off.

<p>I too find the D70/24 combo to be very effective on the street. I use the AF-D 24/2.8. The camera's high ISO performance continually amazes me.

[Uhooru]

Interesting, I don't have a D70 but I use and like the 24 2.8 Ais on a FE2. I just think its one of those really good ones. Lets see on the digital, whats that about a 35? Nice and the PHoto looks nice by the way. I will probably be getting one of those or something along that line sooner or later. And you seemed to handle the exposure quite nicely, I guess you can, as you say, use your histogram as your meter...Nice.

[jason]

Your example is Ok.It was nice reading your viewpoint.I have a different viewpoint about my "Street Photography".

I like the RF(ONLY Leica-M) because I do NOT see the photo I am taking

or making! The gizmo at the back of Digital is even worse than my SLR screen!(Nikon-F or whatever).Looking at the screen is like "seeing a Kodachrome slide" and I remember the image.I have nothing left to discover! I like the threat of total failure.Sure I use the Nikons esp for when I must have a 100% for pro results, in weddings,pj,etc.

I find I design photos with a SLR or a Digital(yes I use when reqd) but I make way more mysterious images with my Leica, which are more of ideas in my head! I cannot scan images yet.So no examples.I was very annoyed originally when the the New Nikons did not accept the old lenses.I then went to EOS system.I actually hated it.It was perfect.It was me! I like some magic,luck and serendipity.I gave the whole EOS-system to my daughter, who still prefers her (mine) Spotmatic.

[takaaki]

Donald, that's at a self-service (serufu) udon joint? ...I'm drooling.

[abufletcher]

Jason, I didn't really mean to be claiming that THIS was an example of street

photography. Just that the manual 24/2 should be a great tool for "street

photography" which I take a simply emblematic for more or less spontaneous

documentary (in the loosest sense) photography. Actually, I don't think the

term "street photography" is really even valid outside of an big city urban

environment. I just happend to take this shot on my way home from the

camera shop at the place I stopped for dinner. Haven't had time to "hit the

streets' with it yet.

 

I hear what you're saying about the freedom of the RF viewfinder. I mentioned

this in another post as the "zen" of the RF finder. It does help me let go and

be more spontaneous (if it weren't for the ch-ching of the cash register I hear

every time I press the shutter). But I would imagine that using an external VF

on my D70 would have the same effect. Also I think once you learn to see this

way, it doesn't matter at all what kind of camera you use.

 

Takaaki, Not quite self-serve! You have to tell some guy at a counter what

kind of udon you want and whether you want "sho" or "dai" and then HE dips it

in the hot water for you. I kind of like the do it all yourself places but my

Japanese isn't always up to the task. At any rate you can't beat 140 yen for a

hot evening meal on a cold night!

[steve_west]

donald, glad to see you're eating cheap and saving for the big event... the 24mm is going

to come in handy on the 19th...

[abufletcher]

Steve,

 

Hmm. Well, I could maybe afford the bus fare if i shot digital instead of film!

Otherwise I think spending 50,000 yen or so for a one day get together is a bit

out of my budget. If I were to come, I'd have to take the overnight bus to

Shijuku arriving something like 5:30am then (having arrived fresh as a daisy)

shoot (and talk) all day then get back on the evening bus (around 6). I'll just

have to see if I have the energy after spending the last few month grinding out

my dissertation.

[nkag]

Donald, see you on the 19th!

Donald: I have a 20/2.8, 35/2, 50/1.8, and a 105 micro AIS lenses for my FM2. I like the idea of being able to shoot manually on the D70. Am I correct in assuming that the range of focus(or depth of field) will be more than that of 35mm because of the smaller sensor size? That should make scale focusing easier if so.

 

Also I have read here and elsewhere that manually focussing a D70 is not that easy because of smallish viewfinder and no splitscreen. Have you had any problems with focussing?

[nedevermac.com]

I'm impressed that you were able to focus with this lens wide open. My experience with the D70 is that I get more depth of field in the viewfinder than I do on the image. As such, I find critical manual focus to be nearly impossible, particularly with wide angle lenses. These are just my experiences and your mileage may vary.

[abufletcher]

You're right that focusing (and even composing) in a DSLR's teeny viewfinder

can be a challenge. In some ways it's more like using a RF -- you just sort of

have to know what's going to be in the photo and what's going to be in focus.

 

Still, I've been twisting lenses or over 20 years and am finding that it's not that

hard to snap the lens into focus. Plus after a while you do start to adjust to

the size of the finder. I remember how teeny it looked the first time I looked

through one (and hated it). Now after using it for about two months I can see

more than I used to be able to. In fact, the VF on my FM2 is starting to seem

enormous instead of just "normal."

 

Plus the D70's focus confirmation feature does still work with manual lenses

so if focus is critical you can use that.<div></div>

[steve_west]

cool D. i was going to suggest the night trip cos a friend of mine living in shikoku also did

that once. it is a hike... if you are willing to make the effort, i'm sure me and the others

wouldn't mind loading you with a few rolls of film to ease the impact a bit. the

opportunities here for you to get some nice shots are endless... imagine getting back to

shikoku with some of the best stuff you've ever done. kinda takes the edge off of that 50K

figure eh?

[abufletcher]

Steve, thanks for tempting me! We'll just have to see when the time comes. I

may actually be in the US.

 

Tokyo is a very tempting locale for street photography. But I can't help

thinking that if I have to travel to Tokyo to get the "best stuff I've every shot"

then I'm doing something wrong right here in Zentsuji. It's similar to the "it's

the gear vs. it's the photographer" debate. If my photos are better because I'm

shooting in Tokyo is that because of my skills as a photographer or the

inherent attractiveness of the location? I've photographed in a lot of exotic

places including southern Yemen, Kamtchatka, and Vietnam and it's easy to

allow the wonder of the place overwhelm what you do photographically.

 

I once got a rejection letter from the photo editor of GEO (in response to a

query letter and portfolio I sent) saying "I must say that I'm more impressed

with the places you've lived and traveled than your photography. You really

should challenge yourself more."

 

Maybe, this idea is partly what's behind my recent, ongoing photo project to

photography the Japan that I see on a daily basis on one small street here in

the small town of Zentsuji. There just aren't that many people on the street so

it's only marginally about people photography. Here is a selection of "best

yets" that I'll continue adding to and pruning.

 

http://homepage.mac.com/dcarroll2/PhotoAlbum78.html

[steve_west]

ahh.. my psycho-linguistic presuppositions and future pacing isn't working!! no,

seriously, of course you can get good shots anywhere. n.e.way hope you can make it.

 

thanks for the URL. it's good to have a project to get into... i noticed a lot of the pix are

taken @ eye level... anyway, i'll bookmark you and pop by from time to time.

[abufletcher]

Steve, good point about most being at eye-level. So far I've really just been

walking up and down the street during breaks in my teaching (and

researching) day. I imagine that the more I shoot the more selective and

exploratory I'll become. Already I can tell that at least half the photos on my

web page aren't going to make the cut. Already I've started looking up and

down more. Now I just need to learn to bend my knees!

 

My goal is to come up with around 60 gems that I'll have turned into a

photobook by a place called Art Book in Tokyo. A friend used them for his

wedding work.

[lutz]

Donald, you already have quite a number of gems in your folder - keep up the good work!