kartik

<p>A tripod is handy for mixing blurry and sharp, unless you're panning. I couldn't have taken this night shot without a tripod:<br>

<a href="http://www.photo.net/photo/10656151">http://www.photo.net/photo/10656151</a></p>

This is a useful forum. I have two additional questions:

1. A review in Shutterbug implies that the Canon Pixma Pro 9000 is less than satisfactory for B&W printing. Can anyone explain why?

2. Frank: How does the Epson 2400 stack up against the 1800?

I have had the Canon PowerShot A620 since May 2006. I am extremely happy with this camera. Just FYI, most of my previous shooting was done with 35mm film SLRs (Canon AE-1 Program, EOS Elan 7), along with a little bit of experimentation on the Medium Format side (Bronica ETRS). Therefore, I was a little wary about going into digital photography with anything less than an SLR.

This camera has given me great results under a variety of lighting conditions. I have shot primarily portraits and architecture with it. It is clearly not the ideal camera for shooting fast action or anything that calls for a long telephoto lens (such as concerts or balloon festivals). The manual over-rides and creative controls are very impressive, and even SLR users won't be disappointed.

I love the swiveling LCD panel for waist-level (and lower) shots, especially of kids and the like. Again, having been an SLR user, I prefer to use the eye-level optical viewfinder, and as a rule, I don't like using fixed LCDs as the primary viewfinder. (Composing an image with your camera held out at arm's length makes for less stable images, in my opinion.) However, the swiveling LCD can be used as an additional grip in swing-out position. This actually adds stability, and makes for some extremely creative composition possibilities.

I just acquired my first DSLR (Canon EOS Rebel XTi) in May 2007, and I find that the A620 offers a few functionalities that the DSLR does not, namely (1) live preview in LCD; (2) swiveling LCD monitor; (3) video mode. I hadn't used the video mode in the A620 for nearly a year after I got it, but I have found it handy (and amazingly effective) when the battery on my camcorder wore down.

At the time of this writing, I guess the A620 has been replaced by a different model. Whatever the successor is, I would recommend considering one with a swiveling LCD panel. This, in my opinion, is what makes these cameras special.

I can't help you with the Metz, TTL or ETRSi questions. Having disclosed that, here is my 2 cents' worth. I acquired a Bronica ETRS on eBay a few years back, as my first foray into medium format.

After having been a 35mm shooter for 20+ years, my feeling was (and is) that the ETRS is best when mounted on a sturdy (does this always equal heavy?) tripod. This has also meant that I use the camera primarily for shooting portraits (and perhaps for still life?). In order to get the best results indoors, I have used studio lights (a cheap monolight and softbox from Photographers Warehouse, and an Edison-socket slave in a softbox, also from the same source).

Oh yes, I did have to spend around $150 to get the flash synch on my Zenza Bronica lens (the PC synch wasn't working before this!).

Shooting on a tripod with studio lights lets me use slower speed (and therefore finer grain) film. I have used Velvia/ Provia at ISO 100, Kodak Portra 160, and Kodak TMax 100 (B/W).

Under the above circumstances, I am very pleased with the results I have got from the ETRS. My photo.net portfolio has a few pictures taken with the ETRS - three portraits of a classical Indian dancer, and also a picture of a lizard in a poinsettia plant. (There is a SURPRISING shortage of good Bronica portfolios online and in magazines!) If you can't find it, send me e-mail.

I purchased a Bronica ETRS on eBay about 4-5 years ago. I have used it mainly to shoot portraits in a studio setting, with controlled lights. (For field work and travel photography, I still prefer my 35mm SLRs.)

I have had no regrets about getting an ETRS, but I haven't put it through very rugged use. The lens is indeed very sharp -- and I have the older MC lens rather than the much-praised PE (?) series. You can see an example of a picture taken with my ETRS at my photo.net web site:

http://www.photo.net/photo/1970623

I have been a fervent admirer of Karsh from the time I was 13 or 14.

My admiration has not been diminished in the years since then. <Br>In

his autobiography (published in the 1960s), Karsh says that he was

inspired by the way in which set designers and dramatic directors

used light. That observation convinced him that one could achieve

great effects through deliberate use of lighting. This is quite

evident in his photographs.<P>

To me, the magic of Karsh does not reside primarily in lighting or

printing (masterful though these are). The true drama emerges from

the personalities that he photographed, and his wonderful writing

about them. I strongly encourage people to look at his book "Karsh

Portfolio," and at his autobiography.

Thanks for the responses that you've sent both on and off list.

I found it pretty easy to push the pivot pin out without any tools. (I was afraid I might damage it if I did it without asking.) The crank just falls out once the pin is removed.

A key thing that someone told me off-list is that the pivot pin must be reinserted into place after removing the crank, otherwise the speed grip has nothing to hold onto.

I just acquired a speed grip for my Bronica ETRS through an auction.

The grip does not come with a manual, and my ETRS manual says nothing

about how to remove the winder crank in order to attach the speed

grip.

Could someone please provide instructions?

Thanks.

I just purchased an older Bronica ETRS from e-bay, and almost had a fit when my monolights wouldn't fire after being hooked up to the X-sync outlet on the camera. I tried cleaning the lens contacts again, although they looked clean. That didn't do the trick.

Finally, I came upon a simple solution that worked: I replaced the battery. Now the flash fires at all speeds :-).