d_weissman

<p>I saw the comment on the Canon 10D and could not resist relating my experience. The 10D was my first DSLR. As stated, it was one of the best in its class at the time. I learned using it with a 50mm 1.8, 24-85mm, 70-200mm 4.0L. It was great and I earned money with this equipment workking dog shows. Fast foward a decade (and many other Canon DSLRs). My 15 year old son wanted to photograph all the wildlife that shows up by our bird feeder...more thanr just birds since it abuts a forest. I gave him the above equipment along with a Tamrac bag, 420EX flash, extra battery, 2 2GB CF memory cards and a tripod. In his words.."it was a boss gift!" To my delight, he picked up the technology like a sponge and is having a ball. He knows how to download to computer, set up files, use Photoshop and ACDSee 4.0. He is figuring out manual setting to change the depth of field or to capture a moving subject. I am a happy dad...he is a great kid and I will spend time exposing him to more sophisticated equipment and techniques and my 50 years of photography experience.<br>

A great camera is any camera that works and can be utilized for the passion of photography. My hope is that my son's interest grows. He is welcome to use all of my equipment.</p>

<p> I have been taking photos for close to 60 years. It is curious to me how my needs are filled by a changing of feedback from the people who get my photos. In the beginning, I longed to fullfil my thurst for the creative being within. I was satisfying the the artist in me to be creative...be one with the subject. That was geat and I learned...as I continue to learn today. The next step in the evolving was a need to earn a living...cash to pay for equipment, food on the table and clothes on my back. This was satisfied quite well over many years. The next phase was a return to the first phase....artistic hunger to create....probably never left me but was always in the backgroud. Now in my "golden years" and still active with photography I realize that the greatest reward I have received was the smiles on peoples faces when I handed them prints. Many of the prints today I do for free just for the fun of it and my lifelong desire to be creative and see people appreciate what I do. To me, getting a grin of enjoyment is like receiving a check and is deep down very rewarding to me. Of course getting paid for my work is nice. Anyone who can find a career. avocation, hobby, pastime and social circle all wrapped in one bundle can be very rewarding in itself.</p>

<p>I forgot to mention the following non-digital cameras..........<br>

Minolta SRT 101<br>

Minolta SRT 201<br>

Minolta SRT 202<br>

Minolta X700<br>

Kodak Reflex<br>

Canon A1<br>

Canon T50<br>

Yashicamat 124G<br>

Konica C35<br>

Minolta QT16 mm subminiature<br>

(3) Argus C3<br>

Voightlander Vito II<br>

Yashicamat CM TLR<br>

(3) Kodak Brownies<br>

Kodak Instamatics, 126, 110<br>

Assorted Polaroids from advanced to simple models<br>

AND...more lenses and accessories than I want to list!<br>

I should not be surprized of my collection, it covers over 60 years of my collection<br>

and some older handed down to me from father and grandfather.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Just the last decade.......<br>

canon 10D<br>

Canon 20D<br>

Canon 50D<br>

Canon 7D<br>

Sony DSC-W70<br>

Sony DSC-H20<br>

Olympus E-PL2<br>

My justification...I'm retired and this is my just earned reward<br>

and my wife doesn't mind! I won't list the lenses and accessories to go with this list but I don't drink, smoke or hang out in bars...LOL!</p>

<p>Thank you for all your input. Some may have gotten the wrong idea. I am not against whatever equipment that works for you and gives you good results. It would be silly for me not to recognize the leaps in the abilities of today's camera equipment...I have a degree in engineering. My point was that we are allowing the technology to overwhelm our work and how we see the work. When the equipment becomes the focus rather than the photography then it is time to re-evaluate.</p>

<p>There are many good trpods to choose from. You can not go wrong with almost any of the Manfrotto. The one I have is no longer available but I can not kill it and it has been on many adventures with me. A WN3221. It is aluminum, foam leg covers, black, retractable spiked legs, extends high enough for my 6'2" frame. There is nothing wrong with aluminum. Equipment envy will suggest that you need to spend twice as much for carbon fiber...not so. I replaced the ballhead last year with what I think is a great bargain. The Vanguard BH250. for $95 with 2 QR plates. Strong, solid, steady. I used it with a camera, with battery grip and 400mm lens.</p>

<p> I have reached a point of no return. The only reason to buy a new piece of camera equipment is to replace a broken and unrepairable item. If I had only......banked or properly invested the money I have spent on equipment in the last 50 years...I would be wealthy! Call me an old geezer but I cannot believe that spending 2, 3, 4 or even $5000 for a camera is going to improve my photography. Yes...I am trained and retired professional photographer who also taught photography for decades and I know what I am doing but there is no justification for equipment envy. I use to have my students go out and shoot a roll of film with their 35mm camera and then develop & print. I would take an Kodak Instamatic and expose and print. The students could not understand how I could get great photos with such a cheap camera. Therein lies the moral, it is the skill not the equipment. Did you master your equipment whatever it cost? Did you take the time to compose you photo? Is the photo a worthwhile subject? Why did you take the photo? How can you improve your photo given the same opportunity? With the digital age, taking hundreds of photos to hope one will be a keeper lowers the incentive to develop your knowlege and skill as a photographer. Like a fine meal, savor the opportunity and taste all the depth of what is being served. I am not advocating going back to fillm. I am just asking young and new photographers to develop skill that was more of a focus during the days of film when you didi not see your results until it was developed in a real darkroom. Think of the camera as an extension of your eyes and mind not an adjunct to your computer to be worked to death. </p>

<p> Concerning 4/3 adapters..IMHO...I purchased 2 Fotodiox adapters for 30 bucks a pop on Amazon. One for EF and one for MC/MD mounts. I was skeptical but though it would be fun to play with my PL2 and some older leneses on my shelf. To my surprise I was delighted. I had some oldie but goodie Minolta lenses from over forty years ago. I learned my craft from them. The adapters worked perfectly. I mounted a 50mm 1.2 ans snapped away. The adapters are all metal. Smooth, no rough edges, nicely ribbed outside to grip. For 30 bucks, it is a bargain and they work nicely. I have since tried everything from a 28mm to a 400mm. The nice thing about these old lenses...they have external aperature rings making the setting of easy since you must use A priority or full M with these adapters. With a modern lens like an EF, you have to set aperature on a regular body camera, hold DOF and transfer lens..what a pain. If nothing else, I'm having lots of fun experimenting. I have a shelf of about 30 lenses that I can play with. </p>

<p>I am interested in getting a flash for my PL2. The<br>

FL14 is flimsy and the 36 or 50 are much to large.<br>

Is there and alternative flash out there that will<br>

work with the PL2 and be somewhat compact in<br>

size?</p>

<p>I got an Olympus Pen E PL2, 14-42 & 40-150 lens kit.<br>

This is my first 4/3 camera and I'm impressed! I usually use<br>

D seriers Canon for my work. I have loads of L lenses<br>

and I was wondering if I should try one using the adapter<br>

I found on line. I am really enjoying thid camera. It is great<br>

to handle such a small and light camera compaired to my ususal<br>

1Ds with a 24-70mm L lens or a 70-200. The photos ar sharp and<br>

the color is wonderful. I am just lesrning all the new built in<br>

festures and creative abilities of this midget miracle. It is easy<br>

to see all the thought and engineering that went into this<br>

camera. If Canon had any vision they would create a 4/3<br>

of their own that uses their lenses. So, has anyone tried a<br>

Fotodiox adapter yet?</p>

<p>I am intrigued by all the developments in<br>

micro 4/3 cameras. Is there any rumors<br>

about Canon development of a 4/3 camera<br>

body and the possible use of my Canon<br>

L lenses? I would be interested in seeing a mirrorless<br>

compact to travel with and the quality of'<br>

L.</p>

<p>Tripods are as numerous as car models and run the same gamut in quality and price. I regularly use camera with battery pack and 70-200 2.8L and 100-400mm. I have my Manfrotto 3221WN legs, aluminum. I lightened it up by using the available short column and ballhead. I use to use an Arcatech head but recently began using a new Vanguard SBH-250. A superb setup with excellent results. Some complain about weight but as an active backpapcacker, I am use to carrying a week worth of supplies on my back so when I go out on a photo shoot I do not notice the weight much. These Manfrotto legs have been updated to the model 190's and 150's in both aluminum and CF. They work flawlessly and I have never had to do any repairs. Solid!</p>

I was just curious about the use of IS while using a monpod. I am using a very

nice Gitzo monopod with my 100-400 L IS. I was shooting dive and swim meets.

BTW, These L lenses are addictive. I now have 24-70. 70-200 and 100-400.

Thinking of adding 16-35L. Any suggestion to save my marriage?...lol?

Go for it. You got a bad one. I have been using this lens

om both a 10D and 20D for better than a year. I am very

happy with the results. I have used it for taking group

photos at dog shows and individual dogs in the ring.

I have taken wonderful outdoor scenery shots on hikes with

my Boy Scout son on treks. My only complaint is a noisy motor...compared to my EF 24-70 L 2.8.

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Well, I guess I am not the only one with an appreciation of this

handy lens. I shoot dogs.....portraits using a 10D, 420EX with a stroboframe camera flip and slave flash with soft box, also dog shows. I own a 17-40, 24-85, 50 1.8, 28-135, 70-200 and a 400mm. I used the 28-135 about 75% of the time and have been very happy with the results....so have my clients. I'm making money and I am pleased with the results. Good handling, sharp results and more important....my customers return for more! The IS is great for me during dog shows where I cannot use my flash. Enough extra speed to hand hold and snap away to my pleasure. The dog shows are usually in gymnasiums and large open area rooms with large overhead kights and/or skylights. Happy snapping!

WOW. I received the new Canon i9900 last week. The prints are

fantastic. I gave up on Epson last year because of nozzle clog

problems, what a drag. I bought a Canon I900d and was from the

first print. Using PS and quality paper, I sell my work, I have no

regrets. This new widebody.....13x19 is great. I would like to hear

from anyone else who has had the luck to use this new printer. For

those of you who live in an "Epson Printer Bubble....think outside

the box! Explore new worlds. BTW if you ever have a problem with

the printer head it is user replaceable. Just unclip the bad one,

clip in the new one. You do not have to ship your printer out for

service.

Buying a tripod is sometimes like buying a pair of shoes...they should fit right the first time you put them on. Nobody can really

answer your question. I have a Bogen 3221 with a 3030 head. Heavy,

well made, solid as a rock. I use it with a 10D, 400mm, 500mm and a 70-200mm. Legs splay apart, 4 levels, ground level with the included adapter. Padded legs and a soulder strap make it more comfortable to carry, set $222 at B&H. But heavy to carry! I can handle it but few people would want to. So, back to the books...can you afford carbob fiber for twice the price? I have been extremely happy with Bogen products, well made, good design. They have a great catalog you can request on line. Good luck.

I a\put my Epson in the dumpster! I bought a Canon i900D 2 months

ago. What a great printer. I was just about to purchase the i9100

wide body when I heard about the new i9900 coming out May 15. 8

tanks, new red and green tank added for greater saturation and over

6000 nozzles, user replaceable. Has anyone heard more about this

printer?

Kudos for the amron Di 17-35 2.8. I have been using that lens with my 10D for about 6 weeks and I have not been disappointed. The lens may not be a Canon L lens but for the money you are getting a top notch lens. Was reviewed in PopPhoto in January and I compared thr review with the 17-40L. It looked like the Tarom beat out the Canon. I gave it a shoot....lucky me. My shots are sharp, clean, on the money.

I take lots of shots at dog shows, kids and nature vistas. I refused to buy the 17-40l, I know it is good but I think overpriced. I went with the new Tamron 17-35mm Di 2.8. What a great lens and for 200-300 bucks less. This lens compiliments my Canon 24-85 and 70-200 4L. I use them on a 10D. My photos are selling 100%. I would say that I use the Tamrom 50% of the time. I also use the 420EX Speedlite

with it. You can check the rating workup in the January PopPhoto Mag...It seen to exceed the results of the 17-40.

Trade it in for the new Tamron Di 17-35mm 2.8. Much better lens for a couple of hundred dollars less

Save yourself some money and get a great lens. I photograph dogs at shows. I use a 10D and have found that my Tamron Di 17-35mm 2.8 to be the lens of choice. I am getting great results and prints. It cost me 479 bucks at B & H and worth every penny. I think it is better than the 17-40 Canon. I also have a 70-200 and the 24-85

I did my research and saved up to buy this systemm. I retired and wanted to freelance. I put together this new system to do photos of dogs, kids and some nature. I have not been disappointed. My results have sold 100%!

Canon 10D

Tamron Di 17-35mm 2.8

Canon 24-85mm 3.5

Canon 70-200mm 4L

Canon 1.4x II Extender

Canon 420 flash

I also use a couple of Vivitar 283 flashes with slave attached

on ultrapods for back and side lighting. Take very little space

but work great. I have had the 2 283 flashes for ages and they

still work great. The slave units I bought from Porters for 15 bucks each. I use them with Lumiquest pocket bouncers.

I think I would like to add a Canon 50mm 1.4 for those

special low light times I do not wish to use a flash or a high

ISO setting.

I also have an old 400mm 6.3 telephoto from Spiratone (circa 1970).]

They are no longer in business but I bought a t-mount from Porters and it fit beautifully. That 400mm on the Canon is 640mm and with the 1.4x it is 896mm. Using a good tripod, Bogen 3221WN, I have taken super animal shots in the woods surrounding my house. What fun I am having.

Good luck on your photography choices.