alberto_c

<i>Jim Powers:

Creating DRM's that absolutely prevented copying would likely have little effect on the bottom lines of these companies.</i>

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Actually, hacked copies have a great (and positive!) effect, as in ten years that broken student becomes has a job and pays to use their software at work (as it is the one that he/she knows).

Are you just starting? Then, pick the cheaper available body + 50mm lens (get one that allows you full manual control, they are currently selling at ridiculous prices) and you will learn a lot about your future needs.

Firstly I no longer rate images, as concious ratings hold the same place that random ones (comments are very different in this sense).

 

I quite like that picture. Why? Well, to begin with, I know that place [*] and it brings nice memories to me.

 

Then, it makes a nice abstract maybe lacking of contrast but it happens that part of the world is really so. You could call it dull, I would call it muted, sometimes one prefers more subtlety, and there is nothing wrong with it (to michel: your treatment makes the picture to have some strength that local weather very rarely has).

 

Finally, the title adds some meaning when you know that all that area is covered by the sea every high tide.

 

Of course, IMHO that is all a matter of taste, and you could share my thoughts or not.

 

[*] Tombelaine island seen from Mont St. Michel, Normandy, France.

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Not being a Nikon user, I don't know what is the quality of that lenses. But if I were you (after seeing that you enjoy street shoting, etc.), I would try to avoid the mess of changing lenses too often and the 18-70 would be just a little too short for that. I would consider Tamron 24-135 SP. Just my two cents based in my (rather little) experience.

 

As for the other question, I really admire your portfolio (indeed, I show it to people having a P&S claiming that they "need a DSLR to make good pictures". You have to see her faces). I think that you are more-than-ready to take a DSLR.

It takes longer, but you can try the following approach: you ask for permission and take some "formal" shots, after that you remain around for a while, doing something else (even better if you can talk to the people there), and you can shoot again almost indefinitely. It's like a short version of making friends. Most people is this planet is still quite friendly.

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"Communication is essential otherwise I feel like I'm intruding into their lives."

You can try the western coast of Contentin (from Granville to Auderville) or the cliffs in ɴretat. IIRC, the landscape between Caen and Pont-Audemer has a certain beauty, but I would call it rather "rural" than "nature".

You can check Santiago Distrifot (http://www.distrifot.com.ar), Centro Mayorista (http://www.centromayoristafoto.com.ar) and possibly more in (http://www.fotorevista.com.ar/Links/Guia/Guia.htm).

Here in Spain, I've keeped Provia and Reala for a week between 25 (night) and 40 (midday) cent. degrees with no problems at all.

I've used a 139Q for some years (and still my everyday body), never had a problem other that having to replace the batteries (widely available LR44/SR44) from time to time. In terms of features, I miss a decent grip (especially with long lenses, above 200mm) and mirror lock-up.

 

As for the lens, you could have got the 2,8/85 Sonnar which is far smaller than 1,4/85 Planar.

Camera: Maxxum 7 with grip (as a body, I would prefer Contax RX but, AFAIK, there is no equivalent Zeiss lens).

Lens: 35-105 macro (with the hack that allows to use AF in Macro mode).

Film: Some ASA 400. Fuji NPH 400 would be first "general" choice. Otherwise (depending on the subject), HP5+ or Provia 400.

These cameras remain unsurpassed for low light photography, let alone at that price tag (mine was 50 Eur shipped):

 

http://www.photo.net/photo/5467143

 

(Ricoh 500G + Kodak Ultra ASA 400).

Hola, Enric.

 

I agree with Alex McPhee's words: I have a Contax 139 (the shutter and the light meter need widely available SR44/LR44) and a FX-3 super 2000 as a backup. Other Yashicas like FR-I are 100% mechanical, too, except for the lightmeter of course. I could also get a Winder II for my 139 that takes AA batteries, but I don't know if it could be used as the only power source.

 

Other than that, some old fixed lens rangefinders are the same: without the battery, my Ricoh 500 G lacks only the light meter and AE (I bought it with that feature intentionally).

Be aware that kit lens is quite performant, even if it is not very useful for low light.

John Elder said:

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<i>One of the difficulties was getting used to rangefinder focusing, especially since Nikkor lens focus in the opposite direction of Most if not all rangefinder lens.</i>

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Actually, nikkor focus in the opposite direction of all of my lenses, including SLR lenses for Contax and Minolta, a M42 lens and the lens on my Ricoh rangefinder.

I (a Spaniard, so I can't tell about import/export questions) was last year in Paris and I had no problem at all, nobody asked me about my gear (Contax 139, Yashica fx-3, 28mm, 50mm and 135mm).

 

If you want to shot with tripod in some open places (for instance, the Louvre square) you can ask somebody (police or private security are the best) for watching your camera & tripod for taking a picture of yourself in front of the pyramid (remember to talk to them before they talk to you). Sometimes it doesn't work, but if they agree you could take one or two extra shots.

AFAIK, minolta tc-1 would be an option. Older cameras (canonet and the like) usually lack the ability to work with 1600 or 3200 film.

Sam:

 

Well, they already are doing lenses along with Zeiss, who know how to do pretty good lenses. Sony has some quality equipment in other areas, even pro equipment, but if you want to feel safer, I'll gladly take selected items from your gear at a fraction of its value :-)

 

Seriously speaking, I don't see Sony so much behind "other brands", and obviously don't see how the 20mpx competitors' would imply a "6 mpx are not enough for me" if you are enjoying your 7D (great camera, BTW). Note that I enjoy my 7-not-D, so I'm of course not a last-gadget-guy.

 

Greetings

James, I think that Fred is saying that because most manual focus SLR lenses don't close down to minimum aperture. At least my C/Ys, the OMs, Pentax Ks and M42s (IIRC) don't close down.

Sice the time in which I was learning to play violin, I know that even the harsher critique (I don't include here physical punishment, of course ;-) ) can be useful, at least if it makes you thinking about it -and about you and your work.

 

 

Back to the reality, "this picture should be sharper" is something that I really prefer not to hear/read.

Mont Saint-Michel, I think, and all the Normandy country. Picos de Europa, in Cantabria, Spain, is a wonderful place in spring, when there is both snow and good light, but too much nature-photographer-biased.

Conjecture: Because of the very different patterns of hand shake and tripod vibration, tripod + AS could yield unexpected results if tripod gently shakes, as AS tries to anticipate as if it were hand shake.

Has 9 something like the rear LCD that my Maxxum 7 has for easily seeing settings in the dark? I would miss that a lot.

Near Madrid or Bilbao, you can find lots of interesting places. I don't know what your photo interests are, so I list all that I can think of right now:

 

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<b>Madrid:</b><br>

Aranjuez, El Escorial and La Granja de San Ildefonso are nice XVI-XVIII buildings. Salamanca (not actually oldest Univ in Europe, that award goes to Bologna), Segovia, Avila and Toledo are worth a trip. Sierra Norte (Loyoza, etc.) has good nature areas. Inside Madrid, you can't miss El Prado museum.

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<b>Bilbao:</b><br>

Guggenheim (of course), rural and coastal landscapes around there like Ermita de San Juan de Gaztelugatxe or Urdaibai biosphere reserve, San Sebastian and Vitoria (beautiful towns not far), mountains like Anboto or Txindoki, not very high but quite nice. Sea cities like Hondarribia or Lekeitio.

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Feel free to ask more details.

For film and processing questions (and answers) in Sevilla, you should contact Martin Iglesias (http://www.martin-iglesias.com), they are quite friendly people (I don't know if they speak english, if that matters).

 

As for the bullfight, you can check http://www.andalucia.org/modulos.php?modulo=Agenda&nuevoidioma=eng and select "bullfighting", your area and your dates, or contact the addresses at the end of the page.