joe_taylor5

<p>Give the release back and then delete all the photo files. </p>

<p>Why bother using MC, MD lens on a new DSLR? You will have to use an adapter. When using an adapter you will find that if you use an adapter with out a correction lens you will lose close focus, and if you use an adapter with a correction lens you may or may not lose some sharpness. You will lose all the auto functions on the camera as well.<br>

I do have an adapter form MC to Alpha mount. got it just for a 600mm Sigma lens it, the adapter, is ok for that lens but I find that lens hard to use on what ever camera I use it on. Get a good SLR and use the lens like it was designed for.</p>

<p>I have MC, MD, and AF mount lens. They are all good. I do like the older lens, even older AF, lens more because they are a little heaver, yes heaver, and just feel better. For me the AF lens work better now because I have old eyes and they, the eyes, don't focus as well. What I hate are any lens that is loose and changes focus if you point the camera down.<br>

Joe</p>

<p>The homeless are your model. and approach them as such. Ask permission and offer to pay them something in return for letting you take the picture. Just because they don't have a home does not make them less human.</p>

<p>Thanks everyone. I have more research and thinking to do.<br>

Joe</p>

<p>Some answers to questions<br>

1 type of photography mostly land scape and nature</p>

<p>2 largest lens 600 mm (so far) not counting some experiments with telescopes, not good</p>

<p>3 I can take a fair photograph I am not as consistent as I want to be.</p>

<p>4 I agree with the scanner approach but I am finding it more difficult to develop film and do darkroom work. <br>

4A I want to do more color work.</p>

<p>5. I have several el cheapo digital cameras they don't cut the mustard.</p>

<p>Next question why no recommends for Sony Alpha 900?<br>

Joe</p>

<p>Canon is nice my son loves his.</p>

<p>Failing to ask to criticism. When you think about it that is what photo school is about. Then be willing to listen to the criticism w/o feeling line someone just called your baby ugly. Also, not taking them time to judge others photograph critically, really look at what is right and what is wrong with any photograph.<br>

remember the rules:<br>

if you think you are close enough get closer<br>

if you think you are low enough get lower<br>

fill the frame up.<br>

Work for a good negative, it is abut 1000X easier to get a good print if you have a good negative.<br>

Take lots of photographs, don't be afraid to try something different.</p>

<p>I got the itch for a digital camera and know nothing about them.<br>

I want to spend less than $5K<br>

So what should I buy Sony, Canon, Nikon?<br>

Is there any of them with a clear advantage in the long haul?<br>

I tend to keep using cameras for ever. I still use my Minolta SRT102 all the time.</p>

<p>Joe</p>

 

<p>What you all say makes since. Right now I came into a bunch of photo equipment and need to do a lot of testing to find the keepers.</p>

<p>Thanks Joe</p>

<p>I was talking to the owner of a local photo shop last June. He is having a hard time because the distributors charge him more for a camera then what the on line sellers sell cameras for. And they require him to buy a minimum order to remain an authorized dealer.</p>

<p>Sadly news papers are almost dead in the US. A few will hang on for a while longer but the end is near. The return on investment is not there. The environmental impact of paper making is a target. The real nail in the coffin is most people just don't read any more.<br>

Joe</p>

<p>Sarah, do you use a copy stand for the test?</p>

<p>Most of the time I keep a 100mm portrait lens on one of my cameras and a 200mm lens on the other one. Yes I do tote two cameras.</p>

<p>I own a 2X converter and rarely use it. I just don't get the quality of photograph I want when I use one.<br>

I have used the 2X converter on a 28mm lens just to see what I would get. Ho hum I got about 70% quality of my 50mm normal lens. Kind of a soft focus effect which would be OK if you want to take kind of dreamy portraits.<br>

The only place I do use the 2X converter is on a 600mm lens once in a while and not often.</p>

<p>Isn't bokeh a pseudonym for crappy focus! :-)</p>

<p>Good luck! My wife used to teach photography in high school when she retired the shut the program down. I think your best bet is to check with a few photography shops and find out who has a going program and contact the teachers directly. The teacher will know the process of taking donations.<br>

The kids will destroy any thing you donate! High school kids are as destructive as toddlers. Last year my wife was going over the parts of a camera and what not to touch and some dolt of a kid poked his finger right through a shutter cloth and said "is this what I am not supposed to touch".<br>

Most kids take photography because they think it is going to be an easy course and are shocked to find out they actually have to do something other than take snap shots. Then there is the whole thing of raging hormones in a darkroom. They will be rutting like farm yard animals if you don't keep an eye on them in the dark room.</p>

 

<p>When you take a photo to test a camera, lens, or film what do you take a picture of?<br>

I take pics of my old moggy, cat, to check sharpness - whiskers and eyes<br>

I do a gray card and a shot of a color wheel for color/gray scale.<br>

And a few bracket shots to test calibration of shutter speed and f stop.<br>

What is your test process?<br>

Joe</p>

<p>Pro labs are worth every penny you spend to get your film processed right. Why spend $7 on a roll of film and spend $5 to have it improperly process by someone who has had about 5 min training. I know that pro labs do use the same machines sometimes as el cheapo processing but there is a huge difference in calibration of the equipment. <br>

Joe</p>

<p>You going to use the camera or look at it? If it were me I would modify it and use it.</p>

<p>Prism? Cameras got to have one to look right. I have been thinking of putting one on my Speed Graphic any decade now, just so it would look like a camera. Actually on a small format cameras I like having some sort of view finder, you ever try looking at one of the little LCD's in bright daylight I don't care how big a brim you got on your fedora it will still be to bright to see the LCD.</p>

<p>I find it odd that the FBI would be spying on MLK to start with. He was so public about what he was doing he had nothing to hide. There were many more dangerous people to keep an eye on. Before I would pass judgment on Withers I would like to read exactly what he told the FBI. But then the FBI seems to see the boogie man everywhere and not see the real bad players, the 911 group comes to mind right off. The whole thing is screwed up.</p>

<p>When I start seeing more new film cameras on the shelf I will start believing that film is making a comeback. When a new film in as good as Kodachrome I will perk my ears up a little.</p>

<p>Looks like I started something. There is the what my wife, graphic designer/art teacher, says is the artsy fartzy gambit that is easy to fall into. Makes bad art. If it does not look right there is no amount of talk that will make it right. I think it was the great Duke Ellington that said "that 99% of music is 100% crap" and I beginning to think that applies to most other art forms as well.</p>

<p>Matt, thanks for the reply. I think I was just on a rant for a moment.</p>

<p>This one was on the front page today. It is a good photograph. I just don't like keystone effect and work hard not to have it on my work.</p>

<p>http://www.photo.net/photo/2685204</p>

<p>I guess it just me I don't like keystoning I hope it is not a new trend. Very distracting to me.<br>

Keeping the camera level goes a long way in avoiding the problem. When you print you can tilt the easel to compensate and most photo software can correct keystone effect. My el cheapo digital PHD camera has a setting to correct for keystone.</p>