Quixdraw Loc: x

As you may know, for the last couple of weeks I have been taking my Nikon D 750 everywhere and using it to take photos of anything and everything. Last night I had to make an airport run. The airport is at a considerable distance, and though there is little traffic out here, it was starting to rain. I was past the self imposed --"Must use the new camera" period, but the D 750 was sitting next to me on the desk top, so I grabbed it to bring along. Night+rain+airport, might add up to something interesting.
As I got to the bottom of my driveway it was full dark with some interesting clouds to the south. I stopped, waited for the helpful "delayed headlights" to go off and took the first picture using the night vision effect. Kind of moody, noisy, (almost looks like grain) reminds me of some shots in the old days push processing Tri X with Dektol for max grain. In no way a brilliant shot, but satisfying. The trip to the city was uneventful. Once in town there was a bit of traffic, but I was able to take a few night/rain shots along the way. I thought of pulling into the observation area to take a shot or two of planes landing, realized that the next plane in would be the one I was meeting! Went to the terminal and parked --- still raining, with the camera under my vest, ran, as much as I do nowadays, up under the roofed area around the terminal. I quickly snapped a few shots at angles to the terminal face and went inside. One is the second picture attached. Everything else was uneventful, plane was on time, my wife had a good flight, the luggage was fast and came undamaged -- well maybe not uneventful -- current air travel standards, darn good. Made the trek home, and is my habit, before I went to bed I downloaded the new pictures into the computer. As I reviewed them, I came to a realization.
Now don't get me wrong, I really do like the capabilities digital offers. I love being able to see the results immediately, and never running out of "film". The list of benefits is long and obvious.
Here is the thing -- and I do realize the digitals can do things film could never do,(not to mention PP) I want my digital pictures to be indistinguishable from the best results of my old film cameras. Probably one reason I am so fond of the DF, and even why I still shoot some film with the Leica and various Nikon F models. As I continue to work with the cameras, I am convinced I can come very close.

What about you? What do you want from your digital camera?

Night Vision mood


That old B&W "Look"

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

At least what I could get from my film cameras.
--Bob

Longhorn Loc: Austin, Texas

Good photos. The rest is up to me.

Old Timer Loc: Greenfield, In.

The ability to learn and correct instantly, and not having to wait
the cost factor I believe out weighs the minuses. When shooting a series as of he eclipse when is changing fast can not be done as fast with film. I shot some film, mainly point and shoot and some times it would be weeks or months before the film would get developed. Now I can have the results with in minutes and look at the camera and check to see what needs corrected. Pluses out weighs the minuses in my opinion. Are we ready to got to the autos of forties and fifties?

Quixdraw Loc: x

Old Timer -- If I could have my 1964 Pontiac Catalina Convertible in minty condition I might even swap my Hemi Magnum!

I still have the old cameras -- use / appreciate them and digital both. Just thinking -- about change and expectation.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

I grew up with film — first camera at 4-1/2, second at 8, third at 10, first darkroom setup at 10, etc. I was a yearbook and newspaper photographer in high school. I shot thousands of slides in college (no darkroom access). I worked in radio and audio production through college and after (6 years). I became a multi-image, multi-media, AV-Video producer for a school portrait and yearbook company. I stayed there for 33 years and through three owners, in nine vastly different roles (eight in the photo lab business).

One of those roles (as Digital Products Manager) was to oversee the transition of lab production operations from film-based processes to entirely digital processes. The next one (as Training Program Developer) was to train photographers and our operations teams to work entirely digitally.

So I can say with a little authority that you are right! You absolutely CAN do more with digital, and produce results that are at least as good as, or better than, what we could achieve with film. I've worked with lots of high end gear and processes, and have not doubted the potential or capabilities of digital imaging systems since 2001.

I still have all my personal film gear, but have not used any of it since 2005. There's no point! I can do everything I want to do with a digital camera, a scanner, a computer, and various inkjet printers. Bits trump atoms every time, as Nicholas Negroponte (MIT Media Lab) would probably say.

What I want from my camera is the ability to record all the digital images and HD/4K video I need for training content development. My work is distributed in multiple media formats— print, PDF, web, GoToMeeting sessions, live PowerPoint presentations, online/downloadable videos, and DVD video presentations... So I want ONE camera system that does it all.

That camera system has to be small, light, portable, and go where I go, without excess baggage charges. After years of using Nikon and Canon gear at the labs, I have abandoned them in favor of m43. Gear of choice is the Panasonic LUMIX GH4 and various lenses. The setup is 1/3 the size, weight, and bulk of either the Canon or Nikon setup I had at the lab.

When I left the lab, I thought I wanted to go "full frame." Photo educator, lecturer, and hybrid photographer, Will Crockett, talked me out of it.

Will had a locker full of Nikon's finest, which he had used for his commercial photography in his Chicago studio and on location. After using LUMIX GH2s for videography, he discovered they were pretty good still cameras. Soon he had half a dozen of them, along with a stable of lenses, and he was using his Nikons less and less. He had fallen in love with mirror-less digital cameras!

Will's tried a little of "everything mirror-less" from Fujifilm, Sony, Olympus, and Panasonic, and probably some others. He settled on the LUMIX GH2 and then the GH3, and now the GH4, which he continues to use for video, portraits, hybrid photo/video projects, and commercial photo-illustration.

Back in 2012, he loaned me a Lumix G3 and three lenses to hack around with for a couple of weeks. That convinced me that there was a LOT of potential in the m43 format. I quickly determined m43 would be my next choice.

It satisfies nearly 100% of my needs, more conveniently and directly than dSLRs would. But, it's not for everyone. If I were making giant prints of landscapes, or large point-of-purchase displays for department stores, or tons of sports action photos, or bird-in-flight photos, I'd probably stick with dSLRs.

NormanHarley Loc: Colorado

For me it's all pretty simple. I wanted to take up my hobby to keep my body and mind active. Going out to set up shots, getting into uncomfortable positions at times, hauling gear around, all of that keeps my body moving. Reading and exploring all of the aspects and capabilities of the gear and editing software keeps my brain learning and healthy. Meeting new people and getting to know them gives me a broader social interaction. And having my family, friends, kids and grand kids, and my girlfriend say 'Wow!' once in a while is icing on the cake. And waiting for that brown truck to show up is pretty darned exciting, almost as good as watching football!

Quixdraw Loc: x

rmalarz -- I do believe it can be done! Thanks for your input.

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

I had the good fortune to create some great pictures using 35mm film cameras. Those experiences became a sort of benchmark for what I would like to achieve with a digital camera. Not "there" yet by any means, but continuing to learn and, hopefully, improve every day. Making the effort to bring gear along and shoot as often as we can is an important key to that process.

Quixdraw Loc: x

Burkphoto -- many thanks for your valuable contribution.
We share a few interesting life similarities, at least up through college. I could only afford B&W till I worked for a living! Free lanced and was poor for a while then took a different life turn. Always wondered what it would be like to have your vocation and avocation combined. Have had varying input on that from a number of friends. Again, thanks!

Quixdraw Loc: x

Norm -- you will be at it till they have you stuffed and mounted. Did you know, Roy Rogers had Trigger stuffed and mounted? He suggested they do the same with him when he died and put him back in the saddle!

Quixdraw Loc: x

Rjaywallace -- I know where you are coming from. Thanks!

Leitz Loc: Solms

I'm too busy photographing to concern myself with what anyone else wants from their cameras.

Old Timer Loc: Greenfield, In.

I am not sure I would want to go back and use the old cars on a daily basis, but the do bring back pleasant memories. Old farm equipment especially but I would not want to back on a daily basis. As far as camera and film, I never liked he smell of developer and neither did my Mother or wife, although I did like to watch the picture emerge. I believe I can control digital more completely than film.

Quixdraw Loc: x

Leitz -- But time to reply! Thank you for your input it will resonate with many, I am sure.