Discussing Alternate Cameras - The Road Not Taken
Mar 30, 2019 10:14:49 #
Robert1 wrote:
This point in itself should start another thread. ... (show quote)
Even though Mother never mentioned you, I'm sure we must be related. Your thoughts about the Df were mine exactly. Although the images I've taken with it are great ("No Brag, just fact"), the results of the head-to-head I did with my Nikons ( https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-501318-1.html ) in late '17 proved that there was significant loss of sharpness as compared to the higher MP models. I didn't have a 24MP Nikon to test also, but the results seemed pretty clear. In good light, bigger/higher is better "all things being equal."
I suppose, when it Finally comes out, I may yet trade up from my Df to a Df2. 24MP sure would compliment my D850.
Mar 30, 2019 10:17:25 #
Over the years, I used, or owned, the 4x5 Graflex, Brownie camera, Kodak Retina 3C (absolutely lovely camera of which I would like to get another), the Brick, Asahi Pentax, Topcon (greatly underrated), Canon VIT (trigger advance) and 7 rangefinders (absolutely beautiful cameras), Canon FTb QL (best film loading of any camera), Olympus (very quiet shutter), Mamiya C330 TLR and Nikon FM2 (great no frills camera), which is what I owned with a lot of Nikkor glass when digital came around. I always wanted, but could not then afford, the original Nikon F photomic and an F-1. I now have good copies of both and will occasionally shoot some film. I am now back to being a Canon guy but I liked my Nikons.
Mar 30, 2019 11:13:42 #
Most people stay with the brand of their first camera. I like all brands of cameras although my first decent camera was a Nikon. I try not to get caught up in all the hype that "more is better", more pixels, higher burst, ridiculously high iso capabilities. I would like to spend a few days shooting with Fuji GFX 50, Pentax 645Z, Hasselblad X1D just to see what medium format is like with different brands of cameras.
Mar 30, 2019 11:19:50 #
When I had to pick a durable, lightweight, reasonably priced camera, I considered both Nikon and Canon.
I chose the Nikon FM because I don't think Canon had anything in the same size and price-range with a multiple exposure lever, been with Nikon ever since. (I can remember fuming that camera makers would overlook such an inexpensive, yet to me, vital feature.)
I chose the Nikon FM because I don't think Canon had anything in the same size and price-range with a multiple exposure lever, been with Nikon ever since. (I can remember fuming that camera makers would overlook such an inexpensive, yet to me, vital feature.)
Mar 30, 2019 11:32:38 #
The first camera that I actually bought for myself was Argus c-3. That as followed by a Mamiya CWP (a SLR for pentax screw mount lens) It had a semi-coupled lightmeter in the upper left hand corner of the body. My next move was to Canon (Ftb and TLB bodies)I coveted a Mamiya RB 67 but could not afford one.
Then came a few decades of loss of interest in photography. When I finally discovered digital and that that some cameras had image stabilization , I jumped to the Sony bandwagon with their IBIS capability.
Then came a few decades of loss of interest in photography. When I finally discovered digital and that that some cameras had image stabilization , I jumped to the Sony bandwagon with their IBIS capability.
Mar 30, 2019 12:18:22 #
rook2c4 wrote:
If you have a Yashica Mat 124G, you don't really need a Roleiflex TLR. Except for maybe the lens, the cameras are actually very similar in design. Even closer to the Roleiflex in design is the earlier version, the Mat 124.
Yep, I had a 124, a g, and a Roleiflex and the only advantage I ever saw was in the corners where the Rolei excelled. I still have my Rolei and sure didn't mind when Rolei fairly recently jacked the new price up to roughly triple what it had been which pulled used prices way up with it - better'n gold.
Mar 30, 2019 12:19:32 #
Mar 30, 2019 12:24:15 #
My first camera was a Kodak Instamatic and did little to really inspire a hobby of photography. About a year later my father died and I was given his Kodak regular 8mm movie camera which I used to record a few things until I was in the Navy and enjoying recording movies of the Atlantic Ocean and the ports of Europe. Mechanical problems with that camera encouraged me to purchase a replacement, but what to purchase? I spoke with several other shipmates who had cameras and reeived en equal number of suggestions from Nikon to Minolta to Mamiya and others. As I looked at the available 35mm SLRs in the Ship's Store, and not having a large wallet at the time, I opted for the lower cost Petri FT, figuring I could obtain extra lenses and attachments later (which I did). Had the money been available, i probably would have gone for the Minolta or Mamiya. However, The Petri was the right choice for me even though I have migrated to the Pentax camp since the Oetri went out of production long before the digital age.
Mar 30, 2019 12:42:18 #
I started with Minolta and being more a tinkerer than photographer I've jumped around and tried almost every camera and format I know about based on my perception of what offered the most goodies at any point in time. I used to buy up a lot from pawn shops before all the "mom & pop" shops got swallowed up by the big chains that don't know squat about cameras but use the 'net for pricing which has ruined that as a good source. I also have a bunch of old folding cameras. I still have most of what I bought over the years and am currently experimenting with Sony but my urge and abilities are both headed south on me.
Mar 30, 2019 13:13:06 #
flashgordonbrown
Loc: Silverdale, WA
Kmgw9v wrote:
I owned a Hasselblad 500C, Mamiya C330, and a Yashica Mat 124G; but I always wanted, and never used, a Roleiflex TLR.
As the in-house photographer for World Vision in the '60s, I had use of a Rollei 2.8. I added the eye-level prism and pistol grip and in that configuration, it was a great rapid shooting 2 1/4 camera. It would take 220 film, but the frame counter only went to 12, so you had to reset it after 12 frames. This procedure caused me to make a grevious mistake at a wedding - I shot the first 12, reset the counter, shot 12 more, then forgetting that I had already shot the second 12, I reset the counter again and shot 12 'phantom' images of the posed formal shots! This was particularly bad for 3 reasons: I didn't realize that I had done this until the proofs came back, the bride was a coworker at World Vision, and many of the people in the wedding party had come varying distances to participate, thus were unavailable for a reshoot! It was a hard, humbling experience!
Mar 30, 2019 13:27:30 #
My first 35mm camera was the Kodak Retina IIa which I bought in 1950 while a freshman in college. It cost $125 in 1950 money, a big investment for a struggling college freshman! It is still in working order and I just recently gave it to my youngest son. He has been a Nikon digital user.
My first digital camera was a Sony DSC 75 which served me well.
Today I use the Canon T6i Rebel
My Father had several Zeiss Ikon folding cameras, and a Graphflex with a Zeiss Tessar lens. His B&W photos were outstanding with very high IQ. He never had a light meter or rangefinder, but his self taught skill was extraordinary. I wish that my photo results were as good as his, and I am using supposedly superior technology.
Individual skill and knowledge of photography is more important than technology.
My first digital camera was a Sony DSC 75 which served me well.
Today I use the Canon T6i Rebel
My Father had several Zeiss Ikon folding cameras, and a Graphflex with a Zeiss Tessar lens. His B&W photos were outstanding with very high IQ. He never had a light meter or rangefinder, but his self taught skill was extraordinary. I wish that my photo results were as good as his, and I am using supposedly superior technology.
Individual skill and knowledge of photography is more important than technology.
Mar 30, 2019 13:43:46 #
[quote=cameraf4]Even though Mother never mentioned you, I'm sure we must be related.
LOL.🤗
LOL.🤗
Mar 30, 2019 13:47:47 #
My first real camera that I saved my paper route money for was a rangefinder Minlota. My best fried had a Yashika and we always competed. In vietnam, I got my Nikon F and I have never gone back
Mar 30, 2019 14:01:02 #
I started out with the Argus C3. From there I went to Petri, Vivitar 450 SLD, Pentax ESII, then a Nikkormat FTN. Each time was a distinct improvement in operations and lens quality, pre-Pentax (Pentax and Nikkor are dead nuts even). I now own Canon, Olympus, and Nikon film cameras along with a host of lenses. Just getting enough time to use them is a challenge, but really worth it.
I've used most formats from 35mm, to 8x10, and owned Mamiya's of all flavors, from C22 to C330s, RB67, M645 1000s, 645 Super, 645 Pro TL, and a very nice RZ67 Pro. Nothing like a scanned negative or transparency to drool over.
I now own (again) a Hasselblad 500 C/M and a Bronica SQ-A. It's tough to choose between these two, but I have a lot of fun trying.
I love 4x5, and own 3 - Cambo SC, Super Graphic, and a Sears Tower (rebadged Busch Pressman D). Besides the variety of lenses (90, 150, 180, 210, 400), I can also shoot 6x7 via a couple of backs (Cambo 6x7, Graphic 10).
The medium and large format cameras are a boatload of fun. Takes more time, but now, I just enjoy the ride.
My Nikon D750 and D500 are both fun.
Never have I had more choices than now.
I've used most formats from 35mm, to 8x10, and owned Mamiya's of all flavors, from C22 to C330s, RB67, M645 1000s, 645 Super, 645 Pro TL, and a very nice RZ67 Pro. Nothing like a scanned negative or transparency to drool over.
I now own (again) a Hasselblad 500 C/M and a Bronica SQ-A. It's tough to choose between these two, but I have a lot of fun trying.
I love 4x5, and own 3 - Cambo SC, Super Graphic, and a Sears Tower (rebadged Busch Pressman D). Besides the variety of lenses (90, 150, 180, 210, 400), I can also shoot 6x7 via a couple of backs (Cambo 6x7, Graphic 10).
The medium and large format cameras are a boatload of fun. Takes more time, but now, I just enjoy the ride.
My Nikon D750 and D500 are both fun.
Never have I had more choices than now.
Mar 30, 2019 14:24:34 #
Like a number of others I have used a variety of cameras and formats. My very first was a Kodak Brownie using I think 620 film. Since that inauspicious beginning I have used or still shoot with: Polaroid Land cameras, 4x5 Speed graphics, Nikons, Canons, my prize Rolleiflex 3.5 zenotar, Pentax’s 6x4.5 and the big 6x7, digital Nikons and Canon, my Leicas both M and R series, an Olympus pen EE in Vietnam, Hasselblad film, two Contax Yashica T 4s and Yashica 6x6. I have stopped shooting digital and now concentrate on film. It is a pleasure and joy to take a Leica M or Hassy with a roll of B&W film and see what I can do.
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