kb6kgx Loc: Simi Valley, CA

My first camera was an Agfa-Karat rangefinder, that used to be Dad’s. It was so old that it didn’t even have a built-in light meter. I had to take a reading with my handheld Scout light meter, then adjust the settings on the camera, and THEN take the photo. But is sure taught me what works and what doesn’t.

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

Yep. That will do it.

AlanD Loc: TC, MN

A couple of things to respond to. First, earlier there was a post about trolls on this site. I don't know if I would be considered a troll, I don't contribute much, if at all, but I've asked for some advice. I look at this site—gratefully—as a learning tool. One, where those who have experience, help those who want to develop their talents. Between reading the technical posts and viewing (and enjoying) the pictures posted, I get an idea of what I like and the direction I want my photography to develop. There certainly is nothing wrong with that.

Secondly, I've done a fair amount of photography over the past 50 years, while starting out on Kodak 126 & 110 Instamatics as a youngster who bought these cameras from money earned shoveling snow from sidewalks and cutting grass in the summer, later—most of it on a Canon AT-1 manual SLR. I have won a few photo contests with the rare photos I was able to compose on that camera that were worthy. Later, when I married, I bought my wife a Canon AE-1 because she didn't have the experience with an SLR but it still allowed me to use it in the manual mode to be more creative—and we could shoot color in one and black & white in the other—it served us well. When digital cameras started becoming the norm, I graduated to Canon PowerShots G1 & G5, an expensive jump for point and shoot, but was able to do well with these because of their simplicity. I still used my film SLR's but it became more expensive and harder to find places to develop the film. And it was not the same for shooting with an SLR. When I finally was able to purchase a Canon 60D dSLR a couple of years ago, I was delighted. But, alas, I am not retired and have many evening commitments in addition to my day job. Needless to say, the 60D is a whole lot more complicated, with so much ability to monitor and manipulate the settings. I needed to learn the simple basics of the camera before even contemplating getting creative with it. So on our recent trip out west to the Canyonlands of Utah, relied on the "auto" to simply "point and shoot" in auto-mode. I hope there is nothing wrong with that because I needed to learn what to do when the wrong button was pushed in error and how to recover. Because of postings on this site, I have learned some things I would have liked to try, like HDR shooting in Zion National Park. I am looking forward to using a lot of the techniques learned on this site as I begin to use my camera more.

That being said, I do agree, somewhat, with the sentiments expressed. I do acknowledge my limitations, but seeing people carrying $5,000 camera set-ups over the past two weeks, and in the final analysis watching them with their telephones on selfie-sticks being used more, I shake my head in wonderment.

NewBEE161 Loc: Olney, Maryland

This thread is more entertaining than the Sunday comics. I just can't stop laughing! Hogs, you crack me up!!!

Bill_de Loc: US

The biggest reason so many people preach that everyone needs to shoot in manual mode ... ready for this ... is because they haven't been able to figure out how to use all the automation properly.

Put that in your pipe and smoke it!

---

fstoprookie Loc: Central Valley of California

Here I sat and took a bunch of gruff for buying a D5 from some on this site a few months ago. I was really pissed off about it. Then I just decided to take into account how miserable some of the people on this site are. On the other hand there are a lot of folks on this site that really like to pitch in and help Then there is the other 10%. I think most of us really are happy when a UHH member gets new equipment and are excited to talk about it and ask some questions about how best to use it. GOOD FOR YOU - hope your new camera exceeds your expect ions.

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

That is kind of my point. Why not just get a good P&S? They produce very good photos, have various functions and creative styles. They weigh a hell of a lot less. They can shoot in auto. And... They have zoom! No need to ask about which lens to bring on a trip. I guess the main thing is, no matter what you have, no matter what mode you shoot in, just enjoy!

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

You took a lot of gruff BECAUSE you did buy a D5. What the hell am I talking about? I have never seen a D5 nor used one. Lol. It is probably a very good camera. Now you have to keep in mind that the average age of a UHH member is 103. The pet peeve I have here, on UHH, is when some one posts a blurry, blown out, full of noise and CA, they get 7-10 pages of "great shot!". On the other hand, I post a single pic which I think is really cool (in focus and well balanced by the way), and I am lucky if I get one response. No one likes me :(

Bill_de Loc: US

So, you are not only jealous about equipment, but you are also jealous of those who have more 'friends'.

Could it be a 'perceived' attitude issue?

--

BebuLamar

That is correct in my case. Manual mode is much easier!

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

I guess I was intimidated by the baggage restriction (one suitcase and one carry-on plus personal item) and having not traveled overseas for so many years I over-packed. The other 14 people on my tour used everything from an I-phone to a DSLR. My experience carrying my Sony and extra lens(es) for long periods of time (sore back/neck) made me consider the Panasonic FZ-200. It has a constant 2.8 aperture with a range of 25-600 optical (and up to 4x digital) zoom, and it about the size and weight of either of my lenses or the plain body, so i saved space and weight. My longest lens (w/crop) goes out to 450mm with a smaller aperture. I missed the extra resolution (12MP vs 24.3) but I accepted the compromise. I also didn't know how much time per day we were going to be walking around and in the summer Israel is not cool - although I think it was warmer and more humid in STL. It ranged from ~ 80 (Galilee) - 100+ (Jericho + the Dead sea) so I really didn't want to carry a lot of weight. I have various pics form my trip on two or three separate subject postings. Look them up if you like. I still haven't downloaded the last day or so of the trip...will do that later today or tomorrow. When I got back, having had no sleep for who knows how long I slept about about 15 hrs almost straight through once I got home to a soft bed and a warm cat.

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

When I took a darkroom class a year or two ago at my local college, manual mode was required. It was fun to use my old Canon AE-1 Program camera again and to see my (less than stellar) B/W prints appear before my eyes.

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

Yeah to all that but I bet you had a lot of fun! I would love to go to Israel. My wife and I planned at trip once, but they said i had excessive baggage. So, I went by myself.