LWW Loc: Banana Republic of America

BINGO!

I learned on a hand me down KODAK INSTAMATIC 104 using 126 cartridge film and then a verrrrry used NIKON F eye level finder and NIKKOR 50mm f2.0.

Still have both cameras.

Indiana Loc: Huntington, Indiana

I recently viewed a video where the professional photographer was telling the story of taking a "snap shot" with an older Nikon 6mp camera of a classic 49' Roadmaster at an intersection while on a walking tour of a city, and having the editor of Nikon World publish the photo on the cover of Nikon World Publication. Just an example of an non staged photo, old equipment, and fixity of location that produced the cover of a professional photography magazine. Being at the right location at the right time with a great subject supersedes equipment and technical application.

polskasila

Haha! Got you beat I learned using a Kodak box camera then moved up to a Brownie! Started developing the b&w film from
them myself self taught from library books. That's when I realized the real joy of photography. Started at twelve years old
and still going at 75!!!!

More power to ya!
Jim K.

Purelightglow Loc: High plains

what a camera can do can be amazing, that's why I have so many lenses that are different and filters lighting.. Having had just 1 lens was maddening when I couldn't get a quality photo. So now I've told myself there is one very good photo image that makes it all worth while and many times more. I use old lenses on digital and other expensive quality ones. I made some compromises buying so I'd get good value for money and sale prices. In the mail now is a very heavy one dollar lens! it's very good, rare and not wanted for being hundreds of grams heavier

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

With the NEW YEAR upon us- 2019 WOW! It's time for my traditional New Year's resolutions- most of which I seldom keep but I try! So...here's one of mine. This year, here on the Hog, I'm gonna avoid joining NEGATIVE threads or thread with negative connotations. I'll try to put a more positive spin in my responses.

In this case, allow me to offer a little tutorial on how to do good photography without risking bankruptcy, divorce, buyer regret or sticker shock. Let me let you in on some of my “professional” concepts.

First of all STOP envying, or worse, resenting professionals. We are not a bunch of crazy spendthrifts- we ain't made of money. We have wives, husbands, accountants, bank managers, bill to pay and creditors, just like amateurs and everyone else. We need to be accountable for our expenditures and justify what we buy- just like y'all. In over five decades in professional photography, I can't think of anyone who hired and paid me on the basis of the equipment I use and hardly anyone ever asked me about my cameras and lenses- they mostly assumed I used the right stuff for the jobs at hand. They bought my work, not my gear!

Forget about “GAS”- addictions are unhealthy and usually costly.

Adopt a realistic mindset- you do not need the latest, so called greatest and trendy equipment to make great photographic images. There's all kinds of stuff out there, touted and rumored as “the best, cure-alls, the must have..." but it ain't necessarily so! I don't resent marketing, advertising and famous photographers endorsing stuff- I just consider it judiciously, do my own research and purchase accordingly.

Ignore extreme hyperbole- you ain't likely to create a masterpiece with a plastic box camera but most reasonably priced consumer models can produce fine results in the hands of a savvy shooter- that's you, ain't it?

A decent DSLR with a “KIT lens” is not a dirty word. Some of the modern reasonably priced zooms are not exactly the bottoms of a “shot glass” and many can outperform some of the golden oldies primes yesteryear. Somema have a few minor issues but you can come around them. The latests mirrorless camera are really nice but they ain't mandatory as some folks are led to believe. I wish I had a mirrorless house, what with my face- but my wife is still beautiful!

Don't allow yourself to become overly influenced by some of the “peer pressure” and gear-envy that goes down online. Consider you equipment simple “tools of the trade (or hobby)” they are not glamorous, sexy or any kinda badge or status symbol. Big white lenses don't gain professionals admission to events- they gain access because the have accreditation or bonafide press credentials. Buy you cameras with the same philosophy as you would buy a monkey wrench- you want a good, strong, reliable one that will do the job you need it for! If you're gonna fix the plumbing under the sink, you don't need a wrench they use on water mains, railroad tracks or petroleum pipelines.

Getting good deals and good buys on photographic equipment requires some dedication and hard work. If there are local dealers in your area, try and avoid shopping online- you ain't ordering an uber- pizza! I have established strong relationship with my local suppliers add the give me exceptional deals and fine service- the know I will always be back for more. Check out the used market, private buy and sell ads, second hand and pawn shops- sometime have some little treasure at low prices. I have had some good buys for repair services that are selling off unclaimed merchandise. There are many enthusiasts and aspiring pros who packed it in early on and just want to get rid of their gear. I pick up lots of good deals form disgruntled amateurs and retiring professionals. If you buy from a retailer, select a reliable, reputable and honest one.

Buy only what you need to do the work you are currently into. Don't gear up for something else unless you are certain that you are going to venture into it.

Improvise! Sometimes for the occasional “job” or experiment it is fun and economical to make you own stuff- light modifiers, support and grip items, lighting gear and various adaptations and brackets.

Cropped bodes and those with a little less pixel counts and lenses that are not of the absolute unreal optimum sharpness will oftentimes do just fine. Ask yourself- am I making photo murals or billboards? Put away the resolution targets, books on optical aberrations that would apply to the Hubble Telescope, statistics on every lens in existence and go out and shoot some pictures instead- it they are sharp enough- you got it made.

If you are generally dissatisfied with your photography, don't just throw money at it and indiscriminately upgrade you gear. First invest some time in troubleshooting and find out if it is actually the gear at fault or the technique. Keep you gear and try to optimize its usage and only upgrade if you truly determine that it is restricting your progress.

Don't end up paying for “bells and whistles” that you really don't need or want. Sometimes too many features just become too complex, actually get in your way, get you lazy, and present more breakdown potential. KIS- Keep it as simple as possible!

Let me explain where this philosophy comes from. When I started out in photography, my professional entry level was in wedding photography. The standard gear for students, rookies breaking in to the trade and experienced pros and old timers alike was the 4x5 Press camera, some electronic flash gear and plenty of film holders. All of us used, more or less, the same stuff. The camera had one normal lens. If we wanted a wide shot we stepped back or found a high vantage point (no drones) and climbed up there. If we need a closeup or a detail shot- we walked in a grabbed it. We used the “wire” viewfinder because it was faster and easier to see expressions. We memorized all our exposures, distances and camera operations to the point we we could do the job in our sleep. The quality of the work was totally dependent on the photographer's mastery of all the required skill sets. In retrospect, we turned out some excellent work. Perhaps some folks around here would laugh at some of the gear but I serious doubt that they would laugh at the results.

So now I'm not gonna tell you that I walked to school, barefoot in the snow! I actually had warm boots and took the subway- which was probably more dangerous. Point is, I kept the same philosophy about simplicity and skill. I am not telling anyone to not buy the best gear that they can afford or go on some kind of a photographic life of depravity and extreme austerity. I never felt deprived, jealous or envious of anyone who had more expensive gear. I only became excited if they did better work and I and wanted to learn form them, so, I spent my disposable income on education.

I hope this helps. A Merry, peaceful, lovely and joyous Christmas (2018) to all and have a successful, wonderful and healthy 2019!

JeffDavidson Loc: Originally Detroit Now Los Angeles

I agree with Linda from Maine. And, by the way Linda, your bald eagle is beautiful and very sharp.

JeffDavidson Loc: Originally Detroit Now Los Angeles

Linda, your mountain shot with the unusual cloud covering is also beautiful.

InfiniteISO Loc: The Carolinas, USA

Your rant made sense until you started talking about film, especially medium and large format.

I currently have two bodies, a Nikon D90 and a D7000, both excellent cameras when they were released and producing great images now when I'm on my game. My total investment in my equipment, Lights, Cameras, tripods and lenses is less than $2000, all of that except for the lighting purchased used.

The equipment to properly develop and scan sheet film at a level that captures the nuance that film of that size can capture is going to cost that much, and then there's cut film and chemical costs. Farming it out would be outrageously expensive as would working with color positives. I have no problem with folks that shoot film. I literally shot a ton in my day. most of it 6x6 in a TLR. But the bottom line is that dollar for dollar, digital is VASTLY superior to film.

Telling anyone that the way to do great photography on the cheap is shooting medium format film is criminally insane.

Spectre Loc: Bothell, Washington

👍📸👍

Triggerhappy

Your photoos are great. Thanks for sharing.

Photobum Loc: Auburn, Washington

I was once involved on a forum for rimfire benchrest shooting and the same type of question would be raised concerning equipment, accessories, and the say replies came forward. "Buy this or buy that, get the most expensive barrels, scopes, full support rests for $1000, etc, etc, etc." Yet, award winning targets come forward with simple mediocre rifles. In essence, its not totally the equipment. In this case, it's more of the eyes, the vision, the anticipated outcome, and the self satisfaction. Most importantly, opinion are like elbows, everyone has one.

InfiniteISO Loc: The Carolinas, USA

Well said, and let's not forget practice. I'm a firm believer in understanding every function on your camera and fiddling with it to see what it does.

I used to belong to a tuba/euphonium forum. Kids were always switching mouthpieces, wanting to trade instruments, experimenting with different valve oils, etc. There was a curmudgeon on there that said if the kids practiced every minute they were busy researching how to fix their playing, they wouldn't have anything to fix. Just play your damn horn, is what he said to most of them.

I personally don't think you should buy a new camera until you wear out the old one and it's too expensive to fix. The D90 came out in 2008. If you have a DSLR made in the last 10 years it can and will take great photos and the kit lens that came with it is a great piece of glass. It's not an exquisite piece of glass, but if you drop it you can replace it (USED) for the price of a nice meal out. Need a new camera, the guys whose wallets are dying from GAS are leaving a trail of lightly used, pampered equipment that can usually be had for less than half what it cost new. I will never buy another new car, and I certainly will never buy another new camera.

Bottom line: If you can learn to take great photos with less than state-of-the-art gear you will have a leg up on the widget crazy guys who shop more than they shoot.

donb17

I completely agree about Gene and Linda.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Almost every year I've been here, someone has wandered in here about now asking something like "How do I take good photos of my (grand) son/daughter playing basketball .... then sadly wanders out without another word when told to purchase a $$$$ 'f/2.8' lens s/he would never use for any other purpose. In situations like that 'we' often do not ask about budget, 'we' do not think about alternatives - 'we' know the answer. Even in this particular case there are less expensive alternatives if 'we' look beyond our usual knowledge, so we should precede what we know with "As far as I know ....". For example, on Black Friday I purchased a Pentax KP for $700 {usual price is more like $1000}. Pentax has been working on high-ISO photography - after a few experiments I think I would be comfortable taking sports photos at ISO 12800 or even 25600. The KP has a less expensive sibling, the K-70; someone could purchase a K-70 + 55-300 lens for perhaps $1000. There may be other possibilities out there that I don't know about that would also give acceptable results for no more than $1K.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

That depends on what you are doing. As a 'rail' hobbiest fifty years ago, I could never get a good photo of a train going 50mph - or even 30mph - with my Instamatic; I had to purchase an inexpensive Yashica rangefinder camera to get the job done.