PhotoRumours says a standalone LR5 will be available with a perpetual license. So now I'm confused.

First, how do you hope to display your images? Print? What size? Online? If online, you can probably get by very nicely with an older Canon Powershot that has a decent lens. I like a G12, but I have found small 10 MP ones for $8.00. If you are using natural light and online (only) displays, it's one way to go. If you want artificial lighting, then it is another matter. I'm not sure what "ethnic" faces can't be found where you are. I'd be busy just shooting facesfron New Jersey who move down there!

Nice to see. I hope to get back to DC. Not there since 2000 and before that 1969.

You need to first get control of your camera by turning OFF auto ISO and picking a single ISO you can live with. Second, is your lens fixed aperture or variable? If variable, it is likely closing down to a smaller aperture as you zoom out (which is why your auto ISO is going up.). Try putting the camera on manual or shutter priority with a fast shutter speed and use the highest ISO that delivers the quality you need. Run some tests to see if that combo works for you.

Any gear is not obsolete until it cannot do something you want it to do. In this case, shed pounds. Keep in mind that a lot of gear loses value faster than a Hollywood film starlet. So you can probably buy it again later for not much money. Of course the Sony will be cheaper in six months as well!

You should be able to read the link to see where it is from. If it something like www.fredsdeli.com/appleform it's fake! Just copy and paste the ULR into a browser with hitting enter.

An article I wrote for Shutterbug on pinholes is still up after many years, 'Look Ma, No Lens!" I wrote in with a pen name/radio name John Stewart. Bottom line, pinholes on small digital sensors is not as nice as on a big sheet of film. There are some examples in the online version of the article. shutterbug.net

I sometimes use a 5MP "Papershoot" camera and also a couple of old Kodak digis with fixed focus 35mm (equiv) lenses. It's quite refeshing for me and I've like the results. So a 14 MP version would be nice..the the digifilm insert is one more thing to lose.

My wife and I are not Jewish, but we very much enjoy and appreciate the many traditions and the wisdom surrounding them. Thanks for sharing these!
John

The need for large fast lenses may not be great as ISO increases. You may end up using a small, light f/5.6 or f/8 lens and never miss f/2.8. I know at least one working pro who has quietly sold off big, heavy lenses because smaller ones work OK with the newer high ISOs. So it may not be better glass, just smaller.

With so many manual lenses for various obsolete film camera mounts, would there be interest in this:

A box-like camera, shaded screen on top, aperture priority and manual with interchangeable front ends for Minolta, Nikon, Pentax M42, K, etc. There would be no attempt to communicate with the box, except for a stop-down lever for lenses that require it. The front ends would snap into place and be the correct thickness for each lens mount. Tripod mount on the bottom, shutter on the top. No AF or focus peaking, but again aperture priority and manual speeds. SD card access somewhere. Tripod socket.

It would be best with a full frame sensor, but that might be too expensive right now. Would you buy one? For how much?

I worked for several years as a communications/media guy for a church project that cost 26 million dollars. I begged a used computer from a local college (it was all I needed), bought a $5 HP laser printer at a rummage sale and used freeware for my work. I also took photos as part of my job.

A few years later, without telling me, they hired a guy right out of college who happened to be the chum of the son of a big financial supporter. He bought a brand new computer, color laser printer and just about every product Adobe made. While I was still on he payroll, I no longer had a management title and had to log in my hours. The guy quit after one year, having switched web host, changed passwords and generally caused a lot of trouble.

This same operation took advantage of a very good pro who was good at shooting interiors. Eventually, we both stopped working with them.

Bottom line: Just because it is a church doesn't mean they won't screw you. Sometimes it is just lack of organization, or some new person who is unaware of what you did in previous years. Humility may not get you far.

Too many religious groups and non-profits think they can get away with murder because they are "special." They ignore copyrights and do not value everyone equally. The more strapped for cash they are, the more excuses they make.

It used to be said that decent lenses' resolution outperformed the capabilities of even the best film. Since sensors are presently not equivalent to film, that would indicate that film lens resolution is more than adequate. However -as already pointed out- coatings, AF, shake reduction and various mode interactions of digital lenses make a big difference.

Think in years or decades. Sometime around 1960 a press photographer probably said, "I don't think TLRs are on their way out..look at the new Rolleiflex!"
Now speed up the time scale by 10,000% and you have what is going on today. 8 and 12 MP decent cameras are piling up in thrift stores. That's just 10 years.

The idea that "bigger is better" with sensors may be obsolete soon. Remember when many said the same with 35mm film versus 120 roll film? But 35mm film kept getting better and soon people used it more than 120. We need to consider that sensor technology keeps improving and soon there may be no need for so-called "full frame" sensors. The whole concept of building a sensor size based on the needs of 35mm film lenses will eventually fade as fewer users ever touched such a lens.

DSLR is a term already slowly on it's way out with the coming (finally) of mirrorless cameras. There will always be DSLR enthusiasts, just as there are today with 4x5 cameras. But don't expect the industry to keep making DSLRs. Perhaps some will be made via Kickstarter options. The need o caterso users with DSLR fitting lenses won't last, especially ones from the film era.

Thoughts on this?