I was attempting to clarify a point as to the use dictated by my needs. Again, I think you were comparing apples to oranges in the original post.
I've noticed that there seems to be trend in UHH users to resort to use of derogatory responses when confronted with a difference of opinion.
As for using the 600mm lens underwater my response is HUH? And what did that have to do with anything? I do use an underwater camera but as I recall our original post had to do with bird photos for the most part.
My experience thus far with UHH has been at best "sometimes interesting". Now I realize why many of my friends gave me that strange look when I had mentioned UHH to them as a potential source of info.
This leads me to the conclusion that any further endeavor associated with UHH is clearly a waste of time. ADIOS!

Hah,.. Try using that good old FD or FL glass that Canon had, on anything they made after 1990!

It's called a working system my friend

AMEN BROTHER>>>>> Micky B

Yeah,.. the EF's were definitely a game changer in films last heydays,... beginning in "1987". But that was over 30 years ago. A lot of water has gone over the dam since then. Big picture, in the last 10 years or so Canon has had some catching up to do with the more current Nikon's AF system. As I said earlier, my decision has been made on past experience. Camera features have always been a moving target. Turning this into a Ford vs. Chevy discussion is an exercise in futility.

I highly recommend the Camera Center of York on Beaver Street York,Pa. They've been in business for decades. Very customer oriented. Prices are good, great service. Cheers,

Prior to 1987 I never would have thought I would have made the switch from Canon,.... till I tried out the Nikons. In 2007 the company I was contracted to supplied Canons for inspection and photo records. They were used in climate extremes. We went through 3 of them in less than a year. Their next purchase was a Nikon. We used it for 6 years without a hitch of any issues in the same conditions until it was hit by a truck. When it was obviously beyond repair they updated to guess what,... a Nikon. This is just one example. Without getting into the nuts and bolts of it, Chevrolet outsells Mercedes. So I assume sales is what you are basing your comment on. I don't think it would be accurate to refer to Mercedes as #2 or 3 or 4 or whatever. I've never had anything to complain about the Nikons. That is not to say that Canons are bad cameras. Just that more folks apparently make their buying decision based on something less than experience. If I thought their was a better choice I'd make it. Havn't found one yet.

I highly recommend the Camera Center of York on North Beaver Street York,Pa. They have been doing this type of service for decades. Very customer oriented! I've had personal experience with them and have been always satisfied.

I switched from Canon to Nikon in 1987. Never regretted it. However, I've used a couple of Pentax cameras during the years. Gotta admit, I was really impressed with the image quality of their lenses. Especially a 105mm that I used for comet photos.

I don't use a bird table. Nor do I feel the need for doing post. I consider it a crutch for what should have been done at the time of capture as many other of my professional peers do. I'm shooting at 600mm handheld most of the time. I think you are,(to be frank)' comparing apples to oranges. Try your stated method with hummingbirds for sellable images... good luck! Which by the way, I sell lots of them. Cheers,M

As a photographer since 1969 I think a lot of good points have been made here but,... I'll say this. Try taking photos of fast flying birds with your cell phone and tell me how many good results you get, if any. Low light, slow operation, restricted focal lengths, noisy enlargements etc,etc. Yeah, they've come a long way but... the real issue as I see it is that in most of the photo composition classes that I teach most smartphone users are simply not that serious about what they are doing. Those that are, mostly use the smartphone in conjunction with a DSLR via the wifi. There simply is a lot that is difficult if not impossible otherwise. My other observation is that those that choose to make a serious endeavor will move up to an entry level DSLR. And take a course on how to use it's full potential.
Ansel Adams was once asked what is the best camera to use? His reply, "The one you have with you." The manufacturers have made gazillions of bucks with everything from the Brownie to the Instamatics and on to today's smartphones. They have all had their place for the snap shooter. And all have the capability to make usable images.
What bothers me the most is not so much the smartphones but what is looming on the horizon. Our society in general seems to be buying into the concept of, "I don't have to know anything about the fundementals of anything, the technology will take care of that". This was the marketing concept behind all those super whizzbangers of the late 1980's to early 90's. Anyone could hang a 35mm slr around their neck and look like they knew what they were doing. History does seem to repeat itself.

Kudos to you! I did meet someone the other day that recently purchased an F5. However it is not truly mechanical. The rising prices on the classics is notably on the "all-mechanical non battery dependent all springs levers and gears models". They were too expensive to make in the late 80's and early 90's and the rest is history. Kinda like cars. They don't use throttle cables anymore. All electronic,..it's just plain cheaper to make.

I think you are splitting hairs here but missing the point. My decision on whether I use film or digital is largely based on my customers request/desire. Almost to a person any copy work of old family/historical photos that I do is per the demand of the customer. They want negatives! They know how long negatives or 2x2's will last. Digital hasn't been around long enough to satisfy their expectations. Not to mention the media has become a bit of a moving target. Those customers want once and done. OTH I've been doing all of my wildlife/bird photos with a D7100 since it's inception. Convenience and speed etc,etc play a role here among other advantages without getting into the nuts and bolts of it.
A good Nikon F2, Nikkormat Ftn, or Fm can be purchased for about $125.00. Most film from Fuji or Kodak can be purchase for 7$- $9 per 36 exp.roll. Most lenses and accessories are also priced economically. Processing at the shop runs about $16. per roll 36 exp with doubles being made. In short, you can buy a lot of stuff for the price of a good superzoom. Which by the way I used a P500 and a P510 years ago. Sold images to several magazines. However, my Nikkormat EL produced better images with Fuji Super G.
There are a lot of folks out there making a good living with 4x5 view cameras. Not my bag, I don't do tintypes or glass plates. I know a few younger folks that are making a bundle with the Instax and similar cameras at public events. I can respect the people that can make an honest living doing it. It's a niche market. Just like some of the things I mentioned earlier that apply to my approach to the craft. Photography is very subjective like a lot of other pursuits. I have found in the past 40 years that newer,faster and better are not necessarily synonyms. The history books are full of such examples.
The big surprise for me the last couple of years is how many younger people want to shoot film and darkroom. My other observation is that the bulk of customers coming into the camera shops looking for classic RF's and SLR's are younger usually under 35. They seem to like classic cars from the 60's and 70's as well!

Yes,.. Nobody that I know of is making new film cameras. Oh wait!.. Fuji and Polaroid seemed to have made a hit with, of all things, the instant film camera market. Hmmm. As for demand,.. economically, increased demand always raises prices of anything from A-Z. Especially when there is a static supply.

For what it's worth, Film photography,like vinyl records, has been enjoying a bit of a renaissance. Mostly with compact RF's and all mechanical SLR's. Nikon L35's have been bumping a C note for over a year now. Olympus RC35's are running as high as 65 and 75 dollars @. Film is far from dead. Why do you think Fuji's 4 pack boxes of Superia that were $11.-$14. a year ago are now $20. for a 3 pack of the same. Do they see a connection between supply and demand? 1/2 of my students want to shoot film and do darkroom.
I recently contracted with a bridge construction company to do their photo archives and personnel photos. They stipulated digital for the archival photos and videos, But, film for the prints of their working personnel. HMmmm.
Although about 80% of my work is digital, (D7100, D3100 for backpacking, AW100 for crummy weather conditions. The other 20% is done with Nikon F2, FM,FE, Nikkormat EL, or Nikkormat FTn and a Canon FTb. I'm not a collector but I have had these cameras for years and used them for journalism,bird,macro,and comet photography. Glad I kept them! A peer of mine once stated," It's a little like driving a 1967 Dodge Charger". "Had one of them too".
Checkout japancamerahunter to get a big picture of all of this.