What's your camera gear?

[Gil]

Just curious. How many using Digital or film? Also, I am surprised on how many of you have serious gear. I remember my first DSLR was the Nikon D1 at almost $5000 and my coolpix 900 was almost $1000 for 3.3 megapioxels. Some of you have D300, D200 and the many D5 and the serious lenses to complete the experience.

[KBasa]

DSLR and Digital P&S.

[grossjohann]

DSLR and Digital P&S.

+1

[wmubrown]

Just curious. How many using Digital or film? Also, I am surprised on how many of you have serious gear. I remember my first DSLR was the Nikon D1 at almost $5000 and my coolpix 900 was almost $1000 for 3.3 megapioxels. Some of you have D300, D200 and the many D5 and the serious lenses to complete the experience.

Canon - Eos Elan (35mm film, admittedly rarely used anymore), D10 digital, various lenses for Elan and D10, Digital Elph. Casio Exilim digital P&S.

[bmwdean]

Just curious. How many using Digital or film? Also, I am surprised on how many of you have serious gear. I remember my first DSLR was the Nikon D1 at almost $5000 and my coolpix 900 was almost $1000 for 3.3 megapioxels. Some of you have D300, D200 and the many D5 and the serious lenses to complete the experience.

Amazing, isn't it, what has happened to prices and to quality for the same price?

The old D1 (2.7 mpx!) was $5,000. Now the latest, the 12 mpx D3 with a full size sensor and far more and better features, is $5,000.

Meanwhile, you can get the 6 mpx D40 for $400!

It almost makes you want never to buy a DSLR because a better and cheaper one is just around the corner.

Almost :)

[bricciphoto]

Amazing, isn't it, what has happened to prices and to quality for the same price?

The old D1 (2.7 mpx!) was $5,000. Now the latest, the 12 mpx D3 with a full size sensor and far more and better features, is $5,000.

Meanwhile, you can get the D40 for $400!

It almost makes you want never to buy a DSLR because a better and cheaper one is just around the corner. Almost :)

It is amazing. I've concluded (for the moment) DSLRs are as disposable as any other camera and decided to pass on them, although there are some mighty fine digital bodies available (compared to even the best film SLRs in their day). I paid about $600 bucks for my first digital camera, a point-and-shoot in '98. It was a whooping 1.3 megapixels--my almost two year old cell phone is nearly as good and it was "free." :bluduh My G9 is 12 megapixels and it was less than $500. Makes one wonder where all of this is going. :dunno

[Gil]

Amazing, isn't it, what has happened to prices and to quality for the same price?

The old D1 (2.7 mpx!) was $5,000. Now the latest, the 12 mpx D3 with a full size sensor and far more and better features, is $5,000.

Meanwhile, you can get the 6 mpx D40 for $400!

It almost makes you want never to buy a DSLR because a better and cheaper one is just around the corner.

Almost :)

It get's better. I find that my Fuji S2 and even better, my Fuji S3 still challenges anything currently available. These two cameras are old technology. My Fuji S3 has better color and less noise than the Nikon D40X for about the same price.
Meanwhile, My D300 for under $2000 has much better color, contrast and resolution than the old Nikon D1 which sold for over twice that ammount.
By the way, Olympus make a fine system for under $600 including two lenses.

[nytrashman]

my camera gear is as follows:

cameras:
canon 1D
canon 20D

lenses:
*all canon except where noted
50 f/1.8
85 f/1.8
135 f/2.8
200 f/2.8
300 f/4 IS
400 f/5.6

17-40 f/4
tamron 28-75 f/2.8
70-200 f/4

canon 1.4 TC
tamron 1.4 TC

canon 430 EX speedlite

manfrotto 681B monopod w/ RRS clamp
Gitzo G2220 tripod w/ markins ball head and RRS clamp

sekonic L-358 flash meter

a single alien bees flash w/softbox and various muslins

various pelican cases, backpacks, straps etc.

[DougGrosjean]

Hmmm. Not enough categories in the poll above....

On the bike, usually I'll just have a swing-lens 35mm Widelux FV and a medium-format Rolleicord V, both circa mid-1950s.

The Widelux is a swing-lens panoramic camera, which uses two frames of 35mm film per shot, on a curved film plane. Lens swings left-to-right, covering about 120-degrees per swing. Since the tripod mount and the lens axis are concentric, I can take 4 shots at 90-degree spacing, merge them in Photoshop for a full 360. The coverage is wide enough that I don't have to have the camera at my eye to use it, ie, I can just level it using a bubble level in the hot-shoe, look at the arrows on the top of the camera that show angle of coverage to make sure what I want is between the arrows, and then "Click." Downside is complexity - the three-speed transmission is the camera world's Desmo. But when I do my part - wow! The Widelux produces extremely unique photos. Value: under a grand.

It can do this:

http://photo.net/bboard-uploads/00NrLy-40718584.jpg

... and lots of other neat compositions, such as curving the horizon if aimed slightly downward. Usually level is best, and it doesn't suffer fools gladly....

The Rolleicord is a low-end version of the German Rolleiflex twin-lens reflex camera, also circa mid-1950s. A winding knob instead of a crank, etc. But still excellent lens. I have some close-up attachements for it, a modern flash, and a panoramic head for it as well. The Rollei is similar to a digital in the viewfinder, with its ground-glass focusing. And I can use it with my helmet on, if need be. Probably with gloves, though I've never had to. Very quiet and smooth shutter, so it can be used a bit stealthily, and it can be used with very slow shutter speeds. :):) Value: couple hundred bucks.

Scanning the negs from the cameras above at 2400 DPI, gets me 8MP on the Widelux and 23MP on the Rolleicord. I've had enlargements from the Widelux taken out to 12"x36", and they look fine. :):) Probably in the next year or so, I'll be taking that Bike Nite pic out to 4' long for the bar's owner, because that block of buildings burned down about a month ago. :(:( I don't know the limit of the medium-format negs from the Rolleicord, haven't found them yet. But an 8x10 enlargement from a 400-speed neg shows almost no grain at all. Seems sufficient for me.

The quiet shutter, and being able to use the controls with gear on, netted me this shot of my SO scanning the maps to locate our position in Cumberland Pass:

http://www.bmwmoa.org/photo/photoview.php?pic=42560498

Plus a small or full-size tripod attached somewhere on the bike. Comes in handy sometimes.

Then a weather-resistant Olympus Stylus in a fanny-pack. Handy in rain, snow, for quicky pics where I wouldn't want to risk one of the nice cameras.

I also have some other oddball cameras that see use on the motorcycle if needed, such as a 120-film panoramic (Kodak Panoram, circa 1900), a 35mm stereo camera (Stereo Realist, circa late 1940s), as well as a 4x5 press camera from the 1920s and a 5x7 from even older. But it's the Widelux and the Rolleicord that are most likely to go with me on bike trips.

Why such old crude cameras? They're usually cheap (well, except for the Widelux....), easy to use on the bike, fully mechanical so no need for batteries or wall outlets (nice if on an extended camping trip). They're hefty, which I hope translates to "robust to vibration" when on the bike.

The value of the old cameras hasn't changed during the time I've owned them (2-4 years), so if I sold them I'd suffer no depreciation.

I think the proper quote here would be: "A simple tool is a joy forever." :):):)

[torags]

I have been stricken with LLS.

A couple of years ago I got my first dslr. Then I started reading photo forums, Hell I even planned trips based on forum photos (& they were great). Then I started to see my pix. I started seeing the faults and that's when it started:

LLS = Lens Lust Syndrome.

then I went to tracks and I needed more fps (frames per second)... it never ends...

Now I have:
D200 & D70S
18/200 f3.5 - 5.6
85 1.8
sigma 10/20 f4-5.6
24/70 f2.8
70/200 f2.8
Tamron 200/500
200/400 f4 (which required a heavy duty tripod)
2 TCs, filters - smilters, bags 'n bags, tripods 'n monopods

What a lot of crap, but its been a joy. I have a hike in set up (lightweight when I have to hike an hour or so, to get a shot like this:

http://torags.smugmug.com/photos/203632160-M.jpg

Or when it's a dark venue like Cirque

http://torags.smugmug.com/photos/242146228-M.jpg

Or when you need those fps

http://torags.smugmug.com/photos/237318835-M.jpg

But its a chore lugging the stuff on the bike. It requires some farkling

[GregFeeler]

DSLR and Digital P&S.

Ditto.

[32232]

We need a category for film range finders. :)

[bmdubyou]

Wow, torags, those are some awesome pics! I'm curious which sigma lens you listed...is that a 10-20 zoom?? I miss the wide angle capabilities with the digital Nikons. I have a 14mm 2.8 that I love but with the dslr I lose a lot of coverage.
God has given us a beautiful creation to enjoy and I hope to see much more of it (hopefully on the bike)!

I've gone digital but still have 3 film bodies. Id love to experiment with the older medium formats or even large formats. I have a freezer full of film and paper yet!

[torags]

Wow, torags, those are some awesome pics! I'm curious which sigma lens you listed...is that a 10-20 zoom?? I miss the wide angle capabilities with the digital Nikons. I have a 14mm 2.8 that I love but with the dslr I lose a lot of coverage.
God has given us a beautiful creation to enjoy and I hope to see much more of it (hopefully on the bike)!

I've gone digital but still have 3 film bodies. Id love to experiment with the older medium formats or even large formats. I have a freezer full of film and paper yet!

Its the zoom Sigma 10-20 f4-5.6.

I love the wide angle but there is distortion at 10mm, especially with vertical lines (like buildings).

That said, it can be used to advantage for particular effects. Its a nice lens and very well regarded and pretty reasonable.

[bmwdean]

God has given us a beautiful creation to enjoy ...

<a href=http://home.att.net/~motos/religion.htm>Click here for recommended reading.</a>

[SNC1923]

Greetings Photographers,

Fortunately, I haven't showered or combed my hair yet, so it's not too inconvenient to don my Mod hat for just a minute. . . .

Our forum guidelines are clear (see sticky in this forum) about religion, politics, etc. The debate about the existence of God is a valid one and we have a forum designed specifically for that. So don't go there (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=35).

It's only been 72 hours. Let's give it a chance and return to the topic at hand.

And thank you in advance.

[/mod hat]

[RandallIsland]

The debate about the existence of God is a valid one and we have a forum designed specifically for that.
[/mod hat]

I'm sure it was just Get Over Digital.

[bricciphoto]

I have been stricken with LLS.

What a lot of crap, but its been a joy. I have a hike in set up (lightweight when I have to hike an hour or so, to get a shot like this:

http://torags.smugmug.com/photos/203632160-M.jpg

But its a chore lugging the stuff on the bike. It requires some farkling

Very nice shot! I found I wasn't taking pictures when I had all my DSLR gear (two bodies, 15mm 2.8 up to 300mm 2.8, numerous filters, plus all the Canon T/S lenses).

Unless I had something specific in mind, I started really disliking lugging all the gear around and basically stopped shooting. I always felt like I needed to carry it all in case I saw something special and didn't want to regret compromising because I left this or that behind. So I sold it all and went backwards to a simple P&S camera. My hat's off to you! :wave

[DougGrosjean]

I always felt like I needed to carry it all in case I saw something special and didn't want to regret compromising because I left this or that behind. So I sold it all and went backwards to a simple P&S camera. My hat's off to you! :wave

I sort of went down a parallel path and ended up at a different destination, with just two very different cameras: my 35mm Widelux and my 120-format TLR Rollei. The vast majority of my on-motorcycle pics are taken with those two cameras.

But... I have about a dozen old cameras, all the way up to a 100 y/o 5x7 that can be shot handheld, and a couple modern film 35mm SLRs. So I'll choose which camera(s) based on how well they'll work for the trip I'm going on, and then do the best I can while on the trip with those 2-3 choices.

I don't know how people with a half-dozen lenses do it. If I had that many choices while on the road, I'd be overwhelmed by the choices. More power to those who aren't.

[torags]

Very nice shot! I found I wasn't taking pictures when I had all my DSLR gear (two bodies, 15mm 2.8 up to 300mm 2.8, numerous filters, plus all the Canon T/S lenses).

Unless I had something specific in mind, I started really disliking lugging all the gear around and basically stopped shooting. I always felt like I needed to carry it all in case I saw something special and didn't want to regret compromising because I left this or that behind. So I sold it all and went backwards to a simple P&S camera. My hat's off to you! :wave

I may wind up like that. I was on the CA coast in Cambria one morning with my 18/200. I went to the beach, it was low tide and son of a gun there were almost a dozen California Condors there in the backwater. I've never seen that many.

200mm wasn't enough reach to get good shots & here I am (you know the feeling)

http://torags.smugmug.com/photos/99399935-M.jpg

[KBasa]

Ditto.
I carry the DSLR in a saddlebag while I'm riding and carry the DSLR in my pocket. I can get action shots while riding and have a decent camera for shooting pics around camp.

I usually carry two tripods: a tiny one that sits about 4 or 5 inches high and a full size one.

And that's plenty, I think. I used to travel with all my SLR stuff and never got it out because it was such a pain in the butt. I switched my Pentax ME Super for a Canon P&S and started taking tons of pictures again. When I went digital, I started with a Sony Mavica, which was a pain to use (floppies for the photos!), but then switched to a Canon S400.

[russbritt]

I carry a Canon F1 sometimes.....but my main photo gear is 4 hasseys, including a superwide. Can`t get excited shooting digital yet, a digital back for my cameras runs about $30,000. I can waste a lot of film before thats paid for.....:type

maybe one day I will get a digital camera.....maybe not...:banghead

[crgrbrts]

I use photographic instruments from opposite ends of the technological spectrum. My "daily shooter" is a Canon EOS 30D digital SLR, but on scenic journeys I carry my Gowland 4 x 5 view camera. It's actually lighter in weight than the Canon; hand built by the famed glamor photographer Peter Gowland. Peter, a heckuva a nice guy, will soon be 93 years old and is still at work every day. You might find his website entertaining at www.petergowland.com . I was a Leicaphile for years, but the only Teutonic camera I have today is my trusty old Rolleiflex SL66 medium format. It's not exactly backpackable however.

Happy shooting,

Craig
K1200R Sport

[bmwdean]

I use photographic instruments from opposite ends of the technological spectrum. ... on scenic journeys I carry my Gowland 4 x 5 view camera. It's actually lighter in weight than the Canon; hand built by the famed glamor photographer Peter Gowland. Peter, a heckuva a nice guy, will soon be 93 years old and is still at work every day. You might find his website entertaining at www.petergowland.com .
Craig
K1200R Sport

Amazing! :)

[bmdubyou]

Greetings Photographers,

Fortunately, I haven't showered or combed my hair yet, so it's not too inconvenient to don my Mod hat for just a minute. . . .

Our forum guidelines are clear (see sticky in this forum) about religion, politics, etc. The debate about the existence of God is a valid one and we have a forum designed specifically for that. So don't go there (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=35).

It's only been 72 hours. Let's give it a chance and return to the topic at hand.

And thank you in advance.

[/mod hat]


pardon me! I guess I'm not sure exactly who is out of line here. Was it me because I mentioned God and being thankful for a beautiful photo or was it another who seems to enjoy proselytizing on here?

[bricciphoto]

hand built by the famed glamor photographer Peter Gowland. Peter, a heckuva a nice guy, will soon be 93 years old and is still at work every day.

Thanks for the link to Gowland's website. I can understand why he's still working. This is a fascinating thread. I love seeing and hearing about the diversity of gear and each person's shooting interests. :wave

[bricciphoto]

200mm wasn't enough reach to get good shots & here I am (you know the feeling)

http://torags.smugmug.com/photos/99399935-M.jpg

Perfect example, but still a nice shot of a atypical scene. :thumb

[OfficerImpersonator]

I use an older Canon D-60 with EF 17-40mm f/4L USM, EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM, and EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lenses, Hakuba carbon fiber tripod w/ Really Right Stuff quick release mounting plates, Sigma EF 530 DG Super Flash EO-ETTL speedlight, and a nifty Pelican case to keep everything in.

We also have a Canon PowerShot S400 digital point and shoot, with a scuba/snorkeling-type watertight case for river trips, kayak trips, etc. - when you don't want to break out the SLR but still want to take photos.

In my opinion, this is the best photo I've ever taken, using the D-60 and the 17-40mm lens:
http://dvandkq.net/images/05022004-322.jpg

[DougGrosjean]

In my opinion, this is the best photo I've ever taken, using the D-60 and the 17-40mm lens:
http://dvandkq.net/images/05022004-322.jpg

Wow - that's absolutely gorgeous..!

[SNC1923]

Hey, let's start a pano thread so Doug can talk more. I think this is fascinating stuff.

Mods--can we move the posts related to panos to a new topic or do we have to start over?

Done. The panorama posts have been moved to Panoramas: Go W I D E (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=23193).

[OfficerImpersonator]

Wow - that's absolutely gorgeous..!

Thanks :)

The trip down the Grand Canyon, in a 17' wooden boat was fun, too!

[GrantMacEachern]

I have recently switched religions on two levels. First, I am now almost completely digital and second, I have switched from Canon to Nikon after 18 years. The story is, last year my house was robbed and over twenty camera and all related gear was stolen. So, in today's terms that adds up to one full DSLR system. Here is what I shoot with now:

Nikon D80
12-24mm AFs DX
18-70 AFS DX
SB600
Nikon IR remote

Canon S400 Compact digital
Canon SD800 IS Powershot compact digital

Sekonic L-358 light/flash meter (don't go anywhere without it)
Gary Fong flash diffuser (awesome results)
Manfrotto 055 ProB tripod
Elinchrom studio stands with one white and one reflective umbrella
All the filters and doodads you would expect

Also, I used some of the insurance cash to buy a kitted out iMAC on which I run the CS3 adobe suite. The iMAC with Photoshop is essential with digital photography.

Finally, to keep it real I sourced a Yashica Mat 125-G off ebay. I use this medium format TLR quite often. There still is no comparison between a digital print and looking at a large, juicy transparency through a loupe on a light table......

[bricciphoto]

Gary Fong flash diffuser (awesome results)
...

I've been meaning to try the Lightsphere. Seems like a pretty ingenius solution and a step or so beyond an Omnibounce.

[bmwdean]

In my opinion, this is the best photo I've ever taken, using the D-60 and the 17-40mm lens:


I can see why you are proud of this photo. It is a transformative image.

Congratulations!

[rocketman]

Attached is a vertical pano, Natural Bridge, VA.

Verticals need to have just the right subject to look normal. Something long and tall with no straight lines.

one of the cool things about that is the road that goes over it. A natural bridge indeed.

RM

[GrantMacEachern]

I've been meaning to try the Lightsphere. Seems like a pretty ingenius solution and a step or so beyond an Omnibounce.

Try one out at your local camera shop. Some of my friends poo-poo the lightsphere saying it's a lot of cash for a piece of plastic. The point is, it works and works well. Not everyone would value it.

I did find it took some practice to know what it results it would produce, but in the end the results are nice soft even light rather than harsh FLASH light.

[DougGrosjean]

Thanks :)

The trip down the Grand Canyon, in a 17' wooden boat was fun, too!


That trip is on my list of things to do before I die, but in a whitewater kayak instead of a dory. Although a dory would be my next choice after a kayak, and way before a raft.

Have kayaked a bunch, raced whitewater slalom in the early 1990s, so it's hardly a pipe dream. Lotta my friends have done it already, but I just haven't had the time, money, etc come together all at once for that trip. One of these days.

Finally hiked partway into the Canyon this past summer while there. Oh man... just whetted my appetite for more. Hanging out at the rim doesn't compare with being down in.

[OUTBACKUFO]

I use both film and digital SLRs... the film negative is still a more archival system for images... though i am starting to get too sucked into digital... and wished some images i have on negative so i could print larger than 20x30

[OfficerImpersonator]

That trip is on my list of things to do before I die, but in a whitewater kayak instead of a dory. Although a dory would be my next choice after a kayak, and way before a raft.

Have kayaked a bunch, raced whitewater slalom in the early 1990s, so it's hardly a pipe dream. Lotta my friends have done it already, but I just haven't had the time, money, etc come together all at once for that trip. One of these days.

Finally hiked partway into the Canyon this past summer while there. Oh man... just whetted my appetite for more. Hanging out at the rim doesn't compare with being down in.

Yeah - I'm spoiled for life. I can never go to the rim again. I'll always want to be down at the bottom, running the rapids and floating through time.

We've actually done the trip twice. I have photo journals of both trips on our website. The 2nd trip was with the grandfather of running dories down the Grand Canyon, Martin Litton, so it was covered by Outside Magazine.

They sent a reporter and a photographer on the trip with us. The photographer was primarily shooting wide format, and it took half the cargo area of a 18' rubber raft just to transport his gear. All my gear fit inside a medium sized Pelican case. I think he was jealous of my compact digital set-up sometimes. He ALWAYS made derogatory comments about digital gear. I think I took better pictures than he did.

2003 trip: http://dvandkq.net/Grand%20Canyon%202003.htm

2004 trip: http://dvandkq.net/Grand%20Canyon%202004.htm

Outside Magazine article on our trip: http://outside.away.com/outside/destinations/200506/grand-canyon-1.html