How about a camera thread? Pelicanheads show me your cameras!
 

Couldn't help but notice many of us have common hobbies, cars, watches, cars, guns, cars, guitars, cars, home theaters, cars...

So how about you photography folks, what are you using?

I have a Nikon coolpic for fast and easy point and shoot digital pictures.
A Canon T90 with a couple of Tokina zoom lens.
My old work horse Canon AE-1 with a Canon f1.4 50mm

After fiddling with the Nikon exclusively for the past few years just because I had got lazy I have decided to break out the old 35mm stuff and play with it again. Planing on hitting Ventura for the car show this weekend and going to shoot off a couple of rolls. I am not a giant fan of ebay but I started looking around their photography area and the old manual camera stuff is going pretty cheap. I got a few bids on some Canon lens I could never had afforded new and an old Canon manual camera that is the same model I started on.

Nikon D70 DSLR w/3 lenses...love it. No more film for me, and I am in the photography business. 3 fps, can't beat it for 1K--plus lenses.
Christian.

Yeah I know digi is so much easier... but hey I'm old school!
And when you get your film done for a few bucks more they (Kodak)will throw in a CD.
Just something cool about handling an old camera.
Kind of like driving a stick shift when they make auto-sticks that work just as good. ;)

Oh yeah, left out the old Yashicamat large format.

I understand that if you do photography for a living digital is probably the only way to go. For me it is strictly a hobby... but it is an art to me also.

SmileWavy

I guess it's a dual hobby for me, as I have alot of worthless film equip around here that I've collected just because it looks cool.

For shooters, I have 2 T90, and a A-1, and a big pile 'o glass in the Fd dept. For EOS gear I've got an EOS-3 and a pile 'o glass plus the wife has a Rebel 2k model (I don't let her drive the Porsche either) and an older Rebel that's expendable.

I've also got 2 each Mamiya auto XTL and auto X-1000 (same cam, obscure 35mm) and about 3/4 of the glass/accesories for those models.

I shoot the T90s far more than any other.

Well, I've haven't used 'em in a while.. Nikon F3 with MD4, Nikon F2AS with MD2 and Nikon FM. The F cameras are so nicley "overbuilt", they don't make em like that anymore. I don't know the value anymore, you can find F3s on ebay for dirt cheap.

i have a nikon fe2 - great camera. i want a D70 or D50 or Rebel XT.

Mine:

- Canon T90 and F1 (old) w/ 17mm 24mm 50mm 35-105mm 80-200mm

- Nikon F Photomic FTn (two, one w/ F36 motor drive), F3 w/ MD4 drive, FG w/ 24mm 35mm 50mm 85mm 300mm 35-105mm

- Olympus OM1 w/ 50mm and 200mm

- Olympus XA

- Rollei 35S

- Canon P (rangefinder) w/ 50mm 105mm

- Hasselblad 500C w/ 50mm 80mm 150mm

I use the Nikon Fs and F3 mostly, and have a preference for fast lenses (the 50mm is f1.2, the 35mm is f1.4. the 85mm is f1.4) and a dislike for zooms.

The Canon SLRs should probably be sold off, I was a big Canon FD fan but don't use them any more. The Hasselblad has been idle for years but I hope to get back to medium format someday. The Olympus OM1 was given to me free and I'm still deciding if I'll keep it. The Canon rangefinder is a garage queen. The Olympus XA is my main pocket camera. The Rollei 35S is basically a conversation piece.

I shoot 90% B&W, develop at home, print in a rental darkroom. My own darkroom stuff is in storage, someday I'll set it up. I strongly prefer this to digital, as I spend too much time on a computer as it is, and don't find Photoshop relaxing. Give me three hours in a darkroom, grooving to the iPod, meditating to the prints.

People with autofocus digital cameras produce sharp colorful shots. After a while most of them look alike. I like my B&W prints, they stand out.

Amen brother!

Been thinking if I really get back into it setting up a darkroom in my garage.

I have one of these
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1125959636.jpg
a Canon Eos 350D Digital SLR with the twin lense kit (18-55mm and 75-300mm) 8mp
I also have a Pentax Optio 555 Compact. 5mp, 5 x optical zoom

i practically gave away my nikon FM2 and lenses. some friend's kid is starting photo stuff in highschool so i sold the lot, CHEAP.

keeping my leica M6, and hasselblad 500CM. i was in the process of building a darkroom, but the money went digital. bought a nikon D70, and now i am shopping for a wide angle lens. still getting used to digital. the lenses dont seem that fast. i could do stuff with my leica rangefinder that would blow your mind. i have an older leice rangefinder back in texas. dont even know what it is. my stepdad is giving it to me. old and never used. wonder what lens is coming with it?

for the record, my first degree was photography. just got tired of the gig.

Since one of my many hats is to shoot pics, I've got Nikons, Hasselblad and 4x5, all mostly holed up in cases. Anyone in the market for classic Nikons? A more affordable digital back that retrofits onto Hassy 500 C/CMs just came out, so the camera is still useable for something other than collecting.

Digital 35 SLRs are getting closer to my ideal, but I haven't made the plunge yet (still wanking away with a compact digital Olympus).

My ideal digital SLR would include a working preview screen that also pivots and angles like the top end compacts (Sony, Minolta, Olympus, etc.). However, it's not made yet and I'll eventually succumb to one of the digitals from Nikon or Canon.

The latest 12 Mp Canon EOS 5D SLR has a larger CCD sensor, the same size as 35mm film, so existing 35mm film lenses will work w/o overcoverage. Alas, it's in the $3K range.

Sherwood

Don't get me wrong--B&W film, developing and printing yourself...nothing better!
Christian.

I have a Sony DSC F707. It's about 5 year old now, but still a great camera. Only downside is that it takes too long to take a photo! http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1125975139.jpg

that hasselblad digital back is more expensive than my cars! (isnt it?)

Post what you have, or send me a PM. I'm mostly done buying Nikons but you never know.

I've got my dad's old Canon AE-1 Program w/ f1.4 50mm and Canon 70-210. When I turned 21 my parents got me a Canon EOS 630. I bought a 24-70 and 70-210 for that one, and just about a month ago I got a Canon Digital Rebel XT (350D for you out of towners ;) ). I've got the kit lens (18-55mm), a Canon f1.8 50 mm, and a Sigma APO DG 70-300mm Macro.

Here's an 8 MP Olympus that I dont know how to use. I ruined Christmas last year with this little gem.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7543624360

Im going back to a cheaper point and shoot camera.

Someone mention Leica equipment?

M lenses:
El Marit 135, f2.8 and 90, f2.8, black and mint condition.

Leica CL black body w/El Mar 90mm, f4, mint

Sherwood

does any one have any input on the point and shoot style cameras that look like SLRs - the sony 8700 for example?
does it take pics that look like they were taken by a SLR?
are there any cameras out there that mimick SLR characteristics?

The most important SLR-type feature I look at is the biggest drawback of point and shoot cameras, IMHO. That is shutter response. Most P&S cameras are fine for typical candid-type shots, but don't expect steller results trying to shoot any thing that moves faster than a newborn baby unless you have a couple of seconds to spare.

I haven't monitored the latest round of P&S camera features. They seem to introduce a new camera every week.

Go here for the latest info: www.dpreview.com

Sherwood

Wow, lots of Nikon types here ... and a few LF guys, too! I'm surprised, I thought I was the only "heavy metal" photographer in the bunch. I'm a full-range guy like that, though. I carry an EOS 20D, an elderly Elan 7, and a Horseman LE 4x5 with a 90mm Angulon, a 135mm Wollensak (that came with my Graflex and is a beautiful lens, oddly enough!), and a sweet 210mm in a Copal 0 shutter.

I suppose there'll be a couple in this crowd who'll understand the sheer beauty of a well-done print from 4x5 B&W, no? I mean, don't get me wrong, the digital SLR is a great tool, and it makes pretty reasonable prints ... but it just isn't the same. Maybe my brain has been rotted by the fixer over the years, but I love printing a 16x20 from 4x5 and seeing the incredibly smooth greyscale, the super-sharp detail, and the complete lack of grain.

Have used Leica's for years and love them. Not the easiest nor most modern but the quality of the lenses and bodies cannot be beat.

Have one of most of the Leica rangefinders made but my favourite is the M4. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1126025463.jpg

Finally bit the bullet and bought one of their digital cameras and fell in love with it. Quality is unbelieveable and just a joy to use.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1126025549.jpg

Not cheap but well worth it if you are into taking photographs.

JoeA

Vash,

It may be a 3 series of the older Leica's. I have a 3F and 3G and while they are 60+ years old they still take excellent pics. Some of the older camera's have the screw type bodies but there are adapters that will allow you to use the newer style lenses on them.

Also, some of the older Canon screw type lenses will fit on these bodies, but the quality is not as good as the German lenses. This is a 3g with the 50mm collapsable lens. Really makes for a compact unit.

JoeA http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1126025911.jpg

joe, you may be my hero. that leica digital is sweet! really sweet.

i fell in love with the silence of the leica. a large portion of my images were shot from the hip, and the subject typically had no idea, until i chatted them up afterwards. just as soon as i get my hands on the old one, i will pm you.

i want the compact, leica digtal, but cannot justify ditching my minolta. i use it for "help" photos in 911 work. and that is about it.

Vash,

I do the same a lot of the time. You can get very good shots if your F-stop is a bit wide and you just "shoot from the hip" without acting like you are doing anything. Much more natural I find.

My Father was a collector of Leica's. When he passed most of the camera's had already been sold but he saved a few for the kids.

I picked up a very nice 75th anniversary M4-2 gold plated version in Montreal last year. Cost was under $3k and have been offered over $10k for it but its not for sale. Found it on a small camera shop off of the main drag who had owned it for years and had been holding it for someone who never showed up. I offered them cash on the spot and it went home with me. New in the wooden presentation case:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1126032609.jpg

Also have a normal 75th anniversary M4P that I found while living in Berlin. Also new in the box with the orginal sales paperwork and warranty.

When I find a good example for a descent price will pick it up and stash it. They are my savings accounts and have never lost money on one of them but rarely sell any. Time for that later on in life. For now they are nice to hold and look at, much better than a bank statement with lots of numbers on them!

JoeA

i'm not sure, but it may have been in the "watch thread" that a subject of cameras came up and a bunch of people put up pics of their leicas... it was simply stunning to look at. wonderful machines.

DAMN! sweet. i wish i got the silver/blk one. i opted for the all black, but the silver looks WAY more classic. oh, well.

Guess I am a little behind the times with mine.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1126038173.jpg

Actually have 2 old Nikon FMs and various lenses. Amazing how much digital has devalued the good ones.

Hold on to the old stuff.

As I mentioned in a previous post, the latest Canon digital SLR uses a CCD sensor the same size as a 35mm film frame, thus regular lenses (at designed focal lengths) can be used.

Maybe this is a trend soon to be followed by other manufacturers.

Maybe some enterprise could develop a digital back with microelectronics that could retrofit onto classic 35mm SLRs.

Sherwood

Another thing that's keeping me with the old stuff - besides my preference for B&W darkroom - is the lenses. The new digital SLR typically come with wide-range but slow and plasticky zoom lenses. If you want to buy really good, fast auto-focus lenses, they're expensive. For relatively little money now you can get really good fast glass in the old manual-focus stuff. That's another reason I've been moving to Nikon. I'm hoping that Nikon will eventually come out with a DLSR with a full-frame sensor which maintains the current mount and can use my MF Nikon lenses. Canon moved away from the MF Canon lenses long ago.

D70 with 3 lenses again, here. 2 of the 3 were originally intended for nikon film SLRs.

Had some years-back experience with film SLRs but came to the DSLR from digital point and shoot. would absolutely not go back, you need a real camera to take a real picture :D

Forgot to post this pic
 

I use this for most of my shooting.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1127187243.jpg

Sony's coming out with an R1 model. While it has a fixed lens, it goes from 24-120mm with a 35mm-size CMOS sensor and a unique top-of-the-camera preview screen. The review in the link below is not conclusive (pre-production model), but it looks like a potential winner. It looks like the manufacturers are trying to establish the $1K mark as a price point for "more serious" models. Hope this threshold goes down.

http://www.dpreview.com/

John,
I had the same Nikon Photomic Ftn w/motor drive as well; a workhorse for many famous photojournalists, but you must have developed big biceps carrying that around. I still have a plain F body for nostalgia.

Sherwood

sherwood - i saw that model a few days ago on dpreview. it should be released in mid november and it does look promising. i like the idea of the rotating LCD screen - always have.
what olympus model to you shoot with - the 8080? i tried to PM you a couple days ago but your inbox was full.

HI Bob,
Sorry about the PM box. I have a tendency to save too much.

Nothing as advanced as the obsolete 8080 (what? 8 months old now? Nice camera btw). I'm using an archaic C4000 P&S, but with Nikon and Hassy as backups. The Olympus is good enough for some pro jobs @ only 4 Mp; 32mm lens setting is handy and relatively sharp, but still waiting for "the" camera. The Sony R1 looks good, but so did the Canon 350 and the Nikon D70 a few months ago.

Sherwood
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1127195143.jpg

I want a gigapxl camera. (Actually up to 4 gigapixels). Amazing images on this site!

A gigapixel is hardly necessary. 4x5 negs can be printed as large as you please with no discernible grain. Recording more information than that is really overkill.

JYL, I'm diggin' that old Nikon. It looks battle-ready!

Agree and with my 5.1 megapixal Leica Digilux and the unbelieveable lens I have blown up photos 5 times and still not seen any grain. With the settings correct and a good lens it does not take that much memory. With a 1 gig memory card I can take over 100 shots that have unbelieveable clarity. Might have figured out that I love this camera.

Also like the old Nikons. Had several of them. Sent one in years ago to be overhauled. Post Office dropped the package so bad that the lens would not even mount on the body. Sent my second body in for the same thing and they lost it. Insurance paid up on the bodies and I sold the lenses and gave up on them. Something was telling me to stop with the Nikons and concentrate on the Leica's. Who knows...

JoeA

sherwood - based on the pics on the early s reg board, i would say it's all about the eye and not the equipment with you. some really great pics!

Joeaksa - i can't believe you scored a leica digilux 2 for $900. what a great find! it's even difficult to find the panasonic equivalent for a good price. how about some samples of our favorite subject with that leica?

Bob,

Will try to post some pics when I get time. Busy with work now.

Found the digilux on the Leica list. http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug

Could not believe the price either but got it and its like new, with warranty remaining. Very happy with it.

Joe