Mirrorless camera.
 

about to approach my lovely wife about me stepping up my picture taking.

my head is spinning from the options.

thinking of taking advantage of an older model of camera.

the Fuji E-E2 with the FUJINON LENS XF23mmF1.4 R. should fit my needs as a grew up using only non-zoom lenses..(they call them Prime lenses now?)

this is not the FLAGSHIP camera, and my quick math tells me i need to spew forth $1600 to get in the game. holy kamolee!! the cost have certainly escalated.

then i will need to update my home computer :) slippery slope i suppose.

My one comment about mirrorless cameras is the old Mazda Rotary comparison.

When the rest of the industry sticks with conventional shutters and mirrors in SLRs, do you really want to go down to path that few have tried? There is a reason for the big boys to all use the same basic technology. It works and is reliable.

The Mazda rotary engine is cool, but it no matter how hard Mazda has advanced them, the just wear out too fast and suck a lot of gas. Draw your own conclusions.

Sony mirrorless user here, former Nikon D7000 shooter, I still have it. Nex-7 and A7ii with mostly adapted lenses as I only have one native, a 28mm f2 that is sharp as a tack. I haven't upgraded my computer and get along fine with them, but, I am retired and don't do a lot of PP after the fact since I'm rather old school and like trying to get it right, right out of the camera.
The ability to adapt old lenses (my oldest is a Leica 35mm circa 1936) to either camera is what drove me to mirrorless.
I'd recommend you take a look at the used market of Sony A7RII's on the market as they just announced the III's so people want to upgrade. I'm happy with my 24 megapixel bodies, the A7ii has in body image stabilization so all my old lenses are stabilized.
Good luck, it will be interesting to see which way you go.

I really dig my Fujifilm X-Pro 1. Funny thing is, its for sale. I'm going back to Canon DSLR for my astrophotography pursuits.

Fuji makes some great glass too.

I picked up a Sony A6000 last fall. Intent was for our upcoming trip (leaving this weekend - yay!!!!)
Wanted a Fuji, but totally choked on the price.
Wanted high quality and “traditional” photography capabilities along with interchange of lenses.
I got the lowly “kit” lens that came with the camera.
Love the (somewhat) smaller form factor. Much more portable than a dale, but will never be a pocket camera.
Like many things, I wanted to go the “purist” route, but just could not lift my leg that high.

Also - I have to say that I have always been opposed to Sony products. Mainly because they take things like memory cards and stick you with their own proprietary designs. (Not the case here, by the way).

In any case, I’ve been test driving it since September or so, and I really like it.
I shopped Panasonic LUMIX, Fuji X-E2S and X Pro2, but just couldn’t do it.

The Sony takes great pictures and is pretty easy to use.
Seem to be lots of additional capability.
Only gripe is no built in GPS for metadata. I bought a separate GPS dongle, and it works - but is kind of fiddly.

There are several primes available, but I don’t see (my wife having) the patience for dealing with those.

Good luck in your search. I’ll be interested to hear your decisions.
(I got a bit of a bargain through “open box” from Best Buy - another example where I went against my gut. Hate hate hate Best Buy), and I popped for the extended warranty. Chances are pretty good that between travel, scouts and kids sporting activities - something could happen to it.

Here's some shots taken with the Fuji...except the one photo bomb with Art Wolfe.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1521661024.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1521661006.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1521660978.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1521661073.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1521660995.jpg

What lens? (And how much?)

An equally important question to ask is how many shutter actuations.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1521662842.jpg

Comes with 14mm XF 2.8 R (Auto/Manual lens)
Extension tubes
Rokinon 85mm F1.4 (Manual lens)
Canon FD adapter
Canon FD 70-210 F4 (Manual lens)
Battery & charger,
Strap
8gb SD card
58mm Circular Polarizer

Camera shows signs of use but everything functions properly.
Fuji XF14 in excellent condition and functions perfectly.
Rokinon 85 in great conditions and functions as it should.
Extension tubes never used.
Canon FD 70-210 is like new.

Listed for $850 but you would be a repeat customer so I'd go $800 shipped.

There is no shutter on Mirrorless cameras.

Maybe your Fuji doesn't have one Eric, but my Sony's most definitely do.
You might want to try taking your lens off and pressing the shutter button on yours while looking inside it.

You are right, it has a focal plane shutter. Not sure what I was thinking.

Here's a short video showing the shutter on my A7ii.
Filmed with my Nex-7 w/FE 2/28 lens.

https://youtu.be/tTUJk6drL08

You probably meant it doesn't have a mirror. DOH!
All in good fun.

DOH for sure. LOL.

That's a great price on the Fuji. Those are excellent cameras, I have the X-T10.

If it is mirrorless, how do you take selfies?

I have the Leica D-Lux- 109. It has a fixed Carl Ziess zoom lens that is sharpe as a tack. I love it because I can fit it in my coat pocket which means I carry it everywhere and therefore use it almost daily.
Steve

I bought a Sony 5100 a year ago and returned it, color was all wrong and over-saturated. I have an old Lumix LX5 that takes good pics most of the time but others not so much. I need to do a lot of detail pics like this second one.

Any recommendations?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1521672551.JPG

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1521672551.JPG

I also have an A6000 and am pretty happy with it. I solved the GPS tagging issue with this app: GeoTagPhotos. Works great. Just make sure your camera and phone clock are always in sync. Sounds easy, but throw in some plane travel and traveling across timezones and it becomes something you have to work on to remember.

My experience with 'product' type photography is limited to my taking pictures of my own cameras mostly. The one thing I've found is that controlling the light is most important.
I just took this shot with a $20 camera I bought off Goodwill. I actually have four of them that I keep for everyday carry. Canon PowerShot SD1000. Small as a package of cig's or playing cards, 7 megapixel, it has a 'Flower' setting. Works for me when I don't want to haul out the Micro Nikkor on the A7ii.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1521675140.JPG

I did see something that might help you Shaun and it's cheap.
It was a plastic jug like a milk carton, only round, where they cut the bottom out and a quarter section of the wall to shoot thru. Set it over the product. It controls the light by diffusing it so you won't end up with that flash hot spot. I would recommend a tripod and no flash if possible too.

edit: Check this thread out as this is where I saw it....

https://www.talkemount.com/threads/trout-lilies.17922/

Oh gosh- Totally turn off the flash if you haven't already!
If Scott's idea doesn't work (and that is a good idea)- disable the flash, prop the camera on something solid (like a book of something), program a delay into the shutter fire, hit the button, and step away to get a clearer shot in low light.

A lot of these camera's also have different light settings which need to be played with to get what you want.

In addition to my SLR, I also love the canon powershots. I buy them at will and have them laying everywhere. So versatile and convenient, and even they are too powerful for uploads to pp without lowering the resolution. I think it even has a macro setting. The cool thing about the small point and shoots as you can put them on an el-cheapo tripod and they are so featherweight the whole assembly works.

Shaun - were you shooting under fluorescent lights for the pic you posted?
Those can be hard to get the right color to show up under.

That was going to be my next suggestion- you can almost see the flourescent light tube reflections in the macro shot. Flourescent can throw everything off. A lot of these camera's have lighting setting built in to oversaturate things because it "looks" good- for example "nature" settings will accentuate the greens and blues. You've got to really read the owners manual and turn that stuff off.

Here's an example of my Nex-7's capability, without much effort on my part aside from the resizing etc.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1521677385.jpg

Not that you want to play with it, but post processing is interesting too.
Here's Scott's original pic, post 21, on the powershot with about 30 seconds of work in photoshop:
( Well- maybe a 1:30... :) I tried to remove the bluish tint)

Probably a little too overdone. Oh well!

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1521677546.JPG

Thanks Scott, I'll take a look.

No flash, never use it.

I've got a tripod, problem is it's tough to use because I typically have large area (1-2 meters of parts spread out) shots and then close-ups. Been trying to hire an assistant for a month now. I think it's a good idea and time/cost-effective for them to use the tripod.

Yes, fluorescent lights with several big windows behind me of natural light.

I think a contributor is the navy fleece I have down much of the time. The tan ultrasuede above takes much nicer pics.

Thx. Let me talk to my wife.

I have both DSLR (Canon) and mirrorless m43 (Panasonic Lumix).

Last fall I sold off most of my heavy DSLR gear (50 f1.2, 70-200 f2.8, 24-70 f2.8) as it only collected dust.

Now I am mirrorless 99% of time and only use DSLR when I need flash (my flash equipment is Canon-specific).

I actually went so far that I even sold off my Lumix GH1, GH2 and got one of those fancy "superzooms" (Lumix FZ1000) as it has f2.8 lens compared to GH f4.0.

I do not miss the mirror and love decreased size. Besides, it shoots wonderful video!

Ahhhhh yes, the old wife excuse :eek:;)

Hey, wait a minute. Vash never said his wife was OLD. :eek:

Like my Lumix SZ30 with the 20x Leoca lens with its great low light without as much jpeg noise, GPS, Wifi, and Zoom while recording movies. Even does some nice brainless exposure/focus programming if I could remember where to turn what on. BUT, don't photo much any more. Forget I have the pocket sized camera with me, heck usually even forget my iPhone plus can do good impromptu snaps.

yea..i'm old school..i just like to mention purchases to the wife prior to just jumping..

easier that way. not sure what i'm supposedly making excuses for tho..motion.

Looked at this and it's a great idea but I will have to fashion something very large to cover a meter's worth of parts spread out. I may also look at putting some velcro around the lights such that I can put this milk carton style filter (as a semi-opaque sheet) over the ceiling lights when I take pics of finished work.

PM'd you Shaun.

Clean.
What lens?

That was with my Sony FE 2/28. Only native lens I have for my Sony's. 28mm is not wide enough for shooting cars at shows I've found so I use my old Nikkor 24mm. This shot was taken in a mode that automatically chose 'Marco'.
The resizing for posting really doesn't do justice to how sharp it is.