Author Topic: Thoughts  (Read 4765 times)

Nikkor Shooter

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Thoughts
« on: December 31, 2018, 15:42:42 »

   Photography is a wonderful discovery,
   a science which occupies the highest intelligences,
   an art that sharpens the most shrewd minds
   and whose application is within the reach of the last of the fools!”
                  — Félix Tournachon, aka Nadar (1857) —


During a class for photography enthusiasts of college and university
levels, I explained that the very best and the very worst cameras are
of the “point and shoot” type. Best because they are ready at any ti-
me and worst because they produce rather lousy pictures.

So, if one wants to achieve higher quality photographs, greater invest-
meets must follow; providing extended everything from dynamic range
to ISO through brighter lenses, very fast shutter speeds, longer and so
much faster frame rates, auto-focus, etc, etc, etc. All the technical re-
finements must be included.

“Yes, I understand what you say but doesn’t that lead to ever more com-
plicated cameras?” asked a student.

“We all agree that photography is a science which occupies the higher
intelligences; it is those users that need all that stuff to accommodate
the artistic intents of their sharp, shrewd minds.” I answered.

Another asked: “Ok, let’s say that you have in front of you the flagships
of several cameras manufacturers which is the first and most important
feature you will be looking for, even trigger an eventual purchase?"

"All sections in the menus should have enough flexibility for me to confi-
gure all shooting parameters so it will behave like a good point & shoot!"
Light is free… capturing it is not!

Kenneth Rich

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Re: Thoughts
« Reply #1 on: January 01, 2019, 02:41:11 »
How about:"The camera should have enough flexibility for me to confi-
gure all shooting parameters so it will behave like a good film camera!"

Nikkor Shooter

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Re: Thoughts
« Reply #2 on: January 01, 2019, 03:54:03 »
… so it will behave like a good film camera!"

Sorry Kenneth but no film cameras can outperform
a DSLR when it comes extreme shooting conditions.

HNY to you :P
Light is free… capturing it is not!

Kenneth Rich

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Re: Thoughts
« Reply #3 on: January 01, 2019, 04:40:15 »
Well, I often think of my Df as my film camera. HNY2U2.

Nikkor Shooter

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Re: Thoughts
« Reply #4 on: January 01, 2019, 04:43:40 »
Well, I often think of my Df as my film camera. HNY2U2.

It might have the body but not the soul!   8)
Light is free… capturing it is not!

Peter Connan

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Re: Thoughts
« Reply #5 on: January 01, 2019, 07:23:08 »
I am a bit weird. I tend to rely on my camera's technical abilities, rather than my own artistry, since I don't have much of that.

I don't want my camera to behave like a point and shoot. I find them incredibly frustrating.

But I do want to be able to configure it to suit my needs for the particular photo I am taking.

The marvel of the modern high-end DSLR is probably just that. The fact that, with a bit of effort, it can be configured to suit almost every user, and every type of picture one can imagine.

Happy new year!

Birna Rørslett

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Re: Thoughts
« Reply #6 on: January 01, 2019, 10:00:28 »
It might have the body but not the soul!   8)

Many Df users would strongly object to that description :D

A camera that brings back enjoyment to one's photography is not to be written off in that manner ...

Nikkor Shooter

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Re: Thoughts
« Reply #7 on: January 01, 2019, 10:25:57 »
I am a bit weird. I tend to rely on my camera's technical abilities, rather than my own artistry, since I don't have much of that.
It is well after the ABC that children may discover
their talent for poetry expression with words.

I don't want my camera to behave like a point and shoot. I find them incredibly frustrating.
Peter, I wrote "behave" and not "perform" like a P&S.  8)
With the combo you have, it must be clear to you!

But I do want to be able to configure it to suit my needs for the particular photo I am taking.
Exactly, right on. As image hunter, I will not back off
when things get out of control if I control the camera.


HNY, Peter!
Light is free… capturing it is not!

Nikkor Shooter

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Re: Thoughts
« Reply #8 on: January 01, 2019, 10:30:34 »
Many Df users would strongly object to that description :D

A camera that brings back enjoyment to one's photography is not to be written off in that manner ...

Hi Birna,
I said "the" soul not "a" soul!

HNY! :)
Light is free… capturing it is not!

Birna Rørslett

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Re: Thoughts
« Reply #9 on: January 01, 2019, 10:41:45 »
I read what you wrote and I heartily disagree.

Nikkor Shooter

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Re: Thoughts
« Reply #10 on: January 01, 2019, 10:58:12 »
I read what you wrote and I heartily disagree.

I got that… but in what do you disagree?
Light is free… capturing it is not!

Birna Rørslett

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Re: Thoughts
« Reply #11 on: January 01, 2019, 11:17:04 »
That the Df lacks "the soul". Of course. I have been using each and every Nikon camera made for decades and Df has more soul than virtually any of them. It lines nicely up with the F and F2, though, but for being digital. It might even equal or surpass my previous all-time favourite, the Nikon F2 Titan.

Nikkor Shooter

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Re: Thoughts
« Reply #12 on: January 01, 2019, 11:31:13 »
It lines nicely up with the F and F2, though, but for being digital.

Yes, it has something with my old FM2 as well… but this is
not in my proposition. In short, it has the looks (for sure)
but not the readiness to extreme image hunting.
Light is free… capturing it is not!

Birna Rørslett

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Re: Thoughts
« Reply #13 on: January 01, 2019, 11:34:18 »
On the contrary, the Df is the ultimate picture machine. In my view. The looks are just circumstantial evidence. Put on say a 105/2.5 and experience true synergy in your shooting.

Frank Fremerey

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Re: Thoughts
« Reply #14 on: January 01, 2019, 11:41:09 »
with this quote up front, the last topic connected to it seems to me hardware.

The means are within reach of everyone. I type these words on a camera phone with capabilities far beyond the point and shoot cameras of my youth.

Yet to make a fool of oneself one can use such a device or a top shelve flagship camera.

The real point is how to use the tools at hand and not make a fool of oneself and the answer lies in the first part of the quote: make it an art or a science or both like Michael Erlewine...
You are out there. You and your camera. You can shoot or not shoot as you please. Discover the world, Your world. Show it to us. Or we might never see it.

Me: https://youpic.com/photographer/frankfremerey/