Photography Thread: Pics, Cameras, Lenses, and Learnings

[Blix]

Nikon 70-1800mm f/2.8

I'd like to see the price and size of that one!

I handled a Z fc just a few weeks ago, such a super nice camera. I used to be a Nikon guy, and my first DSLR was the D70.
Then a short stint on a Pentax DSRL that was hot at the time, but the AF wasn't up to par with Nikon and Canon.
Went Canon after the Pentax and have stayed there. Worked as a freelance photographer for a few years, and unfortunately it pretty much killed my interest and I just quit.
I was deep into film at the time as well, shooting large format (8x10") Turned my bathroom into a simple darkroom. Nikon F100 with a 35,50 and 85mm for 35mm film. Well and a bunch of other cameras as well, several medium format etc etc, you know the drill.



A decade+ later I discovered I could get my 2005 dream camera 5D(mk I) for like $200 so I bought one a couple years ago and a ($400) Mk III followed shortly. Got an R6 Mk II this summer.

Annnnd I also started shooting some film now, luckily I kept most of my film cameras, and have recently added a few "new" one. Here we go again!
A friend is setting up a darkroom this winter, going to be fun.
Have this handy film processor thingy coming next week: https://darkroomhelper.pira.mx/

 

[paisleywookiee]

I need to figure out how to monetize the work I do for middle school sports. Not a cash cow or anything, but even if it's just like a PayPal tip jar to offset gear and cloud storage cost, that'd be nice. This year I had a google drive location set up with a folder for each kid on the x-country team that parents could access ... 75 kids on the team. Loads of gratitude, but I need to figure out how to turn that gratitude into, like, $10-15 a kid for the minimum 3 quality shots at different locations during each race (so 21 shots) per kid.

Plenty of sites out there where you can set your prices for pics, that people can order from with a URL. even if you keep it really reasonable, you could still make a decent sum. Parents/grandparents love that stuff.

I'd like to see the price and size of that one!

I handled a Z fc just a few weeks ago, such a super nice camera. I used to be a Nikon guy, and my first DSLR was the D70.
Then a short stint on a Pentax DSRL that was hot at the time, but the AF wasn't up to par with Nikon and Canon.
Went Canon after the Pentax and have stayed there. Worked as a freelance photographer for a few years, and unfortunately it pretty much killed my interest and I just quit.
I was deep into film at the time as well, shooting large format (8x10") Turned my bathroom into a simple darkroom. Nikon F100 with a 35,50 and 85mm for 35mm film. Well and a bunch of other cameras as well, several medium format etc etc, you know the drill.



A decade+ later I discovered I could get my 2005 dream camera 5D(mk I) for like $200 so I bought one a couple years ago and a ($400) Mk III followed shortly. Got an R6 Mk II this summer.

Annnnd I also started shooting some film now, luckily I kept most of my film cameras, and have recently added a few "new" one. Here we go again!
A friend is setting up a darkroom this winter, going to be fun.
Have this handy film processor thingy coming next week: https://darkroomhelper.pira.mx/

LOL I accidentally added a zero. Yeah, that'd be a helluva lens! Nah, the 70-180mm will do nicely.

That Darkroom Helper looks awesome!! Would love to get back into film, but I don't see it happening. Had a TON of it over the years. F3HP's with drives, FM2a's, FM3, N70, N90, N90s. More lenses than I can count.

 

[Blix]

LOL I accidentally added a zero. Yeah, that'd be a helluva lens! Nah, the 70-180mm will do nicely.

That Darkroom Helper looks awesome!! Would love to get back into film, but I don't see it happening. Had a TON of it over the years. F3HP's with drives, FM2a's, FM3, N70, N90, N90s. More lenses than I can count.

Having a buddy just getting back into fill as well we're enabling each other, but yeah with the prices of film now it will just be a side quest.
I have a thing for the old F4, damn sexy!

 

[paisleywookiee]

Having a buddy just getting back into fill as well we're enabling each other, but yeah with the prices of film now it will just be a side quest.
I have a thing for the old F4, damn sexy!
View attachment 33209

Oh man, that and the F5 were so hot.

EDIT

I forgot there was an F6 too. That came at the time I was getting out of it all, 2004/2005. I literally sold everything, and got a Sony DSC-V3, because I’d grown frustrated with trying to earn money as a photographer.

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

Oh man, that and the F5 were so hot.

EDIT

I forgot there was an F6 too. That came at the time I was getting out of it all, 2004/2005. I literally sold everything, and got a Sony DSC-V3, because I’d grown frustrated with trying to earn money as a photographer.

I can't imagine what shooting weddings in film days was like! In general, I can't imagine that working for wedding parties is the most pleasant way to earn money? I hate any kind of client work, but those have to be the absolute worst clients.

 

[paisleywookiee]

I can't imagine what shooting weddings in film days was like! In general, I can't imagine that working for wedding parties is the most pleasant way to earn money? I hate any kind of client work, but those have to be the absolute worst clients.

It’s like anything else really. Some great experiences, some awful. A good way to earn a couple grand though.
Bar/Bat Mitzvahs. That’s the one to get. Almost always wonderful people, and you’re home by 7.

 

[Blix]

It’s like anything else really. Some great experiences, some awful. A good way to earn a couple grand though.
Bar/Bat Mitzvahs. That’s the one to get. Almost always wonderful people, and you’re home by 7.

Agreed. I somehow ended up getting a foot in the Nigerian catholic community here in Oslo, shot a few weddings and a bunch of birthdays.
They throw huge parties for their children's first birthday, those were fun. 100+ people, fantastic food, and as soon as the (not so formal) ceremonies were over the photographer was encouraged to join in for drinks and food. Definitely not home by 7 though, they liked to drink!

 

[paisleywookiee]

Agreed. I somehow ended up getting a foot in the Nigerian catholic community here in Oslo, shot a few weddings and a bunch of birthdays.
They throw huge parties for their children's first birthday, those were fun. 100+ people, fantastic food, and as soon as the (not so formal) ceremonies were over the photographer was encouraged to join in for drinks and food. Definitely not home by 7 though, they liked to drink!

That sounds like a Greek wedding. Fun people, and they won’t accept no for an answer when they invite you to eat and drink.
What’s funny is that I’ve always been a very picky eater, so eating Greek food was initially out of my comfort zone. But not wanting to be rude, I’d eat whatever’s served. Now I love Greek food.

 

[paisleywookiee]

Are any of you chaps using flash units, and if so, what are you using?

 

[FuzzyAce]

Are any of you chaps using flash units, and if so, what are you using?

 

[paisleywookiee]

"he said flash his unit"

 

[Alex Kenivel]

I'm sure I've forgotten everything I learned from my photography class in high school by now, except "partner" developing sessions in the dark room with mostly girls in the class . B&W film, don't even remember the cameras.

My FIL gave us his Nikon D5100 and a few lenses, but I don't really know my way around it. We have the same camera at work and use it twice a year for portraits of the kids but I'm the one who has to make this kids smile. We turn them into art projects for the kids to make, which become either Father's Day or Christmas gifts to the parents.

I pulled it out recently for video curiosity, got the batteries charged, and found that my phone can take better video. I'm sure video isn't what these cameras excell at?

Should I just stick with my phone?

 

[paisleywookiee]

I'm sure I've forgotten everything I learned from my photography class in high school by now, except "partner" developing sessions in the dark room with mostly girls in the class . B&W film, don't even remember the cameras.

My FIL gave us his Nikon D5100 and a few lenses, but I don't really know my way around it. We have the same camera at work and use it twice a year for portraits of the kids but I'm the one who has to make this kids smile. We turn them into art projects for the kids to make, which become either Father's Day or Christmas gifts to the parents.

I pulled it out recently for video curiosity, got the batteries charged, and found that my phone can take better video. I'm sure video isn't what these cameras excell at?

Should I just stick with my phone?

Nikon's video quality really didn't get good until the mirrorless stuff, IMO. My dSLR is last gen, and the video is merely passable.

 

[Blix]

Are any of you chaps using flash units, and if so, what are you using?

Godox V1 and their wireless trigger:

I want the new nano trigger though, a good bit smaller:

Super happy with this system, got to get a flash or two more eventually.