Anyone into still photography?
 

I've been fooling around with still photography for about a year now. I like digital the best, its gives you more freedom than the conventional chemical based darkroom, and its not as messy. Here is a pic I took yesterday;
http://home.attbi.com/~jimreinhardt/IMG_0082edweb.JPG
Some other pics of mine are at http://home.attbi.com/~jimreinhardt

If anyone else is into still photography, i'd be pleased to see your work...post away!.
Chris Reinhardt

EDIT; why isnt VB code working?
EDIT #2 WHy dont they allow vB code or HTML? That's just about the stupidest thing i've ever seen....oh well....

Chris:

I was a still photographer for 30+ years before getting into film and video (the bulk of my business remains photojournalism and contract still photography). Nikons for field work and Mamiyas for the studio. Got into digital two years ago with the Nikon D1 and now digital accounts for 75 percent of my still work (with the D1H and D1X).

I think still photography (particularly photojournalism) provides a good base for film work because it requires both composition and storytelling skills. Gordon Parks, for example, was a successful still photographer before venturing into film.

Doug

<<<-- Originally posted by Doug Thompson : Chris:

I was a still photographer for 30+ years before getting into film and video (the bulk of my business remains photojournalism and contract still photography). Nikons for field work and Mamiyas for the studio. Got into digital two years ago with the Nikon D1 and now digital accounts for 75 percent of my still work (with the D1H and D1X).
-->>>

Doug,

How do you like the digital Nikon cameras? I have wanted one for quite some time now, but have not pulled the trigger. From everything that I have read, it appears to be the one I want.

Recently I sold my Mamiya RZ Pro to help fund the purchase of my XL1s. I wish that I would have kept that camera. It truly produced some woderful images. I also sold my Leica M6 for the same reason.

<<<-- Originally posted by Studio975 :
How do you like the digital Nikon cameras? I have wanted one for quite some time now, but have not pulled the trigger. From everything that I have read, it appears to be the one I want. -->>>

The D1H is my workhorse. Good resolution for most applications, fast with a 45 frame buffer and built like a tank. I've shot magazine covers with it and made prints up to 16 by 20. When you combine it with the AFS lenses, it delivers outstanding images.

The D1X adds resolution on the high end, but you sacrifice speed (the buffer and burst mode is useless for action photography) and ISO sensitivity. I use it only when a client wants a poster size or above image.

Haven't tried the digital backs for the Mamiya. Still use an F5 when a client insists on slides.

Nikon let me borrow a D100 for two weeks. Incredible resolution but it doesn't have the speed I need and I doubt it would hold up to professional use. I ordered a second D1H instead.

You gave up two good cameras to get a good video camera. I've never owned a Lecia but I love their precision and optics. Now, if I could just find a way to use Nikon AFS lenses on an Xl1S...

Doug

Doug,

Yes it was VERY hard to part with those two cameras. They both took care of me for many years. With the move towards DV, I just could not afford to have both. Plus I would like to move towards a digital still camera. It provides much greater image flexibility.

The D1H sounds like it would fit the bill for me as well. I shoot a lot of action type of stuff, which requires a fast camera. What is the going rate for one of these dudes?

<<<-- Originally posted by Studio975 :

The D1H sounds like it would fit the bill for me as well. I shoot a lot of action type of stuff, which requires a fast camera. What is the going rate for one of these dudes? -->>>

$4350 is the current "discounted" price but if you have a good relationship with a Nikon Professional Products dealer, the going rate if usually about $500 less than that. They had a $500 instant rebate going a few months back but I think it has ended.

If you don't have a pro dealer you deal with in Houston, try Roberts Imaging in Indianapolis or Penn Camera in Washington. Both cater to pros.

Doug

I'm really starting to get into still photography.
I bought an OLD Pentax Spotmatic SLR at a garage sale for $30 a few years ago, to try out photography. Then shortly after, I got a neat little Canon S100 digital Elph and left the SLR in a box collecting dust. In the last 6 months, I've needed to do some sports photography and of course the S100 is useless for that (2x zoom), so I pulled out the old Pentax and fired her up. I picked up a 90-230mm zoom lens for $30 and a 2x teleconverter for $10, and it rocks. Every now and then I think about buying a new SLR camera that can take a few shots per second (and has autofocus). But on the other hand, I still haven't spent $100 on the camera I have and it takes great pictures. I will upgrade eventually, but I'd like to see digital SLR prices come down a bit first.

Doug

OpTex makes a Nikon to XL Lens Adapter http://www.xl1s.com/ It works similar to the EF Adapter that Canon makes. It also multiplies the focal length by a factor of 7.2x This makes a 300mm Nikor lens effectively 2160mm. Great for nature and wildlife work, but limited for every day shootong. ZGC is US Dist. of OpTex http://www.zgc.com/ .

Jeff

<<<-- Originally posted by Doug Thompson : <<<-- Originally posted by

$4350 is the current "discounted" price but if you have a good relationship with a Nikon Professional Products dealer, the going rate if usually about $500 less than that. They had a $500 instant rebate going a few months back but I think it has ended.

Doug -->>>

Yikes! That is the amount of my XL1s with the 16x Manual Servo Lens. I have seen the D1 for around $2000, but I would rather have a faster rig.

Thanks for the tip regarding Pro Dealers.

Paul

<<<-- Originally posted by Dylan Couper : I'm really starting to get into still photography.
I bought an OLD Pentax Spotmatic SLR at a garage sale for $30 a few years ago, to try out photography. Then shortly after, I got a neat little Canon S100 digital Elph and left the SLR in a box collecting dust. In the last 6 months, I've needed to do some sports photography and of course the S100 is useless for that (2x zoom), so I pulled out the old Pentax and fired her up. I picked up a 90-230mm zoom lens for $30 and a 2x teleconverter for $10, and it rocks. Every now and then I think about buying a new SLR camera that can take a few shots per second (and has autofocus). But on the other hand, I still haven't spent $100 on the camera I have and it takes great pictures. I will upgrade eventually, but I'd like to see digital SLR prices come down a bit first. -->>>

Sounds like a good setup for occasional use but you probably couldn't make a living in photography with it. As with any creative endeavor, it's the eye that controls the equipment more than the equipment itself but you still have to have the hardware to turn out a quality product.

<<<-- Originally posted by Jeff Donald : Doug

OpTex makes a Nikon to XL Lens Adapter http://www.xl1s.com/ It works similar to the EF Adapter that Canon makes. It also multiplies the focal length by a factor of 7.2x This makes a 300mm Nikor lens effectively 2160mm. Great for nature and wildlife work, but limited for every day shootong. ZGC is US Dist. of OpTex http://www.zgc.com/ .

Jeff -->>>

Jeff:

Thanks for the tip. I'll check it out. We're about to add a widescreen HD Betacam to our equipment mix so I may concentrate more on adding lenses to it, but the adapter is certainly worth considering.

Doug

<<<-- Originally posted by Studio975 :

Yikes! That is the amount of my XL1s with the 16x Manual Servo Lens. I have seen the D1 for around $2000, but I would rather have a faster rig.

Thanks for the tip regarding Pro Dealers.

Paul -->>>

Used D1s are available from a lot of sources for around 2K and they are good cameras (I still have one as a backup). Pro level Nikons have never been cheap (neither have pro level Canons). But someone who has owned a Lecia should know that...

Doug

<<<-- Originally posted by Doug Thompson : <<<-- Originally posted by

Used D1s are available from a lot of sources for around 2K and they are good cameras (I still have one as a backup). Pro level Nikons have never been cheap (neither have pro level Canons). But someone who has owned a Lecia should know that...

Doug -->>>

LOL .. So very true. The Leica was a great camera and it served me well. You can't beat them for quality. All though my Leica was only $1800.00. I will probably get a used D1, since it is a bit more closer to my budget. Still would like to have one of the faster models.

Have you ever checked out www.photo.net? That place amazes me with great pictures everyday.

<<<-- Originally posted by Studio975 :

Have you ever checked out www.photo.net? That place amazes me with great pictures everyday. -->>>

Haven't checked it out, but I will. Thanks for the tip.

Doug

Two other photography sites to check out are:
www.dpreview.com and www.dpchallenge.com

I have a question though, what's the difference between still photography and just plain old photography?