Accepting older digital DSLR compromises ?

[dee]

I used 25/50 ASA reversal film with a 50mm / 1.7 and 135 f2.8 lenses .
With primes , and my Leica M8 , some shots are possible , others get away, but that's fine .

Now , it's become the norm to have sensors with the equivalent of ASA 800 and above and zooms which cover an appreciable aspect .

As an amateur , I am content to work within the limitations of an older DSLR whereby ASA 200 is about the limit with a 35-70 lens f4 cropped to a nom 52-105 . or a 35-70 which reaches to 140 equ .

Is it just my age showing - or are others prepared to make compromises ?

dee

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Do I read it right? You have camera which do 200 ISO max? How old is it?
They made cameras which do 12800 not 800 around 2009 and in 2005 cameras were giving ISO 1600 suitable for 8x10 prints.
Or do you deal with stocks?

 

[jschrader]

I don't really understand the question.
Very old DSLRs have dead batteries or problems with the LCD.
One or two generation old DSLRs have poor video abilities and less than 75 auto focus points. Those I would accept 😀

 

[jsrockit]

Could I work with older DSLRs? Sure. Do I appreciate what newer DSLRs offer? Completely...especially now that I can photograph, handheld, in most light (while having shaky hands).

 

[Range-rover]

I use a dinosaur DSLR as well, a Canon EOS1Ds and a Nikon D2XS camera's
I know there's better ISO cameras as stated but for what they are they work
great. If there any problems with the final product I correct post process in
my computer. So compromise sure digital is all about compromise sometimes.
You can still get great shots from a dinosaur if need be.

 

[Range-rover]

Could I work with older DSLRs? Sure. Do I appreciate what newer DSLRs offer? Completely...especially now that I can photograph, handheld, in most light (while having shaky hands).

JS it's not that bad

 

[micromontenegro]

I absolutely get you. I spent decades upon decades using ISO 100 film, so the fact that my M8 in not that good over 640 leaves me absolutely indifferent.

See, I have never ever needed anything over 400, and then again, I did not like anything beyond 100. Why would digital change that?

 

[jsrockit]

JS there not that bad!

I don't think I said that Bob.

 

[dee]

The Digilux 3 is OK to ISO 400 , but the M8 is better at 320

The stripped out , Sony A290 , bought to use a Minolta 35-70 f4 , is a dinosaur even though the sensor dates from 2008 , and I stick to ISO 100/200 and the Pentax K10D is fine up to ISO 400 .
I admit to cheating with a Sony a35 which is fine at 800 , but I am unsure about the EVF.

The fact remains that I am fine with theses limitations , whereas many seem to be chasing absolute low light potential and faster lenses.

Maybe I am a dinosaur !!

dee

 

[kshapero]

"older DSLR whereby ASA 200 is about the limit with a 35-70 lens f4"
It seems you would be limited to sunny outdoor shoots with that.

 

[mdarnton]

I've been using my Nikon D300 since I bought it in 2008. So far I haven't had a reason to replace it. It's a working camera, doing archival work at my shop, and it does the job it has to do just fine. If I want to take it out the best EI for it before things really fall apart parallels film, which was enough for decades, so I'm happy.The only reason I might get a new one is if we decide to start shooting video at concerts.

Does anyone still remember when predictions were that 6Mp was enough for anything anyone would need to do and the Mp war was over, and 3200 was an ultra-fast film hardly anyone used?

 

[dee]

Outdoors is a touch better than sunny 16 , I can manage cloudy , but there are limitations .
Having said that - the M8 at high ISO in monochrome creates reasonable grain - if not up to film standards - and 6mp or 7mp [ Digilux 3 ] is still fine for much of the time .

 

[jsrockit]

The fact remains that I am fine with theses limitations , whereas many seem to be chasing absolute low light potential and faster lenses.

Maybe I am a dinosaur !!

It's just that we all don't photograph the same way or the same content. Nothing wrong with either approach.

 

[ray*j*gun]

I feel the same way about the old film rigs.... I shoot an Argus A2 pretty often
and enjoy the sense of making images with such old gear.... i suppose that is the same profile as myself

 

[lynnb]

If you are able to work within an older sensor's design limitations there's no reason to stop using it. Either choose or adjust light to suit the sensor. Modern sensors give you opportunities to make pictures in less light, and to use higher iso in good light if you need to. Only you can say if that's what you need.

 

[dee]

i am by no means knocking anyone who is far more advanced than me , but there seems to be a pressure to upgrade and chase more pixels/sensitivity etc .
dee
I also love using a Kiev or Contax - even better a Contax/Kiev [ Contax III+Kiev 4 controls !!]

 

[Ko.Fe.]

This is one is primitive and way too limited from new:
Announced in 2010.
http://www.dpreview.com/products/sony/slrs/sony_dslra290

It has nothing to do with old DSLR thing, because it was dead as new.
Also have no idea why you need to hold to old zoom lens, they are all inferior.

This one from 2009 and it leaves this Sony from 2010 in the dust and still superior to many fancy mirrorless.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos500d

You could have it now for $200 or less in next to new condition. Kit lenses aren't expensive either.

And it does ISO 6400.

Camera: Canon
Model: Canon EOS REBEL T1i 2009 year model.
ISO: 6400
Exposure: 1/80 sec
Aperture: 4.5
Focal Length: 59mm
Flash Used: No

So it has nothing to do with old DSLR.

Cheers,
Ko.

 

[JP Owens]

If you are an amateur who can shoot what they want, and an older DSLR meets your needs, I see no problem with that at all.

But...the freedom to shoot in just about any light (or lack of it) with just about any lens, that a modern digital camera offers is huge. I spent the first 40 years shooting Tri-X at ISO 400, and living with huge flash units with heavy power packs to shoot sports and night stuff. I would never go back to those limitations.

But, I have never had any nostalgia for the old days or old gear.

 

[Range-rover]

I don't think I said that Bob.

Sorry I changed the way I said it, did not mean anything I have that problem on vertical's

 

[willie_901]

All camera purchases involve compromises.

Color photography with a practical limit of ISO 800 is not much of a handicap.By practical limit I mean the signal-to-noise ratio and artifacts such as banding in shadow regions are acceptable.

Clearly the higher the ISO where one exceeds these practical limits the better.

Unless one relies on cropping in post-productuion as a composition technique or goals require the high levels of detail, large MP sensors are not a significant benefit. But being able to throw pixels away could be convenient.... just like decent IQ at ISO> 800 is convenient.