Contemplating the unthinkable for me

FrankS said:
Thanks for your contributions, Keith! It's important to me that a digital camera is close to traditional film cameras in haptics, and not feel/operate like a computer.
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In that case, go for an X100 series or X-Pro1. I expect the computer-like EVF experience will not be pleasant for you. There's something comforting about framelines.

John
 
Frank
I did not wait too long after I see the immediate results coming from the XE-2 last December. I purchased it with their 14, and 1 month later got the 23 Lens. I prefer to keep one lens on a body, especially with digital; and I am waiting dearly for the X-Pro2 so the other lens has a permanent home. Go for it!
 
Sparrow said:
... sounds wonderful impartial ... as are all Langley Press' publications, I hasten to add
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Well, some of us lived under this regime long enough to know what's impartial and what's not... I always wondered those observers from outside preaching about the benefits of the system they never lived under and only being able to theorize based on Marx works...
 
... whereas I see ill in both their houses ... I suspect Gazprom is simply a reflection of Halliburton as are their respective masters, and I'm equally sceptical either has my interests at heart
 
So we have discovered that RFF is the last hide of nostalgic friends of Kim. But wait, is it the same Kim, who has thrown his uncle to hungry dogs??? Oh well, "real" humanism knows no limits. :D
 
Thanks all for your informed and entertaining responses! I enjoyed the quotations. The analogy of switching from manual to automatic car is good, as i was waiting for a digital camera with the "pedals" in the right place. (aperture, shutter speed, focus) I may be getting a body only, so Joe, I will likely be taking you up on your offer, thank you. (And I did notice what you did there.)
 
I think Fuji is the choice as a system - wide selection of excellent native glass, reasonable AF performance, decent MF. But if you're going to be adapting MF glass > 28-35mm, advantage Sony.

BillBingham2 said:
Kind Sir,

Why Fuji and not Sony?

I ask because I'm trying to work through the same sort of journey. I'm thinking the sensor, image processor and handling are where the magic happens. Perhaps that's just for me as I plan on using CV and older Nikkor glass.

Some how I think perhaps it may not matter as much as swapping bodies may just be the wave of the future (perhaps it already is).

Please share your thoughts on the journey.

B2 (;->
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For anyone without the years of traditional photography experience to reconcile with the new digital process, and for those whom the final image is all that's important, it would be an easy choice.

Not so for me. I'm a tradition and process guy.
 
Not to sound discouraging, Frank, but getting the image into the digital camera is the easy/fun part.
OTOH, what to do with it once it's in the computer, not so much.

As a long time film guy I am glad I did climb "Mount Lightroom" but it was a tough slog.
 
FrankS said:
Hello Bill. As I said, it was a physical encounter with a digital camera that felt right. In the past few months, 2 different friends excitedly showed me their new digi camera. Both times I simply politely complimented their new camera, but felt no desire to even hold them to examine them more closely, because I find their aesthetics to be unappealing. (Push buttons, yuck.)

Ha, ha! No logical comparative technical analysis at all. (I have this intuitive side.)

It's not how a camera looks, but how good it feels in your hands. If it doesn't feel right, it doesn't look right, so its not a trivial/superficial consideration.
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It's expensive and a fixed lens camera, but a Leica X or X Vario might appeal to you. An X with an OVF clipped on feels for all the world like I'm shooting with a lighter weight M4-2 except the aperture ring is a dial on the top deck instead of a ring on the lens. For an X Vario, I'd use the EVF: the zoom isn't particularly fast but it is an outstanding performer. I've seen the X Vario sold refurb for about $1300 recently.

G
 
Hi Frank, hope all is well up in the White North!

FrankS said:
For anyone without the years of traditional photography experience to reconcile with the new digital process, and for those whom the final image is all that's important, it would be an easy choice.

Not so for me. I'm a tradition and process guy.
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Perhaps it's my lack of skills in making color prints, but I'm with you. Rather hard for a computer geek to admit but other than digital versions of what I could do with an enlarger, dodging and burning a bit, I'm not into the entire post processing thing. I shot slide for years because of what I perhaps mistakenly call the pure form of the image. it was exposed the way I wanted it.

On the other hand, my oldest son tweaks the living 5hit out of pictures. The results are stunning, but it's not me.


FrankS said:
....it was a physical encounter with a digital camera that felt right.....It's not how a camera looks, but how good it feels in your hands. If it doesn't feel right, it doesn't look right, so its not a trivial/superficial consideration.
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I've always been a big proponent of the importance of the tool blending into you so you concentrate on the task, not the tool. I had that feeling when I held my first Nikon Rangefinder. I used M's for years but the S2 just felt like an extension of myself more than any other RF ever has.

Buttons are for shirt and jeans, touch screen are for smart phone and tablets, give me a camera with a couple of dials (ASA, Shutter Speed), lenses with aperture and focusing rings, and a shutter release with some feel to it and I'm a happy camper.

Enjoy the journey and keep us in the loop along the way.

B2 (;->
 
Frank,

The XE-2 is a great choice.

I suggest you disable all automated functions (except aperture or shutter priority of course). Do not choose any power saving options. Maximum CPU speed makes difference.

Once you complete your initial choice of menu parameters, you shouldn't have to use the menu system very much. The EVF and LCD displays can be customized to display a lot of information or hardly and at all. Minimalistic usage can be enjoyed once the camera is set up to suit your preferences. The Q and FN buttons are your friends.

You didn't mention lenses. Any of the Fujifilm primes would be good. Unfortunately the 27/2.8 is the only prime without an aperture ring (the aperture is set using a thumb-wheel dial) but it performs well and is compact. The 35/1.4 is probably the best Fujinon to start with. It is an excellent lens and reasonably sized.

It is easy to use the AFL focus mode to simulate the RF focus and recompose technique. That is - the autofocus can be used manually.

Make sure both your lens(es) and camera have the most current firmware. Buy a spare battery or two.

I found the learning curve to be steep at first. But your X-Series friends here at RRF stand ready to help if needed.
 
FrankS said:
For anyone without the years of traditional photography experience to reconcile with the new digital process, and for those whom the final image is all that's important, it would be an easy choice.

Not so for me. I'm a tradition and process guy.
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Do you have some digital editing skills, or are you entirely wet darkroom?

If the latter, I can see how big a step this is. But learning new stuff keeps one young. I think you'll be amazed by the power and precision of the digital process.

John
 
I do have some digital processing experience. I've scanned negs and made adjustments using photoshop elements (but I don't know how to use layers), and with my iPhone and ipad, I use Snapseed to make adjustments. I'm not a total noobie.
 
mfunnell said:
I like the Fujifilm cameras and really like their lenses. For me it was the X Pro-1 rather than one of the others, but that's because I can't live with an EVF, even a very good one. That's mostly my eyesight (others won't have that problem) and partly taste, but I find the optical finder and Fuji autofocus lenses work for me. Adapted manual focus lenses wouldn't work for me, but only because of the EVF.

If you can work well with an EVF then that's a big advantage and opens up a lot of doors which are closed to me with the Fuji system. I hope that you're fortunate enough that it's the case for you. ...Mike
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while shooting at the Spring Furniture Market I ran into a lady working at one of the information booths. She just ditched her DSLR for a Sony mirrorless camera,she loves it & exclamed how wonderful the EVF on the camera is. Amazing how some can seem to get on with it & others can't.

Frank I've been going down the same road. I'm between the Fuji X100S or maybe an X-30. I've got all this color film to shoot & my workflow consisted of taking the roll to my local drugstore, process the film only & then I scan the negatives. The machines are constantly breaking down & one store said there is no parts to fix it & so no more in house developing. I cringe a bit on have to send it out in the mail, so expensive so might learn to do color at home.

Then I read of the long hours spent behind the computer doing PP. Don't really understand why it should be any more time consuming than editing a film photo I scanned in. I use PS6 & find it pretty simple, especially for B&W film photo's. Perhaps we should both jump in.
 
FrankS said:
I do have some digital processing experience. I've scanned negs and made adjustments using photoshop elements (but I don't know how to use layers), and with my iPhone and ipad, I use Snapseed to make adjustments. I'm not a total noobie.
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I am a noobie. Been in film since my Central Tech days in Toronto of the middle 50's. Having a hard time with this stuff after the digital picture taken. Been taking down all Willie 901's tips. They really help. Thanks Willie
 
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