Cramping my style....

[RML]

Ohboyohboyohboy, I got me an Eos 300D for Xmas! And, ohboyohboyohboy, it is cramping my style!

I've been shooting for three days now and not once have I felt pleasure in shooting it!

I love the feedback it gives me; almost instantanious I can see the shot and re-take it if I feel it needs it or to try out a different setting or angle.
But I really despise how heavy it is, how awfully big even the EF 50/1.8 lens is, and that I can't fiddle with aperture and shutter time by hand.

I'll be doing practise runs with it for some time, getting to grips with it as a "studio" camera, but I'll have one of my trusty RF cameras with me at all times. The RF cameras just suit my style.

I've read with interest all the reviews and hands-on stories about the RD-1 but now I'm fearful of spending over 3000 euros on a camera that might also NOT be what I need in ways of handling and shooting style.

Forgive me my ramblings; I'm just a little ticked off right now.

 

[peter_n]

I have a friend with one of these and so I was able to try it out for a while. It reminded me of my Nikon F3hp+MD-4 motor rig - exactly for what I got my M6 to get away from.

My interaction with digital is going to be limited to the new Minolta film scanner that arrived a couple of weeks ago. I think I like it like that. I was originally really interested in the Epson R-D1 but but after reading a lot about it I think I'll stick with a film body so I'm hoping to get maybe a Leica M7 next year... 🙂

 

[RML]

Peter, I can relate to that.

I really got the 300D because I'll be doing a photo project in Mongolia. I don't risk my films sending them to one of them labs in Ulaanbaatar but have them developed back at home, which for a project is just not convenient; I can't go back quickly to reshoot. 🙂 So, for now I'll practise with it, especially using flash while shooting objects in a "studio" setting, like in product photography, but it won't see much action on my walks into town and countryside.

The RD-1 still holds my attention but I simply can't afford a 3000+ euro lemon.

 

[peter_n]

Do you need an interchangeable lens digital cam? I mean why not get a much smaller one that has a good quality zoom lens on it, like one of the little Sony cameras with a Zeiss lens?

 

[RML]

I've been thinking about that but for projects like this one I want all the control over the camera I can get. I need to shoot "products" and an RF just isn't suitable for that.

For personal shooting I'd like to be rid of film eventually but still keep on shooting wit an RF. For now the RD-1 is my only option, but an expensive one. And the combo of expensive and digital has me rattled right now.

 

[RML]

I've dabbled a bit already with this "product" shooting. It's not the best of work, I admit, but it's my first time. Trying out different camera settings and strengths for the flash is really nice with digital. Really too bad the camera is a monster. 🙂

 

[RML]

Another practise "product" shot. 🙂

 

[Sonnar Brian]

If it is for work, and you are using it for a project, and people are using money to force you to use it, you must forego the "pleasure" associated with using it and just do it.

I use a D1x at work; it is necessary for scientific documentation work.

I could have bought a D70 for the price that I just paid for the Leica CL with two lenses on RFF, but could not bring myself to do it. For the price of the CL and M3, I could have bought a D100 or used D1x, but will not do it. I derive no pleasure in its use.

As my Dad told me: There are two kinds of Crap in the world: Cheap Crap and Expensive Crap. Expensive Crap, you have to put up with because people are paying you to do it. Cheap Crap, you don't have to take. Does that make you feel better?

 

[RML]

Brian, wise words. 🙂

The project isn't work as in "I'm turning pro and this will feed my family" but nonetheless I want to do well. Who knows what future projects will come from it, right. So, in this case I have to put up with the expensive crap, but it's not much to my liking. 🙂

I think tomorrow I'll go for a walk and shoot my RF cameras. I really feel I need a relieve.

 

[stevew]

I received a D70 in June for my birthday and it brought back the joy of shooting, because I can have instant feedback and print out from the computer. I use the camera on a tripod most of the time for landscape, but I find the camera leaves me cold. It's like a computer game, and it's hard to outthink the camera. That's why I bought a leica again after 25 years.

 

[Chaser]

dslrs can be a drag but throw a ir filter on it and put it on a tripod and you can have some fun... i shot this with the nikon d1h that they make me use at the paper i work at

 

[Chaser]

ok here it is

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Chaser: Doesn't the D1H have a "hot-Mirror Filter" on the sensor array? Several years ago Kodak made a limited (50) run of sensors without the filters for the Kodak DCS200ir. I had one for work. Of course one problem was the N8008s Meter used an SPD (or equivalent), so the exposure was off. We learned to compensate.

 

[Chaser]

it does exposure was like 8-10 seconds , and my filter is too small so i had to hold it in....but still it works ...you just have to have some time a patience...but with instant playback of pictures it makes it ieasy to get the exposure right. not really capable of hand holding unless you were shooting at 1600 iso . or a 200 on the sun...it works ok though

 

[Chaser]

sorry i seem to have been incapable of hitting the "t" in the last post