Does the camera really make any difference?

Spyderman said:
To a pro photographer it doesn't as long as it's reliable. I think pros would use anything - even a disposable in worst case, and get at least a decent picture.
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In the book ' The Death Zone', film cameraman Matt Dickinson climbed Mt Everest, his Nikon F3 and an Olympus let him down. His summit pics were taken with a Fuji disposable 'fun' camera.
:eek:

Steve.
 
Roger Hicks said:
Most people can hand-hold a direct vision camera steadier than a reflex, for no reason I have ever been able to figure out
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This may simply be because SLR viewfinders are centered and thus the nose butts against the back of the camera, whereas the other cameras have the VF window on the side and thus the camera can rest against the cheek (if you are right-eyed, that is).
 
majid said:
This may simply be because SLR viewfinders are centered and thus the nose butts against the back of the camera, whereas the other cameras have the VF window on the side and thus the camera can rest against the cheek (if you are right-eyed, that is).
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A ridiculously simple and probably correct hypothesis! Thanks very much indeed for that thought. Now to go and discuss it with my wife who prefers to shoot left eyed...

Cheers,

R.
 
I am guessing it's a little more complicated.

Ever carried a full cup of coffee around the house ? Next time try it while looking at the coffee. You will invariably spill coffee, while you won't when you don't look at it.

I think it might have to do with visual feedback between SLR and RF being different. Just a wild guess of course.

Roland.
 
Roger Hicks said:
Most people can hand-hold a direct vision camera steadier than a reflex, for no reason I have ever been able to figure out, so yes, refles vs. RF does matter unless you always shoot in good light.

With an RF, effective base length matters, so you don't want a Noctilux or a 75 Summilux on any Bessa, or even a 50/1.5 on most of them if you're shooting close at full aperture. Longest EBL is the Zeiss, but Leicas are long enough.

If you want a meter, some are a lot better than others; I don't much care for the ZI meter (except on the SW).

After these practical considerations, it's easier to get good picture with the camera you like most, so yes, it matters in that sense, but equally, it doesn't preclude getting good picures with any other camera.

Cheers,

R.
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Dear Roger ,
No mirror banging up and down must help somewhat.
Just ordered 3 M9s although I know I shall be lucky to get one before Christmas.
Can't wait.
Regards
Peter.
 
I hate to think it but the body is becoming more important than the lens. The M9 has micro lenses and software to interpret what the corners should look like. My Panny G1 looks better with the kit lens than most Leica glass - the sensor is designed/tuned for tht kit lenses. So as digital intrudes the sensor / software / firmware / microlenses / aa filters etc with render the glass choices more insignificant.
 
In the long run not much, 1939 Mt. Rainer, WA (not taken by me);

3910231629_f9eb44cc17.jpg
 
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It depends on how you define a "camera" and on what you are doing. If camera include digital sensor of course it does, but I guess you were speaking of film cameras. Then I would say that for some subject (sport, nature, maybe even still life if you speak of a view camera) it does in many others it doesn't.

GLF
 
back alley said:
it only matters if you don't have the proper bag for it.
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I am not sure if you are serious or not :D But I am when i tell you darlings out there that I do believe the right bag makes a huge difference... to your ability to work quickly, discreetly (if needed), smoothly and intuitively. I have found bags and their frequent poor design (or rather I would say their not attending to my personal whims) a real issue. It makes a difference to how quickly I can find bodies, lenses, how quickly I can remove them, how quickly I can re-secure the bag if in 'light fingered' territory (I usually am).

As far as bodies go, it makes one hell of a difference and I am not talking about technical matters (such as base length and focus accuracy, metering etc) - they speak for themselves. I am talking about ergonimics and your ability to work fluidly with that camera and for it to disappear while still delivering the results you were after. This can come down to silly things, like a camera that has a shutter sound that bugs you or the shutter release not falling to your natural finger placement. None of these things matter much if under no time pressure, but they matter enormously when you are. I woulde use examples of the RF645 and the Mamiya 7. I use the Mamiya generally when I am able to slow down and want big negs, but found the RF645 a far smoother shooting experience on a number of levels.

Its not about brand. Some prefer the finder and general placement of controls better on CVs than Leicas. Some think the Mamiya 7 has a perfect grip (I don't). As a Canon user, I pick up Nikon SLRs and feel like the person who designed them must have been on drugs, but some feel the reverse. But these things do matter and they matter an awful lot more IMO than lens resolution, bokeh nuances etc because they influence what has a chance to even record on film or the sensor.
 
If those cameras have different shutter system such as focal plane shutter & leaf shutter and the camera with mirror reflect and with out mirror reflect you may notice the difference at slow shutter speed. The reflect mirror can make a loud noise and vibration that could effect the subject and the image.

When use fill in flash in day light the leaf shutter can sync all speed available 1/500 1/800 or 1/1000 but focal plane shutter 1/60 1/90 1/125 1/250 this will give us different result. Or the new fully electronic hightech camera with its electronic flash that can be sync at very high speed even it is a focal plane shutter by lit the flash at longer time (or if some camer use very high frequency strobe that seem like continous light) at faster sync speed you can have different in some type of photography. For example if the subject jumping.

kitaanat
 
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