First Roll w/R...Not so great

[dazedgonebye]

I'm not blaming it on the camera, but I seemed to have a tough time with that first roll.
It didn't help my cause that I loaded a questionable roll of old Konica-Minolta film that a seller was kind enough to send with a lens.

So, I think my rangefinder skills need refining. There were a couple of shots that I'd been very sure of that just looked very soft. I can't tell if they're out of focus or if I'd just let the shutter speed go to slow for my abilities.

In any case, I shot 16 and got 2 that I would allow anyone to see...they're attached. (Lens cv35mm f2.5)

 

[lZr]

Nice shots. For the kids I can say, that you need to use your friend DOF on the lens to evaluate it. I think you focused on the boy to left (my left) at f/2.8 or f/4? Second shot need some brightnes adjust a little bit and you go. KM killed himself, but I liked the Centuria film. Don't know about the B&W films

 

[dazedgonebye]

The first shot was indeed focused on the older boy at f2.8. I wanted to emphasize his watching his little brother.
The second shot is composed as I intended. It may not be effective, but at least it is what I was going for.

 

[Topdog1]

2 keepers out of 16 with film on a first outing with a new camera? That's not shabby at all !

Regards,
Ira

 

[dazedgonebye]

Yea, I just like to whine...
No, really, I expected a couple of the losers to be very good shots.
After all these years of playing with cameras...sometimes it can be hard to accept that you're on the front end of yet another learning curve.
On the other hand, that is part of what keeps me coming back.

 

[Topdog1]

Steve,
I must say that one of the things I like about digital is the instant feedback it can give to let you learn from your mistakes. I have made more progress as a photographer since adopting digital where the feedback cycle is in seconds than in the many years I had previously as a film user. You should try the R-D1. It's a great learning tool for that reason alone.

Regards,
Ira

 

[dazedgonebye]

Ira,
I'm just off of a 4 year stint with Digital. I'm pretty happy with my fundamentals. Now I've got to make it translate in to the different subjects (more people) and the particulars of rangefinders.
Of course that would be easier with a R-D1...but that's out of my budget range.

 

[Topdog1]

Steve,
Understood. As far as budget goes, keep in mind that you can buy a mint used R-D1 from the Japanese sellers on eBay for around $1600. Not a small sum but much more reasonable than the ridiculous list price.

/Ira

 

[jesse1dog]

Pretty good going!

Pretty good going!

2 keepers out of 16 with film on a first outing with a new camera? That's not shabby at all !

It is very difficult to be realistic when you have high hopes of those photos on that roll of film you have just taken! But I guess, realistic we have to be. A lot of the photos we take are very average, a few are downright BAD, and just a few are just what we wanted - that's life. Look at the work of any artist and the masterpieces are the exception and not the norm. To get 2 out of 16 is very good going. I wish my average was as high!

Incidentally - I don't think there is anything 'wrong' in taking photos that we think are good, they satisfy what we saw when we took them. We aren't always in the business of taking photos to please other people. Its the artist in us that we are 'trying to get out'. Other people's observations of our photos may, just may, be useful, but not always!

Whatever - keep shooting!

 

[dazedgonebye]

Steve,
Understood. As far as budget goes, keep in mind that you can buy a mint used R-D1 from the Japanese sellers on eBay for around $1600. Not a small sum but much more reasonable than the ridiculous list price.

/Ira

...plus lenses...just can't swing it.
Also, film is a big part of what has drawn me to rangefinders.

I just need to take the bad with the good and go shoot some more.

 

[oscroft]

I shot 16 and got 2 that I would allow anyone to see

I'm very happy if I get one out of a 36 exposure roll that I'm happy for people to see!

 

[dazedgonebye]

I'm very happy if I get one out of a 36 exposure roll that I'm happy for people to see!

I just fired off 15 shots at lunch. If there aren't 4 keepers, I'm quiting photography forever! 😛

 

[cjm]

Let me know if there are less than four keepers, I'd be interested in the 35mm Color Skopar. 😀

 

[dazedgonebye]

Let me know if there are less than four keepers, I'd be interested in the 35mm Color Skopar. 😀

This time, I'd have to blame the 21mm color skopar...I went shooting wide!

 

[oscroft]

I just fired off 15 shots at lunch. If there aren't 4 keepers, I'm quiting photography forever!

Oh that's easy - you just keep everything, no matter how bad 😛