Introduce Myself

[Honu-Hugger]

Bubba and Peter,
Similar story with Nikons. Started at age 13 with an Alpa from my Dad, by the time I started college I developed a bit of a conscience about mooching his lenses, so bought my first Nikon then. The system grew and things got bigger and heavier and it was after seriously using a RF a few years ago that I came back to my senses about what's really required to take pictures.

I slowly started geting rid of Nikons until I was down to one body and a couple favorite lenses, even those were not getting used much. Then this summer my Dad gave me his Alpas and I decided I didn't have the interest in owning two sets of SLR gear so the last of the Nikon stuff finally went.

I really commend Nikon for the loyalty that they have shown their customers throughout all the years and model changes by keeping even the earliest "F" mount lenses viable with even the newest models. With some models there have been some compromises, but in one form or another you could always use old glass on new cameras. With this week's announcement of the D2X and F6 they have made even more improvement in backwards compatibility.

However, I have no regrets: I am very content using these 50-70 year old relics. Afterall, I'm a 50 year old relic myself. Thank you for the welcome, I really like this site a lot. I went through some of the galleries and there is some incredible work posted here, really nice stuff!

Doug

 

[Doug]

Peter, you just need to wrap up your unused gear to protect it from the accumulation of dust, for the day you'll dig it back out from the back of your closet to give it another try! Well, that's what I've done with some of mine... 🙂

Doug, I've welcomed you in another thread, so I'll just echo your appreciation of backward compatibility, and add that Pentax has been very good on this issue too. Further, glad to hear you've reformed, and no longer pack three big trunks full of gear to take on vacation. How about limiting it to just one camera & lens? <grins>

'nother Doug

 

[Honu-Hugger]

Hi Doug,
That's a scary thought -- but I'm often up to challenges! I could see it happening. No question what it would be if I did: Contax IIa with 50/1.5 Sonnar.

I doubt that this was your intent, but you've got me thinking: I might just discipline myself and spend some time with just that camera and lens -- nothing else, not even a lightmeter. It would probably be a very worthwhile exercise. Hmmmm.....something to consider while I sip the morning coffee. Thanks, Doug. Even though I noted the <grins> attached your suggestion has real merit.

Doug Jr. (I defer to the Seasoned Member)

 

[taffer]

Welcome Doug !!! I'm a classic Contax lover as well (in fact I wonder if there's a classic camera which I don't like 🙄 ), and a user of their Ukranian sisters, the Kievs.

Best part of owning and using different equipment is that's sort of 'refreshing' and helps you know which tool suits better for a specific job, so Peter, Bubba, remember to let your SLRs have fun from time to time 😉

Oscar

 

[Doug]

I doubt that this was your intent, but you've got me thinking: I might just discipline myself and spend some time with just that camera and lens -- nothing else, not even a lightmeter. It would probably be a very worthwhile exercise. Hmmmm.....something to consider while I sip the morning coffee. Thanks, Doug. Even though I noted the <grins> attached your suggestion has real merit.

Thanks Doug, but that's pretty much what I was suggesting, and it's an exercise that's been discussed here before. It definitely can be a learning experience, building on and capitalizing on understanding light and what-all can be accomplished with just one lens.

I had my Dad's old Petri 7S cleaned up and adjusted, and when I took it out for a walk I found the selenium-cell meter was flaky, so I just went on "sunny-16" for that and subsequent walks until I finished the roll. Came out fine, but I think it was an advantage to have commonly used a hand-held meter. If one only uses AE cameras, especially in Program mode, I wonder if one falls out of the habit of even thinking of exposure details.

When we went to Oahu and Maui for 3 weeks a couple of years ago, I took only a Fuji GS645S purchased used 6 mo earlier, with its fixed 60mm f/4, and metered manual exposure. The RF was a bit sticky, so I did a lot of guessing on focus, the meter was accurate in daylight, but gave progressively more underexposure as the light dimmed... and unknown to me then there were broken parts in the lens mount. Well, the photos came out fine anyway thanks to the intervention on my part, and I wouldn't hesitate to do that again!

I suspect most of us could take out one camera body and one lens of almost any focal length, and then see appropriate photo opportunities. I'm reminded of the wonderful series of photos all shot with 21mm by Alan Soon on a visit to Istanbul... http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=322503