The benefits of street photography with an RF

[Eyal_bin]

On my way back from today I was taking the bus, suddenly I saw this great photo opportunity. Usually in the old days, when I had an SLR, all I could do is to regret I can't carry that big heavy camera with me everywhere.
Fortunatlly enough I took the advice of a freind and bought the R-D1s, since it is small, I can take it everywhere with me 🙂p). So I took it out and took a shot, since it is small and quite, no one even noticed I took it (and the bus was full)

Here is the result

 

[Lilserenity]

Love it. Would be even nicer as a print 🙂

 

[WDPictures]

Unfortunately due to your good shooting technique I clearly see that the person towards the upper right is concerned about what you are doing and is documenting your information for the authorities. Good luck to you in avoiding capture.

Great shot, I like that you've captured three variations of people's hands at their face.

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

Yes!....these things make you real sneaky! 😀

 

[Eyal_bin]

Yes!....these things make you real sneaky! 😀

Is this taken with a wide angel (I guess the answer is yes...) a little bit closer and the cigarette would burn the lens 😱

 

[robklurfield]

Totally oblivious, these two, I think. She may have noticed me, but she was so into greeting her guy, that she didn't stop. I snapped nine shots before they broke from their clinch and walked off. This was at the International Arrivals area last night at Newark, Libery Airport. (Posted elsewhere, but this fits the whole notion of sneaky shooting.)

 

[robklurfield]

2500 ISO, shot from chest level on the Paris metro w/ a 28mm.

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

Is this taken with a wide angel (I guess the answer is yes...) a little bit closer and the cigarette would burn the lens 😱

Yes....I think it was a 35mm wide angel:angel:......LOL! 😀😀

 

[Eyal_bin]

2500 ISO, shot from chest level on the Paris metro w/ a 28mm.

What RF goes up to 2500 ISO?

 

[dfoo]

My M4 certainly does 😉 Add fast black and white film, such as delta 3200 and there ya go!

 

[maddoc]

. So I took it out and took a shot, since it is small and quite, no one even noticed I took it (and the bus was full)

Here is the result

Good shot ! 😎

 

[maddoc]

My M4 certainly does 😉 Add fast black and white film, such as delta 3200 and there ya go!

... and free of any noise ! 😀

 

[Prosaic]

On my way back from today I was taking the bus, suddenly I saw this great photo opportunity. Usually in the old days, when I had an SLR, all I could do is to regret I can't carry that big heavy camera with me everywhere.
Fortunatlly enough I took the advice of a freind and bought the R-D1s, since it is small, I can take it everywhere with me 🙂p). So I took it out and took a shot, since it is small and quite, no one even noticed I took it (and the bus was full)

Here is the result

Maybe try your SLR not with a 2.8 superzoom next time.

A Nikon D40 is just as small, put a prime lens on - maybe even the 45/2.8 Pancake - and it fits in your pocket.

 

[dfoo]

How do you focus a manual focus lens on a D40?

 

[Prosaic]

How do you focus a manual focus lens on a D40?

Through the finder.

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

How do you focus a manual focus lens on a D40?

The same way I've been doing it for forty five years! 😉

Step 1-raise camera & look through viewfinder.
2-rotate lens focus ring untill a clear subject image is obtained.
3-press the little button - atop the camera.
4-move nonchalontly on to next masterpiece.
5-repeat steps 1-3

 

[craygc]

I still think when all is said and done, one of the real strengths that a rangefinder has over an SLR is that the aperture markings on the lens barrel are really useable for zone focusing. On an SLR, even though the focus through is longer on a manual prime, the aperture markings are so compressed that they are virtually useless. Body size isnt necessarily a big deal these days, lens size maybe; and the viewfinder is arguable in both directions - an RF is "more free" in composition, yet the focus patch requires the camera pointed at the subject initially; the SLR provides more accurate framing and can be focused anywhere across the viewfinder.

I'm really an RF person, yet lately I've been using a Nikon F3 for a change. Going back to an SLR (albeit intermittently) really makes me think a lot more about why I prefer one design over the other.

 

[dfoo]

The same way I've been doing it for forty five years! 😉

Step 1-raise camera & look through viewfinder.
2-rotate lens focus ring untill a clear subject image is obtained.
3-press the little button - atop the camera.
4-move nonchalontly on to next masterpiece.
5-repeat steps 1-3

With the standard screen, with no split prism, or focus assist? You are a better man than me. I tried and failed to use my manual focus lenses on my friends Nikon, and I couldn't focus worth a damn, especially if the DOF was small.

 

[dfoo]

To me RF has many advantages.
- Smaller than SLR.
- Lighter than SLR.
- Quieter (no CLANG as I hit the shutter!)
- Smaller & lighter lenses.
- Better ergonomics.
- Less vibration, leading to sharper pictures at long shutter speeds.
- Easier to focus in low light.

 

[Prosaic]

With the standard screen, with no split prism, or focus assist? You are a better man than me. I tried and failed to use my manual focus lenses on my friends Nikon, and I couldn't focus worth a damn, especially if the DOF was small.

There´s a focus indicator bottom left in the finder. The 45/2.8 Pancake should work perfectly fine with the D40.

Otherwise there´s the still compact 35/1.8 G which is autofocus. That allows you to just point and shoot from the hip, you wont even have to focus yourself anymore... 😀