What....

Just a quick attempt to learn to post pictures...
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What would a guy who has everything need… how about a UV filter.

I wanted a 52mm UV filter, and before we go any further/farther whatever, I should preface this post with the fact that I prefer to buy my stuff in a store not online. Silly, yes, but that’s me. Anyway I wanted a UV filter so I went to Yodobashi Camera store in Kamiooka and was quite surprised by how much the filter section had shrunk. A mere ghost of what it used to be. And, then I was faced with the fact that UV filters are apparently a thing of the past. There were only a few UVs hiding in a bargain bin beneath the big modern rack of lens protectors. Let me repeat, “Lens Protectors”!

Holy guacamole! There are more brands and styles of lens protectors than one can shake a roll of film at. The price range boggles the mind. There were lens protectors billed as water, oil and grease proof, there were lens protectors advertised as “solid” whatever that means. My goodness there were lens protectors worth more [priced more] than some of my previously owned lenses. What the hell! I guess I haven't needed a filter for a while; like about 50 years it looks like.

So, I thought, no problem, I’ll go to the Yodobashi camera store in Yokohama - it was worse. They used to have a huge filter section. Not now. It sucks. They have less than half the previous floor space covered with filter racks and 70% of it is for lens protectors. Very expensive lens protectors!

Out of frustration I walked a few city blocks to Yokohama BIC camera, another chain store similar to Yodobashi but with a better stocked dusty bargain bin under the big modern display of lens protectors... and, I managed to snag the 52mm UV filter, a Marumi brand classic “cheap” UV filter. I was so thrilled to get what I wanted that I decided to celebrate, I had a scotch and water in the middle of the afternoon, followed by another.

Well, this is where the story ends. I got my UV filter, I had my little celebration (any excuse will do) and I learned a valuable lesson. What is that lesson? The lesson is that when one gets old/older, the things one took for granted are just not there anymore. Might not be long before people talk about M-mount lenses in terms of the Ford model T. Remember when…

Mike

P.s. Any grammar errors are the fault of the scotch and water, not me.
 
michaelwj said:
I think the most difficult decision to make is tripods. I hate buying a new tripod. There are so many models from so many brands at so many price points. Unlike cameras and lenses, the barrier for entry for a manufacturer is low (they aren't that complicated). Unlike bags, the quality of the tripod will influence the results (in many respects, if it carries your gear, the bag is okay). Unlike film, darkrooms, post processing, printing, a tripod doesn't really influence the art - it should be an objective decision. A tripod will in many cases outlive both cameras and lenses, but it's so hard to find objective reviews. All the manufacturers give their own limits which can't be directly compared, and everyone has an opinion - usually the model they use; it's not like people go through that many tripods do they?

I suppose lighting would also fall into the same category (apart from flashes which may be brand specific), but I'm not a big lighting user...
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I agree with this. Tripod buying is difficult. And so much misinformation. I finally bought the lightest Gitzo Traveller tripod the 1545T, mainly as it packs so short and I couldn't get lighter if I found the model up was too heavy after all, on the shoulder over several kilometres. It is not. And it is nice and rigid without the centre column up and may be with that, but I have hardly tried. And while so many online maintain it'll be no good for a Hasselblad, with the column down and the last section still telescoped it's solid as a rock. If I'd bought the 2545T and found it too heavy I was looking at doubling my outlay.

But apart from the traditional immutable compromise of height and weight and rigidity, to maximise the compactness of the Gitzo kit this model comes with a ballhead with no friction adjustment setting dial. Never mind.
 
x-ray said:
Bill the internet is full of equipment discussions and opinions but there are very few real photographers that have the kind of portfolio you have. Rather than more gear discussion I'd love to see images you feel are your best with your account of what inspired the image and your thoughts that led to the way you executed the shoot. I'd love to know your feelings about subject, what you felt would be the best lighting and how you interacted with your subject. What's the story behind the photo?

In addition I'd love to see a scan of your raw neg with no dodging and burning and then the final print with comments on why you dodged, burned and bleached the image as you did. Your selection of paper, toner and such all play a part in how you visualized the final image.

Please consider doing this.
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I occasionally re-read Bill's Chapter in the mid-'70s Leica Manual on low light photography. Some of it has stuck in my mind for over 40 years since I first read it:

1. The legendary shooter who can hand-hold 1/2s has his talent confirmed by all the praise he gets for his shots.

2. The Leitz tabletop tripod might be better than most bigger tripods. (Think that was in that chapter....)

3. There is a peak or a pause in the action of an orator where a 1/2s exposure will be unspoilt by subject movement and you have to learn to anticipate that.

So yes: more from Bill, live, in the new century....
 
I agree with Chris on the importance of good light measurement. I do trust my built-in meters in my Leica and Nikons, but I get the best exposures shooting with a handheld meter. For this reason, my exposures can sometimes be better with the Hasselblad than with the 335mm cameras with built-in meters. When using handhelds, I almost always take an incident reading and cross-check with a reflected reading. More than a slight difference needs to be understood before taking the exposure. I use (not all on the same day) one of my Norwood Directors (incident); my Spectra 251 (incident); Minolta incident meter; Gossen (incident and reflected) and Weston Master IV. The Gossen is handy because it can take both an incident and reflected reading, so only one meter is needed. I'm on the lookout for a Spectra Combi-2, that also has this incident plus reflected capability. Hope they are not too pricey!

An awareness of about what the light reading should be is helpful. It helps to avoid bad exposures owing to a faulty meter reading!
 
Systems as has been the case for a long time my opinion. Which now include CPUs monitors software cloud storage device storage etc

Bags and tripods are still important. Handheld meters most definitely
 
As an add on to my "What would a guy who has everything need… how about a UV filter", today I found and purchased a NOS Kenko brand 27mm UV filter. It was the last one, I don't think they make them anymore.

I'm happy,
Mike
 
For me, the only other thing I need, besides a camera and lens, is a comfortable neck strap... and it needs to be exactly 44cm long... haha.
 
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