The Official Head-Case Photography Thread.

[Knuckledragger]

I've done a lot with photography over the last few months, from re-editing a bunch of shots I took of a car show in a Walmart parking lot (ya rly) in the summer of '07, to mucking about with my 300mm Nikkor to completely missing the aurora borealis we had here.  I also got divebombed by a flock of honking Canada geese.

 

[blessingx]

21 hours ago, padam said:

A few cameras to avoid for those who hate hoarding equipment, they could become impossible to get rid of, especially after mounting unicorn lenses:
Fujifilm S5 Pro (+ 28/1.4E) unique filmic colour, CCD rules

 

Congrats on the SL2. Man, the S5 Pro as the high point of the Fuji-Nikon collaboration and Super CCD is something. Are you processing in LR? Sadly, the 12MP combined high/low (aka normal) pixel raw output, isn't handled in most apps, including C1, so it's a JPG-only camera for me, but love it. 

[jose]

[Knuckledragger]

I, too, took a picture of the moon.

Of course, it's not entirely in focus because a bird got in the way.  Stupid bird!

[blessingx]

Another photofair today. Picked up an old aluminum case and a Revolution Revisited Kim Komenich photobook, but also a body I’ll probably never run a roll through, however I’ve been a sucker for its look since first seen years ago. $20 for an Argus C3 self piece isn’t bad, right?  

Edited November 17 by blessingx

[blessingx]

On 11/3/2024 at 1:02 PM, blessingx said:

... Man, the S5 Pro as the high point of the Fuji-Nikon collaboration and Super CCD is something. Are you processing in LR? Sadly, the 12MP combined high/low (aka normal) pixel raw output, isn't handled in most apps, including C1, so it's a JPG-only camera for me, but love it. 

And just like that it seems (from lite documentation, but also resolution) that Silkypix does raw process both pixel types. And one version back is only $32. I can't believe I'm going to recommend Silkypix. 

[Knuckledragger]

As I mentioned a while back, I've been getting more familiar with the combination of my D200 and 300mm F/4.

Taken through my kitchen window, which often results in a hit to the contrast.  In this case it wasn't so bad.

 

The same two deer, two days in a row.

 

Quack, quack.

 

A very technically flawed photo, but a rare case where I caught the great blue heron with his wings open.  They are giant birds.

 

[blessingx]

Vintage Digicams Aren’t Just a Fad. They’re an Artistic Statement

In a time when AI-powered imaging software tweaks and smooths every digital photo to appear perfect, some photographers are embracing the quirky flaws of vintage digital cameras.

https://www.wired.com/story/vintage-digicams-artistic-photos/ 

[n_maher]

Ok HC photogs, my Gen-Z daughter has put a point-and-shoot on her Christmas list and her choices are uninspiring.  I've been told that I cannot "Nate" this present so I won't be getting her anything too crazy but here's the thing, I can't not be me.  So, 

1. Anyone have anything vintage kicking around that they'd want to sell as I guess part of this trend is buying old cameras and putting them back into service.

2. Anyone have any recommendations for new gear?  I've read some articles online and I'm not seeing much (not shocking) and the usually great Wirecutter offered essentially no choice short of dropping $1,300 which is simply not going to happen.

[blessingx]

So you’re thinking the Leica Q3 Monochrom? 

Modern P&S is tough as you hint. Maybe one of the previous Sony RX100 versions? The Ricoh GRs go way back. 

For older a Canon G9/G10 or Powershot SD1000? 

In between a Nikon Coolpix A?

And of course the Fuji X100 goes generations back. 

How large would she likely carry? How frustrated would she likely get with old AF? Is she chasing CCD sensors or anything? Need WiFi? 

Maybe glance through the Snappiness and One Month Two cameras (both mentioned in last few articles on the subject) YouTube channels. They’re really driving which models are currently in.  

P&Ss aren’t my focus, but I do have a Canon G2 you’re welcome to. It’s just the camera and I’m not sure 4MP is where I’d start in 2024, but PM if interested.  

EDIT: Honestly, those are pretty practical, uninspiring choices too. Let us know if you’re looking for exotic, difficult to process, ones.  

Edited November 29 by blessingx

[Knuckledragger]

Nate, get a model that offers full manual control of aperture, shutter, ISO, exposure compensation and white balance (at least daylight/tungsten/flash).  If you're looking for a Canon I'd investigate the premium S series (S95/S100/S110) over the G.  The S has a faster lens (F/2) and while not as robustly built, it's not as ...brick-like as the G series.  Lugging around a G gets annoying quickly.  Like Blessingx, I have a 2002 vintage G2.  Mine's IR-modified, because me.  The S series have excellent LCD screens.  I used a PowerShot G11 ...about 15 years ago and did not like the screen at all.  The "other shoe" of this suggestion is that clean copies of PowerShot Ses cost more now than they did new. 

The new cameras that are are super popular are those goddamn Fuji X100 series models that every hateful "influencer" flogs are featured heavily on social media.  The X100s are usually out of stock and always overpriced.  I've seen the photo results and they're ...fine, but I'd rather read about a Kardashian plane crashian than use one ...what was I talking about again?

Oh, yeah.  Speaking of being an idiot with a camera, I got a combination that should not work to function a few days back.  One of my muses is an Asahi Super-Takumar 35mm F/3.5 lens I got in a lot of old M42 primes I bought off eBay in 2007.  It's a wacky design that goes back the late 50s, though my copy appears to be from the 70s.  It's such a deeply flawed lens, it's hysterical.  F/3.5 is a laughably small aperture for a 35mm prime.  The back of the lens extends too far into the camera body so that it doesn't work with modern full frame models without using mirror lockup.  It takes 49mm filters (I have an army of 52 and 58mms, and basically no 49s, because it's not 1977 and we don't wear rayon anymore.)  The lens's aperture increments in full stops, because half stops are for suckers and third stops are unknown.  It's not particularly sharp at any aperture setting and in fact is un-sharp in a very odd way.

I think I mentioned a while ago I picked up a used 50D.  It's a 2008 EF-S body and easily accommodates the Takumar.   I used the combination quite a bit in early part of November:

This time of year the sun spends most of its time on the horizon and produces very strong colors. I took this horizontal at the back edge of my property.  It really illustrates what I like about the 35mm Takumar.  The way it handles out-of-focus highlights is just odd.  Also the way it handles details that are (theoretically) in-focus is just ...flawed.  It never reaches proper sharpness even at small apertures.  It has what a friend of mine described as a "horror movie" aesthetic. 

 

My grandfather placed some stones on the property line ~65 years ago.  Photo taken with my 17-40mm, which is a workhorse of a lens since I got it in 2008.

Since the the 35mm Takumar works without issue on my 50D, I did the logical thing and got it to work with my 5D IV.  I spent considerable time learning to use mirror lockup and Live View (two things I avoid under normal circumstances.)  I'm now sufficiently blind that I have to wear my reading glasses to see small details on the LCD screen. Focusing with live view is a shot in the dark.  Metering is a lesson in chimping and re-shooting.

5K jpeg, feel free to pixel peep.  How does the 35mm Takumar perform with the 5D IV's much better sensor?  Fine, I guess.  This shot was taken a very small aperture (F/16, IIRC.)  This is about as sharp as my copy ever gets.  Even though the DoF is pretty large, the farthest OOF highlights have that weird quality.  The Takumar stands in stark contrast to my CZJ 135mm F/3.5 Sonnar, which is sharp at any aperture and paints OOF highlights a beautiful, ethereal way. 

The Sonnar hints at dreams and magic while the Takumar offers ominous uncertainty.

[Grahame]

 @n_maher Just Sayin' 

Also:

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3385227

Edited November 29 by Grahame

[MexicanDragon]

I was totally going to say S95, which will be much cheaper than what @cetoole just sold (for more than he paid), a Fujifilm X70 (which didn't get the multiple extra releases like the big brother.)

Was going to say at least 13 people here have bought S95s, and I figure only half of them sold them and the rest are in drawers (like @Grahame's.)

@VPI probably has 8-15 cameras sitting in a drawer unused as well that may fit the bill.

[dsavitsk]

6 hours ago, n_maher said:

Ok HC photogs, my Gen-Z daughter has put a point-and-shoot on her Christmas list

I agree with knuck's suggestions of full manual control. I'd take that to mean Fuji, however. I have an X70 that I love. I can recommend that, but I can't say how it compares to other/newer models. I wouldn't wish a Canon camera on my worst enemy (and i wouldn't even think enough about a Nikon to decide whether my enemies might like one.)

Also, fwiw, if I had a teenager with a budding interest in photography, I'd buy them a Pentax K1000 (with a 50mm normal lens), a pile of Tri-X, and a class on how to use it. https://www.photoretro.biz/workshops.html

[blessingx]

Film Camera Heaven in Finland 

 

[Grahame]

On 11/29/2024 at 12:03 PM, MexicanDragon said:

I was totally going to say S95, which will be much cheaper than what @cetoole just sold (for more than he paid), a Fujifilm X70 (which didn't get the multiple extra releases like the big brother.)

Was going to say at least 13 people here have bought S95s, and I figure only half of them sold them and the rest are in drawers (like @Grahame's.)

@VPI probably has 8-15 cameras sitting in a drawer unused as well that may fit the bill.

What serious headcaser doesn't keep all the original packaging and components in a drawer "just in case" "it might be useful"

Plus a hard case, (franiec?) grip, and card reader because: d-_-b

As new condition? You be the judge.

As for shipping it all, @MexicanDragon would approve.

Or in freedom units

As for the does it still work question.

Well the battery charges.

Although given it's age

you might want to get some more new NB-6L compatible batteries and a charger to avoid disappointment,

Likewise for the SD cards.

Does it still work?

Well  it powers up, takes pictures and (720p!) video,

And the SD card mounts in the reader as an external drive , where you  access the .jpg and raw/cr2 files

Image quality looks good

 

 

Edited December 1 by Grahame

[Torpedo]

I had a couple of Canon P&S, they made very nice looking pictures, the color to my eyes seemed very natural, but both died from the same mechanical issue. The zoom lens wouldn't come off the body.

Were I to give a P&S these days to a rookie photographer, I think my choice would be a Sony RX100V. The V has a wider aperture than the VII, so better low light performance. It has an EVF and a flash, and can be found new for less around 800€, so in the US probably below $800.

[Knuckledragger]

In the summer of 2007 I heard that there was a car show in the parking lot of a Walmart (ya rly) two towns over.  Being as ADD as I am, I arrived entirely too late and got there just in time to see a bunch of cars leaving.  I did hastily snap a bunch of photos with my 30D (not a particularly good camera) and its "better" kit lens, the 17-85mm (which sucked at the wide end.)  I had the camera set for jpg+RAW and at the time I processed them as pseudo-HDR in Photomatix.  I also invariably cropped the shots entirely too close (a bad habit that would take years to break.)  I've revisited these shots a number of times in the last 17 years, most recently a few months ago.  I now use Luminar 4, which makes use of its own pseduo-HDR math.  Unlike Photomatix and every goddamn smart phone camera app ever, Luminar's faux HDR processing can be adjusted to remove most of the cartoonish qualities.  Luminar also makes use of lookup tables, which are a lot of fun when used correctly.

 

None of these shots are spectacular.  I didn't know a thing about framing in 2007 (I still don't but I didn't then, either.)  In almost every case I wish I'd back up a couple feet and gotten more of the background and people milling about.  At this point the photos are a fascinating time capsule.  17 years is a long time.  2007 was after 9/11, but before the 2008 financial crash (two watershed moments that have steered us directly to where we are.)  The 1990s were still a relatively recent memory.  Most of the attendees are aging boomers and exactly none of them know what "social media" means.  A global pandemic was the stuff of bad thriller films.  The cars are timeless of course and made all the mores so by how, ahem, absolutely fucking hideous current vehicles look.  The 30D's sensor (a permanent "unsharp mask" and the processing in Luminar gives everything a slightly dreamy quality.  I quite like this photo set as both a moment in time captured but also a tone piece.

[Knuckledragger]

Oh shit.

Oh shit oh shit oh shit. 135L Oh shit.

I mean the 2470LII is a far more useful everyday lens but the 135L is a special kind of magic.