Camera gear discussions

Discussion in 'Photography and Cameras' started by Bill-P, Oct 15, 2015.

  1. Steakface

    Steakface Acquaintance

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    You make some good points about the color profile. The default a7 profile goes for a neutral look and I'm OK with that. I usually prefer this style to the vivid setting which can sometimes be too much. In the end it's all about the look you're going for and I can see why some would prefer vivid. Your comment on Fuji colors kinda reminds me of TV shopping and retailers selecting vivid color profiles to make blues and whites pop, it's eye catching but can be tonally incorrect to true life. I've tried to be critical of this when I see Fuji shots and really the only thing I sometimes notice is over-saturation - though I think their photographers did that in post because I've seen others that look more neutral.

    The area where I feel the a7 falls short is in auto color temperature - I usually have to correct this in post as the a7 has problems nailing it. Specifically, it judges it too warm indoors and too cool outdoors - makes images look incorrect or boring.
     
    Last edited: Oct 22, 2017
  2. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    Until the last year and a half, Sony colors were always calibrated weirdly. The newer rx100s, the rx1r II, and the a7r II all have more natural colors out of the box.
     
  3. Solrighal

    Solrighal Facebook Friend

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    I don't see the point in in-camera colour options. I just set to neutral & forget. I can get a much better colour balance in ACR than the camera will.
     
  4. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    Anybody here have experience with wireless security cameras? I've had some dickwads snooping around my property with neighbouhood and trying to break into cars. I do not have any good options for power or wires for where I'd want to put the cameras. (yes I know winter is going to be brutal for battery life no matter how I look at it. )
     
  5. Steakface

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    Zmodo makes a wide array of wireless security camera kits. I currently use one of their older consumer kits that has poor internet integration, but it looks like they've upgraded it so maybe they've fixed the issues the original kit had. Footage is stored on a hard drive that comes with the kit, you can access the live view through a phone app, and I think you can access stored footage through the app with the newer kit. Unsure about battery power on these kits, I believe most need to be plugged in.

    The newer version of my kit: http://a.co/cwhvYV6

    There's also Nest cams, but these are pretty expensive. They should have better/simpler internet integration than the Zmodo kits do, but no local storage.
     
  6. Deep Funk

    Deep Funk Deep thoughts - Friend

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    Tried the 14-42mm (the old plastic one) on the EM5 mark I. I cannot stand the hunting of that zoom lens.

    Has Olympus properly improved on its zooms? If so do you have recommendations? Otherwise the Panasonic 12-32mm is the only good affordable compromise.
     
  7. iFi audio

    iFi audio MOT iFi Audio

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    Anyone from the mirrorless camp around here?
     
  8. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

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    I have a Nikon 1 J4. It works for me.
     
  9. lac29

    lac29 Acquaintance

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    Fuji XT2. I need to use it more.
     
  10. ductrung3993

    ductrung3993 Facebook Friend

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    I have used mirrorless thru out my entire "camera career". Have XT1 now (my favorite) but used to own a X100s (sold because a fixed lens was too much for me to handle as a first camera), then switched to EM5 mk ii cause there was a good deal at the time, even when I've always wanted the XT1 more. Glad to end up with it finally. Coupled with the 18-55, it's a great value at $600. I also spent almost the same amount to get the 23 1.4 later but god damn it was worth it!
     
  11. ald0s

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    12-40 and 12-100 are phenomenal. Pretty close to best in class. Sharp wide open, pretty much waterproof and incredible IS. When I shot olympus I could get critical sharpness down to 1/4 second at 100mm.
     
  12. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    I bought a Sony a6000 about six months ago. I am now enjoying both re-remembering how to take photographs with a serious camera and buying bits and pieces for it. Like audio, I can not afford $,$$$ lenses, but I bought the camera in the 2-lens kit, and already have two more lenses on the shopping list, which, together, will cost rather more than the camera did.

    But I having been having a lot of fun with two low-cost items. One is a pair of extension tubes, and the other is an adapter for 50mm f1.8 that was the standard lens on the OM2 which has spent more than a decade in the cupboard.
     
  13. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    I shot with the A6000 for years. My favorite lens was the Zeiss Touit 32mm by far (mostly take pictures of my family). I sent mine in for the firmware upgrade. When I realized I was only using a prime 99% of the time and I had too much glass, I moved to the RX1R II and, honestly, couldn't be happier. It was expensive getting in but cheaper, much smaller, and just better for my uses. Plus there's no desire to go bonkers with my glass collection with a fixed lens.
     
  14. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    Actually, an RX100 would probably have been a better buy for me!
     
  15. adpo

    adpo Acquaintance

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    Definitely enjoyed having the a6000 while I had it, a shame they never added S-Log to it in a firmware update. My office got me an a6500 to use a while back and the rig's gotten a little ridiculous lately. As far as lenses go, it's about a 50/50 split in usage between the FE 28mm and the kit lens. Never underestimate the value of a kit lens; you can make some fantastic images with one if you know what you're doing (and sometimes even when you don't).
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Nov 29, 2017
  16. Deep Funk

    Deep Funk Deep thoughts - Friend

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    Get the mark 3 or 4 for the improvements. Even as a second camera it is great because it almost works as a basic DSLR yet you can put in your pocket and walk around with something that looks like a compact camera for tourists.

    I have the mark 1. It is not the most sophisticated compact camera but when you know how to use it you can leave it in aperture mode or auto/program mode (really nice actually) and take impressive pictures and pretty good video. I prefer aperture mode because it almost approaches manual mode.

    For me the mark 1 lacks a dedicated aperture button an/or clicky wheel so I can use the lens for focusing.

    You can haggle for the mark 3 and 4 nowadays so get a spare battery at least. If not that a screen protector plus carrying case (the small ones are good enough!).
     
  17. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    Seems to be an object lesson in finding out what one actually needs too. I have the two-kit-lens set, 16-50 and 55-210. If I could return to buying day, I think I would have bought body only and the 18-105 f4, which I foresee being the most-on-my-camera lens when I get it. Except, of course, when I need the closest to compact that this camera can get.

    But I want the 90mm f2.8 macro too. And I just might find that covers me well enough from bugs and flowers to musicians on stage (from the first couple of rows). Probably, my lens buying won't get any more expensive than that.

    No clue which to buy first. Except a financial one. I'll be going abroad next July, and getting rebates on the 25% UK VAT at the airport. And playing with extension tubes in the mean time will be more of a learning experience: I suspect that most flower/bug shots will be a lot easier with the macro lens.

    adpo, that is an amazing image! I guess you are taking video, which I am not likely to do much of. Which is a good thing, because that tiny video button is a real pain! Is that a video/audio recorder under the camera?

    Can only afford one camera. And if I had the little one, the big[ger] one would go to waste, just as my Panasonic superzoom mostly sat on the shelf while the Lumix compact got carried around.
     
    Last edited: Nov 30, 2017
  18. Deep Funk

    Deep Funk Deep thoughts - Friend

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    Haggle and compare a bit. A used RX100 mark 1/2/3 can be had for the price of a Sony lens.

    Use the big sensor camera for serious landscapes and bokeh and the RX100 mark ... for casual shutter therapy.
     
  19. adpo

    adpo Acquaintance

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    The a6500 is primarily for video and the occasional high-speed burst sequence. The box under is a preamp/audio recorder box that I use for managing multiple audio sources such as lavs and whatnot. For photos, mainly use my old Canon 1ds3 along with the old 35L and 85L. It's funny having the two kits side-by-side since they're essentially polar opposites from one another in every way aside from resolution.
     
  20. Mdkaler

    Mdkaler Friend

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    Good taste! 1Ds3 with the original 35L and 85L; looking at it today it's an artist's combo. People tend to worship f/2.8 zooms nowadays.
     

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