Camera gear discussions

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

  1. Zhanming057

    Zhanming057 Friend

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    I say this as a big Peak Design fan, but I'm not really feeling it. You're paying a lot for the tripod, and it costs extra to use your own head with a pretty low weight rating for the price, and while it's compact it's not really lighter than high end carbon fiber tripods, many of which are actually in the sub-$400 range.

    If you have a specific travel kit that's light and small and want to save weight, I guess it's a good choice. But I wouldn't trust my Sony FE 100-400mm on that thing, and I have a mirrorless kit.
     
  2. Eric_C

    Eric_C Friend

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    I was eyeing the PD tripod until I saw this. Then I just forewent it all and stuck with my existing tripod (an entry-level Sirui)
     
  3. DigMe

    DigMe Friend

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    I have several decent tripods but if I was in the market to spend some dough on one it would be from a proven tripod maker over the PD. I have a PD bag and strap so it’s not like I have a problem with the company. My go to tripod in the US has Hakuba carbon fiber legs with a Markins ballhead. Great solid lightweight setup. That didn’t make it with me to China with me so I bought a Benro compact legs and head combo that has been solid so far that I’m pretty happy with. If anyone is ever in Seoul go to the camera market near Namdaemun. Aside from having lots of great new and used cameras and lenses they have a wealth of secondhand Korean-made Markins tripod heads for a song. Really good quality heads.

    I shoot the X-T2 and I’ve enjoyed it.
     
  4. Syzygy

    Syzygy Friend

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    Yeah I hadn't been aware of the PD tripod and when I posted that I thought others may not have heard about it. It's a bit expensive for me, but I have been looking for a light weight tripod.

    Thanks for the discussion, it's led me to look at the Sirui and also the Benro, one of which will probably be my pick.
     
  5. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    Far from being unaware of it, many of us are suffering from PD-Tripod fatigue.

    Plainly, they are great at marketing. Or maybe not so much: they really, really overdid it.
     
  6. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    This post is me eating crow and considering a GR III as a second camera to my RX1R II for instances where I don't want to be carrying $3200 of camera around or need something even smaller and more discreet.

    Anyone shooting it today? I know 28mm isn't the ideal for portraits but I'm shooting the family at 35mm today and still love the results. I don't think a little wider is going to ruin my day.
     
  7. Forza AudioWorks

    Forza AudioWorks MOT: Forza AudioWorks

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    Don't know Ricoh products, but I'd go Fuji X-T1. It's brilliant for the money and cheap. Unless you badly want something with fixed lens.
     
  8. Syzygy

    Syzygy Friend

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    "Foot zoom". Depends upon how much "context" you want in frame.

    Should be fine. My favorite FOV is 24mm/FF 16mm/crop. But I also like tight, short distance portraits.
     
  9. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    the fuji with any lens is bigger than my RX1R II. I want discreet as hell and I do prefer fixed lens systems having been on both sides of the fence.
     
  10. gridmaster

    gridmaster Facebook Friend

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    How would you rate the RX1R-II against something like the new RX100-VII ? I have an a7r3 right now, and want to move to something discreet specifically because I know I take significantly less photos knowing I have to lug around a bigger camera with lenses.
     
  11. ergopower

    ergopower Friend

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    I have a Fuji X100S. Current version is X100f. A little bigger, a little more expensive, but it is fabulous for people pictures. Really good skin tones. A little muted maybe compared to other brands for pictures with lots of color in them. Has an actual viewfinder instead of using the rear display, and it toggles between optical and electronic mode. That to me is very useful, electronic isn't quite as sharp but you see exactly what you're going to capture on the sensor. Optical is, well, optical. Also has a larger sensor than APS-C. Fill flash works without even thinking about it, especially important for people pictures where you want to make sure faces are not in shadow.
     
  12. iFi audio

    iFi audio MOT iFi Audio

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    That's something Fuji does really well in most their cameras. They're vintage R2R of the camera world.
     
  13. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    In my Indian-classical-concert photography with my Sony a6500, I mostly use two lenses. One is the Sony 50/1.8, and the other is a bought-used oldish Tamron SP 90/2.5.

    I don't remember how much the Tamron cost me, but it has been hugely good value. It takes lovely photos, but, unless one is close to one's subject, it is finicky to get exactly in focus. I'm glad that I have had the experience, but, more and more, as I try to hold the camera still enough to check eye-lash sharpness with focus magnification engaged, I find myself wishing I could be leaving this to the camera. Continuous auto-focus indeed! Musicians move! Maybe even continuous eye autofocus. Hah!

    It is not expensive in the landscape of Sony FF/APS-C lenses, but it has taken a while (see good experience above) to get to be able to order the Sony FE 85/1.8. Which I did today.

    Possibly, I might loose a touch of character of the Tamron, but I'm sure the new Sony will more than make up for it in convenience --- and that added bit of speed. Looking forward to getting it safely delivered and taking it to its first concert.

    I suppose I should start saving up for the 135mm now! Perhaps a zoom... but having decent primes suitable for the photography that I mostly do, I don't often wish for zooms.
     
  14. Bill-P

    Bill-P Level 42 Mad Wizard

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    Welcome to the dark side!!

    Haha, just kidding. But yeah, the GRIII is a wicked good little thing. I still use it for snapshots where my phone just... sucks.

    28mm is definitely something you can get used to. You don't need 50mm f/1.4 or 85mm f/1.2 for portraits. Background blur is overrated. Bokeh is overrated. (and yet I still own a f/0.95 lens)

    Honestly, nowadays I only whip out either:

    1. A Nikon Z6 with 24-70mm f/4.0 because nothing beats a full frame beast with zoom capabilities.
    2. GRIII because nothing beats it in terms of size, portability and quality. APS-C sensor at that size is nuts.

    And my photography has been getting better because I no longer bother with the technicalities, and I just shoot. You do get used to the wider angle of view, and it may even make your composition better as a result.
     
  15. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    I read some blog where the writer found that photographers are the only people who give a damn about this thing called bokeh. Other people don't care at at all.

    For me, I think a nicely blurred background of suitable colour(s) is wonderful for those individual flower, or small-bird pics. Otherwise I'd agree that it is over-rated. But speed isn't :)
     
  16. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    When you realize the RX1R II is the same size but with a protruding lens and is full frame it's even more nuts. I am big on close in tight shots and will run to catch a kid doing something up close if I have to.

    I think my photography has improved a ton just shooting for fun also. I really enjoy the RX1R II.

    If I go Ricoh, it will be for weekdays when I don't carry the RX1R II with me or trips where I'd like to save even more weight.
     
  17. Bina

    Bina MOT - Shanling

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    Yet it now become premium feature on most smartphones.
     
  18. Syzygy

    Syzygy Friend

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    At about the price point of the GRIII is the Fuji X100F(ourth), even cheaper is the X100T(hird) and the X100S(econd).

    Those have leaf shutters that can sync to anything (1/4000s), a fixed 23mm (35mm FF) focal length, and a built-in 3-stop ND filter if you wanna slow the shutter down. They are known to work very well in low light. The film simulations are excellent.

    However, if you prefer traversing menus to analog style physical controls, you probably wouldn't like it.

    Edit: clarify actual max mechanical sync speed. Electronic syncs to 1/32000s.
     
  19. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    I've shot an x100f. It's a large downgrade from the RX1R II in all the ways that matter to me other than controls out of the box in a package that isn't smaller (bigger in a couple of dimensions).

    Once you figure out the menus and then customize the controls on the RX1R II, it's ridiculous. I only use the manual control mechanisms on the RX1R II now that I have it customized.

    I want something smaller and lighter for when the thing isn't the right choice. Something equivalent or bigger for a large quality hit isn't worth it for me.
     
  20. Deep Funk

    Deep Funk Deep thoughts - Friend

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    If super discreet is your thing a Sony RX100 V/VI or VII is a good pick.

    They are simply too light for my hands so I would go with Panasonic or Olympus plus 20mm F1.7. M4/3 has come a long way and is as good as Crop/DX sensors unless landscapes have to look perfect.
     

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