Camera gear discussions

It sounds like you need an photo management package... I'm pretty married to Lightroom at this point, but I know a couple of people that use XnView (free) and are pretty happy with it.

If you're simply looking for something that is doing a file comparison, then the MAC guys in our office use Deltawalker, but I know that is a commercial product.

 

A quick way to find duplicates would be to check the hash of each file, then compare the hashes. Identical hashes mean identical files, regardless of filename.

But I'm not afraid of the command line. Unfortunately I don't know of a GUI program that'll do that kind of thing for you. But I could whip up a script you could run.

I need to do a similar thing, both with photos and with some FLACs.

 

Don't even need to do that. They'll have a creation date. Just check if creation date is the same down to the second.

Pretty easy script either way.

But - if you aren't comfortable with scripts, I'd recommend trying Automator https://support.apple.com/guide/automator/welcome/mac which is not only built into modern OS X but also pretty much made specifically for this purpose.

 

The files won't necessarily have the same creation date…you may have to have something that can inspect the EXIF data for the photo timestamp. I know I have dups across a couple of drives, but the files weren't created at the same time.

Automator may be a good solution. I don't usually think in those terms since I'm at the command line 90% of my day already.

 

Thanks for the info guys. I think I’m going to try XnView first and see if that works. If once I get into it there are problems, I may re-evaluate

 

dupeGuru.

I use it under Linux, but it seems it available of OSX. It is pretty clever: it is capable of finding matching pictures even if they are different sizes, file sizes, etc. On the other hand, when you first run it it might miss identical pictures in the same directory: you need to tweak the settings.

It will pick a master copy and then list all the duplicates, which you can delete or whatever.

It has options for standard, music or picture searches. You can match by content or filename.

Matching pictures by content seems to me like a huge task. It actually does it: sometimes it will pick to very similar pictures that are not identical.

Matching files by filename is comparatively simple. None the less, I politely remove my hat to anyone who can script all the recursion across multiple directories. Yes, I know it can be done: it's just that it is beyond me!

 

Bought Tamron 70-180/2.8. My first costs-more-than-the-camera lens!

It dwarfs my Sony a6500, but the combination is quite well balanced in the hands.

Trouble is, it also dwarfs my camera bag.

 

I ended up with a 50L backpack to accomodate my 500 f4 and 200-400 f4 . Of course, it's hard to pick up and carrying is fun... It gets worse if I substitute the 300 f2.8, unfortunately. But the price you pay for taking pictures in some circumstances

Rob

 

I haven't heard any chattering about an RX1R III from the old gang of Sony Pro guys. To the contrary, the word is that the line is EOL after Sony's fallout with Zeiss. In fairness, the A1 also came out from nowhere and was a real surprise, although they seemed to have put in extra effort to guard the secrecy of that particular release. I seriously doubt we'll see a gen 3, but I'd love to be proven wrong.

One issue to highlight is that Sony doesn't like to discontinue cameras if they can keep selling the old model, and especially if they share components with the new one. AFAIK the A7r mk2 and RX100 II are still in production. The RX1R II is however actually out of production and has been since late 2019, which is an odd move if Sony Imaging has any plans for a RX1R III.

 

Yes, it did occur to me to think of you guys who have lenses like that. 70-180 is still little in your book, I'm sure! Previously, my 85/1.8 was the biggie in my tiny, neat Tenba DNS8 bag, and I have so enjoyed being able to carry that bag around.

I hope to stick to a messenger/shoulder bag. I've never been a backback user and I don't care for the idea. Also, I want to carry a maximum of four to five lenses, all the rest being smaller primes. A bag with heaps of space would be as silly as one with not enough.

I'd stick to Tenba, but it is not available in this country except at Amazon-import fantasy prices, like inflated three or four times. I have no expectation of being able to shop abroad for at least a year.

 

Need advise on a home photo printer. Something in the range of $350-$500, does not have to print professional quality photos but something decent in letter format that could be hang on the wall. My main camera is RX100 V but some pictures to be printed will be much lower resolution. Prior to RX100 V I had a low end Canon DSLR with basic lenses.

 

I have an old Canon Pixma, but it always seemed like the Epsons are better supported. For B&W, I'd definitely choose an Epson…the quality is just better for that. For color, pick which you like better.

You should look at ink & paper prices. They'e not selling you a printer, they're selling you the supplies for the printer you buy. With ink, be sure to look at the amount you're getting for the price. You can use almost any paper in any printer, but not so much with the ink.

If you want the prints to last, go to an art store and get clear UV-resistant spray, and spray the photos in a well-ventilated area with that stuff. Match matte/glossy to your paper choice.

 

I found a Peak Design Messenger 13 as an open-box sale item, which means the price was reduced to what would be the list price in USA. I snapped it up, but it soon became clear that it was not going to suit me at all. I don't like the way their origami dividers work (and the only give two) and I hated that the top would not fold back, so had to be held open. No single-handed access.

I had some luck selling it at 25% loss on a local photo forum which has a thriving buy-and-sell section. I've bought there twice: this was my first sale.

In the meantime, at a fraction of the cost of these designer-name bags (but I'll prbably still get another Tenba when I next travel), a Lowepro Event Messenger 250 had sat at the back of a cupboard for several years. It was a mistake buy when I got it just because it was far too big for my gear. Now, with a jig-saw of dividers and flaps, it holds it all perfectly. It might also fit in the...

Tamron 17-70/2.8 APS-C lens that I ordered today.

Two new lenses in one month

 

What @Syzygy said - excellent advice all 'round.

Worth noting - The paper makes the most difference to the final output print quality, look and feel. Your actual cost is always entirely the ink. Consumer printer units are worth very little and not worth repairs beyond the basics. Paper doesn't expire, opened ink does. You need to keep the unit active on a regular basis or bad shit happens so bear in mind how many prints you plan for and how regularly you'll be printing.

FWIW I'm in the photography business. In a previous position I held, one of our biggest business units was fine art photo printing for exceptionally demanding clients. We (and our competitors) only used Epson large format commercial printers.

I've also had excellent results from Epson's desktop/consumer line for my own smaller client jobs - a strong plus one for Epson from me.

 

Depending on your volume I would probably just go with an online printing service for letter size, you'll save a bit if you print by yourself but paper and ink costs will add up, and you will get better results from running them through a calibrated printer which, again, costs paper and ink to set up.

For my own prints, I always have them done by a photographer/print maker I met back in college, and framed by a store next to her studio. Saves on shipping costs.

 

I've printed a fair few of my stuff at bayphoto.com

Like mentioned above, not worth getting your own.

You can also apply the calibrated settings in lightroom to see what the print will look like before you export it out.

Also, i've had great luck with Costco. I got the pic in my avatar printed into a 2 x 3 ft ready to hang canvas for under 70$ shipped.

 

What are some of the more reputable places to buy used cameras? I am basically set on getting a Sony A7C and want to start keeping an eye out for deals.

 

B&H or Robert's Camera. I've bought from both Adorama & KEH in the past, and had decent experience, but I've also heard bad things about them both.

 

+1 for B&H

I’ts where I got my Sony I bought mine new though

their used rating system is pretty stop on however for a lens I’ve gotten