Monday
Apr202009
Decision Made, Heart Rules Head!
Monday, April 20, 2009 at 10:14PM
The rot set in when I started to shoot with my Minolta SRT101 35mm Film SLR. It was just the feel of the thing - the weight, the view-finder, the presence of a larger camera.
I fooled myself into thinking that shooting with old Film SLR's, bought for a song at the local car boot sales, would somehow negate the need I felt in my photography for taking the next step, that it was a substitute for what I really wanted to do.
I should have known what I was doing when I bought the Canon 50e a couple of months ago. I wasn't buying it for the body, which itself was excellent, I was buying it for the lens. Because I knew that with an EF mount Canon lens in my collection there was always the possibility of buying a digital back.
I don't need another camera. My Fuji S5700 S700 is enough for most situations. Image quality, in good light, is superb. Focal range is unsurpassed for its price, shooting from Super-Macro to Super-Telephoto. With the ability to sync with it's flash at shutter speeds up to 1/1000th of a second, auto-bracketing, live view, grid-lines, and all the modes of a much more expensive camera, I'm worried that I could be disappointed with anything else. I didn't ask much of the little Fuji, and it has given so much.
But that clawing desire was still there - call it greed if you will. It's not about the camera, I know that's true. I've shot film, used compacts years old, and challenged myself to take better and better images, trying to improve my post processing skills along the way too.
I don't think I'm even close to exploring the full potential of the superb Fujifilm S5700, I'm just really scratching the surface, but every now and then I'd get out my 50e (empty of film), turn it on, and marvel at the speed of the auto-focus, the continuous shooting and the depth of field.
Then I had to decide on my budget, which was low, and what I had was only thanks to the generosity of my darling wife, Suzanne. This would be a one-off purchase, no more lenses for a long time, money is too tight. Should I go new, or second hand? Take the risk with an older, worn, but maybe a better value for money model rather than a shiny new model with a guarantee?
Then there's the make and model. Canon. Nikon. Sony. Pentax. Olympus. I knew I'd be locked into a lens system for the foreseeable future, because lenses, glass, are where it's at. I have one Canon lens, no Nikon glass, some Minolta stuff that won't work with the new Sony dSLR's, and a handful of M42 lenses that could work with a Nikon or Canon with an adapter, albeit in a much restricted manner.
I said my budget was low - but I had some requirements. Auto-bracketing. Fast start up. Not too many mega-pixels (my computers too slow to do the rendering), and great picture quality.
I spent hours on DPreview looking at sample images, coming to the conclusion that most dSLRs are very similar in their output, and in most cases, and in good light, not that much better (if at all) than my Fujifilm S5700.
But heart ruled head, the decision had to be made, I wanted something even if I didn't really need it.
To justify this outlay, I'm going to add some personal caveats that I may well share in the future, lets just say for now that I've made myself (and God) some strong promises.
My apologies to the film lovers, and those who thought I'd stick with a compact digital.
Today I ordered a second hand Canon EOS 350d.
Cheers, Rob.
I fooled myself into thinking that shooting with old Film SLR's, bought for a song at the local car boot sales, would somehow negate the need I felt in my photography for taking the next step, that it was a substitute for what I really wanted to do.
I should have known what I was doing when I bought the Canon 50e a couple of months ago. I wasn't buying it for the body, which itself was excellent, I was buying it for the lens. Because I knew that with an EF mount Canon lens in my collection there was always the possibility of buying a digital back.
I don't need another camera. My Fuji S5700 S700 is enough for most situations. Image quality, in good light, is superb. Focal range is unsurpassed for its price, shooting from Super-Macro to Super-Telephoto. With the ability to sync with it's flash at shutter speeds up to 1/1000th of a second, auto-bracketing, live view, grid-lines, and all the modes of a much more expensive camera, I'm worried that I could be disappointed with anything else. I didn't ask much of the little Fuji, and it has given so much.
But that clawing desire was still there - call it greed if you will. It's not about the camera, I know that's true. I've shot film, used compacts years old, and challenged myself to take better and better images, trying to improve my post processing skills along the way too.
I don't think I'm even close to exploring the full potential of the superb Fujifilm S5700, I'm just really scratching the surface, but every now and then I'd get out my 50e (empty of film), turn it on, and marvel at the speed of the auto-focus, the continuous shooting and the depth of field.
Then I had to decide on my budget, which was low, and what I had was only thanks to the generosity of my darling wife, Suzanne. This would be a one-off purchase, no more lenses for a long time, money is too tight. Should I go new, or second hand? Take the risk with an older, worn, but maybe a better value for money model rather than a shiny new model with a guarantee?
Then there's the make and model. Canon. Nikon. Sony. Pentax. Olympus. I knew I'd be locked into a lens system for the foreseeable future, because lenses, glass, are where it's at. I have one Canon lens, no Nikon glass, some Minolta stuff that won't work with the new Sony dSLR's, and a handful of M42 lenses that could work with a Nikon or Canon with an adapter, albeit in a much restricted manner.
I said my budget was low - but I had some requirements. Auto-bracketing. Fast start up. Not too many mega-pixels (my computers too slow to do the rendering), and great picture quality.
I spent hours on DPreview looking at sample images, coming to the conclusion that most dSLRs are very similar in their output, and in most cases, and in good light, not that much better (if at all) than my Fujifilm S5700.
But heart ruled head, the decision had to be made, I wanted something even if I didn't really need it.
To justify this outlay, I'm going to add some personal caveats that I may well share in the future, lets just say for now that I've made myself (and God) some strong promises.
My apologies to the film lovers, and those who thought I'd stick with a compact digital.
Today I ordered a second hand Canon EOS 350d.
Cheers, Rob.
Reader Comments (10)
Yay!!!! Nice one dude welcome to the world of DSLR's
How much did it set you back?
Congrats Rob , Funny but what you said in that post mirrors how i feel a little ....And its nearly bonus time at work .........
p.s I am moving house in a couple of days so could be offline for a few weeks , although i should have plenty of new shots to look forward to from your Canon when i return !!!!!!
Rob, I now own Sony DSLR cameras but I have no doubt you made the decision that will be right for you. Congratulations on your new camera! You will never be sorry you bought you bought your Canon.
Jack C. Kansas City
Hi Guys,
The 350d cost me a couple of hundred quid all boxed up with batt, charger, remote, discs, manuals, and a natty little lowpro bag.
Cheers, Rob.
Hi,
I am amazed at the quality of the S5700, and you seem to be able to get the best out of it. I get no where near your photos with mine.
Congrats on the Canon. Oddly enough, I was looking at the 350d a few days ago, as I want to go dSLR, but need a cheap one to start with.
Look forward to more great photography from you.
I have been waiting since dig atarted for a real 35mm that had an extrodinary sensor that just replaced film.
Back in the day with my canons I would see-spin the ap dial- turn the speed dial as I was raising the camera-focus --shoot.!I always used Kodachrome 200 or 400 tri-X and get 30?36-no problem.
I was seriously considreing the sonyAlphas because a lot of lens will fit them- thinking I could put them on full manual and do the same thing.
But I got a chance to take one for test run and it's all in the sensor.
It styill tried to do what it was designed to do and wouldn't co-operate.
So then another freind let me try out her new DMC FZ28
Got your glass lens -decent sensor-and a hot shoe to boot.
Also RAW but my poor puter has trouble with Picasa so thats out.
I still love/hate my fuji. It seems to work by the "SURPRISE ! " meathod
But at the same time there's a reason wedding photogs and portrait ones take so many shots.
A
.
Thanks guys!
welcome to DSLR world, Mr.Rob,
Ehm, 350D, my office camera, i use almost every week, light weight DSLR, i love the soft color of canon, the DR is very good, have a hot shoe( gratest advantage), but the kit lens is awfull, even fuji S700 have a sharper lens( just my opinion ). but with ability to change lens all will be fixed , expecialy playing with m42 will be a great experiment. i have a friend that use old m42 lens on his canon and the result are amazing.
congratulation
hope someday i can buy a DSLR too
Shade
Cheers Shade!