Digital photography

Sorry, my first cameras were my dad's old Nikons (FE, EM and one whose name I can't remember with no internal light metering and a pop up viewfinder) and I've used Nikons ever since. Back at school I was the photographer for a while and used their Cannon but I never got on with it. I have no substantive reasoning but it's always been Nikon for me.

Really having trouble deciding between a Panny GF, probaby 1 or 2, Olympus EP1 or 2 or the X10.

I just need something long for doing portraits n stuff so I'd probably get the Olympus 45mm if I go for one of the m4/3 cameras. Maybe adding the Oly 12mm later on.

I really like the X100 so the X10 seems like it'd be a good accompaniement to it but I do like to do stuff like digital pinhole work which I couldn't do with the X10 but could with an interchangeable lens camera such as the GF or EP cameras. Think one of those 4 bodies and a 45mm lens would cost me just a bit less than the X10.

If you can find one, get an E-PL2. And invest in the Panasonic 20mm 1.7 pancake. I have it on my GF-2. Best 200-odd GBP you can spend on a prime anywhere.
Otherwise the GF-2 is solid as long as you don't require high-ISO (2000 and over). The controls take a little bit of getting used to but it's still a very solid camera.

I keep convincing myself that if I've got money left over at the end of the month, I could justify somehow buying an x10 to sit beside my x100.

I can't see it...

why have both? Are they really that different?

For me it'd be because the X100 is amazing but sometimes I need something with a longerer lens.

When I bought the X100 I tried the X10, actually went into the shop thinking I'd get the X10 but it wasn't quite enough camera for me I didn't think.

I don't think the missus is going to let another camera in the house... so hit may be a no go!

Just got my first deal to sell some framed work through a local photo gallery, first time of asking an' all. Dunno wether I'm more shocked or excited, I thought northerners were just good at eating chips and music and football.

Where are you based, my mates brother has a framing business in derbyshire.

Could put you in touch.

Ta very much.

Jesus christ, don't let the pedants hear you call the X100 or the Hexar a rangefinder!

If someone with a Leica (esp an M9) were to overhear that....

Actually, I seem to have a thing for not-quite-a-rangefinder cameras as I've just bought a Bessa L.

As a manual focus digital camera the M9 is pretty much in breed of it's own and I would doubt it is likely anyone will bring anything out that really compares to it.

The X100 and even the X-Pro are really AF cameras that can be focused manually, just.

Same with the Hexar, and the fussyness of the manual focus operation is almost more excusable in it because Konica didn't bother putting a pseudo focus ring on it, they make you control the focus by two tiny, unmarked buttons on the top of the camera!

I heard, and I'M AS MAD AS HELL AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!

Or somesuch definition rant ;)

Always thought it would be good if someone made a 6x9 folding digi RF. (like fuji 690, voigtlander 69 etc), or even a digi 645RF
Its possible, and it'll be pricey, but fuck, could you image, a proper 69 sensor with decent glass, in something that can fold into your pocket?

If they could be made for < £5k I'd have one

also that Olympus OM-D sounds like a bit of a half assed fail. They've called it an 'OM' yet it is nothing to do with OM mount? WTF is up with that?

Olympus if you aren't going to make serious gear, don't bother IMO, it'll just merge into the background of 500 other similar cameras. Fail.

When I heard 'digital OM' I thought, OM mount so heaps of native lenses, compact body, rugged, retro, functional.

Instead it's like an updated Panny G3 in a different body shell for 3x the price.

I reckon Olympus saw the success that Fuji had with the X100 which is retro styled and aimed at the prosumer market rather than consumer like the Pen etc, and wanted a piece of the action.

Those Fuji folders are stunning. The wide one that doesn't fold too. Dunno about a digital version though. Surely wouldn't come in at much under £5k and for £2k you could have a film one, a pile of film and a half decent scanner.

Where are you based, my mates brother has a framing business in derbyshire.

Could put you in touch.

Cheers but the gallery does in house framing and I'm down here in That Famous London. They all talk funny and have fizzy lemon in their beer.

the semi huge fuji 645RF, the 80s plastic fantastic one, saw one in a charity shop once, noticed it was a fuji and pretty chunky, then returned to the 50p (or somesuch) bin and passed it off as a kids toy camera...... this was about a year ago, about a month before I bothered to educate myself on jap RF's DAMMIT!!

i know what you mean about £2k vs. £5k. Film is lovely, and I use a LOT of it (currently running around with a 50s ensign 69 camera), but there has GOT to be a market for a folding medium format digi RF
It'll never sell in massive numbers, but for one of the boutique manufacturers (thinking of those swiss/ austrian lot) it could be feasible.

I've been looking at the Japan Camera Hunter blog a lot recently and saw a lens with external aperture diapragm that was made by what seemed to be a pretty small niche manufacturer, kinda made me think why don't we see more of that kind of small run manufacturing thing happening in photography? I wish I had the skillz!

I've just plumped for an R-D1 on ebay so my 5D mk1 is going to have to go I think.

Great condition other than a scuff to the side of the viewfinder bump. Comes boxed with I think 3 batteries, instructions etc. Will throw in a pretty good pinhole body cap I made for it if you're interested too.

Completed auctions on ebay seem to be around £550-£650 so I'd like to get £550 for an off ebay sale and as I'm in Glasgow and this would need to be posted royal mail special delivery I'd like £10 for postage.

Photos once I wake up a bit more.

I've just got myself a cool little R2-D2, barely used, with really fresh pixels.

I've just plumped for an R-D1

nice! let us know what you think of it

So far I think I might be mad! I bought a Bessa L last week which I've yet to receive too. Think I'm gonna have to stick to cheap screw mount lenses and an adapter because M lenses are another world of wallet pain.

^ voigtlander nokton's are good value for money I reckon. I've got the 35mm f1.4, really like it

On a similar note, can someone recommend a m43 to m-mount adapter? It's a jungle out there and I'd like to avoid both ruining my lens+camera, and pay too much

The 5D I'm selling. I have put this on ebay today to take advantage of the free listings this weekend, if that's against the rules I'll delete the posts here.

Wildlife photographer of the year exhibition at the Natural history museum is brilliant. Worth going before it ends early next month.

Made me a little jealous of the 10 year olds with 3 grand lenses though

Got back from South Africa a couple of weeks ago - a friend was kind enough to lend us a Canon 400d for the trip. It was my first experience with an DSLR but quite pleased with initial results. It has inspired me enough that I think I will save up for my own to compliment to semi-decent point and shoot camera I have.

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I really like the dung beetle one.

Very nice. Finding old films is always fun (car boot sales are great for that). There's a thread for film cameras and I'm sure people would like to see them:
http://www.lfgss.com/thread6107-71.html

Thanks Lae, got your PM via Flickr, didn't know about the other thread. Yes I've got some more pics from Japan. Some Glass negs.

Wildlife photographer of the year exhibition at the Natural history museum is brilliant. Worth going before it ends early next month.

Made me a little jealous of the 10 year olds with 3 grand lenses though

g/f mentioned that, wasn't quite keen until you claim it's brilliant, so I'm definitely going, this friday actually...

Some horrendous digital photography newbie questions for you... Which DSLR for £600? Nikon D5100 or Canon 600D? I used to have a Canon film SLR and liked the controls a lot. I was OK, but student finances and cost of film made for slow progress. I'd also like a wide/super wide lense - I take it there's no way short of £400 to get one? ANy advice from those with more knowledge and experience gratefully received.