General Photography Chat - Page 84

mSeattle · #**1661** Posted **Nov 24, 2013, 6:00 AM**

Thanks Wrab, I'm using the RX 100 and working on PC.

wrab · #**1662** Posted **Nov 24, 2013, 10:57 AM**

I hear that's a really great pocket camera; haven't had a chance to play with one yet myself.

Sony has its own dedicated software available for download here.

You can download a trial version of Adobe Lightroom with RX100 raw compatibility here.

mSeattle · #**1663** Posted **Nov 25, 2013, 11:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrab

I hear that's a really great pocket camera; haven't had a chance to play with one yet myself.

Sony has its own dedicated software available for download here.

You can download a trial version of Adobe Lightroom with RX100 raw compatibility here.

Thank you! I can't wait to try out the software. I'm really impressed with the basic JPEG abilities and have been frustrated at not knowing how to edit the RAW files. I bought it used a couple of months ago for just over $300 (*lucky*).

This was my first shot as is out of camera:

First picture (jpeg) from Sony RX 100 by mSeattle, on Flickr

With edits:

First pictures (jpeg) edited from Sony RX 100 by mSeattle, on Flickr

xzmattzx · #**1664** Posted **Dec 23, 2013, 6:16 AM**

I had my camera stolen last night. It was a Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS. I actually had a camera of the same make and model stolen last year, but was satisfied enough with the compactness and mega-zoom to get it again. I still like it, and the mega-zoom, but am wondering if there's a slight upgrade available. Any suggestions? I paid around $150, I think, after shopping online. I'm interested in the same price range, especially since I'm not in the position to go buying stuff for myself after having stuff stolen.

R@ptor · #**1665** Posted **Mar 25, 2014, 11:51 PM**

Just when you thought they couldn't make Flickr any worse than after the previous changes, they somehow manage to change it for the worse once again

What an absolute mess...

mSeattle · #**1666** Posted **Mar 26, 2014, 2:39 AM**

^So it isn't just me! I was wondering what just happened while I was between browsing photos.

What is this? I don't want to make all photos public just to grab the BBCode cause some of them are crappy.

I guess I'll have to create a new account or use a different service to split off the portfolio of professional style photos I'm trying to build....

Ant131531 · #**1667** Posted **Mar 26, 2014, 9:35 PM**

Hi guys, I was wondering if anyone can give me a suggestion on a camera to buy. I've been getting really into street photography lately, love admiring cities and the urban streetscapes. What would be a good first camera to buy that takes clear photos both day and night along with zooming in without hurting the quality of the photo too much? Also, what would be decent lens?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mhferna...3864/lightbox/ is what I would consider clear night time photos.

Thank you so much in advanced!

ue · #**1668** Posted **Mar 26, 2014, 9:50 PM**

If street photography is what you're after, I'd seek something with a fast, wide-to-normal prime lens. So something at or less than 50mm in full frame or 35mm measurements. A 35mm lens on a cropped sensor DSLR will be the equivalent of 50mm on full frame, so keep that in mind. Zoom lenses tend to be lower quality and you can miss a good moment fiddling with the zoom.

Not knowing your budget, I could suggest anything from the Ricoh GR cameras to the Fuji X system to the Olympus OM-D to the Leica M240. There are a ton of options in the growing CSC (compact system cameras) market.

The GR is pretty affordable and with a good, fast 28mm (equivalent) lens with speedy AF. But there is no option for interchangeable lenses if you want to use something with a bit more zoom. It is a good length for architecture, cityscapes, and up close street photography.

The Fuji X system is fairly popular and has a wide range of cameras. The X100s has a great fixed 35mm (equivalent) lens on it and is very popular with street photograph, though some people complain about the AF. If you want interchangeable lenses, the XPro-1, X-E2, and X-M1 may be more your speed.

OM-D is a bit pricey and has the look of an old 35mm SLR, but is really much smaller and lighter. AF is good and it has a range of lenses (including legacy lenses) that you can use to your heart's content.

Leica M240 is priciest of all but the quintessential street camera. I've heard in B&W, high ISO looks splendid. It's a rangefinder, though, so no AF. Leica lenses are some of the best out there, but with prices to match. If you're enticed by Leica, maybe try searching for a used M8 or M9.

Oh, and I almost forgot Sony! The A7 is a beaut and the NEX system is a good, affordable interchangeable lens compact system. The NEX system tends to be a bit cheaper than the Fuji X cameras and lenses and still produces excellent results.

Ant131531 · #**1669** Posted **Mar 27, 2014, 1:52 AM**

I always see people with DLSR cameras who take the really good pictures. Canons and the likes.

Doady · #**1670** Posted **Mar 27, 2014, 5:00 PM**

People take good pictures because they are good photographers, not because they use SLRs.

For street photography - i.e. making candid, intimate photos of people in the street - generally SLR is not a good idea because it attracts a lot of attention. You just need a compact, fast camera with a wide to normal lens. And no high-powered telephoto lenses because it would make people seem too distant from the photographer, and vice versa.

I'm no good with street photography myself, by just my opinion looking other people's photos, I think street photography with telephoto lenses sucks.

But if by "street photography" you actually meant just city photos in general, like urban landscape, then I guess it doesn't really matter that much what you choose.

Since you want to take handheld and sharp night pictures you probably want a camera with good high ISO capability (low noise at high ISO). And/or a bright lens (low F-stop). Prime lenses tend to be the brightest (~F1.8).

You probably also want a camera with built-in image stabilization so you can use lower shutter speed without being affected with camera shake regardless of which lens you use.

flar · #**1671** Posted **Mar 27, 2014, 5:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ant131531

Hi guys, I was wondering if anyone can give me a suggestion on a camera to buy. I've been getting really into street photography lately, love admiring cities and the urban streetscapes. What would be a good first camera to buy that takes clear photos both day and night along with zooming in without hurting the quality of the photo too much? Also, what would be decent lens?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mhferna...3864/lightbox/ is what I would consider clear night time photos.

Thank you so much in advanced!

I'm assumming you want to do photography like in the City Photos section? Buildings and streetscapes?

I think we're at the point now where you can spend about $300 on a good quality all-in-one point-and-shoot camera and that's all you need unless you have some specific need for an SLR. If you can't name any reasons why you'd need a DSLR and specific lenses, then you don't need them. When you start to feel limited by a point and shoot camera, then you should consider a DSLR.

Get something with a wide zoom range: you'll need wide angle for big buildings and telephoto for those awesome compressed streetscapes.

mSeattle · #**1672** Posted **Mar 27, 2014, 7:17 PM**

I agree. I've been toying with the thought of getting Canon's 50x zoom "sx50hs" point and shoot. I've seen decent photos from it and it's in the $300-400 range. And it does RAW files. Great little camera to have around town.

ue · #**1673** Posted **Mar 27, 2014, 7:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doady

People take good pictures because they are good photographers, not because they use SLRs.

For street photography - i.e. making candid, intimate photos of people in the street - generally SLR is not a good idea because it attracts a lot of attention. You just need a compact, fast camera with a wide to normal lens. And no high-powered telephoto lenses because it would make people seem too distant from the photographer, and vice versa.

I'm no good with street photography myself, by just my opinion looking other people's photos, I think street photography with telephoto lenses sucks.

But if by "street photography" you actually meant just city photos in general, like urban landscape, then I guess it doesn't really matter that much what you choose.

Since you want to take handheld and sharp night pictures you probably want a camera with good high ISO capability (low noise at high ISO). And/or a bright lens (low F-stop). Prime lenses tend to be the brightest (~F1.8).

You probably also want a camera with built-in image stabilization so you can use lower shutter speed without being affected with camera shake regardless of which lens you use.

This. A million times this. For street photography, DSLRs are clunky and intrusive. People are far more receptive to innocent looking compacts.

Telephotos can work in street photography, but 99% of the time they don't. All they do is isolate a rather uninteresting facial expression from a background. They're sniper shots. They say telephotos allow you to get closer without actually physically being there which is true, technically, but due the compression and sniper-esque aesthetic, it rarely makes a viewer feel like they're actually there because in reality the photographer wasn't.

flar · #**1674** Posted **May 29, 2014, 2:41 PM**

I'm thinking of getting a nice compact camera. They seem to be getting really good now, and I would take more pictures if I had a camera in my pocket all the time.

My requirements:
-viewfinder
-RAW
-zoom lens
-small size
-at least 12MP

I haven't been following camera technology lately. Anyone have suggestions?

Are current electronic viewfinders fast enough that they won't annoy me with lag? I need to put my eye up to the camera.

EDIT: looks like there may not be a decent compact with a decent viewfinder.

flar · #**1675** Posted **May 30, 2014, 6:05 PM**

Looks like the Canon S120 is hard to beat for a pocket camera. Very small, RAW, useful zoom range (24-120). Downsides: small sensor, only 12MP, would be nice if it went to 200mm equivalent.

Sony RX100 looks great but is twice as much $$ and has less zoom range (28-100). Has a bigger sensor and more megapixels, which would be nice.

Fuji X20 has a bigger sensor, viewfinder and zoom ring, but is perhaps too large for a pocket. But I don't think any stores in Ottawa even have one to try. 28-112 zoom range, I wish it were wider. I'd like 24mm equivalent at the wide end.

Panasonic LF1 and Fuji XQ1 also look good, but no availablity in Ottawa (surprise, surprise, what a backwood when it comes to shopping).

I can't buy a camera without picking it up and trying it.

ue · #**1676** Posted **May 30, 2014, 8:25 PM**

The Fuji X System is awesome. But if you find the X20 is too big, then I won't go further with that. The XQ1 seems good, but I honestly don't know much about it relative to the X20/X100s/X-Pro/XE series. Just quickly looking, it seems to have the same X-Trans processor that the more advanced cameras in the X series have, in which case, you really can't go wrong with the XQ1. Those sensors are damn good. The only thing that sucks is the XQ1 lacks a viewfinder.

The RX100 isn't that expensive compared to the A7s I've been salivating over. Sony's compact cameras seem to be really well done and therefore may be worth the extra dough.

I know that you said you'd want a zoom lens, but I'd also highly recommend looking into the new Ricoh GR. 28mm (35mm equivalent) fixed lens but very sharp, quick, and extremely pocketable.

Ant131531 · #**1677** Posted **Jun 1, 2014, 4:25 AM**

After a couple of months of thinking about it, I decided to buy the Canon T3i with 50mm 1.8 prime lens since my cousin uses the camera and he can help me learn how to use it properly. Just bought today and hopefully it ships to my house by Wednesday of next week so I can start playing with it.

Daveography · #**1678** Posted **Jun 2, 2014, 4:05 PM**

^ Not a bad choice. I got my start on a Rebel and took many amazing photos with it, and a 50mm prime was (and often still is) my favourite lens.

flar · #**1679** Posted **Jun 9, 2014, 2:23 PM**

I ended up getting the Canon s120. Seemed like the best set of compromises, fits nicely in the pocket and it was on sale for $100 off. It's pretty decent, I've used it on some nature hikes will post pics if I ever have a few minutes to edit and upload.

mr.John · #**1680** Posted **Sep 1, 2014, 5:34 PM**

Anyone interested in photojournalism, photos from the the 57th World Press Photo Contest Award winners are posted....http://www.worldpressphoto.org/awards/2014