Month: January 2015

My Digital Early Days – Part II – The DSLR

The first years of my “digital life” with cameras was a stable time when I used just one camera brand, Canon.  I got started with the D30, and then over the next seven years progressed through the Canon 5D, 10D, 20D, and 1D MkIII.  I guess I hadn’t yet been afflicted with the current day malady known as G.A.S. (gear acquisition syndrome), and I already had Canon lenses, so that progression made the most sense.

Curiosity – Canon 20D
Canon 5D
Survivor – Canon 1D MkIII

Then , partially influenced by a friend who was using a Nikon DSLR, I made the jump to Nikon.  And I went all in.  After selling all of my Canon gear, I bought the Nikon D700 and was thrilled with the camera.  Over the next two years, I actually took more photos with that camera than any other (digital) camera I’ve owned.

Nikon D700

Then the G.A.S. slowly, but inexorably, began to invade my photographer soul.  The D700 was followed by the D90 (5 months) and the D7000 (10 months).  All of those cameras were terrific cameras, capable of delivering better images than I could produce, but I think a part of me just liked the process of vetting a new piece of gear and exploring the latest innovations in this evolving world of the digital camera.

Big Dipper – Nikon D90

At any rate, on September 14, 2011, I ditched the DSLR and the big lenses and whole-heartedly embraced the “Mirrorless” concept of a smaller system that could still produce outstanding image quality and be a lot easier to carry around.  Thus began my season of “mirrorless madness” … and in the last three+ years I’ve bought (and sold) a myriad of different mirrorless cameras made by at least five different manufacturers.

Nikon D7000 (starburst added with Topaz Star Effects)

Actually, I have some reasonably good “excuses” for all the gear switches and I’ll talk about those and my mirrorless journey into madness in the next post.

Revisiting the OM-D E-M5

As the highly anticipated release date approaches for the next Olympus OM-D (rumored to be the E-M5II), I thought I’d take some time to revisit some of my favorite images from the original OM-D, the E-M5.

Panasonic 25mm f/1.4

The E-M5 is a wonderful camera and captured my interest from the moment it was announced in early 2012.  It has a great 16Mp sensor that is capable of rendering some terrific images, and the camera is very customizable.  It comes in a nice small package (and the lenses are relatively small, too), and has that excellent 5-axis IBIS (In Body Image Stabilization) system that allows you to use almost any lens made and have it stabilized.  In fact, I don’t think any camera manufacturer has managed to equal the Olympus IBIS system.  Yes, the new Sony A7II has a (sort of) 5-axis IBIS, but it doesn’t quite measure up to Olympus (IMHO) … Plus, the new OM-D is “supposed” to have an Improved IBIS.  We’ll see soon!  🙂

Olympus 12-50mm kit lens
Olympus 45mm f/1.8

Panasonic 25mm f/1.4

Olympus 45mm f/1.8

Storm over the valley

Scotch on the rocks.

Time for that afternoon energy boost!  🙂

Olympus 60mm f/2.8 Macro

Supplements About the Sony A7S and A7II Are Now Available

Picture Profiles … S-Log 2 … Timecode … What does it all mean?

The newer Sony A7S and A7II are using terms that many of us “regular” photographers know nothing about.  At least I didn’t until I read Gary Friedman’s just released supplement to the A7S.  The bulk of this supplement is all about the video features that most non-videographers aren’t very familiar with.

Each supplement is a little over 70 pages, covering just what’s new and different from the original A7/A7R.  They’re available as downloadable ebooks from Gary’s website Here:
http://www.friedmanarchives.com/A7r/index.htm

The cost is a very reasonable $6.95 each, but it’s information that would be very difficult (if not impossible) to find anywhere else.

What do You call the Sony A7II ?

Why do camera manufacturers have such a difficult time coming up with consistent and simple naming schemes for their cameras?  For instance, when the Olympus OM-D E-M5 first came out there seemed to be a fair amount of confusion about what to call it … the OM-D … the E-M1 … or did you need to refer to the entire combination?  Well, that was cleared up when Olympus announced the E-M1, setting the OM-D as a series name and E-M1 as a specific camera in that series.

Now, with Sony there seems to be some uncertainty about just what exactly do we call the new A7II.  On the Sony website, it is called the ILCE-7M2 (now there’s a mouthful … interchangeable lens camera Extraordinaire?), and on the camera the designation is ∝7II.  But here’s the rub.  I’ve also seen (and heard) this camera referred to as the:

  • A7II
  • A7M2
  • A7 Mark II (or A7 Mark 2)
  • A7Mk2
  • A7MkII

Lots of choices!  (oh, and I think it’s also okay to insert small “a” instead of capital “A”)

Yeah, I know … a big fuss about nothing … who cares?  Well, I do!  I haven’t slept a wink since it was announced!  🙂  No, actually I was just curious.  What’s your preferred title for this new kid on the block?