yup, it really is about the person behind the lens…
it occured to me that ansel adams was taking pix with a very rudimentary piece of equipment yet he was able to capture stunning images that can rival any 20 grand piece of equipment. Granted, his type of photography might have never needed any expensive telephotos but I’m still blown away with his talent. Its just like surfing I guess…
Rio
Hey Doc-
Archiving digital camera photo sets are so convenient.
Does using a teleconverter lessen photo quality, since you’re adding an additional lens? I’ve been interested in doubling the mag on my telephoto.
I’m a photographer…Based in SF.
I specialize in architecture, interior design, and product shooting.
I also assist for a few catalog photographers, doing mostly location work. lotsa garden, kitchen, furniture, and clothing photography.
Digital is steadily becoming the thing.
I still use film for architecture, because the digital equipment you use with large format cameras is quite expensive…currently in the $18,000 to $35,000 range…I need the perspective correction and wide angle capability (more on that later…)
often I end up scanning the film and giving a digital file anyway.
so far the canon mark II (16 mp) is the leading 35mm-SLR format digital camera, with files large enough to satisfy most print and stock usages, roughly similar to the smaller medium format sizes in film, as far as information…
More and more catalog is being done with either SLR type 35mm digitals, or digital backs with medium format cameras, either tethered or running memory cards to a laptop. sometimes a full-time digital guy will be there, managing files, checking color, naming and processing the files, quick photoshop retouching and merging, and outputting onto DVD’s for end of day delivery.
For shooting surfing, either of those nikons will work fine–the D100 is a pro workhorse, and may be overkill–if you want to get work with your shots, use the D70 for your portfolio stuff, and rent the D100 body if you get a job that requires it. if you find you are getting enough work that you are renting the D100 regularly, then buy one.
For most amateurs and semi pros, 4-8 megapixels is plenty. some of my portfolio shots are 6mp, and you can’t tell them from the 4x5 neg shots, at about 10x12 in. or so…
Some sensors are “full size 35mm” and some are smaller–roughly two thirds, usually. If you have one that’s 2/3, it will make all of your lenses about 1/3 longer than they usually are–which works in your advantage if you want to reach out–a 200mm in 35 format becomes equivalent to a 300mm with the smaller chip.
I would reccomend a D70 (or whatever camera you’re comfortable using–try a few–any major manufacturer is prolly OK–you get what you pay for) a decent 70-300mm zoom, in the $150-$250 range, and plan on shooting with a tripod–the rule is that you can handhold shots if the shutter speed fraction of a second exceeds the focal length in millimeters…so a 50mm lens can be handheld at 1/60th sec or faster, a 300mm lens must be on a pod unless you are at 1/250th or faster…the only lenses that break that rule are good image stabilization lenses, canon makes some 300mms that let you handhold down to a tenth or so…interesting motion-blur effects at that point…
whatever camera you get, test different ISO’s with your preferred output method–then use the highest one that doesn’t start to look all wierd…it will be the most versatile…
as for the teleconverter, a good one designed for the lenses it’s used with can be superb–fifteen dollar after-market brands can be crap…usually, a good one can be had for around $100-$200, less used.
KEH is good, and B&H photo and Adorama in new york, and Calumet in Chicago and elsewhere, set the standard for the american market, and usu. ship overseas. Plenty used equip. there, and e-bay (careful)
glad to field additional questions…
wells