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Born Again Photographer!
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Okay the title says it all…
Been out of photography for a number of years… debating in my head if I should sell my MF kit.
My passion has always been BW landscape and plantstreesmother nature.
The question is would I be mad to sell the MF kit and go for a Digi setup… I like film but by god it’s a lot of work and I like the idea of quickness of digi
I know it’s a personal choice… but I need an objective opinion???
Ta
Paul
Paul,
Here’s one fools thoughts.
Why do you have to sell your MF gear first. Start with some inexpensive last generation kit and see if you like digital.
I was in the same place a few years ago. I purchased an older body from a friend = Nikon D70 and a used 50mm f1.8 lens. Wandered around taking a huge number of shots and did only the slightest post-processing as an experiment.
I found digital quite a different game than film and required rethinking the crude shooting discipline that I had at the time.
Result: Two years ago I was given an amazing bag of kit as a retirement gift and today I’m happy to be shooting digital. I’m slowly regaining technical and composition skills, while also embracing subtle digital post-processing to replace the darkroom skills I never had.
What I do miss is the simple control interface of my 35mm kit. I like having ISO as an every shot control. But a dial for shutter speed and a simple match needle for aperature was faster and more transparent. I realize that dialing in exposure compensation is the same thing, but it’s not, in some way, as direct. Maybe it’s all of the stuff that appears in the viewfinder. Or maybe turning the lens rings for aperature and focus is just more satisfying. (note: I don’t often shooting moving things)
Fully understanding how todays AF and metering systems work, and interact, is a non-trival task.
Having said that, you’d think I’d go back to film. Not so. Immediate feed back, histograms, low cost for hundreds of practice shots are great.
I’ve only spoken to the technical side of things. Understanding composition and light are always more important. New technology doesn’t change that at all. But in the beginning the technonolgy learning curve might detract from your photos. Stay with it.
If you mostly shoot from a tripod, you could fall in love with liveview. Great aid for composition and you can zoom to focus.
Photography Ireland has been a godsend. The folks here are ladies and gentleman. They are super helpful with whatever is on your mind.
Ted
Thank you for the reply. I like the MF kit, but I very rarely use it.
Lately I have been experimenting with my HTC phone. (5 Meg camera). I have to say I enjoyed taking shots with it. I was surprised that it does have center-weighted and spot metering, plus plenty of other useful gadgets… I am not suggesting that it could compare to the beauty of a well carved piece of glass (The lens) but it does make you see how simple digital can be.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/53507358N02/5258630578/in/photostream/
Your point on buying an older camera is a great idea. My preference would be a SH body with a fantastic lens. I will probably end up selling the MF to fund a ‘fantastic lens’. I like the idea of the liveview.
One other thing I would love to get back into is IR. I have been using SFX for years now, but I have read that you could convert a digi to IR only.
Thanks Ted, you have given me good food for thought…
Paul
Hi Paul,
Like Ted says, perhaps you need a change of pace, and a relatively inexpensive dslr could be the way to go.
Best kit is really the one that works for you, even if there is nothing technically wrong with the camera kit you already have, if you’re not tempted to drag it out, then there’s probably something you would be better off with instead.
If you’re shooting b&w, I would be tempted to keep the medium format kit for now, as the return you get on it may not be great these days, and with the aid of even a flatbed medium format negatives can be easy to digitise and a nice compliment to a digital camera when you need that something extra. On the other hand, getting back into medium format should you sell it, and decide you’ve made a mistake, may not be that costly either, so you haven’t risked much aside from the hassle of selling and buying.
Digital can depreciate rather quickly, so if you are jumping in, I would say try pick up a used last generation body and see if you like it. Lenses can be another matter, but you probably have an idea what focal lengths you prefer at this stage, so that may influence your choice of brand.
Good luck with whatever you decide. As Ansel Adams said – there’s nothing worse than a sharp picture of a fuzzy concept. Life’s too short to waste with gear that does not allow you realise your vision, if gear is the restricting factor.
Hi Paul
noticed from your profile that you’re living in the garden county as I do, If it’s of any interest to you I’d be only to happy to let you use a Nikon D70 and a few lenses I have before you go spending your cash on new gear and if you decide to sell the MF gear there’s a good few of us on the forum here who still shoot film a lot and would appreciate first run on anything you have to sell. welcome to the site. I’m based in Bray if that’s any help.Thanks Dermot
i might take you up on that. I am near the shooting pub, ‘Jack Whites’.
My MF kit consists of a Bronica GS with 65mm, 100mm and 150mm. 67, 645 and 66 backs, plus polaroid and loads of accessories. It is a pity Bronica never brought out a digi back….
Talk soon and thanks again
Paul
Here’s something to think about
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/734474-REF/Nikon_D5000_Digital_SLR_Camera.html” onclick=”window.open(this.href);return false;
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