Learn to use what you've got

[olroy2044]

Lately I've found myself in a frenzy of aquiring "new" cameras and equipment. I realized that I have several cameras that I haven't even fired a test shot thru. So I have deliberately backed off on even looking for that "perfect" lens, or camera body, or whatever. Going through my photos of the recent Air Fest here in Chico, I found a series of shots which hammered this home to me. Rather than continuing to hunt for the "end all, to do all, to beat all" piece of hardware, why not spend more time learning to use what I have? This series was shot with a 30+ year old, fully manual, mechanical, non-motorized, manual focus SLR, with a dead battery in the meter, equipped with a 200mm third party lens, coupled to a 2X converter. It happened to be a Spot F, but it could have been any of our beloved classic cameras.
This series was shot on a single pass, with the aircraft moving at somewhere around 120-130 kts, slow by aircraft standards, but still mighty fast to track and shoot, especially with a long lens of any type. Could it have been done better? Of course it could have. But the results were very satisfying to me, and is this not the essence, and the challenge of our hobby?









OK, I'm off my soap-box! ;D ;D Roy

[doubs43]

Roy, a nice series to be sure. I also agree that learning to use the equipment you have is more important than gathering additional gear.

But....... it's nice to play with different cameras and stuff and considering my "collection", I'm the last one who should be giving advice about limiting your gear.

Walker

[Randy]

I really like those shots Roy! I like you have many...MANY....cameras that I have not used. My estimates on my unused cameras would be around 50??? that I haven't used. Yikes!

[mickeyobe]

Roy,

Very nice pictures.

Some members like to collect cameras to use them.
Others, like me, are bower birds who collect for the sake of collecting.
Either way it's a great hobby.
I always try my best to learn how to use my acquisitions but really have little desire to put film through most of them. Knowing that I can if I wish is enough for me.

Mickey

[herron]

Those are cool pictures, Roy.

I agree it might be nice to use all our collected equipment. I try to eventually run at least one test roll through everything I acquire. Unfortunately, if I kept that up I'd have to use a different camera every other day to excercise them all in a year...and if I added the various lenses for some of them....oh my!

You're right though. Getting results that satisfy us individually is what it's all about. Just as sitting back at looking at all the accumulation can be!

[PeterW]

Nice fast tracking, Roy.

I absolutely agree with learning to use what you've got. Use it and use it till it becomes an extension of your eye. and your fingers work automatically without having to think about the camera.

A very expensive all-singing, all-dancing camera might produce slightly sharper images, maybe with better contrast and better colour balance. But it won't make you a better photographer.

Anyone who doubts that should spend time studying pictures taken by top photographers 20, 40 ... 60 or more years ago with cameras that are, by today's standards, completely outdated.

PeterW

[herron]

That's a great post, Peter. Every digital-shooter (or film) wannabe should consider it. Just like it has been said many times in this forum, it isn't the camera that "sees" the picture, it's just a piece of equipment that records what the photographer points it at!

[Just Plain Curt]

I have a few I've never had time to put a film through (yet) but I try and shoot at least 1 roll with everything I've got. Best way to find shutter troubles, film advance troubles, light seal leaks, cocking/rewind problems etc. For about $5/roll including developing to disk, it's a cheap analyzer for problems, a source of relaxation and education and occasionally I get a photo worth sharing. I have a few more coming in the mail, 23 on my watching list and then that should be it at least for this year, LOL. Oh yes, a family friend gave me an OM-PC yesterday too.

[olroy2044]

Thank you all for the kind words re: the fire bomber run. Personally, I realized that the mere obtaining of another camera, lens, etc. had become an end in itself, and I was spending more time on auction sites, rather than tripping a shutter. That is when I took a better look at what I wanted out of this activity. I really enjoy taking pictures! I just finished the first roll thru my Fujica ST 605, and am shooting one with my Ricoh XR-1. I'm having more fun now, and spending less money ;D How can ya lose? ;D Roy

[mickeyobe]

Peter said,
"I absolutely agree with learning to use what you've got. Use it and use it till it becomes an extension of your eye. and your fingers work automatically without having to think about the camera."

I agree with him whole heartedly.
Over the years ( about 50 yrs.) I have had and used some cameras that have, indeed, become extensions of myself, my mind and my eyes and my hands. I have kept each of them for a relatively long time and was troubled when I gave them up. Although I still have all of them and use them occasionally.
They are: Exacta VX IIa, Canon FTbn, Canon T90.

Now I am trying to introduce a Pentax K100D to this aging body but find this adaptation rather more difficult than my previous loves.

My collection of useable but non used cameras has grown to over 200. Only rarely will one of them tempt me to put a roll of film through it and I usually feel uncomfortable doing so.

I believe that familiarity breeds not contempt but content when it comes to cameras and thus, confidence.

Mickey

[kiev4a]

Probably the closest a camera ever came to being an extension of my eye was my Nikon FTN back in the late '60s and 'early '70s. I knew that camera so well that shooting a picture wasn't really a conscious act. It was sort of like blinking my eye.

[nikonbob]

Roy

Good set of photos. I was always told to be wary of somebody with one firearm, one of anything really, they probably know how to use it well. I think that is true, but personally I like some variety so I tend to collect and use. Out of all my gear I feel most at home with a Nikon FM/FE class of camera but I would not go as far as to say it was an extension of myself. I am always amazed how my older gear still performs when compared to modern gear. I think the new stuff is just more convenient to use and that may not be what I want all the time. Everything has it's place though but I get more satisfaction from using the older kit. It makes me feel more connected to what I am doing and not just a by stander who is incidental to taking the photo. I hope that makes some kind of sense.

Bob

[Peter S.]

Dear Roy,

These are very interesting shots. And it is a very good series. And the last one is the clear climax.
And I envy You for Your ability to focus that fast moving target.

Best regards
Peter

[olroy2044]

Bob--You make perfect sense. That is exactly what I mean. I have auto everything, electrowhiz-bang cameras, and while they return great results, I do feel somewhat of a bystander. The exception to that is my little 110 Pentax, which is about as automatic as it gets except for focusing. The challenge there, is to get results from a thumbnail sized negative.

Peter S--Y'all are embarassing me It's not as hard as it looks. Set the lens to its hyperfocus point, and swing, fire, and follow thru! Do it enough times and it becomes instinctive. Roy

[kiev4a]

As a lady named Della once told a friend of mine: "I's not what kind of equipment you have, it's how you use it that matters!"
Seemed rather strange Della saying that as she wasn't a photographer.