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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2008 10:35:21 GMT -5
I may come off here sounding a little full of myself but there's one part of the digital photography revolution that really bugs me.
In the days when film SLRs reigned supreme, most people started with simple cameras and worked their way up as their photographic skills increased. And even if a person could handle a sophisticated SLR most still considered themselves amateurs.
Digital photography is changing the world in many ways. Now there are a great many more people with only a glimmer of knowledge shelling out big chunks of money for DSLRs. Then they turn up on the forums asking really silly questions.
"MY gf (girlfriend) and I decided to start a professional photography studio. Why won't (a lens from the late 1960s) meter and focus on my Nikon D80? What's and ai lens? is that different than an af lens?"
Another
"I set my D300 pn the 'Places' setting but I'm not getting great pictures. See the example. I spent a lot of money and I am really disappointed in this piece of junk!"
Answer: Well, first off the D300 does not have a "Places" setting. It has a "P" setting and that stands for "Program." Secondly, the complainer's photos suggest he was trying to shoot moving people in a room illuminated by one 40-watt bulb, with the camera automatically setting his shutter speed to about 2 seconds!.
Reminds me of the woman who called the computer company tech support to complain her computer wasn't running. The technician suggested she check behind the desk to see if the computer was plugged in. She said she couldn't do that because it was too dark because of a city-wide power failure. The technician allegedly told the woman to pick up the computer and throw it out the window because she was too dumb to be allowed to operate one.
Again, I don't like to sound snobbish but there seems to be a lot of folks out there who believe that since a camera is digital it means no practice is required and anyone can just pick up a DSLR and take great pictures. In fact, a lot of DSLRs have more variables that can be adjusted that did the film SLR of 20 years ago.
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Post by olroy2044 on Apr 1, 2008 11:30:27 GMT -5
Wayne, you are exactly right. I fear that you have just made a comment on our society as a whole. Automation, instant gratification, and guarantees of simple "professional" results have become the norm. Then when a product does not live up to its hype (even when due to user ignorance! ) the whining begins. Gotta go--just threw my cell-phone out the window!! ;D ;D Roy
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2008 12:10:36 GMT -5
Wayne, you are exactly right. I fear that you have just made a comment on our society as a whole. Automation, instant gratification, and guarantees of simple "professional" results have become the norm. Then when a product does not live up to its hype (even when due to user ignorance! ) the whining begins. Gotta go--just threw my cell-phone out the window!! ;D ;D Roy Good one!
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PeterW
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Post by PeterW on Apr 1, 2008 12:23:44 GMT -5
Absolutely right, Wayne. These people are a pain - and not just in the neck!
Perfect examples of "When all else fails, read the instructions". Or, as it was well put by an exasperated member of a computer manufacturer's help desk: RTFM, short for Read The ******* Manual. PeterW
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Post by nikonbob on Apr 1, 2008 17:39:41 GMT -5
No not snobbish just very much to the point.
Bob
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Post by doubs43 on Apr 1, 2008 23:36:18 GMT -5
This thread reminds me of a story I heard many years ago. Seems that a well-known professional photographer was watching a parade in Hollywood when Mickey Rooney rushed up to him and asked to borrow the spare Leica the Pro was carrying. The pro asked if Mickey knew how to use a Leica and was assured that he did. So, the spare Leica was handed over and off Mickey went. Later, when the pro developed the film Mickey had taken, not one picture was in focus as Mickey hadn't extended the lens!
Hey! Do you think that if I buy the same clubs as used by Tiger Woods I'll shoot a 70 at Augusta? I have no doubt that I would..... by hole 5 or so!
Walker
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Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2008 9:29:37 GMT -5
Interesting. On most forums if I were to make such comments someone would tell me we all went through the stage where we didn't know what was going on. But that's not exactly true because back then most of us accepted that there was a learning curve and we couldn't become experts overnight. There wasn't the need for instant gratification we see now.
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Post by renaldo on Apr 2, 2008 9:55:45 GMT -5
Have been a convinced film only shooter for YEARS. Just got my first digital camera and looking at all the controls...ouch...wow!! My learning curve is going to be long and high.
I see there are a couple dedicated Nikon digital shooters. Are no members among the CANON?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2008 11:08:24 GMT -5
Welcome Renaldo
Seems like there have been some Canon DSLR shooters here. Don't think there's much difference in the quality of photos produced by the various digital brands. It more a mater of personal preference as to where the controls are located and the menus are set up.
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Post by doubs43 on Apr 2, 2008 11:14:22 GMT -5
Interesting. On most forums if I were to make such comments someone would tell me we all went through the stage where we didn't know what was going on. But that's not exactly true because back then most of us accepted that there was a learning curve and we couldn't become experts overnight. There wasn't the need for instant gratification we see now. I recall when I became serious about photography in 1967; I began reading "Popular Photography" and "Modern Photography" magazines and stacks of books on every aspect of photography that I could find in libraries. Advertisements in the magazines were also a source of information. Clearly I wasn't astute enough to recognize satire when I read it and a "Modern Photography" article written tongue-in-cheek had me going for awhile. My clue that it wasn't serious was a light bulb for the darkroom that absorbed light when turned on and made the room really dark! BOY..... was I gullible!! Eventually, I learned! Walker (Who's STILL learning about photography!)
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2008 12:39:13 GMT -5
Walker:
Wish I had the hundreds of photo magazines I had over the years. Also wish I still had my LIFE Library of Photography. In fact, The local used bookstore has the entire set for almost nothing. I think most the people on this forum have "paid their dues" working their way up through the photographic skill levels. Magazines also are how I learned about computers.
I have no problem answering newbie question and lending a hand just as other more experienced photographers did with me when I was a beginner. But I cannot abide the "I paid all this money for a camera--why can't I automatically take great pictures" crowd.
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Post by renaldo on Apr 2, 2008 13:52:16 GMT -5
Opps! As a "newbie" here, did I step on someone's foot unintentionally!? Apologize if I did.
Yes, I am a newbie to digital shooting, but have been a film advocate for probably 45 years.
And I have no qualms about saying the new adventure will be a big learning curve, and probably slow, since I am rooted in film. Just as early on, I am accepting the fact that I must learn like a baby with the digital.
I have both Canon and Nikon...listed in that order alphabetically, not by preference...and could have chosen either brand to go with digitally.
Got quite a good deal on a used Canon 30D with BG-E2 grip, Tamron 11-18 and Tamron 18-200 lenses. It was an odd situation as the guy I bought it from is up in age and was still shooting with a Canon F1. Decided to make the big jump to something modern and then, like me, was intimidated by all the controls and technology.
However unlike him...I WILL learn it and not decide to sell it cheap before loosing control and smashing the outfit...LOL
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2008 14:58:31 GMT -5
Renaldo:
A year ago I was a DSLR newbie, too. The 30D is a nice camera--well built. I would have probably started with it if I hadn't had several Nikon mount lenses.
I started out shooting in Nikon's "P" (program) mode where the camera basically sets the speed and the aperture. But I discovered it had a tendency to chose wide apertures that cut down depth of field. So I do most of my shooting now in the mode where I choose the aperture.
All the menus will overwhelm you if you let them. Try to shoot with the DSLR just like an SLR. Pick and ISO and a shutter speed or aperture and just fire away--then check the results. One of the great things about digital is it doesn't cost much to experiment because you aren't paying for film processing and you get instant feedback.
Your years of film experience apply to digital. The problems are the people whose only background is film of digital point & shoots and think that just spending more money can make up for lack of experience. There aren't many areas of life that work that way.
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tuna
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Post by tuna on Apr 2, 2008 16:46:12 GMT -5
Walker: Wish I had the hundreds of photo magazines I had over the years. Also wish I still had my LIFE Library of Photography. In fact, The local used bookstore has the entire set for almost nothing. LIFE library, volume #1, THE CAMERA. I used to tell student photographers to get that book and read it thoroughly. Doesn't matter any more. Just set the DSLR on "P" and make sure you have plenty of batteries.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2008 17:04:49 GMT -5
The LIFE books were excellent, not only on shooting but on Darkroom techniques, plus a lot of stuff on general style. The photos were all printed using the Rotogravure process where in was layered to get different shadings rather than using screened dots. It's a more expensive process.
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