Finally going digital

[truls]

A while back i bought one of those small digital system cameras, an Olympus pen. One reason, using m42 lenses is a breeze because of easy focusing With manual lenes. My wifes Nikon DSLR, withouth liveview, is impossible in this regard. Here a shot of the camera and the unusual Sears m42 lens (cannot find info about lens):




I also got the kit zoom lens, here is a test shot from December 31 2012:

[Stephen]

Looks like the same model Olympus Pen PM-1 I bought at Xmas, a very nice camera indeed, I got a good deal by buying the body new on offer and a S/hand 14-42mm lens, but the latest version and as new condition.
Very easy to use, and confuse, with all those customisable settings! Vast numbers of lenses can be fitted via adaptors, most work fine or show their true age!
The only nuisance of Micro 4/3 in general is wide angles are expensive with the short focal length involved, they are made, but are costly. The standard zoom does give the equivalent of 28mm wide angle though, and the performance is excellent.
Obviously it not a substitute for the OM-D, but comes very, very, near to rival it and the more expensive Pen versions on picture quality.
For the base model of the range it has a better finish and features than the earlier Pen PL-1, losing only the buttons, gaining more multi task buttons in the process.
Stephen.

[Stephen]

Who actually made the Sears 50mm F2 lens is a mystery known only to Sears, they are generic Japanese lenses, branded for US mail order catologue, and retail store owners, Sears.
Because it is Sears and the quantities bought was massive, the quality for the price was often very good. Tokina and Cosina were the main suppliers to these house branded lenses. Looking at the style of finish, I would say Tokina made the lens, which probably was supplied with a SLR body as a complete kit camera. Cosina and Ricoh made bodies for such deals.

[herron]

Tokina made lenses for Sears, but for a long time so did Mamiya. A lot of Sears-branded cameras were actually made by Mamiya in the 60s...starting with their Prismat model.

[Berndt]

Truls, without wanting to start the everlasting discussion film VS digital again, just let me tell you my personal conclusion as somebody, who took a lot of pictures ( and is still taking ) using both medias: There are a lot of situations, where it is easier, more convenient or only possible to take a picture with a modern digital camera, but in many situations, when that is not the case, I had regrets later, that I didn't use film instead. Do you understand, what I mean ?

[truls]

Apr 7, 2013 4:32:03 GMT -5 Berndt said:

There are a lot of situations, where it is easier, more convenient or only possible to take a picture with a modern digital camera, but in many situations, when that is not the case, I had regrets later, that I didn't use film instead. Do you understand, what I mean ?

I hope I understand, and I mostly agree. For me the goal is not a technical issue, but to take som memorable Pictures (and of course fiddle With old cameras). If I look through my old Pictures, most of my important images are taken With film and somewhat crappy cameras.

If you travel the digital way only, there are some limitations: The need of electricity, lost Pictures during missing backup routines, Cold wheather issues, depending on having a computer, and more. Digital also have some advantages: You can judge the result instantly, higher ISO setting may capture images not possible With film, it's cheaper, and more. I suspect a lot of images are lost beacause of computer errors, both from human and hardware issues?

Film also have some advantages: You can shoot and develop film without need of electricity, mechanical cameras are more likely to work in harsh conditions (Cold weather), high quality scans meets most needs for a digital copy, no dependency of computers, Storage is somewhat more secure in photo albums and negative Archive. Some private images i only shoot With film, as digital copies can easily be lost or unwanted spread around, there are several examples of this isue.

I will not start a film vs digital war, but each medium has advantages/disadvantages. What do you other collectors feel about this subject?

[Berndt]

As I said, I wander in both worlds. It took me a while to get myself organized though. My main digital camera is a simple Casio Exilim at the moment. It covers mainly all situations, where a film camera would give me a hard time. As those are: Instant upload to Facebook, HDR, night- and low light snapshots without tripod, high speed shooting ( 30fps@full resolution - sweet for animal and sports photography for example ), movie functions, panorama, zoom in my pocket and a few more. Things, I can't do with a classic analog film camera.

However, when it comes to take a good photograph, my choice is clearly film - mostly transparency film in combination with medium format cameras, but I also just like to play around with other films and/or the "new" cameras, I found and repaired. It's like christmas for me, seeing those old mechanical beauties to purpose again.

The thing is just ... we humans are tending to comfort and convenience. Once having a digital Suisse pocket knife in our pocket, we use it and then ... and that's what I wanted to say ... I often regret, that I didn't put more effort in the one or other picture, because yes - I truly believe, that film still has its advantages also regarding the visual quality. Even risking to become tarred and feathered, I still think, that people should be photographed on film ( looking much younger and the skin more beautiful ) and there are also other situations ( like sunsets for example ), where no digital camera I know can match a film camera, having a mechanical aperture and a decent transparency film loaded. But I personally also hate the design of digital cameras. Hundreds of modes and settings. For what ? I just need aperture and shutter speed ... and only that gives me the control, I want to have.

So, talking about comfort and convenience before, I took a lot of pictures, which would have definitely looked better, taken with a TLR for example than with a digital P&S or my cellphone. That's simply sad, I think.

Wanting the best of both worlds, we do have another problem though: We can not always carry the half of our collection with us. Here, everybody needs to find his own way, I think. That would make a nice new thread BTW. I would like to see every member having his bag packed ( a bag of an acceptable size though - not a truck ). Would be interesting

[truls]

Berndt, I think Our opinions are the same then