The best SLR ever produced
Vicente Calero
zen...@mindspring.com
revolution..
----------
In article <PfB17.1771$t9.5...@news-reader.eresmas.com>, "Vicente Calero"
<v...@eresmas.net> wrote:
> Which is your opinion?
>
>
>
Edwin
Gabriel Schwartz
according to Ken Rockwell http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/f100.htm
On Sat, 7 Jul 2001 12:14:58 +0200, "Vicente Calero" <v...@eresmas.net>
Philip Daly
Oh, wait! It IS troll bait! :)
Tapeworm
Philip Daly <phili...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3B4700E2...@hotmail.com...
> *sniff* *sniff* Do I smell troll bait?
>
> Oh, wait! It IS troll bait! :)
Good thing we didn't step in it!
Dave
Tony Polson
Bud Cook
However, thinking about the ALPA makes me pause a bit. My sister is the
artistic one in the family and the ALPA has been her camera for years.
Unfortunately, I'll bet that most of the people who respond to this question
haven't been around long enough to have seen the really good stuff:-)
--
Bud Cook
Remove X to Reply
"Tony Polson" <tony....@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:262ekt46p4df5pmnq...@4ax.com...
Dilbertdroid
Most products have flaws, and the F100 has them too. Just remember that this is
the world's best 35mm SLR for creating photographs.....It handles better than
an F5. ... This is simply two additional years of research of which the F100
takes advantage... Of course the N80 is newer still and improves a little from
the F100.....The F100 is a little plasticy compared to professional cameras. If
you are a whiner like me for solid cameras then just go buy an F5, which seems
hewn from a solid bar of metal. I'm going to whine a lot here, but heck, the F5
costs only a little more and is twice as solid and heavy.>>>>
I can't figure out WHAT this guy is trying to say but he sure hasn't convinced
me. He seems to be someone who really wants an F5 but is too cheap to buy
one.
eMeL
news:PfB17.1771$t9.5...@news-reader.eresmas.com...
> Which is your opinion?
"The best...?" For what purpose..?
Are you ignorant or trolling..?
Michael
Eric Brehm
system goes to the Olympus OM-4. You can take multiple spot readings within
the subject area, and then choose your exposure based on the tonality you
wish to achieve, or let the camera average the readings to produce an
overall good compromise. Sort of like using your own brain to apply a
'matrix' metering algorithm manually. This camera is still available new
but, sadly, there appears to be little hope that the Olympus Corp. will
further the development of this type of camera.
Eric
greg
Eric Brehm wrote:
> Not sure about best all-around, but my vote for the most ingenious metering
> system goes to the Olympus OM-4. .... there appears to be little hope that
> the Olympus Corp. will
> further the development of this type of camera.
>
I'm actually seriously considering dumping my F90x kit to replace with an
OM-4ti. Just love my OM-1n.
Intel
Bud Cook
one.
--
Bud Cook
Remove X to Reply
news:9945196...@nomad.vif.com...
Mel
gospel. The best is in a person's mind and their technique.
Mel
"Gabriel Schwartz" <REMOV...@bigfoot.com> wrote in message
news:rhudktoeogvtatej1...@4ax.com...
Tony Spadaro
major companies put their own name on it.
--
http://home.nc.rr.com/tspadaro/
The Camera-ist's Manifesto
a Radical approach to photography.
Or thrill to sights you've never seen before all that often
Chapel Hill artist Tony Spadaro's Home page
http://tspadaro.homestead.com/Home.html
somebody
>The Nikon F100 is the best 35mm camera ever made
>according to Ken Rockwell http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/f100.htm
>
well, for $800 (used), the F100 is very hard to beat for doing just about
everything at a world-class level of performance. there is nothing it doesn't do
well, and few cameras can match it dollar-for-dollar in performance.
uses any nikon lens ever made, and is small enough to go more places comfortably
than the F5. ok, so the F5 has more features, but it's twice the cash...new or
used.
oh, i think canon has a couple of decent bodies, if u don't care as much about
build quality and lens compatibility...
...and why does everyone think the poster is trolling when he clearly states to
voice your ***OPINION*** ??
Randy Howard
says...
> Which is your opinion?
For Photography: Nikon F5.
For snapshots and trolling: EOS-1V
Buy the one best suited to your plans.
Barry Twycross
<v...@eresmas.net> wrote:
>Which is your opinion?
I'm sticking with my Minolta XD-11 (or XD-7 or XD).
--
Barry
Ba...@netbox.com <http://www.netbox.com/barry>
------
(Obsolete sig deleted).
C.L.Zeni
>
> There has never been anything to beat the Cosina. It's so good that several
> major companies put their own name on it.
Now there's a different angle...I like it.
--
Craig Zeni - REPLY TO -->> clzeni at mindspring dot com
http://www.trainweb.org/zeniphotos/zenihome.html
http://www.mindspring.com/~clzeni/index.html
379 pounds of Samoan dynamite.
Tony Spadaro
I could forget kenrockwell.com. Nice camera though.
--
http://home.nc.rr.com/tspadaro/
The Camera-ist's Manifesto
a Radical approach to photography.
Or thrill to sights you've never seen before all that often
Chapel Hill artist Tony Spadaro's Home page
http://tspadaro.homestead.com/Home.html
"Gabriel Schwartz" <REMOV...@bigfoot.com> wrote in message
news:rhudktoeogvtatej1...@4ax.com...
Pat Chaney
>...and why does everyone think the poster is trolling when he clearly states to
>voice your ***OPINION*** ??
Because it's a pointless question, in this case just a one-liner, with
no clear purpose for asking.
Pat
--
Photos at:
http://www.shuttercity.com/ShowGallery.cfm?Format=Cell&AcctID=1251
Paul Cavka
I have owned every Nikon model produced from about the early 80s. The F5
Nikon is by far the best I have ever used.
--
Regards
Paul Cavka
David Kieltyka
> Which is your opinion?
Echoing Bud's comments here's my vote:
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/dkieltyka/sl2.htm
-Dave-
Darrell A. Larose
> The best Canon was the F1 but I suppose most Canon users have never seen
> one.
Which F1??? F1, F1N, New F1, or the 1982 New F1?
Darrell A. Larose
400 mm f:2.8, 500mm f:4.5, 600mm f:5.6
that impressed Canon so much they copied them ;)
Bud Cook
--
Bud Cook
Remove X to Reply
news:9i844c$1lh$1...@freenet9.carleton.ca...
Bud Cook
the SL/2 any more. She's a beauty.
--
Bud Cook
Remove X to Reply
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Tony Polson
> There has never been anything to beat the Cosina. It's so good that several
> major companies put their own name on it.
Especially "Voigtländer".
--
Tony Polson
Ppestis
Nikon F2. No Batteries needed. A handbuilt workhorse that will outlast every
plastic AF POS ever built !! Mine's 27 years old and still going strong.
Let's see if the Fabulous EOS 1v lasts half as long !!
David O. Garcia
those if I had the cash back in the early 70's.
"Edwin" <ee...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:nOC17.195$qa6....@newsread1.prod.itd.earthlink.net...
> The XM Motor Minolta.
>
>
David O. Garcia
"Vicente Calero" <v...@eresmas.net> wrote in message
news:PfB17.1771$t9.5...@news-reader.eresmas.com...
> Which is your opinion?
The one that's in your hand when you take the picture.
Lewis Lang
>From: "Vicente Calero" v...@eresmas.net
>Date: Sat, Jul 7, 2001 11:14 AM
>Message-id: <PfB17.1771$t9.5...@news-reader.eresmas.com>
>
>Which is your opinion?
The opinion that is mine, of course! :-)
Lewis
I've set (anti-spam) controls to allow in only people on my list. If you want
to be on my list contact me through the newsgroup. I regret the inconvenience.
Thanks.
Check out my photos at "LEWISVISION":
Marc B. Meijer
I have used the LX for all my insect and plant photography. I have used
it in all types of environmental conditions. From -20F to 110F, It has
survived the grit from several sand storms in AZ.
I still use it. For me it was money well spent
Ramin
best, and then most o fthem pick one from the brand they are using
usually the top
one model or near to the top. Eventually, the answers merely fall to
as if they are answering to "which brand you use". Then overall the
answer show which
brand(s) are dominating the market right now which may not at all mean
the best SLR is from that brand or even that brand produces better
cameras in average.
And my opinion about NikonF100: I personally see no great camera
around it! A good camera but not that great. Excluding the price
factor which doesn't make sense when trying to specify the best SLR
(then much cheapper cameras get higher
ranks than F100 since do the same job but much less expensive). In
fact i think it's overpriced and lacks some important features like
MLU. It doesn't have the color metering of F5 either. F5 siumply is a
more supperior camera comparing to F100 no matter that it's much more
expensive than F100.
Ramin
Ramin
regrdless of the costs, my choice would certainly be among 35mm SLR's
because of the wide collection of available lenses, accessories, ...
which make it most suitable system to (in a steady way) documentize,
and even "in particular" complement how the human's system of the
vision experiences the world. In particular it's when the 35 system is
complement the human's vision that it's distinguished from
other formats, due to its much wider types and range of lenses
available for it,
and the most advanced photographic technology has been applied to it.
So it's better than larger formats in this regards, despite the fact
that they give artistically have a bette rpotential to give finer
images due to the larger size of the film they produce.
Then among 35 SLR's, Minolta Maxxum9, NikonF5, CanonEOS1v, Pentax
MZ-S, ContaxN1, EOS3, Maxxum7 all can be among the best ones in the AF
realm which should be prioritized since AF enables us to get ome shots
that without it
we wouldn't be able to cpature. That's the weak poit of manual-focus
cameras like Leicas. We don't have to choose only one SLR
is the best , since simply there isn't always necessarily the best. In
fact, the question is based on the assumption of "there is a best
"one"" or "everybody
has specified "a" camera as the best". Even if we in particular choose
a camera
as our favorite one, it doesn't necessarily mean we think it is the
best.
For example, my choice among the above options is Maxxum9 and then
Maxxum7. This only reflects my favorite ones not that i think they are
the best.
Ramin
Vicente Calero
Let me give us my opinion:
For me, the best SLR ever produced was an Asahi Pentax MX; the one that my
father gave to me when I was 12, and the one that let me get into the
wonderful world of photography.
Vicente
Michael J Hoffman
present what would you come up with?
Mine would be a camera with everything totally manual with a multi-spot
AF option. The AF lenses would need to focus silently. The viewfinder
would give 100% coverage with a switch to simulate slide mount coverage.
The viewfinder would display shutter speed, aperture, film speed , and
frame counter. Film advance/rewind would be manual, with an optional
motor drive available. There would be no program modes and no custom
functions. Mechanical DOF preview and timer would be good. A
viewfinder curtain would be nice. I'd want an Olympus-like multi-spot
metering system, with 60/40 centerweight option. I'd have a PC socket.
Batteries would be needed only for metering and AF when in use; MF would
still be possible w/o batteries. It would not weigh a ton. It would be
sold in kit form with a 50/1.4 and not some cheap zoom. There would be
no built-in flash.
What would you design?
Michael H
"My psychiatrist sent me for an MRI because she thinks I have a magnetic
personality."
Marco Milazzo
I have no opinion on cameras, but I'd like to say something about
"trolling:"
We ought to distinguish between questions that are designed to
provoke outrage or start an argument (which I call trolling) vs.
questions or statements designed to start a conversation.
To me, the problem posters aren't people who ask un-answerable
questions like this one, but people who post dogmatic statements
designed to answer (read "end") questions once and for all -- and for
good measure, usually call the questioner an idiot for even asking.
This question resulted in an interesting, friendly conversation, and
I see no reason to think it was insincere.
Marco
(Just tryng to encourage newsgroup conversation, not newsgroup combat
-- which beyond a certain shock-value, is usually boring).
On Sat, 7 Jul 2001 12:14:58 +0200, "Vicente Calero" <v...@eresmas.net>
Nicholas O. Lindan
>
> Tony Spadaro wrote:
> >
> > There has never been anything to beat the Cosina. It's so good that several
> > major companies put their own name on it.
>
> Now there's a different angle...I like it.
Finally proof: Diana Rules!
--
Nicholas O. Lindan, Cleveland, Ohio noli...@ix.netcom.com
Technical Management Consulting & Engineering Services:
New Product Development; Electrical Engineering;
Software, System and Circuit Design. Oh, & Photography
Shawn Grant
Shawn Grant
Nicholas O. Lindan
The one I am using right now!
If your SO asks "Honey, who's the best lover you ever had?" what's the
answer?
Dance with who brought you.
Leave with the one you came with.
Love the one you have.
Nicholas O. Lindan
Well, that's the sanest answer here.
somebody
> Excluding the price
>factor which doesn't make sense when trying to specify the best SLR
>(then much cheapper cameras get higher
>ranks than F100 since do the same job but much less expensive).
the cheaper cams lack the build quality and precision to last in the long run,
if you tend to shoot a lot. the AF system on the F100 is the same as the F5,
with a strong torquey motor which is MUCH faster than anything cheaper like the
N80, N90s, etc. and most ppl that have used both will agree that there are only
extremely rare times when the F5's (much) better meter will out-work the F100.
it's a bit overkill, in many ppl's opinion.
...and be honest. what was the last shoot YOU missed b/c you didn't have MLU?
MLU is the most important feature that hardly anyone has a use for, yet everyone
cries about. if u have MLU, then i'm guessing you also have a 500mm lens, right?
LEDMRVM
>sold in kit form with a 50/1.4 and not some cheap zoom. There would be
>no built-in flash.
>
>What would you design?
And how many cameras have you used that did weigh 2000 lbs?
Eric Brehm
always felt that these are redundant exposure methods, useful only in
contrived situations. I do like AE however, when I need to work fast.
An interesting new camera I spotted recently is the new Nikon FM3A, which is
manual focusing only, but has a hybrid shutter design that allows
electronically timed exposures when in AE mode, but when you set a specific
shutter speed manually, the shutter is fired mechanically. Thus the camera
can be operated at all speeds without batteries (albeit meterless) -- sort
of a cross between the FE and FM models. Pretty clever.
Eric
"Michael J Hoffman" <deltad...@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:29835-3B...@storefull-615.iap.bryant.webtv.net...
Abhijit Bhattacharya
> The Nikon F5..the metering system in it is just amazing. Its a true
> revolution..
>
Why would you let the camera decide your exposure for you? I use
evaluative metering on my ElanII/E maybe 5% of the time.
Regards,
Abhijit
Nicholas O. Lindan
> Why would you let the camera decide your exposure for you? I use
> evaluative metering on my ElanII/E maybe 5% of the time.
Interesting... How do you determine exposure for the other 95%?
---
Tony Spadaro
only kidding
--
http://home.nc.rr.com/tspadaro/
The Camera-ist's Manifesto
a Radical approach to photography.
Or thrill to sights you've never seen before all that often
Chapel Hill artist Tony Spadaro's Home page
http://tspadaro.homestead.com/Home.html
"Marco Milazzo" <mmil...@elp.rr.com> wrote in message
news:b2qgktkk2k4mpeel3...@4ax.com...
Ramin
I don't have a 500mm, my longest is 300mm. I also have macro and do a
lot of macro shots. as far as i have the camera on a tripod (and in
some occations
even when handheld!), i use MLU (for any critical shutter speed). I
recently, added an electronic remote cord, which is going to be used
almost always, unless
the shutter speed is very fast or it may not let me capture the
moment.
I haven't done any side-by-side test on ow MLU prevents from a shaky
image,
but in overall it seems that with MLU (and remote cord), i get less
number of shaky shots. Some times my primary reason for using MLU is
not just to avoid
the vibration from mirrror slapping, but also a time lapse for the
vibration
produced when i press the shutter button. There are many articles
around which
show MLU is useful (which of course depends on the lens being used,
and the sutter speed and the camera).
My point i that NikonF100 though a very good camera, strangely
doesn't have MLU! While at its price range and the level of
photographers (professional and advanced amateur)to them it is
targetted, it is expected to have MLU. Of course this is not because
all of its users want it or have a 500mm lens. But a nature
photographer or a wildlife photographer (who doesn't need an overheavy
F5 and doesn't use its top fps)may need MLU for the type of job s/he
does.
Beside, F100 is not built as tough as F5, has a plastic back door as
far as i know.
Note desoite al this, F100 is a very good camera, but i didn't go
for that
because of the above reasons: In Canada Maxxum9 is just a bit more
expensive
than F100 (CAN$100). And if i was to pay that money, i would go for
Maxxum9.
Just my personal taste ( and i don't shoot action sports for which
perhaps
F100 is better).
Skip
I use spot metering on my A2 and 1n nearly 95% of the time. But I don't
always use the settings it recommends in Program. What do you use to
determine exposure?
Skip
--
Shadowcatcher Imagery
http://www.shadowcatcherimagery.com
Vicente Calero
Vicente
Marco Milazzo <mmil...@elp.rr.com> escribió en el mensaje de noticias
b2qgktkk2k4mpeel3...@4ax.com...
Eric Brehm
is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away." I'm
not sure what the heck that means, but it seems to apply here.
Seriously, features and functions that you don't use shouldn't be a problem,
as long as they don't get in your way or slow you down. "Ideally" though, I
suppose you would want your photographic equipment to be designed to do
exactly what you want it do, precisely and efficiently, and nothing more.
And for those who grew up with only three controls (shutter, aperture,
focus), all the knobs, wheels, buttons, and LCD displays on today's SLR
marvels may seem like a bit of technological overkill. To each his/her own
of course.
Eric
"Michael Zimmet" <mzi...@voicenet.com> wrote in message
news:c6phkts2j95q83of4...@4ax.com...
> On Sun, 8 Jul 2001 09:12:34 -0400 (EDT), deltad...@webtv.net
> (Michael J Hoffman), wrote the following in
> rec.photo.equipment.35mm:
>
> > There would be no program modes and no custom functions.
>
> What's the downside to having custom functions? It's handy to be
> able to choose whether to employ normal flash curtain sync, or
> second curtain sync. Whether to leave the film leader out on
> (motorized) rewind, or not. Whether to have the camera do the DX
> film speed auto selection thing, or not.
>
> I mean, you're free to define "ideal" any way you like. But how are
> custom functions evil?
> --
> Michael Zimmet
> mzi...@voicenet.com
Abhijit Bhattacharya
> Abhijit Bhattacharya wrote:
> >
> > zen...@mindspring.com wrote in message news:<9i6s99$829$1...@slb7.atl.mindspring.net>...
> > > The Nikon F5..the metering system in it is just amazing. Its a true
> > > revolution..
> > >
> >
> > Why would you let the camera decide your exposure for you? I use
> > evaluative metering on my ElanII/E maybe 5% of the time.
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Abhijit
>
> I use spot metering on my A2 and 1n nearly 95% of the time. But I don't
> always use the settings it recommends in Program. What do you use to
> determine exposure?
> Skip
I use partial (the Elan has no spot) metering most of the time, and
when I get an incident meter shortly, I'll use that as well. If the
subject I'm metering is medium-toned then I don't compensate. If it's
lighter, then I'll overexpose; if it's darker, I'll underexpose. I'll
also sometimes forego the meter completely when it's sunny and use
sunny 16 and adjust for backlit and sidelit conditions (by opening up
two and one stops, respectively).
As a result, I don't consider evaluative (Canon) or matrix (Nikon)
metering to be a big factor in my future SLR purchasing decison so I
was questioning why the metering system on the F5 ("amazing" and a
"revolution" in the original poster's words) made it "the best SLR
ever produced". Btw, I don't know enough about the F5 to refute this
claim, but IMO, it definitely shouldn't be based on the metering
algorithm, because it is nearly impossible to account for every
lighting situation and can't replace a photographer's brain (at least,
not yet).
Regards,
Abhijit
P.S. I would recommend buying John Shaw's "Nature Photography Field
Guide" if you want to learn how to calculate exposure properly without
using evaluative or matrix metering.
Michael J Hoffman
without a book to refer to. With manual rewind I know how to leave the
film leader out if I want to. I have never second curtain synched, but
admit that it can be a useful creative tool for others.
I have a Canon EOS 1N; I love to use it. The only custom function I
have set is to leave out the film leader. Except for focus,
auto-everything-else is turned off. Perhaps the beauty of this camera
is the ease of turning off all the auto functions. Heck, I don't even
use the evaluative meter, I use a grey card reading as my exposure
guidline. All the whiz-bang to do is overkill in my opinion.
As an interesting aside, read the article on the new FM3A in the August
2001 issue of Petersen's PHOTOgraphic. You'd think a totally manual
camera was the latest photographic innovation.
Andrew
>
>Which is your opinion?
>
>
>
That's easy - the one that produced the greatest ever image...
Skip
When you said "Why would you let the camera decide your exposure for
you? I use evaluative metering on my ElanII/E maybe 5% of the time." I
felt you implied that you didn't use the meter in the camera to obtain
settings. I see otherwise. I, too rarely use evaluative metering,
probably amounting to less than 5%, with the rest being centerweighted,
less than 5% and spot about 90-95%. I've never read Shaw's book, but
through experience, I've worked out when to know when my meter is lying
to me, The combination of learning on an old Exacta and being too lazy
to drag out a meter got me used to using variations on the "Sunny 16"
rule.
FMW
though, so my vote is limited only to cameras I have owned or used. Having
used an alpa could have changed my mind. Good shooting.
Fred
Maplewood Photography
"Tony Polson" <tony....@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:262ekt46p4df5pmnq...@4ax.com...
> "Vicente Calero" <v...@eresmas.net> wrote:
>
> > Which is your opinion?
>
>
> ALPA
>
>
> --
> Tony Polson
Manny Bhuta
Alpa models. It is a beautiful camera to hold. But, alas it is no longer an
SLR. My guess is that it is bought mostly by collectors.
--
Manny Bhuta
Randolph, NJ USA
"Bud Cook" <bud...@attglobaXl.net> wrote in message
news:3b471...@news1.prserv.net...
> Well, I was going to say it was a nobrainer and name the Leicaflex SL/2.
> However, thinking about the ALPA makes me pause a bit. My sister is the
> artistic one in the family and the ALPA has been her camera for years.
>
> Unfortunately, I'll bet that most of the people who respond to this
question
> haven't been around long enough to have seen the really good stuff:-)
> --
> Bud Cook
> Remove X to Reply
Lewis Lang
>custom functions evil?
>--
>Michael Zimmet
>mzi...@voicenet.com
They are cats and trying to take over the world - so saith Mr. Tinkles...
Lewis
I've set (anti-spam) controls to allow in only people on my list. If you want
to be on my list contact me through the newsgroup. I regret the inconvenience.
Thanks.
Check out my photos at "LEWISVISION":
Tony Polson
> Last month I visited Seitz in Lustdorf, Switzerland. They make the current
> Alpa models. It is a beautiful camera to hold. But, alas it is no longer an
> SLR.
Hi Manny,
It's no longer 35mm either. But it is a very fine camera.
> My guess is that it is bought mostly by collectors.
I'm not sure that anyone would really want to collect one; it appears to
be a well made and very usable camera. In that respect it is a worthy
successor to the Alpa 35mm SLRs, which were made to be used, and usually
they were. With such fine optics, it would be a real shame not to.
Best regards,
--
Tony Polson
Bill Jameson
>
> Not sure about best all-around, but my vote for the most ingenious metering
> system goes to the Olympus OM-4. You can take multiple spot readings within
> the subject area, and then choose your exposure based on the tonality you
> wish to achieve, or let the camera average the readings to produce an
> overall good compromise. Sort of like using your own brain to apply a
> 'matrix' metering algorithm manually. This camera is still available new
> but, sadly, there appears to be little hope that the Olympus Corp. will
> further the development of this type of camera.
For what it's worth, the Canon T90 and the Canon EOS 3 (and I presume the
Canon EOS 1v) have multiple spot metering with averaging. For the EOS 3, a
maximum of 8 spot meter readings.
Bill Jameson
Mike Lipphardt
function cards. The fact that multi-spot metering capability has been lost
in the new generation of cameras is a sore spot with a number of people on
the Minolta Mailing List, although the 7 with it's display of the relative
EI of all the metering segments on it's LCD back panel is a pretty good
substitute.
Mike
"Bill Jameson" <bjam...@mail.med.upenn.edu> wrote in message
news:3B49A54C...@mail.med.upenn.edu...
Jeff S
I could find a way to afford a Nikon F5, Canon EOS 1v, Leica R8, Contax N1
or whatever. But in fact, the 35mm SLR I may consider buying is a Nikon
F80 + 45/2.8 Nikkor because the 43mm lens is the first newly-designed
normal SLR lens I've heard of in awhile (aside from the 43mm Pentax), and
the F80 doesn't weigh a whole lot. I like modern matrix metering and fast
motor drives (not that I actually shoot sports, but in theory, a 6 FPS
motor drive would be fun), but I also like to keep my 35mm outfits small
and lightweight! But then, I have been fortunate to have been able to use
a LOT of camera systems over the years, and I have a pretty good feel for
what works for me and what ends up sitting in the closet.
Jeff S
Bruce Murphy
You're just going to do that to annoy all the people who said you couldn't
meter with manual focus lenses on the F80, aren't you :)
B>
Martin Francis
I refer, of course, to the attractive young lady who bought it.
Hmmmmm..... did I mention the woman who I overheard talking to one of my
colleagues saying "What really irritates me about Nikon is the way they
don't make any of their lenses in white. Oh, and can I have one of them
grips? I want my F100 to look more professional".
Image is everything, especially to hideous middle-aged women with sparse
hair.
P.S. Annika is an anagram of Anakin. Our favourite bridge-denizen is a SW:E1
fan.
--
"My mind is going, I can feel it."
- Cassius Clay
Pat Chaney
>Image is everything, especially to hideous middle-aged women with sparse
>hair.
It's at times like this I remember why these newsgroups are so much fun
:)
Pat
--
Photos at:
http://www.shuttercity.com/ShowGallery.cfm?Format=Cell&AcctID=1251
John Halliwell
Eric Brehm <ebr...@worldnet.att.net> writes
>An interesting new camera I spotted recently is the new Nikon FM3A, which is
>manual focusing only, but has a hybrid shutter design that allows
>electronically timed exposures when in AE mode, but when you set a specific
>shutter speed manually, the shutter is fired mechanically. Thus the camera
>can be operated at all speeds without batteries (albeit meterless) -- sort
>of a cross between the FE and FM models. Pretty clever.
My choice of best SLR does this over 1/75th to 1/2000th, but the
removable prisms and MLU make up for losing the slower speeds. I don't
have to wait for it either, I've had two bodies for several years.
--
John
Preston, Lancs, UK.
Photos at http://www.photopia.demon.co.uk
John Halliwell
<mzi...@voicenet.com> writes
>What's the downside to having custom functions? It's handy to be
>able to choose whether to employ normal flash curtain sync, or
>second curtain sync.
This is something that should be on the flashgun, not the custom
setting.
> Whether to leave the film leader out on
>(motorized) rewind, or not.
Good use of a custom setting.
> Whether to have the camera do the DX
>film speed auto selection thing, or not.
This also should be separate from the custom setting.
>I mean, you're free to define "ideal" any way you like. But how are
>custom functions evil?
The problem is that more and more features are being lumped in the
custom settings, and fewer are bespoke functions of the camera. The
custom settings on my EOS 5 only operate in certain modes or situations,
and the use of some change depending on what's happening. Since the
camera uses the same display icons for the different combinations, it's
almost impossible to know exactly what's happening.
Lewis Lang
>- Cassius Clay
"My mind is going, I can feel it."
- H.A.L. 9000, "2001" (the movie not the year ;-))
"They tell me I'm (feeling) fine"
- Richard Nixon to reporters after an operation
"Hi Davey"
- Goliath (Clay animation character from the 1960's tv show "Davey and Goliath"
- sort of a Sunday school version of "Gumby"-type animation)
"(To Goliath) Glass giants (or is that gas giants?) who live with glass ankles
should not throw stones"
- David (the biblical character not The Partridge Family actor)
"Everybody must get stoned"
- Bob Rolling Stoned "3rd Rock From The Sun" Traveling Wilbury Hanna Barbara
3rd rate animation Streisand Eden Dylan Thomas's English muffins H.R.
Puffenstuff Esquire
"Don't worry, be happy"
- Hitler (shortly before he invaded Poland and started his own V II/buzz bomber
rock(et) throwing group known as the Brittish invasion
Ruff!
- ..Kramden or Happy, the dog on "Seventh Heaven"
Randy Howard
cont...@aol.comnospam says...
> Hi Davey"
> - Goliath (Clay animation character from the 1960's tv show "Davey and Goliath"
> - sort of a Sunday school version of "Gumby"-type animation)
The scary thing is I can remember watching this, although I would have lived
happily ever after without remembering it if you hadn't mentioned it. *sigh*
Lewis Lang
>> Hi Davey"
>> - Goliath (Clay animation character from the 1960's tv show "Davey and
>Goliath"
>> - sort of a Sunday school version of "Gumby"-type animation)
>
>The scary thing is I can remember watching this, although I would have lived
>happily ever after without remembering it if you hadn't mentioned it. *sigh*
>
>--
>ra...@thegateway.net
:-)
Paul Cavka
I'm sure those of you working in the industry full time will have
experienced discrimination towards people using older equipment.
I work as a sports photographer for several publications. I mostly cover
ring-sports, Boxing and more recently Kick-Boxing.
I have noticed many times that guys (irrelevant of experience) that turn up
with the newest high tech equipment, very often get better seats or shooting
positions than someone who's gear isn't as impressive. A couple of times I
have had to call my boss and get him to have a word to an unfamiliar
promoter in order to get a better shooting position.
Regards
Paul
A. F. Shalders
I agree. I own an Olympus OM-4Ti and a Minolta Maxxum 7000i with a multi-spot
card.
The multi spot system is fantastic and you can cope almost any conceivable
lighting situation. But be advised: multi spot technique is not for everyone
since it requires experience and good sense.
Fernando
Eric Brehm
profitably. On the other hand, it is a terrific tool for learning how to
deal with difficult exposure siutations. It definitely makes you think about
what you are doing.
Eric
"A. F. Shalders" <shal...@unisys.com.br> wrote in message
news:3B4BCD1D...@unisys.com.br...
wcm...@attglobal.net
John Bateson
literally made like a Swiss watch - a given in that Pignons SA was a parts
maker for the Swiss watch industry. They had a solid dye caste body that
only a Leica M could match and as you said, you could put many different
lenses on them from Schneider, Angeniux and others. In short they had the
mechanical integrity of a tank and the optical performance of Zeiss. What's
more you could get them in such formats as 35mm filmstrip. Finally, the
only reason they went out of production was that Pignons SA, their parent
company, went under. Otherwise I think there would still be Alpas made
today.
Regards,
John Bateson
--
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"Tony Polson" <tony....@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:262ekt46p4df5pmnq...@4ax.com...
> "Vicente Calero" <v...@eresmas.net> wrote:
>
> > Which is your opinion?
>
>
> ALPA
>
>
> --
> Tony Polson
John Bateson
--
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Click here for Free Video!!
http://www.gohip.com/free_video/
"Nicholas O. Lindan" <noli...@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:3B488CBF...@ix.netcom.com...
> Vicente Calero wrote:
> >
> > Thank you all for your answers.
> > Let me give us my opinion:
> > For me, the best SLR ever produced was an Asahi Pentax MX; the one that
my
> > father gave to me when I was 12, and the one that let me get into the
> > wonderful world of photography.
>
> Well, that's the sanest answer here.
>
>
> --
> Nicholas O. Lindan, Cleveland, Ohio noli...@ix.netcom.com
> Technical Management Consulting & Engineering Services:
> New Product Development; Electrical Engineering;
> Software, System and Circuit Design. Oh, & Photography
I agree completely.
John Bateson
John Bateson
The original Canon F-1, because it (at last) gave Nikon some real
competition.
(it also helped spawn the Canon FTb, my first good SLR camera and one that I
still own.)
Kindest regards,
John Bateson
--
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"Vicente Calero" <v...@eresmas.net> wrote in message
news:PfB17.1771$t9.5...@news-reader.eresmas.com...
> Which is your opinion?
>
>
>
Heinz Richter
>only reason they went out of production was that Pignons SA, their parent
>company, went under. Otherwise I think there would still be Alpas made
>today.
Alpas are still being made, just not in 35mm.
Heinz
GMP Photography
http://www.goldmem.com
FOTOgraphicART
http://hometown.aol.com/fotogrart/myhomepage/business.html
GMB Custom Black & White Lab
http://hometown.aol.com/gmbbwlab/myhomepage/business.html
Dilbertdroid
Are you kidding? Have you ever used one? Handle an Alpa and then handle a
Nikon F2 and you will have no doubt in your mind why Alpa SLR's are no longer
made.
russbutner
awesome camera. I have used it many times.
John Bateson
To Heinz I would say that yes an Alpa camera is being made but it is by a
different company who bought the rights to the Alpa name and not the tooling
and designs of the Alpa SLR,s. So yes, you're right in the abstract, but the
current Alpa medium format cameras bear no resemblance to anything once made
by Pignons SA.
To Dilbertdroid I say: Yes, I agree. However, comparing an Alpa to a Nikon
illustrates the difference between a European SLR and what Japan made of it.
Any Alpa is the epitome of the SLR as a specialist tool. Granted, you
wouldn't want to use one on a photojournalist assignment, but if you wanted
a motorized SLR in filmstrip format with a bulk exposure back, then an Alpa
was just what you needed. The Nikon F, however, was the first SLR designed
to be a flexible all around picture taker. But as good as a Nikon F or F2
is, there is still no doubting Alpa's mechanical integrity.
Regards,
John Bateson
"Dilbertdroid" <dilber...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20010804185738...@ng-fe1.aol.com...
FOR7
previously fantastic price. With my 28-135IS lens mounted it is a dream combo!
E.T.
fo...@aol.com
Heinz Richter
>a motorized SLR in filmstrip format with a bulk exposure back, then an Alpa
>was just what you needed.
Basically correct. But the motor arrangement of the Alpa has to be the
strangest and most cumbersome ever designed.
John Bateson
> strangest and most cumbersome ever designed.
> Heinz
the Alpa system better than I.
But cumbersome or not, it would probably work well enough on a copy stand.
If anything the Alpa story is about how a hand made, customized product
managed to survive against the entire Japanese camera industry.
Kindest regards,
John Bateson
--
-----------------------------------------------------
Click here for Free Video!!
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"Heinz Richter" <hrp...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20010805091727...@ng-bj1.aol.com...
> >if you wanted
> >a motorized SLR in filmstrip format with a bulk exposure back, then an
Alpa
> >was just what you needed.
>
Tony Polson
> > Basically correct. But the motor arrangement of the Alpa has to be the
> > strangest and most cumbersome ever designed.
> > Heinz
> Dear Heinz, Not going to argue with your statement, since you obviously know
> the Alpa system better than I.
> But cumbersome or not, it would probably work well enough on a copy stand.
> If anything the Alpa story is about how a hand made, customized product
> managed to survive against the entire Japanese camera industry.
... except, John, it *didn't* survive.
The current Alpa cameras are made by a different (new) company who
simply bought the rights to use the Alpa name, years after the original
Alpa company folded.
--
Best regards,
Tony Polson
slrshooter
like, or the quality of the build, but what it did for the industry. If you
take that approach I don't think you can dispute the Nikon F stands head and
shoulders above the rest. It basically spawned the industry and is probably
the "best" camera to the "most" people.
Norm
"John Bateson" <j.g.b...@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:cV5b7.2833$1p1.2...@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
Tom Coates
Tom
"slrshooter" <slrsh...@erols.com> wrote in message
news:9kk1fu$e97$1...@bob.news.rcn.net...
Tony Polson
> Where did the Pentax Spotmatic fit into this story?
Hi Tom,
There's little doubt that the Spotmatic *was* the leader, at one time.
However Asahi Optical's failure to offer a bayonet lens mount until
after most Pentax SLR users had converted to other systems was a major
blow to their prestige.
Nikon was an obvious choice for most former Pentax M42 users.
I'm neither a Nikon fan nor a Pentax M42 basher; I use both systems.
But I still maintain that the Spotmatic has just about the best handling
of any 35mm SLR, excepting the M42 lens mount. But the mount was such a
major issue that the camera's other virtues were overshadowed by it.
Dilbertdroid
If anything the Alpa story is about how a hand made, customized product
managed to survive against the entire Japanese camera industry.>>>
As others have pointed out, it didn't survive. While you try to make the Alpa
sound like some kind of divine predecessor to Japanese (and especially Nikon)
SLR's, a little research will show you that the bulk of Alpa's SLR product was
contemporary with the Nikon F. I can't think of a single Alpa feature (and
there were several that were unique) that Nikon copied. The Nikon F2 (and the
Canon F1) became the kiss of death for the Alpa line (and probably Zeiss as
well) as buyers abandoned the weird but wonderfully made Alpas to embrace real
picture-taking machines. No doubt you've paid some hefty prices for some
Alpas and are just reacting to a challenge to your delusion.
Tom Coates
K-mount), was introduced in 1958 and by 1960 Time and National Geo were
using it. The K was the first camera to contain the features of the modern
SLR (except the bayonet lensmount, interchangeable finder, and of course,
lens-coupled metering). The Spotmatic provided metering when it was
introduced in 1965. Pentax pioneered most of the features of what we think
of as the modern SLR. Once the feasibility of a design is demonstrated and
it is tested in the market, competitors may apply it more effectively than
the originators did. It's happened before. Unlike many pioneers, Pentax
continues to thrive. Details of the history are at
http://spotmatic.web-page.net/.
Tom
"Tony Polson" <tony....@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:8i5rmto310abd09oo...@4ax.com...
D. M. O'Regan
Pentax? Like in pentaprism? Spot metering (but not in production)?
Instant return mirror? Sounds like a landmark camera.
Whether it's the "best ever" is debatable. But the Spotmatics were and
are very fine cameras. For SLRs, I don't know if any other manufacturer
outsold the Spotmatic line. They are a joy to handle and the glass is
wonderful.
John Bateson
Just for informations sake, the Canon AE-1 finally eclipsed the Pentax
Spotmatic in the 1970's. With some 5 million units sold, it is still the
largest selling SLR model.
John Bateson
"D. M. O'Regan" <dor...@attglobal.net> wrote in message
news:3B6E129D...@attglobal.net...
> Here, here! (Or is it Hear, hear?)
>
> Pentax? Like in pentaprism? Spot metering (but not in production)?
> Instant return mirror? Sounds like a landmark camera.
>
> Whether it's the "best ever" is debatable. But the Spotmatics were and
Ton Maas
"John Bateson" <j.g.b...@worldnet.att.net> wrote:
>The original Canon F-1, because it (at last) gave Nikon some real
>competition.
>(it also helped spawn the Canon FTb, my first good SLR camera and one that I
>still own.)
Are you sure you haven't mixed up your dates? I seem to remember the FTb
preceded the F-1. It was the A-series that came afterwards.
Ton
John Bateson
As others have pointed out, it didn't survive. While you try to make the
Alpa
> sound like some kind of divine predecessor to Japanese (and especially
Nikon)
> SLR's, a little research will show you that the bulk of Alpa's SLR product
was
> contemporary with the Nikon F. I can't think of a single Alpa feature
(and
> there were several that were unique) that Nikon copied. The Nikon F2 (and
the
> Canon F1) became the kiss of death for the Alpa line (and probably Zeiss
as
> well) as buyers abandoned the weird but wonderfully made Alpas to embrace
real
> picture-taking machines. No doubt you've paid some hefty prices for some
> Alpas and are just reacting to a challenge to your delusion.
Ah yes, flamed by the tart tongued Dilbertdroid at last. If this news group
had a badge of honor, (or a Purple Heart) for a zinger by the said poster
I'd gladly wear it. But obviously he (or is it she) has not read my other
posts which stated my personal choice for the "best camera" ( the original
Canon F-1) and that 2) 35mm Alpa's ceased production only because parent
company Pignons SA, whose primary business was watch parts, went under. and
that 3) Tony Polson suggested ALPA in the first place and 4) [Tony] I KNOW
the current Alpa company bought only the famous name and nothing else. So
now the 35mm Alpas are relegated to collector land, where they will no doubt
do well because of their quality and their scarcity. But, it's too bad that
the world wide camera market could not allow the continuance of at least one
small company making a unique, idiosynchratic, and highly crafted camera to
survive. Finally, I never said that Alpa's were some precurser to Nikon or
other Japan, Inc favorites. But, even though Alpa's (which were introduced
after WWII) were made and sold at the same time as the Nikon F, they
embodied the idea that an SLR was primarily a scientific and technical tool,
an idea that changed with the Nikon F, which probably ought to be named the
single most significant SLR camera; an opinion which I believe is not a
delusion.
Most sincerely,
John Bateson
"Dilbertdroid" <dilber...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20010805172247...@ng-dd1.aol.com...
Tony Polson
>
> Just for informations sake, the Canon AE-1 finally eclipsed the Pentax
> Spotmatic in the 1970's. With some 5 million units sold, it is still the
> largest selling SLR model.
... which proves there will always be a market for junk.
Tony Polson
> The predecessor to the Spotmatic, the Pentax K (not to be confused with the
> K-mount), was introduced in 1958 and by 1960 Time and National Geo were
> using it. The K was the first camera to contain the features of the modern
> SLR (except the bayonet lensmount, interchangeable finder, and of course,
> lens-coupled metering). The Spotmatic provided metering when it was
> introduced in 1965. Pentax pioneered most of the features of what we think
> of as the modern SLR. Once the feasibility of a design is demonstrated and
> it is tested in the market, competitors may apply it more effectively than
> the originators did.
I note you carefully forgot to mention the lens mount in your diatribe.
Heinz Richter
>managed to survive against the entire Japanese camera industry.
I would never argue that the Alpa was one of the best made cameras ever
although their production methods really didn't differ much from those of
Leica. But high built quality is (or was) not enough. The main reason the
Alpa never attained any reasonable popularity was in its basic design and
lay-out. For instance, they never changed the step down mechanism for the
diaphragm from the lenses to the camera body. They held on to a system which
basically disappeared from the market with the end of Exacta production.
Further, I have never met anyone (other than Alpa sales people) who liked the
backward film advance, where the advance lever had to be pulled with the right
index finger rather than pushed by the thumb. With the advent of the Nikon F
it became quickly apparent that system SLR cameras were the way to go in the
future. While the Nikon F was a system camera, designed as such, Alpa stuck to
their outdated design and tried to add features which were not inherent to the
design to begin with. The best example is the motor I mentioned in my previous
post. Rather than being attached, as customary, to the bottom of the camera,
the Alpa motor attached to the top of the camera. Both sides of the motor had
a downward bracked which attached to the camera with a screw on each side. The
film advance connection was with a lever which had a pin touching against the
advance lever. After shooting a frame, this lever/pin arrangement literally
moved the advance leve to facilitate film transport. Add to this the rather
hefty bulk and weight of the motor, and you had an extremely cumbersome
arrangement. Yes, maybe this worked reasonably well on a copy stand, but then
the SLR market for copy work is rather limited. I know Karl Heitz, the former
importer of the Alpa cameras, personally. I have had many discussions with him
regarding the Alpa. By his own account, the camera might have done better if
Alpa had redesigned it to comply with more modern camera lay-out and design.
In discussing the Alpa, we also need to look at its lenses. Certainly, the
Kern, Switar and Angenieux lenses were outstanding in their day. But they were
never redesigned and were soon matched in performance or even outperformed by
lenses from competing manufacturers. On the other hand, the Alpa body had
probably the shortest lens to film plane distance of any camera. This allowed
Apla to produce adapters, allowing the use of many popular SLR lenses from
other manufacturers without losing infinity focus. In retrospect, the Alpa was
an extremely well built camera, but an anachronysm, almost from the start,
which was destined to fail.
Heinz