Camera recomendation
Clive Shirley
I have finally out grown my camera after 20 years (Canon A1). As well
the exposure metering has be come unreliable under low light conditions.
So I am now looking around for a replacement. As 99% of my photography
is macro or micro work I am looking for a suitable camera with the
following features.
Manual focus
Auto matic exposures to 30 seconds
Through the lens flashes
Mirror lock up
Interchangable focusing screens
Self timer or remote shutter release
T mount adapters for camera and reversed lenses for mounting to bellows
and microscope
Eyepiece shutter or similar
Can any one in this group suggest a possible suitable replacement.
--
Bye Clive
Visit The Hidden Forest:
http://hiddenforest.co.nz
Roger
Wow, automatic exposures to 30 seconds and mirror lockup. Perhaps the
Nikon F5. IIRC my F100 goes to 30 seconds, but no mirror lockup. A
more affordable option if you can stand 8 seconds is a Nikon F3. There
are rumors the Nikon FE2 or new Nikon FM3a will extend beyond the
published limit of 8 seconds. These cameras have a mirror pre-fire
with the self timer (not really lock-up, but the mirror latches up
before the shutter releases and releases after the shutter closes).
Since, there are so many F3's hitting the used market right now you
may want to look in that direction - it only recently went out of
production so camera and parts supplies are plentiful. I think it has
all the features you are asking for with the exception of a full 30
seconds. I've timed mine roughly and I don't think it extends beyond 8
seconds, but that measurement wasn't important enough to me to follow
really record the details.
Regards,
Roger
Amy Hoy
lei...@yahoo.com wrote on 9/27/01 3:50 PM:
> Clive,
>
> Wow, automatic exposures to 30 seconds and mirror lockup. Perhaps the
> Nikon F5.
My F4 has all those features plus it has real dials and switches instead of
that blasted thumb wheel/LCD/button combo. It also cost a bunch less. :)
Amy
Chris Hedley
> My F4 has all those features plus it has real dials and switches instead of
> that blasted thumb wheel/LCD/button combo. It also cost a bunch less. :)
I've noticed that probably most of the "top end" models made by the main
auto-SLR manufacturers seem to be going for various fiddly little buttons
in place of the old control dials; do people actually prefer this, or is
it just to facilitate things like "weather proofing," I wonder?
As far as I can tell, my EOS 30 is currently the highest model made by
Canon which still has the nice knurled control dials; I personally would
feel that I'd lost out if I had to use those horrible little buttons
instead. But I suppose that's just personal preference...
Chris.
Andy White
Shirley" <cl...@hiddenforest.co.nz> wrote:
> Hi all,
> I have finally out grown my camera after 20 years (Canon A1). As well
> the exposure metering has be come unreliable under low light conditions.
> So I am now looking around for a replacement. As 99% of my photography
> is macro or micro work I am looking for a suitable camera with the
> following features.
>
> Manual focus
> Auto matic exposures to 30 seconds
> Through the lens flashes
> Mirror lock up
> Interchangable focusing screens
> Self timer or remote shutter release
> T mount adapters for camera and reversed lenses for mounting to bellows
> and microscope
> Eyepiece shutter or similar
Nikon F5
Andy White
<eris...@home.com> wrote:
The F4 is much heavier than the F5
Skip
>
> According to Amy Hoy <eris...@home.com>:
> > My F4 has all those features plus it has real dials and switches instead of
> > that blasted thumb wheel/LCD/button combo. It also cost a bunch less. :)
>
> I've noticed that probably most of the "top end" models made by the main
> auto-SLR manufacturers seem to be going for various fiddly little buttons
> in place of the old control dials; do people actually prefer this, or is
> it just to facilitate things like "weather proofing," I wonder?
>
>
I don't know abut other people, but the 1n I currently use, I originally
bought for my wife to use, due to its compatibility with infrared film.
She immediately detested its little, "fiddly" buttons, and I got her a
10s, instead. I use, and like the 1n, but I would prefer controls like
the 10s and A2, simple and, in my opinion, more intuitive. Having to
push a button for one function, another for a different one, and
combinations of two of the three buttons for others doesn't come easily.
Skip
--
Shadowcatcher Imagery
http://www.shadowcatcherimagery.com
Tony Spadaro
for timed exposures up to one second under 100 hours, and all sorts of other
interesting items. I have a shot of 13 moons on one piece of film, evenly
spaced across the frame I made using the intervalometer.
--
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
"Clive Shirley" <cl...@hiddenforest.co.nz> wrote in message
news:3BB37C63...@hiddenforest.co.nz...
Amy Hoy
wrote on 9/27/01 5:20 PM:
> The F4 is much heavier than the F5
That would be because it's made of metal. :)
Amy
Amy Hoy
on 9/27/01 6:20 PM:
> I don't know abut other people, but the 1n I currently use, I originally
> bought for my wife to use, due to its compatibility with infrared film.
> She immediately detested its little, "fiddly" buttons, and I got her a
> 10s, instead. I use, and like the 1n, but I would prefer controls like
> the 10s and A2, simple and, in my opinion, more intuitive. Having to
> push a button for one function, another for a different one, and
> combinations of two of the three buttons for others doesn't come easily.
I agree.
I'm a web designer and unlike many I strive to be very good at what I do.
That includes usability testing and whatnot. If these "newfangled" cameras
were web sites, they'd fail miserably. They'd be like the web sites with a
very dark background picture and black text! (Yes, I've actually seen that.)
And there's no argument for the age or general technical aptitude of the
user either, I'm probably one of the youngest people here and very much a
computer nerd. Those buttons and thumb wheels ARE fiddly and the usability
of having to push one button for this and another button for that and use
the same thumbwheel.. Well that's just plain bad design.
I loved my Pentax K1000. I like my F4s quite a bit but it's not quite as
lovable. But gosh if I didn't want to throw my EOS 630 out the window for
its idiocy!
Amy
Tony Spadaro
weather proofing but also speeds operation. The shutter dial on most
mechanical cameras is not located well for the operator, and the right thumb
is left un-utilized. Give me a finger wheel and a thumb dial any day.
--
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
"Chris Hedley" <c...@ieya.co.REMOVE_THIS.uk> wrote in message
news:sa30p9...@teabag.cbhnet...
Andy White
<eris...@home.com> wrote:
The F5 has a metal inside. I guess you get bib arms from hand holding an F4
:)
Skip
>
> I greatly prefer the set up of modern cameras. It not only facilitates
> weather proofing but also speeds operation. The shutter dial on most
> mechanical cameras is not located well for the operator, and the right thumb
> is left un-utilized. Give me a finger wheel and a thumb dial any day.
>
> --
The thumb wheel, command dial and main dial design of the Elans, 10s and
A2 is great, everything falls readily to hand, or digit, as it were.
The itty, bitty button thing of the 1 series isn't as intuitive. I
feel.
Fons
look at http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/pentaxlx/
for more info
gr
Fons
Tony Spadaro <tspa...@ncmaps.rr.com> wrote in message
news:2ZMs7.55853$4W6.11...@typhoon.southeast.rr.com...
Tony Spadaro
70-200 f2.8 that happened to be mounted. The buttons are pretty small on my
EOS 3 but I find the ones I have to reach while shooting are pretty handy,
and the ones I don't have to reach while shooting --- I don't have to reach.
My one objection in controls was putting the multiple exposure button
behind the side door --- I'm always afraid I'll end up moving the camera
while re-setting it. Has not happened but I've also been really careful when
palying about with multiple exposures.
--
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
"Skip" <shadow...@home.com> wrote in message
news:3BB3F31B...@home.com...
Skip
Oh, don't get me started about the flush fit buttons behind a door that
won't stay open on its own!
Anders Svensson
Yes. A lightly used Nikon F4, or (if budget permits) a Nikon
F5.
This does not take into consideration any legacy equipment
you may have, ofcourse - this may be the larger part of any
investment in new gear. Perhaps a restored Canon F1 together
with your current gear is the best choice for your
specialist needs, and another body for your other work?
--
*************************
Anders Svensson
mail: anders.-.ei...@swipnet.se
*************************
Matt Clara
"Tony Spadaro" <tspa...@ncmaps.rr.com> wrote in message
news:2ZMs7.55853$4W6.11...@typhoon.southeast.rr.com...
> for timed exposures up to one second under 100 hours, and all sorts of
other
> interesting items. I have a shot of 13 moons on one piece of film, evenly
> spaced across the frame I made using the intervalometer.
I'd like to see that shot.
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Tony Spadaro
It's at
http://www.homestead.com/tspadaro/Temp.html
One of the shots in the Moving Picture gallery was also done with the
intervalometer It shows a man jogging three times on one frame - I combined
frames but the original three shots were done with the intervalometer to get
even spacing. The two similar shots did not use the intervalometer. I plan
to do more series shots with it this fall though. To get there from the
Tepm page - got to Home/Galleries/Moving Pictures (I think)
--
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
"Matt Clara" <NOSPAM--t...@home.com> wrote in message
news:3bb469e6$1...@binarykiller.newsgroups.com...
Amy Hoy
wrote on 9/27/01 11:46 PM:
> The F5 has a metal inside. I guess you get bib arms from hand holding an F4
> :)
Nah. I'm strong. Unlike, apparently, some of you guys ;)
I walked 2 miles with it around my neck and shot about 2 rolls of film fully
hand-held and it felt just fine. The monster grip is great, I can shoot
one-handed about half the time.
On the flipside I managed to trip twice and the F4s hit a rock once and only
has a little dent to show for it. Try doing that with your plastic-shelled
F5! :)
Amy, who because she is a klutz always gets awesome deals on cameras &
accessories described as "users", stuff no one else touches
Matt Clara
moon, at least not in my experience. What exposure settings did you use?
"Tony Spadaro" <tspa...@ncmaps.rr.com> wrote in message
news:On0t7.398202$TM5.61...@typhoon.southeast.rr.com...
Tony Spadaro
100 film. The trick is that I was out the night before and ran a bracket
then used the best exposure for the series. The moon doesn't change much in
light over about three or four days around full. The shot was taken in
summer when the moon is lower in the sky and therefore not as bright as in
winter - the amount of atmosphere is increased and there is more pollution
in the sky. In Jan or Feb shots of a full moon I've gotten the full f16 x
1/90 with the same film.
--
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
"Matt Clara" <NOSPAM--t...@home.com> wrote in message
news:3bb4902d$1...@binarykiller.newsgroups.com...
Tommy Huynh
is more intuitive and faster IMO. I think buttons like on the EOS 1
has more to do with better sealing the camera than anything else.
Fred DeRosa
>
> > "Clive Shirley" <cl...@hiddenforest.co.nz> wrote in message
> > news:3BB37C63...@hiddenforest.co.nz...
> > > Hi all,
> > > I have finally out grown my camera after 20 years (Canon A1). As well
> > > the exposure metering has be come unreliable under low light
conditions.
> > > So I am now looking around for a replacement. As 99% of my photography
> > > is macro or micro work I am looking for a suitable camera with the
> > > following features.
> > >
> > > Manual focus
> > > Auto matic exposures to 30 seconds
> > > Through the lens flashes
> > > Mirror lock up
> > > Interchangable focusing screens
> > > Self timer or remote shutter release
> > > T mount adapters for camera and reversed lenses for mounting to
bellows
> > > and microscope
> > > Eyepiece shutter or similar
> > >
> > > Can any one in this group suggest a possible suitable replacement.
> don't forget the Pentax LX (sold new untill 1996)
>
> look at http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/pentaxlx/
>
Fons,
I am surprised no one mentioned the LX any sooner than you. The LX has the
features listed except the last, but that was understandible because it was
superflouous, since the meter is in the base of the mirror box. Automatic
exposures can last up to 125 seconds officially, however, I have shot
several that lasted 30 minutes. What is interesting about the metering
system is that if lighting conditions change during the exposure, the LX
will take that into account. Night time lightening strike pictures were
easily performed since the the exposure stopped after the strikes. The only
draw back in this situation, and only if you didn't have a cable release, is
the integrated self timer/mirror lock up switch, can't use both at the same
time.
Photonutz
Clive Shirley <cl...@hiddenforest.co.nz> wrote:
I would recommend either a Contax ST or RX
Chris Hedley
> I personally like more dials like on the Elan 7 or the Maxxum 7. It
> is more intuitive and faster IMO. I think buttons like on the EOS 1
> has more to do with better sealing the camera than anything else.
I'm glad it's not just me - after reading Canon's marketing bumph,
I was starting to feel like some sort of weirdo!
Chris.
Nigel Cummings
miss 3-D Colour matrix metering, having used F5s for three months, and
stupidly selling my F4 camera bodies, I went over to eBay and managed to buy
three F4 bodies for less than the cost of one F5!
I hope I last as long as my F4's
"Andy White" <is...@new.rr.com> wrote in message
news:B7D90207.B1ED%is...@new.rr.com...
Clive Shirley
It looks like most have recommended the F4.
I shall check all them out never the less
Ahriman
> I have finally out grown my camera after 20 years (Canon A1). As well
> the exposure metering has be come unreliable under low light conditions.
> So I am now looking around for a replacement. As 99% of my photography
> is macro or micro work I am looking for a suitable camera with the
> following features.
>
> Manual focus
> Auto matic exposures to 30 seconds
> Through the lens flashes
> Mirror lock up
> Interchangable focusing screens
> Self timer or remote shutter release
> T mount adapters for camera and reversed lenses for mounting to bellows
> and microscope
> Eyepiece shutter or similar
>
Pentax LX and a good stopwatch, perhaps?
Ahriman
Tommy Huynh
> I'm glad it's not just me - after reading Canon's marketing bumph,
> I was starting to feel like some sort of weirdo!
Well, I have to warn you against using me as any kind of a gauge for
normality, but I do find a lot of advantages to dials. On the
flipside (Nikonworld), you'll see that they try to go for more dials
with the F series than the lower models, which is one of the reasons
why I like the F5 more so than the EOS-1 series. Maxxums use more
dials now more than ever based on feedback from the god awful button
dominated interfaces of the earlier maxxums. FWIW, the guys at
popular photography are big advocates of dials also. My A2e has
served me well but the taking your eye out of the viewfinder, pressing
the button, spinning the dial thing can be hindering.
Godfrey DiGiorgi
or buttons as long as it is designed to make ergonomic sense!
In general, I think this is easier done with rotating dials than push
buttons in the case of camera gear; at least I've experienced far more
good quality ergonomics with traditional knob and dial cameras than with
pushbutton type cameras.
Comparing two of the compacts I've owned, the Nikon 35Ti and the Contax
Tvs, to me the Tvs had a MUCH friendlier layout of controls and was far
easier to learn/remember than the Nikon. I've played with a Nikon F5 and
realized that I couldn't figure out half the controls without an
instruction book. The Canon EOS IX I bought was opposite ... I figured out
most of the controls just by playing with them in about 10 minutes time.
And even amongst manual, knob and dial cameras there are ergonomic
disasters and blisses ... the Kiev II I have (copy of a Contax II) is a
pain to figure out, a Leica M is so simple that the words "figure it out"
are too complicated.
Godfrey