An instructive photo -- perhaps

Jock Elliott

Hall of Famer
Location
Troy, NY
I got to thinking about the cameras I previously used compared to the ones I use now:

Have a look:

instructive_photo_006-001_Medium_2_.JPG
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At left you have the Canon G12 28-140 mm equivalent, F2.8-4.5, autofocus, autoexposure. Second from left, Pentax SP500 35mm film camera with 50 mm lens, f2, manual focus, match-needle exposure. Third from left, Panasonic FZ150, 24-600mm equivalent, autofocus, autoexposure. Right, Olympus IS-3, 35mm film camera, 35-180mm fixed lens, f 4.5-5.6, autofocus, autoexposure.

I shot a few "pretend" shots with my Pentax SP500 the other day, and I was astonished at how slow manual focusing and manual exposure (match needle) was.

I contend, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, that, in terms of equipment, we may well be living in the Golden Age of Photography. The defense calls no further witnesses.

Cheers, Jock
PS the photo was hastily taken with flash with my Olympus D550 on the office floor.
 
Frankly, as photographers we've been spoiled. But at least some of us of a certain age realize it. Many (but certainly not all) younger shooters often go on about intolerable amounts of noise in images or lengthy auto-focus times, totally unaware that both would be considered godsends in the age of film. But we can't blame them, really. How could they know? Jock's remarks about the time consumed by manual focus and exposure with the match needle arrangement truly resonate with me.
 
FWIW, I think getting the exposure right with needle match and needing to manual focus made me get better composed shots. I can't blame modern cameras for my poor execution, only observe that it is true.
 
It's certainly a golden age for me. I can now afford many of the cameras I couldn't afford when they were newly released in the 1970s ...
 
Instructional?

My current body is last year's model. My lens is probably 30 years old, weighing about the same as the body, and 10 times slower to focus than my old OM-1 with 50mm lens. That puts me at the crossroads of tech and mule wagon, with a confused look on my grizzled face. :confused:
 
I'm actually very thankful that I'm just barely old enough to straddle a gigantic technological fault line... I grew up shooting and developng 35mm, and when there was no such thing as a cell phone. I grew up with the very first Mac in my house, and it was rocket science for most people when they saw it. And yet I will live long enough to see technology bring absolutely incredible imaging power to every lazy schmuck with $500.

Interesting times.
 
I don't disagree that we may be living in a "golden age" of photography of sorts. However, it's fun to take out the "oldies" every so often and burn some film. The results may even surprise you:

With a 1977 Hasselblad 500C/M:

9434395547_65af1c8b19_b.jpg

Juan Diego by ramirezaponte, on Flickr

With a 2002 Leica M6TTL:

8354708429_734582fedb_b.jpg

En la Calle Luna by ramirezaponte, on Flickr

7104437381_889f6d60c1_b.jpg

Contemplación by ramirezaponte, on Flickr

6876588964_a45bb1702f_b.jpg

Puerta II by ramirezaponte, on Flickr

With a 1954 Rolleiflex 3.5 MX-EVS:

8131792863_35e0f13d50_b.jpg

Arbol by ramirezaponte, on Flickr

With a Contax G2:

6387342699_79735ddb7f_b.jpg

Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis by ramirezaponte, on Flickr

5426703949_a6c30febe2_b.jpg

Calle del Hospital by ramirezaponte, on Flickr

5426703863_af0e9a7c2a_b.jpg

El grito by ramirezaponte, on Flickr

5415785734_b4d2e77e31_b.jpg

Patria by ramirezaponte, on Flickr

Cheers,

Antonio
 
I don't disagree that we may be living in a "golden age" of photography of sorts. However, it's fun to take out the "oldies" every so often and burn some film. The results may even surprise you:

With a 1977 Hasselblad 500C/M:

9434395547_65af1c8b19_b.jpg

Juan Diego by ramirezaponte, on Flickr

With a 2002 Leica M6TTL:

8354708429_734582fedb_b.jpg

En la Calle Luna by ramirezaponte, on Flickr

7104437381_889f6d60c1_b.jpg

Contemplación by ramirezaponte, on Flickr

6876588964_a45bb1702f_b.jpg

Puerta II by ramirezaponte, on Flickr

With a 1954 Rolleiflex 3.5 MX-EVS:

8131792863_35e0f13d50_b.jpg

Arbol by ramirezaponte, on Flickr

With a Contax G2:

6387342699_79735ddb7f_b.jpg

Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis by ramirezaponte, on Flickr

5426703949_a6c30febe2_b.jpg

Calle del Hospital by ramirezaponte, on Flickr

5426703863_af0e9a7c2a_b.jpg

El grito by ramirezaponte, on Flickr

5415785734_b4d2e77e31_b.jpg

Patria by ramirezaponte, on Flickr

Cheers,

Antonio

Great images!!

Newer models have so many features that it often takes away the thought process of the shooter.
 
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