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Re: FW: [OM] Now I remember why... (somewhat wedding equipment off topi

Subject: Re: FW: [OM] Now I remember why... (somewhat wedding equipment off topic - long)
From: Lars Haven <lhaven@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, 19 May 1998 23:43:21 +0200
KRIS GARREN wrote:
> 
> Ken,
> 
I'm neither Ken nor a professional photograper, although I've made some
money this way and have worked a little with some pros. If I say something
silly I'm sure somebody will correct me. Here goes:

> I love your message below, especially when you got on your
> high horse<grin>!  I dream of some day having my own photography
> business, although everyone I know thinks I'm off my bonkers! Especially
> since I am in a really good business now working for a great company(but
> really bored).  Anyway, in all my research it seems that, when it comes
> down
> to it, all you really need is to 1) Know your equipment really well, 2)
> Have a good
> light meter, then you don't need one in the camera, 3) Know Photography!

You got it pinned down quite good. The catch is of course that your
point 3 is covering an awful lot of territory. Most photographers
specialise. 
Maybe you should add a point 4 (a really hard one): The ability to
recognise or create a good motive and then to capture it on film in
such a way that the viewer of your picture gets the message. IMHO this
is the really hard part. But in general professional photography is 10%
inspiration and 900erspiration. In other words: It is real work, sometimes
with some very odd hours. But given the right specialisation, meaning what _you_
like, it can be fun.

> Now, I
> know it's not that simply, but really, why do you have to always have the
> latest
> and greatest?  You use up all of your profits on new equipment for no good
> reason.
> I love my Olympus OM-10.  I just bought a Canon Rebel G and can't come
> close to
> getting the same great shots that I have been getting with the Olympus.
> So, I am
> now shopping the market for a "professional" 35mm.  But what constitutes
> "professional"
> camera?  I have more features in my Olympus and Rebel than in most Medium
> formats!
> 
The professional photographers I know care more about reliability than
features. The cameras are some of the most important tools of the trade
and they must perform every day, all day. Of course features like autofocus
can be useful for press photographers, but if it's not reliable it's worse
than nothing. To a professional a lost picture is lost money. Especially if
it is due to failing equipment. Nothing is worse than thinking you have
done your job and then discover that something critical like the shutter
has failed.

OM contents: The OM 1 was moderately successful as a press camera. It was not
lack of quality that kept it from winning the press market. More likely it
was conservatism: Everybody "knew" that Nikon and Canon would hold up. Olympus
was new in that market, untested and therefore a risky choise. Too bad.

> Thanks for all of the scoop on medium format.  I've been looking into the
> Pentax 67, any thoughts?  I kindof like that 35mm feel.
> 
> One other question, is it my imagination or are 35mm's so far more advanced
> with
> technology than medium(sorry if this sound ignorant, I'm fairly new to this
> game)?
> Why is that?  And also, why do they cost so much more for less technology?
> I
> really don't get it, maybe you can help!
>
Again reliability and (almost) uncompromising optical quality. Also the
camera type is generally determined by the job. As a pro you will basically
want as large film area as possible. 35mm is acceptable for reporting.
Portraits in the studio would be taken with the medium format, 6x6 or 6x7 cm.
Large formats are used in static situations in the studio and outside, when
you have the time and/or need the flexibility (litterally) of these machines.
Medium amd large format cameras do not need many (automatic) features when
you have the seconds or minutes needed to adjust them properly (I remember
job photographing an industrial welding machine. That thing sure didn't run
anywhere...).

BTW if you want really large cameras look into the reprographic cameras.
You needed a fork lift to move some of those! They are mostly obsolete by
now, sorry to say.

> Thanks,
> 
> Kris
> 

Regards
Lars

-- 
Lars Haven  <mailto:lhaven@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> aka <lhaven@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
"When writing about women, one must dip one's pen in a rainbow"
                                                    D. Diderot

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