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[OM] Re: My Olympus DSLR rant

Subject: [OM] Re: My Olympus DSLR rant
From: Wayne S <om4t@xxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2006 12:19:50 -0400
Ag is probably the best person I know to get the max out of something
some of us give up on more quickly. My experience is not nearly as
extensive as his, but as I indicated in my previous email, I think there
may be some new ways to work with these digital cameras to get the
results we want. I'm not yet convinced there is a "look" one camera has
over the other if you shoot raw and process appropriately.

It is true that digital sensors are not the same and will exhibit
different characteristics. But one thing is clear to me. Film and digital
are different, so much so, it takes a little bit different mindset to
work with. And I'm not talking about the artistic side of seeing, merely
working with a new technology in an optimal way. The E-1 was conceived
with film as its competition. And IMO has missed something fundamental.

I admit that my target print size is as big as I can get, 13x19 is my
current limit, but I would like even bigger if I can get it. Photography
for me is more a passion than a business, at least for the time being. So
I come at it from a personal art form perspective, and what does it take
to do that.

I have many great shots with the E-1. As Ag says, if you are willing to
work with it, it can serve you well. The 14-54, 50-200 and E-1 make for a
nice system. (macro is a bit weak).


At 11:03 AM 4/28/2006, Ag wrote:
>Ok, I'm going to respond to the DSLR Rant:
>
>#1. There is no "magic bullet" in cameras. ...<snip>

The real magic bullet is of course the photographer. There is no reason
art cannot be made with any camera.

>#2. The E-1 has serious faults. The AF is problematic at times,

I'm not sure all cameras don't have an AF problem. Anything that is a
computer algorithm is going to have to be over-ridden on occasion, even
if you have a C*non or N*kon or Olympus.

>#3. What is your "bread and butter" photograph like?  <snip>

So the question comes if photography is a business or not, and what your
needs are, and the type of photography you like most. And what your
relationship to money is. (and spouse).

>#4. Stop looking at what others are using.  Guess what, they are
>looking at what you are using too.  Why else are people
>constantly buying the next greatest thing from Canon or Nikon?
>If the 20D was so great, then why is the 30D and the 5D such a
>big deal?  What about the 5DmIIn?  Suddenly, the 5D will become

When the camera you have no longer serves your needs, it is time to look.
But today, the resolution of sensor, lenses and technique are nearly
converged. The new 30D did not change the sensor or processing from the
20D, but added in features and control requests from photographers, and a
better LCD display. I think it says a lot that they are releasing a newer
version of a camera without a new sensor. Obviously Canon is in the
business of making money. There should be no judgement about how people
choose to spend their money. But it won't change #1.

>#5. Size is no excuse for poor photographs. ...<snip> If we're
>really honest with ourselves, we can count on less than one hand
>the number of pictures we've taken that truely deserve the
>prominant position behind the livingroom sofa.

This is still an artistic choice, not a justification for not trying.

>#6. Grain is not a fault. Bad noise is.  <snip>

yeah, we want more good noise, not the bad noise.

>#7. Pick your poison. No camera is perfect and for the
>photographer that fancies him/herself an "artist",
>post-processing is a necessity. You just need to decide what
>type of post-processing you want to do.

As I said, I think people are developing new ways to work with the
current technology. And allows for moving out of certain boxes that have
been traditional constraints.

>#8. Personally, I like the unique "look" that the E-1 gives me.
>The tonalities and shadow colors are different than the Canons
>and Nikons. With so much "noiseless-sameness" out there, I like
>producing things that are different.

But you are a master with this, most of us are not. I think there is a
lot of creativity out there. Maybe not in the bread and butter
photography world. But there are a lot of people with cameras, not even
as good as an E-1, making interesting pictures. And some have gotten
beyond the snapshot and are making serious attempts to be a creative
photographer. 95% of the creativity is the vision, 5% is the camera and
technical aspects. Photography is becoming an even more democratic art
form. It still takes effort. But the 5% technical aspect is influencing
the 95% quite a bit.

WayneS



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