Camera gear discussions

Lens plays a big role, Zeiss does it very well on full-frame and to a slightly lesser extent on crop, but MF seems to do that more naturally(?) even with supposedly less capable lenses. Mind you, these are impressions I have from the pictures of a photographer I have been following for quite a while, and not (unfortunately) my personal experience.

 

I still have some Zeiss lenses from my Contax film camera. I have managed to use them via adapter on my Canon DSLR. They are brilliant technically and I love their colours. But separation is not one characteristic I have noticed different in them (compared to my other lenses). Perhaps I wasn't looking hard enough...

 

This conversation has thoroughly confused me.

So am I understanding this correctly: A 35mm on a crop sensor at 2.8 will have a narrower DOF than a 35/2.8 on a medium format?

 

You can check here
http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html

Keep the following constant
35mm
f/2.8
10ft focusing distance

For the camera, try Pentax 645D and a crop Pentax.

You will see the total DoF at the right hand side.

 

Do you understand why it's stating there is less DOF with the smaller sensor? Despite everything else being the same?

 

Yes I do. It is not a secret is it? At least not that I know of for my more than 14 years into photography.

I used to think otherwise and argued with my photography professor but it is as it is. I cannot disprove Physics and I don't know how to.

So what are you getting at?

 

I'm getting at that people still seem to be confused, thus an explanation of what's going on might be beneficial rather than simply referencing a DOF calculator. Ironically, field of view is still involved, just in a backwards sense, as it relates to magnification.

 

There are articles online explaining this. Start with Circle of Confusion to avoid confusion.

 

dof calc makes it make sense to me

 

Hmm, I guess that it's not quite DOF then that I'm getting at. Still, glad I asked around here; probably got more constructive information than say d*review.

 

External flash with a small diffuser box has changed my life O_O

 

Hah! Adding another dimension to your photography. Are you using external flash on camera or off camera?

 

Both!!

 

Nice. Exciting stuff.

 

Yup, I can't wait to hang out with my friends Saturday night to test it out.

 

They actually have a really good reference article on equivalence that covers not only DoF but overall light gathered, difference between sensor generations, etc... Amongst the editorial articles that is, bringing up equivalence almost anywhere on the DPR boards tends to just be flame bait.

 

I do, I've tried several actually... My favorite is the Cullmann Magnesit Copter by far, for a number of reasons.

It's by far the most solid one I've tried (tho I haven't gone to the extremes of like a Berlebach mini), the small head on it is pretty solid AND removable, and it's amongst the least bulky when collapsed even tho it's a bit longer than others (but more svelte so it packs better). Also, the removable plate on the mini head it's not only versatile (reverse side is a coldshoe for flashes) but a nice perk if you prefer to swap it for a QR clamp.

I had a Kirk 1" QR ARCA clamp on it until recently, just swapped it for a slightly bigger Sunwayfoto lever QR ARCA clamp instead, both run about the same or slightly more than the tripod itself, heh... They make it so much quicker to use tho. Desmond makes solid/cheaper QR clamps too.

Only real downside to the Cullmann Copter is it's a little pricey ($30-35?) and harder to find (stock seems to dwindle at B&H, try eBay), and it's a little heavier than other similar ones but that's part of what I like about it anyway.

The Manfrotto Pixis were fidgety and hard to adjust (both small and newer/larger version which was worse), not to mention bulkier and the smaller one doesn't have a portrait drop slot... I have one that's gathering dust, probably give it to my mother. The Benro PocketPod was better, i gifted that one to my sister and she's using it with her Canon 70D even. I've tried a couple others I'm forgetting now...

If you want something way more portable or inconspicuous look at the Joby Micro (250 & 800), not nearly as flexible but for a smaller camera or a minimalist approach they rock. I have the smaller 250 basically glued to the bottom of my GM1, rarely take it off unless it's to put it on my P&S (also gathering dust) or to test stuff with the GM1 on my full size Sirui. I use the Copter with my OM-D mostly.

 

Unfortunately there's very few weather sealed M4/3 primes, I think Oly's 60mm macro, the expensive f1.8 fisheye, and the 300mm might be the only ones... There might be more coming in the new f1.2 line but they sure won't be cheap (I've got my fingers crossed for a nice 17mm personally).

If you're looking at the 12-50 you might as well look at that new 14-150 II... Price difference isn't much and despite people generally scoffing at superzooms the latter might actually be better than the 12-50 in some regards. Not much larger either, both are sealed... 12mm is the biggest draw to the 12-50 but also one of the areas where it looks weaker IMO.

 

This ever go anywhere? I have a Panasonic GF6 I could spare for that... It's far from the new hotness within the MFT world (much less ILCs in general) but it's still a pretty good entry level model with up to date features (Wi-Fi, tilt touchscreen, full manual, decent controls, etc) despite the older sensor, pretty viable showcase of what a mirrorless ILC can do for anyone that's only ever been exposed to P&S and/or larger DSLRs.

I've got 2 newer cameras I'm using these days and the GF6 is basically not worth selling (the kit lens it came with was probably worth more, sold low at $100, still got a second tho)... Almost bought a 25mm f1.7 at $99 precisely with the intent of gifting it away with the GF6 at some point or something but Panasonic/B&H made a mess of the deal and my order got cancelled.

Anyway, just putting it out there... If you think headphones and high end audio as a hobby gets expensive quickly you don't wanna look at cameras too much tho. I'm pretty happy with my M4/3 setup, about three grand later (mostly in lenses), still a pittance compared to anything full frame.

 

@Impulse thanks, that's helpful info! Joby Mico 800 looks like what I want.