Photography Equipment & Software Thread

[Liamness]

I had thought the Panasonic G3 is probably the best deal at the moment, but that is a very good price for the EPL3. Would you be alright with a camera that has no grip and no viewfinder though? Both can be added on later, but at a cost.

[Swallow]

Yeah, I've got a Franiec grip for my XZ-1 which does the job perfectly so I'd add one to that too. If I went for an add-on EVF that would also fit the compact but I generally prefer a good live view to an EVF, mainly because I wear glasses and they make them uncomfortable. Still musing over the best way to go, thanks for your comments both.

[Liamness]

Hmm. If you find using the OVF on a DLSR uncomfortable, then you'll almost certainly have problems using the EVF on any compact camera, because everything is so smushed together on the tiny body. Have you ever tried shooting glasses-free, correcting with the diopter adjustment? Or is that a stupid suggestion?

[Swallow]

Optical viewfinders are alright, I was specifically thinking of the EVF I tried on the Sony Nex 5N and one of the recent Panasonic models. AS OVFs are done now, and I probably won't cope with an EVF, I'm looking for the best live view/tiltable screen around. having now looked into it, the G3 you suggested could be what I'm after.

[Alexlotl]

Try out the EVF on the OM-D in-store, the VF-2 on the E-PL3 is essentially identical. You can buy a stupidly expensive extended eye-cup for both, which is supposed to make life a lot better for glasses wearers. I personally buy them because they massively improve the blackout in the EVF, which can be a problem if the sun is directly behind you.

Might be worth waiting to see what the E-PL5 will be like - seems confirmed that it's going to have the O-MD sensor, which I found a really big improvement over the E-P3.

[And]

It may be worth going with the epl3, as it's cheap (or one of the panasonics) and seeing whether you get on with the format before spending loads. I enjoyed my epl1 so much i knew an upgrade tp the gx1 would be a good move.

Also, taken as read, but saving up for a 20mm lens is a must.

[Liamness]

New images of a 'lens cap lens' by Olympus, which apparently will have a fixed focal length of 15mm and aperture of f/8.

The lens will be manual focus only, and is rumoured to operate by switching between three zone settings;

- near

- far

- wherever you are

[Swallow]

X-E1 revealed. Looks really nice.

http://mobile.theverge.com/2012/9/6/3294234/fujifilm-x-e1

[Nicky]

yeah, shame about the loss of the Hybrid Viewfinder.

[PopeSmokesDope]

Wow, out of the blue I sold a photo on that photo4me site...weird feeling that someone that I don't know will have one of my pictures hanging on a wall somewhere....

[Rev]

Sony really need to stop making interesting cameras.

http://www.petapixel.com/2012/09/09/sony-rx1-leaks-a-full-frame-fixed-lens-compact-camera-for-2800/

[iwan_canobi]

That is interesting, looks nice! Strange choice to go with a fixed lens though, although I suppose its probably just making sure you get the most from the sensor.

[Dapple]

That is interesting, looks nice! Strange choice to go with a fixed lens though, although I suppose its probably just making sure you get the most from the sensor.

I'd imagine it's a practical decision - a FF zoom lens, especially one with a fast max aperture, would negate any size advantage provided by the (relatively) small body.

[Rev]

That's true, but you'd think a new mount with 4 or 5 obvious and similarly sized primes available would be easily workable and make it more tempting. Although if it was 50mm I would probably have bought it, so it's a good thing really.

But, interesting, definitely.

[Dapple]

That's true, but you'd think a new mount with 4 or 5 obvious and similarly sized primes available would be easily workable and make it more tempting. Although if it was 50mm I would probably have bought it, so it's a good thing really.

But, interesting, definitely.

There's talk of a full-frame NEX, apparently the E-Mount can accommodate a larger sensor.

[Rev]

I think anything professional-ish will start edging towards full-frame as a default just to differentiate it from M43 ubiquity. There's the A99 and it looks like Canon are going to make the next 7D full-frame as well. I wouldn't be surprised if all DSLRs are in a couple of years.

[Liamness]

There's talk of a full-frame NEX, apparently the E-Mount can accommodate a larger sensor.

I googled and found this image someone made, which makes the idea seem a bit silly.

It fits, sort of. I imagine it would be practically impossible to avoid vignetting and softness in the corners using such an approach.

*edit*

Hmm maybe not, the M9 looks pretty similar. The short flange distance would mean the light reaching the corners of the sensor would come in at quite an extreme angle though.

[Rev]

Aaaand the strangest thing I've seen in a while:

http://www.kickstart...images-into-rea

I've never actually bought anything from them, but I love what Impossible are doing for film. But...Nope. Don't understand this one, I'm afraid. Even by hipster standards, it's a bit odd.

It's clearly going to make its target though, so maybe I'll get a chance to understand it at some point in the future.

[Klaark]

Rather than throw time and money at daft shite like this they should invest money in the quality of their films. The last lot I used were so hideously unstable I couldn't quite believe I'd paid £18 for the pleasure. As such, my SX-70 hasn't been used in months. Thank God for my Polaroid 250 and Fuji's peel-apart film.

[Dapple]

So, the RX1 is real, a bit lovely and very flippin' expensive...And that's without the $599 viewfinder(!), the $179 lens hood(!!) and the $249 thumb grip(!!!).

http://www.dpreview....ershot-dsc-rx1/

Also announced today were the 24MP FF SLT A99 (http://www.dpreview....-alpha-slt-a99/) with standard and on-sensor PDAF, and the VG900 - a full-frame E-Mount camcorder which has to mean that a FF NEX camera is very much on the cards.

[Fusty Gusset]

Wow, that's bizarre. Love the spec though.

Up yours Europe on the optional extras.

[iwan_canobi]

Some interesting announcements there, the RX1 does look very nice, if a little pricey.

Here, fusty, do you still have the 20mm hood? Send me your details so I can pay you!

[Fusty Gusset]

Yes - sorry man, completely forgot. I'll PM you.

[Liamness]

the VG900 - a full-frame E-Mount camcorder which has to mean that a FF NEX camera is very much on the cards.

I don't know that it does. Sony may have chosen to go with the E rather than A mount because it makes it easier to use converted lenses. If you look at what lenses most videographers end up using on the likes of the 5Dmkii, or the GH2, they're not designed for that mount usually. As sharpness isn't such an issue, they can just use old manual focus lenses, which have better handling and are cheaper. So the VG900 is still interesting, regardless of whether Sony make any lenses for it. If Sony were going to make a FF NEX body, on the other hand, they'd have to produce a FF NEX lens lineup. They're having enough trouble creating a broad ecosystem for NEX as it is.

[sonicwave]

Nikon D600 finally announced officially.

Seems to be basically a D7000 with a 24.3MP full frame sensor. Sounds quite nice, and at £1955 (body only) will also be one of the cheapest full frames around (although one might argue if the term "cheap" is applicable to something in that pricerange )

[Dr Nookie]

I'm after some advice please.

I love taking pictures but have been a pure point and shoot guy historically.

I've just got an RX100 which allows me to shoot raw and are therefore considering doing some experimentation with this to see if the benefits are of real value to me.

I'm currently running a 2010 imac, mainly use iPhoto although do have photoshop CS5(but don't really use it that much and it's really overkill for 99% of my needs).

Is it worth getting Aperture or Lightroom going forward? Really wouldn't mind something other than iphoto as it seems rather slow to me - but the Flickr export is really handy for the missus.

[Dapple]

I'm after some advice please.

I love taking pictures but have been a pure point and shoot guy historically.

I've just got an RX100 which allows me to shoot raw and are therefore considering doing some experimentation with this to see if the benefits are of real value to me.

I'm currently running a 2010 imac, mainly use iPhoto although do have photoshop CS5(but don't really use it that much and it's really overkill for 99% of my needs).

Is it worth getting Aperture or Lightroom going forward? Really wouldn't mind something other than iphoto as it seems rather slow to me - but the Flickr export is really handy for the missus.

I can only comment on Lightroom but I find it to be extremely easy to use and consistently able to improve the appearance of photos.

Give the trial version a go.

[g wings]

Aperture is pretty good (from my limited use so far) and also has an export to Flickr option.

Oh, and it can now share a library with iPhoto.

No idea how it stacks up against Lightroom though as I haven't used it.

[Rev]

I love Lightroom, it's probably my favourite piece of software. I think it's reached the point where I just wouldn't be able to function without it. It's not immediately intuitive, but once you know where things are it's pretty simple. And you can publish to Flickr.

Definitely get the trial.

[Dr Nookie]

OK cheers all.

Lightroom trial d/loading now.