Taking Audio Gear Pictures - Cameras, Tricks & Techniques

[pennstac]

I’m considering getting a new or used camera, as I have an older point and shoot from about a decade ago. Canon PowerShot A620, glorious 7.1 megapixel with annoying ways to connect to USB 2, and I think the only file form it MP3 — I mean JPEG.

So, in the olden days of film, I started with Exa and Exacta, then moved on to Olympus. Detoured into twin lens Rollei and Yashika D, Played a few times with Hasselblads, a Speed Graphic, and a Sinar view camera.

Worked in a camera store, sold lots of Nikons, Nikkormats, Canons, and Olympus to customers. I’m relatively agnostic, but I have liked the Olympus, it’s what I ended up with myself. Oh yeah, I liked the Pen F, and really like older Leicas, and used an M3 for a while. Not, unfortunately mine.

So, what do y’all recommend in a digital camera? I’d like to keep it between $300 and $500. Prefer to be able to use other lenses in the future. Not sure I need a full DSLR, the four thirds format seems attractive. Late model used is fine.

Want to be able to transfer files via wi-fi and/or Bluetooth. I have Lightroom, and have a Photoshop subscription that I’m not sure I should keep. My skills with digital editing are far worse than skills with old fashioned chemicals, enlargers, filters, etc. But I got rid of my darkroom decades ago. So I probably have to spend some time honing digital editing skills. I’m not awful, but I’m sure not efficient.

So, I’m open to all kinds of suggestions. I would like to have reasonable close-up / near macro capability. Can start with one multipurpose lens (in 35mm that would be a 28-85mm zoom) but open to other options and choices. I don’t see that I need more than 16mp resolution, so last generation used is fine. Looking for some image stabilization, though I generally will use a tripod.

Thanks, in advance for thoughts.

[MRHifiReviews]

I don’t have a ton of knowledge of all the models at that price point off the top of my head, however my first thought is Fujifilm apsc sensor size camera lines. The larger sensor affords you more dynamic range with less noise from higher iso than most if not all micro 4/3rds. Color from all the X series cameras are Classic Fuji and awesome. Lens quality for the money is incredible with fujifilm making some of the best lenses for the money around. If you were used to shooting film back in the day and like analog controls in the digital world Fuji is also great for this. Are you open to the used market or new only? I can do a little looking online for you buddy.

[pennstac]

Completely open to used, to buying on eBay, or from the use section of B&H, or whatever. In the analog days, I occasionally bought used in the New York photography district. Olden, CCC, Willoughbys.

I remember Fuji film coming in and disrupting the Kodak/Illford monopoly. Yes, I probably like some analog controls. I’ve done a bit of looking online, but don’t know enough to make a wise choice. I appreciate any guidance. This is not super urgent, so I could wait for something good to come up used. Which doesn’t mean that I won’t jump on a deal right away if one comes up.

[MartinTransporter]

I am with Marcello
Get a used x-body(with the xtrans sensor)and 2 or 3 lenses down the line
Lenses won’t be cheap though

you could also like the range finder style fuji x Pro 1 or 2
handy

if a used XT 2 is in your range- perfect
the XT 20 is also very nice! And goes for around 500 used on ebay germany

for lenses… the 23 f2(love my 23 f1.4)is a good starting point with the 1.5x crop it becomes a 35mm

there are some no autofocus utlra wide third party lenses - good and lower budget - if you need very wide

For portraits the 50 f2 or even the 56 f1.2 later on

Fujifilm X series

[MRHifiReviews]

I agree with @MartinTransporter , I will look more tomorrow online for you @pennstac to see if there are any good deals. I think the Fuji X series is the sweet spot for your needs.

[MartinTransporter]

And for editing… the jpegs out of Fuji are great and THE unique selling point
Would always shoot raw + jpeg
With a mirrorless system you see what you get before pressing the shutter
There are alternatives to the Adobe subscribtion model
If you are interested… we can talk about it

[mshenay]

So I’m finally ready to purchase some professional grade continuous lighting! I’ve had fun experimenting and jerry rig a few different light kits together but I’m wanting to move up to the next Canon 50mm f1.4 lens and I want to start using it with improved lighting too

Any one have any suggestions or tips? I was looking at the jinbei ef ii 60 but it’s HEAVILY back ordered, the Godox 150W also caught my attention but apparently it’s far tooo loud for video…

I thought to start with something like the SLW60 from Godox but… I’m used to shooting with 2 6200 lumen 300W halogens… while they are wonderfully bright! They are HEAVILY warm… and despite being 5600K I think the color temperature lacks a lot of accuracy and I’m hoping a nicer quality continuous LED light will help cut down my time editing out the heavy orange/red tones my 300W halogens put off

I wound up getting some Photo Flood Lights, more or less an upgrade to my existing 300W halogens but these are 3200K tungsten bulbs at 13K Lumen and not 6100, also grab 2 Umbrella’s 1 C Stand 2 el cheapo straight stands and a 4800L temp 10k Lumen Bulb and 3 500W Ceramic E26 Mounts [With Umbrella Holders], so I’m excited to see the difference that can be had with em

Now to get some of my old Len’s sold and see what the nicer Canon 50mm f 1/4 can do! Not crazy about my old 1.8 any more… as both my 70-250 and 10-18 lens have nicer color… so time to step up!

An worse comes to worse it’s alllll from Amazon so I have the return window if I hate it… I suppose what’s sort of nice Is I’m already

[Whitesahara]

Tripod’s, and Lightroom help me

[SleepyRhythms]

How’d I do? Really can’t make up my mind on this one.

If anyone wants to try critiquing or editing the first picture again, that’d be awesome. Trying to get the hang of balancing colors. @MRHifiReviews @Torq

[PaisleyUnderground]

That’s really good. Can you describe the steps you went through to transform the first picture into the second?

[SleepyRhythms]

Photoshop Lightroom. Reduce warmth and highlights. Increase exposure then bump up blacks, and adjust red and orange. Desaturate blue. Small lense blur for corners of picture and a slight vignette.

[pennstac]

The crop is much better on the second one, and I like your color balance change. One thing to pay attention to - as @MrPhotography aka @MRHifiReviews will undoubtedly tell you - are the background details. Wires and cables, for example. If you want them to show, make them decorative and arranged oh so carefully that nobody would notice.

Ansel Adams was famous for carrying a saw to remove tree limbs that he did not like in his compositions.

I do get frustrated trying to do things in Photoshop or even LightRoom that I know I could have done just fine 45 years ago in my darkroom.

[SleepyRhythms]

Thanks. Not a lot I can do about the cables since this was taken at Canjam.

[pennstac]

WWAAD?




_{What Would Ansel Adams Do?}

[SenyorC]

I think I could guess what they would have done to Ansel if he had started chopping cables

[codeanders]

Well apparently my photos of the Moondrop Blessing 2 that I used in my “for sale” post were so bad that someone on another forum messaged me to specifically say my photos were “indecent” because they made the Blessings look like guitar picks when in their case.

Sure, the photos weren’t great, it’s not my thing, but the message was a little odd and very angry. Made me laugh, really