What a difference a camera makes
2016-09-19 14:35 Filed in: Personal | Photography
I suppose I convinced myself that in the digital age amateur photography wasn't about interchangeable lens systems anymore. And in a sense it's true; it does seem that few "normal people" carry SLR cameras around these days - digital or otherwise - and there's not a single camera shop in town now. Why buy a camera when you can take snaps with your (always present) cellphone? (God, I hate those things.)
As I've said before, I used to be a pretty advanced amateur photographer back in the day before digital and even before automatic. When hard times hit I sold almost all my gear, and I've been very slow adapting to digital photography. I had absolutely no plans of getting back into "semi-pro" status, certainly not unless I found myself some unexpected source of wealth. But that all changed when I was offered a deal I couldn't refuse.
The Minolta Dynax 7D had appeared on my radar once or twice, and I couldn't resist the offer when someone practically gave it to me. Top-of-the-line of its time, and pretty much the end of the line for Minolta (the K word shall not be mentioned), for me as a Minolta fan this is simply the ultimate camera. But I still didn't quite expect the changes that would come with it.
First of all, it's big. Even with a short lens on, it's twice the weight of my previous Minolta, the A200. You simply have to come to terms with that before anything else. In this day of ever shrinking technology, the 7D is completely anachronistic. But, having once used other heavy cameras, I got over it pretty easily. Of course, now all other cameras appear ridiculously small.
Buttons, anyone? Luckily, I don't have button phobia, because this camera has to have the world record. This is the biggest change from my previous SLR of long ago. There are so many functions now. Usually manufacturers opt for multi-purpose controls, which is somewhat understandable (particularly if the camera is small). Minolta went the other way with the 7D, with every switch or button you can imagine, and then some. Plus a great many menu options on top of that. It, however, does not have any subject programs whatsoever. Talk about your clear statements. This is a *professional* camera. It won't attempt to do your thinking for you.
In spite of the daunting amount of controls, once you learn what they are for, the camera is surprisingly easy to use. I have a ways to go before I'm truly familiar with everything, but every now and then I have an *aha* moment, like when I figured out how convenient the autofocus area selection controls are when using a tripod. Brilliant.
This was still predictable stuff. I knew I was getting a great, big, professional camera, and I knew I'd want some lenses for it. What I didn't expect, was to rediscover a joy in photography I didn't know I missed. Or that it would frequently have a say in what I was having for dinner.
After some years of doing it, I had become pretty good at photo editing, but was still not quite happy with the photos I was taking. I pushed the doubt away, telling myself that I was doing it right, I just needed more practice. Looking back, I realize I wasn't enjoying photography the way I used to, and missing it without knowing it or understanding why. Actually, there were several reasons.
The first thing you notice from the results, switching from compact to SLR, is Quality. Something as simple and as elusive as that. Of course I had read that sensor size matters, and that megapixels aren't all that it's about, but I was only comparing compact cameras at the time. The (APS-C) sensor of the 7D is *369 mm²*, exactly nine times the sensor size of the PowerShot S100, my excellent 12 MP compact camera. That's bound to make a difference, even though this large sensor actually only has 6 MP. Yep, the much newer S100 produces images that are twice as big, but they don't feel *real* in the same way. There's this wonderful 'wow' moment when you realize what a large sensor actually means. Suddenly you're *there*.
Of course, the lens is a big part of it, too. SLR lenses are heavy and cumbersome, not to mention expensive, but using great - and multiple - lenses is the best part of doing photography, really. How could I forget? I have several Minolta lenses now, because I discovered the used lens market online. Occasionally it meant spending more than I should have - and consequently eating less - but I'd do it again. Once you start learning about them, and comparing results, you realize just how important lenses are, in so many ways.
But even with the large sensor, and multiple lenses, I was still missing something, without realizing it. It was something I never would have guessed, and found out purely by accident; yet so simple, I really should have figured it out years ago. I'm talking about the 'M' setting, that I've already posted about. When I started shooting manual, the pieces all suddenly fit. I actually felt like I knew what I was doing again. Now it was *easy*, and I was having fun again, after all these years.
You want pictures? You'll get them. They're worth waiting for.
As I've said before, I used to be a pretty advanced amateur photographer back in the day before digital and even before automatic. When hard times hit I sold almost all my gear, and I've been very slow adapting to digital photography. I had absolutely no plans of getting back into "semi-pro" status, certainly not unless I found myself some unexpected source of wealth. But that all changed when I was offered a deal I couldn't refuse.
The Minolta Dynax 7D had appeared on my radar once or twice, and I couldn't resist the offer when someone practically gave it to me. Top-of-the-line of its time, and pretty much the end of the line for Minolta (the K word shall not be mentioned), for me as a Minolta fan this is simply the ultimate camera. But I still didn't quite expect the changes that would come with it.
First of all, it's big. Even with a short lens on, it's twice the weight of my previous Minolta, the A200. You simply have to come to terms with that before anything else. In this day of ever shrinking technology, the 7D is completely anachronistic. But, having once used other heavy cameras, I got over it pretty easily. Of course, now all other cameras appear ridiculously small.
Buttons, anyone? Luckily, I don't have button phobia, because this camera has to have the world record. This is the biggest change from my previous SLR of long ago. There are so many functions now. Usually manufacturers opt for multi-purpose controls, which is somewhat understandable (particularly if the camera is small). Minolta went the other way with the 7D, with every switch or button you can imagine, and then some. Plus a great many menu options on top of that. It, however, does not have any subject programs whatsoever. Talk about your clear statements. This is a *professional* camera. It won't attempt to do your thinking for you.
In spite of the daunting amount of controls, once you learn what they are for, the camera is surprisingly easy to use. I have a ways to go before I'm truly familiar with everything, but every now and then I have an *aha* moment, like when I figured out how convenient the autofocus area selection controls are when using a tripod. Brilliant.
This was still predictable stuff. I knew I was getting a great, big, professional camera, and I knew I'd want some lenses for it. What I didn't expect, was to rediscover a joy in photography I didn't know I missed. Or that it would frequently have a say in what I was having for dinner.
After some years of doing it, I had become pretty good at photo editing, but was still not quite happy with the photos I was taking. I pushed the doubt away, telling myself that I was doing it right, I just needed more practice. Looking back, I realize I wasn't enjoying photography the way I used to, and missing it without knowing it or understanding why. Actually, there were several reasons.
The first thing you notice from the results, switching from compact to SLR, is Quality. Something as simple and as elusive as that. Of course I had read that sensor size matters, and that megapixels aren't all that it's about, but I was only comparing compact cameras at the time. The (APS-C) sensor of the 7D is *369 mm²*, exactly nine times the sensor size of the PowerShot S100, my excellent 12 MP compact camera. That's bound to make a difference, even though this large sensor actually only has 6 MP. Yep, the much newer S100 produces images that are twice as big, but they don't feel *real* in the same way. There's this wonderful 'wow' moment when you realize what a large sensor actually means. Suddenly you're *there*.
Of course, the lens is a big part of it, too. SLR lenses are heavy and cumbersome, not to mention expensive, but using great - and multiple - lenses is the best part of doing photography, really. How could I forget? I have several Minolta lenses now, because I discovered the used lens market online. Occasionally it meant spending more than I should have - and consequently eating less - but I'd do it again. Once you start learning about them, and comparing results, you realize just how important lenses are, in so many ways.
But even with the large sensor, and multiple lenses, I was still missing something, without realizing it. It was something I never would have guessed, and found out purely by accident; yet so simple, I really should have figured it out years ago. I'm talking about the 'M' setting, that I've already posted about. When I started shooting manual, the pieces all suddenly fit. I actually felt like I knew what I was doing again. Now it was *easy*, and I was having fun again, after all these years.
You want pictures? You'll get them. They're worth waiting for.