Essentials for 35mm photography?

Markok765 said:

I'm going to ask for a good Gitzo tripod for christmas. This one: http://www.gitzo.com/Jahia/site/git...ollectionRequest=productDetail&detailPid=5230

Sorry for the long link, and I'm getting the F5 when my Pentax spotmatic/SP 500 breaks. When do you think that wil be? I only dropped it once.

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A strong suggestion, Marko. Before you decide which tripod you want, if you can manage it go to the store and lean on every one they have.

I replaced my Bogen 3021 leg set a couple of years ago after it got old and, um, wobbly in the knees. No matter how it was tightened up, the leg sections would move a tiny bit against each other. Not a problem with a short lens, but because the platform could rotate a little a bad problem with long lenses.

My wife and I trekked up to B&H where I found to my horror that most of the leg sets they had, including new 3021s, had the same problem. I ended up with a Berlebach. I know B&H is a little far for you. Another one to look for, if you can bear to live with a 12 pound monstrosity, is the large Zone VI. Too much for me, I had a chance to buy one the day I bought my Berlebach. But it is by god solid.

Cheers,

Dan

Markok765 said:

Pentax SP500/Spotmatic
35mm f3.5
55mm f1.8
105mm f2.8
Pentax Spotmeter V
Metz flash
Flash bracket.
Filters/film

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Marko, thanks for the list. When I bought my first real camera, a Nikkormat FTN, it came with a little pamphlet on 35 mm photography that I still have. Best short introduction to photography I've ever seen.

The pamphlet contained, besides good basic education with (no kidding) homework exercises, Nikon's recommendations on on lenses after the first one. They suggested starting with a normal lens, by which they meant 50 mm, not 43. And then doubling or halving focal length, and so on. If you replace your 35 with a 25 or so and add a 200 you'll have the complement of lenses for 35 mm that has served me well since the early '70s.

I didn't like Spotmatics back when (that's one of the reasons why I bought a Nikkormat) and don't now, but they are perfectly usable and will do everything you might want to do that doesn't require "auto very much." If I were you and were being sane, I'd add at most two prime (25, 200) lenses and, perhaps, another body. The body not so much as a spare as to let me use two different emulsions at the same time.

Good luck, have fun,

Dan

Dan, I went to the local store, [about 15km away, biked] and this was the most sturdy tripod there. I think its very stable.

Agree wth most other posters, would add that it is important to understand that top-of-the-range 35 mm cameras are designed to be ultra-tough do-anything system cameras. If, for example, you don't need interchangeable finders, mirror lock-up, interchangeable screens and the toughness to run all day on motor drive or be lugged around with a really heavy 600 to 1000 mm telephoto lens attached without distorting the body, you could very find that a Nikon F90/F100 was just as good as an F5/F6 and much lighter and more pleasant to carry. I personally use F3's for "scientific" purposes, they have everything I'm looking for. Obviously the best thing about a system camera is that you can configure it exactly to your needs - and only you know what these needs are. The ESSENTIALS for a 35 mm camera are one camera body, one lens (probably but not necessarily a 35 or 50), some form of metering (either built-in or separate) and film - a lot of film!

ehparis said:

F3
35 f1.4
85 f1.4
Gitzo

And the world is your oyster.

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Agreed, but those are some co$tly lenses. I say:

F3
28 f2.8
50 f1.8
105 f2.5

My setup exactly

If you really want an F5, then go buy it. Life would be so boring if everyone applied so much logic to purchases.

I use an EOS1n as my main 35mm body. It's big and heavy, but I like the k-kluck-vvvrrt noise it makes when I press the button so I'm not getting rid of it.

So if you want an F5, get an F5, but don't fool yourself into thinking it's essential, and make sure you have enough cash left over for film

GeoffHill said:

So if you want an F5, get an F5, but don't fool yourself into thinking it's essential, and make sure you have enough cash left over for film

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Or make sure you have enough cash left over for upgrades of lenses. A camera is just a lightbox with a meter, while the lenses are your brushes. You can't paint with brushes.

film_guy said:

Or make sure you have enough cash left over for upgrades of lenses. A camera is just a lightbox with a meter, while the lenses are your brushes. You can't paint with brushes.

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I use a roller & latex. Easier cleanup.

Camera, 35mm lens, Tri-X. Everything else is gravy

mawz said:

Camera, 35mm lens, Tri-X. Everything else is gravy

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So, essentially I can go and take photos with just my Olympus Stylus Epic[35mm f2.8] Automatic, with a few rolls of Tri-x?

Bounce Testing

Markok765 said:

I'm going to ask for a good Gitzo tripod for christmas. This one: http://www.gitzo.com/Jahia/site/git...ollectionRequest=productDetail&detailPid=5230

Sorry for the long link, and I'm getting the F5 when my Pentax spotmatic/SP 500 breaks. When do you think that wil be? I only dropped it once.

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The more you drop you're Pentax Marko the sooner it will be that you need to replace it.:rolleyes:

Reply to : "So, essentially I can go and take photos with just my Olympus Stylus Epic[35mm f2.8] Automatic, with a few rolls of Tri-x?"

Yes, absolutely. Not that I would recommend that setup for serious continuous use, but I guarantee any one of the master photographers you can name could make stunning prints with that combo. The best equipment helps get the job done in a timely and efficient manner, but there is no substitute for the knowledge and creative genius of those photographers. They could make photos that would blow you away with anything. It's their creativity, experience, etc...if that's all the equipment you have or all you can afford, then go use it.
Jed

Jedidiah Smith said:

Reply to : "So, essentially I can go and take photos with just my Olympus Stylus Epic[35mm f2.8] Automatic, with a few rolls of Tri-x?"

Yes, absolutely. Not that I would recommend that setup for serious continuous use, but I guarantee any one of the master photographers you can name could make stunning prints with that combo. The best equipment helps get the job done in a timely and efficient manner, but there is no substitute for the knowledge and creative genius of those photographers. They could make photos that would blow you away with anything. It's their creativity, experience, etc...if that's all the equipment you have or all you can afford, then go use it.
Jed

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i totally agree ...
if u practice and understand your equipment, you can make
great photographs with just about anything.

john

Alright, I actually sold my first print recently. I did a photo for my friend and got $15. I know its not much to you guys, but it's my first sale!

That is wonderful, Markok! I'm not kidding. That is a great start. The price doesn't matter. It's the fact that you're on the road, and your mind recognizes that you can be a successful photographer, and you have just made someone very happy with a print. I am a chiropractor by profession, but love to do photography of landscapes and nature work. I have "sold" several large prints, ie 16x20 and 20x30 to patients, friends, and staff members. I say "sold" in quotes, because really, as a hobby, I'm not making money. The price I've charged them probably barely covers my own cost. But...that is not what matters at first. It's a head game with yourself as well as a heart game. Your heart is already in it, or you wouldn't be on a forum like this - you'd be over on what I call a "feel good" forum like one at DPreview, where you post a photo and everyone gushes...instead of giving contructive critizism. So...you've got step one.
Step two is...Once your prints make people go "wow!", then that is the beginning of the "head game". What do I charge? You're really asking yourself, "what am I worth?" You might think you're worth a lot - and you might be. But it takes a while for the public to percieve that. I guarantee that Adams or Shaw or Zuckerman or Rowell ever thought they'ed be getting paid per print what they got for their last print! So...start small, start humble, and raise your prices and people's awareness of you as your photography and printing gets better. You will get to run with the big dogs if you have creativity and passion for your art. And people will pay for a slice of that on their wall.
You're off to a good start. Don't worry so much about the equipment. I've been there. Wasted a lot of money and time. Had several DSLRs and some of the best SLRs money could buy (such as Maxxum 9) , and guess what I'm back to using? Old manual focus Minolta gear from the '70s. Simple. Fun. Love. I have enough work at "work". Do what you love and it will show.
Here is just a small sampling of scans from some of my slides if you're interested to see them: Dead Link Removed
If you ever need enouragement, or feel out of steam, just seek inspiration here on a forum like this, or go for a walk out in nature.
Let me know how it goes,
Jed