Still Chimping

L Gebhardt · Jun 11, 2019

On the digital I have the review turned off, so looking isn’t a habit. My film cameras don’t feel like my digital or I’d probably look for the play button so I could check the focus and exposure (I.e. chimp). Habits are a funny thing.

Berkeley Mike · Jun 12, 2019

I train students to review using the LCD with a full appreciation of its' limitations. I also train them to not delete shots while shooting or make selections before importing. The very best decisions are made when using the very best tools; a full-blown desktop computer. They learn from the desktop work the limitations of the LCD, just as we learned the limits of polaroid from subsequent chromes. So, referencing during the process is done with consideration for its' inherent error. They learn to make the best decisions they can given the tools at hand while avoiding putting oneself in a corner.

Sirius Glass · Jun 12, 2019

I am unable to shoot digital because I just cannot learn to chimp.

Adrian Bacon · Jun 12, 2019

StepheKoontz said:
I was out shooting with my Leica IIIc the other day and after each shot I caught myself looking at the back of the camera like Pavlov's dog. #facepalm

Anyone else do this?

I used to chimp a lot until I switched from a Canon DSLR to their newer mirrorless EOS R. As a result, I also now take a lot less photos and don’t really look at them until they’re on the computer. Every once in a while I’ll look just to double check if I got all the shots I was planning to get, but usually not, at least not for ambient shots. If I’m shooting with flash, even though I meter, I check and tweak. Metering gets me in the ball park. Having the real-time jpeg preview in the viewfinder is a real game changer for shooting ambient. I set the camera on manual with the front dial set the shutter, the back dial set to aperture, the lens control ring set to ISO, and the Touch Bar on the back that everybody hates so much set to walk up and down the white balance scale. They can hate it. I love it. Looking through the viewfinder you simply adjust your exposure to your liking using one of the 3 controls, or any combination of them, adjust the white balance with the Touch Bar, and take the picture. I set the button right next to the focus button on the back to show depth of field preview, so the aperture dial is right above that, hit focus, if you want check the DOF, make any other adjustments while looking through the viewfinder, then take the picture. No need to chimp, you were already looking at it when you pushed the shutter button.

StepheKoontz · Jun 12, 2019

On the subject of digital chimping, mainly I have blinkies for blown highlights turned on and chimp to make sure something important isn't blown out, especially in harsh lighting.

Cholentpot · Jun 12, 2019

Just got back from a gig. Chimped all night and got paid in the end.

Ook ook.

removed account4 · Jun 13, 2019

whats better is looking at the screen ( or ground glass ) and then doing a happy dance after.

Sirius Glass · Jun 13, 2019

jnantz said:
whats better is looking at the screen ( or ground glass ) and then doing a happy dance after.

Having the confidence in your own camera work to not need to chimp.

removed account4 · Jun 13, 2019

Sirius Glass said:
Having the confidence in your own camera work to not need to chimp.

Confidence in one's own work has nothing to do with anything. Using your logic I suppose for 20-30 years it was wrong for people to use Polaroids to "proof" a shot (even though they were 60 hour a week pros and confident in their own camera work). Looking at the back of the camera is available, no reason not to look if one wants.

Cholentpot · Jun 13, 2019

Sirius Glass said:
Having the confidence in your own camera work to not need to chimp.

I have confidence in my work, but maybe no so much in my equipment and the venue where I am. Tricky lighting is tricky lighting. What happens if you have skin tones all over the spectrum? Shoot and pray?

Ko.Fe. · Jun 13, 2019

StepheKoontz said:
I was out shooting with my Leica IIIc the other day and after each shot I caught myself looking at the back of the camera like Pavlov's dog. #facepalm

Anyone else do this?

My digital cameras screen, review are turned off. After 100K+ digital frames I've got the picture of what I'm doing.

Actually, I'm trying to rewind once in a while with digital cameras.

Cholentpot · Jun 14, 2019

Ko.Fe. said:
My digital cameras screen, review are turned off. After 100K+ digital frames I've got the picture of what I'm doing.

Actually, I'm trying to rewind once in a while with digital cameras.

That's nice to be comfortable with your camera like that.

Yesterday I shot in three different venues for three kinds of clients using five lenses over two cameras. The only light I had was the house lighting and on camera flash. I could trust the camera and get home, upload all the photos and then see if they came out. Or I can check the back of the screen and adjust on the fly.

I'll go with the latter every time.

jtk · Jun 14, 2019

If I was a studio pro today I'd do what studio pros do today, which includes live view. They've used smartphones, pads, and laptops for the same purpose on location for a very long time.

KenS · Jun 14, 2019

StepheKoontz said:
I was out shooting with my Leica IIIc the other day and after each shot I caught myself looking at the back of the camera like Pavlov's dog. #facepalm

Anyone else do this?

No... but I have had some 'curious' passers-by asking to have a peek at my film holder and when told "NO-WAY will ask if they can have a peek at the my ground glass and seem somewhat surprised and quickly inform me that I've taken the photograph "upside down'

Ken

Ko.Fe. · Jun 15, 2019

Cholentpot said:
That's nice to be comfortable with your camera like that.

Yesterday I shot in three different venues for three kinds of clients using five lenses over two cameras. The only light I had was the house lighting and on camera flash. I could trust the camera and get home, upload all the photos and then see if they came out. Or I can check the back of the screen and adjust on the fly.

I'll go with the latter every time.

Available light and flash is all I use.
But nothing stops me from checking the taken picture if I'm not confident, either.

Cholentpot · Jun 15, 2019

Ko.Fe. said:
Available light and flash is all I use.
But nothing stops me from checking the taken picture if I'm not confident, either.

Sure,

I use all the tools at my disposal to get the best job done that I can.

Still Chimping

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