https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-the-camera-front Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sun, 26 Apr 2026 15:07:38 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-the-camera-front#post-1285896 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 18:59:10 +0000 Astrid 1285896@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks Textstyle - it would probably be interesting to see the reactions if you do that! ;)</p> <p>Ornella, just thought I would share as I think it's something that's happening to most of us in one form or the other. It's so easy to be pulled in by the next new shiny thing!</p> <p>Ha, Manidipa, funny story. What kind of lens do you find yourself missing? I might have my new lens at the end of the week, I decided to go with a Sigma 17-50 2.8. I can't wait to try it out.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-the-camera-front#post-1285777 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 17:10:17 +0000 ManidipaM 1285777@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Heh. someone pulled the pot line on me yesterday. and another. and... facebook picture of casserole... comments all about which casserole it is, le creuset or... had to laugh. especially as the note with was all about the stove under it and the meals in it! </p> <p>and yes another D90 family here needs a third lens. just got a portrait when kiddo was born but find we rarely get it out. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-the-camera-front#post-1283077 Fri, 20 Jun 2014 06:36:04 +0000 Ornella 1283077@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great thought process and I'm glad we got to follow it and learn from you. Janet is so right about pots and cooks ;-)</p> <p>Enjoy. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-the-camera-front#post-1282410 Thu, 19 Jun 2014 16:01:46 +0000 texstyle 1282410@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great decision Astrid!&nbsp; And I also love Janet's analogy of pots and pans. I find it condescending when people make those "it must take great pictures" comments, and since I also love to cook it is so fitting to compare the pots and pans. Next time maybe I'll say to them &nbsp;"Yes and my pots and pans make really great meals too!" </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-the-camera-front#post-1279642 Mon, 16 Jun 2014 22:11:33 +0000 Astrid 1279642@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks Alasse.</p> <p>Yes, Rachylou, you summed it up perfectly. :)</p> <p>Thanks Irene. Yes, it is definitely rather a lot to lug around, mine is more lightweight though, I have a 400D. And I do have the 50 1.8 too. The price is awesome if you want to give a prime lens a try! It's my only lens at the moment, until I'm going to get a new one. I do like it and can make do in a lot of situations (although I haven't had much time for photographing recently), but it is rather long on the APS-C sensor. I miss some wide angle. </p> <p>Thanks Janet. I love the comparison with the chef and the pans - a question like that simply negates the effort you might have put into a picture. And I think the lens that is the most useful to you is the best, even if it is one of the "cheapest" as you said. Reading in the forums I've seen a lot of users with a huge amount of lenses in their descriptions, sometimes two or three systems. And they had posted only a few pictures if any. The most active people on the sample picture threads for lenses seem to be those who own maybe one to three. Also agree with you, it's the end result that counts. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-the-camera-front#post-1279577 Mon, 16 Jun 2014 20:58:28 +0000 Janet 1279577@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You've gone about this in such a smart way, Astrid! As you've now read a few times, the camera does not make the photograph -- the person using it does! I love it when someone remarks to me, "Wow, that's a really nice camera -- it must take great pictures." It's like telling a chef, "Wow, those pots and pans really make good food!"&nbsp;</p> <p>And I'll tell you my dirty little photography secret. I have an arsenal of really nice lenses, but the one that takes most of my photos is one of&nbsp;the "cheapest" -- a 28-300mm zoom that is so easy to carry around and adapt to my needs&nbsp;without changing lenses that it rarely leaves the camera body. Except when I get into serious macro mode, then it's my 105mm macro all the way. I've never heard anyone say, "That photo would have been so much better if you'd shot it with a Nikon 300mm prime." (which would run me nearly $6,000 USD)</p> <p>I know some photographers who get sooooo caught up in gear. The guys who visit my studio and ask me what settings were used to capture any given shot, as though I have it committed to memory. Does it matter? As long as I got the result I wanted? Sorry, I'll step off my soapbox now. ;-)&nbsp;</p> <p>Enjoy your new tools, and have fun!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-the-camera-front#post-1279553 Mon, 16 Jun 2014 20:41:39 +0000 Irene 1279553@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Really good decision, Astrid.<br />My camera is quite old as well, I got it in 2010 but I think it was launched circa 2007/2008, and it works amazingly well. I did get a new EVIL one because my 50D <i>is</i> very heavy, so not very practical for sightseeing or casual snapshots.&nbsp;</p> <p>As for lens, I have to admit, I have an amazing 17-85 (it came with the camera kit) but almost always use the 50 1.8, which was like 125€. It's just so light and I like the concept of the photographer moving instead of being lazy and depending on zoom. Plus, nothing beats the quality of a fix lens, even when they are dirty cheap.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-the-camera-front#post-1279427 Mon, 16 Jun 2014 17:47:46 +0000 rachylou 1279427@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm going to commit your post to memory, Astrid. The one thing I've learned is the lens is <i>it</i>. Nothing, not all the gizmos, takes the place of that. If you've got a lens, you're good to go. And it's also really true, you can do so much more with a tool you get to know well. Gizmos don't take the place of that either. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-the-camera-front#post-1278741 Sun, 15 Jun 2014 22:09:14 +0000 Alassë 1278741@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>That sounds like a very freeing, and wise, decision. Good job! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-the-camera-front#post-1278624 Sun, 15 Jun 2014 18:33:41 +0000 Astrid 1278624@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks Lyn! He certainly was a cutie. He still can be, if he wants to. I think you're right, people often don't look beyond the numbers on test charts to really think about what would be important to them personally with a new camera or lens. </p> <p>Thanks abc! Yes, it is definitely a relief. And that I had such a hard time to settle on a decision before tells me it's the right one. And good to know I'm not the only one who thinks that way. I think we put way too much importance on things like f-stop, megapixels and so on. Not to say that great cameras aren't great cameras, but you just have to look at what people who know their stuff can do with much less than the best to know it's more about the photographer than we'd like to believe. Not to say I'm a good one, but I can practice well enough with what I have and it's enough to take pictures that are meaningful to me, even if other people might not like them. And yes, please let me know how you decide!</p> <p>Thanks Anna. I agree! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-the-camera-front#post-1278618 Sun, 15 Jun 2014 18:03:34 +0000 annagybe 1278618@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think that's a very wise decision. I know people with really nice cameras and are technically component photographers, but their photographs are so boring and bad. There's no composition, no artistry.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-the-camera-front#post-1278592 Sun, 15 Jun 2014 17:09:42 +0000 abc 1278592@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Astrid, thanks for updating us. As you know I'm in a similar situation right now. I actually was coming to my thread on OT to grab some of the models mentioned to do more research when I saw your post and just had to click :)</p> <p>I like your reasoning. It's sound. The camera works for you - why fix what isn't broken? I'm certain you will be happy with the new lens and you will capture your vacation pics with ease since you know the camera well. I bet if you're like me it is a relief to have made a decision, too. </p> <p>Your line about people calling your baby antiquated resonated with me - I guess our D90 is in the same category now 4 years later but when I mentioned the idea to upgrade the body my husband said he had no interest in that, he was perfectly happy with the D90. So you're not alone in your "happy with what I've got" camp. </p> <p>Now ... On to research more for me. I will def update you when I make a decision. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-the-camera-front#post-1278587 Sun, 15 Jun 2014 16:55:50 +0000 lyn* 1278587@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Adorable pic!</p> <p>I looked at the Olympus ones too when I was considering purchasing a camera and didn't end up going for them because they were kind of finicky for peripherals. I didn't want to buy the Olympus Only battery and the Olympus Only memory card. I needed something that took a standard battery and a standard SD card.</p> <p>From what I remember, the SD cards were dirt cheap and the Olympus Cards were super expensive and wouldn't go into my computer anyway.</p> <p>I hope they've changed that by now. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/update-on-the-camera-front#post-1278534 Sun, 15 Jun 2014 14:33:14 +0000 Astrid 1278534@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Some of you probably read that I started to do SYC because I need a camera for our three week trip to Scotland in August. I've been reading tons of reviews recently, visited forums and gear blogs and looked at cameras in the store. And I still couldn't decide what I wanted within my limited budget. I first thought to buy a high end compact camera and had my eye on the Olympus XZ-2. Then I hesitated because it's still a compact camera after all. So I went and looked at the mirrorless systems. Thought about getting an Olympus or Panasonic. Looking at the cameras in store was sobering - I found them very fiddly, not intuitive and for the most parts an ergonomic disaster. Or they were way out of price range. I also realised that the very good lenses that are always mentioned on the internet are all priced at least 400€, often higher. Right. Looked at the EOS M, which gets now sold for practically nothing with the 18-55mm. Even more of a disaster to hold and not really an option for other reasons either. So what to do?</p> <p>Then I came upon this <a href="http://www.f-stopeight.com/confessions-of-an-ex-gear-addict-how-buying-cameras-and-lenses-made-me-miserable-and-loose-thousands/" rel="nofollow">article</a> by chance, with all the googling I did. Basically he's telling all about how he put gear over photography and lost a lot of money because he was addicted to buying gear. Instead of using the gear he had and practice how to take good photographs he spend his time looking for gear that was even better than what he had, because surely he could take much better pictures then. Of course I've never done what he did, but I suddenly felt like I could see the light again. So my lens needs replacing - why don't I just do that? Because my DSLR is too old? Because it's called a dinosaur on the web? At this point I was almost getting miffed that someone would label my baby useless... :D</p> <p>Getting my camera out and just taking it in hand I had all what I was looking for with the other cameras. Nice handling and not too heavy, perfect for my hands. Easy to use, no useless features crowding the important functions. Why do I need a tilting screen, a touchscreen, the option to add an electronic viewfinder or a live modus if I have an optical viewfinder? Why do I need the newest and best video feature if I only ever want to take pictures with my camera anyway? Why do I need Wi-Fi if I never want to put pictures instantly online? Why do I need a super high resolution if I never print out pictures in a big format anyway? </p> <p>As you can probably guess I've decided to buy a new lens for my old trusty camera. Looking back at the typical pictures I take I should be fine with a standard zoom lens to start with. I've thought of getting the Sigma 17-50mm lens, which is now down to an unbelievable 350€. That is only 80€ more than what the Olympus XZ-2 would have been. No comparison to mirrorless cameras in that price segment either. And then add something relatively inexpensive like the Canon 55-250mm lens, maybe even bought secondhand. And then go out and practice taking better pictures.</p> <p>So, thanks if you've staid with me so far. As a bonus you get to see one of the very first pictures I ever took with my camera below, a few minutes after I opened my present in 2007. This is a fearlessly pouncing tiger, just in case it wasn't obvious immediately. :D</p>