Chris Brogden wrote:
[. . .] > > > You can't tell me that most ISO 100 films, or a Nikon F5, or a Canon 1Ds, > > > or most f2.8 zooms are mediocre. > > In my mind a 2.8 zoom is mediocre, even if it makes great photos. It's > > big, it's slow to use, it's heavy, it's not unobtrusive, it's not as > > spontaneous as a prime lens. There's the "act" of making a photograph > > that, when done a certain way, and with certain equipment, allows a more > > intimate relationship with the subject. One can generally get closer to > > a subject with a smaller, quieter, less intrusive, camera. One can > > generally make pictures in "available darkness" better with a small, > > fast prime than a honking 2.8 zoom. > I completely agree, as long as your first sentence is qualified. Your > rant was about the lack of quality equipment, and I was trying to point > out that there is a ton of quality equipment being made today. If you're > arguing that there is a lack of quality equipment for discrete street > photography, that's something different. In that case, though, I'd > question whether 35mm SLRs instead of rangefinders are the best tool for > the job, given the mirror noise, slightly larger size, retrofocus wide > angle designs, etc. Having been thru a number of conventionally designed 35mm SLRs, I used to think that an Olympus Pen FT would be the answer, what with their really different way of handling the SLR concept in a minimum sized package. And knowing Olympus from use, I opted to buy a very nice copy of an FT. I've had it in mind for a long time, and finally decided to do it. I thought it was small. Not so! It's larger all around than my Olympus Wide-E, just as heavy and has a really noisy shutter! [My personal perception.] That one goes back on eBay soon. A lovely camera, but not what I thought it would be. . . You never know until you try them. So - back to rangefinders and leaf shutters, for 35mm street cameras. My lovely old Contax III was the best of the lot, but that's no longer with me, sad to say. And right now, I'm trying the ultra-quiet Optio S4! <g> It may just turn unobtrusive around, as if folks see a small camera in your hand, that's one thing to deal with. You're obviously not a "pro" and they usually ignore you, because they've 'identified' you. . . but when they have to really look to tell what the heck it is you're doing to your shiny flat metal nose. . .there goes the inconspicuous part of it! Just some of my thoughts on the more recent changes in street photography. keith whaley
