Post: #26

(06-07-2012 07:49 PM)Citizen_Boris Wrote:  bunch of lenses

a cheap Sigma 30mm 1.4, and a Sigma 10-20mm ... wide angle

Voigtlander 25mm 0.95... and an SLR magic 12mm 1.6

I'm glad somebody finally mentioned lenses! You are using some expensive equipment with low f-stops (large apertures), which will get shallow depth of field. This is ideal for portraits.
Comparison of Portrait Lenses by F-stop

I got a cheap old 50mm f/1.4 manual lens from Ebay with adaptor. It took some beautiful pictures. But manual focus was slow, which limited the number of pictures I could take at parties where people are busy. The extremely shallow depth of field and lack of viewfinder on my camera meant sometimes my focus was slightly off. And most importantly, my incompetent/drunk friends rarely got the focus right. That means I couldn't get decent photos of myself. So I bought a 45mm f/1.8 autofocus lens. That seems to solve my problems. But the lens cost as much as the camera.

What do you think of fixed lens cameras with large apertures if you are mostly shooting people? That cuts your cost in half. For example, the Olympus XZ-1 review says:

XZ-1 offers similar control over depth-of-field and a more flexible focal length range than most DSLRs or mirrorless cameras with their kit lenses, making it a competitive alternative unless you plan to buy additional lenses.


DPreview

Post: #27

I am into photography and have a decent collection with some high end Canon pieces.
That being said, I picked up my Panasonic GF2 with a 14mm and 20mm lense and use that about 80% of the time. It is small, fits in your pocket, quality is outstanding and is less than $600. More and more people are downgrading from the DSLR to the micro 4/3 cameras. Sony, Panasonic, Olympus, Nikon all make them. They say the best camera is the one you carry all the time (or something along those lines).

Post: #28

You'd be surprised how many "poor" people in 3rd world countries have SLRs now.

Post: #29

(06-24-2012 08:46 AM)Roosh Wrote:  You'd be surprised how many "poor" people in 3rd world countries have SLRs now.

True, even when a SLR is way more pricey in 3rd world countries than in the US. The US, supposedly a rich country where people can afford their stuff, ironically has the cheapest cars and electronics in the world.

Post: #30

I recently upgraded from a Canon Rebel T1i($900 at the time) to a Canon 5D Mark II ($2100). Picture quality is amazing but it is extremely inconvenient and I do feel a bit paranoid walking around some places with $2500 wrapped around my neck. Once in Naples, IT I was just walking around snapping pics. A few people would look at the camera, look at me, look at the camera, look at me again and I guess they just figured it wasn't worth the hassle. I'm not the toughest guy in the world but one of us is going to the hospital before this camera comes off my neck.

Post: #31

(06-27-2012 02:55 AM)DomWasHere Wrote:  I recently upgraded from a Canon Rebel T1i($900 at the time) to a Canon 5D Mark II ($2100). Picture quality is amazing but it is extremely inconvenient and I do feel a bit paranoid walking around some places with $2500 wrapped around my neck. Once in Naples, IT I was just walking around snapping pics. A few people would look at the camera, look at me, look at the camera, look at me again and I guess they just figured it wasn't worth the hassle. I'm not the toughest guy in the world but one of us is going to the hospital before this camera comes off my neck.

I have the T1i as well, what lenses would you recommend?
I like to shoot "scenery" if you get what I mean..

Post: #32

I'm looking to buy a used dslr that has HD video capability, and on the cheaper end (under $350 used) so I can have it stolen and not really care. Any suggestions?

Post: #33

(10-10-2012 10:24 AM)gringoed Wrote:  I'm looking to buy a used dslr that has HD video capability, and on the cheaper end (under $350 used) so I can have it stolen and not really care. Any suggestions?

For that, you could get the Nikon D3100 with the 18-55mm lens.

I bough one of those new, but the price has gone down since, as Nikon has put out some new models.

Picture quality is great. Truly the best money I have ever spent.

Post: #34

Nothing beats an dSLR, get one and chics love them!

This getting robbed thing in so called 'third world' countries is a bit of a myth. Firstly most of the countries mentioned on here are not third world.

Secondly so long as you don't do stupid things you are generally as safe as in any major city. If I go to certain areas of new york or london I will get robbed. Obviously if you hit the flavela, get really drunk, flash your cash and camera it is likely you might get robbed! So just don't be stupid and you will be fine! Bring your gadgets and have a great time!

Post: #35

(06-05-2012 08:51 PM)j r Wrote:  Any dudes with SLR's have experience running some type of photographer game. I thought about getting one and then maybe hitting up attention whores and aspiring model types by passing myself off as some kind of amateur Richard Kern. I've had pretty decent luck with getting chicks to let me film sex, but never tried to get some random chick to pose nude or semi-nude.

My Full Frame SLR gets a lot of attention, mostly because it can see in the dark and most people are not really exposed to that. People put my happy snaps as their profile pictures in facebook. Photography is my hobby although, so I'm better than the typical person with pictures.

But nudes and shit? Most amateur models are pretty feel skeevy about 'photographers' wanting to take nude pictures of them just for sexual reasons. You have to approach it right.

If your going to get a non full frame SLR and worried about being a theft target, I would go for a mirrorless camera with a pancake lens. They look like normal cameras for the typical person, so they don't stand out as a 'professional' camera.

I would go for APS-C mirrorless cameras like the Sony NEX or Samsung NX cameras, don't bother with the micro 4/3rds cameras or the nikon 1 cameras, those will die out as photography marches towards the full frame 35mm sensor.

I had a mirrorless camera beforehand, but after I used a friends slr, I realized I missed the capabilities and fast AF of one and got one again. The Sony NEX-6 & NEX-5R have the phase-shift AF sensors, so they might be as fast as an SLR now.

Post: #36

(06-05-2012 08:51 PM)j r Wrote:  Any dudes with SLR's have experience running some type of photographer game. I thought about getting one and then maybe hitting up attention whores and aspiring model types by passing myself off as some kind of amateur Richard Kern. I've had pretty decent luck with getting chicks to let me film sex, but never tried to get some random chick to pose nude or semi-nude.

I have a 70-200mm lens on my canon 5d which is a giant lens and is bigger than 95% photographers I see out at any location taking pictures.

When Im out shooting at like a festival or some kind of event I get at least 15 people say to me "whoa thats a nice camera" or "jeez that big lens" and it is quite an attention getter. people think your super professional even if you suck haha

With such a large lens its super easy to run game because its an easy opener and like I previously stated most of the time girls will open you. Also girls are self centered and love to have their picture taken so you could take their picture and get their number or facebook to send them the pictures.

One guy I was reading about his name is Jeremiah Thompson would find girls in brazil to shoot and made a calendar out of all the hot girls. He also ended up marrying one of them which is camera game at its best! lol

check out this article from Tim Ferris about him and how he became a model photographer in brazil
http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/201...e-hunting/