"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
10/21/2020 at 16:05 • Filed to: photography
1
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"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
10/21/2020 at 16:05 • Filed to: photography | 1
| 41 |
Textured Soy Protein sent me on a fun quest to find some fancy gear for my new adventures in writing.
My favorite camera thus far out of my research has been the Panasonic Lumix FZ1000.
However, as someone that has only taken pictures with potato phones of varying quality over the years, this is a new frontier for me.
A 1 inch sensor sounds extremely appealing based on everything I’ve read and the quality of the output. Another person off Kinja recommended the Canon PowerShot G9X II which has a thicc sensor also seems pretty competent at the task of taking pictures of cars/motorcycles and the occasional video if I need to.
What do you Oppos like to shoot with?
In other news, my Passat TDI wagon decided to start reporting too low oil pressure with its scary STOP warning on the dash. It made it home but I’ll have to do a pressure test tonight to hopefully discover a bad sensor...and not a dead balance shaft module.
promoted by the color red
> Mercedes Streeter
10/21/2020 at 16:15 |
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I bought a Canon EOS T5 off the Canon outlet a few years ago. I’ve gotten some nice photos even with the kit lens, but it’s been gathering dust since it’s bulky and my iPhone takes photos 90% as good at a fraction of the size .
SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
> Mercedes Streeter
10/21/2020 at 16:17 |
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I’m a huge LUMIX fan—- a buddy got me started on their first Micro 4/3 removeable lens camera— so I’ve bought several since then 15(!!) years ago.
If you go removeable, the nice thing with LUMIX is that you can also use Olympus lens systems and accessories too.
For web/blogging/online? No need to go any larger than 1-inch or the Micro4/3 or the SONY 1 systems. Full-frame is nice, but the money and storage is wasted on the web.
YMMV. WE are spoiled for choice these days!
Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com
> Mercedes Streeter
10/21/2020 at 16:17 |
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I personally shoot with a Canon D3500 (bought on market release) with the kit lens and a 35mm.
I bought a couple other doo-
dads like a mini tripod that fits in my pack and a led light so I can light
paint and do colour shots like this. I recommend getting post stuff to if you’re going to do FP stuff. I use Adobe (Lightroom and Photoshop so I shoot RAW and twea
k them
). Post isn’t a replacement for good shooting though.
:)
S65
> Mercedes Streeter
10/21/2020 at 16:19 |
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I got an EOS M5, that was like $389 body only and I spent $32 on a Meike adapter so I could use my EF lenses on it. Not sure your budget, but I prefer cameras with interchangeable lenses. Might wanna look into an older Rebel, like a T2i, with a 24mm and an Amazonbasics CPL might be better to start with.
My bird IS the word
> Mercedes Streeter
10/21/2020 at 16:25 |
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Im a fan of the “starter kits” they have at sams/costco. Comes with a canon eos rebel , a normal and zoom lens, and a tripod. Im not sure if they are offering them right now but around christmastime you can get those bundles for very reasonable money.
Id get the canon, kodak can bite my shiny metal ass.
Berang
> Mercedes Streeter
10/21/2020 at 16:26 |
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I think a primary consideration is going to be if you want to use interchangeable lenses. The Lumix has a number of available lenses, so if perhaps you’re in a low light situation you might be able to use a faster lens, or if you need a really long lens to get something far away in a shot, etc. The Powershot has a nice lens, but it may not be enough in certain special situations.
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Mercedes Streeter
> Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com
10/21/2020 at 16:27 |
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I recommend getting post stuff to if you’re going to do FP stuff.
Yes and yes! I’ve yet to discover what neat software awaits on my laptop, but I do intend on learning to do post stuff. LOVE how your motorcycle photo turned out!
Maxima Speed
> Mercedes Streeter
10/21/2020 at 16:30 |
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I use an iPotato 6S Plus with a camera app :)
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S65
> Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com
10/21/2020 at 16:33 |
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I like Adobe stuff, I usually do ACR to lightroom though. I uh pirated mine though
davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
> Mercedes Streeter
10/21/2020 at 16:34 |
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I’m a Canon guy, but i f you’re starting from scratch, probably go mirrorless (maybe Sony?) - I’d ask some old Opponauts: puppyknuckles or JBH.
https://www.instagram.com/puppyknuckles/
https://www.instagram.com/jbh1126/
Just photos, or planning on
video too?
DipodomysDeserti
> Mercedes Streeter
10/21/2020 at 16:34 |
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ttyymmnn
> My bird IS the word
10/21/2020 at 16:37 |
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The only problem with starter kits is that as soon as you become more sophisticated in your shooting you will begin to see the limitations of the starter gear. Photography is very much like a drug addiction, and you are always looking for a more powerful fix. I’ve been shooting Canon crop sensors for years, but now I want a full frame. But that means a new lens because my short range zoom won’t work on it. And so on, and so on, and so on.....
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ttyymmnn
> Mercedes Streeter
10/21/2020 at 16:43 |
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What you plan to shoot will have an enormous impact on your choice of what to shoot with. My main hobby is aviation photography. So ever since I started down the SLR path I’ve been working to get gear that has more reach and more speed. Lenswise, I ended up with a very nice 70-200 f/2.8, which is great for reach and speed.
You’re going to get tons of different advice here, all of it good. So my suggestion is that you ask Oppo a question like this:
I plan to take pictures of _____ and ______.
And then go from there. Because if you want to take pictures of cars and dogs, a telephoto lens is no real use (at least not right now). If you plan to take pictures of moving cars, that would send you in a different direction. If you plan to take pictures of cars and outdoors things in mostly bright conditions, that sends you down another path. If you are going to be shooting indoors and in low light, that sends you in another direction.
Textured Soy Protein
> Mercedes Streeter
10/21/2020 at 16:44 |
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T o expand on the original FZ100 recommendation...
I mage stabilization - helps with low light & smooths out video
Tilt/flip screen - a must for selfies/vlogging
Touch screen - easier to access controls in general and especially on the little dinky cameras
Mic input - very helpful for video, you can go a long way with this before you need to start using external recorders for mics
Phase detect autofocus - Less necessary for still photos unless you’re shooting fast-moving stuff, but for video it’s a huge help. With the bigger sensor, less of the depth of the image front to back is in focus at a given time. This is good for making pretty blurry backgrounds but it’s more challenging to keep your face in focus or really anything in focus. Phase detection makes the camera much better at focusing itself.
Pocket cams with everything on this list: Sony RX100 VII, Sony ZV- 1
SLR style with everything: Sony RX10 IV
Pocket with everything except phase detect: Canon G7X III
SLR with everything except phase detect: Sony RX10 I, II or III; Panasonic FZ2000, Panasonic FZ1000 II, Panasonic FZ1000 (except no touchscreen)
From here the next feature you would consider giving up is the mic input if you’re not planning to do much with external mics. This opens up a lot more pocket options as they tend not to have mic inputs.
Pocket with everything except mic input: Sony RX100 V, VA, VI
Pocket with everything except phase detect & mic input: Canon G7X I & II, Panasonic LX10, Sony RX100 II, III, IV; you can kinda throw in the Canon G5X I & II as these are pocket-ish but have an SLR looking viewfinder hump on top.
Personally I would skip the G9X series as they’re meant to be as pocketable as possible. The lens isn’t as bright as other cameras and the screen doesn’t flip. Unless you want the absolute smallest possible camera it’s missing things you could probably use.
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My bird IS the word
> ttyymmnn
10/21/2020 at 16:44 |
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I’m pretty sure my rebel is a better camera than I am a photographer, but photography is only a tertiary hobby for me at best.
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ttyymmnn
> My bird IS the word
10/21/2020 at 16:49 |
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Exactly. I once asked my friend, who was somewhat of a gourmand, “What is a good bottle of wine?” He replied, “A good bottle of wine is one you like.” If you like the results you are getting with your camera, it’s a good camera. For what I want, I need higher end gear. I started with one long lens, then sank the money into a much better one. I shot recently with the old one, and found the results unacceptable (to me). To others it would have been just fine. I’m sure there is an automotive analogy to be made as well.
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My bird IS the word
> ttyymmnn
10/21/2020 at 16:51 |
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The one that always gets people it rifles, largely because people overestimate their own ability. No need for a 10,000$ rifle when you are maybe an 800$ shot.
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ttyymmnn
> DipodomysDeserti
10/21/2020 at 16:51 |
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ttyymmnn
> Maxima Speed
10/21/2020 at 16:54 |
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Nothing wrong with that. I consider myself a serious amateur, and I shot our whole Universal Studios vacation on my iPhone because I didn’t want to schlep a camera around the park. I’d say the results were pretty good, considering they were all basically snapshots.
Nibby
> Mercedes Streeter
10/21/2020 at 16:57 |
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if your digital camera doesn’t write to floppy, what are
you doing?
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ttyymmnn
> My bird IS the word
10/21/2020 at 16:57 |
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My trumpet teacher was fond of quoting his teacher, so this goes back to the 193 0s :
I never knew a bad player who, when given a good instrument, suddenly became a good player. Likewise, I never knew a good player who, when given a bad instrument, suddenly became a bad player. It’s 90% the man.”
– Ernest Williams
TheRealBicycleBuck
> Mercedes Streeter
10/21/2020 at 16:58 |
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Keep in mind the media to which you plan to publish. If your goal is to generate large poster-sized prints, then get the latest body that supports as many megapixels as you can afford. If you’re going to be posting articles on the web, everything will be downsampled and compressed, so all that etra-pixel goodness will be lost.
Two caveats. Spend your money on features and b uy good lenses.
If you spend your money on lenses and stay within a brand, you can use those lenses through several generations of camera bodies.
Most of the pictures you’ve seen me post around here are taken with an iPhone. T he distance shots, mostly of aircraft, are taken with a 55-300 Nikk or lens on a Nikon D-50 from 2005. Yes, a 15-year-old digital camera. It has its limitations, but it still takes darn nice shots.
The best part is that we started with a Nikon film camera and upgraded to a new body when we had the funds.
It’s easy to spend a LOT of money on camera gear. Just remember that the best camera is the one that’s always with you and you don’t need professional gear to get good results for most uses.
bob and john
> Mercedes Streeter
10/21/2020 at 17:05 |
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I have a Nikon D5300 that i won in a competition.
Goggles Pizzano
> ttyymmnn
10/21/2020 at 17:12 |
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My Grandmother had a different model and I had that exact camera.
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ttyymmnn
> Goggles Pizzano
10/21/2020 at 17:14 |
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A friend owned one. I don’t think they took very good photos.
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Mercedes Streeter
> Maxima Speed
10/21/2020 at 17:16 |
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Apple makes a good phone camera. If I had anything resembling a flagship (my $130 year and a half old Galaxy A20 isn’t) I’d probably just use it as a point and shoot.
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Mercedes Streeter
> ttyymmnn
10/21/2020 at 17:18 |
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My favorite phone cameras have always been high end Galaxy phones and iPhones. Those results are pretty good considering they came from a phone!
My Galaxy A20 has its good days, but a lot more bad days lol.
The Snowman
> Mercedes Streeter
10/21/2020 at 17:19 |
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Personally I shoot with a nikon z6 and the holy trinity (14-40,24-70,70-200) which is great for pretty much anything you could want to do but way too expensive for most people. I would recommend getting a used dslr body with a 18-55 and 70-300 this kinda package was sold at Costco and there are always tons available locally 2-500 depending on how good the body is/ how crazy the seller is... Ex...
https://classifieds.ksl.com/listing/61714116
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Mercedes Streeter
> ttyymmnn
10/21/2020 at 17:22 |
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Very good advice! Considering the content of Jalopnik, I believe it would be safe to say I’ll be taking hopefully pretty pictures of cars and motorcycles with maybe the occasional video about something stupid that I’ve done. Maybe I’ll follow up Torch’s cheapest EV car with the cheapest EV motorcycle. lol
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ttyymmnn
> Mercedes Streeter
10/21/2020 at 17:23 |
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I’m personally astonished by what phone cameras are capable of these days. I had a flip phone back in the day and the camera was no better than a pinhole camera made from a shoebox.
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Goggles Pizzano
> ttyymmnn
10/21/2020 at 17:23 |
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Crappy enough for parents to give to their kids for vacations. ;-)x
My grandmother used hers around the yard.
wafflesnfalafel
> Mercedes Streeter
10/21/2020 at 17:24 |
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I’ve got an old Canon G16 for travel/hiking, etc and a Canon 70d SLR I picked up lightly used for when I want to tinker more and don’t mind hauling it around . I’ve honestly been looking at that G9x to replace the G16 but also Lumix has a couple very nice, small point and shoots that are similar. If I had more cash I’d look at the super nice Sony Alpha A7s.
vondon302
> Mercedes Streeter
10/21/2020 at 17:52 |
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If you don’t know what your doing get the canon. I have a similar older model and it’s taken some great pics in crappy conditions.
Plus it’s small and easy to pack. I've got a nice SLR but I rarely use it.
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Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com
> Mercedes Streeter
10/21/2020 at 17:58 |
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Thank you! :)
Should make a ***
correction***
, brain fart on my part
I have
a Nikon D3500
(my printer is Canon though).
It’s easy to get lost into post and make a bunch of changes. I find camera setting changes interesting to play with in the manual modes (particularly low light), that’s where many gems lie. You have to understand the how the camera captures light and adjust.
Here you can see my shots and how I combined them to make it like a studio. All 3 were taken at night with exactly the same light (Godox R1) in different spots.
This is how I learned:
kleeBRZ
> Mercedes Streeter
10/21/2020 at 18:25 |
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Both Panasonic and Fujifilm have great out of the camera jpeg film simulations. Great shortcut if you intend to expose your photos properly from the start.
Selecting your camera body style and sensor format (1" vs 4/3 vs APS-C vs 35mm) will depend on how the following balance out for you:
1. low light shooting
2. high shutter speeds (ie >1/250 sec)
3. shallow depth of field (ie blurry back grounds)
4. wide angle focal lengths (ie < 35
mm)
the more you need any of the above, or the more combinations you need, the larger the sensor format you should invest in.
the fewer you need, or if you really need the opposite of any of those, the smaller the sensor format you can go with.
if you stick with the latest fixed lens zoom cameras, you’re almost guaranteed very high quality glass — comparable to most mainstream zooms and telephootos, if not much better at extreme tele focal lengths with the sacrifice of aperture size.
if you want to jump into interchangeable lenses, it’s hard to ignore the full frame options of Sony and Panasonic. but lenses will quickly blow your budget. fujifilm will probably be better for your budget. Micro 4/3 pro grade lenses aren’t much cheaper.
HammerheadFistpunch
> Mercedes Streeter
10/21/2020 at 18:27 |
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I had an FZ800 and liked it...but...panasonic’s native sensors aren’t very good. The ones they source out to Sony are great, but their homebrew sensors like the FZ1000 are only so/so
The Canon G series has always been great and unless you need zoom its a better all around camera in terms of size and usability.
Personally I would look for cheap micro 4/3rds cameras used or new. You can usually get the old stuff for a song.
Taylor Martin
> Mercedes Streeter
10/21/2020 at 19:59 |
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I just bought a Lumix FZ300 and I’m super pleased with it. It’s a budget option for 400 bucks used, with stabilization and wifi and 4k video and all that good stuff. Very easy to use. However, the camera’s your looking at seem much pricier... so I can’t really help you there, but I can say that they’ll be better than the camera I’m working with.
Haven’t actually taken any photos with it yet, only video, which I’ll post here soon once I finish the video I’m working on.
CB
> Mercedes Streeter
10/21/2020 at 20:09 |
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I shoot with an A7ii. Here’s my Instagram to see how photos look.
Glass and lighting are also important. What’s your budget? No matter what you get, grab yourself a 50mm (or 35mm on an APS-C camera) lens with an f/1.8. Working with a set focal length will help you with composing your shot, and a fast lens is good in low light and for some sweet bokeh.
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Maxima Speed
> ttyymmnn
10/21/2020 at 20:14 |
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Oh for sure, once i got an app that allowed me some more manual control of the camera functions it really opened up the possibilities of what i could do.
SmugAardvark
> Mercedes Streeter
10/22/2020 at 03:21 |
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If you want to go for a variety of uses, an entry level DSLR might be a decent investment. I use Nikon for digital and Minolta for analog, but really digital is obviously the way to go for 99.999% of camera use.
My advice if you go the DSLR route would be Nikon or Canon, if only for the sheer variety of lenses available at every price point.
But if you don’t plan on delving too far into manual settings, any respectable point-and-shoot will take great pictures out the box.
diplodicus forgot his password
> Mercedes Streeter
10/22/2020 at 06:27 |
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Id skip the entry level stuff. The higher end equipment will have the same auto/aperture/shutter priority options. I’d buy used as well. https://www.mpb.com/en-us/used-equipment/used-photo-and-video/used-mirrorless-cameras/used-sony-mirrorless-cameras/sony-alpha-a7-ii/sku-1001249/
The nice thing about buying used photo equipment is that if you don’t like it it’s easy to get your money back. There are definitely cheaper lens options out there for e mount but you can't go wrong with zeiss glass