New Year pricing

Mike McCarty · 12-29-2003, 11:48 AM

I'm going to make it a point in the next few days to head over to the Camera shop and check the prices some of these most desirable cameras. Maybe there will be some good after Christmas sales. The word was that there were some new and even more nifty digitals coming out early this year. So once again we will have to make that decision ... top of the line, or, settle for second best. As we progress down this predictable path, second best starts to look better and better.

Another thing that is of interest to me is the market for the "old" medium format film cameras. Some of those top of the line auto focus Mamiyas, Hasselblads and such have to be suffering. These cameras used to cost 3-5 thousand dollars. I know they have come off of these prices in the last 18 months but I wonder, would anyone choose one of these cameras over a $1000 - $1500 digital if the price were the same, even for studio work?

Michele Rushworth · 12-29-2003, 12:09 PM

One of the other students in the Tony Ryder workshop was also a serious photographer and works in a camera shop. He recommended the Canon Digital Rebel D300 which he said was 6 megapixels and that could be had for about $1,000.

That model no longer seems to be listed on Canon's website so it may have been replaced with a newer model -- all the more reason why it might be available at a good price nowadays.

Marvin Mattelson · 12-29-2003, 12:48 PM

Mike,

I use a Bronica SQ 2 1/4" square format camera for capturing my reference material. Shooting Kodak T-max 100 film I can blow up my images to life size and they retain amount of detail I am looking for. The detail I get blows away any digital image I have seen under $25,000. I work sight size on all critical areas (head, hands, jewelry, etc.).

I use Fuji Astia 100 film for color reference. This film recently was reformulated and the color fidelity is quite amazing. Far better than any digital color I have seen (or other color film as well). I use my color to approximate the final colors which I always adjust by painting from life.

One of my students is using a Fuji finepix S2 Pro. I wouldn't even consider painting from those, although he likes it. I'm just used to much better quality.

If you want the highest quality images, unless you're looking to spend thousands for a medium format camera (that can accommodate a digital back) plus very very big bucks for a 22

Mike McCarty · 12-29-2003, 07:11 PM

Marvin,

The people I talk to tell me that digital cannot yet reach the quality of the larger format film cameras. I am still using film cameras, a Nikon 35mm for on the go and an old Mamiya 645 for some indoor work. My Mamiya is very old but the film it uses is brand new.

Word has it that there may be some new digitals on the way this year that may change the equation. Today I checked the retail price of a new Mamiya 645 auto focus and it was still in the $4000 range. I can't help think that these great cameras are going to go the way of the steam ship pretty soon. I don't think it's people like you or I that drive this market.

Marvin Mattelson · 12-29-2003, 11:11 PM

Mike,
It may not be people like you or I who drive the market but there are many commercial applications which the digital camera is either too expensive or not capable quality-wise of replacing larger format cameras. Also the improvements are coming so rapidly that very few can afford to keep up with the latest technology. The film cameras of years ago, such as your Mamiya, all take excellent pictures since the lens quality is what determines the quality of the image. Another factor has to do with the investment in lenses since professional photographers seem to accumulate these at great expense. These lenses can be rendered useless since different size CCD's change the effective focal length of each lens. So there is more to all this than merely investing in a camera. Not until the camera manufacturers address these shortcomings will film cameras go the way of the eight track and the rotary dial up phone.

Linda Nelson · 12-30-2003, 09:04 AM

May I suggest the OLympus E1. It is not cheap - $1500 for the body, $600 for the lens I think, but it is awesome. My dad is a professional photographer and a understands the technicals behind products like I have never seen anyone know. He owns Hasselblads 2 1/4s, 8 x 10's, 4x5's, and a slew of 35s. Nonetheless, he uses exclusivley his digital.

Because of him we have both been using the E series, but this new E1 is phenomenal. My personal favorite reason is that it can take 12 (!) shots continuously, which is a huge triumph for portrait photographer because you can take multiple shots immediately of a subject, and therefore those great expressions easily. Digitals until this point are slow to respond, and slow to recycle, leaving your subject with a ridged pose because they are always waiting for you to take the photo. With the E1, you can get great great photos, and the Quality (resolution) is not compromised in the least.

If you have the $ to dispense, I'd take a look.

Mary Reilly · 12-31-2003, 01:43 PM

With all the great cameras available, I'd like to suggest checking out www.cnet.com. They have reviews, ratings, price comparisons etc. for various products, including the cameras mentioned in this thread. They've been a big help to me in finding things in the past. When they give the price ranges for different items you can click on "check prices" and a page will come up telling you the various places that the camera can be purchased, for how much and information on the store. The store info includes a profile on the store with such things as a store rating, restock charges, customer service, store policies etc.

Mary