Still Waiting for my Mirrorless Camera

Fuji X100

Fuji X-Pro 1

Canon EOS M

Olympus OM-D

I love the old rangefinder cameras. It's a visual thing I guess, simple, symmetrical, clean. Plus you don't look so obvious when you carry one around. More timid, or less confident subjects get even more so when a big SLR with a big lens made bigger with a hood, is pointed at them.
     I had a Mamiya 6. What a great camera. If  I was a heavy landscape shooter, may still have it. But digital has overcome any desire to shoot film. Now we have rangefinder looking cameras coming out, and it's the look and feel that I like.
     Was excited when the Fuji X100 came out, but no, slow focusing and, uh, slow focusing, and one lens. Then the Fuji X-Pro 1, but slow focusing again. Darn. The Canon EOS M. No Viewfinder. What?. I want, no, need a viewfinder. Holding a camera out like a stinky diaper is just not right. Olympus now has the OM-D, which I hear is nice. But it looks like an SLR (Why, no mirror?), and It's too small. The Sony NEX-7 is also too small, and the lenses are comparatively too big, and it's missing that classic look. I need a pro level camera that I can get a grip on and still have room for my face when I look through the viewfinder. So, here I am, still waiting.

Update 9-7-12:  Fuji has just released the X-E1. This could be it. Claimed faster focusing. At the same time, a firmware update for the X-Pro 1, claiming faster focus performance. My wait may soon be over (?)

Update 12-20-12: Was about to pull the trigger on the Fuji X-Pro 1 system when a friend says to me "Why not just use your Nikon D700?" Long pause and I say Cause-I-Want-One? Hearing myself, I took a couple days to think it over. I don't need one. It's a lot of money. Bad idea. So, I asked myself "what do I need?". Answer: A good quality point and shoot, OK maybe a good small camera one step better than a point and shoot that I will be willing to take everywhere I go. So I bought the Nikon V1 system for wayyyyy less money. I take it everywhere. Was a good choice. And there was a price drop after the V2 came out.  Yay!

Sony NEX-7

Fuji X-E1

A few words about Waterproof point and shoots

Waterproof point and shoot cameras are great. Sorta. The water/dust/shock-proofing are swell. What's not been so great are two things. Image quality has been not, and no lens cover. I suppose the lack of a lens cover is for anti-shock performance. My problem is the glass over the lens is constantly smudged or dirty.

I have many what would have been great photographs but for the flare from light catching the finger smudge. I shoot a Pentax W90 which has been great but for these two complaints. Olympus has just released the TG-1. Still no lens protection from my fingers. Web reports are saying this one finally has good image quality. Tempted. I guess I need to practice cleaning the lens each time I pull it out, building a habit for consistent clear pictures.

Changing the scope of this blog

Hello,
After a year off from this blog, I'm back with a scope change. Rather than talk specifically about my photography,  I'm going to talk about photography in general. So here's a start.  I've been needing more grids for my lights. Some of the grids I have are too large. I want tighter grids to better protect from lens flare. But grids are expensive, I've been searching the web for DIY ideas. Most were heavy or cumbersome. I did find a Gaffers tape idea, but it was not what I expected, again, kinda heavy, kinda complicated to make (The instructions were not real clear). So In a matter of minutes I set out on my own idea with Gaffers tape. The obvious one I expect, someone must have done this before, but I didn't find it. So here it is. Quick and dirty.

Snow in the Mountain West

Here on the front range of the Rocky Mountains we awoke to falling snow, all - day - long. Only the second significant snowfall this winter. Shoot, two weeks ago I was on a motorcycle ride into the foothills with a few of my riding buddies.
What do we love to do in a snow storm? Head out for groceries. While everyone else is at home watching Law and Order reruns, blankets and snuggies engaged, my wife and I glove and boot it to the local market. One lane open, no waiting. The snow plow guys were out in force happy to finally make some dough and pay the mortgage. AND -  we really needed to get to Wendy's to cash in our Eagles Hockey tickets for the 6 goal - one gets you three from the value menu. You could hear the crowd heckling the Mudbugs goalie to give up one more for our free Wendy's. Three movies from the Redbox, burger wrappers crunched up on the coffee table, and we had a nice afternoon. Wife and kids are rooting for a snow day tomorrow. We'll see,  the grinning plow drivers may dash our hopes.

Local Band

A friend of mine has a couple kids in a band. I saw on Facebook they were making band photos with a point and shoot approach. I wanted them to have something better to promote with, so we got together a couple times coming up with these photographs. They started out a little nervous and stiff, but loosened up as we went, starting to have fun and pitch their own ideas as well. The band? Fourdefyed.

Motorcyclist Shoot

On a cloudy February morning, I gathered together a few Motorcyclists in a parking garage for some MotoPortrait fun. These guy's rode their bikes in 35 degree Weather to get there while I traveled in a loaded SUV sitting on a heated seat. We spent about 3 hours designing and shooting for Wall Portraits. The experience has reiterated the need for a knowledgeable assistant. I probably could have gotten these guys back on the road an hour earlier had I not been solo. Good collaboration netted some nice results. I love the cold warm look of the structure and the coolness just oozing out of the guys.

Headshot Design

A good headshot is a valuable marketing tool. Send a message. Project an image. Plant a thought. Who you are, what you're like. What message do you want to send? Trustworthy - Reliable - Professional - Wise - Friendly - Helpful - Teacher - Leader - Funny - Fit - Good looking - Unusual - the choice is yours. Your headshot can make that impression. Don't just have your picture taken. Have your image made. Facebook, Twitter, your Blog, Website. Put yourself out there in a designed photograph. You are the only you, sell it.