Back to Basics Photography

Can Technology become the enemy?

 The quest for portable perfection in digital cameras led me back to the modern classic, the D40x. It also made me think about how technology is leading us up a garden path of false promises. What genuine advances have we seen in digital cameras these last four years? More megapixels? The ability to shoot in poorer light? More frames per second?

The real-world gains are nowhere near those suggested by reviewers in those shots of olive oil bottles and chess pieces. The reason camera makers added video and live view functions in recent times is simple: there was nothing else left to do. DSLRs had reached a supreme level of competence.

The only thing wrong with DSLRs is their lumpy bulk so some camera makers pursued more compact mirrorless designs. EVIL cameras may be smaller, sleaker and more portable, but they're not really more pocketable than small DSLRS. And their M43 sensors seem to have some catching up to do.

Photography used to be very simple, until the Japanese threw tons of technology at cameras and lenses. Metering, autofocus, zoom construction. I have a friend with a Nikon D90 who uses it like his point-and-shoot Olympus – on auto. And, you guessed it, he takes pretty decent photos that way. Anybody can.

That’s why older, wiser photographers encourage younger ones to eschew their hi-tech cameras and spend a little time with a simple camera and a prime lens. I did this on the weekend, taking my D40x with the 35mm f/1.8 for a get-together with the kids and grand kids. OK, so I still have the luxury of autofocus. Yes, but I had to run around to get closer to the action instead of just sitting back and adjusting my zoom.

 

The Divine Trinity of Nikon lenses – cheap, lightweight and sharp

The D40x with the fast 35mm prime is a perfect combo for great images in tricky light. And it is a good way to get back to the basics of working out and setting up and framing the shot. Of course you’ll want more lenses – that’s what an SLR is for, isn’t it? And in my view, lenses have a lot more impact on image quality than advances in sensor technology.

Now the lenses I have in mind must be fast and light, because we want a go-anywhere-without-weighing-you down-camera-kit. Thus our second lens is Nikon’s 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5, a useful walk-about lens that improves on the 18-55 kit lens in speed, IQ and BQ (Build Quality). It’s no longer, just a little heavier. There’s no VR but if you really need that for an 18-70, you may need to work on your hand-held technique. This shot was taken hand-held from the beach at 1/60s at ISO 800.

The third lens is the venerable 55-200mm f/4-5.6 VR, which covers the far side with a degree of competence that is astounding for a lens costing less than $200 new. If you buy wisely, the three lenses will cost you no more than $500 to 600 (the 18-70 is still sold new but you can get a good one on eBay for about $160. And you can get a D40/40x/D60 body in good shape for around $300, give or tale $50. So you can have the whole camera and 3-dream-lens kit for less than a grand and get folding change.

photos courtesy of Ken Rockwell

Now you have 18- 200mm – very wide to pretty long - covered with 2 small zooms and a prime thrown in for those special occasions. These lenses can deliver wonderful images at a fraction of the size, weight and cost of prosumer or pro lenses. Don’t get me wrong, pro lenses have their place: in the studios and padded metal cases of pro shooters. The lenses above are for people like you and me who love taking photos of kids, landscapes, cityscapes, people, sports, flowers and sunrises. Yes, sunrises.

Or mysterious women you see at the markets

Or the early light at the Sydney Opera House

With a simple, go-anywhere knock-around camera like a D40x and lenses that don't weigh you down, you can be sure to have a camera at hand when you want it, and you can focus on getting the right shots and having fun doing it. You can get back to the excitement that fired your passion for photography in the first place. Stop buying more gear, go out shooting instead.

Come to think of it, I wrote a simple piece on this topic many moons ago, under the heading How to improve your photography – stop buying gear!

 

http://briard.typepad.com/get_the_picture/2010/03/how-to-improve-your-photography-stop-buying-gear----i-admit-it-i-love-cars-computers-cameras-and-neat-gadgets-its.html  

Kim

 

 

Comments

[Insurance Check]

I love the first pic! That kid is so cute and adorable! Great photos and shots!

[Kim Brebach]

Thanks, Erica. The kid is one of my grand daughters.
:-)