Posted by Randy on June 08, 2000 at 03:38:21:
In Reply to: canon or not? posted by Kevin on May 25, 2000 at 05:51:35:
: Hello everyone.
: I have been shooting and developing for the past 2 years and have decided to invest in a better camera. I have been using a manual Konica and I have been looking into the Canon EOS IIe (the one with the sensor that focuses with your eye) I wanted to know if anyone has used this camera and can give me any advice on my intended purchase. Any advice will be appreciated. Even if you are telling em to go with a Minolta instead of Canon (or any other brand).
: Thank you very much.
Since you develop your own film, have you considered going to a larger format?
You are probably shooting black and white, and you could add a tremendous
new dimension to your photography by buy a modest view camera and learning
the zone system. This is the system of tonal control developed for
black & white photographers by Ansel Adams and Edward Weston. The zone system
works best when you can develop each negative separately, since you adjust
your development time to coincide with the exposure you selected to control
the tonal range of the negative.
If you select your equipment
carefully, you can probably get a view camera, lens, film holders, tripod
and dark cloth, and 4X5 development tank for abou the same $500-$700 cost
of a 35mm body and a few lenses.
Ebay is a great place to find
low-cost view cameras. One that might work well is the Graflex Graphic View,
which is a metal 4X5 with full movements. I've seen them sell with a decent lens,
lens shade, focusing back and film holders for $300-$350.
Shooting b&w with a 4X5 camera will move you into a whole new world, and you won't be
just another 35mm snap shooter--- couple that with learning the zone system
and you'll find that your b&w photography has reached a new level that you just can't
achieve with a small format like 35mm.
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