Photography 100: Final Defence of older cameras.

[@1025cgarcia]

Since 2003 Sony sensors have 4 colors. Instead of the traditional RGB, they are RGBE, where E is emerald. That's what some Nikon and Pentax sport. Definition at any resolution is just amazing, and that's by making shadows more defined.

[@froreyfire]

It's interesting how we often believe that we need new cameras to take decent photographs and never question where all the great photographs from the last decades came from!

[@horststraske7822]

Hello Ira, here is Horst from Germany. Last week I bought a K10d together with 4 manual lenses for 60,00 Euros. I like this camera very much and it performs very well with the old lenses with a PK-mount. I never thought who easy it is to focus with that manual lenses. I like the heavy body of that camera. Here in Germany one can buy old lenses together with old cameras for a very low price. They are often sold by people who inherited that old stuff and do not know what to to with that equipment.

[@hpereztorres]

My only two dslr, D70s & D200 (bulletproof old bodies, haha)...for me, the most important piece of gear is still between our ears... "bye for now" and keep up the good work!

[@viewericeberg]

I have several older Pentax cameras including two K10s. I’ve been a practicing photo enthusiast for about 8 years now. On the rare occasion that I do get questions from someone wanting to get a “serious” camera.The only real advice I give is,don’t spend a bunch of money on a camera. It isn’t necessary. With my Pentax collection and even an Olympus OMD10 and Canon M50 on the shelf. My photos look like my photos.Without the data,I couldn’t tell you which one I used to take any given photo.Spend time taking photos.Not money.I have no problem taking “ inferior” and “worthless” dslr cameras off the hands of folks who are upgrading. You videos and advice are great!

[@richard-depaultandthedoubl174]

My neighbour worked in Tuktoyaktuk a long time ago . Married over there and had childrens before returning to Quebec. Just very inspired by those few last video photos at the end. Thank you.

[@Impostertot]

Congratulations on your 100th episode and 1000 subscribers!

[@acrummey85]

Impostertot Thanks!

[@j.badinter988]

Older cameras are viable indeed. Especially your Pentax series. I will never question your attraction for those cameras,. We all have hobbies, we collect this or that, or we simply don't want to give/sell/through away stuff for many reasons. We are all different and this is the beauty of it. Even if our path into photography gear is somewhat different, I had 10 years ago to go through a "GAS" issue with I solve by keeping one body only and a series of prime lenses (manual M39 mount ones) until I realized that changing lenses on the go is not fun most of the time. It is so easy at home but in the field or in town with people walking around, wind, rain, cold weather, etc. switching lenses could be a challenge, not even mentioning that the action is already gone. I had considered (for too long) that zooms lenses were not as good as primes and to some extent this is still true. No need to mention that I am using fast prime with a wide aperture, which means size and weight and money. Progresses in optics made possible to achieve excellent results in ultra wide and zoom lenses to the point that I am now considering reducing my gear. So... I haver now 4 lenses and will sell 3 of them to get a zoom instead. I will keep my too good 35 years old 200mm manual focus f/2.0. I am travelling more than ever and will still do so as much as I could and my goal is to take the zoom and the 200mm and that's all. I also take my telephone and that tool has become my secondary photo gear. I know it will take me maybe 5 more years to simplify to the point of shooting with a telephone assuming progresses in low light continue. Just me. I enjoyed the video and can't wait for your new series.

[@acrummey85]

J. Badinter I have been selling off lenses, the 35mm f2 Pentax is gone, the 14mm f2.8 will hopefully soon follow and I have a Pentax 18-135mm on the way to act as a travel lens (probably on the K10D). My m4/3 kit is pretty much where I want it so there will be no big changes there, and my latest phone has an excellent camera that is getting more and more use. The old cameras are like comfort food, you no it isn’t that good, but it isn’t that bad either. I have sometimes had buyers remorse but whenever I sell anything I definitely get sellers remorse, I want to keep them all but then how could I finance my hobby (or find space for that matter). Thanks for the comments.

[@wladicus1]

_ I liked this talk on the older generation of digital cameras. You highlighted some interesting things.

[@oc2phish07]

Rather than question your fascination with older cameras, Ira, I fully understand it and share your love of them. I own around 60+ cameras at the moment, many of them older film cameras including a 1910 Eastman/Kodak Box camera that my grandfather bought in New York. I have TLR, SLR, Rangefinder, half-frame (VP Twin), APS, Instamatic, Polaroid, Kodak Instant film and others of many makes. I use 120 roll film, 35mm, 126, 127, 110 and Polaroid. I also have a Nikon D90 and a D7100 as well as a Fuji X-Pro2 and X-T2. Many of my film cameras have film in and I use them quite often. Each has a special place in my heart and I would not sell any of them. As for your KZbin videos, I love them and look forward to watching each new one.

[@acrummey85]

oc2phish07 Thanks!

[@nerwin]

Nothing wrong with older cameras at all! I quite like the limitations that they have. Its very similar to getting a manual focus lens, it slows you down and makes you think more. You can actually get better photos than using newer cameras with the latest in technology. Honestly, every photographer should have something like that. Great video.

[@andrewwilkin1923]

No need to defend old cameras. People will only know you've used an old camera if you tell them. So strip off the EXIF info and then no one will know what the picture was taken with. So it could be film, digital, old or new camera or a phone, no one will know and then maybe they'll concentrate on the image rather than worry about what is was taken with.

[@acrummey85]

Andrew Wilkin Well said.

[@christinecoughlan4699]

Thank you Ira

[@adrianricardo100]

I am Olympus E System . I was sold by the e 510 and I went all the way thru e 520 and e 610 . I still use them all the time. Even I migrated to micro 4/3 with em-5 and emp2 that is my companion all the time. The E frames I use for controled enviroments and give good result. I still print a lot and Sams has been a cheap option for me. I agree with your reasoning and I like your videos.-

[@acrummey85]

Ricardo Mora I really liked my E-P2 but I gave it to my son since it had the smaller battery system (my E-P5 and E-M1 take the lager battery introduced with the E-M5). I have lots of fun with these older models.

[@markborder906]

Earlier this year I bought a 4mp Olympus C460 from eBay for about £10 including postage, this I use when I just want to post something on Facebook, saves re-sizing from my DSLR. It’s perfectly fine for this and fits into my pocket. I am not fond of using my phone unless I have nothing else’s - my hands are too big!

[@acrummey85]

Mark Border I still find the phone to be an awkward camera, but the image quality is now very good. I will still reach for a camera first.

[@borderlands6606]

The only comment I'd add is that if your interests are purely photographic, it may be worth upgrading to a camera a couple of generations old. Given that digital hardware is so ephemeral, and people treat one generation old cameras as antiques, two iteration old models are ancient history and consequently worthless. Especially consumer models. People may have sentimental reasons to hang on to an old camera, or just shoot one for the fun of it, but financially digital cameras have bottomed out when they've been superseded twice. Buying wisely and trading sensibly, your photography can be virtually free and be relatively up to date..

[@acrummey85]

Borderlands That is pretty much my camera history. Almost every DSLR I have owned has been two generations old when I purchased it used. Right now I have two Olympus cameras which are, sort of one generation old and a Pentax K3 which is at least two generations old.