slo’s MONDAY 4/21 poll - ‘Real’ Cameras

[TiggerTrigger]

I have two DSLRs but would like to transition to mirrorless.

Camera 1 - Canon 80D
Camera 2 - Canon Rebel XS

I have enough interchangeable lenses that I finally caved got a camera backpack so that the weight is evenly distributed along my back when I'm hiking or moving around to shoot sports. I have a dream lens that I'd really like to get but I just haven't been able to justify spending over $2k on a lens. Yes, there are used options, but most aren't a dramatic savings and if I get an older model, the autofocus mechanism is slower.

My current lenses include one really good one (albeit an older one) as well as a good tool to amplify its reach if needed. I remember being so excited to get it because I finally had a professional looking L series white lens as well as an extender.


Since the 70-200 F/2.8 L series is out of the budget, I often rely on my cheaper 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 for sports and try and stick to daytime work. I have a 50mm f/1.8 that was a steal and is fast enough to produce some crazy sharp images even when cropped but it's better for portraits and just not as versatile as the lens I want. I've also taken some great Milky Way pics with this one. DH also got me a 24mm f/2.8 a while back that is great for landscape and panoramic work. It's so flat that it looks like a little pancake lens on my camera body. DH also got me this massive Vivitar lens that I believe can go out to 1600mm but it's manual focus and the glass quality is meh, so I almost never use it.

I do have a couple of other lenses in the mix (18-55mm and 28-80mm that came on my first film SLR) that I will sometimes put on my old DSLR just so I have something in waiting just in case I need to have multiple focal lengths ready to go. The reality is that the XS just can't produce the way the 80D can, so that rarely happens. In most cases, the XS is if the kids want to take pics. The 80D is still a good camera body but it's a crop sensor. I'd really like to shift to something full frame but I just can't justify any of it right now. If I do it, I will likely go mirrorless and look into an adapter for my lenses. Of course, as DSLRs fall out of favor, I might do better looking for sales on those.

 

[soccerdad72]

We do have a DSLR (Fujifilm), but we rarely use it. We did bring it with us last year on our African safari trip and loved the pictures it took. My younger son got really good with it.

 

[mamamary]

Yes I have at least one real camera just sitting in my basement. It’s been there for years.

 

[firefly_ris]

I have two DSLRs but would like to transition to mirrorless.

Camera 1 - Canon 80D
Camera 2 - Canon Rebel XS

I have enough interchangeable lenses that I finally caved got a camera backpack so that the weight is evenly distributed along my back when I'm hiking or moving around to shoot sports. I have a dream lens that I'd really like to get but I just haven't been able to justify spending over $2k on a lens. Yes, there are used options, but most aren't a dramatic savings and if I get an older model, the autofocus mechanism is slower.

My current lenses include one really good one (albeit an older one) as well as a good tool to amplify its reach if needed. I remember being so excited to get it because I finally had a professional looking L series white lens as well as an extender.

View attachment 958710View attachment 958711
Since the 70-200 F/2.8 L series is out of the budget, I often rely on my cheaper 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 for sports and try and stick to daytime work. I have a 50mm f/1.8 that was a steal and is fast enough to produce some crazy sharp images even when cropped but it's better for portraits and just not as versatile as the lens I want. I've also taken some great Milky Way pics with this one. DH also got me a 24mm f/2.8 a while back that is great for landscape and panoramic work. It's so flat that it looks like a little pancake lens on my camera body. DH also got me this massive Vivitar lens that I believe can go out to 1600mm but it's manual focus and the glass quality is meh, so I almost never use it.

I do have a couple of other lenses in the mix (18-55mm and 28-80mm that came on my first film SLR) that I will sometimes put on my old DSLR just so I have something in waiting just in case I need to have multiple focal lengths ready to go. The reality is that the XS just can't produce the way the 80D can, so that rarely happens. In most cases, the XS is if the kids want to take pics. The 80D is still a good camera body but it's a crop sensor. I'd really like to shift to something full frame but I just can't justify any of it right now. If I do it, I will likely go mirrorless and look into an adapter for my lenses. Of course, as DSLRs fall out of favor, I might do better looking for sales on those.

I'm with you, I'd love full frame or mirrorless over the crop sensor, but I can't ever come up with a justification for the cost, especially for a hobby since I don't do pay photo work. For vacations and nature photography the crop has served me well -- but when I look at things my boss has shot on his full frame I wish I had one! Oh well.

 

[tony67]

Have quite a few "real" cameras - including a Film, DSLR, Mirrorless, compact, action etc... even a Canon full frame, but with the latest phones I find myself not bothering to lug around even a large sensor compact camera.

Is a Pixel camera as good as my Canon R8 - not really - but its far more convenient and as the old saying goes "the camera you have with you is the best camera".

There are also things the phone cameras do that you cant do with something like a DSLR - at least not as quick and easy - for example remove people. The latest Pixel has the Add me feature - so it uses "AI" to allow you to take a photo then switch places and be added to the same photo - I've not played with it yet but that is pretty useful for holiday photos IMO. Add yes you can do that when you get home, but I never get around to it - having it in the phone and done is very convenient. With holiday photos its just not a priority to edit them when I get home.

 

[amcnj]

It has been quite a while since I used anything but a phone to take pictures. I take so many unnecessary photos now due to the ease and convenience of almost always having the phone nearby.

 

[kanerf]

Have not used a real camera (SLR either film or digital) in years. I probably have several in a box somewhere, but do not use them and so selected that option. With increasingly better cameras on the various iPhones I have owned (currently 16 Pro), don't see any need for a standalone camera.

 

[_19disnA]

Have a DSLR and use it whenever I was to take 'serious' pictures and/or want pictures I can enlarge to put on the wall. Phones are ok for the occasional snapshot or if only want to post postage stamp size images online somewhere. Despite those Apple phone ads you see on TV, the quality of the image has as much to do with someone's skill as a photographer as it does the equipment. Their phone cameras won't magically make you a pro photographer. Composition of good quality images is something you learn through experience over time.

 

[CynBeth]

I have some type of digital camera have not used it in years usually take pictures by cellphone.

 

[tvguy]

I am not sure that the quality of the cameras most of us have actually are better than most newer smartphones.
For security reasons on election day last November, one of the local TV stations had their photographers leave their cameras behind, and shoot everything on their smartphones. They did not want their photographers to stand out as "media" because there have been incidents of news crews being attacked the past few years. To be honest, their video looked better than video shot by other stations shot with top of the line broadcast cameras. But professional gear has always lagged behind consumer camera gear.

 

[OrangeBirdGirl]

I was a hold out that we had to use "real" cameras vs our phone. But then it turns out the iPhone takes very good pictures and is always on us. But we still have 2 "real" cameras we use.

First is the Sony AX10 IV, that is a bridge camera (so it's basically between a point and shoot and DSLR). We take that often especially to places where we are hiking as it has such a powerful zoom if there are animals in the distance. Or just good quality for nature scenes. But then DH carries a backpack for it as it's so large. We used to have a Nikon DLSR but that got to be too much of a pain with changing out lenses so that is why we switched to the bridge camera.

Then we have an Olympus (OM Systems) Stylus Tough. That is shockproof, freeze proof, dust proof and water proof to 50'. We take that one if we are hiking in the rain, swimming, snorkeling, skiing, or doing something really dusty like ATVing.

Then we also have the Insta360 and GoPro Hero 13 Black. Those we mainly use when hiking or snorkeling. Or put housing on the GoPro for scuba diving.

We have never taken anything other than our iPhones to Disney though.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

I no longer have a real camera. Pre pandemic I worked and volunteered at church camps over the summer. Photography camp was always fascinating to see the kids set up their picture with digital cameras. Dad and I God willing will be taking some new (by phone camera) photos when I am back to health and home in a few weeks. Happy memories captured in a picture to all!

 

[Dan Murphy]

I have all those cameras listed other than an 'action' camera, which I presume is like a Go-Pro. Current 'best' camera, though not currently used, is a Canon Rebel DSLR.

I learned long ago that the best pictures result from good composition, proper or desired lighting, and probably most importantly, having a camera with you at the time that a potentially great picture presents itself. For me that has been my phone camera/video recorder, currently a Samsung S21 Ultra. The big cell phone companies these days primarily compete against each other on the supremacy of their optical capabilities. Everything else is pretty hard to add to or improve, they are such complete and advanced devices. Even optical is getting hard to improve in big, quantum leaps. Phone cameras today are pretty amazing.

I really enjoy taking pictures, always have. I've posted many hundreds here in years past, now mostly with broken links. And not sure why that is ss the links are still valid but just show as a red x. Very aggravating! I think I got my photo gene from my mom. She took lots of pictures back in her day, the 30's-60's.

I do enjoy looking at good pictures, taking good pictures. Biggest fault I have is getting very few printed these days. But when I do, I'm always still surprised at how high quality of a print can come from today's phone cameras.

 

[NC Belle]

I have one with me in PA (note to self...need new sd card for new memories). My first 35 mm camera plus a couple of others are waiting for me in my storage unit in NC.

 

[jimmymc]

I have a DSLR, two polaroids, a GoPro, and a 1950's 35mm film camera. The polaroids are fun at parties, and I use the DSLR for special occasion like wildlife viewing. I used to always bring it on vacation, but my phone camera can handle 99% of vacation photos today. The GoPro is good for both action and timelapses, and the 35mm camera is just for fun.