Hello from a new member in Brisbane, Australia

[Alan Shaw]

G’day!

I’ve just joined photoclubalpha and, as it seems polite to say hello before asking any questions, thought I’d say a few words about myself.

I’ve been a keen photographer for about 25 years but have only just recently purchased a DSLR. Why so long? Well, although I enjoy photography immensely I don’t get the chance to pursue the interest anywhere near enough, and domestic priorities prevented me from shelling out the cash.

My first camera of my own, once Dad’s immense patience finally tired of me borrowing his gear, was a little Minolta XG-M, eventually teamed up with an SRT100 for colour work. With a few lenses and flash, this set up worked well for my modest needs for over twenty years.

Then two things happened more or less at the same time. I turned 40, and not long after found my eyes really weren’t what they once were. My wonderfully sensitive optometrist said “you’re over 40, get used to it. It’s all downhill now”, which got me thinking about AF. Not long after, my XG-M started playing up so it really was time to move up in the technological world. After trying the usual suspects at my local camera shop I settled on a Dynax 5 – a little small for me but pretty well laid out, comfortable and capable. Certainly much more comfortable than any of the Canons and Nikons I tried. But…as someone who uses manual a fair bit I really didn’t like the “hold this button, and turn this dial” approach to setting aperture. So the Dynax 5 was sold and replaced with a 600si. What a lovely camera this is! Comfortable and intuitive, it is a delight to use. And the two control wheels are very welcome.

Combined with the body, the lens selection is a Tokina 19-35, a 28m, a 50mm 1.7 and the 70-210 beer can along with a 5400HS flash and a few other bits and pieces.

For the last few years though, I have been keeping a close eye on DSLRs – the 7D looked the one because of its ergonomics and familiar approach to controls, except for the price, and more recently the 700 would be the body of choice, but more likely the 200. If only the cash was available!

A couple of weeks ago though the eBay gods were at work and before I knew it I had purchased a Dynax 7D for A$400. Hello DSLR world! Why an old 7D, rather than say a A200 for not much more?

Good question, and I may regret it yet. But my logic was: ergonomics are important to me (and underrated in reviews, IMHO), it had a reasonably familiar control layout and logic, and I am not really a fan of menus on cameras. Assuming I still will not have as much time as I would like for the hobby, a familiar and intuitive layout (and you cannot get much more intuitive than knobs and dials!) is very important – it seemed less likely I would forget where a particular function would be. As someone who regularly forgets passwords, a menu driven setup seems to rely on regular use to maintain familiarity. And at the price I assumed I could sell it and upgrade without too much risk.

I have barely had a chance to use it but the layout is exactly as I had hoped, although the overall feel is a little different than I had expected. Now just to really start using it!

Oh, and my photography? Well, my subjects of choice are landscapes, urban photography and railways. And our young kids of course. I am looking forward to the potential of getting good hand held shots up to 800ISO, getting a couple of stops benefit from anti-shake and the 1.7 50mm in the city. If you would like to see some of my work, you can go here: http://home.iprimus.com.au/brindabella/Railgrafx.html although I should warn you this is my railway collection so if you don’t like trains don’t go there!

So there is a rather lengthy introduction for you. I have a few questions to ask over the next few days about some of the gear, and I will be seeking advice on rationalising my lenses (I think I need something different at the wide end) as well as workflow and software questions, which I will post in the relevant forums.

For now though that will do. I’m looking forward to sharing the experience of this forum.

Alan
Brisbane, Australia

[David Kilpatrick]

Welcome! The Alpha system is going to be big in Australia as there is a very proactive distribution channel.

The 7D is still a fine camera, and your only risk is the 'first black frame' fault (not to be confused with the occasional black frame - or blank shot - which can happen if you switch the camera on immediately after the 1st of a month on its date setting, and fire the shutter within about 2 seconds of doing so). Sony are still repairing or replacing faulty 7Ds because the fault was connected with their CCD, I think, as well as with the KM installation of that CCD.

You may find landscape work challenges 6 megapixels most, and you may also find your 50mm f1.7 back focuses on subjects around 20-40ft away, ending up focused closer to infinity. Using manual focus can help, or just setting the distance using the focus scale for some types of landscape shot. Working at an aperture of f8 to f11 also produces the best detail for landscapes, using Extra Fine quality JPEG, or processing from RAW.

The 7D is fantastic for shots of flowers, fabrics and anything colourful - it also has very good blue sky colour (superior to the later Sony colour management, out of the box). The last trip my 7D went on was southern Ireland and the coast of County Cork, where there are some great colours:

Have a look:

http://www.photoclubalpha.com/2007/06/0 ... unty-cork/

David

[bakubo]

Then two things happened more or less at the same time. I turned 40, and not long after found my eyes really weren’t what they once were. My wonderfully sensitive optometrist said “you’re over 40, get used to it. It’s all downhill now”, which got me thinking about AF.

Yeah, isn't it sad? When I hit 45 I started to need reading glasses and they are a pain in the butt. For normal stuff I don't mind them so much but for using my beloved cameras I find my need for reading glasses to cause me lots of trouble. I am often having to put my reading glasses on so that I can look at the histogram and image on the LCD. Without the reading glasses I can see it, but to get a really good look at it (like I want to do sometimes) I need the reading glasses. At least I can make changes to the settings using quik-navi without the glasses. My previous DSLR was a Canon 30D and that camera had a little top LCD with icons that were only about 1.5mm so I was constantly putting on my reading glasses for that too. What a relief to have the nice, big LCD on the back of the A700.

[Alan Shaw]

Thanks for the welcome David. I was pretty confident about the 7D as a good entry point to DSLRs for me, and the price was irresistable. I appreciate the comment about the 50mm lens - I was not aware of its potential to back focus. It may help me with my pending decisions about rationalising my current lenses. I had assumed that 6MP would be sufficient for my purposes, although I am starting to have some work published so perhaps I will need to have an upgrade path in mind. But first I need to find time to actually use it and not just talk about it!

I hope you are right about the Alpha system being well-promoted here. I have to say though that at the moment here in Brisbane there is little evidence - the major city store only has a minimal offering and don't seem that interested in the range, although oddly some of the staff do seem to be wearing Sony shirts. Hopefully that is a sign of things to come!

Reading glasses - ah, the horror! Alas, I think my next trip to the optometrist will se me joining that fold too. Sigh.

Alan
Brisbane

[Dr. Harout]

Welcome Alan to the glass using people... I mean to this wonderful site.

[bonneville]

Welcome Alan from me too.

I am sure you won't regret the 7D. It was my first intro to digital photography but I moved it on (to a colleague at work who loves it) for the a100 when it appeared. I now also have the a700 and although I am delighted with that, my 100 backup may well become a 7D again if I have a weak moment. It really "felt" right, even for a newbie. Mind you, Gary Friedman's downloadable book helped no end.

BTW, have you discovered photoworld yet?

[Alan Shaw]

Welcome Alan from me too.

I am sure you won't regret the 7D. It was my first intro to digital photography but I moved it on (to a colleague at work who loves it) for the a100 when it appeared. I now also have the a700 and although I am delighted with that, my 100 backup may well become a 7D again if I have a weak moment. It really "felt" right, even for a newbie. Mind you, Gary Friedman's downloadable book helped no end.

BTW, have you discovered photoworld yet?

Thanks for the welcome!
I have discovered Photoworld, but it is on my "to buy" list of things so it is jostling for position with a new flash, and possibly a new lens. But I can certainly hear it staking it's claim!

Alan
Brisbane, Australia