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Gifts for Aspiring Artsy Photographers
Ball-And-Socket Lensbaby Composer Adds to Distorting Bendy-Lens Line

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Josh_Geyer
11/23/09

In reply to Gifts for Aspiring Artsy Photographers
I own everything here except the gorillapod and the M9.

My two cents:

Get a Domke F6 bag instead of the Crumpler. It holds more and looks nicer (especially if the person receiving it is an artsy hipster type who appreciates "vintage" styling.)

The Lensbaby gets really boring after a few weeks, whoever you buy it for will be thrilled, jump up and down in excitement, use it for two weeks non-stop, then forget they even own it.

The Crumpler strap is awesome, it makes my big DSLR with battery grip and 2.8 zoom almost pleasant to lug around.

The Diana is fun as hell, way more fun than the Lensbaby.

The 50mm is invaluable, especially on a 1.5x crop DSLR where it becomes a short telephoto and a decent portrait lens.

Hope that helps someone
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twoeightnine
11/23/09

@Josh_Geyer: I loved my Lensbaby... for a week like you said. Then it was just too much of a pain in the ass. Just sold it for a profit. Probably get the Diana Canon mount instead.
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Josh_Geyer
11/23/09

@twoeightnine: That thing looks cool,
I need to order one of those.

#tips
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WWSJD
11/23/09

In reply to Gifts for Aspiring Artsy Photographers
For anyone looking for an even cheaper tilt shift. A bit of a novelty lens but makes really fun pictures
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eddyrayb
11/23/09

In reply to Gifts for Aspiring Artsy Photographers
As far as straps go, I highly recommend the Black Rapid strap. I use a Nikon D700 with a battery pack. That's a LOT of weight. The Black Rapid strap makes it manageable.
[www.blackrapid.com]
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Yerzriknot
11/23/09

In reply to Gifts for Aspiring Artsy Photographers
Will someone please explain to me why people are still using film cameras? You can replicate all of effects of film with software.
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ripfire
11/23/09

@Yerzriknot: You don't need a computer to produce a picture with film.
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Nathan Obbards
11/23/09

@Yerzriknot: It's all in the feel. I shoot digital where I would shoot standard film, but when I x-process, it's film all the way. Nothing can match that feeling of anxiety while waiting to see how your images turned out or the feeling of the image. Yes, you can replicate the feeling in photoshop, but it looses a certain feel.

Also, some people like how each image produces a unique feel as opposed to the standardized feel that is given by digitization.
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Die Fledermaus
11/23/09

@Yerzriknot: Because I can blow up the image to larger sizes then most digital today. Also the equivilant digital back on say a hassablad is starting around 35,000$ where a film back is much cheaper. Because Building a field camera with a scanner back is still a bit of alchemy. Shall I go on?
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Yerzriknot
11/23/09

@ripfire: Which would you rather carry in your backpack; expensive and toxic chemicals or a netbook?
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ripfire
11/23/09

@Yerzriknot: If all you're going for is a netbook-quality picture, then who am I to argue.
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Yerzriknot
11/23/09

@ripfire: As long as it can run photoshop it'll do just fine.
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Stevox
11/23/09

@Yerzriknot: The dynamic range of high quality film cannot be matched or surpassed by digital medium yet, if ever. You can *pretend* to make a shot look "film-like" with some post-processing, but you will NOT get all the image information provided by a high quality medium format film, for example. When it comes to archival purposes, you might as well forget about digital. You would be much better off scanning film negative with a digital drum scanner, but you better keep that negative.

Regardless, I now carry an S90 in my pocket.
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Die Fledermaus
11/23/09

In reply to Gifts for Aspiring Artsy Photographers

I don't always shoot digital but when I do I shoot anything but Leica.
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superhappyfuntime
11/23/09

In reply to Gifts for Aspiring Artsy Photographers
THANK YOU FOR NUMBER 8! Nothing's worse than someone's good intentions by buying one of those useless craps. Like you said, they're good for families and tourists, but have no place in amateur photographer's equipment bag.
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Yerzriknot
11/23/09

@superhappyfuntime: You mean because you can't be an ironic hipster with a Canon Supershot?
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matt buchanan promoted this comment Edited by Yerzriknot at 11/23/09 4:21 PM Yerzriknot was starred Yerzriknot was unstarred

Nathan Obbards
11/23/09

In reply to Gifts for Aspiring Artsy Photographers
If you're carrying a camera around your neck, you're doing it wrong.

I couldn't really recommend the GorillaPod, you're better off with a monopod or real tripod.

Point and shoots make great gifts too and are great for learning, Hell, Alex Majoli, a Magnum Photographer, created quite a few iconic photos using only a point and shoot superzoom camera.
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Purple Umpteenth
11/23/09

@Nathan Obbards: hope you're gonna say you should be carrying it on your shoulder, because no one that shoots pro uses a case.

those Disgrace shoulder straps are awesome though, really makes a 300mm comfortable on a shoulder.
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Nathan Obbards
11/23/09

@LolitaMalinky: I've heard mixed reviews about the Black Rapid straps. I've heard that their quick release parts have a penchant for breaking and dropping your camera. I've never had problems with a padded body strap, even with a 300mm f/2.8 on the body.

@Purple Umpteenth: Definitely meant carrying it on your shoulder. That's the only way to go.
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Ahnduru
11/23/09

@Nathan Obbards: How well is a monopod gonna work when you're trying to balance it on a rock?
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Nathan Obbards
11/23/09

@Ahnduru: Why I said a real monopod or tripod. Why are you balancing it on a rock anyways?
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gstar
11/23/09

@Nathan Obbards: I'm not supposed to carry my DSLR around my neck? This is news to me. Please explain.
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matt buchanan
11/23/09

@gstar: it's touristy, not artsy.
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Nathan Obbards
11/23/09

@gstar: It gives you slower access to your camera(s), puts a lot of strain on your neck, gets in the way, can hinder your shooting, a slew of issues. By carrying it on your should you can eliminate most of them. Not only that, but you can often give yourself added stability by shortening the strap and pulling it tight against your arm/shoulder when you shoot.

@matt buchanan: I worked with cameras for quite a few years. It really isn't that it's artsy or touristy, but ease of use and accessibility.
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Edited by Nathan Obbards at 11/23/09 5:16 PM Nathan Obbards was starred Nathan Obbards was unstarred

Ahnduru
11/23/09

@Nathan Obbards: long exposures of a river, where you want to be close to the surface, Also, how the juice are you supposed to hike with a tripod? Maybe if you're a pro a shoot, then you would want to set up the tripod, etc, but otherwise...
#tips
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Nathan Obbards
11/23/09

@Ahnduru: Two words: Carbon fiber
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dwight-schrute
11/23/09

In reply to Gifts for Aspiring Artsy Photographers

Most people could do with a "don't suck" button.
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TailsNZ
11/23/09

In reply to Gifts for Aspiring Artsy Photographers
Actually the Canon SX1 IS is great for a 1080p video camera. It's got up to 20-40x zoom, where most HD camcorders only have up to 10x, records at a high bit rate, has stereo microphones and a flip-out widescreen LCD.
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