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03/08/2007 11:35:20 PM · #1
I honestly needing some professional advice, even though i have learned its not the camera that takes great photographers its the person that takes great photographs. I need some help i purchased an Olympus E-500, and i have worked for two companies Olan Mills (0lympus E20-N) and currently Lifetouch (Nikon D-70's). working with Olan Mills i came to love olympus cameras, but People seem to put down olympus alot compared to nikon, or canon, mainly i want to weddings, senior portraits, nature photography on the side of my current job. Did i use good judgement when i purchased my E-500? as well should i just ignore the people putting it down?
Much help would be appreciated thank you

//imagenerd.com/gallery/xktheonekx/ some images i have taken

Message edited by author 2007-03-09 00:27:30.
03/08/2007 11:44:41 PM · #2
just ignore them if you're happy with your olympus.
03/08/2007 11:46:42 PM · #3
gsal
03/08/2007 11:47:25 PM · #4
At the moment I use my Fuji for everything. People do tend to give you weird looks when you do not show up with a Canon or Nikon, just prove them wtong when you show people your pictures.
Point is, if your camera does what you want it to do, and your clients are happy with the results, then you made a wise choice.
03/08/2007 11:53:06 PM · #5
Everyone has their own favorite camera. And even though Nikon and Canon do have pretty good rep's, you should go with what you think is best. I have a SP-350 (Olympus) and its great! Go Olympus!
03/08/2007 11:54:53 PM · #6
The new Oly stuff at PMA looks pretty damn good.

People put down Oly and Pentax all the time, and I couldn't care less. I know what camera feels best in my hands and nothing anyone says will change that. I ride regular when I snowboard because its what feels natural to me; when I was buying a DSLR, the K10D is what felt natural. Using another camera would be like riding switch (or worse, skiing!)

So, if your Oly is what feels right for you, who cares what other people say. The new E1 has me drooling, as do the new 4/3s lenses. Also, Olympus is a very profitable company that sells ALOT of cameras. They wont be going the way of Konica-Minolta any time soon...
03/09/2007 12:26:21 AM · #7
Reality is, working pros use canon 2:1 over Nikon. What specialty you re in makes a difference as well - I know of a lot of wedding photogs that shoot Fuji dSLRs but no sports photogs.

When running a business cost of equipment, variety of equipment, wase of getting more equipment fast, support for repairs, questions, equipment improvements, etc all count.

Canon has the widest selection of bodies - so you can use a 5D for portrait work and a 30D for schools and team and individual shoots, a 1Dn mk2 for when you need maximum FPS - and only one set of lenses will work with them all. Nikon lacks a FF sensor body and no 16Mp body, and they fell behind when canon's new AF system came out - that's why you see mostly canon at major sporting events. At times, equipment matters very much.

I was reading a thread the other day that referred to an expedition to the Antarctic, and camera reliability. 5 canon bodies failed - BUT 200 went on the trip, only 5 nikons went. That's 40:1 in favor on Canon, based on popularity.

Kodak made pro bodies...and quit. Sigma has tried, and is trying again - not much to choose from body wise and pro lens wise, so I don't expect great things from them in the marketplace. Fuji is doing well with it's dSLRs, but with only 1 model, and 90% of their market is wedding photogs, it's not a real player either.

Durability is important for a camera that works day in day out - it breaks and it costs money in downtime, lost revenue, inconvenience, etc. Canon and Nikon have proven track records. Same for lenses. Build quality matters.

The right lens for the job can be the difference between getting a job or not, doing it well or almost well enough. Canon has more lenses, in more focal lenghts and types than anyone else. You may not need a 5:1 macro, or a tilt shift or 500mm IS lens, but it's nice to know you can use one when needed (rent or buy, or often borrow as many pros have canon).

Pick an "off brand" and you limit your options...that may limit your income.
03/09/2007 12:27:37 AM · #8
Originally posted by jan_vdw:

At the moment I use my Fuji for everything. People do tend to give you weird looks when you do not show up with a Canon or Nikon, just prove them wtong when you show people your pictures.
Point is, if your camera does what you want it to do, and your clients are happy with the results, then you made a wise choice.


Perhaps they're giving you weird looks cause you have a point and shoot? One should not bring a knife to a gun fight, if you know what I mean.
03/09/2007 12:40:59 AM · #9
Originally posted by Prof_Fate:

Originally posted by jan_vdw:

At the moment I use my Fuji for everything. People do tend to give you weird looks when you do not show up with a Canon or Nikon, just prove them wtong when you show people your pictures.
Point is, if your camera does what you want it to do, and your clients are happy with the results, then you made a wise choice.


Perhaps they're giving you weird looks cause you have a point and shoot? One should not bring a knife to a gun fight, if you know what I mean.


Hopefully I will upgrade to a Canon soon, but I have put a few canon users to shame with a photo or two from my Fuji. Was fun to see their expressions. Not saying the Fuji is better, just that the camera does not make the photographer.
03/09/2007 12:44:22 AM · #10
Originally posted by jan_vdw:



Hopefully I will upgrade to a Canon soon, but I have put a few canon users to shame with a photo or two from my Fuji. Was fun to see their expressions. Not saying the Fuji is better, just that the camera does not make the photographer.


I had Fujis before I went to canon (300D) and the difference was significant - AF, shutter lag, start up time, options/features, and then add in the selection of lenses -the difference is especially noticeable when you get into good, fast lenses.

For sports or action there is no comparison - it's the camera (and lens)
03/09/2007 12:46:43 AM · #11
Fair enough. I'm sure I'll agree with you once I have a Canon.
03/09/2007 12:52:51 AM · #12
Originally posted by jan_vdw:

Fair enough. I'm sure I'll agree with you once I have a Canon.


or a nikon!

I also find it interesting that 99% of those that say it's the photographer and not the gear don't have 'the gear'. Ask top pros and they will ALL tell you to get the best gear you can afford - and they all use the best gear themselves, so it does matter - image is everything, and better gear makes better images, more easily, more often.
03/09/2007 01:05:46 AM · #13
Originally posted by Prof_Fate:

Ask top pros and they will ALL tell you to get the best gear you can afford

the pro-wannabes will also tell you to get the best you can afford. nowadays it's hard to differentiate between a pro and a wannabee because they all use the best equipment money can buy!
03/09/2007 01:28:19 AM · #14
Originally posted by Prof_Fate:

Reality is, working pros use canon 2:1 over Nikon.

I was reading a thread the other day that referred to an expedition to the Antarctic, and camera reliability. 5 canon bodies failed - BUT 200 went on the trip, only 5 nikons went. That's 40:1 in favor on Canon, based on popularity.



While I think Canon is a terrific brand, you should make sure you write the correct information before you go off spouting numbers. The Antarctic trip, there were only 45 members using Canon, though most had a backup body or two. Seems more logical to count the person than the number of bodies they own. Maybe Canon users just like to buy more equipment? Also, there were more than 5 Canon bodies that failed (though I believe only 5 permanently). That really isn't the point though, I'm sure there would have been Nikon failures if people brought D40s along...

I'm also not sure where you get this 2:1 pro thing from? Is this new selling bodies only are all pro bodies being used? What about all these pros who are still using film, are they in the equation. Seems like most professional portrait artists are using Hasselblad or medium format these days. Look into the bag of a major magazine photography, I see a lot of medium format and lecia there. I don't see these people carrying SLRs? Maybe if we are watching the SuperBowl and counting the cameras on the sideline there is a 2:1 ratio...

Numbers are easy to put out there, but they should have some backing.
03/09/2007 10:44:05 AM · #15
I have two friends that have Canons (one a 350D and the other a 20D) and when I told them I bought a Nikon dSLR they both made a comment like "oh, going for the 'pro' stuff" ... that was all the validation I needed. ;)
03/09/2007 11:26:02 AM · #16
Originally posted by Prof_Fate:

Reality is, working pros use canon 2:1 over Nikon.

...

Pick an "off brand" and you limit your options...that may limit your income.


Oh PUH-LEEZE!!!
03/09/2007 05:08:49 PM · #17
Originally posted by Prof_Fate:

I also find it interesting that 99% of those that say it's the photographer and not the gear don't have 'the gear'. Ask top pros and they will ALL tell you to get the best gear you can afford - and they all use the best gear themselves, so it does matter - image is everything, and better gear makes better images, more easily, more often.


At risk of stating the obvious, both answers are correct.

It's the photographer not the gear - a good photographer will be able to take good photos with almost any half-decent camera. But a bad photographer with top-of-the-line equipment is still a bad photographer.

The best gear you can afford - if you have the vision to be a good photographer, then the best gear will increase your capability of achieving your vision, and/or achieving it well.
03/09/2007 06:09:53 PM · #18
Originally posted by jaysonmc:


I'm also not sure where you get this 2:1 pro thing from? Is this new selling bodies only are all pro bodies being used? What about all these pros who are still using film, are they in the equation. Seems like most professional portrait artists are using Hasselblad or medium format these days. Look into the bag of a major magazine photography, I see a lot of medium format and lecia there. I don't see these people carrying SLRs? Maybe if we are watching the SuperBowl and counting the cameras on the sideline there is a 2:1 ratio...

Numbers are easy to put out there, but they should have some backing.


sales of dSLR bodies, as in market share. numbers are about 6 months old. also based on my reading PPA and WPPI magazines(they list the gear people use), Photovision Video magazine (i can see what cameras are being used), 2 years of attending schools and seminars and speaking with about 50 working photogs from across the nation.
If we expand beyond full time pros, you see more Nikons. If you expand to include amateures, you again see lots more canon cameras. Locally we've some some get togethers over the past 2 or 3 years - DPC and FM members - 3 nikon and 12 canon users, not one other brand in attendance.

Also, go to the Equipment list here at DPC and count cameras - last I did it (before xmas) it was canon 2:1 over nikon, and the other brands of dSLRs came in distant last places (all of them together were something like 8% of dSLRs)
03/09/2007 06:15:13 PM · #19
Originally posted by Spazmo99:

Originally posted by Prof_Fate:

Reality is, working pros use canon 2:1 over Nikon.

...

Pick an "off brand" and you limit your options...that may limit your income.


Oh PUH-LEEZE!!!


It's true. I know working photogs that use a tilt-shift lens for landscapes and another for architecture- ONLY canon makes one (well,they make 3). There isn't another tool for the job (short of MF or something).
and I know a lot of photogs that (claim to ) need all 16Mp the 1Ds mk2 can give them - and many more than need 8.5 fps (now it's 10!).

If you need it, you need it. Get out of the yard and attend a school with working pros - people making hundreds of thousands of dollars a year with their gear and you'll begin to understand why the choice of gear matters.

03/09/2007 06:21:25 PM · #20
I just got back from another Cruise on Carnival Cruise Lines. They have "pro" photogs that take thousands of photos every week. I'll bet every passenger had their photo taken at least three times a day and may more than that. Now with over 3000 passengers obboard I would guess over 10,000 photos per day. I dod not see what model but they all used Olympus DSLR's.
.
It odoes no good to argue between Canon and Nikon. Both are outstanding cameras, kinda like the fight over which truck is best; Ford or Chevy then someone tried to through a TOYota into the mix.
.
The thing with being a Pro Photog is you need to look like a Pro Photog. I agree a cheap camera will take great shots but the customer wants to see Pro Gear to validate your credibility. It takes money to make money. It is not a lottery game. Best of luck!
03/09/2007 11:03:57 PM · #21
Originally posted by Prof_Fate:

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

Originally posted by Prof_Fate:

Reality is, working pros use canon 2:1 over Nikon.

...

Pick an "off brand" and you limit your options...that may limit your income.


Oh PUH-LEEZE!!!


It's true. I know working photogs that use a tilt-shift lens for landscapes and another for architecture- ONLY canon makes one (well,they make 3). There isn't another tool for the job (short of MF or something).
and I know a lot of photogs that (claim to ) need all 16Mp the 1Ds mk2 can give them - and many more than need 8.5 fps (now it's 10!).

If you need it, you need it. Get out of the yard and attend a school with working pros - people making hundreds of thousands of dollars a year with their gear and you'll begin to understand why the choice of gear matters.


Show me MF cameras that allow for tilt shift. Honestly, a tilt shift lens is a poor man's compromise for a view camera to begin with. So, by your reasoning, no one that's in architectural photography, or landscape has any business taking money using anything less than a Sinar p3 with a Digital Back, not to mention all the requisite accessories. An investment of a mere $100K or so. Is that what your "pro" friends have? Is that what they started with? If they don't have it, does that make them not "pro"?

Photogs that "need" the capabilities of a high end camera also have clients that need it. Not all clients do.

You continually stand in your pulpit and preach about the need for tens of thousands in lighting equipment, 1D camera bodies and lenses in order to be "pro".
Yet, you seem to get by with a 30D. How can you possibly manage? I mean, aren't you charging money? Aren't your clients deserving of a photographer that uses the best equipment available? Maybe you need to dust off the charge card and get busy shopping. Buy a few 1Ds mkII bodies, maybe half a dozen 1D mkII bodies to go with it and of course, you need to buy one each of all of the "L" lenses available.

The only gear that matters is the gear that lets the photographer make the images that will make their clients happy.



Message edited by author 2007-03-09 23:09:25.
03/09/2007 11:19:12 PM · #22
Originally posted by Spazmo99:


The only gear that matters is the gear that lets the photographer make the images that will make their clients happy.


& back to whats been said - buy the BEST you can afford!!
- start with a cheap body if you must but good glass will last you
(until they change the mount ; ) Tee Hee ..

03/09/2007 11:33:48 PM · #23
OMG I love your Racoon photo!!!!! People say the Fuji S3 is slow but there is a local company here using them for school and team shots. People say its a dog but I love it. Given your background, get some good glass and start shooting (with what ever body you want). Going out on your own you will probaby be able to buy whatever you want soon.
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