Back in the film days we made lots of portraits. Now it seems like everyone is only interested in documenting their lunch. Do we really have that close a relationship with our lunch?
Wow, that brings back memories. My first "real" camera was a used 35mm slr that had the old screw mount. I was thirteen and didn't know they were called SLR's so when I was asked what kind of camera I wanted I said "One like Daddy's." He found the exact model he had in a pawn shop and got it for me.
I would love to find that size and style of camera in a digital format. Maybe the E-M5?
The great British photographer Jane Bown--who did portraits of everyone from the Beatles to Gore Vidal to Margaret Thatcher--has worked for decades with a simplicity-itself set-up of an Olympus OM and 85mm lens. Jane Bown
I crave the simplicity of an OM1 or 2 in a digital form. Having a very difficult time trying to justify the EM-1 upon following posts on how complex the menus and settings can be. Just give me a camera that sets ISO F-stop and speed and I'd be thrilled beyond belief!
Most people today (ok- at least those that have an affinity to express themselves on social networks) follow a certain trend of being effective in their communication style: Why try to describe things to selected people, where you have to think about your lunch, your clothing and what other moments deserve to be shared with others- when you can have this with a push of a button and hundreds of your friend list can possibly share at least the visual part of an experience. Yes, can also be seen as lazyness or attitude towards thinkless digital pollution...
The E-M1 is a complex camera with many many options. It takes a while to learn and to set up the way you want it to work. Once set up to your tastes, however, it can be as simple as an OM-1n to use. That's the beauty of the complex customization stuff.
I've got mine set up to work very simply. The viewfinder is to die for, the image quality with the Summilux-DG 25/1.4 ASPH is simply top notch. Fitted with a small, light lens like this, it is so much like a slightly more compact OM-1n it is amazing. Fit the battery grip and a pro-grade zoom from the FourThirds SLR system, switch on all the automation systems, and it is a 100% modern pro grade DSLR with a better viewfinder.
I've had it a week and some, and I'm just now beginning to make photographs with it. It is a terrific camera. And the EVF is the first I've seen where I can forget that it's an EVF entirely, and just use it. :-)
All this hand ringing over the Olympus menus has got to stop. I agree with Godfrey. The menus just allow the user to customize the camera. I turned on the EM-1 for the first time and just started shooting. No drama what so ever. Scrolling through the menus to change one or two setting and set the time took about 2 minutes. The EVF is visually the equal to an OVF plus all the advantages of real time views of what the image sensor is seeing.
15 comments:
Lunch doesn't get nervous when you photograph it.
I like that way and nice photo.
Love the new VSL look. It's so tablet friendly.
Have fun in NYC.
Belinda's hands are the star of this photograph. The gentle caress of the camera is what drew me in.
At last you have changed to a good design - I loathed your old one - so finicky and slow. Now at last we can all read your magnificent prose easily!
You are what you eat...
Wow, that brings back memories. My first "real" camera was a used 35mm slr that had the old screw mount. I was thirteen and didn't know they were called SLR's so when I was asked what kind of camera I wanted I said "One like Daddy's." He found the exact model he had in a pawn shop and got it for me.
I would love to find that size and style of camera in a digital format. Maybe the E-M5?
The great British photographer Jane Bown--who did portraits of everyone from the Beatles to Gore Vidal to Margaret Thatcher--has worked for decades with a simplicity-itself set-up of an Olympus OM and 85mm lens.
Jane Bown
Wonderful camera. Still have mine.
The OM looks so large in her hands
I crave the simplicity of an OM1 or 2 in a digital form.
Having a very difficult time trying to justify the EM-1 upon following posts on how complex the menus and settings can be. Just give me a camera that sets ISO F-stop and speed and I'd be thrilled beyond belief!
Most people today (ok- at least those that have an affinity to express themselves on social networks) follow a certain trend of being effective in their communication style: Why try to describe things to selected people, where you have to think about your lunch, your clothing and what other moments deserve to be shared with others- when you can have this with a push of a button and hundreds of your friend list can possibly share at least the visual part of an experience.
Yes, can also be seen as lazyness or attitude towards thinkless digital pollution...
re: E-M1 and simplicity.
The E-M1 is a complex camera with many many options. It takes a while to learn and to set up the way you want it to work. Once set up to your tastes, however, it can be as simple as an OM-1n to use. That's the beauty of the complex customization stuff.
I've got mine set up to work very simply. The viewfinder is to die for, the image quality with the Summilux-DG 25/1.4 ASPH is simply top notch. Fitted with a small, light lens like this, it is so much like a slightly more compact OM-1n it is amazing. Fit the battery grip and a pro-grade zoom from the FourThirds SLR system, switch on all the automation systems, and it is a 100% modern pro grade DSLR with a better viewfinder.
I've had it a week and some, and I'm just now beginning to make photographs with it. It is a terrific camera. And the EVF is the first I've seen where I can forget that it's an EVF entirely, and just use it. :-)
G
Makes me smile and miss my Yashica
All this hand ringing over the Olympus menus has got to stop. I agree with Godfrey. The menus just allow the user to customize the camera. I turned on the EM-1 for the first time and just started shooting. No drama what so ever. Scrolling through the menus to change one or two setting and set the time took about 2 minutes. The EVF is visually the equal to an OVF plus all the advantages of real time views of what the image sensor is seeing.
If you haven't seen this yet, it's worth a good laugh...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nn-dD-QKYN4
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