New gear Micro 4/3

Several year s back I injured my lower disk making carrying a huge gear bag to shoots / events, tough before the action started. As this was slowly getting better the micro 4/3rds world was developing some great cameras. I found the OMD-E-M5 MkII a super multi camera in one, its controls are configurable and its a great video camera. With 5 way image stabilization and essentially water tight it get the job done under most conditions. Built in Wi-fi for easy xfer to ipad.

Lenses -

Olympus 12 ~ 50 mm (35 mm = 24 ~ 100mm)
Olympus 40 ~ 150 mm (35 mm = 80 ~ 300mm)
Olympus 14~ 42 mm ( 35 mm= 28 ~ 84)
Olympus 17 fixed lens cap style lens 35 mm = 34mm)
Pentax 110 adapted lems  70 mm , 20 ~ 40 zoom, 18mm pan, 25mm, 50 mm
Pentax 1.7 teleconverter

Scope and laser site: Red / green dot  + 3w Red laser

Optional hand grip.

All this gear fits in a shoulder bag that is 1/4 h weight of my E-5 full 4/3 camera set up.

Old School Tools ... Film is back !

My new mantra is a simple one " in time everything comes along on Craigslist " !

Some time back I was lucky to find a Konica Minolta 7D, a great leap backwards at a very fair price allowing me to expand into the world of a second lens maker. Over the last few years I have based much of my photography around Olympus gear, always costly but great Zuiko designs. So the addition of the KM 7D allowed me to find the odd specialty lenses that I sometimes enjoy exploring.

Fisheyes, odd telephotos, strange Chinese made lightweight specialty lens..... All things that the limited market of Olympus professional users most often don't get to dabble in due to the small market share. Expanding into the KM 7D automatically opens up the still small but a little more robust Sony " A " mount world, as Sony purchased the system from Konica Minolta and still exploits today.

Two film Minolta XD -11's have served me faithfully from the mid 70's, both are now having issues and need to be serviced ... yet few have the skills to do such and might require hundreds in labor alone. Then when its all said and done it's still old school film gear.

Film teaches every photographer one critical skill ... How to think and make every press of the shutter count.  The only thing a new photographer today needs to know is were to insert the memory card :-(

Sometimes the old warrior in me needs to pick up a film camera and return to battle, it makes me a better photographer.

So why not pick up one of the last great 35 mm auto focus Minolta cameras that share the " A " mount lens ?  So the hunt was on for a Maxxum 7 or 9.  The Max 7 uses about the same body and function layout as the fully digital 7D and has the same sweet " keer-chunk" sound of the shutter / feel, most of these seem to have had some internal issues with the aperture base-plate, requiring a full tear down and finding a now very rare repair part. When found in good order a sweet camera. The Max 9 is a completely different beast, but uses the same lenses. When found Max 9's are coveted by owners and still fetching $300 + in good condition. With the late arrival just before the major jump to digital, Max-9 production numbers were limited.

Maxxum 7 circa 2000

Fate and Craigslist came into alignment yet again and a Maxxum 7 with both a 50 mm f1.7 & 70 ~ 210 zoom f 3.5 + gear bag popped up. By the time I cleaned up the bag and extra lens and resold these, the camera cost me $ 10 :-) A good cleaning and a dab of Spray n' Gloss and zip zap it is like new, aside from a slight tackiness of a rubber surface (common with the wet grip used by Minolta after a decade), everything works fine.

Maxxum 7 cleaned and ready. 

One just never knows about Craigslist ... in time a Maxxum 9 might just come along and tempt me :-)  Yet in the end, how many rolls of film will I ever shoot again ?   

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Lens 800 mm Bausch & Lomb

My enjoyment of various telephoto lens comes from one basic thing, it enables me to make images from places and under circumstances that I could not normally accomplish.

Now being the poor " old photographer  " it precludes me from running out and purchasing the latest 300 mm Olympus f -2.8 , with a $ 6000 price tag :-(

Olympus AF 300 (600mm) 4/3 lens $ 6000 !  

If by some chance life decides to drop the winning lottery numbers in my lap, well you may find this lens bolted to my E-5 ! But until then it is possible for me to collect and enjoy using some great manual focus fixed aperture telephotos.


Added to my collection recently is a cool Bausch & Lomb 800 mm, spotted locally on Craigslist. In its original box as new the previous owners father was given this as a gift in the 90's and it became a shelf space taker.

B&L 800 mm

The seller was asking $60 , but settled for $ 40 and a new home was established for this fine lens.

It does double duty as a cool star gazing  / field scope, but came equipped with a " T " mount camera adapter. 

This lens was built at a time when 35 mm film cameras were still top of the pecking order, in its day the B&L 800 mm retailed in the $ 450 range as configured. Given that it uses a T mount my 2x adapter just screws right in place making this a cool 1600 mm lens !

Will this lens do everything its $6000 cousin does ?  No it will not, no auto focus, no aperture adjustment .... but it will get the job done 70 ~ 90 % of the time when the subject is far off, and cost about the same a dinner for two these days.

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Highlighted model - Lana

In Southern California potential models abound, visit any shopping center and just count them as they go by, but external looks are by far deceiving.

It is the inner spirit and heart that makes " Super Models " for with these ones personality shines in the camera like a bright star.

Some years back I had a photo shoot with a new to LA Russian lady, she was very soft spoken, kinda shy and stunning eyes... but her personality popped like a skyrocket on the forth of July !

Not long after that, I suffered a damaged disk in my back that left me in poor shape, as fate would have it my new model friend was dating a local fellow, but driving all the way across LA to do so as she lived close to downtown. So we came to a wonderful arrangement, as I recovered she lived in my studio and helped with light lifting and she was just a few moments drive away from her new friend.

And so my friendship with " Svetlana " was formed !  As time passed I watched as this tiny fireball with amazing persona bloomed.  These are just a few of the images we crafted:

As the years have passed my dear friend Lana, always amazes me with great art work she produces. Far above her stunning looks is her ability to be a fantastic human being and bring magic to anything she does !

To connect with Lana : http://cherryladymodel.com/

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A lens / gear for every shoot & bagged to go !

Sometimes you just never know what direction a photographic effort will take you, being prepared, knowing your gear and experience. When it all comes together magic sometimes happens.

On the left above is the new modern digital gear that gets used most often these days. Rock solid from 2000 mm to fisheye. Right is my collection of old trusty gear the reminds me of the good old days of film. In the center is my daily use gear bag ready to rock the next adventure.

Knowing were you came from and the path you have traveled is a sure guide to were you will be today as you blaze the trail ahead making memories for the future !

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Bits and pieces to support new gear .....

                                                  

So your asking yourself what do these tools have to do with " Photography " ? When you get fed up with paying crazy prices for things or no one has quite exactly what you want or you might want to modify something stock .... these are the things you need. 

Previous small parts made - car stuff. 

These past few months I have acquired several large lenses, that require some kind of support, along with this my Olympus E-5 has video capability. Producing quality video requires a stable platform and the ability to manually and smoothly focus, this is most often done with a " follow focus " gear set. Often a complete set up to convert a DSLR to a video platform can cost as much as a camera body new ! Now like everything else these days there is " China " made or USA, some of the Chinese stuff is very good value for money, some junk. Most of the made in USA stuff is just down right pricey.

Building this should be a few extra evenings, when done a CNC tool path to reproduce this as required will be on hand. Material cost: $ 5 ~ 6 screws bolts + $ 10 of scrap 6061-T6 aluminum and .50 cents of 15 mm tube stock.  

Long term idea is to make a batch of useful products, stock a few of each and offer to sale to other photographers at attractive prices. 

More to follow with future post ...... 

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What does it take to be a successful photographer ?

What does it take ?  Often I have been asked this.

Great expensive gear - No.  A fixed studio open to the public - No. Being " Published " in major magazines - No.  Traveled worldwide taking snapshots - No.

Understand people - Yes. Being able to see the image in your mind before you snap the shutter - Yes. Making images that the everyday person can say wow to - Yes.

What defines you as a professional ?  When others enjoy your images enough to compensate you, and refer you to friends or business entities.

When do you know your successful ?   When you have done enough work that results in a steady enough stream of income that allows you to put a roof over your head, food on the plate, cover operating expenses, and sack a little away for the future.

How does the world know your successful ? When your images can change the lives of others. When your images bring a smile, and find a warm place in the hearts of others.

My secret to success : Give back more than you take and your plate will always be full !

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