A Fish Out of Water

[Tronhard]

I was at the rather cloistered halls of the University of Auckland when this came by so I took a quick snap. I was amused to see that the pilot boat, out of water, needed pilots of its own to complete its journey.


Canon EOS D30, EF 28-135 f3.5-5.6 IS USM 28mm, f/5.6, 1/350sec, ISO-200

[xpatUSA]

Good one, Trev.

[Tronhard]

Thanks Ted!

[William W]

Lots of 'amussing" dissection in this shot - I love it!

This would keep me going for hours...

> The boat's steaming "Full Astern"
> the C220 is breaking heavily to avoid running up the bum of the Pilot Vehicle - typically not paying attention
> the fellow in the grey suit (Camera Left) is a Barrister, on his way to the High Court (out of shot, camera left, probably?)
> the fellows in the blue shirts (Camera Left) are the Barrister's old customers, they haven't learnt, it looks like a deal going down
> it's fantastic that you're out swinging that D30 in the real world - it's bloody crisp, isn't it? Next time I am in Auckland, I'll recognize you easily from the Camera that you're toting
> it's amazing you can zoom out to 21mm on that old lens

regards etc.

[mugge]

Good one, Trev
Cheers Ole

[Tronhard]

Thank Ole.

Bill, this has been a bit of revelation to me. I wrote about it in the post that garnered no response where the camera was the first to demonstrably beat film. The lens is not the world's finest but it actually does OK. I have actually tried it on the Canon EOS 5DSR - at 50MP and no AA filter, it is totally at the opposite end of the spectrum. It actually did OK! I was amazed. The 21 was obviously a typo, it was 28, but I was typing in the dark!

I bought another camera unit for spare parts and hope to keep this one going as long as possible.

As they say, many a good tune played on an old fiddle.

[Tronhard]

Lots of 'amusing" dissection in this shot - I love it!

This would keep me going for hours...

> The boat's steaming "Full Astern"
BRILLIANT!!
> the C220 is breaking heavily to avoid running up the bum of the Pilot Vehicle - typically not paying attention
ABSOLUTELY TRUE - Auckland drivers are awful.
> the fellow in the grey suit (Camera Left) is a Barrister, on his way to the High Court (out of shot, camera left, probably?)
CORRECT, the High Court is out of shot to the left
> the fellows in the blue shirts (Camera Left) are the Barrister's old customers, they haven't learnt, it looks like a deal going down -
ACTUALLY, he is a student glued to his phone, which is equally offensive
> It's fantastic that you're out swinging that D30 in the real world - it's bloody crisp, isn't it? Next time I am in Auckland, I'll recognize you easily from the Camera that you're toting
When you are in Auckland Send me a private message and I would love to meet you! I'll bring the camera with me.
> it's amazing you can zoom out to 21mm on that old lens
IT'S IN REASONABLE CONDITION, SOME DUST BUT OTHERWISE OK.

regards etc.

[Shadowman]

Nicely captured.

[William W]

. . . this [The D30] has been a bit of revelation to me. I wrote about it in the post that garnered no response where the camera was the first to demonstrably beat film. The lens is not the world's finest but it actually does OK. I have actually tried it on the Canon EOS 5DSR - at 50MP and no AA filter, it is totally at the opposite end of the spectrum. It actually did OK! I was amazed. The 21 was obviously a typo, it was 28, but I was typing in the dark!

I bought another camera unit for spare parts and hope to keep this one going as long as possible.

As they say, many a good tune played on an old fiddle.

I read that post (and the links) almost immediately it was published. Sorry I didn't respond. I have just "liked" it for the archival record.

I have an EF 35~135 F/4~5.6 USM. It is as heavy as ... Yet I quite like it. I also like my EF-S 18~55 F/3.5~5.6, it's the second variant, so it's very old ... both these lenses are very useful for teaching Students: the Students with the expensive wizz-bang Lenses which they believe will address all their technical (and artistic) issues.

Of course 21 was a typo. In another of my mind games, I was guessing that you meant to type "32" ... I was way off, thanks for telling me the answer.

best, Bill.

[xpatUSA]

... it's very old ... both these lenses are very useful for teaching Students: the Students with the expensive wizz-bang Lenses which they believe will address all their technical (and artistic) issues.

Excellent, Bill.

By coincidence, I recently bought a Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 35mm f/2.4 and it's a cracker on my m4/3 camera, much mo' better than the kit zoom.

[rpcrowe]

Being "over-gunned" is a term hunters use when shooting with a far larger caliber rifle than is necessary for the game sought after. There could be an equivalent expression (although I have never heard it referred to) regarding cameras...
Like a person thinking that a full-frame camera and an absolutely top-line lens is required when the only objective is to post on the Internet.
I did a lot of dog portraits with the oldie but goodie, Canon 10D with a 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens and they came out very well. I even successfully printed some up to 8x10 and 11x14 inch size. Here is an example of just one of these images...

BTW: This is not a Black and white image - it is a color shot...

[Tronhard]

I read that post (and the links) almost immediately it was published. Sorry I didn't respond. I have just "liked" it for the archival record.

I have an EF 35~135 F/4~5.6 USM. It is as heavy as ... Yet I quite like it. I also like my EF-S 18~55 F/3.5~5.6, it's the second variant, so it's very old ... both these lenses are very useful for teaching Students: the Students with the expensive wizz-bang Lenses which they believe will address all their technical (and artistic) issues.
best, Bill.

Hey Bill

No problem with your response to the post on the lens testing (thanks for the like though), none of the others who read it responded either I think. It kept bouncing for a while until it suffered a natural demise!

I invested a whole $100 & bought a film camera recently - the Canon EOS 300 - because I wanted to try some B&W film again. I will be using Ilford XP2 for convenience and so I don't have to have expensive processing costs, and I always liked XP1 when I shot film 20 years ago. HOWEVER, it came with the CANON EF 28-105 USM lens: no IS but what the heck. It's in pretty good condition too. I have it now on the Canon 300, but my tentative experiments with it on digital bodies have been surprisingly positive - go figure.

[Tronhard]

Richard I completely agree about the over-gunning comment. Although I cannot say I have kept my equipment inventory down to a practical minimum! Still, when I get different gear it is not because I believe the technology will release a hitherto suppressed photographic talent, I just love the tech and in fact some of my most recent purchases have been, to say the least, retro.

Still, when I look at websites like DPR and talk to some of the folks I shoot with, it is clear that there is a large population who buy into the hype of technical improvement to cameras with a gusto and super-critical eye. I find the constant niggling and nit-picking frankly banal. Ironically I never get to see much in the way of photos posted by them to back up their level of self-acclaimed expertise. I particularly smile when they are discussing the merits of a 35MP camera when they only post on social media.

[rpcrowe]

Richard I completely agree about the over-gunning comment. Although I cannot say I have kept my equipment inventory down to a practical minimum! Still, when I get different gear it is not because I believe the technology will release a hitherto suppressed photographic talent, I just love the tech and in fact some of my most recent purchases have been, to say the least, retro.

Still, when I look at websites like DPR and talk to some of the folks I shoot with, it is clear that there is a large population who buy into the hype of technical improvement to cameras with a gusto and super-critical eye. I find the constant niggling and nit-picking frankly banal. Ironically I never get to see much in the way of photos posted by them to back up their level of self-acclaimed expertise. I particularly smile when they are discussing the merits of a 35MP camera when they only post on social media.

There have been some revolutionary improvements in camera technology that have made my life easier as a photographer these are chronologically as they impacted me...

1. Built-in exposure meter
2. Built-in focusing
3. Single lens reflex with automatic aperture (focus wide open and the lens stops down to shoot - then reopens)
4. Auto exposure metering Aperture Priority - Shutter Priority - Programmed Auto
5. Auto focusing
6. Digital Single Lens Reflex
7. Digital mirrorless with Eye-AF

Somewhere in there I might mention electronic flash

[zen]

I love the shot, Trev. And different, and somehow- welcome, from the ones we typically see here-

Thanks for sharing your good eye with us.

Zen