The "New Gear/Willy Waving" thread

Columbo · 23 Dec 2013 at 12:06

Not much but a little early xmas pressie to myself in prep for some indoor family stuff over the holiday.

D.P. · 23 Dec 2013 at 16:14

peter said:
I have to give it back in two weeks, trying to think of places to photograph while I have it. Fantastic bit of kit wish I had it while in Yellowstone.

It was when I was in Yellowstone that I decided I had to save up for the lens.

You can only get so close to a grizzly!

peter · 23 Dec 2013 at 16:51

not a grizzly

but black bear less than 20 feet from our tent one morning

lumix camera as my kit was in the car . Bear ignored us until wardens showed up with guns and ushered it off the campsite.

Hyburnate · 23 Dec 2013 at 18:47

Wrong thread?

Columbo · 24 Dec 2013 at 09:00

Hyburnate said:
Wrong thread?

EXIF states a D300 as well.

freshdeniability · 24 Dec 2013 at 09:28

This thread is going to get busy starting this evening.

ElDude · 24 Dec 2013 at 14:18

James J said:
Ha they are lovely camera's. Have you tried one before? I was really surprised at how heavy they actually are due to the solid brass construction. Feels alien coming from a DSLR, but far more fun to use and vastly more rewarding. I wouldn't get an M8 due to the filters and then the crop factor. Save for an M9 mate but also for the leica glass thats also extremely pricey. The size of most of the glass though compared to both of those canon lenses you named is startlingly different, with the 35mm f2 lens that I have being about 3 times the size of the rear cap of those lenses in height (even less in width!)

There's no way I could justify buying a £6200 camera! The lenses are £1500+ too, which isn't in itself an issue, but I'd be looking at having to sell all my L lenses and I love them

nolimit · 24 Dec 2013 at 17:48

Arrived today with the 18mm f/2 lens!

Had a quick play and it feels sooooo good in the hand. The shutter release and the general operating of the camera feels natural.

Vertigo · 24 Dec 2013 at 18:41

Just taken delivery of a Canon 15-85. Used but mint condition and including a genuine hood for £350 which I thought was a good price.

This will be replacing my current 17-85, which is used as a walkabout lens on my second body when both the missus and I are out shooting together. I have a Canon 24-70 as my main walkabout and the 15-85 will serve as her walkabout when she's not borrowing one of my lenses.

Also figured it'd serve as a good all-rounder or holiday lens when I don't want to be lugging load of heavy gear around. I love the 24-70 but it's heavy and I'd feel the need to carry the 10-22 also for when it's not wide enough. The 15-85 makes far more sense as a single lens when I want to travel light

Shadowness · 25 Dec 2013 at 08:51

Remember your free lens nolimit!

nolimit · 25 Dec 2013 at 18:15

Yes, I have set reminder on my phone. You have to wait 2 weeks after purchase to send the claim.

Had a real good use today at my mums with all the family + kids going mad with opening presents. The AF is obviously not on par with DSLR, and focus can be off at times, however my keeper rate wasn't any lower than my 5Dc.

Sh4rkie · 26 Dec 2013 at 22:22

Picked up a LM from TP forums, very pleased with it

James J · 26 Dec 2013 at 22:28

nolimit said:
Yes, I have set reminder on my phone. You have to wait 2 weeks after purchase to send the claim.

Had a real good use today at my mums with all the family + kids going mad with opening presents. The AF is obviously not on par with DSLR, and focus can be off at times, however my keeper rate wasn't any lower than my 5Dc.

Use the focus peaking manual mode for focusing as its far more satisfying than just pointing and shooting.

Sh4rkie · 26 Dec 2013 at 22:40

And a few photography related presents from my missus and our kids

nolimit · 26 Dec 2013 at 23:40

James J said:
Use the focus peaking manual mode for focusing as its far more satisfying than just pointing and shooting.

The focus peak mode is only visible if your using the EVF or the back display. I prefer the OVF mode, and use the AF-L for focusing instead of the shutter.

Does M9 have the same focus peak feature?

DampCat · 27 Dec 2013 at 00:45

Not mine (yet) but this is what i've been playing with for the last few months for free. Due to the price of video kit I rarely get to post in here, but i wanted to show something off

(I have the FFRC on)

Kobi · 27 Dec 2013 at 14:59

Wouldnt even want to think about how much those cost. I'd be too scared to use it incase i broke it.

RIZZEE · 27 Dec 2013 at 15:21

Jealous! What type of work do you do?

James J · 27 Dec 2013 at 15:53

nolimit said:
The focus peak mode is only visible if your using the EVF or the back display. I prefer the OVF mode, and use the AF-L for focusing instead of the shutter.

Does M9 have the same focus peak feature?

Nope, it uses a split prism box in the viewfinder. Simply match up the two images (the one in the box to the rest of the image) and the shots in focus.

DampCat · 27 Dec 2013 at 16:35

Kobi said:
Wouldnt even want to think about how much those cost. I'd be too scared to use it incase i broke it.

The full kit there including the steadicam, remote video link, remote follow focus and the mattbox, filters, addons to the Epic.. i'm going to ballpark guess at around #50k (no pound signs on this laptop).

The price becomes less of an issue as you use this stuff. Its like anything in life, treat it with respect but it's pretty well made, they're hard to break (although i did break the thread on one of the expansion screws

)

RIZZEE said:
Jealous! What type of work do you do?

I was a Photographers Assistant out in the middle east and i'm making the move into film. ATM i do a lot of Cam Assist, Focus Pulling and PA on bigger stuff. Because of this, though, ive built up a good relationship with some production companies so i get to use the kit for free on my own stuff. I Cam Op as much as i can on student shorts and my own bits and pieces when i have time. It's a long, slow road into the film industry!