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 p.1 #5 · Photo Forums...The Gladiators | |
benjikan wrote:
Well let me be quite frank. For all intent and purpose (and this is a generality) the photo forums are more akin to fans cheering for their favorite teams.
Generally speaking, exactly!  There seems to be sense of deep satisfaction by those who own the same expensive equipment as the guys who post test samples hopefully proving you were right to blow the next installment for the family car for that new L. Online CSI style forensics by the unofficial testers will prove that an L snapshot, void of creativity or content, enlarged to 300% will not only validate your purchase, but, if pressed, can also be used as an alternative eye-chart. It's even possible that someone might test compare enlargements from a security camera stationed at the end of a food aisle to show that your faithful, but bokeh(less), purple-fringing, third-party f3.5-f6.5 zoom really sucks. Oh, the horror.
Nobody in their right mind wants a underachieving lens on FM. You need to take action to find out the truth. The truth is discovered two ways: survey style, or with a versus post, although sometimes both can nail it for some. Thus based on a 14-12 consensus from some guys who are professional amateurs, you decide to get, say, a used 5D to compete with the big guns. As technology evolves (the next day) you begin to discover posts by pros and what nots who use equipment that you think will definitely trump yours. You've seen the blowups. Case closed. OK, so you post somewhere a few times "the 5DII is my next camera" just to put people on warning. It's an official declaration to all who might read that you aren't some slouch with just a 5D "classic"... you are going to buy something better, at some point... you hope. It should end there, but unfortunately a new FF camera is not enough, or some say. Enter the Alternative Gear Forum. There, you will discover the mystique of the marrying old German lenses to Japanese DSLRs via adaptors you have to track down on eBay. Once assembled, they are tested, and retested, compared, and maybe micro-adjusted.... it depends on how much time you have on breaks. If all approve of your findings you can declare yourself "king of the world", or at least think it. Ordinary L lenses? Are you kidding? Your next AG post: "I've got a Leica R with a born-on date of 1975 and a rare upside-down serial number, some say only two were made, that will blow your freakin Ls off the planet. Just asking, but is there something better?"
On FM it is always good to remember that if you are too proud of your 1DsIII someone is bound to announce that his $23K Leica S2 in on preorder.
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) I have recently been looking at/reading two books with images from Vogue and from Normal Parkinson. Quite frankly in terms of technical quality many could have been shot with an 18-55 kit lens - but they are still great images.