Philip Cuenco Offline Upload & Sell: Off
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p.2 #7 · My First shots with the S5 | |
James R wrote:
I'm considering one as a backup. The problem is that the images are very different from my D2Xs. Don't your clients want consistent colors? If so, duplicating the look and feel of either might require too much PP.
At this moment the price tag seems a little high. In computers, photography, and the stock market, timing is everything. Thinking it might be wise to wait until November and see if
Hi James,
After the shoot, I thought the same thing about different looks of images. But my clients never mentioned anything of it. They just looked if the image looked nice or not. I printed 12 of my best shots at 12x18 and delivered them. 1/2 from the S5... 1/2 from the D200. They never mentioned why they looked different, when it was obviously different. All they did was smile and say say wow. One girl said, wow they are nice colors, and asked why they looked different, and I explained one was from the Fuji. But they they didn't care. They were satisfied that they got images 7 hours after the party and didn't expect the prints.
I mean, the D200 is a great camera, and it's cheaper. If you need a fast shooting cam and want to save some bucks, definitely get it. But personally, I like being able to shoot 800-1600 ISO images with minimal noise and no need for flash. It really helps shooting the backstage this year as well as other events.
As far as waiting... I feel that people who can wait, usually wait because they don't really "need" an extra camera. My definition of need in the photo world is something that you have to have to increase your profits and help you deliver the best quality image possible, for the budget that is in your pocket.
I was looking around for local retailers who would start carrying the S5. One of the vendors was actually saying I am better off just getting a D200 and waiting until the end of the year for Nikon's new camera. Unfortunately, Fashion Week is Spring and Fall. Those are my 2 biggest weeks of the year. I can't wait for that and need to see what can service me asap.
The problem with me is that I waited too long to get the D200. I could have gotten it in Fall and shot Fall 07' with it, but decided to wait.... and I waited...
Then in December, someone tells me to wait until 1st quarter 07' "for the new Nikon! They have to be coming out with something new soon to respond to Canon's 5D and high ISO and full frame cameras right?! Wait Till' February!" ...wrong. NIKON now brings you.... D40!!!! Now I look back, and if I didn't get that D200, I would have been screwed out of 5 jobs because I would not have had a camera that was at least 10mp due to waiting. The D2X is great. I love it. I would easily use one, but for the price I bought more lenses, batteries, and high speed compact flashes, RAM, and hard drive space.
Before I dished out the cash for the D200, I was a pinch close to getting a Mark II. But I couldn't get over the fact that I'd have to buy new glass. I also had a huge event being offered to me later that night which required 500+ images at 10mp quality. So I took the job, then went down and bought the D200 the next day because that's all I could afford. I just couldn't wait.
One thing about my D200 also... I rented a 70-200 VR 2.8 lens for my first time using it. I shot one fashion show with it... and on the second... my D200 croaked. The battery was at 90% from the first show. Next thing I know, the battery indicator shows dead and I couldn't take a pic. So I quickly switched out the battery for a new one... and same thing. Camera showed the battery as dead. So I wound up shooting the entire show with the S5.
Now, had I waited on a backup camera.... lol. If I didn't have the S5 there, I would have been shooting with the D70.... which in turn, would have delivered 6mp images... and would have in turn made a very unhappy client.
fishfilm wrote:
Hey Philip,
I really appreciate (as do many others here I'm sure) the time and trouble you take to post relevant and worthwhile, not to mention entertaining, images here from the two cams.
Hey thanks fish. Much appreciated. I mean, I just wanted to pretty much show real-world scenario of what I have to go through. When I was searching for my first DSLR, I couldn't find anyone who could show actual WORK. It was... hey.. check out this cave. Now check out this cave at 800 iSO. now check it out at 200 ISO. OK. Now check out the color chart. And compare the Color chart in RAW. Then 20 people argue about it and talk about sensor sensitivity and skin tone etc etc.. that doesn't help me make or save money.
Reviews like that stuff is cool to see and read up on. I am glad someone is doing it. But that doesn't help me. What helps me is someone showing how a camera can effectively be used for work the type of work you do, and letting their images do the talking. I have a friend who shot with a 3 megapixel pentax DSLR until 2 years ago, who still shoots amazing shots and has had his stuff blown up over 5 foot posters.
My clients don't give a flying 0@% about that. All they care about is the SAME thing... over and over and time again...
That ONE thing is:
1) Content.
(did you get the shot of so-and-so? Did you get a shot of this?) Content is always the #1 deciding factor for my clients. Did you get a picture of the billboard of the sponsor outside the hotel? Did you get a picture of the sign for the event? Did you get a picture of the crowd walking in?
Then they ask...
2) Can you get us the images before 10am the next morning or sooner? (Fashion is very fast paced. If you don't get your images out in 1-3 days, they're pretty much no good)
(But if they are hiring me, usually they already know they can do that)
3) Can they print it? And can they make it big? And do they have at least a variety of images to choose from? (usually big means over 3 feet)
All they seem to care about is if it is in focus and if the image is bright enough...
They don't sit there analyzing the skin tone of it being too pink or yellow. Or the dress catching yellow highlights. All they care about is if an image is in focus, you can tell who the person is, and they aren't purple..... But then again, this is the type of stuff I have to deal with. I am sure not everyone has that dilemma and they have different client needs. However, this is the stuff that pays my bills. Not some beautiful shot of a tree with the sun rising in the distance.
Someone emailed me about the pictures about the color difference and how they can look similar. I am not denying it can. I'm sure it's more than capable of doing it (but I am not going to sit there fiddling with the menu buttons and image control until it looks perfect ).
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