Tell me about your camera hardware...

[Lachesis00]

Because I am a photo/camera geek... I was curious (and I thought it might help other users) and I love hearing about others equiptment/experiences.

What kind of camera do you own?

What do you like/dislike about the camera/camera line?

Are you a amateur? Hobbiest? Semi pro? Pro?

What types of photos do you take?

What types/size of memory cards/film do you use?

What types of lens do you use if your a {D}SLR user?

Do you use full auto, some manual or manual settings?

What would you change or like for your next purchase with in your budget?

What would you like to learn how to do (this can be with the camera or maybe a photo program)?

 

[Magix]

What kind of camera do you own? Canon 10D, Canon 7E (as a backup to the digital), Canon A80 for less serious stuff

What do you like/dislike about the camera/camera line? I love the ease of use of Canon cameras. The images are stellar!

Are you a amateur? Hobbiest? Semi pro? Pro? I'd call myself a Semi-Pro, although I am credentialed through a particular magazine and I've been published a number of times in a few different magazines.

What types of photos do you take? Motorsport personality shots (Champ Car World Series), also tall ships and their crews

What types/size of memory cards/film do you use? 1Gig microdrives (4 of them)

What types of lens do you use if your a {D}SLR user? Canon 75-300mm is my primary lens. I also have a short zoom, but I don't remember what mm it is!

Do you use full auto, some manual or manual settings? Some manual - mostly the "P" setting for full auto with my EX flash and the "Tv" shutter-speed control.

What would you change or like for your next purchase with in your budget? I'd like to afford the D1s (or whatever the current model is!) and a lighter laptop for downloading when traveling to races!!

What would you like to learn how to do (this can be with the camera or maybe a photo program)? I'd like to learn to really use Photoshop Elements to correct my photos, so they look their absolute best. I'm very limited in what I know how to do currently.

 

[WillCAD]

What kind of camera do you own?
Canon Digital Rebel (in the professional-looking black finish instead of the more pedestrian silver)

What do you like/dislike about the camera/camera line?
Works with a lot of lenses and accessories, has wider ISO lattitude than my previous digicam, was extremely easy to learn with my experience with Canon SLRs

Are you a amateur? Hobbiest? Semi pro? Pro?
Hobbiest

What types of photos do you take?
I shoot more at WDW in a week than I do everywhere else the whole rest of the year

What types/size of memory cards/film do you use?
I currently have 2 CF cards of 128mb each

What types of lens do you use if your a {D}SLR user?
I have the kit lens that came with the DigiReb (Canon 18-55mm), and I have a Sigma 28-200mm lens that I bought for my film Rebel a few years ago

Do you use full auto, some manual or manual settings?
I shoot mainly in Program mode, which is auto with various overrides available. Sometimes I also use Aperture Priority or Shutter Speed Priority modes for special effects.

What would you change or like for your next purchase with in your budget?
I want to get one of those new Sigma 18-135mm digital lenses, which give a DSLR the effective zoom of a regular 35mm camera with a 28-200mm lens.

What would you like to learn how to do (this can be with the camera or maybe a photo program)?
I don't know, but I seem to learn something new about photography on each WDW trip, so I'm sure I'll pick up something new pretty soon.

 

[BeautyLLM]

What kind of camera do you own? Canon 20D Digital/SLR and Canon G2

What do you like/dislike about the camera/camera line? I am sort of a creature of habit, having used Canons since my AE1 Program back in the olden days. They are easy to learn, and I have found Canon service to be reliable when needed (I know alot of people would disagree with that)

Are you a amateur? Hobbiest? Semi pro? Pro? I am a serious amateur.

What types of photos do you take? I take nature shots, cruise ships, beach/Florida shots, WDW, family snaps

What types/size of memory cards/film do you use? 2 GB microdrives

What types of lens do you use if your a {D}SLR user? best lens is Canon 100-400L IS, walkabout lens is older 28-105

Do you use full auto, some manual or manual settings? I am finally learning manual, in a pinch I use program mode

What would you change or like for your next purchase with in your budget? I think next purchase is Canon 24-104L IS (if I can sell some older equipment and maybe a few pins )

What would you like to learn how to do (this can be with the camera or maybe a photo program)? I would love for manual exposure to be second nature for me. Would also like to be more comfortable with Photoshop Elements 3.

 

[Geoff_M]

What kind of camera do you own?
Nikon D2h, D1, D70. Nikon Coolpix 950 and 4300.

What do you like/dislike about the camera/camera line?
Great images, fantastic glass, great ergonomics.

Are you a amateur? Hobbiest? Semi pro? Pro?
Semi-pro.

What types of photos do you take?
Sports photography with some even photography and an occasion wedding.

What types/size of memory cards/film do you use?
Lexar CF, 512mb

What types of lens do you use if your a {D}SLR user?
Too many... But "bread-n-butter" lenses are: 50mm f1.4, 18-70mm, 80-200mm f2.8, 300mm f4.

Do you use full auto, some manual or manual settings?
Usually use aperture priority or manual.

What would you change or like for your next purchase with in your budget?
D200 or D2x

What would you like to learn how to do (this can be with the camera or maybe a photo program)?
Wire a remote rafter cam, or hockey goal cam, or soccer goal cam. Either that or learn how to use a set of Alien Bees out in the field.

 

[Anewman]

What kind of camera do you own? two Canon 20Ds

What do you like/dislike about the camera/camera line? It is equipment, no loyalty or disloyalty involved. They do their job, But I take the pictures.

Are you a amateur? Hobbiest? Semi pro? Pro? I get paid, but I do enjoy it.

What types of photos do you take? Mostly sports, but I prefer taking portraits and candids.

What types/size of memory cards/film do you use? Fast 2gb cards for sports, 4gb MICRODRIVES for everything else.

What types of lens do you use if your a {D}SLR user? Fast primes for indoor/night sports and mostly 70-200 2.8 for all other sports. Primes for portraits.

Do you use full auto, some manual or manual settings? All Manual

What would you change or like for your next purchase with in your budget?
would not change a thing, When I purchased the 20D it had what I needed at the price I was willing to pay. If purchased today, it may not be the camera I choose.

What would you like to learn how to do (this can be with the camera or maybe a photo program)?Learn how to deal with subjects better, I am not very patient when dealing with groups. No matter how much you tell them not to move or look away, you always have to take 10 snaps just to get everyones eyeballs.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

What kind of camera do you own?

Olympus E1 DSLR, Fuji Finepix 4900, Olympus OM1

What do you like/dislike about the camera/camera line?
Superb ergonomics of the E1, the feel of solid manufacturing, the weather proofing, the Four thirds lenses, the picture quality, the battery time, overall, the best camera around.

Are you a amateur? Hobbiest? Semi pro? Pro?

Amatuer

What types of photos do you take?

Mostly in RAW format, family photos, archtecture, landscapes then convert in Photoshop to JPG and burn both formats to DVD's

What types/size of memory cards/film do you use?
2GB CF

What types of lens do you use if your a {D}SLR user?

Oly four thirds 50-200, 14-54

Do you use full auto, some manual or manual settings?
A bit of all

What would you change or like for your next purchase with in your budget?
Next generation E1

What would you like to learn how to do (this can be with the camera or maybe a photo program)?
make greater use of Photoshop CS2 than I do

 

[Goofyish]

What kind of camera do you own?
Canon G1, Olympus C-765

What do you like/dislike about the camera/camera line?
Picture and build quality of the Canon G1 is really good for an 'old' camera. The shutter lag and write speeds ar a bit slow though.
The Olympus could do with an image stabaliser to get the best out of the 10x optical zoom. Picture quality and colours are good though. One anoying thing is it refuses to stay on SHQ mode, always defaults to HQ mode when you switch it on

Are you a amateur? Hobbiest? Semi pro? Pro?
Amateur
Although I used to do some portrait photography when I had my EOS1n kit.

What types of photos do you take?
Mostly family photos, landscapes, photos at work of the control system cabinets design.

What types/size of memory cards/film do you use?
I have about 4 128Mb CF type I cards for the Canon, 2x512Mb, and 1x1Gb Xd cards for the Olympus.

What types of lens do you use if your a {D}SLR user?
n/a

Do you use full auto, some manual or manual settings?
A bit of all. If I'm doing landscapes then aperture priority mode to control depth of field.

What would you change or like for your next purchase with in your budget?
Canon G6

What would you like to learn how to do (this can be with the camera or maybe a photo program)?
Learn more about Photoshop CS2.

 

[Celluloidgal]

What kind of camera do you own?
Nikon N55 SLR

What do you like/dislike about the camera/camera line?
Haven't had a problem yet (Have had it about 3 years) and what's more to like than that!

Are you a amateur? Hobbiest? Semi pro? Pro?
amateur who aspires more

What types of photos do you take?
Whatever tickles my fancy. Friends/Family/Places/Things. I use photography as art sometimes, so it really depends on the point I'm trying to get across, etc.

What types/size of memory cards/film do you use? I prefer Kodak. I like the gold tones better than the green of Fuji.

Do you use full auto, some manual or manual settings?
Mostly auto, but every once in a while I branch out and experiment.

What would you change or like for your next purchase with in your budget?
Zoom. I need a Zoom.

What would you like to learn how to do (this can be with the camera or maybe a photo program)?]I really need to learn how to do more manually so I can get the picture I see in my head actually on to the film!
Adobe Photoshop 7.0 for letting my creative side out.

 

[WeLubDeeDub]

What kind of camera do you own?
Canon Digital Rebel XT, Sony DSC-W1

What do you like/dislike about the camera/camera line?
Canon: Love it. Period. Sony: Love the movie mode, the low noise in ISO400, and the fact that you can fit it in your pocket.
Canon: Don't like the black body material on the XT. Fingernails leave white marks. Sony: Don't like the slow lens and lag. (Of course.)

Are you a amateur? Hobbiest? Semi pro? Pro?
Serious hobbiest. (Is that an oxymoron?)

What types of photos do you take?
DD, family, friends, automobiles, nightclubs, scenery, pretty much whatever.

What types/size of memory cards/film do you use?
256mb and 512mb, in the PNY, Lexar, and Memory Stick Pro varieties.

What types of lens do you use if your a {D}SLR user?
Sigma 18-125 3.5-5.6. This lens has front focus problems.

Do you use full auto, some manual or manual settings?
Mainly Program mode, and Aperture and Shutter priority modes when I need to.

What would you change or like for your next purchase with in your budget?
Looking at Canon's EF-S 17-85 f4-5.6 IS lens so that I can ditch the Sigma. Thought about the 28-105 3.5-4.5, but I really need the width, and I don't think I want to carry more than 2 lenses.

What would you like to learn how to do (this can be with the camera or maybe a photo program)?
I really would love to get more knowledgeable with post processing in Photoshop, and to get better overall with the camera.

 

[Charade]

What kind of camera do you own?

Nikon D70, Olympus 2100 (retired), Nikon 6006 flim (retired), Ricoh XRP (retired)

What do you like/dislike about the camera/camera line?

The only thing I dislike is the internal flash. It's really not meant to be
the primary flash. I bought the SB-800 which is the cats meow!!

Are you a amateur? Hobbiest? Semi pro? Pro?

Hobbiest/Amateur

What types of photos do you take?

A little of everything. Pets,vacations,people,landscape.

What types/size of memory cards/film do you use?

two 512mb and one 1 GB compact flash for the Nikon and a handful of different sizes for the Olympus (it's pretty much retired)

What types of lens do you use if your a {D}SLR user?

18-70 Nikon kit lens, 70-300 Sigma (APO DG version), Nikon 50mm 1.8, Nikon 85mm 1.8, Nikon 24 2.8

Do you use full auto, some manual or manual settings?
A mix of both but not "P" mode.

What would you change or like for your next purchase with in your budget?
Not much but the new D200 looks really really nice! Would really like to get a long telephoto with image stabilization (I miss it because my Oly2100 had it). Nikon is coming out with an 18-200 zoom with IS. Looks nice.

What would you like to learn how to do (this can be with the camera or maybe a photo program)?

Would just like to spend more time taking pictures. You can really only learn from doing.

 

[AFanofGoofy]

What kind of camera do you own?
Canon Rebel XT, S30

What do you like/dislike about the camera/camera line?


Are you a amateur? Hobbiest? Semi pro? Pro?
Hobbiest

What types of photos do you take?
Any that I can; family, portraits, vacations, landscape, animals

What types/size of memory cards/film do you use?
All CF; 128M, 256M, and 512M cards

What types of lens do you use if your a {D}SLR user?
kit lens 18-55mm and recently purchased a 70-200/4L.

Do you use full auto, some manual or manual settings?
mostly manual settings, some A and S settings.

What would you change or like for your next purchase with in your budget?
Purchase more lenses, some primes for better portraits

What would you like to learn how to do (this can be with the camera or maybe a photo program)?
Get better at taking pictures so less work in post processing.

 

[We-Luv-Disney]

What kind of camera do you own?
Canon 20D and Sony DSC-V1

What do you like/dislike about the camera/camera line?
TheCost$$$$

Are you a amateur? Hobbiest? Semi pro? Pro?
amateur

What types of photos do you take?
macro, landscape, portraits, infrared, lots of my family and WDW!

What types/size of memory cards/film do you use?
3-512 CF, 2-256 CF, 1-2GB CF, 1-512 memory stick

What types of lens do you use if your a {D}SLR user?
all canon lens 50mm 1.8, 100mm 2.8, 17-40mm F4, 70-200 F4, 85mm 1.8, 1.4TC, lots of filters!

Do you use full auto, some manual or manual settings?
i like manual, shutter priority and aperture priority modes.

What would you change or like for your next purchase with in your budget?
I want a fast telephoto prime lens, maybe the canon 400mm 5.6, if the wife lets me get it!

What would you like to learn how to do (this can be with the camera or maybe a photo program)?
I would like learn more about flash photography.

 

[Muushka]

What kind of camera do you own?
Nikon D70S, Kodak DC4800, Honeywell Pentax Spotmatic (very old SLR/35mm)

What do you like/dislike about the camera/camera line?
Really liked the DC4800. Never used auto settings on it, desired DSLR, got the Nikon. Love the images, but it is so big!

Are you a amateur? Hobbiest? Semi pro? Pro?
amateur/hobbiest

What types of photos do you take?
Landscapes, pets, WDW landscapes and structures, children (other peoples)

What types/size of memory cards/film do you use?
1 GB, 512 MB, and several smaller CF

What types of lens do you use if your a {D}SLR user?
18-70 Nikon kit lens and planning on getting the Nikon 50mm 1.8

Do you use full auto, some manual or manual settings?
I am still learning the Nikon so sometimes I panic and run home to Auto, but for the most part I use the manual modes

What would you change or like for your next purchase with in your budget?
Hey, I had the same 35mm for 32 years. I think I will be happy for a long time.

What would you like to learn how to do (this can be with the camera or maybe a photo program)?
I am looking forward to seeing exactly what this camera can do. We made our point and shoot do some really great things, so this is going to be fun.
I also want to learn more about Photoshop Elements.

What a fun thread!

 

[JimVL]

What kind of camera do you own?
A Konica-Minolta 7D digital and a 35mm Minolta Maxxum 7. I also have a Minolta A1 digital and a Minolta Maxxum 5, and a few other point and shoot digital and print cameras. (I sometimes think I might have GAS.) I'm very excited about the 7D; I just got it a few days ago; I waited a year for the price to drop. I've been reading the manual and taken a few test shots, but I'm waiting until next Sunday at WDW to use the camera for the real first time. I like everything so far.

What do you like/dislike about the camera/camera line?
So far I like the camera, besides being very intuitive on it's own, it is basically the digital version of the Maxxum 7 that I know so well. I also like that it's anti-shake feature is in the camera body; this turns all my lenses into anti-shake lenses at one time cost. I like Minolta because I think you get a lot of value for your money, but I could easily be answeing this question with Nikon or Canon answers. I bought my first SLR at an Army PX; The Minolta was on sale; if a Nikon or Canon was on sale I might be writing about them.

Are you a amateur? Hobbiest? Semi pro? Pro?
Hobbiest.

What types of photos do you take?
Landscapes, seascapes, lakescapes, riverscapes and otherscapes. I bet you didn't know there were so many scapes. Oddly, I don't have a picture of a scapegoat. Portraits and candids.

What types/size of memory cards/film do you use?
I have a few CFs for the Minoltas and a SD for my one Nikon. I have a few 512 MB cards. I need to decide if I want to buy a 1 GB card for the 7D before I go to WDW . For the print cameras I use ISO 100 and 400 Fujifilm.

What types of lens do you use if your a {D}SLR user?
I'm using my Minolta Maxuum and Tokina 35mm lenses with the 7D. I didn't know there would be an aspect change between digital and 35mm. My 100 to 300 hundred just became a 150 to 450 mm lens; I like that, but my wide angle lenses aren't as wide any more.

Do you use full auto, some manual or manual settings?
I use full auto once and a while, programmable auto a lot, and apperature priority a lot.

What would you change or like for your next purchase with in your budget?
I don't see a major purchase soon.

What would you like to learn how to do (this can be with the camera or maybe a photo program)?
Paint Shop Pro.

 

[pmcf]

What kind of camera do you own?
Canon Rebel (300D as it is in the UK)

What do you like/dislike about the camera/camera line?
It decides to change to continuous focus mode (action) if you stay with the shutter depressed for more than a couple of seconds - really irritating for wildlife shots. That said, it feels a lovely camera to use and takes great shots

Are you a amateur? Hobbiest? Semi pro? Pro?
Serious Amateur

What types of photos do you take?
Any, but most comfortable with landscapes and wildlife

What types/size of memory cards/film do you use?
512Mb, 1Gb (changing to 1Gb, it's so much easier not worrying so much about capacity and I can shoot best quality / RAW without worrying)

What types of lens do you use if your a {D}SLR user?
I now just have a Sigma 18-125, 70-300 and a Canon 2.5 Macro (sold the others as I wasn't using them and it helps to finance my hobby!)

Do you use full auto, some manual or manual settings?
General shots, on Program but always shift it from there and play with the ISO a lot. For action, Shutter priority. For anything unusual or to slow me down and make me think more about what I am shooting, manual

What would you change or like for your next purchase with in your budget?
I seriously thought about the 20D but am waiting to see how Canon develop the range. Currently I would prefer the 5D as I would love to go back to focal lengths meaning what they say they are!!! (and it takes seriously good pictures) but next pruchase will probably be to trade Sigmas for Canon IS lenses (especially for longer focal lengths)

What would you like to learn how to do (this can be with the camera or maybe a photo program)?
To take decent pictures of people; mostly I take candids and really think I should work on that! I also use Photoshop CS and could do with learning more post-production techniques.

p.s. excellent thread!!!

 

[Muushka]

Oddly, I don't have a picture of a scapegoat

 

[glass slipper girl]

JimVL, I just got a 7D as well. I will be anxiously awaiting your photos from WDW to see how it did! I've been playing around with it some and am pretty happy with it too. Can't wait to take it to WDW in 3 weeks now too. On my "must do before trip" list is to buy a wide angle lens. I have the 28-100 that came with it, a 28-200 and a 50mm prime so no wide angle right now. I know I will want that on our trip.

 

[HarambeGuy]

What kind of camera do you own?
**Canon Powershot A75

What do you like/dislike about the camera/camera line?
**Like the panorama mode - made a virtual 360 image of the POFQ courtyard that turned out nicely.

Are you a amateur? Hobbiest? Semi pro? Pro?
**Total amateur but interested and learning. Maybe hobbiest someday if I get rich

What types of photos do you take?
**Mostly family occasions and vacations

What types/size of memory cards/film do you use?
**512 Mb Compact Flash

What types of lens do you use if your a {D}SLR user?

Do you use full auto, some manual or manual settings?
**Mostly full auto but gaining experience and having success with manual options

What would you change or like for your next purchase with in your budget?
**Get more zoom (have 3x optical)

What would you like to learn how to do (this can be with the camera or maybe a photo program)?
**EVERYTHING!

 

[glass slipper girl]

I sort of answered this but here is the full story...

What kind of camera do you own?
Konika/Minolta 7D

What do you like/dislike about the camera/camera line?
It's still new so I'm still learning it. I like that it has many of the settings on dials rather than menus so I can adjust them w/ the camera @ eye level if I want. Liking the "antishake" feature too. I can shoot in lower light w/o a flash and still get nice shots.

Are you a amateur? Hobbiest? Semi pro? Pro?
I'd say hobbiest.

What types of photos do you take?
family photos mostly, vacation photos, occasional landscape sort of stuff. I've started doing portraits of the kids as well as the shapshot sort of stuff.

What types/size of memory cards/film do you use?
I have 1 1GB Microdrive and 3 1 GB flash cards

What types of lens do you use if your a {D}SLR user?
I have the 28-100 that came with the camera, a 28-200 and a 50 MM prime

Do you use full auto, some manual or manual settings?
definitely not full auto, occasionally manual but typically when I'm taking pics of my kids they aren't always patient enough for me to take one, analyze it and try a couple of other options since I'm still learning manual. I do try to use manual when I'm shooting a more cooperative subject. I tend to use shutter priority and set the aperture myself so I can use that to help adjust my depth of field. Occasionally program mode if I'm in a hurry or if I am having a tough time getting what I want...but not full auto.

What would you change or like for your next purchase with in your budget?
I don't know yet what I would change since the camera is so new but I am definitely going to buy a wide angle and a better tripod before our trip. I have 2 tripods and 1 is too bulky to travel with and the other is too flimsy and not very stable.

What would you like to learn how to do (this can be with the camera or maybe a photo program)?
Continue learning manual and continue learning photoshop.