DPR Forum

Welcome to the Friendly Aisles!
DPRF is a photography forum with people from all over the world freely sharing their knowledge and love of photography. Everybody is welcome, from beginners to the experienced professional. Whether it is Medium Format, fullframe, APS-C, MFT or smaller formats. Digital or film. DPRF is a forum for everybody and for every format.
Enjoy this modern, easy to use software. Look also at our Reviews & Gallery!

Future of the Contax N

Marc,

First of all, I don't own TV nor do I watch it. Waste of time.

Also, I have never shot weddings (and I never said I did), I was talking about observation that I made.

I attended enough weddings, big parties, etc. around here in California and especially LA (lived there for quite long). And yes, I know what you mean when you say that a lot of shots are in ambient light. And you're right - in church during the ceremony you can't use a flash. But not all weddings involve church!

From what I observed, flash is used quite extensively, and there are many weddings that start relatively early and there is even a photoshoot session. At least that seems to be popular (or getting popular, not sure when the trend began) back in LA. Your personal experience may differ of course. And when I have seen final albums - I'd say about 60% of all shots are made outside, with available light and fill-in flash, either before sunset or at sunset. Sure, it's quite possible that the photographer made 500 shots, among which 100 were made outside with good lighting conditions, while the rest inside - but what counts is what makes it into album, isn't it?
happy.gif
By the way, to be absolutely honest, I have never seen a wedding album with shots made inside limo. I don't think too many people really like that idea.

And there is definitely a difference in style. I have seen wedding album of my friend from New Mexico. Wayyy different from SoCal.

And what's "PJ style" ?

Mike.
 
Mike,
I have a 105 micro nikkor converted to c/y mount. Combined with the macro function on the AX you get a 1:1.15 reproduction ratio, not bad for no extension rings and full coulping. It has a tamron adaptall permenently unit added to the rear of the lens. Works real nice, you don't lose ANY function. Still have DOF preview, still an automatic lens, that is using it in AE or manual mode. My ex&le has an extremely light and snappy aperture action. Perhaps it would work accurately in MM. I haven't tried it that way, nor do I use shutter priority as a matter of course and habit. I bought it second hand, perhaps some other members know who does the conversion. Not a do it yourself for me from the looks of it, unless you can drill and tap a few new mounting holes, perhaps have to add a shim or grind the adaptall to get the register correct. Seems a serious viable option for some focal lengths that are prohibitive in price from zeiss or just plain not available.
There's an exellent discourse on mounts and conversions at http://www.a1.nl/phomepag/markerink/mounts.htm
Joe w
 
Taylor,

> I'd love to have more 1.4 N primes but am afraid to ask how big and > heavy they would be. I can do a lot of available light photography > even with 2.8 primes, thanks to today's ISO400 films.

The image you get is substantially different from shooting at 1.4 vs 2.8. Also, two stops is a lot, and for me, 400 simply isn't enough...and I can't imagine trying to use it at 2.8. I shoot Fuji Press 800, and am typically at f1.4/2.

Regards,

Austin
 
Paul,

Thanks! When I read your reply, I had a good laugh. Because I thought "PJ style" refers to some rapper-photographer
happy.gif


Wojo,

Thanks for the info. That's interesting. But if I understand it correcly, due to similar register and size of mount it seems that Nikon-Contax C/Y mount adaptation is not trivial. It seems that the permanent change to your lens 105 micro nikkor is due to this issue.

Where did you buy your lens from? Private person or some shop? I wonder if there is a Nikon 135mm f/2.0 and 200mm f/4.0 available in such conversion...

Mike.
 
Mike, you say you don't shoot weddings, but presume to know all there is to know about them because you've been to some.

I've been to a few hospitals, but wouldn't think to tell a heart specialist his business.

And you seem to know what the clients will and won't like...without having had to deal with any. Fact is, for a majority of the last 15 or 20 weddings I've shot, the client's have requested limo interior shots...and that includes ones in S. Cal. where I have two bookings for next year already. in every case they made the album.

That you don't even know what a PJ (photo journalistic)
style is says it all. It is a very popular style for wedding photography right now, and has been for awhile. It's been around for some time, and was made vogue by Denis Reggie who shot the John Kennedy wedding.

You may know a lot about photography, and even be a great shooter...but it is clear that you are offering an informed sounding opinion on a subject you know little to nothing about.
 
> I just shot a wedding and one of the shots which made it to the album was photo taken by another photographer and it was a limo shot!

I shot about 350 shots of the bride, pre-wedding, wedding and reception. I used the Contax N1, 645, the ND and G2. You can see the results at www.outbackcoyote.com Just click on the "Wedding of Sgt. John Storm).

This was the first wedding I shot in 25 years! The biggest mistake I made was not taking enough time to re-arrange some of the background clutter during the group shots. We did not have much time, things were really rushed, and about half-way through I realized that the background clutter could be reduced.

Most of the shots with the G2 were available light, using ISO 1600. I also shot some shots during the wedding with a tripod using ISO 100 Fuji Superia Realia with the N1. (Thanks for those of you who recommended the film!).

When you look at the shots, you should be able to pick out the 645 shots based on the shape of the rectangle.

But ... I wanted to point out, that the Limo shot was important and it was actually taken by another photographer (Groom's Dad) and I asked him if we could put it in the album! I missed the shot ...I was just was in another part of the building taking some shots when they headed from the church to the reception in the limo!

Michael.
 
> Mike, you say you don't shoot weddings, but
> presume to know all there is to know about them
> because you've been to some.

You say so. Cause I didn't.

> I've been to a few hospitals, but wouldn't think
> to tell a heart specialist his business.

Totally different story. Nothing to even talk about.

> And you seem to know what the clients will and
> won't like...without having had to deal with
> any. Fact is, for a majority of the last 15 or
> 20 weddings I've shot, the client's have
> requested limo interior shots...and that
> includes ones in S. Cal. where I have two
> bookings for next year already. in every case
> they made the album.

The fact is, that I personally know these "clients", and I personally know that there were no limo shots in the albums. Tastes differ. That's why there are thousands of photographers in LA alone.

> That you don't even know what a PJ (photo
> journalistic) style is says it all. It is a very

That's low. PJ is a slang. I don't live to know every single slang expression out there - none of my business. And I know what photo journalistic style is.

> You may know a lot about photography, and even
> be a great shooter...but it is clear that you
> are offering an informed sounding opinion on a
> subject you know little to nothing about.

O, right. I forgot. Marc Williams is the only one that knows everything. Sorry, I won't bother His Majesty again.

Mike.
 
Michael Hahn,

> Most of the shots with the G2 were available

Heh, so much about usefullness of N1
happy.gif


> light, using ISO 1600. I also shot some shots

ISO1600? What film did you use? Or pushed some slower one?

> during the wedding with a tripod using ISO 100
> Fuji Superia Realia with the N1

Also try NPS and NPH if you didn't already. I personally think that when it comes to skin tones, NPS is the best negative film out there, but if you need ISO400 - NPH is not bad.

> But ... I wanted to point out, that the Limo
> shot was important and it was actually taken by
> another photographer (Groom's Dad) and I asked
> But ... I wanted to point out, that the Limo

Good. That makes it what, one photograph out of 350 that you took and far less that made it into album. How many made it into album? 50?

Besides, I don't see what is it about limo shots that makes it such an important issue. The whole conversation was about future of N-system and its suitability for professional use. I'm glad you found it useful, but many more people found it useless. Used and new market for it are best indicators.

At this point I believe this thread has lost its value, since it went way off topic.

It would be my last post into it.

Mike.
 
And here I was scratching my head trying to figure out what the hell "Pajama" style was like!

DJ
Finally not confused
 
Back
Top