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June 2022

27 Jun

Posted at 08:58h in Blog, Dick's Rant by [social_share]

A lot of people might think that the biggest lens they could ever get for their camera is the Sigma Super zoom - 200mm to 500mm f:2.8. That's the green zeppelin seen in the heading image. We got to see one in the shop a few years ago and it was certainly impressive. I was scared of it in case it rolled out of the case and onto my foot - I would be equally frightened of tripping over it due to the expense. Someone, somewhere needs one of these and if that someone is you, be prepared to search with your wallet. But you probably have a different scope to your needs - both physically and financially - and your upper limit lens may be quite a bit smaller. Many, many DSLR shooters have benefited from other Sigma lenses in the past, as well as the more expensive teles of the major body manufacturers. I even know an outdoor shooter who went through serial Sigmas, having dropped the original one off rocks at the seashore into the surf. Hooray for...

24 Jun

Posted at 10:29h in Blog, Dick's Rant by [social_share]

A friend of mine will forgive me for mentioning a visit to see his stash of photographic lenses this week - it has started me thinking that I can have too many lenses. I would not have thought this in my younger days - nor would I advocate it now for customers of Camera Electronic. I thought more lenses were necessary when I could not afford them, and now that they are available in abundance, it is the duty of every photographer to get more. Yet...

22 Jun

Posted at 09:16h in Blog, Dick's Rant by [social_share]

I was fortunate this last Monday to be present when the new Fujifilm flagship camera - the X-H2S - called into Camera Electronic under the command of Captain Williams. It is the first time in many years that he was able to make a personal visit to Western Australia, and he was most welcome. Before the evening's talk I was able to secure the services of a hand model - Duncan - to hold and operate the camera. That's him in the heading image - he seems familiar with photo equipment.  The new camera was equipped with a battery grip and new lens at the time and seemed to handle very well indeed. The Fujifilm company has had flagships cameras before - in recent years the X-T 2, 3, and 4 were successively the still cameras that were seen as the leaders, and at one stage of the game the X-H1 camera also signalled the intention of the firm to branch out a little. The new X-H2S body, however, significantly advances what they were trying to do  -so much so that...

20 Jun

Posted at 09:50h in Blog, Dick's Rant by [social_share]

If it doesn't work, there are a number of things you can do:   a. Take it back and complain. Before you do, consider that there may be a number of reasons it doesn't work - and quite a few of them can be to do with you, not it...

17 Jun

Posted at 10:37h in Blog, Dick's Rant by [social_share]

I used to do the bins at Camera Electronic every Thursday night before closing. Seven of 'em, and sometimes they were bursting with refuse. Retail trade generates a phenomenal amount of refuse - every delivery brings layers of cardboard protection that need to be removed form the premises to make room...

15 Jun

Posted at 09:22h in Blog, Dick's Rant by [social_share]

I don't mean how many times do you come into the shop and spend other people's money. We don't care. If it has Commonwealth Of Australia somewhere on the bill and you can see through the watermark, we'll take it. We have an equal-opportunity till. But how many times have you purchased a piece of equipment to satisfy someone else's desires? A client who demands a certain look or a club committee who awards only certain sorts of photos. How many times have you spent your money to please them? I confess that I used to do it. Someone said they needed a certain coverage or look and I beat my brains until I could figure out how to afford a lens that would do it. And I did it, and got paid, and then the fashion changed and no-one else ever wanted that style of shot. Wanna buy a fisheye lens, anyone? The only comfort in this was the fact that I could buy at a decent price and sell at a slightly lower one, and not drip too much blood in...

13 Jun

Posted at 11:07h in Blog, Dick's Rant by [social_share]

Pardon the equipment-less nature of this post - I'm stuck at home mid-way through a Covid isolation period. I'm not sick* and the victim isn't very sick herself ( thank goodness ) but we're playing the game right and sticking to the house. I can't even go to the studio and take toy airplane pictures. But it does give a period for reflection on recent events. a. I shot a dance show a couple of days before the iso started. Masked, as it happens, and I'm glad of that. And it went very well. The venue was the Freo Town Hall, but the wonderful mezzanine of the main hall was out of action - apparently the railing or something is unsafe, and it's locked up. One hopes that they can repair it - as a shooting position for stage shows it seemed ideal. The Victoria Hall just up the road also has a mezzanine and I can't praise it enough. But one thing about public halls - they can sometimes be very short on stage lighting. Not just short on lights, short on control....

10 Jun

Posted at 08:03h in Blog, Dick's Rant by [social_share]

Crossing borders and exploring new lands is not such an easy thing these days - even the mention of it can cause pain and dissension. And I'm pretty well staying put myself for now - but I am crossing boundaries every month and exploring new territory. I suspect that many readers can do so themselves, and in some cases from the comfy chair. The heading image is one side of a Fujifilm X-T2. I use the picture because there was a very good example of this camera at the Stirling Street shop for a very good price - also because I own one of these bodies and can speak about it comfortably. If your camera system is a different brand, just follow along - it is very likely there are similar features on yours that you can also investigate. A lot of it may be whole new territory. I should be ashamed to say that it was so for me. When I got the camera I knew what I wanted to do with it and where to find the main controls. When...

08 Jun

Posted at 08:37h in Blog, Dick's Rant by [social_share]

Or dig a hole and lower the ladder to ground level. Either way you eventually arrive at the top rung. Suppose you have a photo idea. A good idea, A great idea. A stonkingly frabdibulous idea that will make you the idol of millions and only requires you to buy a particular lens from Camera Electronic and take it out on a certain day for one shot. What do you do? You buy the lens, of course. At what may be an advantageous price. If the luck is with you, there is one sitting on the shelf. You go out, take the picture, and there you are; FRABDIBULOUS. Now suppose you have no idea. No clue at all. Your idea locker is entirely bare. What do you do? a. You repair to the book store and buy books about photography that are written by people who tell you they are successful photographers. If you buy the books, they are successful booksellers. You may be successful as well in overcoming your ennui, and if you do, all is well. You may not make new stuff, but...