What photography related item did you ALMOST buy this week?

[melanie.ylang]

Okay, so I didn't almost buy it, but I was curious enough to want to know what it is. It appeared to go in a hot shoe. Do you know what it is?

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[Panolyman]

I'll hazard a guess that it's a self-contained rangefinder, enabling you to calculate distances to objects to be photographed.
On an old manual camera, you can then set the distance recorded on the camera lens.

 

[jimr.pdx]

Just outbid recently on another copy of the gx85. Would have been nice, but more are Out There!

 

[Susanne]

I was about to get this light tent/studio kit, but forgot about it! It could be a nice tool for the winter and for my whiskey photos so perhaps I'll buy it next week. Or tonight.

https://www.photospecialist.ie/bresser-br-2118b-fotostudio-xl-60x60x60cm

 

[John King]

I was about to get this light tent/studio kit, but forgot about it! It could be a nice tool for the winter and for my whiskey photos so perhaps I'll buy it next week. Or tonight.

https://www.photospecialist.ie/bresser-br-2118b-fotostudio-xl-60x60x60cm

I made my own, Susanne, with some help from some Chinese strobes. A light tent makes photographing some things possible that are otherwise unbelievably difficult.

https://www.canopuscomputing.com.au/zen2/Photography/studio-lights/light-tent/

and

https://www.canopuscomputing.com.au/zen2/Photography/studio-lights/

 

[John King]

@Susanne I would also highly recommend "Light Science and Magic" (any edition) by Biver, Fuqua et.al.

This book taught me more about light and lighting, both studio and normal, in six weeks than I learned from 50+ years of practical experience.

To any photographer, it's worth its weight in gold.

 

[Bushboy]

I need that book John.

 

[Susanne]

I made my own, Susanne, with some help from some Chinese strobes. A light tent makes photographing some things possible that are otherwise unbelievably difficult.

I made my own several years ago but this kit is much better, plus easily foldable for when I don't use it. The house I live in now doesn't have the space for having a studio up all the time.

@Susanne I would also highly recommend "Light Science and Magic" (any edition) by Biver, Fuqua et.al.

This book taught me more about light and lighting, both studio and normal, in six weeks than I learned from 50+ years of practical experience.

To any photographer, it's worth its weight in gold.

Definitely sounds interesting! But is it written for beginners? I've tried reading lots of into online about studio lighting etc but everything seems to be written for people who already know everything. There's lots of tech lingo involved in studio setups and I usually can't follow the talk since the lingo is never explained.

 

[John King]

I made my own several years ago but this kit is much better, plus easily foldable for when I don't use it. The house I live in now doesn't have the space for having a studio up all the time.

I understand.

Definitely sounds interesting! But is it written for beginners? I've tried reading lots of into online about studio lighting etc but everything seems to be written for people who already know everything. There's lots of tech lingo involved in studio setups and I usually can't follow the talk since the lingo is never explained.

Yes. It is meant to be a straightforward introduction to light and lighting. Heavily illustrated with diagrams and example resulting images.

I would recommend this book for an absolute beginner without the slightest hesitation.

 

[Holoholo55]

I almost bought a Leofoto LH-40 ballhead. Seems like a good one, but I just replaced a smaller Sirui G-10X ballhead with a Benro HD-1A panhead. Why? Because the panhead had more controllable and precise movement, especially when I was trying to take moon or night sky photos. The ballhead was just too finicky and unpredictable to move. I was almost swayed by enthusiastic reviews until I stepped back and thought "why am I looking for another ballhead?" Doh...

 

[Susanne]

I understand.

Yes. It is meant to be a straightforward introduction to light and lighting. Heavily illustrated with diagrams and example resulting images.

I would recommend this book for an absolute beginner without the slightest hesitation.

Thanks, John! I'll look for it. Sounds like something I'd enjoy and that would be very useful.

 

[DeeJayK]

I almost bought (still might buy ) a bin full of random old camera equipment posted on a local classified. Looks to include a Nikon Coolpix superzoom, a Lytro Illum, some bags, a cheap tripod or two, some random filters, etc.

I absolutely don't need any of this crap, and yet here I find myself writing about it. I blame all of you degenerates on here with your posts that make long since deprecated and abandoned gear seem somehow desirable.

You know who you are.

- K

 

[Susanne]

I almost bought (still might buy ) a bin full of random old camera equipment posted on a local classified. Looks to include a Nikon Coolpix superzoom, a Lytro Illum, some bags, a cheap tripod or two, some random filters, etc.

I absolutely don't need any of this crap, and yet here I find myself writing about it. I blame all of you degenerates on here with your posts that make long since deprecated and abandoned gear seem somehow desirable.

You know who you are.

- K

That sounds like a lot of fun, though.

 

[melanie.ylang]

I almost bought (still might buy ) a bin full of random old camera equipment posted on a local classified. Looks to include a Nikon Coolpix superzoom, a Lytro Illum, some bags, a cheap tripod or two, some random filters, etc.

I absolutely don't need any of this crap, and yet here I find myself writing about it. I blame all of you degenerates on here with your posts that make long since deprecated and abandoned gear seem somehow desirable.

You know who you are.

- K

I'd be tempted by the Lytro, but I bet it'd be really frustrating in use!

 

[DeeJayK]

I'd be tempted by the Lytro, but I bet it'd be really frustrating in use!

Same. It's the Lytro that caught my attention. Although every review says that is underwhelming and kinda tricky to use, I'd still like to see it for myself.

I notice the new iPhone 13 camera offers some Lytro-like post capture focus manipulation features. That would probably be a less annoying way to get a taste.

- K

 

[melanie.ylang]

Same. It's the Lytro that caught my attention. Although every review says that is underwhelming and kinda tricky to use, I'd still like to see it for myself.

I notice the new iPhone 13 camera offers some Lytro-like post capture focus manipulation features. That would probably be a less annoying way to get a taste.

- K

I thought the same when I got my first Lumix body with post-focus, but only dabbled with it once or twice. Let us know how it goes if you get it!

 

[JensM]

Oogling the LX3, 5 and 7s for the moment, not that I need any of them, but I am curious, and I have the LVF for the LX5, or actually two of them, one NOS that I got for the GF1 and one that came with the GF1...

 

[Holoholo55]

I almost bought a Leofoto LH-40 ballhead. Seems like a good one, but I just replaced a smaller Sirui G-10X ballhead with a Benro HD-1A panhead. Why? Because the panhead had more controllable and precise movement, especially when I was trying to take moon or night sky photos. The ballhead was just too finicky and unpredictable to move. I was almost swayed by enthusiastic reviews until I stepped back and thought "why am I looking for another ballhead?" Doh...

I also decided NOT to buy a new tripod. I have two travel tripods and one big one. The travel tripods aren't terribly sturdy when the center columns are extended, which is necessary for eye level use. The big guy is too big and heavy (almost 8 lb with head and leveling base) to carry around. It mostly stays at home. I wanted a midweight one that still got up high enough to avoid raising the center column, was sturdy, but lighter, and easier to carry around. Found some candidates, but resisted clicking the mouse. I'll save my money for an 8-25 Pro.

 

[Brownie]

A lens for a camera I don't own. I've made up my mind on this lens, should I end up getting the body I'm waiting to be released. Found a good deal on the lens used and almost pulled the trigger, then slapped myself in the face and woke up.

 

[knikki]

Nikon 1Dx almost but talked myself out of it again.