[Mario Pita]

Cally, that picture of the moon looks like it was taken from one of the Apollo missions as it was arriving in lunar orbit, and it’s hard to believe that it, along with the beautiful ones of the moon seen through a window of pine needles, was taken with a point and shoot. You would work wonders with an SLR, and must make the dream of using one come true!

Mario

[Cally Conan-Davies]

Looking at the moon, closely, is a real experience, isn't it, Mario? If I could get a ticket for a moon mission, or to the space station, I'd go in a wink! I would also like to go to the ocean floor, deep. Like James Cameron did.

I've got a really rickety tripod which is almost as good as useless because when I press the shutter, it wobbles. So I always end up taking the camera off and holding it myself. My hand is steadier than the tripod! I love dressing the rising moon in cloche hats made of leafy branches or long wind-bent grass.

I know the SLR will happen one day, maybe even soon. I know there are a couple of people keeping their eyes open for really good secondhand SLR cameras. I am truly excited at the prospect. When I get one, I'll let you know.

I'm so glad we shared this blue moon, everyone!! Thanks for starting the thread, Janice!

Cally

[Janice D. Soderling]

You're welcome, I'll start more moony threads if it will haul you back into posting.

Looking at the moon, closely, is a real experience, isn't it, Mario? If I could get a ticket for a moon mission, or to the space station, I'd go in a wink! I would also like to go to the ocean floor, deep.

No one doubts the truth of that.

[Roger Slater]

A non-rickety tripod can be had for 20 or 30 bucks, so there's no real point in putting it off very long.

DSLRs are great, but be sure to have a look at mirrorless cameras like the Sony Nex, which take remarkably fine pictures (their sensors are as big as the DSLR sensor) but are almost as compact as a point and shoot, so you can easily have it with you at all times (the DSLR is bulky enough that you might sometimes leave it behind and then regret it).

[Jesse Anger]

Yep, Roger, I agree. I've got a LUMIX GX1 - it goes everywhere and is as good as just about any DSLR. Have you seen the Sony RX1? It's a full frame but the same size as a micro 4/3's - pretty pricy though.

I just need that Leica 25mm lens for Panasonics...

Mirrorless all the way.

[Cally Conan-Davies]

Holy ISO! I don't even know what 'mirrorless' means!!! I have work to do...

I'm going to Seattle next week. Great camera shops there, I'm told. I'll do some research.

What really engrosses me though is not the tools, but the relationship between seeing, composition, and poetry. About how the whole world of photo making plays into the writing of the poems. I'm writing an essay on it.

Have you guys read Robert Hass's What Light Can Do? I'm right in the thick of it now, and loving it. Inspired.

[Roger Slater]

Cally, I always hear people say "it's not the camera, it's the photographer," but I also can't help noticing that the great photographers tended to have really good cameras. You can probably take better pictures than most people can even if you just use your cell phone, but that doesn't mean you won't have even more success when you get better equipment.

Anyway, the mirrorless may not be for you if the somewhat smaller size isn't important to you. There's still something satisfying about having the old-fashioned feel of an SLR in your hands. And most of the mirrorless camera make you compose on the screen instead of through a viewfinder you place against your eye. It took me a while to get used to that, though it happened. Here's a mirrorless camera to look at.

One other technical point that is probably unnecessary. It's fashionable these days to point out that high megapixel numbers aren't important, because it's not the same thing as picture quality. And this is true. But if you want the freedom to be able to take a very small part of your picture and crop out the rest and still have a sharp picture, then a high megapixel number is indeed important.

I'll check out the Hass. Haven't read it.

PS-- Whatever you choose, price it on ebay. Many reputable online sellers will demolish prices charged in Seattle camera shops.