[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.

[Cally Conan-Davies]

So interesting. Thanks! Yes. I watch Art Wolfe's Travels to the Edge every week on PBS. And each week I know if I had that beautiful equipment he uses, well—we'd probably never see me again!

I always use the view finder—the eye to the camera—always. I've tried composing the shot on the screen a couple of times, and it just doesn't feel right at all. I feel I have greater control when the camera is pressed to my face. And greater intimacy with what I'm looking at. Still, if you got used to it...

Do all SLRs have view finders?

Robert Adam's Why People Photograph is also terrific.

[Jesse Anger]

Yes all DSLR's have a viewfinder. Most of the mirrorless cameras don't, but all of them can if you buy an EVF and attach it to the hot-shoe. And yes, don't buy anything from a shop! Go to B&H online, nothing comes close. Plus they have a really wonderful youtube channel that has videos that teach you how to use your camera, or interviews with pro photographers, or advanced lessons - all gratis.

That's a nice camera Roger linked to - not as good as the first link I sent you though... : /

And I often think about how photography uses the same muscle as writing. If I'm capturing images for writing I make a little word picture and then make a constellation of ideas around it. When I'm taking photos it's different, I have the idea already and I'm hunting the pictorial-correlitive - I seldom seek an image to fit a piece of writing, but I always look for pictures that convey an idea I'm already working with. Writing is harder in that you are the camera and and the dark room and the process. All I'm doing when I shoot photos is seeing. Having some camera skills helps, yes, but that only increases my chances of catching a good image. In both arts one must avoid the cliche - there are so many cliched photos out there. Editing, too, I suppose is quite similar - about 5 out of a hundred are good shots in my experience and then on closer inspection maybe 3... thank god for the digital age. Imagine working with film, all feel, all the time. Here's the greatest of all time - Back when Leica wasn't pompous, it was all there was.

http://www.magnumphotos.com/C.aspx?V...RID=24KL53ZMYN

[Cally Conan-Davies]

I want to thank you two so much for sharing this information with me! I've learned so much in the last 24 hours. Both of the specific cameras you linked to look incredible. I have some big decisions to make!

And Babe—mega thanks for the heads-up on B&H! I spent hours browsing the site last night. I can't believe the prices! I'll go into one of the good Seattle shops just to try a few out—hold them in my hands. But I'll do the actual buying on B&H.

And I know—imagine real film. Dark and feel. The alchemy.

Gratefully,

Cally


Big P.S. BABE!! I really wanted to thank you ESPECIALLY for the link to the Magnum site. What a treasure house of art and image and humanity!

[Jesse Anger]

No problem, Cally. Henri Cartier-Bresson has been my greatest inspiration. What an eye he had, very painterly. I don't know how he made some of those shots happen - magic.

[Jennifer Reeser]

Cally is dangerous with a camera. That is a stunning shot.

[Michael Cantor]

Originally Posted by Cally Conan-Davies

I'll go into one of the good Seattle shops just to try a few out—hold them in my hands. But I'll do the actual buying on B&H.

And when the good Seattle camera shop goes out of business because too many customers are trying a few and then buying on-line - and then you have no camera store available to provide samples or advice - or your local bookstore folds because of skim-here-but-buy-from-Amazon shoppers - what then?

I can't pontificate against your buying practices, Cally - I do it myself (although I do try to buy many of my books from our excellent local independent) - but I think we have to realize that, sooner or later, there won't be any "good" shops around for comparison shopping and hefting purposes. Then what?

[Roger Slater]

Many of the internet sellers started out as retailers, and most of the big stores sell online as well.

Regardless, it is silly to expect people to spend hundreds of dollars more than they have to in order to support a business model that can't sustain itself without gifts from its customers.

[Jesse Anger]

Yep, Roger's right. I know it's harsh Mike, but there are no good, affordable stores left really. I mean B&H itself has a big store somewhere in NYC, and I bet it's great. It's owned and operated by Hasidim I believe - we call it beards and hats sometimes! But, yeah, I hear you - it's just that online stores are so much cheaper - we're talking hundreds of beans here, not a 20 here and there...

The change is here, now.

J

[Roger Slater]

Also, don't assume that B&H is cheapest either. For cameras, I would definitely check Ebay There are countless small sellers there you haven't heard of before, but you can trust them because of Ebay's rating system. If, say, they had 6,953 customer reports in the last year, with 99.4% favorable ratings, then you know it's safe to order from them.

I'm not saying it's impossible for bricks and mortar retailers to compete. In fact, it's probably a good idea for Cally to print out some of the best prices she can find on Ebay for a variety of models she is considering. Then, if she finds one she likes when she visits the store, she can show it to the clerk and ask if they can meet or come close to that price. Once they see that they're dealing with a customer who knows the score, they might well meet the price.