Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Landscape & Nature Photography => Topic started by: MattBurt on November 18, 2015, 11:20:48 am

Title: Finally made the jump
Post by: MattBurt on November 18, 2015, 11:20:48 am: I've had a Pentax 645 for a while and like it but the slowness of film gets to me. Sometimes I like it but I guess I'm a product of my impatient generation and I want to see results right away! So instead of waiting for the upcoming full frame from Pentax (which I had been doing) I decided that since I had some lenses and my camera fund was big enough I'd buy a 645D instead. I got a new one from Ritz via Amazon and it arrived yesterday. I love it already. I just have a few old manual primes from the 645 (45/2.8, 75/2.8, 200/4) with one more, a 35/2.8 on the way at the moment. Even though it's old by technology standards I'm enjoying it very much. Shooting is nice and tactile with plenty of physical buttons and I can't even be tempted to use Live View because this camera doesn't have it!
I'm looking forward to re-shooting a lot of landscape shots I have done on my crop gear, at least one ones I don't have to walk/ski/ride too far to get to.
Here are a few day one images. The level of detail is amazing and the files are great to work with. I just had to share my excitement with people who would understand! :)

Mid-day Palisades - I was impressed with how sharp this was considering the $50 lens and it was pretty breezy.
645D & A 200/4
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5706/22706043229_abed201173_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/AAspzX)IMGP0015.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/AAspzX) by Matt Burt (https://www.flickr.com/photos/mattbnet/), on Flickr

Ranch sunset
645D & A 45/2.8
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5825/23107590065_ccccfd5402_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/BcWrtg)IMGP0026-Edit (https://flic.kr/p/BcWrtg) by Matt Burt (https://www.flickr.com/photos/mattbnet/), on Flickr

Evening at the creek
645D & A 45/2.8
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/614/23081160716_9e2f102222_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/BaAYWQ)IMGP0052-Edit (https://flic.kr/p/BaAYWQ) by Matt Burt (https://www.flickr.com/photos/mattbnet/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Finally made the jump
Post by: NancyP on November 18, 2015, 11:27:50 am: I love #3, very atmospheric.
Title: Re: Finally made the jump
Post by: MattBurt on November 18, 2015, 11:31:21 am: Quote from: NancyP on November 18, 2015, 11:27:50 am
I love #3, very atmospheric.

Thank you Nancy.
Title: Re: Finally made the jump
Post by: Kevin Gallagher on November 18, 2015, 05:02:30 pm: Hi Matt, congrats and good luck with the new equipment! I really like both #2 and #3

Kevin in CT
Title: Re: Finally made the jump
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on November 18, 2015, 06:22:36 pm: The third is my favorite, too.
I'm sure you're going to have a lot of fun with the new toy!
Title: Re: Finally made the jump
Post by: Patricia Sheley on November 18, 2015, 07:43:30 pm: Hope you spend many "evenings at the creek". It surely is reaching out for attention here. Especially like the upper bend area as it flows to the split. Jump and secret wonders appear!
Title: Re: Finally made the jump
Post by: MattBurt on November 19, 2015, 12:17:14 am: Thanks for the encouraging words!
This section of Tomichi Creek is my go-to spot if I haven't planned ahead. It's about two miles from my house and offers many options and lots of open sky. It will be frozen over soon which brings out a different character. I'll certainly be back! My dog loves going there too.
Title: Re: Finally made the jump
Post by: Paulo Bizarro on November 19, 2015, 04:07:56 am: Really like #2, great light and composition.
Title: Re: Finally made the jump
Post by: stamper on November 19, 2015, 08:18:30 am: #2 &#3 I agree with the other members but not sure about the amount of blue in#1. Possibly a little more contrast?
Title: Re: Finally made the jump
Post by: Bob_B on November 19, 2015, 09:00:01 am: I agree that #2 and 3 are my favorites. I very much like the composition of the second one.
Title: Re: Finally made the jump
Post by: sailronin on November 20, 2015, 12:44:26 pm: Great results with the new system.
#2&3 are stunning.
Title: Re: Finally made the jump
Post by: MattBurt on November 20, 2015, 02:53:52 pm: Thanks for all the feedback!
I got up early this morning and went back to the creek because it looked promising for sunrise but it ended up being just so-so. But there's nothing like some new gear to motivate me to get out of bed in the morning. Maybe I'll have a chance to try again this weekend.
Title: Re: Finally made the jump
Post by: sarrasani on November 20, 2015, 09:42:22 pm: clap hand and congratulations.
I like much these images. My favourite is the 3rd.
All the best,
Sandro
Title: Re: Finally made the jump
Post by: John R on November 21, 2015, 02:20:42 pm: They certainly appear to have a crispness and clarity that I don't see on my Pentax images, or for tht matter on most images. Which makes me wonder, should I change formats...

Well done,

JR
Title: Re: Finally made the jump
Post by: MattBurt on November 23, 2015, 06:59:42 pm: Quote from: John R on November 21, 2015, 02:20:42 pm
They certainly appear to have a crispness and clarity that I don't see on my Pentax images, or for tht matter on most images. Which makes me wonder, should I change formats...

Well done,

JR

Thanks! Of course that is up to you. I'm still planning on using my crop gear quite a bit for sports and when I'm traveling light (which for me is a lot).
For landscape photography it seems very well suited to my shooting style and I anticipate this will be mostly used for landscape and portraits.