Luminous Landscape Forum
Equipment & Techniques => Medium Format / Film / Digital Backs – and Large Sensor Photography => Topic started by: Yanick Dery on February 14, 2009, 06:44:02 pm
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Is your digital back help you to make more profit, sale more images, at a higher price?
Yanick
http://www.yanickdery.com (http://www.yanickdery.com)
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Yanick, you have great web site.
Your photos are superb!
I sold all my Nikon cameras, still keep some top lenses for my wife's Nikon.
Yes, MFDB produces better images, but most customers don't see the difference
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Simple Answer , Yes and No.
Yes -
1) I spend more on film, Polaroid and processing.
2) Faster workflow shooting with a Cambo Wide DS then corectting 35 mm file in post.
No -
1) I don't think clients care anymore about quality
2) I care about quality and work flow.
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I just sold my MFDB outfit and got myself a D3x.
No regrets so far.
Image quality is pretty good and I doubt if you can see the difference on a printed page.
Unless you print large landscape photo's or have big billing jobs, a 25 MB camera is more than you need.
Regards,
Willem
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Yanick, you have great web site.
Your photos are superb!
I sold all my Nikon cameras, still keep some top lenses for my wife's Nikon.
Yes, MFDB produces better images, but most customers don't see the difference
Thanks for the feedback
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Is your digital back help you to make more profit, sale more images, at a higher price?
Yanick
http://www.yanickdery.com (http://www.yanickdery.com)
NO, but you will find yourself invest more and more..... faster computers, more and faster HDs and storage solutions, better lenses, backups......
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This is my problem now, still i didn't finish with Canon DSLR equipment and now with my new H3D i am looking to buy more gear mostly lenses, seems i will spend more than last years.
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Is your digital back help you to make more profit, sale more images, at a higher price?
Yanick
http://www.yanickdery.com (http://www.yanickdery.com)
it is if you charge your back out at rental cost, and you shoot enough volume. i paid for my original back within a few months that way. some clients expect you to shoot with medium format, they are expecting the best quality equipment (along with the best photography), rather that gear that does "the job".
we all know that dslrs are pretty similar quality wise when shooting against medium format from file to page uncropped. but where it gets unstuck is when a client crops heavily into an image. thats when the extra megapixels really show. im sure if you explain that to your clients, they will understand the extra you would be charging them.
paul
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it is if you charge your back out at rental cost, and you shoot enough volume. i paid for my original back within a few months that way. some clients expect you to shoot with medium format, they are expecting the best quality equipment (along with the best photography), rather that gear that does "the job".
we all know that dslrs are pretty similar quality wise when shooting against medium format from file to page uncropped. but where it gets unstuck is when a client crops heavily into an image. thats when the extra megapixels really show. im sure if you explain that to your clients, they will understand the extra you would be charging them.
paul
Paul,
Did you try to charge exaclty the same with your DSLR rather than a digital back for "digital capture fees".
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Paul,
Did you try to charge exaclty the same with your DSLR rather than a digital back for "digital capture fees".
i charge a few hundred more a day that the dslr charge. i guess the dslr charge was a larger percentage of its value than the charge for the medium format .
i think you need to work out what medium format system, to work out whether it works money wise. ive always been one technology back, but managed to charge what my competition charges when they have to rent. i had a p25 that i managed to charge out what others had to pay for a p45, then i got a A22 for quite cheap- but its too close res wise to the canon mk3, so will buy a used A75s soon (only going for 11k on ebay).
i cant quite see how i could make money renting a brand new back to myself- it would hardly pay its self off, let alone make money. (in new zealand)
but a used back definately will make me money. a good deal on ebay- ie used p30 (or a75/p45)/ h1 and zoom, wont set you back much more than a mk3 with a few lenses. ive seen used hasselblad kits go for really cheap as well.
paul
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a good deal on ebay- ie used p30 (or a75/p45)/ h1 and zoom, wont set you back much more than a mk3 with a few lenses. ive seen used hasselblad kits go for really cheap as well.
paul
That is a good point
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I use 35mm digital for most work and hire medium format when the job requires the extra resolution (and charge accordingly). Even in the few years that I've been working professionally I've noticed that my clients are less and less interested in what gear I'm using. They care about what they see on screen. I believe that lighting and composition etc. are the most important factors to get right when it comes to impressing the client. You can pay of the cost of a 35mm camera off in a couple of weeks, but medium format no matter how busy you are is going to take way longer. While I agree that medium format produces better results I sometimes wonder how photographers can keep justifying the added expense especially with the economy the way it is.
Anyway that's my two cents.
Cheers,
Derryck.
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Is your digital back help you to make more profit, sale more images, at a higher price?
Yanick
http://www.yanickdery.com (http://www.yanickdery.com)
OFF TOPIC:
EXCELLENT work on your site! I love everything!!! Really nice!
Pat
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There is always leasing for the digital backs. With changing technology, it makes more sense than outright purchase.
Welcome Yanick! I have admired your photography for many years!
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I decided to go MF after one of my clients took one of my vertically composed small format images and ran it across two pages. It looked like hell. We've worked together several times since then. Not once has this art director mentioned anything about improved image quality. Either the image is shot well and she likes it or it isn't. The sharpness, megapixels, dynamic range etc don't matter to most clients.
In the end, it's about what you create and whether it moves people. Besides, it's a 72 dpi world for the most part.
John
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Is your digital back help you to make more profit, sale more images, at a higher price?
Yanick
http://www.yanickdery.com (http://www.yanickdery.com)
I went years ago into MF - I could have written an essay
"why I hate my 14n and want to throw it out of a moving car"
(sun + min 200ISO +125th flash = F16 = diffraction + crap look)
and another
"why I hate the tiny chip in my D2x"
(couldnt see to compose or focus)
Times have moved on
I think MF is for you not your clients or bottom line
But of course if you love high flash synch or view cameras big chip look and digitgal workflow it all rocks
I now have many cameras I love 5d11, D3, H1, good times...
I still find flash synch a PITA in DSLRs but am playing with reflectors and flouros now
S