Sunday we went to Eckerts Farm for a family day. [previous blog entry]
Because I figured it'd be dirty and dusty, and because I was with the boys, and because I had worked a wedding the day before, I decided to take Mira (my Nikon D90) instead of Tomi (my Nikon D700). Mira is lighter than Tomi, and my shoulders were sore from the day before. Also, I didn't want to risk any damage to Tomi.
And a very funny thing became apparent.
Now before I go into what that funny thing is, let me backtrack just a bit. I bought Mira last September and she changed my life. I was in LOVE. And because I am never satisfied just knowing a tiny bit about anything, I studied her and experimented with her, Jeremy bought me David Busch's guide for her, and kept coming up dissatisfied time and time again. Not by a lot, mind you; I felt ok with the results I was getting. But I would look at other photographers' work and drool, and then lament. What was the secret ingredient that was missing from my work, when I was studying poses and light and felt like I was really getting a handle on composition, etc.? I felt like I had pushed little Mira so, so hard. And she just wasn't delivering what I wanted.
Enter the mad notion that it was Mira's DX (cropped) sensor.
Once that little idea wormed it's way into my head, I couldn't get it out. Was it true? Was it the sensor limitation that was the key difference between my pictures and those pictures that I was so in awe of?
I couldn't shake it. So I, against all better judgement, literally borrowed the cash to buy a FX camera. I couldn't very well borrow the money for a D3 (I really wanted the D3s but that was way out of the range of sane money-borrowing practices) so I went for the D700. When I first got her, I was so accustomed to the D90's settings that I seriously wouldn't even shoot with it - I just kept shooting with my Mira girl. I knew exactly how to get the desired result with her, so why step out of the comfort zone when I was shooting for clients? Not the time for experimentation. I continued to play with the D700 and at first, was disappointed. The photos looked a bit sharper but otherwise, there was hardly a discernible difference. Had I been wrong about the sensor afterall?
The answer is both yes and no.
Yes: I was wrong, because I can get the same picture out of Mira and Tomi both, especially in ideal light - lenses were part of the problem. If I'm shooting with my 50mm f/1.8, pictures look almost identical on both cameras. With the D90, they look... mmm, I don't know how to explain it... softer, and less.... deep. Or maybe less dimensional. And sometimes, I really like that look better. For some portraits, it is incredibly flattering.
No: I was right, because between pictures taken from both cameras, you'll be able to tell a difference in the... well, dimension, I guess. You just see more detail with the FX sensor (bigger sensor, more information - makes perfect sense). Also, because of the sensor, I can shoot in a wider variety of lighting situations, which is ideal for my primary line of work (weddings) where light is ever-changing.
The funny thing that occurred to me?
I'm over Mira. And am in love with Tomi.
And I feel all weird about it, like I dumped her. Like I cheated on her with her sister, then told her about it, then dumped her. Is she a great camera? Yes, of course. The problem is me. I outgrew her. I changed. I wanted more.
If that doesn't sound like a break-up speech, I don't know what does.
Conclusions:
1. If you're a photographer wondering over cameras to purchase, get a full-frame sensor camera if you can afford it. Nikonites, the D700 packs a really powerful punch for the price! But if you can shell out the dough, opt for a D3, D3X or D3S. If you're a Canon fanboy/grrl, I know the 5D produces really beautiful results. I'll do some research on the other brands - Sony is a big up-and-comer, and looks like they're serious about getting in on the DSLR market.
2. The camera doesn't matter - it's a tool. Don't blame it for your shortcomings. To quote myself - "I was wrong, because I can get the same picture out of Mira and Tomi both..." Why? Because I know enough about lighting and composition, and the settings and capabilities of both cameras. Get intimate with your gear. Be its best friend, its lover. Know everything there is to know about it, and how to use it in various light. That's how you get those Wham! Bam! photographs.
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