As stated a while back, digital photography
is a phenomenal teaching tool. On a recent SW Florida IPT, Jim
Gluckin was shooting digital with his D-30 and the Canon 500 f/4 L
IS lens. On a rainy morning in Venice, while we were hanging out
in McDonald’s, the group was able to view and critique a good
number of Jim’s better images made during the first four days of
the tour. All felt that it was an extremely valuable experience.
As I have become somewhat familiar with
digital bird (wildlife, and nature) photography, I have come to
the following conclusion: if you are a serious hobbyist and do a
considerable amount of photography, say three weekends a month
with a few trips during the year, if you are not marketing your
work extensively, and if you make prints either once in a while or
most of the time, then you should absolutely using a digital
camera for your photography. Why? 1-Expense. Your costs for
film, processing, and duplicating will be $0.00. These savings
will pay for your camera and a few flash cards in short order. 2-
The 1.3 or 1.6-multiplier effect is a tremendous advantage for all
types of wildlife photography. 3- Superb prints can be made from
files in the range of 4.5 to 6 mega-pixels. 4-Instant
gratification. 5-There is no need to carry-on film during air
travel.
A while back, I announced the BIRDS AS ART
would be getting a Canon EOS D-60. Lots of folks jumped to all
sorts of conclusions. Here are the facts: I am getting the D-60
for my friend Linda to use. She is currently photographing birds
with the Canon D-30 and the Canon 500mm f/4 L IS lens. She loves
the camera, she loves digital photography, and she made many
wonderful images on our recent Texas trip. Many folks asked, “Why
the D-60 and not the 1D?” Here are our thoughts. At 6
mega-pixels the D-60 yields a far larger image file size than the
1D. It is lighter. It costs $3,000 less. With the
1.6-multiplier effect of the D-60, you have autofocus with the 1.4
tele-converter at 1120 mm (500 X 1.6 = 800 X 1.4 = 1120). The 1D
offers (only) a 1.3 multiplier effect. With it, you have
autofocus with the 2X tele-converter at 1300mm (500 X 2 = 1000 X
1.3 = 1300mm. For a hobbyist, is this small gain in magnification
worth $3,000?
Do note that the 1D offers much faster and
more accurate autofocus and has a much faster frames per second
rate than the D-30. If and when I get a digital camera it will
most likely be the 1D or a future generation of the 1D. In the
meantime, Linda is learning about digital photography and I am
learning from her. Who knows, I just may borrow her D-30 one of
these days…
