Ken, thanks very much for your interesting post (re MF vs 35ml). The reason
I'm asking is that (like all other wannabes!) I hope to sell pictures on a
limited
scale to stock agencies and the like. This is assuming I can find a niche
market
for the type of pictures I like taking (or a subset of them). I know people
like me are the bane of real professionals. If I get some time to spare
from my day job in the new year
I will contact some local agencies. I have received some advice from
professionals
running the courses I have been attending that my work is of the required
standard, obviously it has to be what they're looking for.
I wanted to know whether I needed to invest in MF for my intended
"professional work" eg nature and flower etc pics. Certainly if I had the
time, inclination, money,room, etc to set up a studio, I'd probably get a
MF or even large format camera (for portraits, still life etc). The type of
camera becomes a bit irrelevant in the studio, since the lighting and set
up are most important. I have used the college studio which has a good
range of proper studio flashes, flash meters, brollies, spillkills and the
like.
NB using studio flash (essential in that environment) really makes fast
synchronisation speeds irrelevant since I am told repeatedly "the flash
takes the picture". Maybe that applies for all flash usage (except fill
in), assuming you can hold the camera steady at 1/60, which most people
can.
I think however that although you can handhold a MF camera (with pistol
grip) I would end up leaving it at home unless obliged to use it. Certainly
I will not be doing weddings even if there were any (apparently people
aren't getting married anymore), there are also plenty of professionals
around who could do that sort of work, social skills are as important, the
main abilities you need are to be able to organise your shooting and
"chat-up" subjects.
I had been thinking of getting a Mamiya 7 (or at least trying one out) to
have the advantage of being able to handhold as well as 6x7 which gives a
demonstrable advantage over 35ml. I'm not sure I like rangefinder cameras
and the lenses are fairly limited (though probably acceptable for general
usage). I've heard that the manufacturing quality of the Mamiya 6 was not
very good. I have doubts therefore over whether the 7 would keep a
reasonable used value.
Over here it is difficult for many professionals to make a decent living
solely by photography, I'd be interested to know what one could expect to
make in the US
(I'm not being nosey about your income!).
OM content, I'm keeping my system whether I buy MF or not.
Regards
Richard
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