Originally posted by BANKatBULL I would have done if my PENTAX ME SUPER is still alve.I used to carry around everywhere!!!
Those are still available in good condition used and will better support the vintage lenses that are your tools of choice.
To be honest, I am surprised you decided to reopen this thread. Since your last post, Ricoh apparently replaced your camera. Good for them. That being settled, we have the current complaint is that neither you nor your Pentax-savvy friend are able do good work with it. As noted above, many people have done very decent work with the K-30. My favorite experience was with a 12-year old young lady who was photographing tulips in a commercial field near my home. She was relatively inexperienced, but was happily producing some very acceptable photos. I lent her my macro lens for 20 minutes or so and she did well with it too. That being said, here is a summary of how to get good photos:
- It helps to have a competent tool (decent lens and camera capable of appropriate exposure). Yes, most cell phones meet that criteria and I have taken many "keepers" with my phone.
- Have your camera with you. He who has no camera, gets no pictures. In the old days the saying was, "f/8 and be there".
- Compelling subject. If it is uninteresting in the viewfinder, it will be uninteresting in the photo.
- Again...compelling subject. Did I mention that the subject should be compelling?
- Good composition. Excellent composition may offset a less than compelling subject.
- Good light. If the light is "flat", your photo will be flat. If the light is harsh, your photo will lack subtlety. If the light is dim, expect the camera to behave no better than your eyes and probably a lot worse. There are other aspects to light, but I think you probably get the trend.
- Attention to the technical basics of focus and exposure or use of a camera that will do it for you. With your K-30, that last means using it with an auto-focus lens.
- Attention to the other technical basics that the camera will not do for you. These are minimizing camera motion, accounting for subject motion, and not attempting the photo when there is inadequate light.
- Realizing that with digital photos, as with film photography, the capture is only the first half of doing good work. The remainder is done in post processing on a computer or (with film) in the darkroom.
As with other users on this thread, I am looking forward to seeing examples of the photos that suck. If possible, provide a photo taken at the same time with your wife's phone or your ancient Sony for comparison.
Steve