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John Navitsky said:
in addition, it would be good to carry a GPS enabled PLB or satellite messenger like a Garmin Inreach.

it is just reality that in the moment, you are on your own. but it would also be good to have someone come for you and for that getting the word out and them being able to know where you are increases your chances.
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Why we just got iPhone 15pros they now have that satellite messenger ability built in. My old 13 mini did not have that feature.
 
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sh1209 said:
I can give you an example that happened to me at a local park 2 months ago. I was talking to a young lady that had only been photographing a couple years and told me she really admired the work I post on local groups. She went into asking about my gear and at that time I was out with my A1 and 600mmGM. She asked the cost and gasped whenever I told her the cost. She immediately said "I guess I should just not waste my time because I will never be able to afford a setup like that" That made me feel like crap! I took the time to explain to her that we all start somewhere and your setup is very capable, but nonetheless she left pretty discouraged. That's my only point
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Good point ... I try to go out of my way to help people get the best results they can with the gear they have or can afford to get.

Bird ID photography is really helped with a Z800 etc. but a Tamron 150-600 G2 worked great for me for years. Now the Z180-600 is a great value in the nikon world.

When it comes to a Sony A1 or Nikon Z9 etc.. it makes things more efficient and in some ways easier and more weather resistant but someone with a lower cost set up that knows how to use their gear can get great shots.
 
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I’m not a good photographer. I like to see the exif data hoping to learn. The actual camera and gear is largely irrelevant to me, as I think modern cameras are all really capable and it’s a matter of preference.
But I am interested too in technique. I always hope some knowledge might actually rub off on me. I’ve been shooting for 30+ years, and I still hope! 😂😂😂
 
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In the early 1980s, when we used slow film and so few of today's advanced features in cameras, one muddled along relying on kindly advice or the few books then published about wildlife photography. As a tertiary student learning the fundamentals of wildlife photography, I found the very little exif data I could find extremely useful: essential in fact. Starting out, my singular source were the images published by a prominent pro wildlife photographer was the late Peter Johnson (1940-2011) - resident in our region. He used a Nikon system. He was one who today would be a Nikon Ambassador, and was a field of tester of Nikon prototypes, including the F3 in 1979.

He listed shutter speeds, aperture settings, film and details of lens in his portfolio The SAPPI Collection (1983) - see also this image - with the most useful comments on how and why he took the images, and artistic motivations, elements etc. I continue to revisit this book today. Almost all of this collection were taken on Kodachrome 25 or 64, and relatively slow shutter speeds (eg 1/125 or 1/60 with a 600 f5.6AIS or 400 f5.6AIS).

I always aspired to own an equivalent high end wildlife camera system, although it took 3+ decades to get close to earning such means. In no way was I discouraged by the daunting costs of the gear used by Pro's when I was a young student - quite the opposite, this was persisting incentive. Besides Peter J (who I came to know well) I also learned invaluable lessons from two other Pro friends in Zimbabwe, who owned the first AF telephotos in the 1990s; one used Canon and Hasselblad in tandem and he developed his Fujichrome in a home lab, buying bulk rolls.

One early lesson was the only way to achieve sharp images was to lug around a tripod/or use a padded support.... Almost all the modern features, VR, the extraordinary AF systems, and high ISO were unimaginable back then. Digital might have been hinted at by the mid 1990s, and in the meantime I treasured each frame of costly film. Today, there's no lack of exif data. Beginners tell me they also find such data as educational as I did and still do. It is simple to ignore if not needed.
 
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I do look for EXIF data to see if there is something to learn. Whether it is reinforcement of something I already know or do; or something that is done differently. All that said; it is only with pics that are exceptional (and most here are!).
For example...wanting to take action shots at a kids soccer match. There is lots of info for camera and lenses with suggestions from many. Not one thing is only correct. However, there are some members on different blogs that excel with their sports photography-generally pros. Actually seeing their EXIF data when available, is beneficial-to me. And, if the camera is the same-Z8/Z9, I am more interested in type of AF used and other specific settings-if available.
And, in the OP's case here, I fully understand not providing specific locations within an area. Of course noting the general place is nice to know.
Everyone has their own take..and how can anyone be wrong about anything here?
 
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John Navitsky said:
in addition, it would be good to carry a GPS enabled PLB or satellite messenger like a Garmin Inreach.

it is just reality that in the moment, you are on your own. but it would also be good to have someone come for you and for that getting the word out and them being able to know where you are increases your chances.
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Thank you for this lead, as new to me. So I just bought and setup a Garmin InReach Mini 2. It's a bit tedious to register and configure to the 2 phone apps. Garmin's 'succinct' manuals continue their tradition of missing key items of information :rolleyes: even worse than Nikon's.

This inReach is indeed tiny, and I noticed the battery drops quite fast in a first test. So one should be check charging on hikes etc, perhaps carry a small powerbank for its USB C port. Nevertheless it could make the fundamental difference to denying the scavengers a free meal 'out there' in central Africa :D Ive since learned several friends here in S Africa carry their InReach on hikes, cycling etc and long road trip etc

Thanks again to this unique forum for invaluable advice
 
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Personally, I could care less on the EXIF data in a photo as the viewer cannot judge the light situation at the moment the photo was taken. An extreme example is my field of wildlife photography is this one. Shooting in darkness with just a flashlight requires specific settings that have to be dialed in at that moment and no situation is ever the same.
People doing studio work with flash work the same thing, how does one know the setters of the flashes, type and position of the softboxes, ...

 
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Flyboy said:
Bragging...a little, but I got some wall hangers and won some competitions with my D 50 and D 90, and a couple of lenses that had been with me through 2-3 film cameras, and got grandfathered into Digital. Despite the ingrained notion that "Expen$ive is better", It's the Indian, not the arrow! :giggle:
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Fully agree
As for not needing the latest and 'greatest' cameras and lenses, the aspiring/tight-budget photographer enjoys mind boggling choices in Used gear markets. The options include excellent telephotos and several of the post D3 era DSLRs remain highly capable. One example is the D7200.

There's not many cameras that outperform a Z7 for landscape photography.

It's hard to beat a D850 for all outdoor genres, if one can pay afford that more

Prices of Used gear have crashed since MILC systems began to matured since around 2020. A few years prior, several of higher end AF telephotos were usually hard to find Used
 
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sh1209 said:
I wanted to get other thoughts on what they feel about posting camera and lens info whenever posting pictures online. I post images to several different sites including Facebook, but never ever disclose what camera and lens I use. It automatically puts the information in on Flickr. I normally share Flickr images on here, and someone can see that if they want. I guess my thing is I don’t see the need and why people need to do that, and especially say if the photo was handheld lor. Honestly, whenever I look at a great image, I could care less what it was shot with or if it was handheld lol. I think there are two scenarios with disclosing that information that arise. One of which is, getting robbed or theft in general. The other situation is it almost comes off like some folks are bragging, which is the case I see on Facebook at times. I don’t know, perhaps I’m just weird but I think the images should speak for themselves without all the other nonsense but perhaps I’m in the minority. I will disclose camera and lens information on sites, such as Facebook, but only if asked directly, and I will normally reply through instant message.
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I don't think its an issue at all.

The information of gear and settings used could be made to be optional via a tab click here for data.

With the camera and lens information included even as an optional via a tab to view that information completely really solves the or any issue.

I feel having the data it will actually help more people understand what was used and how it was achieved, mostly reflecting the photographers skill sets, and possibly what to do or not to do.

In judging competitions i often see so many photos that are mind blowing and more so than not are taken on amazing gear even a D300 24mm F2.8 D, D70 and 18-55, D700 80-200 D, Z7II 24-120, yes also 600 F4 TC exotic on a Z Z8, these $15000 exotics make up much less than 1/500th % of the total market if that.

The gear used are tools nothing but tools.

Actually i see some exotic lenses and cameras used and the results are average because of the users limited or average skills. and yes i see some cracker shots as well.

My opinion is, its all a non issue, if anything its only a positive that actually helps many people see that you don't need expensive exotic gear, or better still you don't need even mirror less gear to make a good photo. It actually tells people what settings to use based on results, so its a helpful tool.

I actually find the camera data information very helpful or interesting as it reflects in many cases skill sets of the photographer who has the ability to use the right settings, again very helpful for many people.

Only an opinion
 
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Here is a Nikon video, they refer to it made on a Z8, they don't mention the water housing case or lens, but its a validation that stills are reaching their use by date because of the internet platforms direction for videography, all so they can place commercials on all internet space, or charge for the use of the space. sad but exciting.

People, sponsors advertisers platforms all want video...............it will be much easier to take the prefect still from video footage, it will only get better and better.


Only an opinion
 
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