I'll try not to open up too large a

But what are various SP's body/lens combinations on a typical outing? Particularily those of you who use 2 bodies. My brain is racing on the idea of designing a more "discreet" version of what I'm using right now for a MINIMAL outfit that would satisfy the needs of most SPs. It would be nice to know your 2 favorite lenses to mount on 2 bodies (is what I'm getting at).

I've been trying (without any luck) to locate microarraying resources today at work. Right now, I'm somewhat peeved and need a creative outlet.

Hell, I should just take the rest of the day off and shoot!

Regards,

-- John Chan (ouroboros_2001@yahoo.com), January 17, 2002

Answers

Assuming sp stands for street photography , I use an m2 with a 12 ( and 15mm ) heliar . When walking down the street , I hold the camera ( lens facing my thigh ) in my hand such that the viewfinder is sticking out between middle and ring finger . I meter with my sekonic , which is in my pocket . So long as you work quickly and smoothly , people tend not to notice you .

By the way , my pcr refuses to work today and I too am quite peeved ... pissed .

-- leonid kotlyar (kotlyarl@mail.nih.gov), January 17, 2002.

In my bag(a black Domke F1-x with the side pockets cut off)I have the same gear for 99% of the time. Nikon F5 with 35mm f2

Nikon F100 with 50mm f1.4

Leica M6ttl with 35mm 1.4 Asph(just added a couple of weeks ago).

Nikon SB28 & Leica SF20 flash with sc17 cord.

Sekonic L-508 light meter

Cleaning kit,spare batteries,note-pad,pen,etc,etc.

Film.

In the car I have a Nikon 80-200afs 2.8,24-120 and Nikon 880 digital for notes.

After 3 years as a fulltime photojournalist I feel I have finally sorted my kit to Exactly the way I like it.

-- Phil Kneen (philkneen@manx.net), January 17, 2002.

Hmm, microarrays, PCR - are there any other closet molecular biologists on this forum?!

This site has some interesting ideas about technique and equipment (including Leica) for street photography:

http://www.pinkheadedbug.com/

OT: What microarray resources are you after? Useful websites/companies that do custom arrays/ready-made arrays/arraying equipment/tools for analysis..?

-- Richard Williams (richardw@icr.ac.uk), January 17, 2002.

Assuming that SP stands for street photography (right?), then for me it is one lens, one camera and no bag. I wrap the strap of my M6 around my right wrist and carry the camera at my side. On the camera is a 35mm lens, which I picked based on a lesson in an old Leica book about the 35mm lens and its field of view. The lesson: for a 35mm lens, the distance from the subject is equal to the long side of the negative. if you are six feet away from a subject, the field of view on the long side of the negative is 6 feet, whether you hold the camera horizontal or vertical. If you can "eye-ball" the space from your subject, and rotate it 90 degrees, then you get pretty close to good framing without bringing the camera to your eye. Obviously, a well framed and perfectly focused shot is the first choice, but for people in the street, simply raising the camera could ruin a moment. I will accept the compromise of a grab shot if it allows me to remain invisible and not cause the subject to react to me.

The photo below is a simple grab shot without viewing through the camera knowing full well that the girl and the guy reacting to the girl would be in the frame... using the above rule.

street shot with 35mm lens

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), January 17, 2002.

Oh right.....street photography.I thought sp was short for semi- pro....DOH!!!!

ok. 35mm 1.4 and 50mm 1.4.

-- Phil Kneen (philkneen@manx.net), January 17, 2002.

Can you imagine what a great street photographer you would be if you were VERY,VERY tall (basketball 7 footer type,etc) or VERY,VERY short (medical dwarf)??? You could get some really great vantage points and wierd angles that average people can't do without the aid of stilts or walking around town on their knees..........just a thought.....?

-- Phil Kneen (philkneen@manx.net), January 17, 2002.

Most of my "street shooting" (I spend as much time in bars and cafes as on the street, but the general idea is the same) is done with a single camera and lens (and a Sekonic 408 meter).

During the day, it's usually an M3 and 50 DR-Summicron; at night, and M3 and 50 Summilux. If I'm hanging out rather than moving around, I'll often have a 90 Summicron in my bike bag or coat pocket in addition to a 50. On those occasions when I'm using two camera (one with b&w film and one with color), I usually have a 50 on one and the 90 on the other.

Shot below was done with the single M3/Summilux combo on one of those rare occasions when I was taking photos rather than wearing it as jewelry. ; )

"are there any other closet molecular biologists on this forum?!"

Sort of--I was a neuroscience nerd. I've had my fill of dealing with immunocytochemistry and radioimmunoassays.

-- Mike Dixon (mike@mikedixonphotography.com), January 17, 2002.

50/1.4 M6 in hand Canon Powershot S300 + Nikon F501 w/ 105/2.5 in bag + film, batteries, memory cards

I really want to try out a Speed Graphic or something, though, that would be pretty cool.

-- Ken Kwok (kk353@yahoo.com), January 17, 2002.

Richard,

I am looking for ready-made Arabidopsis microarrays that I DON'T have to submit a proposal to get my hands on. By far, the most extensive library of EST's on any one array has to be at Yale... but they're pretty ahem... selective, about releasing these arrays to researchers. While they are pretty close to "public institution" some of their policies remind me of Affymetrix (snooty).

Say, do you know someone at Yale doing the Arabidopsis arrays? Maybe you can put in a good word for me!

My other creative outlet for the day is figuring out how to market my "accessories" to all you good people one day.

...but I'm a Canadian sooooooo you know our saying right?

WE AIM TO PLEASE!

-- John (ouroboros_2001@yahoo.com), January 17, 2002.

Leica AF-C1 and a couple of extra rolls of film in my pockets. (SP is a very bad acronym.)

-- (bmitch@home.com), January 17, 2002.

I think most street photographers use the 28-35mm focal lengths, but I like 50 & longer (the 35 works better for me if I'm going to be doing some cityscape & interior shots). Unless I'm traveling, I tend to be a 1 body-1 lens guy, so when I use my Leicas for SP, I'll usually carry the M2 + 35 (sometimes a 85/90/100 or 135 if I decide to carry an extra lens) or the M3 + 50 (also sometimes w/a 85/90/100, 135, or even a 180), with allowances for light conditions & the type of look I want to capture. I do the same thing when I use my other brand RFs (Contax II/IIa, Canon P, G2, etc.). I usually don't carry 2 bodies, but when I do, it's usually to devote 1 to color & 1 to B&W (or 1 to fast film & 1 to slow) rather than having different lenses on each.

-- Chris Chen (Washington, DC) (furcafe@cris.com), January 17, 2002.

BTW:

I see that my choice of lenses is probably the hardest to accomodate. I now use a 35 lux and 75 lux on 2 different bodies. The challenge will be to retain the functionality of my harness system while minimizing the "visual" impact of the system so that most people won't feel like shutter dorks/ IRA hitmen in them.

The creative juices are DEFINITELY flowing.

-- John (ouroboros_2001@yahoo.com), January 17, 2002.

"...of the time. Nikon F5 with 35mm f2 Nikon F100 with 50mm f1.4 Leica M6ttl with 35mm 1.4 Asph(just added a couple of weeks ago). Nikon SB28 & Leica SF20 flash with sc17 cord. Sekonic L-508 light meter Cleaning kit,spare batteries,note-pad,pen,etc,etc."

You carry this lot all the time...?!? Hoiw many cameras can you use at one time?!?

Try the other way, an M4-P with 35 F2 and a Sekonic in the pocket! It really is a lot simpler and an awful lot lighter, quicker, easier,etc, etc!

One camera, one lens, a bit of vision - that's all you need.

-- Giles Poilu (giles@monpoilu.icom43.net), January 17, 2002.

John, You're very strange and, judging by the amount of time you lavish on this forum, you're obsessed with gear. May I suggest you spend your time shooting more and fretting less about your wardrobe and equipment array.

-- Gulley Jimson (gulleyjimson@hotmail.com), January 17, 2002.

John,

Arabidopsis? - Isn't that the funny little plant thing? :-)

I guess these are the Yale guys you mentioned:

http://info.med.yale.edu/wmkeck/dna_arrays.htm

9.2k sounds very good for an Arabidopsis array if it's properly diverse - UniGene only lists something like 11k clusters for this organism. Unfortunately, I don't know anyone at the Yale centre, and our collaborators work with human arrays. It's a pity the Ontario microarray centre doesn't supply Arabidopsis chips - their prices for other organisms are pretty reasonable.

In a vain attempt to say something on-topic, do you have any nice images of Arabidopsis taken with Leica equipment? Otherwise, maybe I should post some immunoflourescence captures from a Leica confocal microscope!

-- Richard Williams (richardw@icr.ac.uk), January 17, 2002.

"one camera,one lens,a bit of vision-that's all you need"....Yeh,right oh Giles.Tommorrow I'll just take a body and a lens out with me,oh,and a bit of vision.When I get back with no photo's I'll just tell my agent that I ran out of batteries,dropped my camera and couldn't get 'that' photograph because I only had 1 lens.....but don't worry,I had loads of vision! And what do you think she will say? I'll tell you Giles-she'll say "GET THE F$%K AWAY OUT OF MY C*%^TING OFFICE AND FIND ANOTHER FU^!ING AGENT YOU F£CKING PRI% K!!!!!!!".......I'll carry the bag thanks Giles

-- Phil Kneen (philkneen@manx.net), January 17, 2002.

TLX, 15mm/f3.5 lens

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), January 17, 2002.

If I just grab a camera, it will be an M6 with a 35 Summilux-ASPH. If I'm going out for the day looking for pictures, I have a small Domke bag that I stuff with an M6 or an M6TTL .58, a 28 Summicron, the 35 'lux and a 50 Summilux. I have been using the 28 a lot in recent months. I seldom use the 50. This shot was taken with a 28 Elmarit.

http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=163814&size=lg

-- Robert Schneider (rolopix@yahoo.com), January 17, 2002.

Richard,

That link is old. They are now up to their Generation III arrays with up to 14k known genes spotted onto them. Yes, I have some M pictures of the plants that I work with (Brassica napus) and also some great images from our Leica DMA (with automated stage) of dividing microspores that are combo pictures of Normanski and Hoecsht staining. I don't know about the bokeh though!

Oh, the models are quite photogenic as well! Never hurts.

-- John Chan (ouroboros_2001@yahoo.com), January 17, 2002.

Giles,why do you always have to contradict everything that people say?

Someone asks a question,others input into that with answers and you slate everyone for their ideas and methods.Can you tell us why this is?

The way you do it isn't necessarilly the 'right' way you know.But there is always someone like you in every forum isn't there?

-- Sally Webb (sallywebster@hotmail.com), January 17, 2002.

Hello Sally, I haven't heard from you before. The post which I guess has offended you is really just a little joke between me and Phil.

I don't know what you base your assumption on, but you obviously haven't been lurking quite long enough to make such a generalisation.

This is called a f-o-r-u-m, it is for people to share their thoughts and opinions.

Sometimes people agree sometimes they don't.

I'm terribly sorry if that is so offensive to you, instead of whinging try inputting something of use.

-- Giles Poilu (giles@monpoilu.icom43.net), January 17, 2002.

Sally(doesn't Sally Webster live in Coranation Street?),I've only been coming into this site for a couple of weeks(I had a question about an M6 and just can't stay away!) and it seems to be'six of one and half a dozen of the other',so please don't take it to heart.Instead of just sitting on the sidelines,JOIN IN!

-- Phil Kneen (philkneen@manx.net), January 17, 2002.

BTW (sorry!), Sally you're not a friend of Sandy Allen per chance?

Uncanny similarity in your friendly nature.

-- Giles Poilu (giles@monpoilu.icom43.net), January 17, 2002.

Good golly, Gulley!! If we rid this place of equipment obession and debates over technical minutiae, we'll lose 80% of the content. And people who spend most of their time out taking photos are going to be too concerned with figuring out how to solve their own photographic problems to tell everyone else what they should be doing! There wouldn't be anything left!! ; )

-- Mike Dixon (mike@mikedixonphotography.com), January 17, 2002.

John:

Didn't you originally ask a question about SP? Oh well, I'll answer one IMO anyway!

Either:

the 24 on the .58 body and the 35 on the .72 body or the 28 on the .58 body and the 50 on the .72 body or the 35 on the .58 body and the 50 on the .72 body or the 35 on the .58 body and the 90 on the .72 body, depending only on the mood I am in at the time I grab the gear out of the cabinet.

;) Jack

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), January 17, 2002.

Dixon: I think you should post another pic to cool things off. Maybe something from your "private collection"? Eh? Dennis

-- Dennis Couvillion (couvilaw@aol.com), January 17, 2002.

John- The reason you sold the 24mm Elmarit-M Asph is because it was too specialized a lens, correct? It would not work as the second lens of a two-lens outfit. It could not be a "walkin' around lens", right? I'm glad I saw that post, as I was considering the 24 and the 75 for a 2-lens outfit. I wonder if the 28 would share some of the problems of the 24? And might the 24 work better on a SLR? You said something about having to be careful not to tilt the camera, as I recall. Did you have a 24mm vf?

-- Frank Horn (owlhoot45@hotmail.com), January 17, 2002.

I'm going to risk getting flamed (actually, I couldn't give a flying flame if I did...) and answer your question Frank. I don't know if I'm qualified to say that the 24 was too specialized a lens for me. It just didn't fit in with the way I "see" things. Its kinduv hard to explain unless your me but when I compose I tend to look for elements that are "pleasantly crowded" to tell the story. I don't really go for that "shotgun" approach to street photography where you rely on DOF and wide angle coverage to "driftnet" the symbol. This is probably just me too but I really grew to despise the accessory finder. Everytime I used that thing the tip of my nose ended in the eyepiece. And I have a combination complexion (ie oily). It got to the point where I was concentrating more on NOT smudging the eyepiece than the photo at hand... never a good prognosis.

...And I'm economizing on my kit too (in terms of lenses that I carry). I'm probably somewhere between Phil and Giles. I shoot most of my stuff with the 35 so for 80% of the day I can get by with my new 35 lux. The other 20% of the time is between the 50 and 75 (although I'm leaning towards the short tele of the 75 cause I like that lens). Either that or I go out with 1 body and the 50 cron. Sad to say but my 90 Tele elmarit sees little use.

So 80% of the time I use the 35 and the other 205 is "playtime"

And no one gets in the way of my playtime!!!

;-)

-- John Chan (ouroboros_2001@yahoo.com), January 17, 2002.

after reading this thread to this point, I am so amused that I nearly needed oxygen administered. Between mircrobiology and misplaced enflamed dignity, I almost forgot to give an on-topic response- not that it matters, at this point.

For SP (that's taking pictures- oops, I mean making images) I carry an M3 and 50 or 35 F2, with a 90 in my pocket. No big surprises.

I've only been checking this site for a few days now, but I'm highly entertained. Thanks all.

drew

-- drew (swordfisher@hotmail.com), January 18, 2002.

Browse the archives and stick around another week, Drew. It gets better.

My favorite is a hi-mag M (M3 or .85 TTL) and 50 Summicron. But life is full of vaiety.

-- Ken Shipman (kennyshipman@aol.com), January 18, 2002.

My M6 and 35, 1:2.0 when SP is the goal. When I want to do more I bring along my SWC and M4 with 21, 1:3.4 SA, and 90, 1:2.8 TE.

I use the M6 to meter, preset the others, and adjust as necessary mentally in order to learn/think to judge light better. "f8 on this side of the street (sun); f2.8 on the other side (shade).

-- Chris Chen (chrischen@msn.com), January 18, 2002.

I also rather like to have bw & color in my bodies rather than two different lenses, so mostly it is a M2 (BW) with a 50/2 Jupiter and a M2 (Color) with a 50/2 Hexanon.

Otherwise with one body I'd take a 35/90 as an alternative - but usually a 50 is enough.

Kai

-- Kai Blanke (kai.blanke@iname.com), January 18, 2002.

My preferred combination for street photography is a .58 M6 TTL body with a 28-35-50 f/4 Tri-Elmar. This lens just seems to get better the more I use it. In my bag is a .72 body with 50/1.4 Summilux for low light conditions.

-- Ray Moth (ray_moth@yahoo.com), January 18, 2002.

I like to roam around with my M6 .72, 35 and 50cron's, along with a 90 Tele Elmarit. It is a comfortable size kit and all the lenses use the same size filters. Iam another one who does not like to shoot from the hip. I may occasionaly zone focus, but I always frame the image. When photagraphing people I like to interact with them. I rarely photograph anyone on the sly. I am seriously considering adding a 75lux to my kit for low light situations. Does anyone street shoot with the 75lux?

Steve

-- Steve Belden (otterpond@tds.net), January 18, 2002.

I tend to choose a lens depending on how crowded the place I'm is: - Few people: 50mm - A good deal of people but you can still move freely: 35mm - Very crowded, kindof stuck in the crowd: 21mm

These are just tendencies - not rules.

-- Xavier C. (xcolmant@powerir.com), January 18, 2002.

My list, varying regarding season (long vs short daylight, etc.) and time of day.

Leica M6 / M2 / M3 / M4. Lens: 15, 20, 25, 28, 35 (most often shot waist level in daylight; 50/2 and 1.4 in available darkness (if packing a lot of lenses use the lighter f2. In available darkness Ultron 28/1.9; broad daylight: Minolta 28/3.5 (limited edition, very compact, very nice feel).

Have used Konica AF with built-in 35/2. Some stunning stuff at night and in New York in the daytime with (more or less) stationary subjects. Missed my best shot, a guy riding a bicyle with a cat on his head in Osaka, thanks to this camera. Tends to stay home. But who knows?

Minolta CLE, Konica RF. Love the autoexposure. Love the 40mm. Hate Konica's slow shutter button and CLE's lack of 35 and 50 mm frames. Love the CLE's compactness and fairly quiet shutter.

Leitz Minolta CL. Love the very quiet shutter. Hate the meter.

Bessa T: Light and nice with trigger winder. Damned noisy shutter.

Like built-in meters of my M-6's. Love on the top meter / shutter speed dial sync. with M-2, M-4, M-3. Like Rapidwinder / motor capabilities of the M6's. M-2 / M-3 rewind lever easier with aux. v.f. than M-4 / M-6.

Also use Fuji TX-1 w. 45 and 90 mm lenses. Sometimes Canon TV Delux w. built-in trigger winder.

These days: M-6's / sometime in combo with Hexar RF or CLE.

Regret: Pull of gravity.

-- Alex Shishin (shishin@pp.iij4-u.or.jp), January 18, 2002.

Now, I do feel odd. My prefered lens is the 28. It seems to work naturally for me. Should I see a doctor or what ? :-)

-- Stephane Bosman (stephane.bosman@2ci.net), January 18, 2002.

Obligatory on topic response: I usually carry just the 35, tho' I can imagine a 50'd be nice, and there are times when the 90 is nice. I guess I like to compose a little longer, and would like the discretion afforded by a longer lens, rather than shooting from the hip. Or is SP strictly Shooting from the hiP? I'll try Al's triangulation thingamerjig next time.

Sally, don't be put off by some of the folks here. It's a bit snappier than usual, to be sure. Usu. it's quite civilized, people are patient and even congenial. You can search the archives and find that. Maybe people were posting right before their meals, and could've used a snack and instead got a little punchy?

;-P

-- Tse-Sung (tsesung@yahoo.com), January 18, 2002.

Hi, John:

So you didn't intend to open a can of worms . . .? You can see that some of us are easily able to do it whatever your precautions.

M3, 50 Cron, Gossen Scout II.

Regards

-Iván

-- Iván Barrientos M (ingenieria@simltda.tie.cl), January 21, 2002.

John,

You forgot to add the usual disclaimer: "No worms were injured in the making of this photograph." This would have avoided anxiety for those of us who are of a sensitive disposition. :-)

-- Ray Moth (ray_moth@yahoo.com), January 22, 2002.