Trackside with Erik and Mike Vol. 1

[overall]

I liked photo one because I felt like it filled the frame a little better.

* Qustion to Erik or Mike. I have several lenses that use the pentax k mount. Is there a digital SLR camera body out there that also uses this mount and would allow me to use these lenses that I already have? I used them on a sigma "zoom man" camera (remember them?) from 1984.

Question 2. Will the Canon rebal eos digital camera body take other canon lenses?

Question 3. Years ago, 1986 I think, a camera service man told me he did not like the canon rebels because they were not mechanically reliable. Is there anything to this?

Question 4. Are any of these cameras anywhere near reasonably priced?

Thanks,George

[Anonymous]

I like the angle on shot #2, shows more of the train not just the engine and the first few cars. In the second shot the train seems to disapper in to the storm. But with a CP locomotive and the great action red paint you can't go wrong with both> About the weather, colder the better. Railfanning is just more fun when you can't feel the shutter below your finger.

mc367

[Anonymous]

I really liked both photos,good closeup,and the 2nd shot had pine trees for more scenery
Tom Boylan

[Anonymous]

Here are some answers to the above questions.

Question 1: I don't know
Question 2: Yes, the dRebel accepts all Canon EF lenses.
Question 3: Not that I have experienced.
Question 4: Unless you consider $1000 reasonable, no. The demand for these dSLR's is huge and I wouldn't expect prices to drop just yet.

I am a dRebel owner and I couldn't be happier with the camera. The small images on this site just don't do it justice. Check out the latest update on my site for a full resolution crop and some shots from the Digital Rebel.

[Anonymous]

Photo 2 is a better composition, photographically speaking; Photo 1 gives us better visual detail of the target. But I also enjoyed the narrative! I look forward to the next post.

[CRNFLKS]

Both photos are nice, but #2 is framed with trackside vegetaion which makes it the slightly better photo in my opinion. The shot angle and closeness of the train in #1 are better, but it's not enough of a tradeoff for the vegetation framing in #2. Definitely a "photo finish" though, and congrats to both photographers for nice shots!

CRNFLKS

[Anonymous]

I voted for #2 - I think it's a better composition because I like the lower angle point of view - it seems to have been shot with more zoom which visually emphasizes the bulk of the auto racks against the engine - there's more tension between them and more dynamic feel to it - but both are fine shots.
Just a comment to a couple of the postings - both Eric and Mike are using digital - none of their shots is on film.

[mikeyuhas]

QUOTE: Originally posted by overall

I liked photo one because I felt like it filled the frame a little better.

* Qustion to Erik or Mike. I have several lenses that use the pentax k mount. Is there a digital SLR camera body out there that also uses this mount and would allow me to use these lenses that I already have? I used them on a sigma "zoom man" camera (remember them?) from 1984.

Question 2. Will the Canon rebal eos digital camera body take other canon lenses?

Question 3. Years ago, 1986 I think, a camera service man told me he did not like the canon rebels because they were not mechanically reliable. Is there anything to this?

Question 4. Are any of these cameras anywhere near reasonably priced?

Thanks,George

Hi George,

I can't answer your Pentax query, but yes, the Canon Digital Rebel will indeed accept other Canon lenses. The only caveat, as far as I know, is that they need to be autofocus (i.e., not manual) lenses. In fact, that's exactly what made this camera so appealing to me: I bought an EOS-10S back in the early 1990s and since then have accumulated a small arsenal of Canon EF lenses. Each one works like a charm -- and Canon lenses are quite sharp!

As far as your Q3, I don't know about that, either. My recollection is the film-based Rebels are less expensive than their professional bretheren, but I believe that's due to the Rebels having fewer features.

Finally, the Digital Rebel is very affordable compared to, say a Canon EOS 1Ds (high end professional digital), but considerably more expensive than a point 'n' shoot digital you'll find in your local "stuff store." List price is US$999.99 ("under a thousand bucks" as they say), and most places that actually have them in stock are charging very near that.

For many folks (me included, but probably not Bergie), that's an incredible amount of money. This is actually my fourth digital camera. The first two cheap ones were very lame. They both exhibited very lengthy "shutter lag" -- the effect you get when you pu***he shutter button, assume the picture was actually taken so you lower the camera, and end up taking a picture of your feet. There's no such lag with this camera, which makes it ideallly suited to railroad action photography.

After Bergie closes the voting on this installment of "Trackside with Mike and Erik" [:-,], I'll point you to my website so you can see some more photos at a larger size.

It's heartwarming to see everyone's fast and thoughtful input on this topic. Thanks!

[Bergie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by gsander

At this point the vote is tied and the reasoning for votes it looks like is going for composition. If you want this to be a digital vs film contest you need to have similar compositions

Editor's Note: Actually, they're both digital shots using the Canon Digital Rebel. Maybe one of our future outings will include film versus digital.

Thanks for the great idea!

Erik

[mikeyuhas]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mikeyuhas

Finally, the Digital Rebel is very affordable compared to, say a Canon EOS 1Ds (high end professional digital), but considerably more expensive than a point 'n' shoot digital you'll find in your local "stuff store." List price is US$999.99 ("under a thousand bucks" as they say), and most places that actually have them in stock are charging very near that.

I know it's really bad form to reply to one's own message just to rack up trains.com posting points, but looking at Justin's site reminds me that the $999.99 figure quoted above includes that really nice 18-55mm lens. You can buy the body only for $899.99.

If you haven't looked at Justin's website, do yourself a favor and go there. He's got some fine material for you to see!

[Bergie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mikeyuhas

Finally, the Digital Rebel is very affordable compared to, say a Canon EOS 1Ds (high end professional digital), but considerably more expensive than a point 'n' shoot digital you'll find in your local "stuff store." List price is US$999.99 ("under a thousand bucks" as they say), and most places that actually have them in stock are charging very near that.

For many folks (me included, but probably not Bergie), that's an incredible amount of money...

Wait a second, let me set the record straight. First, your wife gave you your Digital Rebel for Christmas so actually she's the one that doesn't consider the cost of the Rebel "an incredible amount of money." You better have a talk with her. If she's spending that kind of money on you, she's gotta be spending two or three times as much on herself (which I would have to say is an acceptable ratio, knowing both of you). [:o)]

Second, that's an insane amount of money to me. [:0] But I pooled gift cards plus some Christmas and birthday money to pull this off. In other words, I saved. It didn't wind up under the Christmas tree for me (or in your case, in the back of the closet). Plus, I can use it for articles I write for Model Railroader which helps justify the long-term justification.

QUOTE: It's heartwarming to see everyone's fast and thoughtful input on this topic. Thanks!

Mike, that's why I always say our users are the best on the Internet. You better start taking some good pictures for these fine people. [:D]

Wait `til I see you in the office tomorrow mister.

Bergie

[bobgroh]

Photo 2 is my clear choice. Probably, as stated by someone else, because it has a little bit better composition. Question: what is relationship between dpi and picture pixel size? I know the size of my digital camera's picture in pixels but it would seem 'dpi' is dependent on resolution of viewing device(?).

[Anonymous]

The scenery was best in #2, But engine detail was best in #1. Both are good shots.
Good Luck.


johnsdrr
Connersville, IN.

[Anonymous]

With the "delay" time on digital cameras the tendency is to shoot "too early" rather than miss the shot altogether. Photo 1 was shot in the split second before the shot was lost completely.It gets my vote over photo 2, where the photographer had a few seconds to compose. (It's even more fun at -25 or -30C. Surprising how quickly the camera gets cold!)

[Anonymous]

That is another plus of the dRebel, the delay is so short, it is neligible. The actual stat is 128ms, which is as close to instantaneous as it needs to be.