JayKnight Life: Running, Reviews, Photos

This Nikon N-2020 came with an awesome strap, leather case and you can see the Grandpa key chain connected to the strap.    This is my first experience with and my first review of a Nikon Camera. I used to be, but I'm not longer the type of photographer that tries to argue about which brand is better(Canon, Nikon, Sony, Leica, ... etc.) I don't think this is like the Nintendo/Sega video game console wars of the 80s and 90s. If I had the money and time, there's no telling what brand of camera I'd own.       There are a lot of factors for photographers - both professional and casual - to take into account. Style, ease of use, compatibility (with other lenses), low light performance, megapixels and recommendations from bloggers, friends and photographers that they admire. Your choice of camera is a very personal one.. and it is sometimes a permanent one.       Often times a camera will even outlive it's owner. As you know from some of my ...

     The goal is to get something that works without paying too much or getting robbed.  There are no fail safe guides for buying on the internet -- especially when it's not from a brick and mortar store.         EBay, Amazon -- they're prime examples of scary internet stores. It's like going to Las Vegas -- you can either go for the attractions or you can go to gamble. If you gamble, you can waste all you money. But the lure of finding a great camera for a great price is just too much for this photographer.        That's why I've come up with a process for weeding out the good and bad sellers on EBay.        You'll need to begin your EBay search in your local camera shop. It's good to get a good idea of how much the camera you want is going for. That way, you can set limits for yourself. Even if you have all the money in the world. You want to set a realistic budget.  There's nothing worse ...

     So, somehow I got myself into another camera. But it's a film camera -- not a DSLR. It's a Yashica Electra G35. It's actually my second Yashica electra. The first was my dads... and it really was kind of beat up. Eventually, I may be able to get it opened up and fixed... but for now it's where a lot of old film cameras are. It's sitting on a bookshelf collecting dust.       The Yashica  Electro 35 first hit the stores in 1966 as the "working man's" Leica.  It was sold all the way up until the 80s. The Electro is a rangefinder camera. Which means you aren't actually looking through the lens when you are framing and taking your picture.  That feature creates a unique experience for the photographer. The shutter is extremely quite. The image in the rangefinder is always bright and crisp.    You focus by looking at the bright yellow diamond in the middle of the rangefinder and turning your focus nob until the two imag...

 So, since diving into the world of Photography, .. I've heard of this extravagant expensive pieces of machinery that take Amazing photos.     They're usually reserved for fashion and product,  photographers. They're called medium Format cameras.  I won't be reviewing one of those things today -sorry. But, I'll get pretty close.      A friend of mine kept telling me about this camera that she had collecting dust in a closet somewhere. So, Naturally  - as a fan of Pawn Stars and American Pickers-- I had my hopes really high for something cool and unique. When she finally got around to bring this camera kit around... I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. The name is familiar.. the camera was not. But I was still surprised.       Mamiya. A big, huge name in Medium format cameras .. next to Hasslebad and Pentax.. also used to make SLR cameras. In my opinion they seemed to be some pretty good quality cameras too. But the much s...