Thanks to the plethora of adapters on the market, we can adapt just about any vintage optic to practically any camera body, old or new. I was thinking about this today when playing with a Zeiss 45mm f/2.8 Tessar, which I can mount to my Olympus OM-D, Canon 5D Mark II, Contax 139Q, and Contax G1.

This Zeiss Tessar was released in the 1980s and still produces colorful, sharp, contrasty images today, regardless of the camera it's mounted on.

Why would you want to do such a thing? After all, most of us have comparable focal lengths in their native mounts. Well, not all 45mm primes are the same. In fact, none of them are. Lenses are the paintbrushes for our photography. Each one brings a different texture to the canvas.

Plus, we shoot differently with manual focusing optics than with AF. We have to slow down a bit leading to more careful composition. We can experiment with the depth of field scale. And different glass combinations bring unique contrast and color to the images.

I've still have my favorite lenses from the 1980s and 90s. They rarely malfunction. And they hold their value reasonably well... much better than the camera bodies they were originally mounted on.

Chances are good that you can find an adapter to fit one of your older optics on to your latest digital camera. My experience has been that it's worth the effort.

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With more evidence that Samsung is leaving the photo market (as reported by DP Review), it raises the question about buying discontinued gear. What are the pros and cons?

The pros are obvious. Quality merchandise at a reduced price. As time goes on, discontinued items become more affordable. This is particularly attractive to photographers who already have an investment in compatible lenses and accessories. They can hedge their bets by purchasing backup bodies and additional glass without breaking the budget.

There is some risk to this strategy, however. Repair work might become more difficult to find over time. And essentially, your toolbox is frozen in time with no future developments to the product line. If you're an amateur shooting just for the love of it, this shouldn't be a problem. But if you're in a competitive situation, it may be harder to compete over the coming months and years.

The other problem with this situation is that the used market takes a hit too. Suddenly others are looking to dump their kits for as much money as they can recover, hoping to start over with another brand. So the equipment you have at home decreases in value, at least for the time being.

And if you're new to the product line, I would be cautious about jumping in. Yes, the prices are tempting. But digital gear is different than analog. Film cameras have interchangeable sensors (in a sense, right?), but a digital camera is truly locked in time. At the current rate in change with electronics, buying discontinued could be fun for an exceptional piece, but not so much for a system.

So, what do you do? If you like the camera system, there's really no harm in continuing to use it. If you want to sell, you need to so quickly before the used market becomes saturated with this particular brand. If it's quality gear, the prices should climb back upward over time.

What a lot of photographers do is hang on to the few items they cherish and want to continue to use, even if casually. Then sell the remainder of the inventory on the used market before it declines in value. They can begin the transition to new equipment using the capital generated by sales.

I have a lot of discontinued items in my inventory. Most of them are cameras that I still like shooting with, though not for my professional work. But I'm also diligent about selling the stuff that I don't use. It's better to have that revenue for new endeavors.

The Nimbleosity Report

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This is The Digital Story Podcast #522, March 8, 2016. Today's theme is "Time Waits for No One." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

We have what we love to do, then we have the things that must be done. I'm coming off a January and February where I had to stay focused on my work every day. The only photo shoots I had were assignments. Otherwise I was sitting at the computer writing or in the recording studio making movies.

On some of those days, I so wanted to wander outside with my camera and just take pictures. Of anything. I didn't care what, as long as it wasn't an assignment. Those two months are the inspiration for today's show. Finding ways to find the time to do the things we love, while still meeting our responsibilities to work and family.

Time Waits for No One

One of the things I do during heavy work periods, is that I bring out one of my favorite cameras, and I sit it on the desk next to my computer. Every now and then, I'll pick it up, focus with it, and maybe even take a picture. Then I'll sit it next to the computer and go back to work.

We can't spend our whole lives waiting for when we have time to do the things we love. We have to make time. And for me, I have to make time to take pictures. Here are a few of the things I do to make room for my personal photography.

• Take daily walks. I need to anyway for my health. I make sure that I have a camera with me.
• Set up an indoor studio. This can be something small in the corner of the room. Maybe just a shooting box with a light and reflector. But having something set up allows me to take a 15 minute break and photograph something.
• Use a macro lens. The thing about close up photography, instead of having to go far to get a shot, you get close. This means that you can photograph almost anything, and it will be interesting.
• Have non-shooting projects going. I have an inventory project in progress that I can work on a few minutes here and there. I use the mini-studio for the shooting, and fill out the records using software on my Mac.
• Plant a garden. A simple back porch garden can yield a bounty of images. In addition to the plants themselves, there are the critters they attract. This entire world is waiting for you outside your backdoor. So even lunch breaks can yield great shots.
• Commute Shoot. Figure out how to go back and forth to work without having to drive a car. Riding public transportation or ride sharing gives you the opportunity to take pictures instead of curse traffic.

In the News

DxO ONE Firmware Update 1.3 - covered by DxO

The DxO ONE now features a dramatically enhanced standalone experience including the new OLED Framing Assistant - A monochrome live preview helps you quickly and easily compose your standalone shot in a fun, retro way. Plus, photos and videos are stored on the DxO ONE SD card and transfer to your iPhone with a tap, and recall settings - Use the DxO ONE in standalone mode with custom capture settings established in connected mode. The price has come down too. It's now available for $464.

News from ImageFramer

Version 3.4 of ImageFramer is now available. A few of the highlights include:

• They've added about 60 new celebration frame designs. They can be found in "Holiday and Celebrations" Collection, in "Celebration" Set. They are part of the Standard frames and are available for free to all the customers.
• "Watermarks" were renamed to "Overlays". The origin of the name "watermark" was in the initial intended use for these layers -- adding copyright signs or artist names on the framed images. Over time, though, we've found that the name was confusing because "watermarks" have a more specific meaning, so we decided that "overlays" is a clearer name for these special layers.
• Another addition to the interface is the lock button on the right side of the bottom bar, near the aspect ratio button. When the lock is locked, ImageFramer will apply the minimal crop that will keep the framed result in the target aspect ratio. Here's the blog post explaining how it works.

Get 25 percent off by visiting our landing page at http://www.apparentsoft.com/tds.

Member Quotes of the Week

Intelligent comments culled from The Digital Story Facebook page.

In regard to last week's Facebook Post: "Couples Ditch Wedding Photographers for Amateurs" we had some terrific comments, and I want to share one with you now.

Sean wrote: "I hear photographers complain about this and the $500 Craigslist photographer, but the simple truth is that these people were never their potential clientele in the first place....There will always be people willing to pay for quality."

John wrote: "The weird thing about wedding photography is we provide the memories. The food is forgotten (hopefully) the next day. All that money spend on alcohol, flowers etc etc all of it is transient. The only thing that will last the length of the marriage is the wedding album or the USB of memories you deliver soon after the day. Yet the wedding photographer is the thing where people complain most about the cost."

And Tillie has the last say: "Looks like a good time for UK photographers to up their game (and all of us perhaps) and ask the question, "What exceptional value can I bring to the table as a professional?" I'm trying to figure out how to "wow" the bride and groom at their upcoming wedding that I'm shooting. Maybe I'll take a few IR shots."

Post your thoughts on our Facebook page. Believe me, I read them. Also, we have a question going on Facebook right now: "If you had to pick one film camera from the past, that you craved, but couldn't afford, what would it be?"

If you had to pick one film camera from the past, that you craved, but couldn't afford, what would it be?

• Leica M4 from 1978 with a Summilux f1.4 50mm
• Pre-war Contax III
• Hasselblad
• Maxxam 9000
• Nikon F2H
• Contax G2
• Rolleiflex SL2000F 35mm
• Fuji 645 wide angle
• The Minolta Maxxam 7
• Canon A1
• Olympus OM-4t
• Nikon FM2n
• Zeiss Ikon Contarex SLR
• PPentax LX

Updates and Such

Pt. Reyes Photography Workshop - We have one room open at the Pt. Reyes Photography Workshop, Aug. 19-21 2016. If you want to hang out with us at Straus Ranch House and explore some of the most beautiful coastline in the world, visit the TDS Workshops page and put yourself on the reserve list.

Out of Chicago Update - The debut of The Nimble Photographer Workshop sold out on Friday, June 24. Because there is a wait list, we've added a second workshop on Thursday June 23. I hope you can join me in Chicago this coming June. There's still time for Early Bird pricing.

And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs.

See you next week!

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. And from those images, I choose the TDS Member Photo of the Day.

Podcast Sponsors

Red River Paper - Keep up with the world of inkjet printing, and win free paper, by liking Red River Paper on Facebook.

ImageFramer Take your photos to the next level with ImageFramer. Visit www.apparentsoft.com today.

MacPaw Creators of CleanMyMac 3 and other great software for Apple computers. Visit www.macpaw.com today.

The Nimbleosity Report

Do you want to keep up with the best content from The Digital Story and The Nimble Photographer? Sign up for The Nimbleosity Report, and receive highlights twice-a-month in a single page newsletter. Be a part of our community!

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Chances are you've accumulated more camera gear than you realize. A good way to keep track of it is by using home inventory software. There are a variety of options for both Mac and Windows computers. I've been using an app called Home Inventory on my Mac ($24.99), with a companion app called Mobile Backup for the iPhone.

The app is easy to use, and it does a great job of organizing my equipment. I can keep track of serial numbers, the price I paid, condition of the item, and lots more. There's a photo box to add an image (more on that in a moment), and a notes field where I can keep a running commentary on the gear. So if I loan it to someone or sell the item, I can include that information within the record.

One of the fun side benefits of setting up this inventory has been an excuse to practice my product photography. Even though I only include the front facing shot in the inventory record, I shoot the camera from all angles, ala eBay style, and keep those images stored in my Capture One Catalog. It's a good idea to have these images on hand - if I decide that I want to sell any of the pieces for example - and I'm constantly improving my product shots with of this practice.

As for the inventory itself, I have a variety of backup options, including to my Mac, Dropbox, or to the iPhone. The iPhone feature is handy because I can view the entire inventory on my mobile device, which is helpful when I don't have a computer with me (which is a lot of the time.)

Organizing your equipment inventory is one of those off-season projects that you can work o as you have time. That effort provides a little extra insurance if theft or damage befalls your gear. Filing a claim is much easier when you have all of the information at your fingertips. Plus, the product photography aspect of it is just a bonus.

The Nimbleosity Report

Do you want to keep up with the best content from The Digital Story and The Nimble Photographer? Sign up for The Nimbleosity Report, and receive highlights twice-a-month in a single page newsletter. Be a part of our community!

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After months or research, testing, and practice, my 5+ hour video training Capture One Pro Essential Training is now available. Here's a taste of what's in store for you.

These movies are designed to show you the easiest ways to make the transition to Capture One. The techniques are straight-forward and uncomplicated. The focus is to get you up and running as quickly as possible, so you can be productive in your new photo management environment. This is a best practices approach.

These tutorials will be particularly helpful to former Aperture users looking for a new home, and for unhappy Lightroom photographers who want better RAW decoding and improved performance. I myself made the transition from Aperture to Capture One, and I show you how you can too.

After working with these movies, you might be surprised at just how easy it was to learn this application. Take a look. I think you'll be happy you did.

More Capture One Pro Tips and Techniques

Improve your skills by watching Capture One Pro Essential Training now available on lynda.com. More than 5 hours of tips, tricks, and techniques. Plus many free movies using advanced techniques.

Thinking About Making the Transition from Aperture or Lightroom? - Download my free eBook titled, Rocky Nook's Guide to Moving to Capture One Pro. I show you the steps to create a test library, then build the foundation for a smooth transition to Capture One Pro.

Want to Comment on this Post?

You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.

If you've purchased the award winning Affinity Photo ($49, Mac App Store), you also received a handful of editing extensions for Photos for OS X, including my favorite, Haze Removal.

I decided to try Haze Removal with an iPhone shot, because, well, I have a lot of those in my Photos library. Here's how it looked. (Check out the difference in the sky.)

Three adjustment sliders here: Distance, Strength, and Exposure Correction. Also notice that there's a Before/After slider so you can easily check your work.

When you download or upgrade to the latest version, the extensions are automatically loaded on to the Mac. You can turn them on and off in System Preferences > Extensions > Photos. This panel is also available by clicking on More at the bottom of the Extensions popup menu in Photos.

Speaking of editing in Photos, a great shortcut is to click on a picture, then press the Return key to go straight to ending mode. Once you're there, the Extensions button is at the bottom of the list on the right side.

Affinity Photo includes some other helpful editing extensions in the bundle, but Haze Removal is my favorite of the bunch.

Master Photos for OS X

(It's More Powerful than You Think)

For hands-on tutorials, be sure to take a look at Photos for OS X Essential Training on lynda.com. I cover everything you need to know to get the most from this surprisingly powerful image management application.

More Help and Insights on Photos for OS X

Don't forget about the Photos for OS X Special Feature Section on The Digital Story. It's a roundup of tutorials, videos, and articles focused on helping you master Apple's latest photo management software. You can also find it under Photography in the top nav bar.

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This is The Digital Story Podcast #521, March 1, 2016. Today's theme is "Good Photos Under Bad Conditions." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

In the movie, "Bridge of Spies," James Donovan asks accused Russian spy Rudolf Abel, "Aren't you worried?" Able calmly replies, "Would that help?" That was clearly one of the best lines in movies last year, delivered by Mark Rylance who earned an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. In the end, both Donovan and Abel survived their challenges.

Every line of work has its obstacles. You don't have to be a Russian spy to face adversity. This week's show focuses on challenges that photographers encounter, and some suggestions for overcoming them and returning home with great images.

Good Photos Under Bad Conditions

Here are 6 basic challenges that we all might face at one time or another.

• Inclement Weather. Which by the way, sometimes makes for great photographs. The one item I want in snow or rain is a lens hood to keep the droplets off the front of my optics. A good camera bag is helpful too. But I don't waste a lot of time with plastic bags and stuff. A compact umbrella is helpful to create a temporary workspace. Other than that, a protection filter, lens hood, good camera bag, and I'm ready to roll.
• Law Enforcement and Security Officers. You're going to get a lot of different opinions on this, but mine is still to not be confrontational. I'd rather talk my way out of the situation than be carried away. I draw the line at anyone touching me or my gear. In those situations I move along. And if appropriate, file a complaint afterward.
• Family Vacation. You have to be creative to get good travel images while vacationing with family. First, call shotgun. If you're not driving, you're in position to take pictures. Second, get up before everyone else, go shoot, then rejoin them for breakfast. Try to avoid dinner at twilight. Be willing to negotiate shooting time in exchange for activities they want to do.
• Malfunctioning Equipment. Even though I travel light, I still like to have one layer of redundancy. A spare body in a soft pouch covers so many bases. I think the GM5 or the OM-D E-M10 make great safety nets. Put a body cap lens on them, or use the venerable 17mm f/2.8.
• Threat of Violence or Theft. This is my least favorite of the bunch. Especially when we have incidents such as TIME photojournalist Christopher Morris being apparently choke-slammed to the ground today during a Donald Trump rally in Redford, Virginia, by a US Secret Service agent. But there are many other situations too, and you have to maintain your street sense while working. It's good to fall into the zone as a photographer, but maybe not so in hostile environments. Also, we have the luxury of not taking our best camera into uncertain conditions. Sometimes a backup camera is the way to go. And one last note on this: watch for cars and buses.
• Fatigue and Apathy. This is the constant personal battle. One leads to the other IMHO. If you feel like you're not seeing any good images, take a break. Have a coffee. Browse the web on your phone. Take a nap. Find little ways to recharge the batteries and get your shooting mojo back.

In the News

Olympus Fox Brown limited edition OM-D E-M10 II launched worldwide - covered by DP Review

A brown and chrome version of the OM-D E-M10 II compact system camera, first announced in January, has been launched worldwide by Olympus. The new version is a limited edition, of which only 3500 will be made and distributed, and Olympus hopes the unique coloration and grained texture of the finish will attract collectors.
The camera is the same as the standard OM-D E-M10 II, but comes with a brown leather-effect cover, a premium leather strap and a silver-colored lens cap. It will only be available in a kit with the company's 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 EZ Pancake standard zoom lens.

The Olympus OM-D E-M10 II Fox Brown costs $899 with lens and is available to order now.

Springtime Cleaning Note from MacPaw

Clean up space on your Mac for new photo shoots with CleanMyMac 3 by MacPaw. It's an easy way to brush away extra files and retrieve precious disk space. CleanMyMac 3 also accelerates your Mac and instantly frees up RAM. Top features include:

• Cleaning hard drive
• Speeding up system
• Removing caches from Photos app
• Uninstalling apps and add-ons

Get 30 percent off by visiting our landing page at macaw.com/tds.

Member Quotes of the Week

Intelligent comments culled from The Digital Story Facebook page.

In regard to last week's Facebook Post: "The Reluctant Portrait Photographer" we had some terrific comments, and I want to share one with you now.

Matthew wrote: "The Reluctant Photographer was a great segment. Besides the "don't be creepy" advice, I appreciated the be professional tip. Such a simple thing that makes a world of difference."
Tillie wrote: "Hey Derrick, thanks for your comments and insights about portrait photography in The Reluctant Photographer. . I just had to laugh - "don't be creepy". Seriously, it's so important to make a genuine connection with clients and keep the conversation going. Be authentic."
Joe added: "Really useful advice in The Reluctant Portrait Photographer. I am prone to geek out on cool lighting effects so it's good to be reminded that rapport with the people is what really counts with portraits."

Post your thoughts on our Facebook page. Believe me, I read them. Also, we have a question going on Facebook right now: "If you had to pick one film camera from the past, that you craved, but couldn't afford, what would it be?"

Cool Accessory: Tamrac Goblin Body Pouch

Tamrac Goblin Body Pouch 1.4 - Part of an entire family of handy, affordable stash bags for your gear. Great idea! You can check them out here.

• Easy Cinch-to-Shut Drawstring
• Fused Quilted Interior
• Ripstop Nylon Exterior
• 3 colors: Kiwi, Ocean, and Pumpkin

Prices start at $13. The one I like, the Goblin 1.4 has interior dimensions of 4.2 x 5.0 x 3.5" and sells for $18.95. There's also a slimmer, longer model, the 1.0 with dimensions of 4.0 x 6.2 x 2.2" and sells for $16.95

Updates and Such

Pt. Reyes Photography Workshop - We have one room open at the Pt. Reyes Photography Workshop, Aug. 19-21 2016. If you want to hang out with us at Straus Ranch House and explore some of the most beautiful coastline in the world, visit the TDS Workshops page and put yourself on the reserve list.

Out of Chicago Update - The debut of The Nimble Photographer Workshop sold out on Friday, June 24. Because there is a wait list, we've added a second workshop on Thursday June 23. I hope you can join me in Chicago this coming June. There's still time for Early Bird pricing.

And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs.

See you next week!

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. And from those images, I choose the TDS Member Photo of the Day.

Podcast Sponsors

Red River Paper - Keep up with the world of inkjet printing, and win free paper, by liking Red River Paper on Facebook.

ImageFramer Take your photos to the next level with ImageFramer. Visit www.apparentsoft.com today.

MacPaw Creators of CleanMyMac 3 and other great software for Apple computers. Visit www.macpaw.com today.

The Nimbleosity Report

Do you want to keep up with the best content from The Digital Story and The Nimble Photographer? Sign up for The Nimbleosity Report, and receive highlights twice-a-month in a single page newsletter. Be a part of our community!

Want to Comment on this Post?

You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.

Film cameras are far more affordable today than in their heyday. You can purchase now what you only dreamed of in the past.

In my case, I craved the Contax G1 with the Zeiss 28mm, 45mm, and 90mm primes when it was released. I was working for a newspaper then, so that camera was far out of reach. But today, you can buy a G1 for about $150, then shop around for lenses. I finally get to shoot with my dream camera of the past. And it was worth the wait. I'm having a blast with it.

So, my question to you is: what would you buy today? What is that camera from the past that you would have loved to own? If you want to chime in, go to our TDS Facebook page and comment on this story. Or you can send me a tweet @Derrick_Story.

Either way, let me know. I'm going to share the results on next week's TDS Photography Podcast.

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You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.

Among its many processing skills, Capture One Pro is an excellent B&W converter. And thanks to its built-in presets, you can create a beautiful monochrome in just 3 steps.

Step One - Choose a Preset

Choose your image and go to B&W in the Tool Tabs. It's the icon that's box with a diagonal line through it. The list of presets are listed in the B&W pane.

Mouse over the list to see how the various options affect your image. Choose your favorite.

Step 2 - Fine Tune Exposure, Clarity, and Grain

Once you've applied the preset, fine tune the image using the other tools in the B&W panel. I like the B&W sliders and Clarity. Exposure and Levels are usually helpful too.

Don't forget to add some grain. It's a wonderful effect and adds a little crispness to the image too.

Export to Your Desktop

Now all you have to do is go to File > Export Images > Variants, then set the parameters and click Export 1 Variant. Your B&W photo will be ready to share.

More Capture One Pro Tips

I've published a short tutorial for organizing the User Collections area of your library. Take a look at One Way to Set Up Your Capture One Library. Following those simple techniques will help you add the structure that you crave for your image library.

Capture One Pro Essential Training on lynda.com

Later this month, my new video training titled, Capture One Pro Essential Training will be live on lynda.com. Keep your eyes peeled for my announcement. More than 100 movies that show you the easiest way to master your library, edit files, and output them in a variety of ways.

Thinking About Making the Transition from Aperture or Lightroom? - Download my free eBook titled, Rocky Nook's Guide to Moving to Capture One Pro. I show you the steps to create a test library, then build the foundation for a smooth transition to Capture One Pro.

Want to Comment on this Post?

You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.

Sigma just announced its first mirrorless body, the Sigma sd Quattro H Mirrorless Digital Camera.

The specs are rather impressive for the high resolution model (there will also be a standard resolution version).

• 45MP APS-H Foveon X3 Quattro CMOS Sensor
• Dual TRUE III Imaging Processing Engine
• Sigma SA Lens Mount
• 2.36m-Dot Electronic Viewfinder
• 3.0" 1.62m-Dot Main LCD & Sub Monitor
• Phase & Contrast-Detect Hybrid AF System
• Super-Fine Detail Exposure Mode
• ISO 6400 and 3.8 fps Continuous Shooting
• Quick Set Button; Lock Switch
• Focus Peaking; Lossless Compressed Raw

The thing that really jumps out at me is that you can use the entire Sigma SA line of lenses with the Quattro H (specs above) and the entry level Quattro. Given that the optics they've been producing lately are so good, this could be a stunning, compact package. No release date or price yet, but I'll be following the story.

The Nimbleosity Report

Do you want to keep up with the best content from The Digital Story and The Nimble Photographer? Sign up for The Nimbleosity Report, and receive highlights twice-a-month in a single page newsletter. Be a part of our community!

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You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.