5D--Art vs. Science

You know how sometimes art and science blend perfectly to create something truly unique and spectacular...almost magical? Do y'all think the 5D is in that camp? I mean the look/feel (not just talking about IQ here) of the images it produces can't all be explained away with silicon or with 1s and 0s.

So my fear is this...even if Canon get the features right, even if the technology is all there, even if the low-light performance is fantastic...will the machine have that magic?

Or am I just crazy?

Thoughts anyone?

-3d3

threediii said:

You know how sometimes art and science blend perfectly to create
something truly unique and spectacular...almost magical? Do y'all
think the 5D is in that camp? I mean the look/feel (not just talking
about IQ here) of the images it produces can't all be explained away
with silicon or with 1s and 0s.

So my fear is this...even if Canon get the features right, even if
the technology is all there, even if the low-light performance is
fantastic...will the machine have that magic?

Click to expand...

The New camera FOR ME - WILL have that MAGIC!! ))

As always - 300D 2 days before my birthday in 2003 ..and 5D exactly two years later !! ))) I hold this magic ... LOL

First of all, congrats on choosing to make images with the 5D, great camera. The quality of the image is fantastic and I admit that I am an owner.

When artists speak about creating an image, be it with a camera or paint, they will first tell you about the feeling and meaning, and barely mention the method to create it. I am an artist who has decided to create art with the photographic medium, and to me, it is the image that matters most. Was it my 5D that helped, or my contax, crown graphic, holga, pinhole, or most recently a flat bed scanner? I really dont care, I am most interested in the final result, one that conveys my vision.

It's the image man, all else is just a tool to help you get to there. Last semester, I gave my students a project where they had to make imagery low tech. Digital or film, but the camera that they used had to be under a 50$ current value. The images were stunning and the students realized that it really is about the image.

Think about it a little, but do enjoy your 5D

I have one. It is just a camera, albeit a very good one.

No magic.

Dan

threediii said:

You know how sometimes art and science blend perfectly to create
something truly unique and spectacular...almost magical? Do y'all
think the 5D is in that camp? I mean the look/feel (not just talking
about IQ here) of the images it produces can't all be explained away
with silicon or with 1s and 0s.

So my fear is this...even if Canon get the features right, even if
the technology is all there, even if the low-light performance is
fantastic...will the machine have that magic?

Or am I just crazy?

Thoughts anyone?

-3d3

Click to expand...

--
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G Dan Mitchell
SF Bay Area
Blog: http://www.gdanmitchell.com/
Gallery: http://www.gdanmitchell.com/wpg2-3/

threediii said:

You know how sometimes art and science blend perfectly to create
something truly unique and spectacular...almost magical? Do y'all
think the 5D is in that camp? I mean the look/feel (not just talking
about IQ here) of the images it produces can't all be explained away
with silicon or with 1s and 0s.

So my fear is this...even if Canon get the features right, even if
the technology is all there, even if the low-light performance is
fantastic...will the machine have that magic?

Or am I just crazy?

Thoughts anyone?

-3d3

Click to expand...

I'm speaking out of ignorance, as I don't own a 5D (waiting for the new one). However, I believe the camera is just the tool, the photographers makes the art. The better the tool, the more versatility the artist has to challenge him/herself. As far as magic, you could say the camera is the wand and top hat, and the image is the white bunny.

Sometimes with an image that really hits a chord, there's something more going on there than just ink on paper (or glowing r-b-g pixels). Everything falls into place, and the shot reaches your soul in a fresh, memorable, and passionate way. I wouldn't call it magic. I'd call it a photographer's experience and creativity, mixed with a very capable tool, finding the perfect opportunity to capture something really special.

Or shear luck.

--
Insert pretentious obligatory quote here...

First, I acknowledge that this is a gear forum. This post is just my opinion for the types of images I capture: Landscapes and still macros.

However, when it comes down to making really good images, (for my needs) the factors I think are most important, in descending order are:
1. Selection of subject
2. Lighting
3. Composition

These first 3 are about 2 orders of magnitude importance above the next items.

4. Lens quality (this falls in importance if the lens is "good enough")
5. Post processing ability an vision
6. Output handling (printer and printer software)
7. Sensor
8. Camera

Many in this forum seem to turn my list upside down. As if great gear can possibly make you a great photographer! ;-)

Alfred Eisenstat once wrote a story about taking out a student who had bought the best camera available at the time. Alfred took along a Brownie Instamatic. After the outing they developed and printed the pictures. The prints from the high end camera were no match for the prints from the lowly Brownie.

Bottom line: great images are made in the mind, not in the camera.
(Naturally, 90% of the people in these forums already know this...)

Malcolm

therickman said:

Or shear luck.

Click to expand...

AMEN!

Great shots are often the result of just being in the right place at the right time.

I wish I were luckier...

Malcolm

I understand what you're trying to say. The 5D images do have a medium-format look to it... I guess one way to describe the quality is "magic".

From a more technical perspective, the reason that the 5D images have that unique look is due to a larger sensor. You get more bokeh with the 5D than a cropped-sensor camera. You will find the same "magic" look from the 1Ds cameras as well.

So, no need to worry about the 5D2 replacement losing that "magic" image quality of the 5D, it will only get better.