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By
Published: Jul 9, 2009
Category: Gifts and Gadgets [4]
A photography book by Henri Cartier-Bresson [5] was a gift on my 16th birthday. His style of "street photography" or "real life reportage" style has influenced many photographers --- and was a major influence on me too. As was his camera --- Cartier-Bresson only used Leica 35 mm rangefinder cameras equipped with normal 50 mm lenses or, on occasion, a wide-angle for landscapes. Of course I wanted one.
I studied photography in college for two years, but until recently, I didn’t consider myself a professional photographer. What changed my sense of myself? I decided to buy new photo equipment and experiment with "street photography" style.
The problem with walking in Cartier-Bresson’s footsteps is cost. The Leica M8.2 Body Digital Rangefinder Camera [6] sells for $5,995 --- just for the body. And then you have to add on a lens. The Leica Summicron-M - Telephoto lens - 90 mm - f/2.0 [7] is another $3,449. At those prices, you have to be a hardcore Leica fanatic to buy this rig. Clearly, what I wanted was the Leica by other means.
On a trip to Hawaii, I had a chance to work with a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28S 10.1MP Digital Camera with 18x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom. It’s lightweight and versatile. The camera body is tough and good for travel, and --- get this ---the lens and filmware are from Leica. This camera makes beautiful images. It’s easy to use. And it's fun to shoot with, which is what it’s really all about, right?
Well, that and the price --- the Panasonic Lumix was mine for a ridiculous $325.
I’ll spare you all the technical beauties of this camera; the more than three hundred glowing reviews on Amazon.com nicely cover the details that photographers like to obsess about. My list of details is small: I prefer the silver version over the black. The battery can be charged in two hours instead of the usual give or more hours. And it allows you to shoot HD video at 720P. Bottom line: a great bargain.
I was happy with the pictures I shot in Hawaii, which led to several requests to do a professional photo shoot. A paying gig for doing something I enjoy? Sweet! And, with this camera, possible for you as well.
Galina Arlov, an E-Business professional who has worked with Disney, Priceline, ABC and Head Butler, is an IT consultant for the New York City Department of Education.
READER REVIEW: "I requested this camera for my birthday. When I showed it around the party, everyone said, 'Panasonic? Please...' Which is what N. said too. But that Leica lens is incredible --- it just blows everybody away."