Useful Posts & Advice, Give it a read.

elven

Well, here it is...

The events calendar - if you want something added to this pm me or Fajitas or post a thread on it.

The boards flickr group - so you can post your photos or browse those of your fellow boardsies
See also pics tagged with 'boards' on pix.ie

The current random photo thread, and for archive purposes, the old one too

The upcoming photography TV schedule

Some stuff about sensor cleaning

A handy thread about spotting fake CF cards

The old 'what camera' sticky - new one to follow with more generic 'how to choose' type advice

The old 'where to buy' thread and the new and improved one

We also have a photography equipment section on adverts.ie

Wee Ideas threads - a collaborative effort with info on one particular subject at a time:

Wee Idea #1 - Macro
Wee Idea #2 - Weddings

I'll have a think about this, leave this thread open for suggestions over the next few days, and make updates as and when I (or my fellow mod) get a chance...

Fionn

great idea

some of those really need to be updated etc.

i'd volunteer for the "where to buy stuff" and trim it down and delete the questions/old out of date stuff and all that if you want...........maybe could have a look at it next week

let me know?

cheers

mikeanywhere

Well done Julie, it needed doing!!

leinsterman

good on ya girl ... this place is in need of a lick of paint ... and has been for some time!!

elven

Ah, I'm feeling all productive - I don't know what the hell's going on :rolleyes:

Fionn wrote: »

i'd volunteer for the "where to buy stuff" and trim it down and delete the questions/old out of date stuff and all that if you want...

Fionn even if you want to copy and paste everything into one new thread/post and tidy that up, I'll point to that instead. Much appreciated

Anyone have any other ideas, resources, etc?

Fionn

ok, the "where to buy list" is posted, i presume it needs to be locked and then linked from here.
i think i covered everything,if not it should be fairly easy to amend as required

it's herejust in case it disappears from view altogether

ThOnda

Elven, I hope it doesn't sound negative, but "you're the MAN"!
Excellent sticky, solves all my problems. Well, almost all...

Covey

How do you access the events calender, anyone?

Ricky91t

Covey wrote: »

How do you access the events calender, anyone?

Sign into your gmail account,Or make one if you dont then click the link above and it should work

Mint Sauce

could we have some sort of glosery, just a breif explanation on and maybe some hints to get the best out of our camera settings and controls, ie, a helpful guide for the amatures among us

RoryW

in light of another thread, should we have an informative and helpful commentary on how to take pictures of the moon

jaqian

We had this going over on ThePhotoRooms.com and I thought people might be interested in it here as well.

Trying to find camera clubs in Ireland seems to be hit and miss even using the mighty google. The IPF also seem to fall down in this regard with no clubs listed on their site (that I can find). So with this in mind I've gone through the clubs listed here as well as looking through the links sections on various club sites and compiled this list.

If any knows of a club not listed here please add it below.


DUBLIN
Blanchardstown: http://www.stbrigidsphotogroup.ie/
Clondalkin: http://www.clondalkincameraclub.com/
Dublin City: http://www.dublincameraclub.ie/
Malahide: http://www.malahidecameraclub.com/
Skerries: http://www.manowar.biz/skerries_photo/
Swords: http://swordsphotogroup.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/
Tallaght: http://www.tallaghtphotographicsociety.com

---

UCD http://www.ucd.ie/photosoc/home.htm
An Oige: http://www.anoige.ie/activities/photography

CORK
Cork: http://www.corkcameragroup.net/
Carrigaline: http://www.carrigalinephotographic.com/
Clonakilty: http://clonakiltycameraclub.net/
East Cork: http://www.eastcorkcameragroup.ie/
Mallow: http://www.mallowcameraclub.com/

CLARE
http://www.shannoncameraclub.com/

GALWAY
www.galwaycameraclub.com

KERRY
Kilarney: http://www.photokillarney.com/
Tralee: http://www.kerry-photo-graphic-society.com/

KILDARE
Athy: http://www.athyphoto.net
Celbridge http://www.celbridgecameraclub.net/

KILKENNY
http://kilkennyphoto.net/

LAOIS & KILDARE
http://www.dunamaisephoto.com/

LIMERICK
Limerick City: http://limerickcameraclub.ie/
Limerick & District: http://www.ladps.ie/

LOUTH
Mid Louth: http://www.midlouthcameraclub.com/
Drogheda: http://www.droghedaphotographicclub.com/
Dundalk: http://www.dundalkphoto.com/

MEATH
Navan: http://www.navancameraclub.net/

MONAGHAN
http://www.monaghanphotographicsociety.com/

SLIGO
http://www.sligocameraclub.org/

TIPPERARY
Clonmel: http://www.clonmelcameraclub.com
Thurles: http://local.mobhaile.ie/thurlescameraclub

WATERFORD
http://www.waterfordcameraclub.com/
Dungarvan: http://www.dungarvancameraclub.com/

WEXFORD
http://www.wexfordcameraclub.com/

WICKLOW
Arklow: http://www.arklowcameraclub.com/
Arklow: http://www.tbpsarklow.com/ (Tommy Byrne Photographic Society)
Bray: http://www.braycameraclub.com/

NORTHERN IRELAND
Bangor & North Down: http://www.bangor-camera-club.co.uk/
Belfast: http://www.b-pic.co.uk/
Ballynahinch: http://www.the-bhcc.co.uk/

PHOTOGRAPHIC ASSOCIATIONS
Irish Photographic Federation: http://www.irishphoto.ie/
Northern Ireland Photographic Association - www.niphoto.co.uk/
Munster - Southern Association of Camera Clubs - www.saccinfo.com

rymus

very handy.. cheers

Hugh_C

Worth enstickyifiying, Elders?

Fenster

I'm not too shiny on the Galway Camera Club. There's a few decent regulars (Sean) but for the most part they're not really the kind of photographers you really want to be around. The last time I attended the club (their May 07 AGM) there were several members threatening to leave because everyone was focused on digital these days.

Fajitas!

Thanks Jaqian!

ei5jf

Hello all.. I have just stumbled across this Forum , which I thought looks pretty good... specially as dedicated to this part of the world... ! So I thought I would join in and see how it goes. I am a Keen Photographer, in the last couple of years started making a living out of it.. press work and other stuff. Self taught and 50 years young. Always been mad on photography so now I got the chance to earn a few bob, I am delighted to be doing so. I hate the word Pro ' as we all can learn so much from each other about this wonderful hobby.. the minute we stop learning we might as well stop doing it. !! I am constantly blown away by the material that people post on these sites and I look forward to exchanging ideas and pics here. Cheers for now ... Andy -Cashel, Co. Tipperary.

jaqian

Going to try St. Bridgets photo club in Blanch tomorrow, see what its like.

jaqian

The list of Irish Camera Clubs has now been updated. It currently has 54 clubs across 23 counties in the Republic. Click on the link in my sig.

Fionn

excellent - well done!!

can this be put in as a link in the super ultimate sticky?

unreggd

Fajitas! wrote: »

If you want to write something up, I can put it into the big sticky at the top?

Heres the list, if I find any updates ill keep ye posted.....


Photography Courses in Dublin

NOTE:Many secondary schools that run Adult Education Programs run 10 week Photography courses, a lot are listed on Qualifax/Nightcourses

Short Term Courses

Digitalbeginners.ie


Qualifax.ie*


Nightcourses.com*


*Search is for courses in Dublin. For info on courses outside Dublin go to the home page and change the county


College courses

PLC's [one year]

St Kevins college - National Cert


Sallynoggin College of Further Education


Stillorgan College of Further Education


Degrees [4 years]

Dit


IADT Dun Laoghaire

GristlyEnd

This is being asked quite a lot so I thought I'd put together a small list of how duties are calculated and at what rate. Maybe this could be combined with the Ultimate Photography Sticky.


1. Public notice 1179 - deals with goods of a negligible value and gift consignments

http://www.revenue.ie/index.htm?/leaflets/pn1179.htm

2. Schedule of Customs Duties - this will give you the TARIC number and rate of duty for all items

http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/dds/tarhome_en.htm

Here are the most common TARIC numbers that we would be concerned with

Lens - 9002 1100 90 - 6.7%
Digital Still Cameras - 8525 8030 00 - zero rated
35mm Film Cameras - 9006 5380 00 - 4.2%
Disposable Cameras - 9006 5310 00 - 4.2%
Large Format Cameras - 9006 5900 00 - 4.2%
Flash - 9006 6100 00 - 3.2%
Filters - 9002 2000 90 - 6.7%

3. Calculation of taxes

Duties are calculated on the price you paid for the item and any shipping and insurance costs associated with it. VAT is then calculated at 21% on top of this

Customs use a monthly exchange rate for calculating the Customs Values. If required, Customs will issue a currency fluctuation if there is a large change in currency exchange rates

http://www.revenue.ie/index.htm?/services/elecserv/euroserv/eurcon1.htm

4. Courier/Postal companies

UPS will normally collect the taxes when delivering the goods
FedEx will normally send an invoice after you have received the goods
An Post will normally collect the taxes when delivering the goods

It's my job to know these things so if anyone has any questions, I will try to answer them and add to the above list.

nilhg

OK this comes up quite often and since other folks have done some stuff for the sticky thread I thought I would have a go at this.

1: Upload your photo to somewhere on the internet, flickr.com or pix.ie are the usual ones but there are others.

2: Go to the picture you want to post and click all sizes on flickr or sizes on pix.

3: For this example I'm using flickr but most other photo sites are similar.

Copy the text in the box I've circled in the example



4: Click the insert image button, its the one circled in the next image.



5: Paste in the text from Flickr, and click OK



6: You need to link your picture back to flickr so click the "back to your photo page" link on the bottom of the page on flickr.

7: Highlight the URL of the photo and copy it



8: Highlight the IMG tags and all the text in between in your post



9: Click the make link button in the new post box



10: Paste the URL into the box and click OK

11: Click the preview button, your image should be there, and clicking on it should bring you to its flickr page.

Pix.ie is somewhat easier their sizes page gives you some code ready to copy and paste straight into a message, no need to click any buttons,

nilhg

Pix.ie is somewhat easier their sizes page gives you some code ready to copy and paste straight into a message, no need to click any buttons,

Dades

Great tutorial nilhg!

Some Boardsie on feedback posted this link to a site that allows you to upload and link to images without having an account somewhere. It also give you the tags to insert the image (though obviously not to link to a gallery page).

http://wthax.org/

Handy if you're in a hurry or for unimportant stuff you don't want cluttering up your flickr/pix account.

Mellor

I prefer doing it in reverse,
Click link button, paste in flicker page, click ok
press image button and paste in image URL

There is no higlighting involved this way as the auto highlights the correct text. This means there si no chance of highlighting too much or too little

ThOnda

Why this question? To save time. To you and to all boards members.
There are many questions you can ask yourself and you won't need anybody's help. Those questions are for you to realise, what type of camera you want. And if you cannot decide, don't hesitate to ask. But most of the time you should be able to find the right answer.

And once you know what type of camera you want to buy, question What camera to buy is more than appropriate. So I won't mention any brand names or camera names.

The first and the most important question is not how much you want to spend. That would wrong. That would be like going to buy a car and the seller would ask you about your budget without asking whether you need four wheel drive to tow a horse box or just something small for commuting and shopping.

So the question is what would you like to do with your camera? I know, taking pictures could be the answer. But that answer won't help you in the decision making process. It is important, maybe even essential, to realise what will be the main purpose of purchasing and having camera.

To give you few hints, there are some typical user groups (and targeted products as well):

• Occasional snaps of friends, family and visual reminders of visited places.
• Camera to be carried all the time to produce pictures both for e-mails and prints.
• Requirements of good picture quality as well as variable focal lenghts.
• Interest in photography that requires full controll of the camera.
• High requirements on picture quality and very fast reaction times.
• And so on and so forth...

To make it easier (for me), I will type something about camera levels.

Mobile phones
I don't like it, however built-in cameras in mobile phones are getting better and better. Higher resolution, built-in lightning, bigger memory cards in phones.
Typical use: Making snaps of your friends, colleagues and some interesting places and things you see. Sharing pictures mostly by e-mail or smaller prints.
Advantages: Small, reliable, always with you and you don't have to buy any camera.
Disadvantages: Very slow reaction times, almost no control how the image is going to look, fixed focal length, very high level of noise especially in low light situations.

Basic level of digital compact cameras
Very small cameras, easy to carry them everywhere, also water proof versions. They have zoom (variable focal length), built-in flash and basic programs. They produce reasonable files for prints if you don't want to print posters.
Typical use: Walkabout camera allowing you to produce pictures of people, landscapes and details. User programs help even unskilled users to get nice pictures, so even the small ones could play with them.
Advantages: Small, cheap, acceptable picture quality, easy to use and easy to forget when you loose it.
Disadvantages: Picture quality is not acceptable to produce quality large prints (and I mean LARGE prints), shutter delay, limited control of exposure and a little poorer file compression

Sophisticated compact cameras
Small size, better image quality, bigger range of focal lengths, more control of the camera and therefore the picture, faster reactions and nicer design.
Typical use: Everything you would like to expect from camera. Allow more creative attempt to photography, image quality usually better than cheaper sisters but the design... Lots of shapes and colours.
Advantages: Very capable of good quality images, excellent for travel for their small size, some also use AA batteries. Good control of most of the camera functions, big range of focal lengths.
Disadvantages: Don't have RAW, usually expensive for their extravagant design or style. Small and easy to loose/forget. And it hurts for their prices. Don't have flash hot shoe.

Electronic Digital Single Lens Reflex Cameras - EDSLR
Bridge between compact cameras and Single Lens Reflex (SLR) cameras. They offer much better lenses (bigger is better, sometimes), full control of the camera and most of the time shake reduction that helps taking pictures with longer focal length or in low light situations.
Typical use: Advanced photographers for travelling, great for landscapes and multi-purpose use.
Advantages: Total control of the camera, hot shoe for external flash, lighter and smaller than SLRs, non-interchangeable lenses prevent dust from getting on the sensor, not to forget shake reduction. "Live view" as standard for all of them - you can see on the display exactly the picture you will take. Built-in flash.
Disadvantages: Small delay, non-interchangeable lenses, no battery grips and they are bigger than compacts.

Single Lens Cameras
Their users know why are they buying them. Absolute control of the camera, interchangeable lenses and lots of accessories including flash units.
Typical use: Everything you want to take pictures of. Changing lenses makes from the SLR completely different camera only in few seconds. The biggest range of lenses and focal lengths. Used for everything e.g. stills, landscapes, glamour, documentary and sports.
Advantages: As written above. Flexibility, lots of accessories (flash units, converters, macro tubes, battery grips, timers), bigger sensors provide better image quality and lower noise levels. Very very low reaction times for both shutter and focusing.
Disadvantages: Big, expensive, fragile, only few are weather proof (Pentax have those), image quality depends a lot on used lenses, image stabilisation built in only in few models (Pentax again), more models have image stabilisation built-in lenses, need more space for transport (body, lenses, flash. Live view only in the latest models. And the dust being collected on the sensor and decreasing the image quality.

Medium Format Cameras
Professional use only, prices astronomical. You wouldn't be reading this thread on this forum if you were looking for such camera.


Those types of cameras are not a law. Borders a fuzzy and lots of cameras have features from higher/lover level. It really depends on specification of precise camera.

So if you could spend some time thinking what pictures would you like to take with your new camera and what type of the camera should suit your needs, that would save a lot of questions and explanations on our forum. And that only means that you will get our responses much faster! :-)

We are happy to offer our help and opinions talking about details like what make, what model and where to buy it. Also with relevant links to comparisons and tests of cameras that should suit you and your photography.

And by the way, you could mention your budget as well ;-)

Hugh_C

ThOnda wrote: »

Medium Format Cameras
Professional use only, prices astronomical. You wouldn't be reading this thread on this forum if you were looking for such camera.

Eh .... not strictly true, I got mine for 50 quid sterling on eBay which is about a 1/10th of what I paid for a dSLR. I'm a keen hobbyist and love the ol' Rolleicord to bits.

Monasette

Fenster wrote: »

I'm not too shiny on the Galway Camera Club. There's a few decent regulars (Sean) but for the most part they're not really the kind of photographers you really want to be around. The last time I attended the club (their May 07 AGM) there were several members threatening to leave because everyone was focused on digital these days.

Then do what I did this year and join the committee and make it better. Or worse. Or both.:)

Arkana

jaqian wrote: »

We had this going over on ThePhotoRooms.com and I thought people might be interested in it here as well.

Trying to find camera clubs in Ireland seems to be hit and miss even using the mighty google. The IPF also seem to fall down in this regard with no clubs listed on their site (that I can find). So with this in mind I've gone through the clubs listed here as well as looking through the links sections on various club sites and compiled this list.

If any knows of a club not listed here please add it below.

Co. Cavan: MinoltaFanClub@yahoo.ie

DUBLIN
Blanchardstown: http://www.stbrigidsphotogroup.ie/
Clondalkin: http://www.clondalkincameraclub.com/
Dublin City: http://www.dublincameraclub.ie/
Malahide: http://www.malahidecameraclub.com/
Skerries: http://www.manowar.biz/skerries_photo/
Swords: http://swordsphotogroup.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/
Tallaght: http://www.tallaghtphotographicsociety.com

---

UCD http://www.ucd.ie/photosoc/home.htm
An Oige: http://www.anoige.ie/activities/photography

CORK
Cork: http://www.corkcameragroup.net/
Carrigaline: http://www.carrigalinephotographic.com/
Clonakilty: http://clonakiltycameraclub.net/
East Cork: http://www.eastcorkcameragroup.ie/
Mallow: http://www.mallowcameraclub.com/

CLARE
http://www.shannoncameraclub.com/

GALWAY
www.galwaycameraclub.com

KERRY
Kilarney: http://www.photokillarney.com/
Tralee: http://www.kerry-photo-graphic-society.com/

KILDARE
Athy: http://www.athyphoto.net
Celbridge http://www.celbridgecameraclub.net/

KILKENNY
http://kilkennyphoto.net/

LAOIS & KILDARE
http://www.dunamaisephoto.com/

LIMERICK
Limerick City: http://limerickcameraclub.ie/
Limerick & District: http://www.ladps.ie/

LOUTH
Mid Louth: http://www.midlouthcameraclub.com/
Drogheda: http://www.droghedaphotographicclub.com/
Dundalk: http://www.dundalkphoto.com/

MEATH
Navan: http://www.navancameraclub.net/

MONAGHAN
http://www.monaghanphotographicsociety.com/

SLIGO
http://www.sligocameraclub.org/

TIPPERARY
Clonmel: http://www.clonmelcameraclub.com
Thurles: http://local.mobhaile.ie/thurlescameraclub

WATERFORD
http://www.waterfordcameraclub.com/
Dungarvan: http://www.dungarvancameraclub.com/

WEXFORD
http://www.wexfordcameraclub.com/

WICKLOW
Arklow: http://www.arklowcameraclub.com/
Arklow: http://www.tbpsarklow.com/ (Tommy Byrne Photographic Society)
Bray: http://www.braycameraclub.com/

NORTHERN IRELAND
Bangor & North Down: http://www.bangor-camera-club.co.uk/
Belfast: http://www.b-pic.co.uk/
Ballynahinch: http://www.the-bhcc.co.uk/

PHOTOGRAPHIC ASSOCIATIONS
Irish Photographic Federation: http://www.irishphoto.ie/
Northern Ireland Photographic Association - www.niphoto.co.uk/
Munster - Southern Association of Camera Clubs - www.saccinfo.com

x

LenovoUser

ThOnda wrote: »

Why this question? To save time. To you and to all boards members.
There are many questions you can ask yourself and you won't need anybody's help. Those questions are for you to realise, what type of camera you want. And if you cannot decide, don't hesitate to ask. But most of the time you should be able to find the right answer.

And once you know what type of camera you want to buy, question What camera to buy is more than appropriate. So I won't mention any brand names or camera names.

The first and the most important question is not how much you want to spend. That would wrong. That would be like going to buy a car and the seller would ask you about your budget without asking whether you need four wheel drive to tow a horse box or just something small for commuting and shopping.

So the question is what would you like to do with your camera? I know, taking pictures could be the answer. But that answer won't help you in the decision making process. It is important, maybe even essential, to realise what will be the main purpose of purchasing and having camera.



To give you few hints, there are some typical user groups (and targeted products as well):

• Occasional snaps of friends, family and visual reminders of visited places.
• Camera to be carried all the time to produce pictures both for e-mails and prints.
• Requirements of good picture quality as well as variable focal lenghts.
• Interest in photography that requires full controll of the camera.
• High requirements on picture quality and very fast reaction times.
• And so on and so forth...

To make it easier (for me), I will type something about camera levels.

Mobile phones
I don't like it, however built-in cameras in mobile phones are getting better and better. Higher resolution, built-in lightning, bigger memory cards in phones.
Typical use: Making snaps of your friends, colleagues and some interesting places and things you see. Sharing pictures mostly by e-mail or smaller prints.
Advantages: Small, reliable, always with you and you don't have to buy any camera.
Disadvantages: Very slow reaction times, almost no control how the image is going to look, fixed focal length, very high level of noise especially in low light situations.

Basic level of digital compact cameras
Very small cameras, easy to carry them everywhere, also water proof versions. They have zoom (variable focal length), built-in flash and basic programs. They produce reasonable files for prints if you don't want to print posters.
Typical use: Walkabout camera allowing you to produce pictures of people, landscapes and details. User programs help even unskilled users to get nice pictures, so even the small ones could play with them.
Advantages: Small, cheap, acceptable picture quality, easy to use and easy to forget when you loose it.
Disadvantages: Picture quality is not acceptable to produce quality large prints (and I mean LARGE prints), shutter delay, limited control of exposure and a little poorer file compression

Sophisticated compact cameras
Small size, better image quality, bigger range of focal lengths, more control of the camera and therefore the picture, faster reactions and nicer design.
Typical use: Everything you would like to expect from camera. Allow more creative attempt to photography, image quality usually better than cheaper sisters but the design... Lots of shapes and colours.
Advantages: Very capable of good quality images, excellent for travel for their small size, some also use AA batteries. Good control of most of the camera functions, big range of focal lengths.
Disadvantages: Don't have RAW, usually expensive for their extravagant design or style. Small and easy to loose/forget. And it hurts for their prices. Don't have flash hot shoe.

Electronic Digital Single Lens Reflex Cameras - EDSLR
Bridge between compact cameras and Single Lens Reflex (SLR) cameras. They offer much better lenses (bigger is better, sometimes), full control of the camera and most of the time shake reduction that helps taking pictures with longer focal length or in low light situations.
Typical use: Advanced photographers for travelling, great for landscapes and multi-purpose use.
Advantages: Total control of the camera, hot shoe for external flash, lighter and smaller than SLRs, non-interchangeable lenses prevent dust from getting on the sensor, not to forget shake reduction. "Live view" as standard for all of them - you can see on the display exactly the picture you will take. Built-in flash.
Disadvantages: Small delay, non-interchangeable lenses, no battery grips and they are bigger than compacts.

Single Lens Cameras
Their users know why are they buying them. Absolute control of the camera, interchangeable lenses and lots of accessories including flash units.
Typical use: Everything you want to take pictures of. Changing lenses makes from the SLR completely different camera only in few seconds. The biggest range of lenses and focal lengths. Used for everything e.g. stills, landscapes, glamour, documentary and sports.
Advantages: As written above. Flexibility, lots of accessories (flash units, converters, macro tubes, battery grips, timers), bigger sensors provide better image quality and lower noise levels. Very very low reaction times for both shutter and focusing.
Disadvantages: Big, expensive, fragile, only few are weather proof (Pentax have those), image quality depends a lot on used lenses, image stabilisation built in only in few models (Pentax again), more models have image stabilisation built-in lenses, need more space for transport (body, lenses, flash. Live view only in the latest models. And the dust being collected on the sensor and decreasing the image quality.

Medium Format Cameras
Professional use only, prices astronomical. You wouldn't be reading this thread on this forum if you were looking for such camera.


Those types of cameras are not a law. Borders a fuzzy and lots of cameras have features from higher/lover level. It really depends on specification of precise camera.

So if you could spend some time thinking what pictures would you like to take with your new camera and what type of the camera should suit your needs, that would save a lot of questions and explanations on our forum. And that only means that you will get our responses much faster! :-)

We are happy to offer our help and opinions talking about details like what make, what model and where to buy it. Also with relevant links to comparisons and tests of cameras that should suit you and your photography.

And by the way, you could mention your budget as well ;-)

ANY Medium Format film camera, secondhand from eBay, I have bargains in a fab Bronica S2A and a Mamiya 645, no 35 mm could possibly compare, and certainly no digital :-)

Polls of 9000 pro photographers in the USA show that 68 % of them still use fiim cameras.

About 30 % of irish Portrait Photographers went over to digital a couple of years back, the majority of irish studios still use medium format film cameras, and amongst those who went over to digital, half of them have come back to using pro film cameras mostly medium format.

If you can pick up a Hassleblad medium format film camera cheap - GRAB IT :-)

LenovoUser

Bronica SQA , built like a tank, the most beautiful photos imaginable, but it does require concentration, not a snap shotter !!!

The Bronica lenses were mostly designed and built by Nikon earlier on, about 40 years ago. they still show that quality too, so having a Bronica SLR is like having the medium format equivalent of the classic Nikon 35mm film cameras.

Same level as Hasselblad, though the Bronica is much heavier and tougher, all-metal :-)

You can drop it !!!

When you press the shutter release and hear the big CLUNK you know the job is done, you don't need any instant playback.

Photos can be enlarged as big as your front door .

Suggest you also buy a digital for snapshotting and fun - best bargains are the panasonic lumix range with zoom LEICA lens .

And the digital will fill in as a lightmeter and preview for your whopping great medium format film camera - now that's one sure way to get results like a pro :-)

Arkana

Well, as mentioned before by Thonda and quoted by Lenovo (or so), those cameras are big, bulky, heavy and solid. But expensive - not nessesarily. New ones might still be - used ones rarely are!! Due to the - in the professional area too! - development to digital, used medium format (120/220 film) cameras cost only a fracture of what they have cost five years ago. I recently saw in a German Mail Order shop a brilliant Mamiya RB67 (neg. size 6 by 7 cm!!) with standard lens, magazine and viewer in very best technical and optical state for only 229 (!!!) Euro. Cheaper than a previously mentioned Lumix with Leica Lens (which I like and use as well).
But you need time, patience and knowledge to work with those cameras properly - it is surely NOT a hobby camera, but a camera for a serious amateur photographer with a home studio and a very solid tripod!:D

ThOnda

Photographers who "know" won't be reading that post when looking for new camera

Arkana

ThOnda wrote: »

Photographers who "know" won't be reading that post when looking for new camera

So, you are considering yourself NOT as a photographer who "knows"?
That is the only logical conclusion to be made from your uttering - for giving this kind of answer, you MUST have read that post!

An old Roman/Latin phrase goes: 'O si tacuisses - philosophus mansisses!'

With this I leave this niveau losing realm...:D

ThOnda

Well, I wrote that post :-)

Arkana

ThOnda wrote: »

Well, I wrote that post :-)

Quod erat demonstrandum.

---

Intelligence is a rare resource. If you find some, just tell me.:D

helimachoptor

Folks, are the flickr instructions still the same as I cant figure out how to upload successfully??

Edit, never mind figured it out

bimlico

Hi, You mentioned in your post that digital stills cameras had a zero % loading see below. Does this mean that any stills camera that I purchase is not eligible for import duty. I'm thinking of purchasing a camera from Hong Kong but if there is significant import duty on it it would not be worth it.

Many thanks

Jack

Quote
Lens - 9002 1100 90 - 6.7%
Digital Still Cameras - 8525 8030 00 - zero rated
35mm Film Cameras - 9006 5380 00 - 4.2%
Disposable Cameras - 9006 5310 00 - 4.2%
Large Format Cameras - 9006 5900 00 - 4.2%
Flash - 9006 6100 00 - 3.2%

TinyExplosions

you can do a search on the taric codes yourself to get most up to date info

abmcolour

DarrenG wrote: »

This is being asked quite a lot so I thought I'd put together a small list of how duties are calculated and at what rate. Maybe this could be combined with the Ultimate Photography Sticky.


1. Public notice 1179 - deals with goods of a negligible value and gift consignments

http://www.revenue.ie/index.htm?/leaflets/pn1179.htm

2. Schedule of Customs Duties - this will give you the TARIC number and rate of duty for all items

http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/dds/tarhome_en.htm

Here are the most common TARIC numbers that we would be concerned with

Lens - 9002 1100 90 - 6.7%
Digital Still Cameras - 8525 8030 00 - zero rated
35mm Film Cameras - 9006 5380 00 - 4.2%
Disposable Cameras - 9006 5310 00 - 4.2%
Large Format Cameras - 9006 5900 00 - 4.2%
Flash - 9006 6100 00 - 3.2%
Filters - 9002 2000 90 - 6.7%

3. Calculation of taxes

Duties are calculated on the price you paid for the item and any shipping and insurance costs associated with it. VAT is then calculated at 21% on top of this

Customs use a monthly exchange rate for calculating the Customs Values. If required, Customs will issue a currency fluctuation if there is a large change in currency exchange rates

http://www.revenue.ie/index.htm?/services/elecserv/euroserv/eurcon1.htm

4. Courier/Postal companies

UPS will normally collect the taxes when delivering the goods
FedEx will normally send an invoice after you have received the goods
An Post will normally collect the taxes when delivering the goods

It's my job to know these things so if anyone has any questions, I will try to answer them and add to the above list.

I have searched for camera tripods and tripod heads in the TARIC codes link provided in this sticky with no success. Is it possible you may be able to add the rates for these items in the sticky?

Thanks in advance.