This Week in My Viewfinder

Summary

LensAfield, a photographer, shares their experiences with new camera technology and presents a series of nature photographs taken over the past four weeks.

Abstract

LensAfield has been away from posting due to a busy schedule and the process of learning and evaluating new camera equipment, including the Nikon Z6 II, D500, and Z50. They have returned to share images captured with their new gear, as well as an old D70s, featuring various bees and wasps in their natural habitat. The photographer also reflects on the differences between mirrorless and DSLR technology, expressing a preference for the latter due to their shooting interests. The article includes a collection of high-quality images showcasing the beauty and behavior of insects, emphasizing the photographer's re engagement with their craft after a brief hiatus.

Opinions

The electronic viewfinder of the Nikon Z6 II mirrorless camera was not suitable for the photographer's primary shooting interests.
The D500 DSLR was preferred and considered a better investment, along with the more affordable Z50 mirrorless camera for specific uses.
The photographer values the tactile experience and possibly the optical viewfinder of DSLRs over the electronic viewfinders of mirrorless cameras.
There is an appreciation for the balance between using cutting-edge technology and revisiting older equipment with new insights.
The photographer has a keen interest in macro photography, particularly of insects like bees and wasps.
The article suggests that the photographer has a deep engagement with the learning process, constantly seeking to improve their craft with new techniques and equipment.

This Week in My Viewfinder

Yes, it’s been a while. OK…a little more than a while. Catching up #1.

July 4, 2021

Text and photos by LensAfield

I haven’t posted in weeks because the job has been horrifically busy and I was busy learning, using, and evaluating two new cameras; plus revisiting—with fresh eyes and a newly learned trick—another that uses twenty-year-old technology.

So where was I when I last posted?…

The geese had their puppies. Five.

They hatched about an hour earlier. They are headed for a drainage pond about a hundred yards away.

I said in a previous post that I bought a new Nikon Z6 II mirrorless camera but returned it. The electronic viewfinder is not conducive to my primary shooting interests. I swapped it for the top-of-the-line DX-format D500 DSLR instead. The difference in price was just about enough to purchase the much less expensive small mirrorless Z50. I bought it because I do want to become familiar with mirrorless technology and I can see some specific uses for this small-profile camera.

Spring was moving along nicely. It was time to take my new gear out for some field testing, along with an ancient D70s, to shoot my favorite subjects. Here are some shots in no particular order of presentation. Taken over the last four weeks.

honeybee in the cactus

g. Anthidium, a very aggressive little bee, among Sedum Angelina

Paper wasp taking off

Bumblebee rising from cactus bloom. Note the pollen flung off the wings in the upper right.

Bumblebee approaching swamp milkweed

working the weed

Sharing space has its limits

That takes me up to the shot limit. Lots more to show if you’re interested in this kind of thing.