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Garry Black Photography

Question:

I am a serious amateur considering stock photography. Do you have experience with the stock photography software Agave SPS? http://www.prenticephoto.com/agaveweb.htm

Seems to be an interesting software. Let me know what you think.

I found your web site via www.stockphoto.net. Love your photo work by the way. Was wondering why is it you don't like the Nikon F5 as I just acquired one up from my old system Olympus OM-2. Others I spoke to will only swear by their F5.....

Thanks.

Answer:

The only software that I use is the Cradac Caption Writer, to create labels for my slides. My stock agent keeps the original slides which they think will generate sales, the others are returned and I file them away in Gepe Boxes. I don't keep a database for these images as the only use I have for them is for workshop instructional programs and seminars.

The main reason that I don't like the Nikon F5 is due to the fact of its large physical size and its appetite for batteries. My camera bag is heavy enough without a huge camera body. On my F4's I have replaced the 6 "AA" battery holder with the smaller 4 "AA" battery holder, this also lowers the center of gravity of the camera body. The F5 has a very high center of gravity. So when the camera is on a tripod (which mine is 99% of the time) and the shutter is released and the mirror flops up there is a greater probability of camera vibration. I know you can lock the mirror up, as you can on the F4, but quite often due to the type of image that I am taking I need to be able to see through the viewfinder. Also the top of the F4 and all of the functions are similar to the cameras that I am comfortable with and use to.

These are really small and personal preferences - I don't think you can go wrong with the F5. If you use the autofocus (which I don't) this is definitely the camera to get.

Hope this clarifies why I like the F4 better.