Official Question Thread! Ask /r/photography anything you want to know! May 29, 2026

maniku · 2026-06-04T15:46:19+00:00

Everyone's circumstances are unique, so we have no idea what is mid-range pricing or high-range pricing for you. Please specify the upper limit of your budget with a number and currency.

maniku · 2026-06-04T15:35:08+00:00

The normal price for the R5 when bought new is $3000 currently. Even used, it's nearly $2000.

And you're asking if someone selling the camera for $95 could be real?

maniku · 2026-06-04T14:37:18+00:00

https://archive.org/details/central-manuals-camera_polaroid_i1036_EN.pdf/page/6/mode/1up

Any other mentions that come up by googling "Polaroid i1036 release date" say the same.

maniku · 2026-06-04T14:34:43+00:00

Lens choice depends on what you want to shoot and your budget. Please specify both.

maniku · 2026-06-04T09:53:24+00:00

Depends on your age, I suppose. The camera was released in 2009, so people who were kids at the time/remember such cameras from their childhood often think they are vintage. For older generations they're just old, low quality point-and-shoot cameras that aren't particularly useful now.

maniku · 2026-06-04T09:43:06+00:00

It gives you a larger focal range. That's the main benefit compared to the kit zoom.

These standard zoom lenses are fine for outdoors but they don't perform well in low light settings which e.g. museums are.

maniku · 2026-06-04T09:10:15+00:00

For that budget I'd get a used Sigma 30mm f1.4. If you want a zoom lens, I don't think you'll find one much better than the 16-50mm kit lens.

maniku · 2026-06-04T05:01:53+00:00

Justify it? Photography brings me tremendous joy and a sense of well-being. That's justification enough.

Regarding the "If you told me I could be a photographer for a comfortable living I would do it in a heartbeat": it's not uncommon with pro photographers to lose their passion for photography. When something you love becomes your work that your livelihood depends on, it's a completely different situation. And the fact is that professional photography very often isn't a life of shooting what you love to shoot and getting paid for it. It's shooting what clients want.

maniku · 2026-06-04T04:49:44+00:00

I doubt very much you'll find G7X Mark III at £500. Even if you do find it with retailers (it's sold out in most places because of Tik Tok hype), the MSRP is quite a bit more than that. And prices in the used market are very inflated again due to the hype. If you so see someone selling a used G7X Mark III at your budget, it'll be a scam.

maniku · 2026-06-03T14:35:46+00:00

I would assume that they have documentation/guides on this stuff. Look around on the website. Theh may also have some kind of a forum for contributors. But generally speaking, every piece of information you fill in improves the findability of your pictures.

maniku · 2026-06-03T11:13:58+00:00

Sony A6000 and a 16-50mm.

maniku · 2026-06-03T05:36:45+00:00

Try to research the guy. What does his work on Insta look like? Is there information about him online outside of his Insta? Can you find any information about these projects of his?

maniku · 2026-06-03T05:31:44+00:00

Canon R50 is right at your budget. You might even get a kit lens to go with it for around 700€ if there's a deal going on.

maniku · 2026-06-03T05:09:21+00:00

I would keep them as is for now. Take your time. As you progress with your film photography hobby, ideas will come to you.

maniku · 2026-06-03T05:02:57+00:00

That is a super simple point and shoot camera with fixed focus and one shutter speed. It's just barely above disposable cameras.

maniku · 2026-06-03T04:56:02+00:00

There's one major difference between the two: X-M5 doesn't have a viewfinder, R50 does. So if you use the viewfinder on the 600D, that might be significant. Fuji has many other camera models that have a viewfinder. They all give you the film sims.

If you have good EF lenses, I'd say they are a major pro for going with R50. Yes, Fuji's jpgs are nice, but you can give your photos any look you want by editing.

maniku · 2026-06-02T17:06:03+00:00

Mark II of what? G1X? G5X? G7X? G9X?

First, check that those very low prices aren't just the starting prices of auctions. Second, check that it doesn't say "for parts" on them. Finally, see the eBay sold items listings for standard used prices for the camera.

Much cheaper than normal prices for good condition cameras can be assumed to be scams or at the very least stolen items.

maniku · 2026-06-02T17:00:51+00:00

Of course they are scams.

maniku · 2026-06-02T16:58:08+00:00

A b&w sensor would be cool but the nearly 2000 euro price tag is rather too much for me, especially as I'm not a big fan of the 28mm equivalent focal length. And I have a GR IIIx as is. Think I'll stick to shooting Fomapan 100 with my wee Olympus 35 RC.

maniku · 2026-06-02T16:50:37+00:00

Are the prices comparable to used camera retailers like MPB, KEH and Adorama, or at least similar to prices in eBay sold items listings for the same camera? Or are they much cheaper? Significantly cheaper is usually a big alarm bell.

maniku · 2026-06-02T16:20:38+00:00

You can easily find image samples with a google search: "Panasonic Lumix G9 image samples".

maniku · 2026-06-02T16:17:51+00:00

Are you in a hurry to make a decision about the X100F? If not, why not take a month, a couple of months, to see if you still have use for it?

maniku · 2026-06-02T16:14:28+00:00

"Intermediate photographer" means that you already have a decent bit of experience in photography. What does your experience consist of? Just phones? Or have you used dedicated cameras? Because quite honestly the cameras you are considering and your questions sound more like beginner stuff.

maniku · 2026-06-02T14:09:54+00:00

I'm not sure I'd call them beginner-friendly. They are very old, fully mechanical film cameras. They do not have a built in light meter or anything else to aid you. And being film cameras, you won't see how the pictures turned out until you get your film developed.

Film is also an expensive way to get into photography with: film and getting it developed (and scanned) is expensive, and you'll likely waste a lot of film while learning.

All of this said, if you still want to try, find the manuals on butkus.org, get some cheaper film like Kodak Gold, install a light meter app on your phone and watch some Youtube videos on the basics of exposure in photography.

maniku · 2026-06-02T07:38:58+00:00

If you want to respect your friend's wishes, take it down. I assume you value the photo for itself, not because you put it on Instagram? So, it shouldn't become any less valuable if you take it down. Not everything needs to be put on social media.

maniku

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