Sorry about not posting anything yesterday. It’s been a difficult week around Studio P. Both LaDonna and I have had the stomach crud that has been going around the Knoxville area, and we’re just now getting over it.

Anyway, today I thought that I would give you a little insight as to why Studio P uses Nikon cameras and equipment and why I believe they are the best in the world. But first, some background: When I first decided a little over two years ago that I might want to turn what was once just a fun pastime into something more, I started serious looking at the major camera companies and what they offered. When I shot film back years ago, I owned a Canon Rebel G kit, and it was an amazing little camera that really took great pictures. But with the advent of digital, I felt like I needed to research everything all over again.

And after weeks of scouring websites and reading everything I could get my hands on I chose … Olympus. That’s right, Olympus. At the time, it made sense. Olympus makes fine cameras at a very good price. And their lens company, Zuiko, makes some of the finest glass in the world. I chose an E-510 with two kit lenses as my first setup and started taking pictures. But it wasn’t long before I found that Olympus DSLR cameras have some pretty severe limitations. First, the autofocus system is not good. It’s slow and not always accurate, especially when the light isn’t good. And speaking of low light, because Olympus uses a smaller sensor than most other camera companies, their cameras suffer when the light isn’t optimal, such as in a gym or an auditorium. I tried buying a higher-end model and better lenses, but the situation didn’t improve. I eventually came to the realization that if I really wanted my photography to grow, and build a business with it, that I was going to have to chuck Olympus.

So, back to the drawing board. More research, more reading. Another choice, and this time Nikon, and this time I got it right. Nikon has been making cameras, and making them well, since the advent of Single Lens Reflex cameras back in the 1930s. They very smoothly made the transition to digital in the 1990s, and arguably produce the finest cameras in the world. I know that some of you Canonites out there disagree, but for me, the choice was an easy one, because the two big problems I had with Olympus — autofocus and low-light capabilities — are Nikon’s strengths. Nikon’s autofocus system is very fast and very accurate. In fact, if I don’t get an absolute tack-sharp image now, even in dim light, it’s my fault, not the camera’s. And low-light capabilities of Nikon cameras are amazing. Shooting in very dark conditions and getting usable images images is normal. Plus, Nikon’s wireless flash system allows me to be able to do some awesome things with off-camera lighting, especially on location.

So I’m a Nikon guy. What that means to you, is that if Studio P takes your portraits, we are going to be able to give you the finest images possible, because we have some of the best equipment on the market right now.

I’m going to leave you with an image from one of my early Nikon shoots. This image of our good friend Bill and Rebecca’s daughter Anna Beth was taken with my D90, outdoors, with a 50mm f/1.8 lens. I used a little bit of on-camera flash from an SB-600 flash to fill in and create some warmth, because we were in shade and it was a cloudy day. Anyway, enjoy and have a great weekend!

— Tony