u/deadpixel746

I currently work as a maintenance tech in a semiconductor fab. I only recently learned of instrumentation, and listening to a few guys describe their job, it sounds more or less like what I do.

I have really been eyeing going into a union apprenticeship. I love my job, but I don’t want to job hop so much to get good pay. Also benefits are considered good but still can’t afford to use them when I need them. Always been pro union and pretty set on joining.

Trying to decide between HVAC and electrical. I’m wondering which is better to go into if I would like to end up in an instrumentation kind of roll? Would love to hear especially from people who may have the job of hiring instrumentation techs. All things equal, would you rather hire someone with an HVAC background or electrical? Or which is most common? Seems like in some areas these jobs are UA and some they are IBEW.

Thanks in advance

Currently a maintenance tech at a semiconductor company, looking to join a union apprenticeship.
I can’t decide between electrical or HVACR.

They both really interest me, but HVACR seems a bit more useful in life outside of work, and it seems closer to what I do now. Currently my role is similar to an instrumentation tech.

I know non union guys work crazy hours and have a lot of call. Is this the case for union as well? I really like the idea of being able to work my 40 and work it if I want, but I don’t like the idea of being on call all the time. Im not sure if union does residential at all, seems mostly industrial and commercial.

Any insights are much appreciated. I’ve been with the same company for 8 years, it’s good work but layoffs have been crazy every quarter and I feel like a sitting duck. I am definitely in it for the long haul so just want to know the reality of what I am signing up for before I dedicate my life to either track

Had a long convo with a brother and got excited about joining. I got ahead of myself and immediately started the application. Not finished yet.

The reason I say I got ahead of myself is I am recently engaged and planning a wedding for April 2027. I don’t want to join only to have to take time off next April for wedding and honeymoon. Curious if you’re at local 20 outta dallas, how long did it take from applying to apt test, interview, and getting in and on the job? Trying to figure out when to actually put in my application

Thanks in advance!

Never had a gfx camera but really want a gfx 50sii.

I always see people say you won’t be able to shoot fast action or moving subjects with this camera but I’m struggling to understand why?
If top shutter speed is 4000 and you can crank iso, what is preventing people from shooting moving subjects using zone focusing?
I can shoot moving subjects with a medium format film camera, why can a digital camera not do it? Do people say this because they really on autofocus so much? Or is there something else I am not aware of?
If you came from film and/or manual focus, do you find this to be true?

Thanks in advance!

I wasn’t even old enough to work then but I know a shit ton of my friends parents lost work, often times their homes and marriage.

Curious what the work outlook was like during big economic downturns

I am wanting to take my camera (hasselblad xpan) to a game. Camera length is right around 6 inches and lens in even shorter. The rule says the lens must be less than 6 inches but just want to make sure no one has had issues

Hey yall!
In the application process to the local here in Dallas. I am wondering what the schedule looks like between work and school? My buddy in another city said he worked 5 days a week and went to school 1 or 2 nights after, and I’ve heard of other locals where you miss some days and go to school instead. Curious which way local 20 does things.

Thank you much in advance!

I know the hourly pay but I’m trying to get in and trying to get an idea of take home so I can plan finances accordingly

Hey yall! I am a huge over thinker and I know I suffer from GAS often, but have been trying to thin my camera collection a bit and get what serves me best. This will be long winded so thank you for anyone who sticks around to help.

I have always loved photography but started taking it more seriously the last two years. I was shooting with a Fuji X-S20 for about a year which really got me in love with photography. I ended up going back to film and have mostly been shooting with a Nikon F3 And Mamiya 645 the last year, which has really improved my photography as had to manually focus, started with aperture priority then to manual shooting. Still getting the hang of manually shooting and being more precise with metering, and developing and scanning at home, but I have see. A huge improvement since taking control of each aspect. I have loved every aspect of the process and all day every day I am learning about photography, even downtime at work.

Anyway I am in an industry which gives me lots of days off, I only work half the days in a month, so I am working on taking on more work on the side. I have always taken street/ candid documentary style photography but would like to get into planned shoots, weddings, etc. a friend of mine from work if getting married on a budget, and was not going to hire a photographer due to cost, so I offered to shoot for free, with the understanding that I have never shot a wedding and Everything could go wrong 😅 they were very understanding and excited just to get some photos and they both follow my ig and like my work.

Anyway, recently I thought I wanted the Nikon Zf because of the analog styling similar to my F3 which is a dream to shoot for me. I got it, and while the images are technically better than the X-S20, they just aren’t hitting me the same. I was planning to sell the X-S20, but now I am considering selling them both to get either a GFX 50R or 50sii.

Another huge draw for me is the xpan mode. I also have an RB67 I plan to sell because it’s just too big and I don’t get it out, but I do love it for panoramic shots, and one of my dream cameras is the Fuji Tx-1 (aka hasselblad xpan), hence why I lean to the 50r over the 50sii. I like the size and weight of the Nikon Zf, it feels sturdy and now the X-S20 kind of feels like a toy. Seems like the 50r is a similar weight.

I also am exciting to adapt vintage lenses, which was a big reason I wanted the Zf. Like I said I already have many Nikon, Mamiya 645 etc lenses so I could just get a body and save on some lenses for a while.

My only concern really is the lack of ibis in the 50r. I am slightly concerned with autofocus performance as well. Like I said I have been manually focusing for a while, but at the same time it’s nice to have if needed. I have missed focus when relying on autofocus on the X-S20. Is the 50r much worse? It seems like a lot of people get the 50r for the form factor, which is what draws me. If this is you, do you regret it? If you switched from the 50sii to the 50r, do you miss ibis? Especially from event shooters

Sorry if a lot of this is seems like unnecessary information but it’s the factors going into my decision. Any insights would be super helpful , thanks in advance!