Thread: I guess there is no "one system" for me

Being cheap, I prefer not to spend a lot. Of course, this leads to spending more than I should as I buy/sell gear, so logically it's indefensible. But that's an aside.

I have been trying to find a way to limit the number of cameras I have. One reason is being cheap. The other is battery management (which drives me crazy) and the last reason is tyranny of choice. Sometimes I get bogged down with too many options.

Having shot Canon for a good long while (in and out of the Rebels and a 5D), then m43 and NEX. I have also rented to test, the XPro 1 and Nikon D700 (fantastic camera, the D700. One of the best shooting experiences I have ever had, but the thing is a brick!)

I think I'm coming to a conclusion: I will be unable to "standardize" on one system. There are so many strengths in each one, and so many lens/body combos, it's hard to just stick with one.

So, I'm thinking I'll run with:

• 5D + 85/1.8 for portraits and 70-210 for zoom/action work, and I'm renting a 35/1.4 for Thanksgiving.
• NEX 5n + CV40 for "normal" range, carry-around camera, though I'm still struggling bonding with this camera
• m43 + P20 for square format B&W images. I just really love this combo.
• RX100 for ultra portable pocket camera

That's about 2 more cameras than I wanted, but I don't really see any way around it. NEX AF is weak, so I can't go system on that one. 5D is wonderful, but awful big. The color palette of these two cameras is very different, too. m43 is good, but I always feel like I'm missing just a little more. RX100 is a great compact, but blows highlights too easily, so it's relegated to when I need to be as light as possible.

Each of the the cameras you mentioned, with the exception of the 5D, are really being used as if they were a fixed lens camera and for a specific application.

Maybe I am just trying to give you an excuse, or make you feel better, but it really does seem like you have just one system, the 5D.

Get a Pentax K5 mk II, be prepared for everything!

Are you primarily a jpeg shooter?

Sometimes, it feels like a lifelong journey just to figure out what gear is most suitable.

Originally Posted by Yeats

Get a Pentax K5 mk II, be prepared for everything!

Are you primarily a jpeg shooter?

Sometimes, it feels like a lifelong journey just to figure out what gear is most suitable.

Yet another one to try!!! :)

I bounce between jpg and RAW. I don't like that much PP, so I do more jpg generally. Maybe I could rent a Pentax :p

Originally Posted by krugorg

Each of the the cameras you mentioned, with the exception of the 5D, are really being used as if they were a fixed lens camera and for a specific application.

Maybe I am just trying to give you an excuse, or make you feel better, but it really does seem like you have just one system, the 5D.

Yeas, I noticed that. I really only have one system camera, and the other 3 are more fixed in nature.

Originally Posted by wt21

NEX AF is weak, so I can't go system on that one. 5D is wonderful, but awful big.

Some reviewers have said that the NEX 5R has just as fast AF as a DSLR. Also, you can convert your 5N to a DSLR when you need fast AF. Then convert it back to a mirrorless when you want portability.

I have a couple of FF dSLR's which are collecting dust. Yesterday I tried the 1Ds and the battery was dead (if you know the size of those batteries you'll realize its been a long time).

I am pretty much settling with the OM-D as my only camera system. Two reasons for the dust on my FF's:

1) The lenses for the µ4/3 are getting better (faster and longer); and
2) While CAF on the OM-D sucks for action, the SAF with continuous pumping of the focus works well enough to get by (if I was still working news then I would need the CAF and higher FPS of the big boy cameras). Basically I'm settling on the CAF.

Having made the decision to go µ4/3, I've jumped in with both feet acquiring lens to equal my FF system. With the addition of all the new lenses I've been using the OM-Ds more and more and finally getting somewhat comfy with the system.

When I was in limbo, building up the µ4/3 system, still using the FF for important stuff (published stuff) ... I started looking seriously at Leica's and the lastest 1D's, Sony, et al ... I had this itch for cameras. But now that I've settled with µ4/3 ... now that I've adding lens left and right ... my itch has gone away (and man that was a bad itch for a long spell).

I found that having a "complete" system relieved that itch for me. Granted, µ4/3 is not perfect, no camera system is, but it is perfect enough for what I shoot, which is people. I have discovered that
using the hell out of a particular camera, using that camera until it becomes an extension of me, a bionic hand/lens thing connected to my eye and capable of taking the images I mentally visualize. When changing lenses and settings becomes more of a reflex action then a conscience effort is significantly more important to me and my keeper rate then a slightly better dynamic range or slightly better size or slightly less noise, et cetera. My best images come when I am mentally (what little I have), focused on the picture not the picture taking.

So I'm sticking with µ4/3 and making it team with me than work for me.

The moral of all this is if you're purchasing stuff to improve your photos ... maybe you should concentrate on expanding the camera system you have, flesh it out, rather than add new camera(s) to what you already know and use.

Gary

One my issues is I want to use some on camera flash. I've got a 430ex II on my 5D, which is performing nicely. That's a tough thing to replicate in the mirrorless systems, on the cheap. When using flash and portrait lens, I'm not concerned about size. A 1D is just way more size than I would want to handle.

Originally Posted by wt21

One my issues is I want to use some on camera flash. I've got a 430ex II on my 5D, which is performing nicely. That's a tough thing to replicate in the mirrorless systems, on the cheap. When using flash and portrait lens, I'm not concerned about size. A 1D is just way more size than I would want to handle.

I just picked up a used Nissin and an Oly FL-36R pretty cheap and they seem the equal to my 430ex (but I am not a flash guy, so what do I know). I think there is a lot of ways to skin a cat especially with lighting. Have you seen this site?

Blog Homepage | Larry's Cheap Shots

Geared more towards dSLR's but some different cat skinning which can help us SC guys as well.

Gary

I love my GF3 + 20/1.7, and I've even used it to supplement my 5D for a wedding, but even my GH2 is just too small to handle a large flash. Even my 5D or 7D feels a bit unbalanced with a 580ex flash, the 1Dm2 and 1Ds feels more balanced, but with all that weight, even the 70-200/2.8 feels balanced.