Thread: Big camera not so big.

This week I had to go up to SF to shoot some back plates for a job I just shot in Vancouver.
Traveling alone for the first time in years, I had to shoot and carry on my own, two full size dslrs, to tell you the truth at the end of the day and after shooting over 2,000 images in one day with the Canon 5d, I did not find the camera's size to be a problem in any way

God bless you! But the days of me carrying two full-frame DSLRs with accompanying lenses are long over.

I'm not the photographer you are, but lately I started using my D700 again (I usually take an old Nikon 20mm F3.5, a Voigtlander 40mm, and a Voigtlander 58mm) + the X100. Today I hiked for 5 hours with my dogs carrying that and didn't have any problems. I'm 52 years old and weigh 155 lbs. I'm off for the next two weeks and decided to see if I wanted to keep the Nikon. I'm going to just use it and the X100. After seeing what I got today, I am definitely keeping it. The zooms are going because I just don't like zoom lenses. I end up twisting them back and forth trying to decide. I'm just not a good enough photographer for zoom lenses. I will keep the Voigtlanders, + Nikon 20mm, 35mm, 50mm, and 85mm. I had this really nice 24mm but had to sell it due to some financial issues (that was a great lens). I think the Canon is the better camera, but I really do love that Nikon. It's just not that big or heavy. I also like the fact that the controls are easy to use. When the release the next X100 I hope they do something about that little wheel on the back which drives me crazy.

Originally Posted by stanleyk

I'm not the photographer you are, but lately I started using my D700 again (I usually take an old Nikon 20mm F3.5, a Voigtlander 40mm, and a Voigtlander 58mm) + the X100. Today I hiked for 5 hours with my dogs carrying that and didn't have any problems. I'm 52 years old and weigh 155 lbs. I'm off for the next two weeks and decided to see if I wanted to keep the Nikon. I'm going to just use it and the X100. After seeing what I got today, I am definitely keeping it. The zooms are going because I just don't like zoom lenses. I end up twisting them back and forth trying to decide. I'm just not a good enough photographer for zoom lenses. I will keep the Voigtlanders, + Nikon 20mm, 35mm, 50mm, and 85mm. I had this really nice 24mm but had to sell it due to some financial issues (that was a great lens). I think the Canon is the better camera, but I really do love that Nikon. It's just not that big or heavy. I also like the fact that the controls are easy to use. When the release the next X100 I hope they do something about that little wheel on the back which drives me crazy.

An alternative view might be that you are too good a photographer for zooms

Originally Posted by Pelao

An alternative view might be that you are too good a photographer for zooms

+1!

Arms like Popeye, Bob? I've used my little XSi for four--hmm five?.. years and don't find it a problem, granted it is baby dslr in comparison. Smaller cameras are nice for pocketing, for on the go convenience but I don't find a dslr at all intolerable to dangle at my side. Had a hand strap for three years and it swung from my hand, now a black rapid and it hangs at my hip. Big cameras aren't a bad thing, it's nice to have the option of both big and small.

I moved back to a 5D classic, and after pursuing compacts for the last 3 years, I have found the 5D isn't the bear I used to think. Having said that, I am still pleased that I can own a camera like the RX100 and the EPL3. At mu-43, we started a "full frame image thread." Maybe start one here, too?

The last time I brought out my Canon 50D (with 10-20mm and 24-105mm lenses) it wasn't so much that it was too heavy, although it is undoubtedly bulkier than any similar CSC setup, but instead it was that I felt conspicuous carrying it and that I missed the live-view interface of the smaller cameras.

Honestly if I was shooting just for me I would still rather shoot with my XPro, prime lens and all, I just found it interesting that carring a 5d with the 24-70 f2.8 in my hand all day was no problem, with the use of it or any more people paying attention to me, over any else that I use. Also don't write off zooms nothing else will produce as many differnt images in a short time than a fast zoom on of these dslrs.

Originally Posted by Landshark

Honestly if I was shooting just for me I would still rather shoot with my XPro, prime lens and all, I just found it interesting that carring a 5d with the 24-70 f2.8 in my hand all day was no problem, with the use of it or any more people paying attention to me, over any else that I use. Also don't write off zooms nothing else will produce as many differnt images in a short time than a fast zoom on of these dslrs.

I hear you, and agree. I was kidding about the zooms...

I don't currently use zooms, but that is by choice based on what and how I now shoot. When they haven't delivered it's largely because the goofball behind the camera has not used them to advantage.

A while back I was on a job where I used 2 DSLRs with a 24-70 and a 70-200. Sometimes I carried both, but usually just one. It was a 12 hour shoot. No big deal, and incredibly versatile for the rapidly evolving scenes. The entire bag of kit was bulky, but I didn't lug it around, and it was necessary.