Trying to Rekindle the Feeling

leeosenton

New Member
Location
Hayes, Virginia
Name
Lee Osenton
Hi,

I was active in photography for about 5 years but lost interest in it along with most of my other hobbies. The concept of high quality images from a small competent camera always appealed to me, so most of my cameras were mirrorless. I started with a Nikon DSLR but experimented with a host of other cameras (to my wife's horror) and settled on Olympus gear. I spent a lot of time on mu-43.com but sold all of my gear as my interest waned. I kept only 1 camera, the often maligned Pentax Q with the 01 prime and 03 fisheye.

Recently, I decided to force myself to get going again and began looking for an inexpensive workhorse with better IQ. For the princely sum of $400, I bought a refurbished Nikon V1 with the 10-30 and 30-110 VR zooms. My budget return plan vanished when I ordered a spare battery, flash, and a pancake. Still under $700, super fast AF, and the IQ is decent. I love the output I have seen from the APS-C mirrorless cameras, but the large lenses are a turn-off for me so a small sensor system is the only answer left. The V1 has really grown on me (although the menu system is pitiful). Trade-offs suck :(

I am a retired U.S. Navy Chief turned software engineer. Work has ruled my life for the past few years but I am determined to restore balance. My wife and I recently moved to Hayes, Virginia and are watching our dream/retirement home being built. We have worked our entire lives for this and look forward to many years in our new castle (not really all that but it is to us). Happy shooting,

Lee
 
Welcome to serious compacts. I too have recently picked up a V1 but just with the 10-30mm lens. Not had much time to play with it yet but looking forward to giving it a work out.

Hope you will post some of your pictures to the threads soon.
 
Welcome from the other side of Virginia. The nice part of a compact is that you can actually carry it with you or in a small bag. You can do some photography on lunchtime walks, etc.
 
Welcome, and may those great feelings return!

My approach is to, as much as possible, leave my expectations behind on every shoot. Plan for what you can, but live in and respond to the moment and take delight in what results. I found that when I went shooting with an expectation of what I would return with I was less happy than when I went as a blank slate and just let the photos happen. If that sounds weird, then maybe it is, lol. It's just how I think about it.

Commercial photography is a different animal, but I avoid it when possible, lol. That having been said, I'm shooting a friends wedding today.

Not retired yet but I can reach out and touch age 60 so it's not far away...
 
might i ask if you ever considered a ricoh gxr m mount plus rf lenses? 'small camera big pictures' was not only your desire but leicas mantra for years. the gxr allows for fantastic output with compact proven quality lenses with physical aperture control not any bigger than the nikon. this camera really got me going again...
 
Welcome back! Having a small camera around with you can help get the creativity flowing. Or make a trip to the eastern sierras in fall/winter :)

S
 
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