Change of kit?

CarMac

CarMac

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Carla
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I currently have a Nikon set up (D300, D40, D3100 and various lenses).

I have a degenerative bone disorder which means I am now struggling with numbness in my right arm/hand and the strength in both arms is getting worse. The condition is only going to get worse and I'm already struggling to use the D300, especially handheld (even with VR lenses).

Anyhow, I have been thinking for a while now about changing my kit to something smaller and lighter. I have tried top end bridge cameras but find them too slow for the type of photography I do (ie motorsport, wildlife etc).

Would something in the 4/3 range suit my needs?

How do they compare in terms of shutter lag etc? What about low light; how to they fair?

Thanks for any suggestions. :)
 
CarMac said:
I currently have a Nikon set up (D300, D40, D3100 and various lenses).

I have a degenerative bone disorder which means I am now struggling with numbness in my right arm/hand and the strength in both arms is getting worse. The condition is only going to get worse and I'm already struggling to use the D300, especially handheld (even with VR lenses).

Anyhow, I have been thinking for a while now about changing my kit to something smaller and lighter. I have tried top end bridge cameras but find them too slow for the type of photography I do (ie motorsport, wildlife etc).

Would something in the 4/3 range suit my needs?

How do they compare in terms of shutter lag etc? What about low light; how to they fair?

Thanks for any suggestions. :)
Click to expand...

Hi

Sorry can't offer much advice re the 4/3 etc...

Have you thought about using a monopod to take the weight of the camera / lens when using it ?

My FIL has a real problem with restricted movement from a shoulder and strugles to hold / shoot with a long lens, he has a type of "personal monopod" (not sure what it's called exactly) - it's very short and drops into a sling round his shoulders - in effect becomes a 3rd arm so he's not as restricted as he would be with a monopod and it takes all the weight for him...

Hope this is of some help...
 
Thanks for the reply. I've seen those set ups before, although not sure having the weight on my neck (which is where the problem is) would be very comfortable.

I've used a monopod before but find it too restrictive when left connected to the camera and too much of a faff taking it on and off when I need to take shots. Sorry, I sound like a whingebag! lol

Anybody else have any views on whether a 4/3 system would tick some of the boxes?
 
CarMac said:
Thanks for the reply. I've seen those set ups before, although not sure having the weight on my neck (which is where the problem is) would be very comfortable.

I've used a monopod before but find it too restrictive when left connected to the camera and too much of a faff taking it on and off when I need to take shots. Sorry, I sound like a whingebag! lol

Anybody else have any views on whether a 4/3 system would tick some of the boxes?
Click to expand...

Maybe get a head for your monopod that has a quick release plate?
 
Low light performance isn't that grand on M43 to be honest and faster glass is very expensive with few 3rd party lenses unless your using an adaptor and old manual lenses.

I had similar issues to yourself, tried M43, hated it.. sold up and bought the lightest DSLR I could find that had reasonable performance.. in my case it was the 500D that weighs just under 500 grams for the body and battery.. even with larger/heavier lenses (70-300 etc) you can still keep the all up weight to under 2.5lb.

I would suggest looking at any of the xxxD range of canons such as the 550D,600D or wait for the 650D, they are lighter than their Nikon counter parts as well as slightly smaller.
 
Jamie - thanks, mine does have a quick release plate but still a faff in circumstances where you need to be quick!

Ian - thanks for the info. Hadn't considered Canon. Will take a look.
 
Maybe also consider the Pentax range. Small, lightweight and with in body stabilisation.. The heaviest in the range is the K-5 which weighs in at 660g. Lighter than that you have the soon to be launched K-30, which is a replacement for the K-r (which you should still be able to buy too) or the K-x which you should be able to pick up second hand as a twin lens kit for less than £300.

All are superb at high ISO
 
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Blythman - thank you. More things to look at. I did look at Pentax a few years ago. What's the range of lenses like?

PsiFox - thanks...I think I've seen that stuff linked to before. Not sure I'd feel comfortable wearing something like that though! Thanks for the link.
 
Blythman said:
Maybe also consider the Pentax range. Small, lightweight and with in body stabilisation.. The heaviest in the range is the K-5 which weighs in at 660g. Lighter than that you have the soon to be launched K-30, which is a replacement for the K-r (which you should still be able to buy too) or the K-x which you should be able to pick up second hand as a twin lens kit for less than £300.

All are superb at high ISO
Click to expand...

And don't forget about the Sony range, esp EVL range - the Sony bodies also have in built IS in the body...


Hope you manage to sort something...
 
Thanks Andyred....I've certainly got a lot of things to look at now! :)
 
CarMac said:
Blythman - thank you. More things to look at. I did look at Pentax a few years ago. What's the range of lenses like?
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Certainly not as many options as the big two, but how many options do you need

If you're after small and light then Pentax have some wonderful lenses. The Ltd Primes and * lenses take some beating and there are plenty of people using other brands who use the Ltds with adapters. The kit zooms are very decent too, and there are WR options on them both if you were to choose a WR body.

The only downside really is long, fast lenses. Don't suppose this is what you are after though.

My requirements are covered off by Pentax and Sigma.
Sigma 10-20
Pentax 16-45
Pentax 18-55 WR (kit lens)
Sigma 24-70
Pentax 35
Pentax 50-135* WR
Pentax 55-200 WR (kit lens)
Pentax 60-250* WR
Sigma 105 macro

Not to mention all my old lenses from years ago which are still compatible
 
good m4/3 setup will easily match and on some fronts better your d3100. If you want to use longish fast lenses you can forget it though.

Not knowing the exact nature of your conditon, I'd say you probably won't be any better off - for example I can handhold my Fuji S3 (very similar to your D300 bodywise) at far slower speeds without any kind of stabilisation than I could with m4/3 and stabilised lenses. Couldbe the weight,could be the ergonomics, but for me that's what I've found.
 
My longest/fastest lens at the moment is 70-300 f4/6.3 so would need something at least the equivalent ideally for the wildlife stuff. Motorsport I can easily manage with 200mm max zoom.

Ergonomically the D300 and long lens was great to use. It's now just the sheer weight of both that I can't handle. I can lift the combo but not hold still for any length of time. My current most used lens is my trusty 55-200 but it's the older, lighter, non VR version.

Thanks for the input, that's really useful info. I'll carry on investigating the various options :)
 
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