Equipment Crossroads ?

[mfwild13]

Guys,
I have been around this forum from the very start but have never been a very active poster. I am hoping you can help me as I think I am at a crossroads with my photography equipment and am looking for alternate views as to the right direction for me.

A bit of background first. Bought Canon 350d shortly after they came out after getting very frustrated trying to take decent photo's of my kids.
Had Olympus OM10/40 a long time ago and dabbled with wet processing. Got caught up in the upgrade cycle and moved to 30D and a number of L lenses. Added a 7D recently to try and re-invigorate my interest in photography, I love its handling but I have rarely used its potential.
As I was rarely taking my DSLR out due to size/weight, I also bought a Canon S90 which I carry most places but dont really like its handling, especially the shutter lag and lack of viewfinder.

After some navel gazing, I've realised that I have been more interested in the technology rather than the art of photography so I think that I need to accept that and buy equipment that is more relevant for my needs rather than chasing the best equipment available.

So what do I want to take photo's of? I dabbled with bird photography in the early days of TP but there are now so many fantastic images being posted in the bird forum that I dont have the free time nor inclination to compete. Looking through through my previous images, I am pretty sure that I am really just interested in being able to take good quality images of my family and our activities.

What I dont want to lose - RAW processing, negligable shutter lag, good quality images and video, flexibility of focal length without giving up too much speed/low light capability, a viewfinder!

What I want to gain - significantly lighter and smaller equipment so I can carry most of the time without it getting in the way, equipment that I wouldn't worry about letting my kids or wife use!!

So where am I so far? Thinking seriously about selling all my Canon gear and getting a Panny GH2 (presuming it is launched in a couple of weeks time) and adding a Panny GF2 when the come out early next year (hopefully with integral evf). Another option is to drop back to a Canon 550D but I will still be stuck with relatively large/heavy lenses and won't have the flexibility of a more compact body option with the same lenses.

It seems very likely that Canon and Nikon will compete with the 'EVIL' crowd but waiting for that would significantly de-value my current equipment. The Sony NEX range looks interesting too but limited lenses and no viewfinder at present.

Any thoughts, other options?

Mark

 

[HoppyUK]

You sound like 4/3rds of an EVIL man to me.

Panasonic looks like a good horse to back for the long run, and if you like technology that is likely to provide quite an entertaining ride (read costly) over the next few years.

 

[AliB]

You liked the OM10/OM40? How about an Olympus Pen?

Read a review this week where they gave 4 hybrid cameras to wedding pros and asked them to evaluate them as a backup/2nd shooter camera. They all said they were unsuitable for that task but absolutely perfect for a travel/family photos camera.

 

[CJS]

The story of my recent dilemma . . . I could not have put it better, although I did not follow the technology route with quite the same vigor. However the out come and soul searching was the same.

Small, light, IQ, handling . . . etc ? I came down on the side of a Nikon D5000, as I had been a Nikon man for 20 years However, still not happy I purchased a Panasonic G1, ticked all my boxes, has great IQ, light, easy handling once you get familiar, the instruction book is dire!! Down side dedicated lenses are limited, but I find the 14-45 and 45-200 fit my needs admirably. There is a culture building that fits almost 'any lens'!!! to the Panasonic 4/3 system using adaptor plates . . . not my bag, but you may like the buzz?

That was 6 months ago now . . . on reflection, the D5000 is a fantastic camera, I love it to bits, if I had purchased the G1 before the 5000, I dont think I would have gone down the 5000 path? But kept the D90 body as a drop back, if I ever needed to use an older type lens?

The Panasonic is, these days, my weapon of choice . . . looking at the market now, I would have seriously looked at the 'Pentax K-z', dose everything a DSLR should do, in a small package . . . see here: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentaxkx/

Quote from, Digital Camera Reviews;
"The K-x is a very capable little camera indeed. Pentax has managed to squeeze what is, for this class of camera, an impressive feature set into the camera's minuscule, rather inconspicuous, body and the image quality, especially in low light, is the best we have seen so far in the entry-level bracket of the DSLR market. To put some icing on the cake, all of this comes at a currently, compared to the closest rivals, very attractive price point. To us the lack of visible AF points is the camera's only real drawback but if you can live with this omission you can't go wrong with the Pentax K-x."

My only reservation, I need a swivel screen due to a minor mobility problem, but thats personal and not relevant to the issue here. However, as an aside, the G1 EVF is excellent, especially when compared with the ad on, plug-ins, on other cameras. The swivel screen is very good to, I'm finding that I am getting lazy, I use it a lot!!! However, it still needs a lot to be besired on very sunny days! . . . thank god for a decent EVF.

CJS

 

[mfwild13]

All, many thanks for the responses.

The story of my recent dilemma . . .
The Panasonic is, these days, my weapon of choice . . .
looking at the market now, I would have seriously looked at the 'Pentax K-z' ...
CJS

Its really reassuring that I'm not the only one! I will look at the Pentax but I like the idea of the swivel screen, especially for video and macro.

You liked the OM10/OM40? How about an Olympus Pen?

I really like the styling of the PEN's but the reports on AF speed and the relatively poor yet expensive EVF put me off. Anybody know different?

You sound like 4/3rds of an EVIL man to me.

LOL. Panasonic certainly seem to be doing interesting things at the moment!

 

[CJS]

As a picture taking tool, I'm finding the G1 excellent. It has all the advantages of a full DSLR, with all the nicety of a decent compact, the electronics allow loads more information to be displayed on screen or in viewfinder or not if you prefer. For some reason there is an excitement over the GF1, with the 20mm lens fitted . . . If you put the 20mm on the G1 and square the measurements (create an imaginary box) the G1 does not occupy that much more space, if small is your bag? I prefer light, compact and versatile with the 14-45 . . .

Have a read through the G1 and GF1 owners threads, it will give you an idea of IQ and a good feel of what is what. Interesting that some of the first GF1'ers have moved on to a G1, the swivel screen and quality EVF got to them? . . .


See here for reviews of G1, G2, and GF1
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicdmcg1/

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/PanasonicDMCG2/

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/PanasonicGF1/

I find it strange that dpr get so excited over the GF1, and yet the G1 they have to warm to, but one feels, with reservation . . . and yet the G1 and GF1 are the same beast in side a different case . . . ?

As you say the G1 I suppose its G2 now? is very beguiling with its swivel screen, quality EVF and all that screen information. It has some great features like 'film mode' allowing different effects, gimmick? I thought so, but now, I find it an essential function.

The swivel screen, I vowed . . . "only use it when I cant get down and dirty" . . . I use it most of the time these days, its like having the simplicity of a point and shoot but the functionality of a DSLR as required Just the one problem, as with all screens, bright sun, thats OK, you have a half decent EVF to fall back on . . .

You mention macro . . . not sure Panasonic do a dedicated macro lens? However this is where the 'any lens' school comes in, adaptors for a few quid of fleBay, chose your lens, new or vintage, most macro work seems to be manual any way, and you are away with the mixer . . . See what the guys on the owners threads say. I have seen some of their macro work on there, they have loads of experience.

CJS

 

[magicaxeman]

I went that route, spent shed loads of cash on what is an equally expensive system then returned to DSLR by just buying a smaller DSLR that knocked spots of the panny gear I had.

My findings where:

EVF - great.. unless your shooting in low light or at night, then it just plain sucks.
Swivel screen - great all the time.
Autofocus speed - even with the Leica macro lens was slow, snails pace with loads of hunting and failing to lock in low light, and that was with lenses/body with the latest firmware.
Lens choice - limited and just as expensive if not more so in some cases than DSLR equivalents, the Leica branded macro (panny own the Leica name so can use it) was over £600.
No optical viewfinder on any of them.
Battery choice limited by firmware to panny batteries only, when they find aftermarket ones working they try to counter it in new firmware updates making your spares useless.
IQ was ok, but not outstanding, even with the leica lens, my 500D with a 50mm F1.8 blows it out of the water.

So this neatly brings me to my suggestion, save yourself the cash and hassle, just downgrade to a small light DSLR and a couple of good pocketable lenses, no L glass needed in fact with family and outing stuff most of it could be covered by a 50mm.

The 500D is quite small, physically the panny G1 is around 2/3rds its size, but the 500D still only weighs just over 500grms and a 50mm F1.8 is as light as a feather, not only that but with that lens you dont have to worry about the wife or kids having a go and the camera has a full range of auto modes for them to use.

The real bonus is of course a lot of your current kit will work with it, or if you want even better video go for either the 550D or go to the darkside for Nikons new 3100

 

[CJS]

I went that route, spent shed loads of cash on what is an equally expensive system then returned to DSLR by just buying a smaller DSLR that knocked spots of the panny gear I had.

My findings where:

EVF - great.. unless your shooting in low light or at night, then it just plain sucks.
Swivel screen - great all the time.
Autofocus speed - even with the Leica macro lens was slow, snails pace with loads of hunting and failing to lock in low light, and that was with lenses/body with the latest firmware.
Lens choice - limited and just as expensive if not more so in some cases than DSLR equivalents, the Leica branded macro (panny own the Leica name so can use it) was over £600.
No optical viewfinder on any of them.
IQ was ok, but not outstanding, even with the leica lens, my 500D with a 50mm F1.8 blows it out of the water.

So this neatly brings me to my suggestion, save yourself the cash and hassle, just downgrade to a small light DSLR and a couple of good pocketable lenses, no L glass needed in fact with family and outing stuff most of it could be covered by a 50mm.

The 500D is quite small, physically the panny G1 is around 2/3rds its size, but the 500D still only weighs just over 500grms and a 50mm F1.8 is as light as a feather, not only that but with that lens you dont have to worry about the wife or kids having a go and the camera has a full range of auto modes for them to use.

The real bonus is of course a lot of your current kit will work with it, or if you want even better video go for either the 550D or go to the darkside for Nikons new 3100

Mmm . . . I think the above says it all, no such thing as perfection . . . For normal walk about one finds the G1 just fine, start getting into specialist/difficult situations, ie, low light or high speed action etc, its DSLR all the way, even here, some are better than others?

Pays your money, takes your choice . . . In my case, the D5000 fills in the gaps, a safety net, (with a swivel screen), and as I have said before, the D5000 is a D90 where it matters.

I went blackberry picking on Sunday, with Hazel and the dog we had a great few hours, no rush, no tare, just wandered about . . . no brainer which camera I took . . .

We had half planed to go to Duxford on the Sunday . . . ? Equally, it would have been a no brainer which camera I would have taken to Duxford . . . I enjoyed the blackberry walk much more . . . and I look forward to the crumbles and pies later