I need a good kick in.....

So, think back to when you had the most fun with a camera and perhaps get one of those.

I am coming to the realisation that what bugs me the most is the interchangeable lens system. Having to think about what to use and indeed what camera to use really cheeses me off. I don't know if it's just lazyness or what but it's the thing that bugs me the most. What I would really like is a pocketable camera with a FF sensor, 24-400mm zoom, f/1.4-f/2.8 and outstanding quality, but that does not exist so one needs to ask what is the most important this when looking at a camera. For me it's IQ. I love full frame for the depth of field it gives so what is there out there that's relatively small and FF? Not much! Sony is all I can think of. I'm not including Leica as they are way out my price range.
 
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AndyWest said:
So, think back to when you had the most fun with a camera and perhaps get one of those.

I am coming to the realisation that what bugs me the most is the interchangeable lens system. Having to think about what to use and indeed what camera to use really cheeses me off. I don't know if it's just lazyness or what but it's the thing that bugs me the most. What I would really like is a pocketable camera with a FF sensor, 24-400mm zoom, f/1.4-f/2.8 and outstanding quality, but that does not exist so one needs to ask what is the most important this when looking at a camera. For me it's IQ. I love full frame for the depth of field it gives so what is there out there that's relatively small and FF? Not much! Sony is all I can think of. I'm not including Leica as they are way out my price range.
Click to expand...

X100s, one FL, no choice, just shoot.
 
twist said:
X100s, one FL, no choice, just shoot.
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This brings me back to 'Less is more'. And it's what you take not what you take it with. I think I'm just going to forget about swapping my gear out and just use the damn stuff to take images. It's more fun when you don't worry about the 'if's', 'buts' and 'maybe's'.
 
My spelling is crap! Lol
 
The difference between you and I Andy is that at least you are actually going out and taking photos :)

I love the rx100 for its size and focal range
I love the 5d2/d800 for its image quality, bokeh and low light/low noise
I love the gx1 for the size/weight when coupled with a prime
I love the m43 system for its selection of sharp and fast lenses
I love the 20mm prime

Clearly there isn't one perfect camera.

I could go on...but it is increasingly apparent that I am pinning my hopes on a new camera to rekindle the photo taking spark I had a few years ago. I know this is wrong.

It is all about the photography - just not sure I am into it anymore which upsets me greatly.
 
bl0at3r said:
The difference between you and I Andy is that at least you are actually going out and taking photos :)

I love the rx100 for its size and focal range
I love the 5d2/d800 for its image quality, bokeh and low light/low noise
I love the gx1 for the size/weight when coupled with a prime
I love the m43 system for its selection of sharp and fast lenses
I love the 20mm prime

Clearly there isn't one perfect camera.

I could go on...but it is increasingly apparent that I am pinning my hopes on a new camera to rekindle the photo taking spark I had a few years ago. I know this is wrong.

It is all about the photography - just not sure I am into it anymore which upsets me greatly.
Click to expand...

I think you need to rewrite that list in order of importance and consider staying off gear forums when you've got free time to use your camera instead.
 
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I take photos. I think I've taken 1500 or so with my xf1 which is probably 3 times more than with my d7000 in less than half the time. From this, I see that the good ole " the best camera is the one you have with you" holds true.

( hasn't stopped me wanting something else though :) )
 
Alien, grab a camera and go take piccies! :D

I had M43 and Fuji. I made a decision to stick with M43 as it made more spence to me as I like the small form factor. The IQ is better with Fuji but I am trying to convince myself that IQ is not the be all and end all of photography.

I am currently on holiday in Devon and have a sore finger from taking images :confused: ( loving it!) I have used the 60D and have got some real crackers. I have spent today in some beautiful places and took the E-M5 with me. I have just looked back at today's images and the sharpness and detail are amazing on the rear screen but will have to wait till I get home to see the real results but so far......WoW! With the 25mm f1.4 on the camera I have gotten some brilliant shallow DOF shots that 'should' come out brilliant.

So it just goes to show that I can be happy with what I have. One way to stop GAS is not to have any money spare!:D Spend it on other stuff like a decent PC or a MAC. I need to replace my back up hard drive and get a new tripod so that's where my dosh is going next.
 
AndyWest said:
Alien, grab a camera and go take piccies! :D

I had M43 and Fuji. I made a decision to stick with M43 as it made more spence to me as I like the small form factor. The IQ is better with Fuji but I am trying to convince myself that IQ is not the be all and end all of photography.
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I try to think about when/if I'll see better image quality and my own little personal tests involving A3 prints and pixel peeping tell me that image quality difference for me only really become significant if you shoot at the very highest ISO's, pixel peep or examine prints very closely. These days A3 prints are once in a blue moon and indeed printing at any size is once in a blue moon as I mostly just view on screen and send 2000 pixel wide images to family and friends so that leaves high ISO as the worry and my A7 and GX7 are both capable of producing usable prints at incredible ISO's. So, for me image quality just isn't an issue any more :D
 
True, all my images end up at 2048 pixels and posted to Flickr.

Alan, ( bl0at3r ) if you were thinking of the E-M5 then I would look at the E-M1. Or work out what you most want and get that then go take piccies. It's not the gear, it's what you do with it.

Have fun finding what you want and let uz know what you get.
 
jerry12953 said:
Reading this thread I keep thinking-

"Yes, but what about the photographs? Do you guys ever actually take any or are you forever trying to decide which camera to buy next?"
Click to expand...

The thing is does it really matter,i know photographers who seem to change their gear every 5min and still take great photos & and i know photographers who have used the same cameras for years and take crap photos and rarely if take a photo.

:)
 
I've just sold all my dslr gear as purchased a full xe1 and was planning on selling it but used it this morning and now rethinking. Purchased an epl5 off here which will come tomorrow along with a olympus 45mm. Wanted the 12-32 lens as well which I've ordered but it comes with a Panasonic GM1! !!!
 
bl0at3r said:
The difference between you and I Andy is that at least you are actually going out and taking photos :)

I could go on...but it is increasingly apparent that I am pinning my hopes on a new camera to rekindle the photo taking spark I had a few years ago. I know this is wrong.

It is all about the photography - just not sure I am into it anymore which upsets me greatly.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a complete waste to me... why waste your time and money fussing about gear you don't need? It's not going to make you any better of a photographer.
We all go thru slumps. What I did recently was try to emulate another photographers work which I truly admire. It was about trying to do macro/closeups with an emphasis on the aesthetic over the technical. It really put me outside of my box and I think it helped me a lot. If nothing else it got me out of my slump... I've taken many images and I didn't have to go far out of my way to do it (most were taken w/in a block from my house).

Here are some of the resulting images... most were taken with my Nikon 1 V2 even though I own a D4, a D800, and many professional lenses.

Final Edit?.jpg by skersting66, on Flickr

_DSC2297-Edit.jpg by skersting66, on Flickr

Japanese Wineberries by skersting66, on Flickr

_DSC2226-Edit.jpg by skersting66, on Flickr

SGK_2778-Edit.jpg by skersting66, on Flickr

I don't know if anyone else will like them, and it doesn't much matter... it's helping me and it's helping reinforce (for myself) that it's not about the gear. There's no reason you can't do something similar.
 
I thought I had problems.............you guys make me look normal! I had a D7000 and selection of lenses and sold it all just after my little girl was born thinking a smaller camera would be better, stuck to a small compact, got annoyed with the slow AF, ended up with another D7000 again and same lenses i had before! Have thought about M43 system but all the camera's feel too small to me.

I don't think the ideal camera will ever exist.
 
Thunderbird010 said:
I've just sold all my dslr gear as purchased a full xe1 and was planning on selling it but used it this morning and now rethinking. Purchased an epl5 off here which will come tomorrow along with a olympus 45mm. Wanted the 12-32 lens as well which I've ordered but it comes with a Panasonic GM1! !!!
Click to expand...

Absolutely LMFAO!!!!!!! :D I love the size of the GM, it is soooooo small. Would be awesome with a pancake prime on it. Don't have one? Best get one of those aswell then. :D
 
minnnt said:
Absolutely LMFAO!!!!!!! :D I love the size of the GM, it is soooooo small. Would be awesome with a pancake prime on it. Don't have one? Best get one of those aswell then. :D
Click to expand...

Next payday the 20mm is on my list so will have the 12-32, 45, and 40-150. Was toying with the idea of a gx7 but held myself back!!!

The gm1 is something different it's tiny and due to its size is something that I am more likely to take out with me. I was worried about no evf but tested one in bright sunlight and it was fine. The other good think is you can control everything from your android or I phone including zoom. It's meant to have the same sensor as the gx7 as well.
 
ian-83 said:
I thought I had problems.............you guys make me look normal! I had a D7000 and selection of lenses and sold it all just after my little girl was born thinking a smaller camera would be better, stuck to a small compact, got annoyed with the slow AF, ended up with another D7000 again and same lenses i had before! Have thought about M43 system but all the camera's feel too small to me.

I don't think the ideal camera will ever exist.
Click to expand...

What you need is an EM1. Ive planted the seed. :p
 
I have been looking back at my Flickr images and most are from my GF1 and GX1!! There are lots of other cameras in there but the GF and GX are still going strong. They are just the right size, small but comfy in my gorilla like hands. Actually the GF1 still surprises me even after the 5+ years that I have had one.
 
bl0at3r said:
The word of the week is compromise - lets all say it together C OM PRO MISE

There is never going to be the perfect camera so I need to compromise on something and actually go out and take pictures with the thing :)
Click to expand...

Sony RX100 Mk3!
 
AndyWest said:
I have been looking back at my Flickr images and most are from my GF1 and GX1!! There are lots of other cameras in there but the GF and GX are still going strong. They are just the right size, small but comfy in my gorilla like hands. Actually the GF1 still surprises me even after the 5+ years that I have had one.
Click to expand...

What lenses are you using with the GX1 and GF1? and how do you find the AF speed? I am very tempted to ditch the weight of my D7000 and it's lens and drop down to MFT system as it seems to be more than up to the job of what I want but without the weight and bulk to lug about.

Damn this thread I thought I was happy with my gear clearly not! The appeal of smaller and lighter makes me think it'll help me enjoy photography more again than being annoyed lugging heavy gear about and having a 'look at me' slr about my neck
 
sk66 said:
Sounds like a complete waste to me... why waste your time and money fussing about gear you don't need? It's not going to make you any better of a photographer.
We all go thru slumps. What I did recently was try to emulate another photographers work which I truly admire. It was about trying to do macro/closeups with an emphasis on the aesthetic over the technical. It really put me outside of my box and I think it helped me a lot. If nothing else it got me out of my slump... I've taken many images and I didn't have to go far out of my way to do it (most were taken w/in a block from my house).

Here are some of the resulting images... most were taken with my Nikon 1 V2 even though I own a D4, a D800, and many professional lenses.

Final Edit?.jpg by skersting66, on Flickr

_DSC2297-Edit.jpg by skersting66, on Flickr

Japanese Wineberries by skersting66, on Flickr

_DSC2226-Edit.jpg by skersting66, on Flickr

SGK_2778-Edit.jpg by skersting66, on Flickr

I don't know if anyone else will like them, and it doesn't much matter... it's helping me and it's helping reinforce (for myself) that it's not about the gear. There's no reason you can't do something similar.
Click to expand...

And this post goes to prove that old adage 'it's all about the light'.
To paraphrase the oldest forum line:
Newbies think it's about the cameras
Enthusiasts think it's about the lenses
Gear heads think that a lens they like the look of justifies buying the camera to go with it (n)
Photographers know it's all about the light.

Set your alarm clock and go out and shoot some stuff. Stop looking at reviews and online shops and look for stuff to shoot.
 
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ian-83 said:
What lenses are you using with the GX1 and GF1? and how do you find the AF speed?
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Hi

I have the 12-35 f2.8, 20mm f1.7 mk2, Pan/Leica 25mm f1.4 and the Samyang 7.5mm fisheye. I'm planning on getting either the Olympus 17mm f1.8 or Pan/Leica 15mm f1.7. The 15mm may be a bit wide for what I want to use it for so I may get the 14mm f2.5 for landscapes.
 
AndyWest said:
Hi

I have the 12-35 f2.8, 20mm f1.7 mk2, Pan/Leica 25mm f1.4 and the Samyang 7.5mm fisheye. I'm planning on getting either the Olympus 17mm f1.8 or Pan/Leica 15mm f1.7. The 15mm may be a bit wide for what I want to use it for so I may get the 14mm f2.5 for landscapes.
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Cheers not sure I'll be able to afford anything like the 12-35f2.8 maybe a prime or two to make it pocketable. I think the 20mm for general and maybe like you say the 14mm for landscape.

Still not sure if to get a GX1 or maybe a G6 with the 14-42 and currently can claim a free 45-150 lens too.
 
ian-83 said:
Cheers not sure I'll be able to afford anything like the 12-35f2.8 maybe a prime or two to make it pocketable. I think the 20mm for general and maybe like you say the 14mm for landscape.

Still not sure if to get a GX1 or maybe a G6 with the 14-42 and currently can claim a free 45-150 lens too.
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If you want pocketable look at the GX1 or even the GM1 if you can stretch to it. Same inside as a GX7!! The GM1 with a 14mm would be very pocketable and give great IQ. The 20mm should be good too. If not then the GX1 is still a great camera. I have just come back from me hols and I took the GX1, Oly E-M5 and the Canon 60D and the GX1 stood up very very well.
 
This is the trouble - I find the GX1 and 20/14 pancakes I have now to be very agreeable in size, weight and IQ.

So I guess the next logical progression in IQ and functions would be the GM1 (slightly smaller) or GX7 (ever so slightly bigger). Both of these would give me a faster max shutter than 1/4000 for wide open fast primes in broad daylight.

But my brain says this is not really much of an upgrade for some reason.

So then I think the OM-D seems more like an upgrade, but having had 2x E-M5s already, my brain decides this is more of the same and I should get the E-M1.

Then this leads me to feel like for that money I could get into FF and I start to question whether I need a FF camera, or even a new camera at all.

Deep down I know I don't need FF (the financial commitment included) for the sort of picture taking I now find myself participating in - birthdays, christmas and occasional day trips that actually a P&s would suffice for.

The circle is complete and I start again.
 
Will let you guys know how I get on with the gm1 should arrive later this week from hdew. £389 with the 12-32 kit lens which looking at reviews is meant to be pretty good.

Have the oly 45 and 40-150 already so then just want a wider prime and I'm then sorted.
 
bl0at3r said:
This is the trouble - I find the GX1 and 20/14 pancakes I have now to be very agreeable in size, weight and IQ.

So I guess the next logical progression in IQ and functions would be the GM1 (slightly smaller) or GX7 (ever so slightly bigger). Both of these would give me a faster max shutter than 1/4000 for wide open fast primes in broad daylight.

But my brain says this is not really much of an upgrade for some reason.

So then I think the OM-D seems more like an upgrade, but having had 2x E-M5s already, my brain decides this is more of the same and I should get the E-M1.

Then this leads me to feel like for that money I could get into FF and I start to question whether I need a FF camera, or even a new camera at all.

Deep down I know I don't need FF (the financial commitment included) for the sort of picture taking I now find myself participating in - birthdays, christmas and occasional day trips that actually a P&s would suffice for.

The circle is complete and I start again.
Click to expand...

You want shallow DOF and decent ISO, you're only mentioning M43 and FF, you do know theres another choice right? Why not look at Fuji APSC?
 
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