The Offshore Voyaging Reference Site

Photography: My Big Iron Is Gone

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Deep down I had known this day was coming ever since I picked up this camera, but it took me quite a while to get over my 20-year relationship with big DSL gear—first film, then digital. Anyway, after a year of never getting my Canon kit out of the bag, I did it.

I just got rid of all of my big Canon photography gear:

  • big bruiser full frame body,
  • big L-series lenses,
  • strobes and wireless triggers;

all of it. The works.

And you know what, I think I’m a better photographer without all that stuff. Less obtrusive, and more in tune with my surroundings. I sure feel lighter, and move faster, mentally and physically.

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Not only that, the high end lenses for my new system (my in depth review here) are at least as good as anything Canon produces, and often demonstrably better. And they are less than half the size and less than half the price.

Oh yes, and my new camera is a better and easier to use video camera, at least for my purposes (with the best image stabilization in the industry), than anything Canon makes. Plus, my new favourite camera handles better, at least for me, than anything Canon has produced since the old film EOS 3.

And, now that we have fast focus tracking and fast long zooms on my new system, the only thing I’m giving up going away from full frame is the ability to make prints over 36″ wide, which I don’t do anyway. That’s it.

This is a pivotal moment in camera technology and a great time to be a photographer.

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I have even finally found a pocket camera I can love. Great image quality, great handling, great viewfinder. Did I mention that it fits in my coat pocket? (I will do a review if enough people are interested, please leave a comment.)

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And even my iPhone takes pretty good photos, although I hate using it for that because it’s an awkward camera to handle, at least in comparison to my purpose-built cameras.

Last time I was involved in a disruptive time like this in technology was when microcomputers arrived. Remember Wang, Data General and Digital Equipment Corporation? Nikon and Canon, are you listening?…No, didn’t think so…Watch out for the tar pits, guys.

By the way, the lead photo is of my pusher…er, camera salesman, Don, with all my old Canon gear as I traded it in on new goodies for my absolute favourite camera of all time.

Further Reading

Disclosure

I paid the same price as anyone else would for my new system and Canon has never done anything bad to me, other than forgetting to innovate lately.

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James Hallett

Well done John – its incredible how much all that big glass weighs!

Steven Schapera

John
I have followed your lead – gave up tons (30 years) of heavy Nikon and am now an avid Fuji X Pro 1 user with the a handful of beautiful XF lenses. Quality is on a par, or better (?) than my Nikon but the biggest benefit is I am “loving” photography all over again. In time I will probably get the Fuji XT1 but in no rush…just loving not carrying all that weight, everything “fits” in my hands, and the photo quality is beautiful.
BTW, I would love to see your review of the Lumix, particularly as I’m hooked on the X Pro 1.
Regards
Steven

Tim

I might add that my newest lens, an 18-300mm Nikon really is a life saver on a boat. I used to have to keep swapping lenses, worrying when I put the caps, things rolling around etc. You used to compromise a lot these types of ‘do everything lens’ but they’ve come on a lot in that last few years. The Sigma equivalent is also good and only about £250.

Joseph

I’d love to see a review of the Lumix pocket camera.

Jim Patek

Hi John

Thanks for continuing to expand your Chapters on the subject of photography. I would appreciate your thoughts on the Panasonic point and shoot camera and why you selected it over other similar options. Unrelated to this posting, I am hoping that you will address the role of photo editing and just how much this plays into camera selection.

Thanks, Jim

chris

I’d love to see a review of the Lumix too. I’m all about the pocket camera now.

Arek

It will be interesting to read more about your Lumix camera.

John Olson

Tell us about it! Thanx

David

Interesting and agreed John.
It took me a long time to get over losing Kodachrome 25 (and the nice light Minolta – another loss – I used to expose it). I have steered away from the big DSL’s for just that reason – big and heavy. I do however like to have images that I can get to a decent size or crop, without thinking of K25 all over again. I also like to have a half decent camera with me at all times.
My solution is Nokia Lumia (41MP or 20MP, depending which one you go for, and both with 8 element Zeiss lenses). That solves the ‘pocket camera’ problem for me, then a lightweight DSL (currently Sony – the successor to Minolta) for the more serious stuff, when I can be bothered carrying a camera bag around my waist.
I know the ‘really wide to really long’ lenses are not perfect, but gee I don’t miss changing lenses, and can put up with a little distortion around the edges for that convenience.
If it isn’t fun, it’s work, and if it’s work we think of retirement. Keep it fun, as life is too short at the best of times.
David

Alfred Wittenberg

John,
Please review that Lumix. (As an addition to my Canon EOS).
Thank you.

TomT

Last year I got a Sony A7R, in order to use my Leica 35 mm lens on a mirrorless digital camera. The sensor is full frame, 36 MP, fantastic. For B&W I still prefer film, but for color, I love this camera, and the compactness of the mirrorless systems.

Richard Dykiel

Awww let’s cut John some slack and enjoy the Holidays; here’s that review of the Lumix: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonic-lumix-dmc-lx100

Arek

I was thinking his is DMC-LX7 – but I may be wrong.
LX100 cost double so it will be actually interesting to compere this two models.

We could probably find some good technical reviews on Internet, but I will be more interested in some personal opinion.
It will be also nice to know some details which are usually omitted in reviews like battery life, how easy it is to charge when on boat etc.
Things which are not essential but useful to know.

Richard Dykiel

Anyway, it’s not the first time that one of your posts collides uncannily with my preoccupations of the moment. My eldest daughter wants a camera for Xmas. We have the Panasonic FZ200 and were about to buy one for her, and boom you show us the LX100: it looks a tad too sophisticated for our needs but I looked the LX7 and this might be the right fit for her. The primary factor for going Panasonic were those Leica lenses. Thanks! (I’m still interested in your take on them).

Richard Dykiel

Yep general photography is the application. There are so many choices in the market that, if you are not a professional (or knowledgeable amateur) you have to go with a brand you like or rely on educated advice like yours.

David

Hi John

Just a question (as I’m considering swapping my FX Nikon gear for the OMD5-II).

Why did you rule out getting an APS-C sized Canon? That way you could still get a lighter camera, the sensor size is larger than the micro 4/3, and you could still use your existing Canon lenses if needed. Plus you’d still have the big camera for those special shots of needed.

Nikon as a D5500 which is pretty small and light, maybe easier to handle than the OMD, and I’d keep the D700 for the photography projects I do from time to time.

Be interested in your views – and please tell me if I’ve missed something fundamental!

David