Dan Le Brun
@dan.le.brun31 May
Gear swings and roundabouts
I buy way too much kit… only ever have one or two bodies, but I chop and change them a lot. I’ve noticed a pattern of stripping back to the smallest, lightest everyday setup I can for least resistance, but then eventually feeling it’s become too easy, feels shallow, and there’s nothing of me in what a quickly snap as I walk by… so I sell up and get something older or clunkier, certainly slower, so I’m forced to put some effort in. I maybe can’t catch everything but the photos certainly aren’t snatched. I prefer the photos I take in this second phase, but I crave the ease again so I repeat the cycle… just sold the x100 and bought a weird old sigma haven’t I. Feel familiar to anyone else? Just me?
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I've gone through like 10 cameras in the past year 😅 I've decided to keep the xe5 now and just trade around lenses for the time being as the GAS is exhausting. I'm sick of selling stuff on marketplace lol. I have some older slower lenses on here and will pick up an manual one or two soon for the "slow" style shooting
Yea I feel you, I'm not on the top of the top of the "Gear Obsessed" kudos for nothing 😅 But finally after several years of experimenting I've come to realize I do not care for fast and modern, I just end up taking more shots, while not really getting any more keepers, and not enjoying the process as much. The most modern camera I have currently is a Canon RP which I only have since the the cheapest full frame mirrorless camera I can adapt all my vintage lenses to. Everything else is 12+ years old
You’re only top because my exif data isn’t in there 😅 But, like you I also have a lot of older cameras that I love using, like the canon 6d, 6d ii, 5d etc
Part of the fun of photography is experimenting imo, and gear is part of that.
Just ran through the list that i've had over the years. 40 different digital cameras. holy moly. That's spread over 15 years (as if that makes it any better!)
I've had 9 in 1 year of doing photography 😂. I'm done I swear
After trying and trying I got to a point where I stay with what makes my life easier so I can take more pictures instead of playing with cameras.
Just a funny coincidence.
I have been taking pictures for a good few years and never had anyone asking if I took his/her picture but last month I got the ‘ best and unobtrusive camera Ricoh griv and guess what, I got people asking what I was doing 🤣
Small cameras although way less obtrusive, can sure look sneaky! I hate looking sneaky as it’s never the intention.
I'm moving to a very deliberate shooting style where it's obvious im taking photos. All of my negative interactions have been when I'm trying to be sneaky. Whenever I'm overt nobody really seems to mind
This is the way ❤️
Replying to Dan Le Brun
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Yeah ive started doing this too. Taking shots before, during, and after engagement, if they look, I just smile and keep shooting.
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I've been buying cheap film cameras on eBay and yes, the ones that are the most portable but satisfying to use are ones I will use.
Got a get Fuji point and shoot and a Minolta x-500 which is pretty much all I use nowadays.
I'm looking at medium format but worried about lugging around a brick so am going for a 645 camera
you've got me all nostalgic about my m645 now - I might go shoot it again for a little bit
I blaming you if it's rubbish
I think (maybe not) I've got it licked. My goal is to have as few cameras as possible.
Main body - Nikon Zf - can take AF and manual lenses (I use an M mount for zone focusing) - multiple use cases (street/live work/portraits etc) and it's full frame. Have AF 40m and 28mm for it as well.
Travel/EDC/gigs - Sony RX100 VI (has zoom plus a EVF for my eyes)
Film - Minolta X700 with 28mm/50mm MD lenses (which I can also use on the Zf)
In an alternate reality I'd have an M-body as well for street - but at the moment it would just be a luxury. I've also been trying a Q3 - it's nice, but would also be a luxury as the Zf can cover pretty much everything.
Or am I being way too sensible lol
That ZF is such good value for money too.
Yeah I think I paid 1400 for the body. He's a bit chonky and has way too many buttons and I'm hoping they bring out a v2 which is a bit more refined.
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I've bought and sold the zf 3 times lol. Loved it but ultimately always too heavy for me. If they come out with a zf2 with a tilt screen and shave off some weight it would be a day one for me. went back to fuji for the smaller bodies and lenses.
Replying to Matt Hubert
Yeah the weight and how it sits in the hand isn't great and would be very easy to fix. Agreed on the screen as well.
Replying to Matt Hubert
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Hi Matt, Dan, and @hillhurst_production
My dearly beloved says that if she had a £1 for every time I've said "if only it had a tilt up screen" she'd have more shoes than Imelda Marcos.
Replying to Colin M.
I bought another zf so I’m psychotic hahaha
So happy to have found this thread. Nice to know I'm not alone. ;-)
Camera’s not so much, but lenses… f you can live with the hassle of buying and selling on marketplaces and you’re having fun taking photos, buy everything you want ✌🏻
I think the swings are necessary sometimes to bring some new motivation.
I have too many cameras I just don't use any more but don't want to let go of, like my Rolleiflex. I have a 5D Mk3 that I still think has some of the best colours. but relatively bulky now though. I also have a Canon EOS 3, which I am still getting to know. The eye tracking focus point is odd but seems to work well. I use an XT-5 more than anything else. It's just so easy to use and also produces great colours. Plus the range of lenses available is endless. I picked up a Viltrox 75mm and a 27mm, they are large lenses because of that f 1/2 aperture but I love the results.
Hi Miles.
I vividly remember standing on a box at a wedding when I was a kid and looking down the waist level of a Rolleiflex being used by the photographer, and then, he flicked up the mag glass which was a magical moment. That was the source of all things photographic for me.
Keep the Rollei :-)))
Hi Dan.
This was the best £30 I ever spent on anything gear related recently. Plus, a device with a label saying 'Slik' appeals to my sense of quirkiness, and it's not a bad fluid head either.
Cheers.
Just consider yourself lucky that you are into photography and not hi-fi. You can buy quality cameras for the same money these guys spend on a power cord.