Continuing with the benefits of not having a camera…
Not having a camera means that I will eventually have to buy a new one, or a new used one or maybe even an old used one. Whatever. The point is that the hunt for a new camera is exciting in its own right. Sure, it’s not in the same ball-park as actually making photos or even chasing that elusive shot that we all seek to make but it’s still fun. At least it has been so far. It’s been years since I’ve researched a new camera. When I went from film to digital I bought a small compact without a second thought. I walked into a shop, saw one at a price I was prepared to pay and bought it. All I wanted to do was get a taste for this brave new world of photography—which it was back in those days. I wasn’t an immediate convert but I did enjoy the immediacy of digital photography. A few years later however, I won a DSLR and that was when I got hooked. My film cameras got used less and less until they were permanently retired. My old Minoltas had served me well for more years than I care to remember. When I first got them, all those years ago, was the last time I researched cameras. Now, I may be recalling memories through rose coloured glasses but back then, the choice seemed easier to make. There were fewer worthy contenders within the various price ranges as I remember it. But who knows, it was too long ago.
When I mentioned all this to a friend the other day he suggested that it was in fact easier to select a camera today thanks to all the information on the Internet. Of course he mentioned DPReview dot com as an example. I didn’t have the heart to say anything but such sites only tell me one thing: cameras today are all pretty good. The technology will no doubt get better still but for now, pick any price range and odds are, most amateur photographers will be satisfied with the results from any camera within that range. Fanboys excepted. This is an opinion, my opinion, so I could be wrong. My opinions do not always serve me well.
Anyway, for me, researching a camera does not involve anything served up by the likes of DPReview (with all due respect to the great people who work there). I get much more value from people like Robin Wong or Kirk Tuck. I doubt that technically speaking, in terms of photographic output, I would be disappointed by any camera on the market today over the price of $500 or so. What I want to know is how a camera feels in the hand. Is it fun? Do the creative juices get charged up just from holding it? This is the kind of stuff Robin and Kirk talk about. Sure they occasionally get a bit technical but never overly so.
Still, as useful as Robin and Kirk and other bloggers I follow can be, there’s no guarantee that I will feel the same way about an Olympus camera as Robin does or a Sony NEX as Kirk does. And that’s somewhat of an inconvenience of course because it means I can’t just read about a camera, order it online, and wait for the courier to ring my doorbell. Just like all those years ago when I bought my Minoltas, I need to handle the cameras myself. Doing so in a shop is okay, but it’s not ideal. What I’ve been doing lately is going up to total strangers who I see with cameras I might be interested in and I engage them in conversation. Like all photographers they love talking photography so this isn’t difficult to do. When I tell them about my sorry state of affairs they quite often let me have a go at their camera. So far, I have handled various Olympus cameras, three different NEX models, two Fuji cameras (including the X-Pro1), a Sony RX100 and a Canon. I don’t bother with DSLRs as I am fairly sure that I am no longer prepared to lug one around anymore.
Without going into details on each one, let me say that for me there is always a first impression. Like a gut-feel. Some cameras just click (excuse the pun). This still surprises me. Of course this is not to say that those that don’t click immediately wouldn’t grow on me. Even the one I liked least in that list above would no doubt end up being just fine if, say, I was to win it as I did my current camera.
Anyway, it will be interesting to see what I end up with but for now I am happy taking my sweet time just looking.
Cedric: I love your style of ‘rental’. You know, from being a photographer yourself, the willingness of most of us to share and that we, as photographers, cannot bear the thought of someone not having a camera. :) Good psychology, my friend! Gold star!
As for choosing cameras, yes, it can be difficult. When someone asks me about choosing one, it’s always a difficult task, mainly because there is so much marketing information out there and people get confused about pixels, etc, and get into the more is better frame of mind. In the end, I tell them to do their research, then head over to the local department store and pick up the camera and play with it. I’ve also offered the rental option, but, in general, newbies don’t want to do this for whatever reason. They seem to want it NOW!
You are taking considerable time to make your decision. I applaud you. I know that I wouldn’t have so much patience. I’d want to be out and about again. I’d just snag another Nikon DSLR and be gone with it – I like the way they feel in my hands. It’s the most ergonomically ‘correct’ camera that I’ve ever felt, DSLR wise. I am not a big fan of their point and shoot line, save for the P510. Also, I love to have more than one camera. I’ve come to believe that a particular style of camera is situational. I have some for carrying around, some for the tripod.
It will be interesting to see what you get once you finally decide to pull the trigger on the purchase.
If I could rent the cameras I was interested in then I would do it but where I live the only cameras available for rent are the professional types, the Canon 5D or Nikon equivalent. And the prices are extortionate for those too. The CSC units are not available for rent sadly.
Don’t be too quick in applauding me for my apparent patience. It is more a case of too little time and not quite enough money :)
By the way sometime you’ll have to explain to me this philosophy of having a particular type of camera for tripod use. You are not the first to say this and I don’t get it. Is it purely an aesthetics thing—small camera on a big tripod head looks daft— or is there a more logical reason as to why there is a difference that I am not aware of?
Probably the more pragmatic use would be to say: I have one camera that I use on the tripod and with it I like to do macros and limited depth of field work, which I cannot accomplish with the smaller sensor cameras. I’m sure that this makes more sense. :)
Ah yes, that makes much more sense and explains why I could not see that. I don’t do macro work and the only times I’ve used a tripod was for either landscape or nigh shots and each time with as much DOF as possible and in such cases, sensor size is much less a factor (well apart for the noise in night shots).
I don’t envy your position in trying to pick. There are so many choices now. I am glad I am so stuck in the Nikon system as far as lenses, that my choice is practically made for me when it comes time to upgrade. Many times I have been asked by people wanting to get a new camera … “What’s a good camera to get?” Talk about a loaded question, even if they don’t realize it. I ultimately tell people that you really can’t go wrong with quality on most of the cameras out there, and what matters is what feels right to you. I might add on that it really doesn’t matter because you probably will find yourself wanting a new one in a few years anyway. :-)
I am equally invested in Minolta/Sony lenses but I have decided not to let that influence me in my choice. I see this as a fresh start, tabula rasa you might say. I’m hoping, without any serious expectations, to find a camera that “clicks” with me. I’m not even sure if such a camera exists but it’s the kind of thing I do. What I do know though is that my days of having loads of gear are gone. Collecting lenses like I used to, along with flash guns, filters, remotes etc. those days are behind me now.
As for recommending cameras to friends, I have to say that I’ve given up on that. The most I ever do is answer their questions about the technology and maybe suggest a few questions they need to ask themselves about the photography they want to do. I could not possibly recommend one brand over another. The technology these days is simply astounding and I would suggest that anyone without any prejudices would have a difficult time discerning between all the different models on the market today.
Cedric. Wow, I HAVE been away a while. Didn’t you stop blogging some time back? Anyway, this whole ‘choosing a camera’ thing is so personal, I cannot give any useable advice, When I recently picked up the OM-D, I did so because so many of our mutual friends loved it. As soon as I put it up to my eye, my reaction was ‘blech!’ So you can’t go by me.
Hi Chris. Yes, I’ve returned. My decision to stop blogging was somewhat premature I guess :)
Your reaction to the OM-D is interesting. I wanted to like that camera when I first read about it. There was much to like about it but when I got to really play with it my reaction was similar to yours. I have no doubt that it is an excellent camera and there is still a part of me that hopes I will like it (for all I know my procrastination over the purchase of a new camera might be, in part, due to this underlying hope).
I’ve been reading your thoughts on the Fuji and you have me interested tough I’ve had less than optimum experiences with Fuji (film) cameras and sadly that has tainted my perception of the brand. It’s unreasonable to judge such things on the past but it’s difficult to shake off such feelings. Still, your photos and your writing might well erase those old beliefs.
Shopping around for camera gear is great fun, I think. Unlike virtually everything else I have to shop for from time to time, I can linger in a camera store for…well, for a much longer time than anywhere else! If money were no obstacle, I’d have quite a collection – Nex 6, Nex 7, D600, D800, Olympus OM-D – the list could be quite long.
When I picked up my first digital camera, a 2MP Canon, I took it out, shot with it, took an immediate dislike to it and went back and bought a Pentax IQZoom 105SW film camera and used that until I bought my Nikon D80 – at which point my switch to digital was swift and complete. Haven’t taken a shot with film since.
By the way – that’s a great image you’ve used for this post.
Thanks John. Even with money out of the picture I could not imagine myself owning more than one camera at any one time. I don’t like choice I guess and the idea of choosing which camera to take each day would be annoying to me. If I was to have more than one camera, by some twist of chance, I suspect I would pick one and never use the others.
In any case, as of today I have put off the shopping for a new camera. I finally got my camera back from Sony (after threatening to report it stolen) and despite the fact that making a shot with it takes a considerable amount of care and guesswork (the viewfinder no longer aligns with the sensor) I have decided to continue using my old A700 for a while longer. I can never bring myself to replace something that works even if using it incurs some inconvenience. At least I’ll be shooting again :)
Cedric, taking into account that all creative acts have at their core the overcoming of obstacles – paint on canvas, fingers on a lump of clay, a chisel on stone, a pencil and an empty page – your decision is most probably right. Of course it’s a different thing if you want to do a wedding or some documentary photography, then the camera is just a tool and the task is to get things delivered, but in our case as “amateur” photographers, we decide about our process. And neither personal development nor results have to rely on a tool, as we are allowed to shape our own process.
Quite right Mark, our “amateur hobbyist” status allows us much scope in how we achieve what we seek. In a way—and I may just be making excuses to protect my ego for all I know—a part of me is glad I never made a career out of photography. I am not sure that I would have been as receptive to all that photography has given me over the years. Actually, I probably am just talking crap but I think you know what I mean.
“The measure of choosing well, is, whether a man likes and finds good in what he has chosen” ~~ Charles Lamb
Cedric…I would just say to indeed enjoy this selection time. There are so many cameras to like…and not a one of them is perfect!
Nice quote Earl. Quite right too with your observation that no camera is perfect though most these days are very good. In any case as I mentioned to John above, I am no longer looking around for a replacement camera. The old A700 will hopefully last a little longer.
My decision for my current Panasonic G3 was quite trivial, I have to admit: I saw quite a number of images created with that camera and in a style I could identify with, I didn’t read disqualifying things about it (yes, meanwhile most any camera above certain price level is a valid tool), and finally size and price were convincing enought. It was not love at first or 2nd sight – coming from a bright SLR viewfinder the electronic version on the G3 is at least not as good, but still good enough, and also the feel is a bit plasticky, but then – most of the user interface works reasonably well, no things to seriously complain about except maybe battery life, und then the results: Really fine by my standards, at least as good as with the DSLR. And what might count even more: I’ve learnt new things relying mainly on primes, and my motivation to create has not at all diminuished but grown: I see it from the rapid decrease of free space on my harddisk.
The Charles Lamb quote in Earl’s comment sounds perfect: Buyer’s remorse I guess is the only real danger when selecting a new camera.
I would say that your observation says a lot and ties in quite well with my own conclusions. In the end we can get used to any camera if we are happy with the results. It’s always nice when there is an instant connection between photographer and camera but quite likely that is as rare as love at first sight :P However having said all that, buyer’s remorse can strike and that can be quite disheartening. I’ve been fortunate that I’ve never experienced it but I have known plenty of people who have. In any case, as I mentioned to John and Earl above, I have put off the possibility of having to deal with buyer’s remorse to another time. I’ll be keeping my broken but still somewhat functional A700 for some time yet.
How might one have buyer’s remorse when one does not buy anything? ;)
Darn it Paul, you got me, you’ve found my secret to happiness. I’ve tried to sell the idea, you know, become a self-help guru, do the tours, sign the books but no matter how I try, I can’t seem to stretch my secret motto of “Stop buying shit and be happy” into an entire book. But it does make a great title I reckon. Ha ha!
I think the decision to continue to use the A700 is sound. It yields great photos (in your hands) while it is serviceable. Personally, I hate to discard anything that still functions but our “throw away” society doesn’t help much.
We’ve been indoctrinated into a “throw away” society to prop-up the “growth” economy. The two go hand-in-hand and there is no doubt that it is quite intoxicating and addictive as a way of life. Sadly, I suspect that within both of these ideas lies the seed of its undoing.
I agree with you that nothing beats holding the camera and playing with it. Interestingly I started out with the NEX and went to Olympus. Of course Kirk Tuck, first had Olympus and then went to the NEX. I showed him my NEX-5 and he became intrigued. He was a big Olympus fan who convinced me.
You never really know until you shoot the heck out of a camera to get the feel of them and see how they inspire you.