Camera kit for photojournalism

I bought an X100 hoping to add it to my photojournalism workflow. I had hopes of using it as my wide and maybe an 85mm or a 100mm on my 5D for longer stuff. Unfortunately I found the X100 too quirky to use in situations where I am actually trying to make money, I just couldn't rely on it. I still have it and use it for environmental portraits or personal work.

I hear the X100s solves a lot of the quirks but I don't think I'll be shelling out for it.
 
Bobbo said:
But in general, there's a reason virtually everyone dumped their compact rangefinders/medium format/large format cameras and jumped to SLRs like the Nikon F in the early 1960s. If you're working on deadline in a tight spot (like people getting shot at or a "perp walk"). you will NOT want an X-Pro, M9 or anything of the sort. Too expensive for something that moves too slowly. Speed, flexibility and durability are the most important things you need, in that order.
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Well put ...
 
capitalK said:
I bought an X100 hoping to add it to my photojournalism workflow. I had hopes of using it as my wide and maybe an 85mm or a 100mm on my 5D for longer stuff. Unfortunately I found the X100 too quirky to use in situations where I am actually trying to make money, I just couldn't rely on it. I still have it and use it for environmental portraits or personal work.

I hear the X100s solves a lot of the quirks but I don't think I'll be shelling out for it.
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I guess it's the sort of thing that varies from person to person. One of our staffers here in St. Louis routinely uses his personal X100 on assignments for the paper - and in his own wedding business.
Of course, he also has a full DSLR kit on hand at all times.

I'm not a PJ, but as a longtime reporter, I've worked with tons of them. It's just very rare to see one working without a DSLR kit. I doubt that's by accident.
 
JSU said:
What character was played by Dennis Weaver in Apocalypse Now? Perhaps you are referring to Dennis Hopper whose character was loosely based on Tim Page.
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Yeah, thats the one, handkerchief on his head and beads. I was grasping for his name but knew somebody here would know the roll model. 🙂
 
Damaso said:
Without seeing your work my experience is that most people don't effectively use very wide lenses in photojournalism. There are tons of exceptions of course but I think the 35mm is usually more than wide enough for most jobs. But if you are tied to the 28 then the M8 might not be for you.

In my opinion, as someone who used to shoot with a 24mm for years then went to the 35 and settled at 50mm I think wides are overrated in documentary work. most people fail to effectively fill the frame. Only you know if this is true in your case.

https://picasaweb.google.com/114727909233222260357/PentecostalismInEurope

Most of this work was shot on an M8 using a 35mm (so about 47mm) https://picasaweb.google.com/114727909233222260357/PentecostalismInEurope the rest with a 90mm

Everyone is different. But I found my desire for the rangefinder format vastly outweighed my need for wides and ultrawides...
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I totally understand your point. I think that I do okay with 28mm. I like to get close and get the full context of what's going on around the subject. I know that it's not always possible to be close though.
You can look at my tumblr in my sig for a few examples of my photos, just a few samples. Everything on there was either shot with a 28, 35, or 50.
 
Yeah you could benefit from shooting a shorter focal length, inmo. The 28 on the M8 might do nicely for you. Again if you really want to be wide then an slr is for you. That said as a working photographer editors I come across rarely want images as wide as a 28.

You may want to see if you can borrow an M8 from someone and see if it works for you. If you like the way your M6 works then the M8 is the cheapest alternative that will have the same feel in your hand, which is an important consideration to me.

Dunn said:
I totally understand your point. I think that I do okay with 28mm. I like to get close and get the full context of what's going on around the subject. I know that it's not always possible to be close though.
You can look at my tumblr in my sig for a few examples of my photos, just a few samples. Everything on there was either shot with a 28, 35, or 50.
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A mentor doesn't have to live around the corner, we have email, skype and telephone these days. As long as they can see your images and advise you why do they need to be in your neck of the woods?

Dunn said:
It's a little tough to find a mentor in my neck of the woods.
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Damaso said:
Yeah you could benefit from shooting a shorter focal length, inmo. The 28 on the M8 might do nicely for you. Again if you really want to be wide then an slr is for you. That said as a working photographer editors I come across rarely want images as wide as a 28.

You may want to see if you can borrow an M8 from someone and see if it works for you. If you like the way your M6 works then the M8 is the cheapest alternative that will have the same feel in your hand, which is an important consideration to me.
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I would definitely like to try one out. Maybe I can find someone that has one nearby.

Damaso said:
A mentor doesn't have to live around the corner, we have email, skype and telephone these days. As long as they can see your images and advise you why do they need to be in your neck of the woods?
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Good point. I thought you were meaning someone to work along side of. Hopefully, I can find someone to give me some guidance. I'm pretty new to it all.

Thanks for your suggestions.
 
Photography is a pretty solitary pursuit, at least news and documentary work can be. I think it's more important to find your own working style but having someone who can critique your work and answer questions is invaluable...

Dunn said:
I would definitely like to try one out. Maybe I can find someone that has one nearby.



Good point. I thought you were meaning someone to work along side of. Hopefully, I can find someone to give me some guidance. I'm pretty new to it all.

Thanks for your suggestions.
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Dunn said:
Hopefully, I can find someone to give me some guidance. I'm pretty new to it all.
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Places like Santa Fe Photography Workshop have mentorship programs. You may want to check them out.

The business is getting tougher and tougher and with so many print publications falling on hard times, or going out of business, they are getting less and less willing to pay for images. Compounded by the proliferation of better quality cell phone cameras (which makes everyone on the street, when an incident happens, photojournalists) and the fact that those folks are many times willing to give the image away because they are excited about seeing their work in the paper/online, the whole business is getting pretty bleak.

Ran into a twenty-something gentleman while I was covering a political event last week, and what he did is start his own online publication. He's a one man band (occasionally getting help from a friend) and he writes, Tweets, Facebooks, shoots pictures, etc., and posts five or six articles with pics on his blog/website/online publication each day. Seems to be a new working model.

Just things to think about.

Best,
-Tim
 
Damaso said:
Yeah you could benefit from shooting a shorter focal length, inmo. The 28 on the M8 might do nicely for you. Again if you really want to be wide then an slr is for you.
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Mmm I shoot an m8, and if i was being serious about becoming a photojourno, i would not use this camera. Its got great image quality, but if you are using small apertures, then it's going to be too slow to focus and shoot. For the same price you can get a newer model camera that can do more and will be more suited to the job.
 
It really depends on what you're shooting. For press conferences, ribbon cuttings and portraits why not? I'd say the M8 is good for about 75-90% of what a typical freelancer might shoot. The big issue would of course be sports or other situations where you need fast focusing and long lenses.

That said there are plenty of things that SLRs don't do well in terms of news gathering. Saying a SLR is a better tool is a bit broad. I am a photojournalist and I use this camera every day. Doesn't mean it doesn't have limitations and serious ones at that (as every platform does). It just means the trade offs are acceptable for me.

You mileage may vary.

Jubb Jubb said:
Mmm I shoot an m8, and if i was being serious about becoming a photojourno, i would not use this camera. Its got great image quality, but if you are using small apertures, then it's going to be too slow to focus and shoot. For the same price you can get a newer model camera that can do more and will be more suited to the job.
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On 80% of the jobs I shoot as a PJ, I use my Nikon DSLR kit. But I take my M8.2 out on about 20% of assignments, and never have any of my editors complained.

I'm a big fan of the "two foot" zoom. When using my Leica M's, it works great.

Best,
-Tim
 
Damaso said:
It really depends on what you're shooting. For press conferences, ribbon cuttings and portraits why not? I'd say the M8 is good for about 75-90% of what a typical freelancer might shoot. The big issue would of course be sports or other situations where you need fast focusing and long lenses.

That said there are plenty of things that SLRs don't do well in terms of news gathering. Saying a SLR is a better tool is a bit broad. I am a photojournalist and I use this camera every day. Doesn't mean it doesn't have limitations and serious ones at that (as every platform does). It just means the trade offs are acceptable for me.

You mileage may vary.
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Just curious, have you tried the M9, Damaso?
 
With the price of a single M9, you can buy 2 DSLR bodies and a good 28-70mm zoom. Save the money and use it for more important things like plane tickets, or the ability to focus exclusively on photography for 3-4 months.
 
Equipment aint gonna get you work.
A PJ makes the work.
Work is created by oneself.
If you cannot do that, you need assignments..
Newspapers, journals and magazines.
Keep your regular job.
Add the photography.
A Leica, a Shmeica or Canoniko are all good.
Start shooting small assignments, of your own making.
Be prepared for severe criticism, if you find the right place and person(s).
Unlike here at RFF, where everyone is mostly very polite.
i once did a small brochure shot where my image was to be about 2"x 1.5".
The original was about 6"x9". There were 3 small dust spots..
The Art Director said "Must be tough printing in a Saharan dust storm.."
Some were way worse..
"28mm" gives very good advice.
 
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I have and it's a good camera. I'll likely be using one in the future. But I'd be fairly happy staying with the M8. The older I get the less focused I am on the limitations of my equipment and the more I focus on my internal limitations...

Dunn said:
Just curious, have you tried the M9, Damaso?
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