Digital, not new but not obsolete!

[robert blu]

This is a thread in honor of digital cameras that are perhaps old but not yet obsolete 🙂

We all know that according to the industry we should change our camera every time a new, better performing, more complete, more something... model comes out.
It's logic, industry needs money, it needs a turnover.

But there are also people who get attached to old cameras and use them for years. For those who use film this is quite normal, a little less so for those who use digital where the progress from year to year is very strong.

I belong to the group of those who like to use somewhat old cameras and sometimes instead of the M10 I prefer to use the old Leica x1.
It is 12 years old, the autofocus is slow, but it is small, light, the lens has a "film-like" performance and even with a few pieces of gaffer tape for safety I really like to use it!

Does anyone else still regularly use a somewhat old digital? Let's say at least 10 years old!
Tell us about your experience, and if you add some photos even better 🙂

A couple of pictures I shot two days ago with the Leica X1, more in the gallery.

 

[petronius]

The X1 is a camera I kind of drooling after, too. Fortunately I´m having gas under control. Surely;-)
I bought my Lumix G1 in 2010 and the Ricoh GRD 3 in 2012. They are accompanied by a Nikon D300. All see regular use beside the Sony A7, that will be 10 years old soon. (Why should they be obsolete at all? They work, don´t they?)

 

[shawn]

The X1 has a great JPG engine with a beautiful tone curve to it. I'd love to try the X2 as it was supposed to be a bit faster focusing.

For me it has to be the Pentax 645D.

It was a fairly recent purchase (I have a 645N with lenses), the camera's design is just sublime. It is the most solid feeling camera I have used and the controls have just the right tactile feel. Physical controls for pretty much everything, don't even need to go into the menus to configure which SD card is in use or for file types that are written to the cards. Gorgeous viewfinder, AF is fine, good battery life and it has a 40 megapixel CCD sensor with about a stop more dynamic range than the M9. The only time it feels "old" is when you try to review a picture that was just taken, in that case it has a considerable delay before showing the image. Review at other times is quick.

 

[rhl-oregon]

I recently bought a Sigma DP2 Merrill 7 years after giving my first one to a colleague here (his had gotten wet and died).

I like Sigma cameras in general, but although the SD Quattro was far more advanced than the older DP2M, I missed the DP2M’s relative simplicity. It is fun to carry alongside my Fuji Klasse S.

 

[johnf04]

My digital cameras are a Canon Powershot G12, and and a Canon 60D. I haven't felt the need for anything more recent.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I brought out the M9 and M Monochrom out today- they are me newest Leica cameras, and most likely the last new Leica cameras that I ever buy.
Took along two newly converted 5cm F1.5 sonnars, one from 1934 and the other from ~1941. Also brought the TTartisans 50/0.95.

 

[Tim Murphy]

Dear Robert,

All my digital cameras are older. Some by 3 or so years and some by 10 plus years. If they work, they work.

I just find it a little ironic that a board comprised mainly of film shooters actually considers anything to be obsolete.

I still use fishing rods and reels that are far older than I am. If something works well it deserves a place in the rotation.

Regards,

Tim Murphy

Harrisburg PA 🙂

 

[raydm6]

I still shoot with a Canon S90 occasionally. I believe I purchased it in 2009.

A lot of my S90 images are posted here:

CCD Sensor Compacts

I picked up a CCD sensor compact digital on a whim and I've been having a lot of fun with it. Anyone else still enjoying these in 2022? The look of the images reminds me of my film days. It's a nice break from the hyperrealistic images I get from my Leica Q or Nikon D750.

rangefinderforum.com

 

[Darthfeeble]

Epson R-D1x, old but not forgotten. This would be the camera I would keep if forced to have only one.

 

[santino]

Fujifilm S5 Pro. Incredible colors and super rigid body!

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The M9, from today, with the newly converted Carl Zeiss Jena 5cm F1.5 Sonnar "T", early wartime lens.





And the M Monochrom with the 1934 5cm F1.5 Sonnar, converted to Leica mount.

 

[Godfrey]

I still have my Olympus E-1 but haven't had it out for a shoot in recent memory. It remains my favorite DSLR of all, I've kept it even despite later Olympus E-5 and other cameras that theoretically outperform it handily.

G

 

[Dogman]

I'm mainly a B&W photographer. I've always loved the look of B&W film but I no longer have the patience to deal with using film (or the funds to shoot film like I used to). The vast majority of my photos are done with Nikon D700 bodies and older Nikkor manual focus and AF lenses. The D700 is considered old by today's standards (2008) but it is total perfection to me. Nikon ergonomics that make sense and feel right, built heavy so it builds confidence in its durability and it lacks features I don't want or need--video, wi-fi, bluetooth, GPS, etc. Best of all, the 12mp full frame sensor is fully capable of excellent quality without going nuts for resolution. Sorta like film. Run the files through Silver Efex and the look pleases me. It's not really a film look but it's really satisfying.

While I have newer higher resolution cameras and they are nice, I still rely on the D700 the most.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Where is one Russian photog who was using X1 and processed its files to includible colors and else.
He sold it not to long time ago and mentioned he will wait for something close to it, while using mobile phones cameras.
And well know (for real 🙂 ) S_Peter used X1 as well to show real life.

Myself, been in Canada where if you are not politician, government worker or so called business, but family of seven, regular income employee with more than half of income taken by taxes with miserable return on social programs and not free health care... what could I afford?

Newest camera M-E 220 I had was as birthday gift was from my mother, she was regular teacher, worked until her mid seventies. In Moscow, Russia.

My newest addition is Pentax k-3. 2013 or so model. Got it for under 200 USD, plus two lenses, each is under 100 USD.
This is to replace non weather sealed Canon 500D from 2009, which took hundred of thousands images for me to teach me all possible technical aspects of digital photography.

I have Canon 5D MKII which is about tennish. We paid for it and couple of L lenses to our daughter after she realized what Canada is not the place where regular photog could make a living. This camera is gaining cult status now, after 5D was in this status for decades.

Couple of years ago I got Ricoh GRD III and original GRD, those are much more than 10YO. And price for both was like 1/5 of GR III.

Been SOOC and not the master of PP, I realized what to me it is about the content. 10YO+ cameras are sufficient.

I took GRDIII on four countries, two continents trip this year. And it was fine and very convenient camera on crumped planes and for daily commute. Much easier than dinking with mobile phone for pictures.

 

[JeffS7444]

Sony RX100 is now a 10+ year old design! It lacks a number of features compared with the newer models, but basic still-photograph performance is still pretty modern IMO.

 

[Bob Michaels]

A Fuji XT-1 and original X-100 are the only two cameras I have photographed with for the last 3-4 years. They work fine for me.

 

[robert blu]

... When I was working I obviously had to please my clients and clients returning for more work was my vote of approval. Now that I’m retired I’m very confident in my work and I don’t care if anyone else likes it. I do my art for myself and my pleasure. Who cares what anyone else thinks.
...

...

For me, photography, isn't about light, isn't about shadows, isn't about framing, isn't about grayscale... is about sharing a part of ourselves. And yes, to do that I need the light, the shadows, the framing, the grayscale... they are our tools.

...

Yes, I agree with both thoughts. On the other side it can be interesting to interact with someone else and know simply what she or he thinks, or better if she or he sees what we wanted to communicate. For the good or for the bad !Or not?

 

[Shab]

Yes, I agree with both thoughts. On the other side it can be interesting to interact with someone else and know simply what she or he thinks, or better if she or he sees what we wanted to communicate. For the good or for the bad !Or not?

Yes robert, it's important to interact with someone else... I'm working in a photographic project and I interact with some friends, I ask them, we talk about the project, each picture... for me it's a need.

Sometimes I think to ask and share my doubts in the forum... but then I think it's too large to do it. I don't know... I really appreciate your words.

 

[Bob Michaels]

Yes robert, it's important to interact with someone else... I'm working in a photographic project and I interact with some friends, I ask them, we talk about the project, each picture... for me it's a need.

I am a believer in getting second opinions but it is never another photographer for me. Now, I do focus on the totality of a project rather than individual images. I pick people who are good communicators, sometimes writers, sometimes speakers, sometimes academics. Never photographers because my experience is that they almost always revert to photo things about individual photographs while I am interested in communicating my thoughts and using photography as only a tool. I differ from most here in that I see an end product directed towards photographers or non-photographers. I choose that 99% group, not the 1%

 

[Out to Lunch]

Another vote for some of the cameras mentioned above: the Canon 5DMII, and the Epson rangefinders. Also worth mentioning are the Canon Powershot cameras: the S90; S110, and S120. Pocketable and very capable.