If you had told me that some years ago...

[Kent]

.. I would never have believed you.

I am about to sell almost all my digital SLR-gear. 😱

Yes, I have always loved the looks of RF cams and the way you shoot with it. But since recently I could not have imagined to take photos without having and using a DSLR every now and then. One of the reasons that I always found to convince myself was that with little kids, I thought I needed the fast (re)action of SLR cameras.

But meanwhile I have several "system" cameras that are as quick in response as DSLRs and produce as great images.

I have used the EOS 5D with a Sigma 70-300 telezoom or the Nikon D3100 with a Tamron 70-300 telezoom to take pictures of my son playing football or my daughter horseback-riding.
Now, the Nikon1 V1 with the 1Nikkor 30-110 does just that job! And with an even quicker AF!

I have used the 5D to take photos in available light situations.
Now, the Fuji X-E1 does an even better job there.

And the Leica M8 just is a better street cam than any DSLR. Period.

I have sold the D3100 and the Fuji S2Pro already and I am about to sell the 5D.
And tell you what? I don't have the feeling that I will miss anything.

(OK, I still have the old EOS 300D and the even older Nikon D1, but only because I would only get peanuts for them. And I still have several film SLRs, but that's just for playing. However, I realize that I start use film more often again, with several different cams. 😉)

What about you, gentlemen (and ladies)? Have you gone all the way?
Or do you still have some DSLRs for special occasions?

 

[Margu]

looking through the huge OVF of a SLR/DSLR is the very essence of photography for me.

 

[jsrockit]

Never got on with a DSLR... which is why this forum is my favorite.

 

[DKimg]

Three months ago I sold all of my digital gear. And now I'm 'stuck' with film cameras. I pretty much had an epiphany that I enjoy rangefinder film cameras. I've got all caught up with the dslrs but honestly it's not as fun as film and rangefinders... Just something about it that makes it very enjoyable. The whole process with the camera system combined with the process of film makes it unique.

If I ever go back to digital. I would most likely buy a digital back for the fuji gx680. Honestly though, I'm quite content with the three systems I have now. 🙂

 

[hepcat]

Well, I have an M8, M9-P, and an M4-P. Those handle 99% of everything I need to do. I recently bought an R8 and a couple of complementary zooms "just because." So, I guess I qualify for not having a DSLR any more. Oh, and I also picked up a Panny GX1 as a snapshot camera.

 

[kiss-o-matic]

I am about to sell almost all my digital SLR-gear. 😱

My DSLR was stolen, so yeah... I just sold the last of my lenses and said to hell with it. I have an RX1 which gets amazingly little action. I will likely sell it, get an R7 and use... (wait for it)... RF lenses on it. 🙂

 

[thegman]

No digital cameras at all for me, except what came built in to my phone and tablet, which are of course useful for eBay pics etc.

 

[f16sunshine]

Good work Carsten!
Beware the need for a real time optical through the lens finder still exists! EVF's just don't always make the grade. More often than they used to but still not always.
I could never let go of my trusty 5Diesel ii !
Long lens work and or the need for a big battery and buffer still loom in my projects.
Small compacts can not compete when you need the extra HP !
Cheers and good luck!

 

[Grahamb]

I can share with all comments here, i too have the 5D, not in a great hurry to get rid of her, she is my bird camera, but i all so have an exact set up on my Minolta.

At the end of a shoot, if i have both with me, there is a way to look at it, one i can see an touch, the other, an array of numbers never to be seen.

Who would of thought, a 100 years ago and more, we would be looking at what the first photo takers did, what will we see in another 100.

I am sure it will not be data, we can not keep what we did 20 years ago????

 

[Sejanus.Aelianus]

I'm heading in the opposite direction. I now only have the Bessa L outfit, my 8x11 Minoxes and my Hasselblad outfit. I'm wondering whether to part with the 'Blad kit now as well.

We're all different and where I get immense pleasure from the immediacy of digital, I can well understand that other people get just as much from the deliberateness of film. I hope that film and chemistry will continue to be available for a long time, for their sake.

 

[Rangefinderfreak]

I bought back a DSLR... a Fuji S5 pro, because with Micro Nikkor 55mm 3,5 it is nice to take detail shots for the articles I write about microengines. otherwise all the rest is goodbye, even D3, hassy CFV digital back... Now the "toy" I carry is the M3/4 hybrid with M4 finder ( for the 35mm frameline) and a M8 with B&W raw adjusted permanently in the menu...

 

[thegman]

I'm heading in the opposite direction. I now only have the Bessa L outfit, my 8x11 Minoxes and my Hasselblad outfit. I'm wondering whether to part with the 'Blad kit now as well.

We're all different and where I get immense pleasure from the immediacy of digital, I can well understand that other people get just as much from the deliberateness of film. I hope that film and chemistry will continue to be available for a long time, for their sake.

Quite right, it does not have to be one or the other. Digital's immediacy cannot be challenged by film, regardless how good your lab or developing skills are. On the other hand, digital (for the moment) does not smell as good as film ;-)

 

[Michael Markey]

I'm heading in the opposite direction.

Wandering that way a bit myself.
I find the GR V much more useful on the street than either of my film M`s.
The rest of the time I`m taking sports shots in indoor low light situations .

Currently using a 40d with Zeiss legacy glass .

 

[ricnak]

I have been thinking about getting my first DSLR for years. Still thinking...

 

[Keith]

I'm musing about stepping up from my D700 to a D3s ..... 😕

 

[Michael Markey]

I'm musing about stepping up from my D700 to a D3s ..... 😕

Keith

I have one pal who uses a D3s and another who uses a D4 .
Don`t know the difference but they both turn out some lovely files.

 

[Keith]

Keith

I have one pal who uses a D3s and another who uses a D4 .
Don`t know the difference but they both turn out some lovely files.

I have a couple of reasons Michael. The extra stop or so of usable ISO would be handy and the frame rate increase of a pro body would allow very fast bracketing in a gallery situation. The files from the D700 are very good at 3200 but 6400 can be a little marginal at times ... particularly in deep shadow areas.

 

[Michael Markey]

I have a couple of reasons Michael. The extra stop or so of usable ISO would be handy and the frame rate increase of a pro body would allow very fast bracketing in a gallery situation. The files from the D700 are very good at 3200 but 6400 can be a little marginal at times ... particularly in deep shadow areas.

Yes ...my two pals use them for the sports stuff I mentioned .
Nothing else seems to cut it.
I think Frank P said as much in a post the other day.

There `s a lot of talk on here about low light shots but if you throw fast action into the mix as well your equipment choice quickly becomes limited.

 

[Kent]

Thanks for all your comments.

There are merely three reasons why I started to think about getting rid of my DSLR stuff:
1. I hardly ever use long tele lenses (apart from taking photos of my kids playing sports which can easily be done with the Nikon1), no wildlife shots or s.th.
2. I almost never take macro shots.
3. I do not want to lug around heavy gear any more. Carrying a tiny bag with all I need inside is fantastic - and I do not need to accept any compromise in IQ.

 

[jarski]

Got recently 5D Mk 1 for my old Takumars and Nikkors. Prices are already so low that I doubt will ever sell it, maybe get another instead 🙂