Losing context - camera choice ..

[dee]

It's odd , with favourable reviews of the latest cameras .. in this instance , the Fuji X-Pro2 and/or T20 , it's easy to forget that my X-Pro1 cost me under £200 for a new body[ plus a new 27mm ] which served me well on a one off hoiiday to Malaysia.

That I have repeated the scenario with a new £427 [ expensive for me !! ] FUJI X-T1 , indicates that they are more than adequate for my limited ability .

My normal idea of equipment is bargain basement - which can be from choice 'cos i love the CCD colours of a 14mp Sony A290/35mm despite the plastic handling .

The Fuji cameras provide a different experience , some of it tricky ! ,but I love the quality of the cameras , irrespective of their IQ etc .Don't get me wrong - I love the files from both cameras , but it's secondary to the chance to savour elegant , compact , expensive equipment .

I was watching a discontinued X-T1 gradually reducing in price for more than a year , simply because of the experience of my X-Pro1 . I am far from disappointed after all , they are as good as when 1st launched at , for me , impossible prices .

It calls to mind reviews of new cars compared .
My Beetle being somewhat dismissed as less than a Golf .
OK , if I was to update a car every 5 years or so , those reviews might be valid ... but compared with a 15 year old Alfa 147 , it's bliss - as is the X-T1 compared to that Sony A290 !!

Regards
dee

 

[Godfrey]

The question that pops out to me is: Are you unhappy with the cameras you have? If you are, why not just use them for a while and forget about looking at and comparing other cameras...?

The fun can be in playing with cameras, but there's a lot of fun to be had in making excellent photographs.

G

 

[jsrockit]

The great thing about digital cameras now is that they are all really good. Therefore, models from a few years ago are good enough for many people.

 

[retinax]

Yes, older cameras are still as capable as they were when new and when the internet raved about them. If they were good enough then, they are now. If you actually need what the new one offers, great, get it if you can, but if you got by just fine before, chances are you are rationalizing something. Of course if it's play money for you, you might not need to skimp, fine. But I don't think it ever stops if you let the upgrading attitude get a hold of you. It will grow with your financial possibilities. And distract from doing stuff, making art, living life. So I try to stop the rat race right there in my mind. I'm thinking about buying another Ricoh GR to replace the one that broke. Happy they've come down in price because of rumors of a new model, I might wait for further price drops when it's out. Or invest in film. We'll see.
I believe being aware that if nothing was lacking a while ago, although new stuff may have improvements, not to move the base line to the new normal, leads to a greater quality of life, more freedom. You don't need the new stuff. (Says this millennial).
What was wrong with the 15 year old Alfa?

 

[dee]

retinax - the Alfa is dying electrically , the suspension is shot and it's so noisy ```1
Thanks everyone - frankly , my Leica Digilux 3/Olympus kit lens is still my fave camera , so it's never about chasing the next best thing .
I am quite content creating photographs with a 7mp camera
I just liked the X-Pro 1 from the moment I played wth one at silly money , so finding an affordable body was amazing . It's a discrete street camera
It was the same with the X-T1 - just love the quality and handling .
Regards
dee

 

[retinax]

Too bad about the Alfa, some of the more special looking cars of this century IMHO. I understand, the X-Pro 1 still appeals to me and has come into my price range, but the native prime lenses haven't and I think it's not the best for manual focus.
From your posts here, I'm not sure if you're at a point where the amount of similar cameras make choosing hard for you and that holds you back more than it gives you joy? If that's the case, here's an idea. You could spend some time trying to get files from them to match, and if you can, think about taking the cameras that you enjoy using less, but use for certain qualities of the images (the Sonys, I understand) out of the rotation. Sorry for assuming, if this is inappropriate, please ignore.