Optics or Body?

[michaelwj]

Hey!! Make some calls. We've gotta get some optics guys over here before the body guys run away with the entire show.

It sure is close!

 

[nongfuspring]

I've had low quality lenses, but at least they still took photographs, a bad body won't let me take photos at all. I shoot 50mm 90% of the time, and I reckon it's pretty hard to find a 50mm that is anything less than excellent.

I'm sick of having problems with my film bodies, seriously thinking of getting one of the "immortal" cameras like an F3 or F1n and selling everything else.

 

[taxi38]

perfection has just the one direction however fcking it up a little has infinite possibilities.

 

[robert blu]

I have (reasonably) good eyes. And I have small hands! I voted body. Simply. Just me 🙂
robert

 

[shadowfox]

I'm sick of having problems with my film bodies, seriously thinking of getting one of the "immortal" cameras like an F3 or F1n and selling everything else.

That's what I did. I gravitate towards the "immortals" and ended up with one Nikon F3 and for FD lenses, I like to use T90. The F1 series seems to be very heavy just for the sake of it 🙂

 

[ferider]

Michael is clearly digitally biased 🙂

There are three factors: Body, Optics and Film.

The right body makes it fun to shoot, while you shoot. Choice of Optics and Film motivate me to go out and take photos.

Roland.

 

[Juan Valdenebro]

All major brands' lenses can make the best photograph of the decade.
All of them are better than most famous photographs are.
It's the rest what matters.
Cheers,
Juan

 

[michaelwj]

Michael is clearly digitally biased 🙂

There are three factors: Body, Optics and Film.

The right body makes it fun to shoot, while you shoot. Choice of Optics and Film motivate me to go out and take photos.

Roland.

Not quite 🙂 I don't even own a digital body!

I just assumed film was constant, if we're talking about rangefinders (I was really talking about 35mm rangefinder) then any film can be used. I also wanted to narrow it down to 2 choices, hence no "both" 😀.

Cheers,
Michael

 

[Brian Atherton]

As long as the body functions properly and is a joy to use I care very little for what it looks like, as all of my cameras are 'users'.

So, for me, clean optics are the priority.

 

[thegman]

Probably body, a body will make the difference between a pleasurable and unpleasant experience. A lens on the other hand (barring stiff barrels etc.) can only improve the technical quality or resolution of pictures, which I don't feel is holding me back at all. I think any modern lens is more than good enough for 99.999% of us, bodies on the other hand, digital at least, are usually abysmal to use.

 

[nitevision]

I voted for body.
A camera body forms the interface between myself and the camera lens, allowing me to operate the lens to the full extent of my abilities. Personally, if the body doesn't feel right, then my shots are not likely to be that great either. Any equipment that gets in the way between me and the shot is likely to be dropped out of usage- and ergonomics is usually the culprit. Cramped grips for my fingers, tiny dials, horrible UI- If I can't work it, I can't take the picture and out it goes from the rotation.
That being said, the lens -physically- is also part of the "body" IMHO- It also makes up a large part of the user experience. Dragging a gigantic 15lb lens around is a chore, no matter the body... Stiff or overly loose aperture rings are occasionally annoying too.

As a hobbyist, life is too short to be spent fiddling with poorly designed human-lens interfaces.

 

[michaelwj]

That being said, the lens -physically- is also part of the "body" IMHO- It also makes up a large part of the user experience. Dragging a gigantic 15lb lens around is a chore, no matter the body... Stiff or overly loose aperture rings are occasionally annoying too.

As a hobbyist, life is too short to be spent fiddling with poorly designed human-lens interfaces.

Agreed. That's why the choice is "optics" not "lens"! I suppose I could have equally made the choice "image" or "ergonomics", but it's not as elegant...

Michael