pixelatedscraps
Well-known
After lugging my D600 and Zeiss 21/2.8, Sigma 35/1.4 and Nikon 85/1.8 across Turkey, Philippines and then across China since January, I've come to the following realisations:
A) the bag may not feel heavy in the first hour but it sure as hell does in hours 2-10+, bus ride number 2 or airport transit number 3
B) whipping out a big DSLR in sensitive areas such as Tiananmen Square or the Blue Mosque is asking for attention (or trouble)
C) I quite often reach for my big camera but find myself going for the pocketable XA4 instead
So it's time for something smaller. Not necessarily pocketable - I would like the flexibility of interchangeable lenses (why I hesitate buying a Ricoh GR despite it's obvious quality) but first and foremost I want it to be small and light. I feel we've reached the point where most CSC cameras and lenses produced these days are of sufficient quality for editorial clients (note: I mean travel editorial. Anything else and I'd use the D600). Perhaps there would be the potential to replace my entire Nikon system at a later date once the CSC lens lineups have near enough caught up to Nikon, making whatever compact CSC body I buy now remain the travel body later.
The EM-1 or XT-1 would seem like the logical choices but the problem now becomes one of budget. I travel for editorial purposes maybe twice a year and have set my budget at an initial maximum of US$1000 in the first year, and then rising as I (or the bank account) see fit after 6-9 months. $1000 to include a lens or two, plus body, which removes the new semi-pro / pro CSC bodies from the equation, likely leaving me sans EVF (which I can live with until they do catch up with optical viewfinders). So it's down to one of the entry level models: XM-1 or GM-1 - which sacrifices as little from their older brethren?
I love what Panasonic and Olympus (in particular) have done with MFT. I used to own an EP-1 when it first came out and held on long enough for the EP-3 but decided professionally, MFT was still a long way off in terms of lenses (before the 12mm, 45mm and 75mm were released). Fujifilm are legends in their own right. I am fascinated by the X lens lineup - gotta love the primes!
Fast, reliable AF and knowing my preference for prime lenses in the 18-21mm, 35mm, 50mm and 85/90mm ranges, which system would you guys recommend and why?
My first purchase would be one of the above bodies and a pancake prime to start off with - sort of an interchangeable Ricoh GR, if you will, before going for another lens.
Thoughts?
A) the bag may not feel heavy in the first hour but it sure as hell does in hours 2-10+, bus ride number 2 or airport transit number 3
B) whipping out a big DSLR in sensitive areas such as Tiananmen Square or the Blue Mosque is asking for attention (or trouble)
C) I quite often reach for my big camera but find myself going for the pocketable XA4 instead
So it's time for something smaller. Not necessarily pocketable - I would like the flexibility of interchangeable lenses (why I hesitate buying a Ricoh GR despite it's obvious quality) but first and foremost I want it to be small and light. I feel we've reached the point where most CSC cameras and lenses produced these days are of sufficient quality for editorial clients (note: I mean travel editorial. Anything else and I'd use the D600). Perhaps there would be the potential to replace my entire Nikon system at a later date once the CSC lens lineups have near enough caught up to Nikon, making whatever compact CSC body I buy now remain the travel body later.
The EM-1 or XT-1 would seem like the logical choices but the problem now becomes one of budget. I travel for editorial purposes maybe twice a year and have set my budget at an initial maximum of US$1000 in the first year, and then rising as I (or the bank account) see fit after 6-9 months. $1000 to include a lens or two, plus body, which removes the new semi-pro / pro CSC bodies from the equation, likely leaving me sans EVF (which I can live with until they do catch up with optical viewfinders). So it's down to one of the entry level models: XM-1 or GM-1 - which sacrifices as little from their older brethren?
I love what Panasonic and Olympus (in particular) have done with MFT. I used to own an EP-1 when it first came out and held on long enough for the EP-3 but decided professionally, MFT was still a long way off in terms of lenses (before the 12mm, 45mm and 75mm were released). Fujifilm are legends in their own right. I am fascinated by the X lens lineup - gotta love the primes!
Fast, reliable AF and knowing my preference for prime lenses in the 18-21mm, 35mm, 50mm and 85/90mm ranges, which system would you guys recommend and why?
My first purchase would be one of the above bodies and a pancake prime to start off with - sort of an interchangeable Ricoh GR, if you will, before going for another lens.
Thoughts?
