trading RF for DSLR.. am I crazy?

[JoeFriday]

lately I've been getting a hankering for a DSLR to replace the Nikon D70 I used to have. I looked at the Pentax K10D for a while, which is a very nice camera for the money. But then I read a few articles about the Canon EOS 5D... a full frame sensor setup. Again, an amazing camera for the money.. but the price tag triples over the Pentax... thus, if I was serious about taking that route, something else would need to go

I'm thinking of selling my Leica M3 (CLA'd by DAG) and Contax IIa setup (CLA'd by Scherer). But I would still have my Zeiss Ikon and Leica glass.

Am I crazy?

 

[ywenz]

If you already have an Ikon and since it sounds like you can do without the Leica then by all means get rid of the M3..

I would wait a bit tough until the 5D MKII comes out.. It ought to be much improved over the 5D.

 

[Big Hairy Bee]

I am considering the converse...

I am considering the converse...

I have a Canon XTi outfit I am considering parting with to purchase a Leica. I think about the ease and comfort of carrying a RF and a prosumerish digital rather than an SLR body and 4-5 lenses. Maybe I'm crazy...

 

[akptc]

Me too! - I have the K10D and a few decent Pentax lenses but have to admit I too have been eyeing the 5D for the full sensor. So far though the price of the better Canon lenses has scared me off that path. But considering that one can buy the 5D and two great zoom lenses for about the price of one M8 body ... very tempting

 

[back alley]

what are you planning on shooting with the dslr?

i am quite happy with the grd and the panny fz20 for my digital fix. of course the panny is my long lens/point & shoot/product camera and the grd is great for street.

 

[crawdiddy]

Yes, you are quite mad....

 

[Roger Hicks]

Yes, you're crazy.

Or at least, I'd think I was if I made that trade.

But then again I don't know what your preferences and priorities are.

Cheers,

R.

 

[wgerrard]

I have a Canon XTi outfit I am considering parting with to purchase a Leica. I think about the ease and comfort of carrying a RF and a prosumerish digital rather than an SLR body and 4-5 lenses. Maybe I'm crazy...

Nope, you're sane. I also have an XTI outfit and use it less and less, giving preference to a Bessa R4M and a very newly purchased Hexar AF.

Ironically, the XTI body is actually a tad smaller than the Bessa, as well as lighter. But, I've attached a battery grip in order to get my big hands around the thing. With the grip, it's all of a sudden big and heavy compared to the Bessa.

The weight and the space occupied by SLR systems seems to grow at a much faster rate than a corresponding RF system. Even if the body is of similar size, everything else is bigger. My XTI bag contains the XTI and only two lenses, and I've already sworn off flying with the thing or wearing it for long periods. Can't imagine how a bag stuffed with a full-frame DSLR and more lenses would feel.

I'm often sorely tempted to use a longer lense, something which the R4M lacks framelines. When I'm thus entranced, I start checking out the prices of used Nikon F3's or Oly OM-1's and such. Soon, though, sanity returns.

And, late at night I think of selling the whole lot and picking up a Leica and a 35mm and 75mm.

 

[JoeFriday]

good points made by all.. and joe, I was telling someone just today that I missed that Panny FZ20

but I'm looking for a 'do it all' digital that might carry me into the professional arena, should I decide to try and make money off my images or sell my services as an event photographer

part of my job at an architecture firm is to photograph our buildings, or direct pro photographers in doing the same.. I'm getting a lot of experience with that type of imagery, and see where a photographer with an eye for composition and interesting lighting conditions can make a very good living doing something a lot less stressful than shooting weddings

that's where the full-frame sensor comes in.. it seems that while I still consider 4x5 trannys to be the best, most firms are drawn to the convenience and versatility of digital images.. and eliminating the crop factor is key to getting wide enough angles for architectural shots

I wouldn't be giving up rangefinders entirely, as I plan to keep my Zeiss Ikon and all my Leica glass.. but as we all know, RFs just aren't suited for some types of photography... fast action or macros.. the 5D would cover both of those situations, and get me a step closer to making photography my career

 

[Krosya]

If you got the cash - I'd say go for it! EOS 5D is a superb machine. It outperforms many cameras out there. (pls don't start another digital vs film quality discussion now).
What cracks me up is that every time people try to justify RF by how small it is. Well, some cameras are smaller. Some are less heavy. All depends. Back in Pre-Digital days I used carry a couple of Canon 1n's, several lenses, all L lenses, some large-ish Telephoto all on the plane around the world. Heavy - yes, but doable - no problem. And Canon L lenses are great!
If RF had anything remotely close to 5D in thier line, - full frame, quality and pricewise, I'd probably still chose 5d. BUt it would be a much harder choice. But as things are now ---- go for it and don't look back!

 

[ywenz]

the fact is, very few people are able to use a film RF successfully as an event coverage camera for all around indoor/outdoor, bright/dark coverage.

A quality DSLR is much suited for the rest of us for these types of usage.