Why Keep Using the Wrong Camera?

[Dave Jenkins]

Don't feel too badly, Dave. My wife and I spent two days in Cade's Cove in September, looking for bears. We only saw one, in a tree about 300 yards away, eating acorns. Even a 300mm lens on a Canon 6D DSLR and a 280mm (equivalent) lens on an Olympus E-M5 failed to get anything better than a black dot in the middle of the frame. Photographing wildlife well is a very specialized (and expensive) endeavor.

 

[Dave Jenkins]

. . .what's the best easy-to-carry all-around camera? One that will get more of the possible shots with good enough quality?

Olympus OM-D E-M5 with the Panasonic 14-140mm (28-280mm equivalent) f3.5-5.6. I used that combination almost exclusively on a recent trip to Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. My Canon 6D with two zooms covering the range of 24mm to 300mm sat in my hotel room. Not actually a heavy outfit, as full-frame equipment goes, but. . .why bother with even that much weight?

 

[Corran]

Sometimes it doesn't matter what the camera is.

I've been to Cade's Cove once, and I didn't really care all that much about the bears. Cool if I saw one, not disappointed if I didn't.

About 5 minutes inside the cove my girlfriend yells BEAR!!! and I turn to her in the passenger seat and say where? Well, the bear cub was literally hanging on a tree outside her window (which was open) peering inside the car. I thought it was going to jump in.

Like I said, we had only just arrived, and had driven several hours to get there so all my cameras were in the back seat packed in my bags! I scrambled to grab my digital camera (which had a 17-35mm lens on it at the time) but by the time I got it out the cub got spooked and ran off into the fields. I got a snap but it was blurry and not even worth it. Funny story though. It was still a great trip and I had a ton of fun shooting other stuff. I had just jumped into large format and was shooting a huge 4x5 monorail camera - talk about "not the right camera." I lugged it (a Toyo GII) on top of a huge tripod all the way up to Clingmans Dome:

Anyway, no camera does everything.

 

[nightfly]

It's kinda like saying you're not going to use hammers anymore because they don't work very well on a screws.

 

[B-9]

Can get low. I used a modern equivalent of a TLR when my kids were small, the Coolpix 4500 with the swivel body. Look down at the LCD and the kids had no idea photos were being taken.

I still have a 4500, not such a bad camera! Perfect for the kayak...

 

[robert blu]

Such a difficult question to answer...I like small cameras...not too heavy...simple to use...
M7 and X1 are a good couple but have their own limits, we all know ... so what?
With film it's easier, I have both RFs and SLRs, so the correct camera depending on the needs, but digital...hmm I only have the X1 !
I'm not able to answer ! Sorry Dave I'think about...
robert
PS: just re thinking a little bit...if I need a picture it's important to select the correct camera...but I'm not a professional and if I just desire to have a camera with me going out I take the one I like most in "that" moment and I adapt, opps I try to adapt my style to the camera....sometimes it works, sometimes it ....

 

[kxl]

Ever missed a shot or even a whole trip full of photo opportunities? Or at best you came home and saw your images and you were disappointed?

Yup, a few years ago, on a trip to Egypt, Jordan and Israel, I brought my RD1s and a Bessa R3a. While I captured a few decent photos, I was disappointed with the rate of 'good' images.
Comparing that output to my trip last April to Japan, where I mostly used a D800e and a Sigma 35/1.4 ART, has me convinced that a DSLR (or mirrorless camera) is my tool of choice for my vacations. No more RF's on holiday for me.

Lugging everything but the kitchen sink while on holiday is a temporary inconvenience; missing THAT image because you skimped on gear is a lifelong regret.

 

[Vics]

I was disappointed from the images I got fro my Rolleiflex Automat after a trip to Italy.
I ended up selling it because of that. All the landscape shots on the Alps came out kind of faded out.
However, I had remorse later on because I loved that camera and the portraits really came out very good. I bought a Rolleicord to make up for the loss.
I still don't know what happened with those landscape pictures. It might have been my fault and not the camera after all.

The Automat really needs a medium yellow filter at least.

 

[f16sunshine]

Ever missed a shot or even a whole trip full of photo opportunities? Or at best you came home and saw your images and you were disappointed?

Recently, I was able to grab only a single photo in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and although I was happy to get any photo of a bear cub in a tree, I was angry because I left my F6 at home. The single photo sucked but I am keeping it because our grandchildren love it.

The F6 would have been perfect, especially with a reasonable zoom lens. The D700 I wish I had would have been even better.

But, no, I only had a Leica M6. And the X1. Neither camera is exactly versatile. I had the same frustrations with the kids' football and softball games. Stealthy, small rangefinders really are a waste where I am most likely to need/want a photo.

SLRs now for most photographic endeavors. I really missed the versatility of my old, cheapo , tiny D40. The D3100 will now be a constant companion. But for sure I find RF to be lacking for most things these days. I guess life changes. Dang, I enjoyed the simplicity of my film Leicas and I still love them.

But this old dog has to stop carrying the wrong camera!

Come on Dave.... You're no spring chicken Photographer.
The cameras can't lace up their shoes and get in the car.
It's Smoky Mts National Park not Central Park.
What exactly did you expect ?

Sorry for the tone... I'm just surprised you are surprised

Best!

 

[aicardi]

Come on Dave.... You're no spring chicken Photographer.
The cameras can't lace up their shoes and get in the car.
It's Smoky Mts National Park not Central Park.
What exactly did you expect ?

Sorry for the tone... I'm just surprised you are surprised

Best!

+1 Plan ahead, and pack accordingly.

 

[x-ray]

Come on Dave.... You're no spring chicken Photographer.
The cameras can't lace up their shoes and get in the car.
It's Smoky Mts National Park not Central Park.
What exactly did you expect ?

Sorry for the tone... I'm just surprised you are surprised

Best!

Dave had to learn for himself. One camera doesn't fit all especially RF's. IMO after almost 5 decades shooting RF's they're for documentary and journalistic work primarily and that's what I use them for.

Dave I bet you get just as good or better shots with your D3100. Blasphemy saying that I know but for most people the D3100 is a better solution for everyday photography than a Leica.

All the great glass and cool camera bodies In the world are of no value if you don't get the shot.

I often suggest a D3100/3300 with the kit lens and kit 70(?)-200 zoom for the average enthusiast. I often get looked at like I'm nuts for not recommending something more expensive but in reality your D3100 will do a fantastic job and is most likely more advanced than you are.

I've been a pro for 5 decades and own a boat load of cameras including 4 M bodies and about 15 lenses. Guess what I bought for vacations. I bought a D3100 and a used zoom. The zoom was nothing fancy but I liked it better than the kit lens that I gave to my wife. I think I paid $85 for it.

Get the 70-200 long kit lens and enjoy.

 

[dave lackey]

Come on Dave.... You're no spring chicken Photographer.
The cameras can't lace up their shoes and get in the car.
It's Smoky Mts National Park not Central Park.
What exactly did you expect ?

Sorry for the tone... I'm just surprised you are surprised

Best!

Well, when I have spent my whole life in that park and we honeymooned there in 1971 with 2-3 trips back each and every year, I have shot everything more than twice! So I decided to take something light to sit outside on the parkway benches in Gatlinburg and get a few snaps. You know, people, street, my bride, etc.

Turns out we spent zero time on the street because we didn't want to screw around with the stupid wheelchair, and we decided to tour in the car. Two days in a row, we saw the same bears when we haven't seen them in several years at all. Sometimes Elk but not this year. No problem.. I had my F6 with me like every day... Wrong! No, I forgot I was traveling light because wheelchairs and bags are impossible to mix. Turns out I only had the Leicas... M3 is gone. M6 soon. X1 staying for pocket-ability.

Sometimes I have the wrong camera when I have to show up at kids' ball games. Leicas suck there, too, when carrying a bag, jackets, sweater, snacks, medicine and maneuvering a wheelchair, let alone going to restrooms. But caregiving every second takes priority and I can only take one camera on my shoulder at a time anywhere! Sometimes I might be free to shoot, sometimes not.

No, I did not have the right camera. It happens a lot. But since finances require my selling all but a few old SLRs and the X1, I will probably have the right camera more often than not in the future.

 

[jsrockit]

Dave, you have more important obligations than a bear cub in a tree. I think your priorities are straight.

 

[dave lackey]

Thanks, guys...

Here is the only keeper from the X1. A 35mm lens through the windshield of a car is not exactly the best for getting a great shot. Neither is walking up to the tree with Mama bear around. The lady in the bottom left is standing up in a convertible but there were some fools walking around. After this shot, we were able to get within 25' of the bear cub that was by then walking on the ground amongst the bushes so it was impossible to get a clear shot.

So, this is it, but the grandkids love it.

 

[Scapevision]

I just came home from Arizona with 14 rolls of 6x9s which I shot on a rangefinder. They all kick ass. That's because I can make it work on what I have handy.

 

[nikonosguy]

yeah, dave --- i've ditched all my nikon gear, content with fuji and leica


Fuji XE1, 18mm

 

[nikonosguy]

another with the fuji/18mm combo --- it sucks for sports... but i'm ok

 

[kermaier]

I bought an Elmarit-M 135/2.8 with goggles just so I could use my M9 for my kids' sporting events. Eventually, I'll probably end up getting a DSLR or a Fuji XProII for that sort of application.

 

[Lucadomi]

The Automat really needs a medium yellow filter at least.

Great tip. Thanks!

 

[JChrome]

For me, I wasn't terribly disappointed with the shots that I missed (even though I missed many), it was more about getting the image back and being disappointed that I didn't shoot it in medium (or large) format.

Nothing beats a properly exposed and focused 6x9 . And so, the Fuji 690 100mm and 150mm are my travel buddies.



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