Camera and GAS or maybe not

I'd stick with it for a bit longer. I've had a bit of a disappointing day with the t1 today but it's all a learning curve.
 
Nuzik said:
I didn't buy the Fuji to solve world peace I wanted to get back into photography so sold my Nikon as it just sat there for months as I felt it lacked excitement.
Click to expand...
It's a camera. It's a tool. It's a lump of metal and glass. It's a means to an end. It takes pictures. It doesn't excite you? It's not designed for that. It's designed to do a job and if you think that the gear is more important than the product then you are looking at the whole process from the wrong end and you will never be happy.
Granted that some cameras are different in use than others but that is really nothing more than ergonomics.
Stop thinking that it is the gear that gets you good pictures. It isn't. You get the good pictures; the camera merely helps you.
 
mickledore said:
It's a camera. It's a tool. It's a lump of metal and glass. It's a means to an end. It takes pictures. It doesn't excite you? It's not designed for that. It's designed to do a job and if you think that the gear is more important than the product then you are looking at the whole process from the wrong end and you will never be happy.
Granted that some cameras are different in use than others but that is really nothing more than ergonomics.
Stop thinking that it is the gear that gets you good pictures. It isn't. You get the good pictures; the camera merely helps you.
Click to expand...
Whilst it is a tool I think it's fair to say some cameras are more fun/nicer to use than others and if you don't gel with your 'tool' you're going to find you use it less and less. I sometimes enjoy the process of taking a photo more than the end result and in this case you could argue that having the right tool is more important than the final result.

Granted it's different if it's your job and all that matters is the end results.
 
snerkler said:
Whilst it is a tool I think it's fair to say some cameras are more fun/nicer to use than others and if you don't gel with your 'tool' you're going to find you use it less and less
Click to expand...
Agreed, but as I said that's really down to ergonomics. There are very few cameras these days that take bad pictures. Some folk just won'ttake the time to get to know their gear and think that ££££ is a solution to all their woes.
 
mickledore said:
Agreed, but as I said that's really down to ergonomics. There are very few cameras these days that take bad pictures. Some folk just won'ttake the time to get to know their gear and think that ££££ is a solution to all their woes.
Click to expand...
I think there's more to it than ergonomics TBH, viewfinder, snappiness of AF acquisition, reliability of AF acquisition, functions, function layout (you may mean this when you say ergonomics), and a few more things all add/detract from the enjoyment of using a camera IMO. YMMV

And of course none of this matters if it doesn't look good ;) :p

Joking aside, I agree chucking money at it doesn't create a solution.
 
Put it into cars, if you want to get from London to Cardiff you can do in a Daewoo Matiz but you may want to buy a M3 or a Bentley or whatever else you like that's big and fast. Now you can tell me all you want that propel in the Matiz are happy that's fine but maybe the people in the m3 are happier.
Now I don't drive so I have no interest in cars but that aside I want something that I connect with and like the feel. Why can't I want a camera go be the best I can afford? Hell if we all just said it doesn't matter what we have we would all have a D40 and be happy and our iphones but we don't we want something that we like this feel of and renders the photos. Of course you can still be s*** at photography as a bad driver in a decent car but you get my drift... Oh yeah car puns
 
The suggestion earlier about shooting some film isn't a bad one. Looking at your Flickr stream, I don't see anything that you couldn't get from film (technically) and I'm not sure why you need to keep your shutter speed up/continuous? The point about shooting film is that it's 'different' from your digital kit. As per the post above about a camera being a tool, to a large extent that's true but I agree that ergonomics is massively important because if you don't like using your camera, the actual ability of it doesn't matter.

I saw your post on the Leica thread about the TL. Apart from the red dot and touchscreen, I struggle to see what that offers over an A6000/6300/6500 apart from an empty bank account.

For less than £50 you can try out any one of many 35mm film cameras and for not a lot more you could pick up some medium format kit that will give you a shooting experience completely different to any digital kit. Try a TLR and shoot through a waist level finder to see if the different approach/style helps to kickstart your mojo again.

I shoot digital because it delivers results when I need it to but I shoot Film because it's a mix of frustration, achievement and fun.
 
stevelmx5 said:
The suggestion earlier about shooting some film isn't a bad one. Looking at your Flickr stream, I don't see anything that you couldn't get from film (technically) and I'm not sure why you need to keep your shutter speed up/continuous? The point about shooting film is that it's 'different' from your digital kit. As per the post above about a camera being a tool, to a large extent that's true but I agree that ergonomics is massively important because if you don't like using your camera, the actual ability of it doesn't matter.

I saw your post on the Leica thread about the TL. Apart from the red dot and touchscreen, I struggle to see what that offers over an A6000/6300/6500 apart from an empty bank account.

For less than £50 you can try out any one of many 35mm film cameras and for not a lot more you could pick up some medium format kit that will give you a shooting experience completely different to any digital kit. Try a TLR and shoot through a waist level finder to see if the different approach/style helps to kickstart your mojo again.

I shoot digital because it delivers results when I need it to but I shoot Film because it's a mix of frustration, achievement and fun.
Click to expand...
What you saying about my Flickr stream is it that bad!!!!

I shoot higher shutter due to my inability to hold a camera still
 
Nuzik said:
Put it into cars, if you want to get from London to Cardiff you can do in a Daewoo Matiz but you may want to buy a M3 or a Bentley or whatever else you like that's big and fast. Now you can tell me all you want that propel in the Matiz are happy that's fine but maybe the people in the m3 are happier.
Now I don't drive so I have no interest in cars but that aside I want something that I connect with and like the feel. Why can't I want a camera go be the best I can afford? Hell if we all just said it doesn't matter what we have we would all have a D40 and be happy and our iphones but we don't we want something that we like this feel of and renders the photos. Of course you can still be s*** at photography as a bad driver in a decent car but you get my drift... Oh yeah car puns
Click to expand...


Yeah, but that still requires you want to go to Cardiff in the first place.

I wonder if my analogies are to obtuse but basically you have owned two of the best cameras money can buy and you are not happy. The question is: is it the gear that doesn't have the mojo or is it you?
 
I didn't say it was bad, I meant the style isn't something you can only deliver with digital. Shallow depth of field in portraits is a walk in the park for medium format film :0)

Most film kit will shoot up to 1/500th and later 35mm will match modern digital so that's not a major issue.
 
Nawty said:
Yeah, but that still requires you want to go to Cardiff in the first place.

I wonder if my analogies are to obtuse but basically you have owned two of the best cameras money can buy and you are not happy. The question is: is it the gear that doesn't have the mojo or is it you?
Click to expand...
Well I said the Nikon sat there gathering dust and I wanted something more fun so I bought the Fuji. Obviously the mojo is down to me, the camera was to help me want to take photos again.
 
stevelmx5 said:
I didn't say it was bad, I meant the style isn't something you can only deliver with digital. Shallow depth of field in portraits is a walk in the park for medium format film :0)

Most film kit will shoot up to 1/500th and later 35mm will match modern digital so that's not a major issue.
Click to expand...
It's ok Steve, I appreciate I'm no David Bailey.
Never tried film but it's something I may look into then to at least have a play with.
 
Nuzik said:
Hi guys,
I'm at a quandary with my photography of where I want to go and how I'm going to be producing that.
I started off many moons ago with a canon 400 and then onto the Nikon d5000, moved on to the heaviest of huge and heavy D700 and then on to the d750 and now onto the Fuji.
I fell out of the excitement of photography with the Nikon's and canons and sold my d750 and bought a Fuji XT2 of which I'm finding although some images are lovely it's no where near as good as the D750 in terms of AF and reliability. I do suffer a little from shaky hands nothing major but certainly means I can't shoot lower than 80 hand held. So I'm thinking if selling the Fuji gear now XT2, 56mm lens and 18mm lens and moving on to something else but the question is what.

Wanted to share my ramblings
Click to expand...

David should be selling his DF anytime soon,thats an option
 
None of us are ;0)

If you fancy trying 35mm, I'd suggest something like an Olympus OM2 with 50/1.8. For less than £80 (nearer £50 if you keep an eye on Gumtree) and some Portra 400 you'll have a small full frame system that's easy to shoot in aperture priority even wide open. Send your film to FilmDev.co.uk and for £5 you get back medium sized scans which are perfect for printing.

IMG_1480890821.238963.jpg

Alternatively, medium format gives a completely different look to your crop Fuji. Try something like a Yashica Mat TLR (Twin Lens Reflex). Again, less than £80 with a fixed 80mm lens. More of a challenge to focus because you're looking down onto the ground glass and your left/right is reversed but is fine after a bit of practice :0)

IMG_1480890744.041838.jpg
 
Aren't they just more of the same (but smaller sensor and body)? I understand the OPs frustration, I often lose my creative interest when only shooting digital because it can get a bit stale. It sounds like buying more digital gear isn't really going to do anything more than appease a bit of short term GAS but won't necessarily kickstart anything long term.

There's always a personal project? Shooting the same subject regularly can lose its' interest (even when it's our own kids we're taking pictures of!). Try something different like macro/landscapes/astro/sports. It doesn't need to deliver the best results but if it makes you actually want to take the camera out it's done the job.
 
stevelmx5 said:
Aren't they just more of the same (but smaller sensor and body)? I understand the OPs frustration, I often lose my creative interest when only shooting digital because it can get a bit stale. It sounds like buying more digital gear isn't really going to do anything more than appease a bit of short term GAS but won't necessarily kickstart anything long term.

There's always a personal project? Shooting the same subject regularly can lose its' interest (even when it's our own kids we're taking pictures of!). Try something different like macro/landscapes/astro/sports. It doesn't need to deliver the best results but if it makes you actually want to take the camera out it's done the job.
Click to expand...
Hi Steve thanks for understanding my frustrations.

I have an idea for a new project that I'm going to do next year and would like to get to grips with what I want for that year.

Oh and I am trying landscapes as well I need to get the hang of those!
 
I can't see that new gear will solve your problem. I think it is fair to say that all modern cameras are capable of producing excellent images in the right hands so the one you have is more than capable if you give it some time and dedication.
Spend time to really get to know your camera and lenses. Experiment and push their capabilities to the limit. Not only will this give you a sense of purpose with your photography but you may discover the niche that you are looking for and restart your mojo.
When I'm getting stale I'll go out with just one prime lens on the camera and work at it. I've ended up with some surprising images as a result.
 
Nuzik said:
Put it into cars, if you want to get from London to Cardiff you can do in a Daewoo Matiz but you may want to buy a M3 or a Bentley or whatever else you like that's big and fast. Now you can tell me all you want that propel in the Matiz are happy that's fine but maybe the people in the m3 are happier.
Now I don't drive so I have no interest in cars but that aside I want something that I connect with and like the feel. Why can't I want a camera go be the best I can afford? Hell if we all just said it doesn't matter what we have we would all have a D40 and be happy and our iphones but we don't we want something that we like this feel of and renders the photos. Of course you can still be s*** at photography as a bad driver in a decent car but you get my drift... Oh yeah car puns
Click to expand...
M3 for me all day long ;) :p
 
How about going on a photography course ,some sort of creative one or one that includes a trip abroad
 
Wouldn't mind an M3 despite the red dot...
 
SsSsSsSsSnake said:
How about going on a photography course ,some sort of creative one or one that includes a trip abroad
Click to expand...


That's what I do, or at least the trip abroad bit.

I don't really consider myself a photographer, just someone who travels a lot and likes to take pictures of where I've been. This keeps me from getting despair that I'm not using my kit or I've lost my mojo as it can sit there for a month or so without being used and there is no pressure to use it.

A city break here and there is actually a far cheaper way to scratch an itch than buying more camera gear and you get the bonus of a city break somewhere lovely. For example, we went to Budapest a few months ago, flights were £69 if I remember correctly.
 
Nuzik said:
Well I said the Nikon sat there gathering dust and I wanted something more fun so I bought the Fuji. Obviously the mojo is down to me, the camera was to help me want to take photos again.
Click to expand...

When you're having fun taking photos you forget what camera you're using. You don't need a new camera, you need subjects that make you want to photograph them.
 
tijuana taxi said:
Pentax K1, full frame, good lenses and not too pricy.
Click to expand...

Have to second this option, it's my main setup!

There's also a D500 and 400 f2.8 for wildlife work, maybe more than one system is the way to go, right tool for the right job?
 
Unlocker said:
Have to second this option, it's my main setup!

There's also a D500 and 400 f2.8 for wildlife work, maybe more than one system is the way to go, right tool for the right job?
Click to expand...

Danny, I'd be interested in your thoughts on the K1, been having a look at full frame options and its quite tempting.
 
@Nuzik do you feel pressure to produce new material because you have so many followers on flickr?

Sooner you let go of chasing the cleanest sharpest images possible the happier you'll be.

Buy more books not gear.
 
Last edited:
Nothing worse than being frustrated, I know the feeling. I pretty much chucked the photography for about a year. I had a Nikon D800E and some nice shiny lenses all gathering dust and it was doing my head in. Best thing I ever did was to look at alternatives, I knew I wanted something lighter and a little more casual maybe. Something I wouldn't mind carting out with me. With the Nikon gear I had to plan in advance that I would go shooting specifically, it wasn't the kind of gear you would just happen to have in the bag when going to town. With the Fuji gear, I can very much do just that, have it in the bag with no expectations. It certainly feels a lot more relaxed for me.

But, I at least knew pretty much what I wanted. That's a good start point ;)
 
rjbell said:
@Nuzik do you feel pressure to produce new material because you have so many followers on flickr?

Sooner you let go of chasing the cleanest sharpest images possible the happier you'll be.

Buy more books not gear.
Click to expand...
Haha no my flickr followers are irrelevant.

I'm not always after the sharpest or cleanest sometimes focus is nice :)
 
Wow, you're following a lot of people!

8.6k Followers•29.5k Following

A friend of mine used to follow a huge number of people. He always gets a lot of comments because there are so many people but realistically, very few were ever really constructive as they were simply doing the same to build their followers up.
 
stevelmx5 said:
Wow, you're following a lot of people!

8.6k Followers•29.5k Following

A friend of mine used to follow a huge number of people. He always gets a lot of comments because there are so many people but realistically, very few were ever really constructive as they were simply doing the same to build their followers up.
Click to expand...
I know I'm not really worried what they think it was just a laugh adding them.
 
Who are we to judge your images, your Flickr page or how often you change your gear!

I see where you are coming from, maybe you get enjoyment from the challenge of using your gear to take photos. After you get familiar with your equipment, you loose the challenge. I might be wrong, however, I have a similar trait.

How about going to back to canon, it's been a long while. New interface, button layout, different character.

Maybe get some different equipment. Have you done much flash?
 
Speaking as someone who has been through more cameras and systems than I care to admit, if you are constantly chasing the perfect image then you are always going to be disappointed. Of course it's lovely to have the latest and best gear, and yes in certain situations it will make taking a picture easier.

However I find for me most of the time it's often a very negligible difference, and the fact is that the only people who would notice any difference between pictures taken with this camera or that camera are other photographers, and we all know what we're like......
 
chrism_scotland said:
Danny, I'd be interested in your thoughts on the K1, been having a look at full frame options and its quite tempting.
Click to expand...

As a Pentaxian it is everything the reviews say it is! Awesome image quality and build and if you can use pixel shift, probably the best full frame image quality out there.

As a landscape / macro / studio camera it is fantastic and half the price of a 5D mark iv.

There are limitations as with any system, main ones are lens options and autofocus speed / tracking performance and this is why this year I bought a D500 and a 400mm f2.8. If I could put the D500 performance in a K-mount camera, the Nikon kit would be sold in a heartbeat.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top