Going to the USA. Leaving the 1D's and taking the GF1

Well both arguments are valid to me but the OP gets to decide which one he favours. As far as im concerned my last trip to the US started at Phoenix, drove to Anaheim, CA, and then back to Phoenix again. It was a mix of working to shoot Supercross in both along with a bit of holiday including a trip to the Grand Canyon. I took all my kit plus a G11 for the non-work. I took the G11 to the Grand Canyon because i didnt want to lug around all my gear all day and got some stuff im perfectly happy with using the G11 and a mid price HD Cam. Does the G11 make me any less a photographer or does the full kit make me more than a snapper? TBH, i dont give a damn because im not concerned about what other people about that, ill just use the tool that i feel happy with at the time - that includes the G11 at Anaheim for some SX goodness...:D

B->
 
grum said:
Edit:





Bit patronising there and assuming everyone is interested in birds.
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Not patronising at all I am just pointing out the fact why the g1 would not suit me, photography is my passion and holidays are planned around that fact and the things I shoot require more than what the g1 can offer me as I need big lenses.
 
grum said:
You didn't answer my other post about whether you would carry a big DSLR and lenses around everywhere with you on holiday?
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I have, I would and I will do...
3 DSLRs; 5 lenses; 4 flash units and all the accessories, inc tripod, mono-pod, etc. etc. etc...

They have these things called 'cars' and 'hotel-rooms' for the times you don't need it all with you...FFS...
A weekend-trip to Prague, or somewhere else cheap and accessible, I might consider paring it down as it's an easily-repeatable trip, but I'd still take 2 bodies and all the lenses and flash kit.
For a coast-to-coast in the USA - everything...no question...if I had a GF-1 I'd take that as well as everything else...

TBH the only time it's a hassle is in the airport and there they have these new-fangled things called 'trollies'...
 
Can't see where the problem is here? I went out shopping this morning and then on for a walk and coffee etc. I took bag + camera + meter + 4 lenses and the bits. All these went with me 'just in case', because I love photography.

I could have taken the small Fuji P&S but, why would I?

Take the G1 and the gear and have it all! Don't miss out and live to regret it

Have fun.
 
grum said:
Bit of a sorry state of affairs if you can't take a decent photo without all that stuff. :p
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You bewilder the Fark out of me sometimes...:cuckoo:

I choose the right tools for the job...but it does mean I take the whole toolbox with me...anything less would be unprofessional...
 
Arkady said:
You bewilder the Fark out of me sometimes...:cuckoo:

I choose the right tools for the job...but it does mean I take the whole toolbox with me...anything less would be unprofessional...
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Sorry, I'm winding you up now. :D

But - being on holiday and being professional don't necessarily go together that well. ;)
 
Arkady, Malla1962, do either of you do street photography? If so do you find that a small camera + lens allows you to do it without interrupting people's behaviour as much? Or does it always, regardless of camera, so you might as well take the best one and deal with it by smiling?
 
parsley said:
Arkady, Malla1962, do either of you do street photography? If so do you find that a small camera + lens allows you to do it without interrupting people's behaviour as much? Or does it always, regardless of camera, so you might as well take the best one and deal with it by smiling?
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I do very little street photography but when I do I use A slr and a longish fast lens.
 
Gosh, nothing like expressing views on kit you've never used is there? :lol:

I'm sure that I haven't even scratched the surface of what my GF1 is capable of but I'm sure that it's performance and IQ quality will shock (and I mean in a good way) some of you doubters if you ever try one.

Here's a guy who took one all the way to France and expected it to be outclassed by a Leica...

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/gf1.shtml

For me the point of the GF1 is that it's a camera that can act as a quality compact for use when a DSLR is a bit too much, for whatever reason, just like a quality compact or rangefinder was an alternative to a 35mm SLR just a few short years ago.

For me the GF1 is the first compact that can truly act as a DSLR replacement and I think it's so good that you can forget it's digital.

I've taken my DSLR abroad and I may do so again but now that I own a GF1 I can say for certain that the GF1 will go with me if the DSLR goes and also if it doesn't.
 
A LowePro Computrekker AW Plus - 2 dslr bodies (5D +20D IR), maybe a Fuji 690 MF film camera, laptop and everything to make them all work. Total weight can be up to 23kg. Would I ever go on a US roadtrip or other far-flung destination without any of this? No. Do I carry it around on a daily basis? No. I take a smaller bag to use and decant whatever is required. Motels, cars, it's not a problem.

I also have a GF1 + 20mm. As much as I love it and use it almost daily, I'd find it very hard to leave my main kit behind, unless it was a very short trip (like a day or two). I use the slrs and GF1 together. Sometimes I'll duplicate pictures. Sometimes I'll leave the slr stuff behind and walk the streets with just the GF1. But again, as much as I love the GF1, it doesn't stand up to something like the 5D (and the Nikon equivalents) with a good L lens.
 
The metal voigtlander viewfinder is a 35mm therefore a little wider than the 20mm lens which is no problem at all. The problem is the cost, £170. It's optically beautiful and is a dream to use (you need to imagine the location of the centre focusing spot which I have no problem with).

I use the Gf-1 as a compact because I'm a chubby B and wear loose clothing so it tucks into pockets with the 20mm. We run compacts for training and I've used them but have never been happy with the images because of the almost infinite depth of field and therefore inability to defocus backgrounds.
 
Unless you absolutely need the ultimate in image quality (say you were taking pics for selling to stock libraries, for printing huge or for a book project), the GF-1, 20mm and zoom sounds like a decent setup to me. I've done holidays with tons of kit and it can get tiring lugging everything round 'just in case'. Personally, I've taken my Panasonic LX-3 away with me for the past few times I've been away as I realised that for holiday photographs, a D700 and 28-70 is just too big and heavy to walk round with all day, and I don't recall missing any shots.
 
Arkady said:
Me neither, but not having all my kit to hand would seriously trouble me: I'd rather have it and not need it than encounter something where I was unable because of equipment shortfalls to realise the potential of the situation...

I'm not saying the GF-1 is a bad or inadequate camera under many situations, but it's not the same as carrying a 'full' kit with you, is it?
Otherwise we'd all be using them...
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I'm quite relaxed about it to be honest. With my wife and kids with me the last thing I want is them moaning at me. It'll be a nice challenge actually. Small and inconspicuous is the way to go on this one. Everything will go in a wee messenger bag. Printing on the go for e scrapbook should be more involving for the kids too.

And sorry but one of the big gear is already on loan whilst I'm away :D.
 
Tobers said:
I'm off for a family trip to the USA taking in new York, Vegas, the Pacific coast and San Francisco. .
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I do this trip every year apart from New York.

If you have been before then you will know what to expect but if this is the first time, I think you will regret not having the Big Camera especially in the Vegas area if you are planning to visit the Canyon or Hoover Dam.

Driving up Pacific Coast HIghway is ok for a smaller camera as there are plenty of Vista point along the way but you are fairly high up so again, a 70-200 is what I use for the reach.

On your way up to Frisco, call in at Carmel by the Sea where Clint Eastwood lives and drive through the 17 mile drive.

I havent got this year planned yet but hoping to go September so I can call in via Yellowstone.

Enjoy the trip, its my favourite haunt and you will have a great time
 
Got to say that the GF1 and the iPad make an excellent travel photography setup. Very light and portable. I also carry a little Gorillapod for long exposures which I've used several times already. Add in the Polaroid Pogo printer and we can update our trip diary with little printed pictures straight away which the kids love.

I managed to get an iPad camera connector kit from Apple on 5th Ave in New York. They are like gold dust, but some judicious groveling helped and they "found" me one out back in the store room apparently. Plug the adaptor into the iPad and stick the card in - all the photos download. Super. Why Apple didn't just put a USB port on the iPad I don't know.

I'm using Photogene on the iPad for simple but effective photo editing.

Oh, I also popped into B&H in New York. Now that's what I call a camera store! Very impressive and worth the trip. I picked up a 45-200 there.

And lastly, the amount of walking we've been doing has surprised me. Walking all over NYC and lots more around the massive casinos and along the strip in Vegas. I've been very pleased to be carrying such light gear.
 
woof woof said:
Gosh, nothing like expressing views on kit you've never used is there? :lol:

I'm sure that I haven't even scratched the surface of what my GF1 is capable of but I'm sure that it's performance and IQ quality will shock (and I mean in a good way) some of you doubters if you ever try one.

Here's a guy who took one all the way to France and expected it to be outclassed by a Leica...

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/gf1.shtml

For me the point of the GF1 is that it's a camera that can act as a quality compact for use when a DSLR is a bit too much, for whatever reason, just like a quality compact or rangefinder was an alternative to a 35mm SLR just a few short years ago.

For me the GF1 is the first compact that can truly act as a DSLR replacement and I think it's so good that you can forget it's digital.

I've taken my DSLR abroad and I may do so again but now that I own a GF1 I can say for certain that the GF1 will go with me if the DSLR goes and also if it doesn't.
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I have a 13 day road trip planned in October, from Dallas to NYC. I'll be taking ALL my kit. I got an awesome Lowepro 400 backpack and the 5d2, 3 lenses and my GF1 with both lenses, the 580 EX2, laptop and plenty of other things with me. I've done it before in Rome for 2 weeks in the height of summer. You get used to it and the images make it worth while. I'm of the opinion that my camera was bought for exactly this purpose among other things.

I can understand the practicality side of things, but I don't let it get in the way of a good holiday or my family :)
 
To go back to the start.........

Tobers said:
Fingers crossed on this one. I worry that I'll regret not having the 1DIV with me but I'm hoping that the small size and light weight will more then make up for it.
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It's an atitude thing really, going light will still allow you to take great photos. Just not all the great photos your full kit would do. If you see the upside of not having the bulk as finding yourself in more places with an opportunity to shoot, the GF1 will let you be plenty creative enough.

I've headed off on nearly all the trips I've ever taken with all the gear I could muster and always had a choice of tools for every task. It always felt great to know that whatever I could envisage, I had the tools to make it so.

Then for some reason last year on a trip to Utah and Arizona, I decided I was just going to take a panny LX2. Suddenly the whole world of shooting was turned upside down and I loved it just for the difference.

As for the results, well I was happy.

here if your interested.
 
dazzajl said:
To go back to the start.........



It's an atitude thing really, going light will still allow you to take great photos. Just not all the great photos your full kit would do. If you see the upside of not having the bulk as finding yourself in more places with an opportunity to shoot, the GF1 will let you be plenty creative enough.

I've headed off on nearly all the trips I've ever taken with all the gear I could muster and always had a choice of tools for every task. It always felt great to know that whatever I could envisage, I had the tools to make it so.

Then for some reason last year on a trip to Utah and Arizona, I decided I was just going to take a panny LX2. Suddenly the whole world of shooting was turned upside down and I loved it just for the difference.

As for the results, well I was happy.

here if your interested.
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I was about to mention this. Really is a wonderful slideshow, and if you didn't know you had used your LX2, you wouldn't have been able to guess.

I'd want to do something like that but I wouldn't have the guts :p

When I'm finished at uni I'm going to get myself a 5Dmk2, 17-40 and some filters and landscape the CRAP out of the USA.
 
Think that this idea of going light is brilliant, and EXACTLY what I intend to do myself.

I went backpacking 3 weeks ago to Peru and Ecuador, and have spent the last 2 weeks in Malaysia. I could have packed a D3, 24-70, 12-24, 85/1.4 ad 50/1.4 and any number of speedlights but the thought of travelling with any of that kit was insane to me!

In the end I took a D300, 18-200, 10-20 and 50/1.4 WITH a carbon fibre tripod (1.4kg). This total setup weighed 7kg at any one time including lowepro bag and really was the 'bare essentials'. I can tell you for one even travelling 'light' it is NO fun having this combination with you at all times. My shoulders constantly ached and your back gets real hot and sweaty. You'll seriously feel jealous of anyone that can walk around with no baggage commitments! A GF1 with 20/14-45 is on my shopping list. It will be PERFECT for any type of use, and short of sports/action and low light use, it'll be more than adequate, dare I say, possibly even better than a heavy slr as you'll be far happier carrying this around and more likely to take photos as a result. There were quite a few times I was not wanting to take off my camera bag, get camera out, take shot, put it back in...which really started to grate after a while (different from using the camera say in the UK where it's not as dodgy having your camera hung round your neck at all times when shooting, screaming tourist/rob me!). Times like this a small pocketable camera would have been perfect. GF1 might not fit in a pocket but a S90 definitely will!

Also, travelling with 2 friends in peru and malaysia with my family meant staying around a spot any more than a few moments starts to nark them off. I would only suggest bringing such serious kit if you have seriously understanding companions or if you're on your own, as chances are you won't have a great deal of time to fully use your kit to it's full potential anyway!

Yes, I did leave it at the hotels in Malaysia. That's because I decided to leave it nearly always there and instead opted to use my sisters canon point and shoot! This was a considerably different holiday from my south america trip, and on less adventurous trips such as these there's absolutely no reason for me to bring a big camera. I'm on the verge of buying a canon s90 for this very purpose!

It's much better to use the camera you have than the camera that's in your hotel/in your bag. I've decided that my travel kit will now be s90 for immediate spur of the moment shots and a gf1 in the bag ready for everything else...
 
Just want to add that this may well change in future, if I decide to travel on my own, solely for photography. Obviously in that case I might well pack a little heavier. Right now you have to find what works for you. Carrying an 8kg backpack with me everywhere I go doesn't. Each to their own..
 
I'm heading off for a month into the North East US wilderness tomorrow and was close to going on a 6 month tour of Oz before that. I almost went for the GF1 over the DSLR but just couldn't do it in the end. Instead I swapped most of my lenses for smaller versions of similar quality, with lots of "why is the 200g difference between x and x an issue!?" in a couple of the threads I started asking for options. When you're carrying things around with you for days on end that size and weight difference is very important!

Maybe in a year or two I'll get myself a little GF1 stylee camera but at the moment the lenses just aren't good enough (or to expensive), I couldn't live without a reasonably wide lens or a good telephoto, both of which are lacking on the m4/3rd mount at the moment (well cost wise with the 7-14mm).
 
Today was the first day I missed the big camera, but the GF1 worked pretty well with an ND110 and Lee grads. I went to Mono Lake - I only had an hour but it was an amazing hour as the sun set. Here's. Quick piccie:

4807265969
 
Arkady said:
I have, I would and I will do...
3 DSLRs; 5 lenses; 4 flash units and all the accessories, inc tripod, mono-pod, etc. etc. etc...

They have these things called 'cars' and 'hotel-rooms' for the times you don't need it all with you...FFS...
A weekend-trip to Prague, or somewhere else cheap and accessible, I might consider paring it down as it's an easily-repeatable trip, but I'd still take 2 bodies and all the lenses and flash kit.
For a coast-to-coast in the USA - everything...no question...if I had a GF-1 I'd take that as well as everything else...

TBH the only time it's a hassle is in the airport and there they have these new-fangled things called 'trollies'...
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Each to their own I suppose Arkady, but I did wonder just how much of the kit you took was actually used. I say this having taken a car load of kit on holiday on many occasions - DSLRs, rangefinders, LF outfit etc and found that the majority of the kit was unused. In the end it depends whether it's a holiday or a "photographic" holiday.

A couple of years ago we did a rail trip to Rome, Florence and Piedmonte via Paris. I had planned to take a rangefinder outfit (1 M8 body, 3-4 lenses), but in the end opted for a Canon G9. I fretted about the image quality thing for a bit, but then rationalised my thoughts. After all, we were travelling to Rome and Florence to experience these places, the architecture and the art etc. I often find that a camera can get in the way of the experience.
In the end, it was surprisingly liberating not having to carry around a 'large' camera bag and various accoutrements and just adapt to the limitations of the kit and the situation in hand. Moreover, the shots were 'good enough', print to a good size if needs be and most importantly, act as a permanent reminder of a wonderful holiday.


As a GF1 user too, I feel it's plenty good enough for producing excellent quality shots. I wouldn't hesitate to travel light with it, a 20mm lens and external Voigtlander viewfinder. Or use my G9 for that matter.
 
kiasdad said:
Each to their own I suppose Arkady, but I did wonder just how much of the kit you took was actually used. I say this having taken a car load of kit on holiday on many occasions - DSLRs, rangefinders, LF outfit etc and found that the majority of the kit was unused. In the end it depends whether it's a holiday or a "photographic" holiday...
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I can't justify going away for an extended period (more than 7 days) and not taking my kit with me...
The idea of going abroad 'on holiday' and not doing something photographic is abhorrent to me. I would consider it a waste of both time and money. My family understands this and accepts it.
Any trip away would be planned around the photographic opportunities I would expect to capitalise upon. Since I travel fairly extensively, I take what I need, expect to need or might possibly need...and I generally use it all at some point...
My full range of kit may well sit unused in the car-boot or hotel room on some future occasion, but once again:
I'd rather have it all to hand and not need it than be presented with an unexpected earning opportunity and not have it.

I still don't understand how anyone who call themselves serious photographers would consider doing otherwise...:shrug:
 
Sometimes people just want to put down the camera and chill out without worrying about taking photos. Afterall you go on holiday to chill out and unwind.
 
trencheel303 said:
Sometimes people just want to put down the camera and chill out without worrying about taking photos. Afterall you go on holiday to chill out and unwind.
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I'd be bored to death within ten minutes...:lol:
 
Arkady said:
I still don't understand how anyone who call themselves serious photographers would consider doing otherwise...:shrug:
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Maybe that's the point. Every day I do serious photography and take not one of anything I might need but two. It's great and I know I can maximise whatever the job brings.

When I go to new places I am always compelled to make photos but actually, they're not really for anything. I just like taking them. Sometimes making the art is more important than having it and hitting the QC standards of Getty etc doesn't matter.

This is still a pretty new aproach for me and I may well go back to lugging all the kit I can muster again. Although I can't see it from how I feel today. :)
 
I sold up £20k worth of Nikon kit (D700, D300, 14-24, 24-70, 70-200, etc) and downsized to a GF1. I take 3-4 times more photos than I ever did before just because the GF1 goes pretty much everywhere and doesn't stand out so no one notices/objects like they used to when I was on walkabout with the D700.

I can honestly say that so far I haven't missed my old kit, I feel like I have gone back to the enjoyment I had when I first took up photography. I can fit the camera, lenses, filters, tripod, etc in a small backpack and don't miss photo opportunities because I couldn't be bothered to lug 6+kg of kit on an all-day hike.

The ISO performance obviously doesn't come close but by shooting RAW and using Lightroom you can still push it pretty far.

There might come a time when I miss my full SLR gear and obviously for paid professionals there isn't much choice but right now I would much rather have the extra cash for other things and have a go-anywhere camera.
 
Trying again. The new Flickr has me confused...

4807265969_02f225f2da.jpg
 
Another one from Olmsted Point in Yosemite.

4810730451_41e45eb7ef.jpg


To add my view to the compact v full kit debate, with teenage kids and a wife in tow, none of whom are much enamored with my photography addiction, using a quality compact makes a lot of sense. Discrete, easy And quick to use for snaps, but still capable of full manual control, it's an excellent compromise. My wife and kids can use it easily too, and we've been getting some cracking shots as a result.

Plus the lack of weight means I can carry the camera, 3 lenses, filters and gorillapod in a small messenger bag along with passports, sunglasses, maps, iPad and other bits. It works for me!

Ideally though I'd have all my pro gear along as well, but I'd probably be on my own!
 
Tobers said:
...with teenage kids and a wife in tow, none of whom are much enamored with my photography addiction...(snip)...Ideally though I'd have all my pro gear along as well, but I'd probably be on my own!
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That's the real decider. Nothing to do with IQ, portability etc. etc.

Luckily mine supports me and the 'New Addition' will do as they're told...
 
I'm not sure that's quite right for everyone, my missus tried to talk me out of selling my SLR gear because she thought I'd regret it.

Portability and practicality were the major factors for me, followed by freeing up the cash for some other hobbies like kayaking and mountain-biking which in turn have meant I've been able to get some awesome photo opportunities that I would otherwise have missed.
 
2 more for you. So far Ive missed the big DSLR only a couple of times, but the convenience of the GF1 has more than made up for it. The main time I would have loved the big camera and a 300 2.8 was whale watching off the coast south of Monterey. Trying to compose and hold a steady shot with the 45-200 at full zoom was totally impossible to I missed some very cool pics of blue and humpback whales. For anything moving the GF1 is really pretty crummy.

San Francisco night time bokeh with the 20 1.7
4820839847_25760ff9e7.jpg


Pointy building with a circular polarizer and ND110, and a small (inadequate) gorillapod.
4825343330_9018ff5e59.jpg
 
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