After much deliberation, I finally made the decision, 'back to basics', my photography has to 'fit in with my life', and a heavy oversize camera bag, a body thats not getting any younger, painful shoulders, arms and dodgy knee . . . So how best to go about the change, my style is best described as 'street', something happens, see a photo opportunity as I round a corner, I want a camera to hand . . . :| Heavy is not conducive to spontaneous? and thats not even considering the old bones :?
When I do go looking for photo opportunities, I like low angle shots, getting 'down and dirty' is not something I can do these days, so a flippy-flappy screen would be nice + light and small? I looked at my recent output, a high percentage were in the standard FL of 18-70mm, this means a standard lens, cheap and light compared with the house brick Nikon 18-200VR I have been using.
I also looked at the camera I have been favouring in recent months, a Nikon D40x/18-70mm lens, originally bought for Hazel as a 'light DSLR'.
A lot of trolling through the net, and magazines, pointed towards the new, micro 4/3 systems? Very tempting, got as far as a test shots session at the local camera emporium. Unfortunately, my enthusiasm was thwarted by a lack of flexibility with RAW images, if you are not using Vista/Windows 7 as an operating system on your PC, viewing Panasonic RAW seems to be a cumbersome affair, IMHO, so, tipping the 'pros and cons balance', for me to far in the wrong direction.
My final decision, clear the table, start with a clean sheet, but stay with a devil I now, its hard to break a habit of 20 years. Flippy-flappy screen, medium weight, small'ish size, 18-70mm lens and familiarity . . . all pointed towards the D5000 . . . ? Closer examination shows the D5000 is a D90 inside, and a D40/D60 externally, so it has the latest technology, but a few more buttons operations are sometimes required, as I had been very happy doing this on the D40x and had shied away from the D90, it did not strike me as a problem :?
So then, D5000 for me, it has all the virtues, other than the 'very' small and 'very' light, however, its small and light enough for my needs. Rarely put forward as the 'Gem' I have found it to be on close examination. I use a 'man bag' because, in the summer at least, the clothes I wear have few pockets, and non big enough for a 'large' compact style camera. So I get the floppy screen, a large sensor, RAW files I can access with ease and a camera that I already know from precious ownerships. Lots of support, rightly so for the new micro 4/3 kid on the block, but the D5000 still has it in spades for me
All that is fine, but there is still the issue of 24/7 camera by ones side, big bag, DSLR hanging round neck etc? Back to basics . . . , one camera/lens, cleaning cloth, spare battery, SD cards . . . thats all one needs! I was in need of a new 'man bag', so; 'man bag', camera in man bag in a small pouch for protection. If one needs a long lens 70-300mm that can be accommodated. I have a new walking-pod with a small ball joint head and fixing plate.
All I need for most of the pictures I have taken in the past 12 months, 'have man bag will travel' . . .
Camera D5000, cleaning cloth, spare battery, 2 spare SD cards, polarising filter, pen, paper.
As can bee seem, the camera (protective bag) takes almost two thirds of the main bag area, leaving the remainder + all pockets for my everyday detritus. If I confined my personal needs to the pockets only, which even by my standards is plenty of space, the main bag could be used for a long lens + a few bits? . . . or my sandwiches
Zipped up, there is no outward sign; 'here be an expensive camera'!
The light weight Hikking Monopod + ball head/detachable plate, is going to be a god send. The system is versatile, being modular, camera, extra one or two lenses, or, no camera kit at all!
CJS
PS, By the way, cost was £12 for the man bag (local market) £24.99 for the KATA mini bag from Warehouse Express, I visited their superb retail section, so helpful with out being pushy, great display of hands on stock. I was also very pleased with the service given by the Colchester branch of London Camera exchange, gave fair trade in prices IMHO, bent over backwards to get the D5000 before the 30th April dead line on £50 cash back, generally a pleasure to do business with.
When I do go looking for photo opportunities, I like low angle shots, getting 'down and dirty' is not something I can do these days, so a flippy-flappy screen would be nice + light and small? I looked at my recent output, a high percentage were in the standard FL of 18-70mm, this means a standard lens, cheap and light compared with the house brick Nikon 18-200VR I have been using.
I also looked at the camera I have been favouring in recent months, a Nikon D40x/18-70mm lens, originally bought for Hazel as a 'light DSLR'.
A lot of trolling through the net, and magazines, pointed towards the new, micro 4/3 systems? Very tempting, got as far as a test shots session at the local camera emporium. Unfortunately, my enthusiasm was thwarted by a lack of flexibility with RAW images, if you are not using Vista/Windows 7 as an operating system on your PC, viewing Panasonic RAW seems to be a cumbersome affair, IMHO, so, tipping the 'pros and cons balance', for me to far in the wrong direction.
My final decision, clear the table, start with a clean sheet, but stay with a devil I now, its hard to break a habit of 20 years. Flippy-flappy screen, medium weight, small'ish size, 18-70mm lens and familiarity . . . all pointed towards the D5000 . . . ? Closer examination shows the D5000 is a D90 inside, and a D40/D60 externally, so it has the latest technology, but a few more buttons operations are sometimes required, as I had been very happy doing this on the D40x and had shied away from the D90, it did not strike me as a problem :?
So then, D5000 for me, it has all the virtues, other than the 'very' small and 'very' light, however, its small and light enough for my needs. Rarely put forward as the 'Gem' I have found it to be on close examination. I use a 'man bag' because, in the summer at least, the clothes I wear have few pockets, and non big enough for a 'large' compact style camera. So I get the floppy screen, a large sensor, RAW files I can access with ease and a camera that I already know from precious ownerships. Lots of support, rightly so for the new micro 4/3 kid on the block, but the D5000 still has it in spades for me
All that is fine, but there is still the issue of 24/7 camera by ones side, big bag, DSLR hanging round neck etc? Back to basics . . . , one camera/lens, cleaning cloth, spare battery, SD cards . . . thats all one needs! I was in need of a new 'man bag', so; 'man bag', camera in man bag in a small pouch for protection. If one needs a long lens 70-300mm that can be accommodated. I have a new walking-pod with a small ball joint head and fixing plate.
All I need for most of the pictures I have taken in the past 12 months, 'have man bag will travel' . . .
Camera D5000, cleaning cloth, spare battery, 2 spare SD cards, polarising filter, pen, paper.
As can bee seem, the camera (protective bag) takes almost two thirds of the main bag area, leaving the remainder + all pockets for my everyday detritus. If I confined my personal needs to the pockets only, which even by my standards is plenty of space, the main bag could be used for a long lens + a few bits? . . . or my sandwiches
Zipped up, there is no outward sign; 'here be an expensive camera'!
The light weight Hikking Monopod + ball head/detachable plate, is going to be a god send. The system is versatile, being modular, camera, extra one or two lenses, or, no camera kit at all!
CJS
PS, By the way, cost was £12 for the man bag (local market) £24.99 for the KATA mini bag from Warehouse Express, I visited their superb retail section, so helpful with out being pushy, great display of hands on stock. I was also very pleased with the service given by the Colchester branch of London Camera exchange, gave fair trade in prices IMHO, bent over backwards to get the D5000 before the 30th April dead line on £50 cash back, generally a pleasure to do business with.
