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So I think I've made my decision? [camera purchase]

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danecarney

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I've finally decided on a setup, I think. Just wanted to post it here and make sure I'm not making some horrible decision. I'm not exactly a "beginner", but I didn't really see a better place to put this. Sorry if it's the wrong place!

I wanted a compact camera that gives good image quality. I just can't handle carrying a DSLR all the time, nor do I do professional work requiring that level of quality. So I'm purchasing a Fujifilm x100s and a Panasonic LX7. I'll be able to carry these cameras around quite easily (I have large pockets), the x100s will give me the good low-light quality I'll frequently need, and the LX7 will allow me to ease into street photography, as I'm a bit shy and 35mm is a little too close for comfort for me at this point. I love the creative challenge of a fixed focal length but there truly are some shots that are helped with a touch more reach/wideness.

I also like to dabble in live music, nature, portraits, macro, etc. I realize these won't accomplish the same thing as my 7D with 2-3 lenses. But that was giving me a back ache and I feel I'll be more creative with a camera (or two) with me at all times, as opposed to having a DSLR with me *sometimes*.

Thoughts? Spending $2,000 on 2 compact cameras/accessories. DSLRs are out of the question.
 
Both seem like cool decent semi compact cameras. I really like the x100s look.

whatever you will actually carry is a good call.

The only question I would ask with a $2000 dollar budget is there a reason you are not considering a micro 4/3 system or nex if your main complaint is size and weight. Even if you went top of the line with something like the olympus omd em5 you would have 1000$ left to spend on lenses. If you went cheaper you could get something smaller like the pen series and get two bodies. if you are willing to put credence in dxo the new olympus sensor is pretty much on par with the 7d sensor for image quality (Which is getting a little old). I dunno just seems like a much more flexible system and the extra $1000 spent on lenses would stay in your pocket in a few years when you upgrade the body, whereas with two fixed systems it's going down the drain.
 
Both nice cameras of somewhat different type. I'd prefer, like many, spending that money on one mirrorless system and another lens or two, but your strategy makes some sense, if you think the X100s will meet your requirements for situations where you require very high quality. It wouldn't for me, but it may for you. The LX7 is a nice little camera for street shooting, though most mirrorless cameras are also unintimidating, except the few that look like dslrs. Have fun shooting with your cameras. They are capable of great results.
 
Hmm this is a very good point. If I got something like the EPL-5 I could get a nice lens or two and in 10 years still have something to show for it (assuming they haven't also gotten 100X better at making lenses). Do you know if there's plans to come out with more pancake lenses for the Olympus 4/3 system? That's really one of my only hesitations with that plan, it's not really quite as compact as I'd like with a lot of the lenses.
 
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Personally I chose the Fuji X-E1. With the 18mm it's near enough the same size as the X100, but doesn't have an optical finder. I've also got the 35mm f:1.4 and adapted Nikkors at 28, 50 and 105mm, plus an adapted Vivitar 28-200 zoom (60 Euro, about $100 second hand) if I'm feeling silly. If you are not keen on the focal length of the X100 I can't really see why you want to buy it over the X-E1 or X-Pro1.

I don't know the NEX, so I can't say if it gives advantages over the Fujis. However, I also can't see the benefit of having two 'pocket' cameras.
 
danecarney said:
danecarney wrote:

I'm not exactly a "beginner
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danecarney said:
my 7D with 2-3 lenses. But that was giving me a back ache and I feel I'll be more creative with a camera (or two) with me at all times, as opposed to having a DSLR with me *sometimes*. Thoughts? Spending $2,000 on 2 compact cameras/accessories. DSLRs are out of the question.
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I first want to express my sypathies for your illness and your current disability. I know what a problem a damaged back can be. That 29 ounce Canon 7D must be a horrible trial for you to have to give up especially with a huge gallery of creative images you have taken with it.

I know carrying that 16 ounce Fuji will make things so much better with your back disability. 13 ounces really will make a huge difference, I'm sure. I'm hoping when you remove those 13 ounces you will refuel those creative juices so we can see an even larger gallery of wonderful and compelling images. This will happen when you've recovered enough to get out there and create more of them again.

When I damaged my back, I had to give up bottled water, wearing a hat and quit carrying sunglasses in the field for fear of ruining my creative juices too, but you get over it with enough physical therapy and medical care. The bottled water was the big one. Maybe some day again.

I'd quickly sell that ridiculously heavy Canon 7D and those beastly lenses. They are probably resposible for your handicap in the first place. Nobody over sixty like us should even consider them.



Graybeard's camera carry-all. ;-)

shoppingcart.jpg




--
Cheers, Craig
Follow me on Twitter @craighardingsr : Equipment in Profile
 
I think I've decided to go with the Olympus OMD or the E-pl5. I can get fast interchangeable lenses for it (that I don't necessarily have to carry around all the time) and it's quite small. I'm feeling a bit wild, I might even get a lensbaby =P
 
danecarney said:
danecarney wrote:

Not sure if you're being sarcastic or not, but I do in fact suffer from chronic pain. I also have taken a lot of photographs, despite only recently creating a dpreview profile. www.stealthesephotos.minus.com
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I also deal with chronic pain and physical therapy three days a week as well as multiple pain meds including neuropathic and opiates. A cane helps as does $800 shoes.

I've just not sure saving 13 ounces in weight makes a lot of difference. I still work full time as a photographer and my creative juices are dependent on many other things than a slight difference in size and weight of my tools. If you're wanting that Fuji and Panasonic for fun, that's one thing. Go for it, but to save 13 oz. I don't really buy into that. A canteen outweighs the difference as does a good pair of hiking boots. My hat is a percentage of that as well.

I think that many give up their DSLRs for lack of passion in photography more than serious weight differences. MarkinSF has a serious disability and might really need to lower size and weight, but most of us really don't. I think it's more of an excuse to downsize for fun or, as I said, lack of interest anymore.

Even with my disability, I can still hike for several miles into the Big Cypress Swamp, Everglades and other Florida Wetlands, passionate enough for my chosen endeavor to tote quite a few pounds of specialized kit including two FX bodies and 300mm to 500mm lenses. That folding shopping cart was for real. I also use an inflatable as well as other helper items, but it's still a lot of gear. I wear a pistol on my side for protection against snakes and it outweights your Canon 7D for Heaven's sake. As I get older, I just need more rest breaks is all. ;-) and sometimes nitroglycerin for the heart.

It's called passion. It's photography. That's all and I think when we start to slip, we lose that passion we once had. Buying gear won't restore it. Only getting out there and creating will do that. I was hoping to tease you into that, not taunt you or be mean spirited. I promise. Get that 7D out of the closet and go on a street safari and maybe join some local camera clubs. Get back into it like you used to be. Quit thinking about pocket cameras and start thinking about the next shot you'd like. Pre-visualize it and go out this afternoon and create it. Come home tonight and process it, making a compelling example of what you can do. I know you can.

Take care and have a great weekend. :-)







--
Cheers, Craig
Follow me on Twitter @craighardingsr : Equipment in Profile
 

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Also it's not purely a matter of weight, the camera I decided on will easily fit in my *pocket*. A DSLR would not so it would be carried around my neck or on my back. Thus exacerbating back/TMJ/joint problems. What's more, I have to do manual labor for a living. During that time it'd be extremely odd to have a DSLR with me and I probably wouldn't be allowed to a lot of the time.
 
danecarney said:
danecarney wrote:

Also it's not purely a matter of weight, the camera I decided on will easily fit in my *pocket*. A DSLR would not so it would be carried around my neck or on my back. Thus exacerbating back/TMJ/joint problems. What's more, I have to do manual labor for a living. During that time it'd be extremely odd to have a DSLR with me and I probably wouldn't be allowed to a lot of the time.
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Erm, my PL2 is not my idea of a "pocket" camera, even with the kit lens in its retracted configuration. A pancake lens could push it over the threshold into pocket camera territory, but I have little interest in those lenses. I ended up with a belt pouch intended for camcorders to carry the PL2. Still, one HECK of a lot lighter in weight than my Canon 50D. Fun cameras.

Kelly Cook
 
danecarney said:
danecarney wrote:

Also it's not purely a matter of weight, the camera I decided on will easily fit in my *pocket*. A DSLR would not so it would be carried around my neck or on my back. Thus exacerbating back/TMJ/joint problems. What's more, I have to do manual labor for a living. During that time it'd be extremely odd to have a DSLR with me and I probably wouldn't be allowed to a lot of the time.
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So, no real Canon 7D and lenses, and with back/TMJ/joint problems you do manual labor for a living and really have no time for photography? I guess this was a case of mistaken identity. Good luck on your pocket camera.
 
Yep, life's a drag sometime. Also my best friend, grandfather, and grandmother all recently passed away. So sorry if any of my remarks came across as snarky.
 
And I don't believe I said I don't have time for photography. That's why I was inquiring about cameras, after all. I'm glad your professional quality DSLR serves your professional needs. I suspect the Olympus compact camera (the sensor of which rates closely to my old 7D...) I just purchased will serve mine :)
 
Yeah, I usually wear overalls so the Olympus E-M5 I just ordered should fit in one of my pockets quite nicely (overalls have 3-4 fairly large pockets). Heck I could probably carry spare batteries and a lens in the other pockets haha.
 
Guidenet said:
Guidenet wrote:
Guidenet said:
danecarney wrote:

Not sure if you're being sarcastic or not, but I do in fact suffer from chronic pain. I also have taken a lot of photographs, despite only recently creating a dpreview profile. www.stealthesephotos.minus.com
Click to expand...
I also deal with chronic pain and physical therapy three days a week as well as multiple pain meds including neuropathic and opiates. A cane helps as does $800 shoes.

I've just not sure saving 13 ounces in weight makes a lot of difference. I still work full time as a photographer and my creative juices are dependent on many other things than a slight difference in size and weight of my tools. If you're wanting that Fuji and Panasonic for fun, that's one thing. Go for it, but to save 13 oz. I don't really buy into that. A canteen outweighs the difference as does a good pair of hiking boots. My hat is a percentage of that as well.

I think that many give up their DSLRs for lack of passion in photography more than serious weight differences. MarkinSF has a serious disability and might really need to lower size and weight, but most of us really don't. I think it's more of an excuse to downsize for fun or, as I said, lack of interest anymore.

Even with my disability, I can still hike for several miles into the Big Cypress Swamp, Everglades and other Florida Wetlands, passionate enough for my chosen endeavor to tote quite a few pounds of specialized kit including two FX bodies and 300mm to 500mm lenses. That folding shopping cart was for real. I also use an inflatable as well as other helper items, but it's still a lot of gear. I wear a pistol on my side for protection against snakes and it outweights your Canon 7D for Heaven's sake. As I get older, I just need more rest breaks is all. ;-) and sometimes nitroglycerin for the heart.

It's called passion. It's photography. That's all and I think when we start to slip, we lose that passion we once had. Buying gear won't restore it. Only getting out there and creating will do that. I was hoping to tease you into that, not taunt you or be mean spirited. I promise. Get that 7D out of the closet and go on a street safari and maybe join some local camera clubs. Get back into it like you used to be. Quit thinking about pocket cameras and start thinking about the next shot you'd like. Pre-visualize it and go out this afternoon and create it. Come home tonight and process it, making a compelling example of what you can do. I know you can.

Take care and have a great weekend. :-)







--
Cheers, Craig
Follow me on Twitter @craighardingsr : Equipment in Profile
Click to expand...
Thanks for the thought, Craig. I can still carry weight when I have to, but the more I do, the more pain I'm in later. Which means I just end up spending a day or two barely out of bed trying to get the nerves to shut up. So I try to be sensible and take it easy and hope I don't end up any worse off than I need to.

I'm going on trip this week that I hope won't prove to be a big mistake. But I do love to travel and we have an old friend visiting, so off we go. I don't have to do anything more strenuous than riding in a car, but sitting for that long is a worry. I hope to get some nice shots of the Sierra and Death Valley. Some of my favorite places. But thanks for the kind words. Some of us find daily life more challenging than others. Sounds like you have some challenges, too.
 
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