Struggling between RF USM and STM lineup as an amateur

sercheese wrote:

thunder storm wrote:

sercheese wrote:

Thank you for all your insightful answers! Few more things to consider. I imagine I would like to take beatiful photos as the Profis, but the reality is that not each picture has to have a blurred background. Maybe those suggestions with more flexibility are right. I can see me sitting on a sofa with my wife, so very close, wanting to take a picture of her with the child. And not want to go to the opposite site of the room to make those cool photos (sometimes, yes!).

There are moments of taking pictures and there are moments to lay the camera down. Don't mix it up, and don't compromise between the two.

This is such a wonderful quote! I indeed have a problem with "it's better to buy a camera, than go for holidays, instead of going for holidays without a camera" syndrome. It derives from an old belief of my parents, that it is more important to buy a flat, to renovate a kitchen, etc. than to pay for ski lessons or go for holidays. So I was raised in a very "material" way, instead of "experience" way. My wife has noticed this flaw and since we are together, I try to lay more emphasis on holidays, etc.

I want to say that I have a problem of thinking more about the right camera gear for my new family member, instead of taking my time to learn how to change a diaper. I also have a problem with too much data. Instead of just buying, i.ex. R6 Mk II with RF 24-70 F2.8 and moving forward with my preparations, I'm digging this digital rabbit hole even further.
Indeed this will be my first child and I have none experience with so small children. On one side, it's possible that I won't have a lot of time to take pictures. On the other side, I am afraid I will lost all of those beautiful souvenirs, not having the right gear from the start.

During those family meetings I tend to stay on the sidelines, not participating, rather taking photos of other family members. My wife fears that I will be more concentrated at taking photos, than being present. I.ex. yesterday we saw a lot of belly movement. At first I was admiring it. Than I was trying to film it with my smartphone. And after a while my wife suggested me to put of the phone and just watch, because I'm missing the whole thing.

It is good you are thinking about these things now.  I was like you when I was younger but come to realize that obsessing over photography made me a bystander and not a participant.  I then changed to using smaller, lighter, simpler gear that let me do both easier.  Also, at larger gatherings I let others use the camera.  This took a lot of the burden off me and when I processed the photos it was so much fun to see what other people thought was good content to photograph.  There were a lot of good keepers on the memory card that I did not shoot.  Heck, as bonus, I was in many of these photos.

One last thing - as I already mentioned, I've used to have Canon 50d and then Nikon d500. Since around 4 years I have no camera. And I miss it. I went to some holidays with my wife (we live in Switzerland, Europe) and I was always regretting not having bought a new camera. I always said, I will buy one, when I become father. Now is this moment. Of course it's not like, if I don't buy it right away now, I won't be able to buy it later. But this is the moment I was waiting for. I only fear that due to my tech deformity it will do more harm than good. I'm finding myself wondering off, thinking about the new camera, a bigger car, etc. instead of be more present at home, sitting with my wife on the sofa, really listening what she want to tell me.

I know, my answer is not related to all of those useful suggestions of the dpreview members. I can assure you, I read every one of them. Some more tech (which lens, etc.), some more practical (a toy for the lens, a camera bag, etc.).

thunder storm wrote:

And my wife roll her eyes while I'm talking about the new camera.

Don't. We are here to listen to you.

Thank you all for such a great community!