Going back to my dinosaur

[RubenJ]

Just a small rant... I've had several occasions now of indoor parties/family gatherings where I really wouldn't want to be the camera guy, and just take some snaps. Last week I had both Canon 1Ds with 2.8 lens (left it at the nearby house) and Canon G9x (1" compact), so ultimately I went with the small one only. It sucked badly. Raw recording blocks the camera for 5 sec (never experienced that really, more of a landscape one-shot guy), autofocus did not lock or very slowly so, colours with flash were horrible, I wasn't able to change settings quickly enough. Few weeks ago I had such an experience with the Canon G1X Mark 2. It's just not funny anymore. I don't want to be the guy with the huge camera pointing at everybody, but the small ones are not ideal either. I think next time I'll bring the 5D with 40mm 2.8...

I know my cameras aren't new, but some months ago I thought about selling the big ones. Happy to say I didn't. And my phone is old too, don't get me started on that.

/rant

 

[HRC2016]

As a pro/semipro photographer for decades I've often been asked to bring my camera to events (less so, fortunately, since cell phone cameras).

My standard reply was that I don't take pictures of people, which is true (even though I have successfully, for pay).

It's fun being able to participate in events and not photograph them.

 

[Bob A L]

Been their, done that with the little cams and went back also. If I'm gonna take photos with a camera, might as well use my best.

 

[RAZORBACKSRULE 1]

Get a new phone , case solved. I have several older DSLRs totally replaced by my Google Pixel 7 pro and 6a .

 

[bjn70]

Consumer level photography still has handicaps. I see people recommend the Sony RX100, it seems to be small but not inexpensive. The best bet for me is something like the Nikon D3300 with small lens, but it has limitations if you have to depend on its flash. I took mine to a wedding reception and got some good photos but had some failures too. I've also carried a big camera and big flash before, with the obvious downsides. I don't study Canon equipment, I've noticed that Nikon has the Z50 available with real small lens, Sony has the 6xxx series so smaller more capable cameras are available.

Photographing groups works best if you have the personality for it. I don't so I try to take candids and the failure rate is very high.

 

[A74Me]

easy fix buy a sony a7cii with a tiny 45 1.8 prime.

 

[RubenJ]

Good to hear I'm not the only one. Its just very annoying. Last week I had a little celebration myself too, and at the very last moment I quickly grabbed my Fuji X100s with me. My own photos are OK (though the AF is really struggling in low light), asking my brother to take a picture of me though.... Didn't turn out really well, and he owns a Canon DSLR too so he knows a bit (a bit) also. Really wondering how we did this long time ago, probably our "party pics" sucked big time, I can't really remember.

 

[sybersitizen]

Whatever works for you is good, but I can't relate to your difficulties with 1" sensor cameras. I get along well with mine. I use them more often than APS-C or full frame.

 

[D Cox]

Good to hear I'm not the only one. Its just very annoying. Last week I had a little celebration myself too, and at the very last moment I quickly grabbed my Fuji X100s with me. My own photos are OK (though the AF is really struggling in low light), asking my brother to take a picture of me though.... Didn't turn out really well, and he owns a Canon DSLR too so he knows a bit (a bit) also. Really wondering how we did this long time ago, probably our "party pics" sucked big time, I can't really remember.

Tri-X rated at ASA 800. Developed in Paterson Acuspeed. Manual focus. Various film SLRs. 50mm f/2 lens. Sometimes 25mm f/4 lens for larger groups.

For digital, you could try the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 lens. I haven't used it much but it seems very good so far.

I think people expect a different look nowadays. They expect colour, whereas long time ago B&W was usual in available light.

Don

 

[RAZORBACKSRULE 1]

If your not a professional hired to shoot an event. A smartphone is the way to go the night modes on the newer high end models are amazing. I have a 5D also and several Nikon DSLRS with several different bridge cameras. I'm fixing to sell the rest of them . If I want something different I occasionally shoot film .

 

[Gato Amarillo]

Get a new phone , case solved. I have several older DSLRs totally replaced by my Google Pixel 7 pro and 6a .

This would be my suggestion also.

Get a good phone, leave the camera at home. Forget cameras and enjoy the party.

Gato

 

[Wingsfan]

I often find them (1" compacts) even more convenient than larger format cameras, especially with a g7x or similar that has F1.8 on the wide end, and with the built-in flash and some settings adjustability with that, interior flash shots aren't a terrible experience either.

Especially indoors, or when space is at a premium, I've never really felt I've left too much behind when I opted to take an Enthusiast camera instead of an ILC.

I've actually gone on vacation taking only a g7x for the fast wide lens, and either a zs100, or rx100m6 for telephoto, Instead of bringing My M43 or full frame gear. Especially in Las Vegas On the strip, where even my smallest m43 setup would be too large for my comfort. And with kids, space for photography gear is often at a premium, and a distant secondary or tertiary need.

 

[tbcass]

Just a small rant... I've had several occasions now of indoor parties/family gatherings where I really wouldn't want to be the camera guy, and just take some snaps. Last week I had both Canon 1Ds with 2.8 lens (left it at the nearby house) and Canon G9x (1" compact), so ultimately I went with the small one only. It sucked badly. Raw recording blocks the camera for 5 sec (never experienced that really, more of a landscape one-shot guy), autofocus did not lock or very slowly so, colours with flash were horrible, I wasn't able to change settings quickly enough. Few weeks ago I had such an experience with the Canon G1X Mark 2. It's just not funny anymore. I don't want to be the guy with the huge camera pointing at everybody, but the small ones are not ideal either. I think next time I'll bring the 5D with 40mm 2.8...

I know my cameras aren't new, but some months ago I thought about selling the big ones. Happy to say I didn't. And my phone is old too, don't get me started on that.

/rant

If you used a Sony RX100VII and shot RAW all those problems would be gone.

 

[JohnSil]

Just a small rant... I've had several occasions now of indoor parties/family gatherings where I really wouldn't want to be the camera guy, and just take some snaps. Last week I had both Canon 1Ds with 2.8 lens (left it at the nearby house) and Canon G9x (1" compact), so ultimately I went with the small one only. It sucked badly. Raw recording blocks the camera for 5 sec (never experienced that really, more of a landscape one-shot guy), autofocus did not lock or very slowly so, colours with flash were horrible, I wasn't able to change settings quickly enough. Few weeks ago I had such an experience with the Canon G1X Mark 2. It's just not funny anymore. I don't want to be the guy with the huge camera pointing at everybody, but the small ones are not ideal either. I think next time I'll bring the 5D with 40mm 2.8...

I know my cameras aren't new, but some months ago I thought about selling the big ones. Happy to say I didn't. And my phone is old too, don't get me started on that.

/rant

It's kind of obvious that your heart is no longer in photography. Nothing wrong with that, we all have priorities and those priorities change.

As has been suggested get a nice phone but nice phones are expensive to buy and to access a data plan. If that is not in the budget just stay with what you have and don't try to play photographer anymore! Certainly there are plenty in the crowd with state of the art phones that likely love to use the cameras.

BUT do get rid of all those extinct dinosaurs! It's sad you can only get probably a few hundred dollars for the 1Ds but if you wait till the rom battery dies you'll probably get fined that amount for putting it into the trash! Get rid of all those old cameras before you have to PAY to dump them as E-waste!!!

John

 

[RubenJ]

Just a small rant... I've had several occasions now of indoor parties/family gatherings where I really wouldn't want to be the camera guy, and just take some snaps. Last week I had both Canon 1Ds with 2.8 lens (left it at the nearby house) and Canon G9x (1" compact), so ultimately I went with the small one only. It sucked badly. Raw recording blocks the camera for 5 sec (never experienced that really, more of a landscape one-shot guy), autofocus did not lock or very slowly so, colours with flash were horrible, I wasn't able to change settings quickly enough. Few weeks ago I had such an experience with the Canon G1X Mark 2. It's just not funny anymore. I don't want to be the guy with the huge camera pointing at everybody, but the small ones are not ideal either. I think next time I'll bring the 5D with 40mm 2.8...

I know my cameras aren't new, but some months ago I thought about selling the big ones. Happy to say I didn't. And my phone is old too, don't get me started on that.

/rant

It's kind of obvious that your heart is no longer in photography. Nothing wrong with that, we all have priorities and those priorities change.

As has been suggested get a nice phone but nice phones are expensive to buy and to access a data plan. If that is not in the budget just stay with what you have and don't try to play photographer anymore! Certainly there are plenty in the crowd with state of the art phones that likely love to use the cameras.

BUT do get rid of all those extinct dinosaurs! It's sad you can only get probably a few hundred dollars for the 1Ds but if you wait till the rom battery dies you'll probably get fined that amount for putting it into the trash! Get rid of all those old cameras before you have to PAY to dump them as E-waste!!!

John

Your reply is not really surprising. We never agree, and I don't really understand where your assumptions come from. Next time I will bring my Dslr, and I will get the photo I want. Still not sure why I should get rid of "all those dinosaurs", but perhaps you thought I meant the original 1Ds - which I have not. I meant the 1DsII and III. Certainly the III is very adequate for my, and many people's, needs. Same high ISO quality as the 5DII but better AF (and a quiet mode).

 

[Mackiesback]

Get a new phone , case solved. I have several older DSLRs totally replaced by my Google Pixel 7 pro and 6a .

This would be my suggestion also.

Get a good phone, leave the camera at home. Forget cameras and enjoy the party.

Gato

x3.

I use my iPhone 14 a lot these days.

 

[Bill-in-KY]

I'll keep my dinosaurs. I like them. I'm referring to cameras in general, but also my Canons in particular. I don't have an $800 or $1,000, or more, smart phone, which is a pocket computer with a phone built in, and a camera. I use a flip phone for phone calls. I have a relatively inexpensive Samsung smart phone that I use for GPS and maps. It has 3 camera lenses, but I don't use them. I use "regular" cameras. I am well over 70 yrs old, and have been using "regular" cameras for a long time. I won't drop them and switch to phone cameras. They do well, but I'd still rather use a non-phone camera. I want to hold an actual camera, with its switches and buttons, something that looks like a camera. I use flash some times I recently bought a Canon Speedlite 199A, which will work with my Canons. It too is "old school", but I like it. I already had a bounce type flash that came with my 5D which I bought used a while back, but I found out that the 199A is low voltage, 6v, and I wanted that one. I like it. I like old film cameras too, not just the 35mm crowd, but older ones, including the Yashica twin lens. I had one of those for a while. I have converted old Polaroid cameras, the roll film type, to use 120 film. It is interesting. Anyway, I'll continue using my "regular" cameras.