Trying to find the joy/spark again with new gear

[knipdlo]

Warning, Long, TL;DR at the end:

I was once a super passionate young photographer, got into photography when film was on it's way out, went to college to earn a degree in it, which included film and darkroom work, digital back medium format studio work, etc.
I bought myself a Nikon D70s as my first digital camera, loved it. Frequently felt that the images I saw on the back of it's tiny display were great, and when I would download and open/workflow process them, they'd just get better.

I worked with 2 pro photogs at the time (2006-2009ish)- one exclusively Nikon, the other exclusively Canon. I shot the Canon gear as a wedding 2nd photog, and never got much that I was impressed by- nothing seemed to be natural, nothing looked the way I saw it when I took it with my eyes.

I ended up getting into Television/Film and made a career out of that instead of still photography, when I was getting into that, it was the start of the hybrid/DSLR video craze- I held out for Nikon to do a video capable DSLR but ran out of time for a project and bought a Canon 7D and 28mm f1.8, it was ok, nothing really memorable about it. It did video OK, so that's what I needed.. tried a EOS M somewhere in there, cool camera, super slow, didn't last long in my ownership.
I wanted to get into a FF camera, since I missed MF film work and wanted the larger frame feel. Bought a 5DMkII from a friend in 2015, and a couple L lenses and have had a just-ok experience with it. Have had a couple things I've done with it that I've been happy with, but a lot of hard post processing work to get what I see in my mind. Really not fun to work with, just seems like hard work and never what I'm looking for- it really killed photography for me. I had a lot of money invested, used it for a couple video projects, and never enjoyed shooting photos on it.

More recently, I bought a used Fujifilm X100s, and absolutely love it, frequently get great stuff- natural light, low light, easy to work with files, fits in the center console of my car- I just wish they were higher quality files.
I like to shoot photos that I can use as desktop images, I have a 5k iMac I look at all day at work, and they're not quite good enough.
So as much as it would make sense to get a new Canon FF body like a RP, R or R6 because I have L glass.. I really have zero enthusiasm for it. I went to a local shop and they immediately tossed me a RP as soon as I said I have L glass, and then gave me a really funny look when I said I hated nearly everything about it and didn't want to see any more Canons.


I was itching for a GFX 50R, but I want IBIS, so I guess that kicks me up to a GFX 50S II if I want to go that direction.. might be a little pricy for my budget to get the lens coverage I'd like (wide, a mid prime, and a tele for portraits and auto racing stuff)

X-T5 might be a good contender- I liked messing with the X-T4 at the camera shop- but I'm not excited to go back to a crop sensor for the typical crop sensor reasons.
Nikon Z5/Z6II were also there, and I liked them quite a bit also.

I'd love to spend $2k today.. but I think more realistically I need to save more and expect to spend 4- 6k, especially since I think I’ll be switching lenses, not just a body upgrade.. I’m willing to go with good used gear to help my budget. Might be getting a raise soon so maybe more would be on the table.

Is there anything I'm missing? I'm looking for something fun to spark some magic back into my sad lacking photography life! I'm apparently in the minority- I want a camera that is great at photography- not vlogging, not doing cinema, just a really great stills camera!

TL;DR
I used to love photography now I hate it and I blame Canon DSLRs, so give me ideas for non-canon DSLRs like Nikon Z5/6/7, Fujifilm X-T5, etc.

 

[Craig Gillette]

Well, I'd start by handling various options at the shop. You probably don't want to study the specs, numbers, reviews, etc., and come to a conclusion about the "perfect" camera then find you hate the way it feels. Canons don't handle like Sony nor Nikon, nor all of the vice versas.

 

[thenerwin]

I've done this many times - one thing I can share from my experience is that buying new gear or switching systems is only short term after the initial newness wears off.

I've shot Sony, Nikon, Fujifilm and sometimes multiple times. I've bought and sold the same lenses over and over.

So I've learned that new gear doesn't really work in terms of finding the joy or spark. Its got to come from somewhere else, usually within and that's something I am currently struggling with.

After years and years of trying new gear, my interest in photography has dwindled a lot. I'm on the verge of letting photography go. But I also want to see how it plays out when I stick with the same gear longer than 6 months lol.

However, you also need to get gear that works best for you and that YOU need, not what people tell you to get.

Obvisually you can outgrow gear - If the camera has a feature or function that your current one doesn't have that makes it easier to use or makes your life easier then its worthy of upgrading or even changing systems enitirely. But if you already get good pictures with what you have, buying a new camera just to get the spark back isn't going to work. Trust me, I know from experience.

As much as I like my Z6II - I hardly bring with me anywhere because its big and heavy...granted lighter than the DSLR setup I had years back...its just enough to be in the way sometimes when I just want to have a camera on me.

With that being said, I really do like the appeal of Fujifilm the most. When I shot Fujifilm, I felt the cameras were inspiring to use because they were slower to use with the physical dials like a film camera. It made the process slower which in return made me enjoy it more and think more about the composition. With my Nikon Z6II its so easy to take a photo and while the images are incredible its a very lackluster experience in my opinion.

So if you're looking for a camera to spark some inspiration to get you out taking photos again or more, I say the XT5 is a really good choice and I'm considering going back to Fujifilm myself but I'm not a fan of their raw files. But I also know, I'll end up taking the same photographs no matter what camera I use.

Hope this helps.

 

[robgendreau]

Warning, Long, TL;DR at the end:

I was once a super passionate young photographer, got into photography when film was on it's way out, went to college to earn a degree in it, which included film and darkroom work, digital back medium format studio work, etc.
I bought myself a Nikon D70s as my first digital camera, loved it. Frequently felt that the images I saw on the back of it's tiny display were great, and when I would download and open/workflow process them, they'd just get better.

I worked with 2 pro photogs at the time (2006-2009ish)- one exclusively Nikon, the other exclusively Canon. I shot the Canon gear as a wedding 2nd photog, and never got much that I was impressed by- nothing seemed to be natural, nothing looked the way I saw it when I took it with my eyes.

I ended up getting into Television/Film and made a career out of that instead of still photography, when I was getting into that, it was the start of the hybrid/DSLR video craze- I held out for Nikon to do a video capable DSLR but ran out of time for a project and bought a Canon 7D and 28mm f1.8, it was ok, nothing really memorable about it. It did video OK, so that's what I needed.. tried a EOS M somewhere in there, cool camera, super slow, didn't last long in my ownership.
I wanted to get into a FF camera, since I missed MF film work and wanted the larger frame feel. Bought a 5DMkII from a friend in 2015, and a couple L lenses and have had a just-ok experience with it. Have had a couple things I've done with it that I've been happy with, but a lot of hard post processing work to get what I see in my mind. Really not fun to work with, just seems like hard work and never what I'm looking for- it really killed photography for me. I had a lot of money invested, used it for a couple video projects, and never enjoyed shooting photos on it.

More recently, I bought a used Fujifilm X100s, and absolutely love it, frequently get great stuff- natural light, low light, easy to work with files, fits in the center console of my car- I just wish they were higher quality files.
I like to shoot photos that I can use as desktop images, I have a 5k iMac I look at all day at work, and they're not quite good enough.
So as much as it would make sense to get a new Canon FF body like a RP, R or R6 because I have L glass.. I really have zero enthusiasm for it. I went to a local shop and they immediately tossed me a RP as soon as I said I have L glass, and then gave me a really funny look when I said I hated nearly everything about it and didn't want to see any more Canons.

I was itching for a GFX 50R, but I want IBIS, so I guess that kicks me up to a GFX 50S II if I want to go that direction.. might be a little pricy for my budget to get the lens coverage I'd like (wide, a mid prime, and a tele for portraits and auto racing stuff)

X-T5 might be a good contender- I liked messing with the X-T4 at the camera shop- but I'm not excited to go back to a crop sensor for the typical crop sensor reasons.
Nikon Z5/Z6II were also there, and I liked them quite a bit also.

I'd love to spend $2k today.. but I think more realistically I need to save more and expect to spend 4- 6k, especially since I think I’ll be switching lenses, not just a body upgrade.. I’m willing to go with good used gear to help my budget. Might be getting a raise soon so maybe more would be on the table.

Is there anything I'm missing? I'm looking for something fun to spark some magic back into my sad lacking photography life! I'm apparently in the minority- I want a camera that is great at photography- not vlogging, not doing cinema, just a really great stills camera!

TL;DR
I used to love photography now I hate it and I blame Canon DSLRs, so give me ideas for non-canon DSLRs like Nikon Z5/6/7, Fujifilm X-T5, etc.

Oof. The X100s is capable of some great stuff, so maybe it would help if you said why the images don't cut it. Color? processing? do you have to end up cropping them a lot?

And the GFX and lens solution isn't exactly going to fit in that console. And it's outperformed in some areas like AF and such compared to the flagship Canons or Nikons. Sort of the opposite of a street camera style like the X100's.

So not sure what to say. You lean Fuji, so maybe into the shop and look at the XT-5. Seems the mama bear between the X100 and GFX, no?

 

[yardcoyote]

I have decided that it's the shooting experience that makes me happy- trying to get things right in camera while shooting jpeg only and finishing my images with minimal processing: crops, a bit of sharpening, a few tweaks to highlights, shadows, or contrast. Sort of a modern snapshot approach, a bit of the opposite of the obsession with "IQ". I skip the boring, expensive stuff entirely.

Luckily for my budget, older and more basic cameras and lenses are great for thid. I have several older Fujis (my "good camera"is an X-T2), a Pentax KP, and an Olympus E-M10II. I am currently saving up while thinking about a Nikon Df and an 85mm D lens.

 

[Satyaa]

Sorry, I quickly read through your post but did not understand your requirement.

I mean, you want to buy new gear, but for what kind of photography? What camera type do you like... rangefinder type, dslr type, etc.

I would not rule out anything because it has a crop sensor. Today's 20mp m43 sensors do better than early APSC sensors from 15 years ago. Smaller sensors are getting better every year. See OM-1 and latest Fuji APSC models.

I shoot events with FF + APSC and two f/2.8 zooms. They are now too heavy for everyday use. I was having second thoughts about taking the camera when I went out.

After trying most brands and sensor sizes (other than Sony), I drew the line at m43. Anything smaller did not give acceptable low light performance for my purposes. So, I bought into m43 and I'm happy. It goes with me anywhere I go. This is more than enough for any hobby/non-paid work.

So, forget sensor size. Pick anything at least m43, go with a body that fits well in your hand, has all the controls you like, makes you carry it wherever you go, and you'll start enjoying it.

All the best.

 

[MILC man]

wrt "joy/spark" it's usually not about the gear, it's about the subject matter you shoot, and i don't see where you defined that.

i shoot stacked sensor sony because i want the best af for sports, so i have goals that require certain types of gear; you don't seem to have anything like that.

 

[PhotonBeam]

Below are a few thoughts to consider:

• As mentioned above, don't rely on gear to create interest in photography. It will only have a temporary effect.

• With that said, choose gear that you like. Gear that you don't like carrying or using can help you lose interest.

• The photography purchases that have increased my interest in photography are those that allow me to try some new aspect of photography. Examples include a macro lens for macro photography, a telephoto lens for wildlife photography, and an off camera lighting kit for portraits. Purchases that improve image quality are nice, but have never been game changing.

• Consider how you will use the camera. How large of a camera or lens do you want to carry? Is capturing fast action important to you? Do you need extreme telephoto reach or ability to shoot in low light? Do you intend to routinely make large prints that would benefit from a high resolution sensor?

• As you mention, save money for lenses and other accessories.

--
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wild_photons/

 

[knipdlo]

Thanks all for the replies- and I understand the new gear excitement that does fade, I guess my main issue is:
I don't like having to work so hard to get an image file to reflect the scene I'm seeing with my eyes.. which seems to be the worst with a Canon, and the Sony a6400 I have at work isn't much better.

Very much like the X100s especially the colors, except the files are a bit small, though I rarely crop. Thought about a X100v and keeping the 5D if I need FF.

Or maybe modern APSC would make me happy enough. I may try to go to a camera shop when the X-T5s come in and take some shots on my own card and bring them home to try editing them.

Photo subjects are, candid, street, documentary, flowers, landscape, night/long exposure and HDR.

 

[JoeSchmoe007]

What you are missing is a passion for photography. Trying to blame a camera brand for it is not something I understand.

 

[thenerwin]

What you are missing is a passion for photography. Trying to blame a camera brand for it is not something I understand.

This is exactly what I have learned. I don't blame the camera for not having passion, I blame me and my toxic surroundings. But I can understand that some cameras are better to use and are more inspiring.


As much as I like my camera, its big and heavy and I rarely want to pick it up. Getting a camera that makes you want to take photos I think is important when you're passion is low or have lost interest and you need that little extra push to get rolling again. It doesn't work for everyone, some folks are just naturally passionate about photography, others find passion in the gear, others find passion in sharing their work with the world. I say do whatever you want that helps get the fire burning again.


One thing that I understand is that you don't have to have passion to do photography or enjoy photography. You can simply just like photography and the most important thing is to just do it, because when you're doing it...you're not thinking about those things anyways.

--
http://instagram.com/the.nerwin

 

[Satyaa]

Thanks all for the replies- and I understand the new gear excitement that does fade, I guess my main issue is:
I don't like having to work so hard to get an image file to reflect the scene I'm seeing with my eyes.. which seems to be the worst with a Canon, and the Sony a6400 I have at work isn't much better.

Sounds like you want a camera that can do most of the work automatically, and produce good JPGs, so that you don't have to worry about processing raw files.

For that, you need a basic to intermediate camera. For example, speaking Nikon language here, something like a D8xx series is too much work. Lot of controls but not much automation. The D5x00 series on the other hand has less controls and more automated modes (Scenes) that have all those presets for specific use cases.

Is my assessment above accurate?

Very much like the X100s especially the colors, except the files are a bit small, though I rarely crop. Thought about a X100v and keeping the 5D if I need FF.

Or maybe modern APSC would make me happy enough.

Both APSC and m43 are good options if you are keeping the 5D.

I may try to go to a camera shop when the X-T5s come in and take some shots on my own card and bring them home to try editing them.

Photo subjects are, candid, street, documentary, flowers, landscape, night/long exposure and HDR.

You will do well with a relatively small camera and lens combo (easy to carry and not conspicuous for candid or street). Not sure if you do more than one of those genres at the same time. If not, I would recommend separate small primes for each with some overlap. For example, a wide lens can do landscapes and some street. A wide'ish to normal lens can do candid, street and portraits. Etc. Go for f/1.4 lenses if you want low light capability. All recent cameras are good for it.

You probably don't need long tele lenses for those genres (though I know photographers who prefer 70-200mm for landscapes!)

As an example, in APSC and talking Nikon language, look for something like the Z50 with 16-50 kit lens for street and Viltrox f/1.4 primes for low light and portaits. There are m43 bodies/lenses with similar capabilities, but I am still new to this system and use DSLR-like body for longer lenses.

All the best.

 

[PhotonBeam]

Thanks all for the replies- and I understand the new gear excitement that does fade, I guess my main issue is:
I don't like having to work so hard to get an image file to reflect the scene I'm seeing with my eyes.. which seems to be the worst with a Canon, and the Sony a6400 I have at work isn't much better.

Sounds like you want a camera that can do most of the work automatically, and produce good JPGs, so that you don't have to worry about processing raw files.

For that, you need a basic to intermediate camera. For example, speaking Nikon language here, something like a D8xx series is too much work. Lot of controls but not much automation. The D5x00 series on the other hand has less controls and more automated modes (Scenes) that have all those presets for specific use cases.

Is my assessment above accurate?

If the assumption above is correct I wonder if the Olympus Pen-F is worth considering. I have never owned one, but I believe they had some dials to tweak the JPEG output prior to taking a picture (e.g., adding a color filter to a black and white image).

The Pen-F is a bit of an older model now, but may still be worth a look if the OP is willing to buy used.