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| The Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, Arizona. (click to enlarge) Fujifilm X-T2; 16-55mm f/2.8 lens @ 16mm; 1/680th sec. @ f/4.5; ISO 200 |
If, for whatever reason, you decided that you wanted to own, carry and use only one camera body and one lens, what would be your choice? Also, why would you choose this specific camera body and lens?
Certainly, this could be something you now own, have owned in the past or would like to own. You might also have a first and second preference. I think our readers would be interested in your answers.
As for me, the choice would be rather easy. I would choose the Olympus E-M1 Mark III with the Olympus 12-100mm f/4 PRO attached. Why?
I'm basically a generalist photographer that fully utilizes the plethora of features on the 1.3 and also uses a wide variety of focal lengths. The combination of this camera and lens gives me incredible capabilities, excellent image quality, light weight, little bulk, moderate cost along with equivalent fields of view (FOV) from 24mm to 200mm.
If I were a wedding or portrait photographer or a sports photographer or an architectural photographer my choice would be different. But I primarily photograph landscapes, travel, family events, some wildlife, cityscapes, color, patterns, textures, cemeteries, waterfront scenes, etc. Currently, I regularly take advantage of the incredible image stabilization of the E-M1 Mark III combined with the 12-100mm f/4 PRO lens (7.5 stops CIPA rated), focus stacking/bracketing, the high resolution (50mp handheld; 80mp tripod mounted) imaging feature, LiveND, Live Time, Live Composite, perspective correction, Pro Capture (allowing the camera to buffer images before I fully press the shutter), etc. Everything I regularly would want to do can be done in this camera and lens combination. The only thing I couldn't photograph is the occasional birds-in-flight images I make I would need a much longer lens for that. I guess I would have to sacrifice that endeavor.
If I needed a wider focal length, I would do what I now do when I don't have shorter focal length lens with me—that is turn my camera vertically and make a few shots then merge them as I would a panorama. If I needed a longer focal length, I could either use the 50-80mp high resolution shot mode, in-camera cropping mode if the high resolution feature would not work in a particular situation or just make the image at 200mm, upsize the file in Topaz Labs Gigapixel AI then crop in to the desired composition. There almost are always ways to accomplish your goals if you are resourceful.
This camera and lens combination make a wonderful travel companion as well. Not too big. Not too heavy. Add a polarizing filter and carry it all in a very small bag and you're set.
That camera and lens combination would take care of the vast majority of my photographic needs. That's why it is my "grab-and-go" camera today.
If I had a second choice, it would be the Nikon Z7 with the new Nikon 24-200mm f/4-6.3 lens, which I am seeing and reading is an excellent optic. I know the lens is a bit slow on the long end but the Z7 has a good high ISO noise profile. In lieu of using slower shutter speeds, I would have no issue raising the ISO. No, I haven't used this lens but I know some who have as well as read and seen many reviews and I can't find anyone who has anything really negative to say about it. The only thing I have seen is that this lens doesn't handle flare from the sun as well as the 24-20mm f/4 lens when the sun is in the frame. I don't often put the sun in my frame, so that is a niggle to me. Not a concern. Everyone seems to say it is really good.
The Z7 is more costly, has fewer features than the 1.3 (it has most of I would use) but it has the 45mp sensor which overcomes the need for high resolution shooting and the need for longer focal lengths on occasion. Cropping in for a better composition would be no issue. Wider angle use would be the same as above. Additionally, it has a Medium RAW file mode (which I've tested) which gives you a 25.5mp file for when you don't need all 45mp. This mode works very well.
All in all, this would be a terrific camera and lens combination if you only wanted to own one.
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| The property is lined with cement wigwam-looking structures that act as motel rooms. The owner has parked these vintage automobiles in the parking lot for effect. (click to enlarge) Fujifilm X-T2; 16-55mm f/2.8 lens @ 26mm; 1/800th sec. @ f/8; ISO 200 |
How about you? What camera and lens would you choose to get the majority of your photographic work done for you, whether at home, locally, regionally, during extensive travel or for whatever?
Join me over at my website, www.dennismook.com.
Thanks for looking. Enjoy!
Dennis A. Mook
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I have the Om-D E-M1 II and the 12-100 and they are a great combo. I can crop the images from this kit at least to 200mm (400mm-e) to avoid the expense and weight of a serious telephoto lens. Telephoto shooting is fun but a casual activity. I now have a 4K monitor and have used Gigapixel-AI to uprez and the cropped images look terrific.
ReplyDeleteI have downloaded Nikon Z7 raw files from the major review sites. Many of the files were shot with the new 24-200mm. I found that I can crop those files to 800mm, uprez back to 4K and they look terrific on the 4K monitor and print 8x10" beautifully. I shoot mostly outdoors in a windy seacoast environment so I am leery of pixel shift hi-rez modes. I did rent a Z6 last year so I am aware of the rather basic functionality of the Z system but to me a two lens Z7 system, the 24-200 and the 50mm, f/1.8 S for indoor work (and an occasional pano for ultra wide seems like an attractive do-it-all kit.
Great comment. Thank you. Your test of the Nikon 24-200mm lens is even more encouraging for the future.
DeleteI already own the E-M1.2 and the 12-100, so I guess I already made my first choice. :-)
ReplyDeleteI remember Ming Thein writing that 98% of photographers could call it a day with that combo.
For various reasons, I've always been drawn to smaller lenses, really the smaller the better, as long as there isn't too much of a sacrifice in image quality. I don't like to go too small with the body, so my second choice would still be an E-M1.x with the Panasonic 14-140. I know that would probably eliminate some categories, like indoor and night/astro photography, but I think that is what I would choose.
Thanks, Jim. You have most all you need with that combo! I don’t think most people understand just how great that camera/lens combination really is.
DeleteDennis, first kudos to the Wigwam Motel. What a classic of roadside architecture. For those who have not yet had the treat of spending nights there, imagine the small slanted wall interior, especially the tiny shower within the leaning walls of the teepee. To respond to the question at hand- M1.3 w/12-100. The principal reason is that the camera is fun to use while making high quality photographs. The secondary reason is the versatility of the lens' focal lengths, and that it makes a high quality moderate macro lens as well. The Olympus is what I hoped a Leica to be in the 70s(I had a III-C and M2).
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment. I first discovered the motel during a Route 66 road trip in 2013. In fact, the plan was to spend almost this entire month doing that same road trip again. I feel I missed so much the first time. Needless to say, I’m home because of the pandemic rather than wandering Route 66.
DeleteReference Unknown with the 50 f1.8S comment:
ReplyDeleteI recently rented the Z5 24-50 and 50 f1.8. I was surprised at the general high quality of the 24-50 and its small size. The 50 f1.8S is as good as lenses get corner to corner. It resolves my cat's eyelashes in the center at f1.8. Surprisingly, the Z5 with 24-50 is almost exactly the same size as a M1.3 with 1240.
Greetings Dennis:
ReplyDeleteI have the EM-1.2 & the 12-100 zoom / Works for most of my work / Will upgrade to the 1.3 version. The new 100-400 Olympus zoom is a perfect companion as it takes off where the other zoom leaves off, so I guess I would want that too / Full-Frame not as important for the photography I am doing right now but the Nikon Z50 with the Tamron 18-400 works well for a all in one set-up, especially for wildlife.
With the industry in decline I hope we continue to get new options, but I could be happy with the current technology for many years to come.
I used to track my prefered camera & lenses since the Nikon D70 came out in 2004 - Every few years I would update it - but none of those "prefered" setups I had on those lists really fit what I want now - so time can change our preferences so much!
Chris, thanks for your comment. A good friend has ordered the Olympus 100-400 and should take delivery this week. I’m sure I’ll get to play with it a bit in the upcoming weeks and, if so, I’ll write about it.
DeleteDennis:
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your post primarily because I stopped to capture some pics of the Wigwam in the last year or so. I wrote a short blog post about something else I found of interest in Holbrook related to a street name. I don't mean to plug my website, but if you are interested, here it is...SignEdge: Bloody Mess in Holbrook, AZ
https://jbrish.com/signedge-bloody-mess-in-holbrook-az/
Jeff, thanks for your comment. I read your post and plan to go through some of your past posts of interest. I encourage my readers to visit as well. Very interesting about those street names. History is better than fiction in many cases. Again, thanks for writing.
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