The Joy Of Simplifying My Photography

Deadrise oyster boats. (click to enlarge)
Fujifilm X-T4; 16-55mm f/2.8 lens @ 44mm; 1/900th sec. @ f/8; ISO 160

It has now been over two months since I divested myself of two of my then three camera systems.  I had been alternating between photographing with a Micro4/3 Olympus system, an APS-C Fujifilm system and a Full Frame Nikon system.  Each time I went out to photograph I had to choose which system I wanted to take and also make sure everything I needed was in the right bag.  After a time that decision-making process became tedious.  A point in time came at which I decided that I was going to simplify my photographic life and just own and use one system.  In the end, I sold off all of the Olympus Micro4/3 gear as well as the Full Frame Nikon gear.  Since I had a minimal Fujifilm kit, I did buy two additional lenses to supplement the three lenses I had.  I'll list below what gear I now have.

Today I have a single camera and five lenses.  When I go out, I just have one camera bag to consider, one camera and one set of lenses.  I don't have to try to remember different menu systems.  I don't have to remember where different buttons and dials are located on different cameras.  I don't have to remember which function buttons I have mapped to what functions on the different cameras.  I don't have to try to remember where I can find various features in different cameras and what menu items have to be on or off in order for them to be employed (which I think is a terrible system).  I don't have to carry different filters for different lenses as well as different filter adapters for different kits.  I only have to have one brand flash unit for one camera system.  I don't have to buy duplicates of accessories like L-Brackets for the different cameras.  I don't have to move gear to different bags for different types of photography outings.  In a worse case scenario in the past, I even carried two complete kits as I didn't have a backup camera for the Nikon system so I carried the Nikon kit and another kit 'just in case.'  Now, with only the Fujifilm gear, I find no stress, no conflict, no decisions to make.  I grab my Mind Shift Gear  Backlight 26L backpack, throw it over my shoulder and I'm out the door!  Fast, easy and satisfying.

When I want to just take only a camera with me when I'm not going out specifically to photograph, I grab my X-T4 with the 16-55mm lens attached.  I normally have a Peak Design wrist strap attached but I also have an Upstrap with the same connectors so I can easily change one for the other depending upon if I want to hold the camera or hang it off my shoulder.  Again, fast, easy and satisfying.

At this point I want to interject that, in my opinion, there is nothing wrong with having multiple systems if you need multiple systems for different types of photographic endeavors or just enjoy using different gear.  Nothing at all.  In fact, I really enjoy using a wide variety of gear.  I always have, even going back to my early film photography days in the early 1970s.  But for me, I found it became stressful in a variety of ways.  To me, the simpler the better in many aspects of my life (He says as he is building a new house!  Still.  Not quite finished.)

I find the lack of having to choose extremely freeing.  Stress relieving.  But that is just me.  I find that having only one camera system is a real joy.  When I had three systems, I always felt somewhat conflicted that I felt I had too much 'stuff' and that induced just a little bit of 'gear guilt' (GG).  Is that something?  Did I discover a new syndrome, a side effect, that is just the opposite of Gear Acquisition Syndrome (GAS)?

If you are asking, "Any regrets?"  No, none at all at this point.  So far, the X-T4 and lenses have been able to successfully make every image I've wanted to make.  I've not missed a single image by not having a Full Frame high megapixel camera or all of the extraordinary features Olympus provides in their E-M1 series of cameras.  Additionally, I was able to deposit quite a bit of money in the bank.  That was a nice benefit as well. :-)

The gear I currently have is:

X-T4

10-24mm f/4 lens

16-55mm f/2.8 lens

23mm f/2 lens

55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 lens

100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 lens

The 23mm f/2 and the 100-400mm lenses are the two I bought so as to have a fast prime for indoor or low light photography and a long lens for wildlife and bird photography.  There is one other lens that is on my radar.  I've always owned a macro lens and I plan sometime in the future to pick up a Fujifilm 80mm f/2.8 macro.  However, as an alternative and to spend less money, I may buy the excellent Fujifilm 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6, which focuses very close (close enough for most of the kind of macro work I do), then sell the 55-200mm lens to recoup some of the outlay.  The 70-300mm lens’ focusing is faster, it focuses closer and is sharper and resolves more detail over more of its zoom range than does the 55-200.  But the 55-200 certainly provides satisfactory images.  So, that may be a better alternative to just adding and buying another lens to my collection.

One thing I try to keep in mind when considering additional lenses.  Fujifilm has stated the X-S10 is the last camera with the current generation of X-Trans sensor and image processor. The next camera will have a new sensor and image processor.  They also have talked about 8k video in the next camera, which requires a minimum 32mp sensor.  So, any lens I purchase must be able to resolve 32mp, at least, otherwise it doesn’t make sense to have a sensor of which you can’t take full advantage.  Unfortunately, other than the ‘red badge’ Fujifilm lenses, I haven’t found anywhere that tells me which Fujifilm lenses will resolve how much detail.

Another change I've made a few years ago with my purchasing decisions is that, with the exception of camera bodies (computers with lenses, as I call them), I almost always purchase used gear.  I buy cameras new as there is too much that go wrong with the electronics, IBIS mechanisms, focusing calibration, etc., that I want that manufacturer's warranty.  Other than that, there is just so much used gear in excellent condition out there that I now find it hard to pay the prices for gear that is new, but with virtually no differences from well researched used gear.  I've even gotten boxes and all paperwork with my used lens purchases.  On the rare occasion of purchasing new gear, I try to wait for the manufacturers to put their gear on sale or offer rebates, which normally happens at least twice a year.

For example, the X-T4 and the lens I use almost always, the 16-55mm f/2.8, I purchased new but all of the other lenses I purchased were used or refurbished.  I have purchased many used or refurbished lenses in the past and have never been disappointed in their condition or performance.  In fact, my thought has been that these lenses have been gone over carefully before being sold (I normally buy from KEH, UsedPhotoPro or MPB.com but not eBay or a private seller) and if anything at all was not perfect, they wouldn't have listed them as LN or EXC condition.  That has borne out to be true for me.  So I plan on continuing with purchasing used lenses in the future when the need arises.

Some of you may be asking, "What about a backup camera?"  I think about that as well.  So far, my X-T4 has been flawless in its performance but that could change quickly.  You just never know.  However, if all goes as I hope and the X-T5 or X-H2 is introduced in 2022, I will buy one of those two.  If I find I need for a backup body before either of those are available, I would most likely buy an X-T30 or X-S10.  In other words, a less expensive camera that can get most of the job done as my X-T4.

The bottom line for me is that I am extremely happy with only owning and using my Fujifilm gear.  It does everything I need a camera system to do, a joy to hold and use and I've never been disappointed in my images.

One last thing.  I had a thought.  As many cameras as Sony sells, I can't remember anyone on YouTube, the Internet nor in person say they love just picking up and using their Sony camera.  I've never heard anyone say they have 'bonded' with it.  I have heard and read many say they don't like the menu, they don't like the way it feels in their hands but they love the focusing abilities, image quality, color, features, etc.  If you are a Sony user and have 'bonded' with your camera, love just picking it up, holding it, using it, etc., let me know.  I am genuinely interested in what you have to say.

Less is more.  That turns out to be true photographically for me.  Don' let excessive amounts of gear become a distraction and stress inducer.  

Join me over at my website, https://www.dennismook.com.  

Thanks for looking. Enjoy!  

Dennis A. Mook  

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