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| Gettysburg National Military Park, Pennsylvania (click to enlarge) Fujifilm X-T5; 16-55mm f/2.8 lens @ 47mm; 1/75th sec. @ f/16; ISO 125 |
“Less is more.”Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, German-born American architect, 1947
Several years ago I started writing in this blog about wanting to go smaller, lighter and less expensive with my gear but still retain excellent image quality. I found myself no longer looking forward to carrying large, heavy kit after many years (20+) carrying a huge Pentax 6X7 film camera and 4 or 5 lenses all over the country, then large Nikons with several lenses after adopting digital gear. I think this happens to most of us photographers at some point in our photographic journey. For some sooner, others later.
That is when I started buying first, Olympus micro4/3 gear and then, APS-C Fujifilm gear. I still owned my Nikon gear but used it less and less as I found the lighter weight, less bulk and excellent image quality much to my liking. In fact, I did a couple of month-long road trips only with micro4/3 and to this day, have no regrets. Some of those micro4/3 images from the road trips are still some of my favorites. I mainly switched to Fujifilm because of my preference of how how well the cameras work for me as well how they are designed, not for better image quality.
Maybe it's a natural progression of the above, but I’ve noticed a trend or desire within to simplify and carry less and less gear. Not only do I want to carry smaller, lighter, less bulky and less expensive gear, but now I want to carry less of it. Less is more is becoming my way of thinking about my future photographic efforts.
Last year at this time I was on a month long coast-to-coast and return road trip (7300 miles; 11,700 km) and carried only my Nikon Z7II and the Nikon 24-200mm f/4-6.3 lens. You can see that post, here, in which I showed and explained what I took and why. Again, I didn’t feel as though I missed any photographs and that combination is just about the same size and weight as the Olympus OM-1 with the Olympus 12-100mm f/4 lens. To me and the kinds of photography I practice, sensor size is no longer an issue. All three major sensor sizes perform excellently these days.
I carried the Z7II and lens in an old, small, olive green canvas Domke reporter’s bag that I’ve had for 30 or more years. That bag is so lightweight that it added almost nothing to the weight of the camera, lens, spare battery and lens cloth, etc., that I took on that trip. Additionally, I didn’t have to worry about which lens to use or the theft of thousands of dollars of gear, etc.
Carrying only that small kit was such a freeing experience. In fact, many of the accessories I originally was going to carry in the bag, ended up being stored in my suitcase or car so it was even lighter. It didn’t weigh me down, get in the my way or cause issues because I didn't have to take my bag off my shoulder to change lenses or just photograph. The kit was such that I didn’t hesitate to take it everywhere. Sometimes I find myself leaving my large Fujifilm gear filled backpack at home because it is big, heavy and a hassle to carry.
Contrast that with a short, 3-day trip I took last week to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. I took my Think Tank Photo 26L backpack with two Fujifilm cameras, five lenses, 1.4x tele-converter, 2 extra batteries, several extra cards in a card wallet, battery charger, several filters, step-down rings, two L-brackets, yada, yada, yada. All in all, it weighed 18.8 pounds (8.5 kg). It wasn’t just the weight, it was the bulk as well. The loaded backpack is heavy, cumbersome and definitely starts my mind working to come up with excuses not to take all that gear. I ended up placing the backpack on the rear seat of my car and working from there. In no way did I want to strap it on my back and hike around with almost 20 lbs. of gear!
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| Site of Pickett's Charge, Gettysburg National Military Park, Pennsylvania; iPhone 14 Pro Max (click to enlarge) |
My initial fear from several years ago of carrying only the micro/3 gear on the road trips was never realized so I was not hesitant to carry the small Nikon kit on last year’s road trip. They chief worry for me was getting back home and regretting not having more lenses, a backup camera, a plethora of filters, all kinds of accessories, etc. That fear and disappointment was never realized. I did not find a single situation in which one camera and one very high quality all around zoom lens couldn’t handle—even inside museums and such. With the state of today’s in-body-image-stabilization (IBIS), a slow lens worked well. Even at relatively high ISOs, today’s modern noise reducing and sharpening software took care of any concerns I had.
Sometimes, sneaking into my thoughts, is to potentially sell off most of my gear. That seems like heresy! I love my gear. It’s scary even entertaining a thought like that. I did that a couple of years ago but then started slowly building my kit back up again. But the fact is, at my age and with 52 years of experience, I can make just about any image I want to make with a lot less gear than I’ve had in the past and especially now. Also, don’t mistake these kinds of thoughts for losing my passion and enthusiasm for photography. I can’t imagine that ever happening.
After reading this don’t think that I am now selling all my gear except one camera body and one lens. Heavens no. But I could easily whittle my extensive gear list down to a couple of bodies and, maybe, three lenses, maybe four—a fast semi-wide prime is always nice to have. As I still practice general photography—some limited street photography, travel, landscape and nature photography as well as doing my best to learn how to be a better bird photographer, two camera bodies and a few lenses could get all those jobs done nicely.
I’m not planning on making any rash decisions for the foreseeable future. I’m going to mull all of this over for some time. I’ve been one of those guys that, in the past, I’ve bought and sold a lot of cameras and lenses and enjoyed using every one of them. I’ve enjoyed writing about them as well. Those days of buying, trying, using and then selling may be coming to an end. Much of my GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) has subsided. Not all, but much of it. Many would call that basic good sense! Lol
I guess what my ultimate goal is to be able to grab a lightweight, small, minimal kit capable of making excellent images that I want to pick up and throw in the car each time I go out without feeling I’m unnecessarily burdened, weighed down or hassled by a big, heavy bag, an abundance of lenses or the feeling that my photography has gotten overwhelmed or bloated with gear. I think we all know that too many choices reduces the experience and can cause stress. Heavens, I've had enough stress in my career. Why would I burden myself unnecessarily with more?
What I don’t want to do is to have regrets that I didn’t have what I need to make the photos I want to make. That is the conundrum. But, I'm sure I'll figure it all out. Time will tell and when it tells me, I’ll tell you.
Thanks for looking. Enjoy!
Dennis A. Mook
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I have an old LL Bean waistpack. About 30 years ago, I was wearing this waistpack on an uncomfortably hot day in Arches NP. The waistpack held several 4x5 CFH, lightmeter, filters, and focusing magnifier. A 4x5 camera was mounted on a tripod which was carried on my shoulder. I distinctly remember thinking how wonderful it would be to have a camera, competent to make 11x14 prints, that would fit into the waistpack ,instead the waistpack and a backpack. Today, I went for a walk wearing the same waistpack, which contained such a camera along with 4 lenses, and extra battery. Photo technology has come a very long way.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment. It made me smile. I can relate exactly as I learned my black and white photography in the mid-1970s using a 4X5 camera with cut film holders and two lenses. I think now I can get pretty much the same or better results in large prints with my 40mp Fujifilm X-T5. I love it!
DeleteI am in full agreement. I'm of the opinion that both the image quality and the human experience are much better today. Easily portable equipment, unlimited number of exposures whether color or black&white, instant feedback on the image just exposed, focus stacking, ease of making panoramas, and no worry about airport x-rays fogging the film.
ReplyDeleteWho could have imagined how far the technology would evolve.
I totally agree! Thank you for your comment.
DeleteDear Dennis, same thought about size, weight and the sense to carry 3-4 lenses and probably two bodies, occupied me. But not only by the camera gear itself, also by store and editing. So I decided to use Apple Photos from now on and the extensions, if needed. It works okay, but the reduced Raws cannot be used with Photos. On the camera side, I love my XE-3 and XT-4, but I miss a good „carry-around“ zoom. The 24-200 Nikon is so fabulous, the 16-80 from Fuji I tried and it was not good as I hoped. So on this side, I‘m a bit draw, what to use: the Z6 with extreme good and flexible files, a great Superzoom, or the X-Series with it nice old fashioned style, simulations and the feeling. I want to have only one system for future, but my delicious change every week: the Nikon with good lowlight for my work in concerts and Theater work, or the lovely X for street, journey and fun stuff. Also DXO PR Comming now around the corner. Make a big point for Fuji. But: more storage, more work. And the Simulations are gone by work with afterwards. Not easy choice for me. Greetings from Germany.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I find your comment very interesting as I have experienced the same conflict. I would rather carry my Fujifilm camera with an excellent all around lens but Fujifilm doesn’t make one of equivalent quality of the Nikon 24-200. I wish Fujifilm would make an excellent 16-140mm f/4 lens. That would make a perfect travel combination. Two quick comments. First, I think you can pretty much match the color from just about any camera when you shoot raw and, second, I’m thinking about buying an OM System Olympus OM-1 with that wonderful 12-100mm f/4 lens. I loved that lens when I had it in the past and the image quality was excellent! I recently saw some work done at ISO 12,800 with the camera and with the AI based noise reduction software, the images were noise free, detailed with good color. I was amazed! Just thinking about it now.
DeleteI have pretty much treaded the same path, Dennis. Came from full frame Nikon and just got tired of lugging the large and heavy gear around. Changed to Fujifilm some years ago and breathed a sigh of relief. 5 years ago we went to the West Coast of US and I took an XT-2, 50-140mm and 16-55mm lens, which covered a good range. I was reasonably happy with the results, but felt that was still too much to carry around with all the other bits and pieces. A year after that we trecked around Europe and all I took was an X100F. I was apprehensive that I would miss a lot, but what a revalation that little camera was/is. And the files are so clean you can crop a real lot, so affectively you have a zoom lens with you. Back to Italy next year, just the X100F again, it's such a small and lightweight kit and simplifies shooting. Less definitely is more
ReplyDeleteSince most of my photos are done in conjunction with travel, I prioritize weight and size when choosing gear. Image quality is a consideration but, in truth, almost any recent camera and lens is more than good enough for my needs. Nikon APS-C and Panasonic m4/3 cameras have served me well, but the Panasonic's many buttons and its smallish viewfinder were just too fiddly. I've finally settled on a Nikon Z50. Even with a telephoto zoom, it's light and small enough to dangle from my wrist like a bracelet while on walking tours of unfamiliar cities.
ReplyDelete