Seeking heavy answers
Mar 20, 2016 12:27:02 #
Most of my time in photography has been spend pursuing sharpness and as a result I have had and sold a number of cameras and lenses over the years. Now however, I have the Nikon 610 and absolutely love the images. Couple it with my Nikon 300mm f/4 and I am in hog heaven sharpness. But at age 71 I find that weight is becoming a concern and the 610 and bird-seeking telles (also Sigma 150-600mm) are REALLY heavy. My question as I ponder the use of lighter mirrorless cameras is, am I foolish to think that, given my limited abilities that still achieves sharpness with the 610, that I can be happy with a smaller mirrorless camera?
Mar 20, 2016 12:33:44 #
RWR
Loc: La Mesa, CA
Old44 wrote:
Most of my time in photography has been spend purs... (show quote)
Not unless you can also get a smaller, lighter long lens.
Mar 20, 2016 12:46:43 #
I am 76 and have had to make compromises in many aspects of my former life. I don't eat as much rare beef; I don't drink as much craft brewed beer; I don't run as fast, and I don't carry as much heavy photo gear. I now shoot with a lightweight superzoom that has a 35mm equivalent of a 600mm lens. My compromise? a bit less sharpness, a bit of low light capability, a bit more noise. But I am able to carry the thing on trips, take hikes with it, and take acceptable photos. Without the compromises I would be sitting at home watching TV and deteriorating.
Mar 20, 2016 12:47:38 #
I'm 70 and using M4/3 gear. Both Olympus and Panasonic have new wildlife lenses this month.
I've been shooting with a Pansonic GX7 and Panasonic 100-300 with a total weight of 2.4 pounds. The 100-300 is pretty cheap as lenses go and does not rank as one that would put you in "hog heaven sharpness".
The Panasonic G7 body weighs under a pound. The more advanced/expensive GX8 weighs 2.4 pounds.
The new Panasonic/Leica 100-400 weighs 2.2 pounds. (The 35mm equivalent is 200-400mm)
I've been shooting with a Pansonic GX7 and Panasonic 100-300 with a total weight of 2.4 pounds. The 100-300 is pretty cheap as lenses go and does not rank as one that would put you in "hog heaven sharpness".
The Panasonic G7 body weighs under a pound. The more advanced/expensive GX8 weighs 2.4 pounds.
The new Panasonic/Leica 100-400 weighs 2.2 pounds. (The 35mm equivalent is 200-400mm)
Mar 20, 2016 12:58:44 #
Are you pursuing sharpness due to customer requirements, or for your self?
If it is for the former, hire a "porter" to assist and charge your customers accordingly.
If it is for the latter, 1/ /can your 71 YO eyes resolve as they could in the past and 2/ why the "need" for sharpness?
If it is for the former, hire a "porter" to assist and charge your customers accordingly.
If it is for the latter, 1/ /can your 71 YO eyes resolve as they could in the past and 2/ why the "need" for sharpness?
Mar 20, 2016 13:04:02 #
Old44 wrote:
Most of my time in photography has been spend purs... (show quote)
I'm sorry you're having this issue. I'm nearly 73 and find no weight problems with my Canon outfit.
Mar 20, 2016 13:10:56 #
Old44 wrote:
Most of my time in photography has been spend purs... (show quote)
have you tried a monopod. the great thing about some of the monopods is they can double as a walking stick.
Mar 20, 2016 13:39:41 #
jimmya wrote:
I'm sorry you're having this issue. I'm nearly 73 and find no weight problems with my Canon outfit.
Jim -- I assume that avatar is a picture of you in your younger years? I also assume that what you are lugging over your shoulder is a professional video rig? How much does that thing weigh as it looks REAL heavy?
Mar 20, 2016 13:43:26 #
Old44 wrote:
Most of my time in photography has been spend purs... (show quote)
I am soon to be 68 and went to an Olympus OM-D E-M1 and an Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 75-300mm f/4.8-6.7 II lens. A Micro Four Thirds Mirrorless camera has a 2x crop factor which gives the 75-300mm lens a 35mm equivalent of 150-600mm and the lens is much smaller and lighter than the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR lens that I was using. Panasonic also offers three long lenses, 45-200 f/4-6.3, 100-300 f/4-5.6 and 100-400 f/4-6.3
Mar 20, 2016 14:02:36 #
I'm 73 and I am in the process of switching to M4/3, not because I can't carry my Nikon gear, but because I can't get it all in a carry-on bag for travel. What I am finding, though, is that I am getting better pictures with the lighter gear because I can get me and the camera and the lens into action faster and into places where the D750 and Tamron 150-600 or the Nikon 300 f2.8 would be a real struggle. I'm using a Panasonic GX8 and having more fun.
Mar 20, 2016 14:54:28 #
mcveed wrote:
I'm a few months from 70 and jealous. If my DW even blinks a moment of forgiveness, her husband will own one of those with the new 100-400 Lumix/Leica lens!I'm 73.....I'm using a Panasonic GX8 and having more fun.
Mar 20, 2016 14:57:40 #
bsprague wrote:
I'm a few months from 70 and jealous. If my DW even blinks a moment of forgiveness, her husband will own one of those with the new 100-400 Lumix/Leica lens!
I have the Leica 100-400 on pre order and my store says mine is in their first shipment. If I can get the results that Dan Cox gets with it I'll be dumping my Nikon gear.
Mar 20, 2016 15:04:28 #
The olympus 75mm f1.8 (150mm in ff terms) lens is sharp, even wide open. Stop it down a bit to 2.8 or 4 and it is very, very sharp.
The new 300mm f4 that is coming out is supposed to be even sharper. The 40-150mm f2.8 is no slouch either. Both of those lenses can be used with an EMC-14 tele-adaptor to give you 1.4x more reach with one stop of light loss. 40-150mm lens becomes 56-210mm (112-410 in ff terms) and the 300mm becomes 420mm (840mm in ff terms).
There's also the new panasonic 100-400mm.
The new 300mm f4 that is coming out is supposed to be even sharper. The 40-150mm f2.8 is no slouch either. Both of those lenses can be used with an EMC-14 tele-adaptor to give you 1.4x more reach with one stop of light loss. 40-150mm lens becomes 56-210mm (112-410 in ff terms) and the 300mm becomes 420mm (840mm in ff terms).
There's also the new panasonic 100-400mm.
Mar 20, 2016 15:09:30 #
mcveed wrote:
I put some links to three more reviews I found this morning on the GX8 thread.I have the Leica 100-400 on pre order and my store says mine is in their first shipment. If I can get the results that Dan Cox gets with it I'll be dumping my Nikon gear.
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-372114-8.html#6341253
Mar 20, 2016 18:18:47 #
Old44 wrote:
Most of my time in photography has been spend purs... (show quote)
Top of the line M4/3 will be as close as it gets but it won't equal what you get now.
No free lunch.
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