user2071 Loc: New England

I've been a phtographer my whole life, but as the years have trudged by, the osteo and rheumatoid arthritis have taken hold and I just don't have the wrist or hand strength I had. Nor can my back tolerate hauling loads of more than 5 pounds. Does that make me a wimp? No, it makes me 64 with arthritis and carpal tunnel and a damaged rotator cuff.

I get very weary of hearing younger photographers telling me how I really NEED a big heavy camera and big heavy lenses because they are SO much better than my 4/3 mirrorless system camera, the Olympus PEN E-PL1.

I have two lenses for it. I have an electronic viewfinder on it. I have a light, compact tripod to use with it. I have a spare battery, extra memory cards and I'm planning to get one more lens, probably a 25mm Leica 1.4 "normal." And an flash unit (there's one in the camera, but I'd like a separate one too).

The magnification factor for a 4/3 system is X2 against a full frame 35mm. The magnification factor for my Canon T3 which, as do most DSLRs today, uses the APS-C sensor, is 1.6X. I don't see that this is hugely different. Neither is full frame or even close to full frame, so what's the big deal?

I suppose if I were planning to make big prints in the 16X20 range, maybe I'd worry about if my PL-1 could handle it ... but 1) I bet it could and 2) I'm out of wall space. No way am I going to be doing a lot of printing anymore. I don't have enough wall space for the stuff I've already got framed. I do not need to have yet more stuff for which I have no room.

So I have the DSLR Canon T3 and it has a great 18-135mm lens on it and the whole thing not counting the case and extra battery etc weighs in at around 4 pounds give or take some ounces. If I take my tripod, add another 3 pounds. The carrying case itself weighs a pound or so. And there are spare filters and memory cards and a few more odds and ends and I stick my cellphone in there too.

And when I try to use it for more than half an hour, my wrists start to really hurt. I don't mean that they hurt a little. They hurt as in "Surgery anyone?" kind of pain and I've had more than enough surgery, thank you and like to avoid more.

Wimp or not, my entire Olympus PEN rig with both lenses and all the trimmings weighs in at less than 2 pounds. It weighs less than my handbag. It takes GREAT pictures, will handle RAW and JPG and takes high res video, too.

There ARE real options. You do not have to be in pain to take pictures. There are lots of advantages to smaller compact systems, not the least of which is that they don't intimidate people like the bigger cameras do. Small camera have a high "stealth factor," which many of you know is not a small thing, especially when you are trying to get people to relax and be themselves.

In the 4/3 format, there is an established standard for lenses. You can use an Olympus lens on a Panasonic camera (Panasonic and Olympus are the two major players in this market) and vice versa. For that matter, you can use a Leica lens too (ooh, nice!). All use the same mount and all with work on any camera that is part of the 4/3 standard.

So I'm opting for preserving what's left of my body strength and making choices that don't cause me pain while allowing me to continue enjoying photography ... hopefully forever.

You don't have to be a hero. Photography is not about hauling equipment. It's about beautiful pictures! And here are a few, all taken with the little Olympus that could.

Manchuag Falls, Sutton, MA


Kaitlin is 15!


Sunflowers and honeybees

rocco_7155 Loc: Connecticut/Louisiana

Fivedawgs,
Way to go. This pastime has something for everyone. And you're right, its the eye of the photographer, not the hardware (usually) that makes the art. I have been to gallery exhibits of Smartphone photos that were impossible to tell what hardware took the shots. Technology has freed many of us with altered abilities to keep active and stimulated. Keep shootin', Have Fun. Rocco

sinatraman Loc: Vero Beach Florida, Earth,alpha quaudrant

first off wow to the black and white shot of the waterfall. The texture the drops of water I got a sense of awe and then inner calm just looking at it. I would hang that shot up on your wall and look at it and meditate on stressfull days. That shot is in my top ten photos of all time list. Of course now you are giving me an inferiority complex so thanks a lot lady :lol: :roll: :!: as for what other people say, SCREW EM. The more I deal with people the more I like my cat and the stupider I think most of the world is. Your olympus is a great camera from a company that has been making quality and inovative cameras for a long time, not some souless electronic comglomerate where cameras are a sideline to their gaming consoles. Besides smaller cameras are in, the whole new catagory of interchangable lens cameras is hot right now not the dslr's but the ones with no viewfinder or an electronic viewvinder . Those who critize your choice of equipment are shallow insecure people who need external validation for everything they do. Post more of your work I would love to see it. Heck I would love a copy of your waterfall shot to put up where I pray nightly. rember in latin "illegitium non carborundum" which translates roughly a sdon't let the bastards get you down :thumbup:

user2071 Loc: New England

Thank you so much for your kind words!!!! The picture isn't actually black and white, though it does look that way. It was taken and is technically in color. To get that effect, I use spot metering on the bright falls and shoot from the shadowy woods alongside the falls. This turns everything except the water into dark silhouettes. It's easy, try it. Works like a charm. Just remember that you have to shoot from a darker place toward a lighter subject, which in my neck of the woods is almost always a river, lake, or waterfall. We have a lot of them :-)

And I agree: I am totally fed up with people telling me what I need. Especially since half of them own these big heavy expensive rigs ... and never take'em off automatic!

liv2paddle Loc: Wall, NJ

yeah for Seniors..I totally agree..have a broken wrist and if I had a heavy camera..I'd be toast..my D90 is perfect..and may consider the Olympus when this craps out. Love your images btw!

jbert Loc: Texas

Hello Young Lady,

We share alot medically. I can not and will not lug equipment around any longer. These days I print nothjing over 13x19 so many advanced point and shoots will do that. I just bought the Sony HV100X and it does really well. I do shake too much due to loss of balance and like you said darn arthritus just kills me, even standing. I am starting to use the Sony on a lighter tripod with the timer and that seems to be darn good. Miss a lot of my (D)SLR bells and whistles b ut time and practice will replace. Here is one we took the other night. Write anytime



JIM

First 30X zoom picture

user2071 Loc: New England

Send me your email addie. I'll send you a copy of the picture.
Do you want a hi resolution version (printable) or the 72 dpi one I uploaded? Warning: the full resolution file is HUGE. I use Photoshop and it seems to really bloat up the file size, even if all I do is a quick High Pass sharpen (which is in fact, all I did ... I didn't even crop it so it's actually in a 9 X12 format). You can use my gmail account, fivedawgz@gmail.com (I couldn't figure out any other way to tell you where to write!).

sinatraman Loc: Vero Beach Florida, Earth,alpha quaudrant

whatever is easier for you. Every time i look at that shot the more i love it. you can almost hear the water. I bet you have better photos than anyone who has made comments to you. kennethpv@netscape.net So what exactly would the Lone Ranger do? besides shout hiho Silver?

user2071 Loc: New England

Great moon shot!!

user2071 Loc: New England

An awful lot of folks really do forget that not everyone can shlep those big bricks around. Even when I was a LOT younger, I hated Nikons because they were so heavy and bulky and I had, even back in the 1960, Olympus film cameras because they were compact. I got arthritis young ... in my 20s ... and broke my back horseback riding when I was a teenager, so I've always had to be careful about hauling a lot of weight.

Ouch to your broken wrist. Hope it heals well. I had a double mastectomy not quite a year ago and have been warned (again) about carrying more weight than absolutely necessary. I'm not sure carrying a lot of weight is really healthy for anyone. That's how backs go bad in the first place and you don't have to be old, either. My 15 year old granddaughter hurt hers doing gymnastics and has to wear a brace. Same age I was when I broke mine riding horses. Athletics take out a lot of young backs (and knees, and shoulders, etc.).

In Japan, almost half of all camera sales are now the 4/3 mirrorless lightweights. Apparently they think smaller is just fine.

I'm with them!

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Dear five dogs, we will, if needed, fit you with a gyro back pack for the balance, and a voice activated camera!!! It is hell to be excessively mature but at least we can say we miss those classmates that are with Houdini in the great beyond.

Ironic that I have shot two wedding and they could care less about 8x10, they want DVD for the 50" TV and very small stuff to transmit by email or cellphone. For that my ol Kodak DC4800 with add on lenses would do. Just Ironic.

Of course I will some day spring for a P,O,S 4/3 mirrorless. Perhaps for the next wedding shot. Presently have been using my 10mpix panasonic TZ3. My Kodak Z1015 is great, as is the Fuji 9000, but i love the small/quick feel of the TZ3.

Five dogs Your photos are great. And Jim's moon shot is astronomical :lol:

user2071 Loc: New England

What with all the baby boomers hitting retirement age, you would think that equipment makers might start considering that there's a market amongst older folks. Maybe they figure all we doddering fogies need is a point and shoot. Everything is geared to a youth market ... and ironically, people from my generation hold about 75% of the actual purchasing power in this country, not to mention most of the disposable income. We may not buy a lot of paper diapers, but we do buy cameras, cars, homes, campers, second homes and really big televisions. The younger ones are all tied up in trying to make ends meet to keep the kids in expensive name branded togs for school

Hah! Done with THAT! Well, except for the grandkids. And the dawgz, the fur kids. But they don't need college educations or new cars. Wish they'd make some stuff for US and remember to make a few adverts that actually target OUR needs. But never mind. We do manage to find what we want and need anyhow, do we not?

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

5Dogs, you are right on. Kids 10-30 yo all use Cellphones and most have no appreciation for quality of shot and it harmonizes with their music!!

I personally want a digital Pentax K-1000 like camera with dials for f, ISO, speed, and manual focus only. also that etched thing to accent focus. 4/3 size. Super zoom Leica on camera lens. Oh, yes the exposure is with needle at right side of eyeview. (no cant see it in the sun 3" screens) Full Control of Camera Please and a big big sensor.

Wider angle is simply a filter like lens that fits in to a shirt pocket, reverses for additional telephoto. What color do you want 5Dogs.

I made Tele, Fisheye, filter attachments for my TZ-3. The lenses were from the Kodak DC4800 accessories. The attachments were made with plastic spice bottles, a Drummel, and black vinyl tape. Will take photo and show to you.

user2071 Loc: New England

There is more than one way to deal with the issue. Sounds like you've found a good one. Go for it!

dragonfist Loc: Stafford, N.Y.

I have the same problems. Arthritis and a rotator cuff even surgery couldn't fix. There isn't much I can add except that from the photos shown a smaller camera is not a hindrance to you. Great work.