Now that my kid is out of college and we're no longer paying for his tuition, room, board, and other associated costs, I imagined that I would plunge back into the market for fine cameras and go crazy. It seems like I can afford anything I want now that I'm no longer keeping a private college in business.
But here's the crazy thing: I'm not interesting in buying new cameras. Just no motivation to go shopping for something new. I guess you only really want what you feel like you can't have.
I did buy some stuff yesterday that's tangentially connected to my work. I bought two pairs of "32 DEGREES" heat performance leggings. In older parlance, two pairs of long underwear. I also bought two more batteries (non-brand name) for my Nikon D800s. I figured both pairs of products would come in handy on my upcoming trip to Iceland. Cameras? Got enough of those for the trip already...
I've been posting a lot of older images lately; many from film, but I'm shooting more and more lately with the Panasonic GH5S. It's a wonderful, little camera and one that's overlooked by stills-only photographers. The recurring "bad rap" that I hear from people who haven't used the camera is that the lack of in body image stabilization makes the camera unusable. That's just silly since you can always put stabilized lenses on it and get the same image stabilization performance you might front a stock GH5.
This morning I am packing up a camera bag to go out and photograph an executive event at the facilities one of the largest computer makers on planet. I've got two big Nikon D800x cameras in the bag, along with appropriate lenses and flashes but I'm also packing the GH5S with the Olympus 12-100mm f4.0. I'll use it for shots where I have to have a truly silent camera which also has great high ISO performance. Will the 10 megapixels limit me? I don't think so. Seven years ago I shot one of these events with a Nikon V1 mirrorless camera, with only ten megapixels, and the company keeps inviting me back. But maybe they're inviting me back for my loquacious and jovial personality and not that much for the camera work.
Curious to know if any VSL readers have also picked up a GH5S and what your experiences with this camera have been. Anyone?
12 comments:
A lovely Nikon F! Mine is black and battered, has no IBIS and I can't find even one card slot Amazingly it takes photographs. Keep blogging!
"No motivation to go shopping.." I wonder if many photographers will be feeling the same, despite the amazing new Nikon, Canon, and Fujifilm bodies that have just been introduced. After all, most probably already have perfectly adequate cameras. Would these new super cameras really improve their output? (Honest answer now....)
That is a great picture of a Nikon F with the non-metered prism. I had one almost like that, but mine was a 1972 model with some of the cosmetic features of the newer F2 body. I took mine all over the world. A friend still has it.
Not yet. I am torn between the gh5 and gh5s... But mostly because of the IBIS for the GH5 and the performance of the GH5s.
One of my main problems is all my lenses have no stabilization so while I want the GH5s I keep telling myself the gh5 is far more practical...
I'm really interested to see if the rumoured Panny full frame comes to fruition. After using Nikon for so many years I've grown to really like the Panny's sensible ergonomics and photographer-centric controls.... I'm using the FZ1000 for mag work and the LX100 for mag and personal work.
I've come to think that the g80/85 is probably about the best bang for buck out there at the moment.... Especially with the weathersealing.... Especially considering the GH5s is NZ$3700 here! The G9 is NZ$2500.....
“Do not indulge in dreams of having what you have not, but reckon up the chief of the blessings you do possess, and then thankfully remember how you would crave for them if they were not yours” ~ Marcus Aurelius
Those long underwear are probably the best gear purchase you've made in many years. Would anyone still recommend the Panny GH4 as a good used purchase? Video is becoming increasingly important to me in addition to stills.
I haven't seen or played with the GH5S, but was going to look at the GX85. It seems like a useful little camera. To be honest I have no need for a new camera, flash or lenses. I need to sell. I have to much and it's getting in the way of my picture taking. My new rule is, two cameras, one film, one digital. 5 lenses, 2 zooms, 17-70 f2.8-4 100-300 f4, 3 primes, 50 f1.4 105 f2.8 marco 14 f2.8 one flash, one tripod, one monopod, one Domke bag.
May change later after I look at the GX85 and the FF Panasonic, but for now less is better.
The Long John's sound like a good idea.
Roger
Suggest that you get Winter boots to complement your Long Johns. If you are not a fashionista then get the US armed forces "Mickey Mouse" Boots (a.k.a. Bunny Boots), you can stay outdoors all day in an Arctic blizzard and you will not be at risk for frostbite. Your feet and toes will thank you.
I'm really liking my G9. I shoot lots of non-stabilized images with my Canon 5DM3 and 24-70 lens. No complaints.
The GH4 is still a great camera. However, unless you need the small handful of videocentric features (e.g., master pedestal), I believe that the G85 is a better camera and has good IBIS while still shooting great 4k video. And if you are not in a hurry and can wait for sales, there are deals to be had on the G9 new for around the $1,000 to $1,100 range. That camera is most definitely better than a used GH4.
For example, Samy's (the west coast B&H) has an open box, new G9 for $1,099.
https://m.ebay.com/itm/Panasonic-Lumix-DC-G9-Mirrorless-Micro-4-3s-Digital-Camera-Body-Open-Box-/173534049514?_mwBanner=1&_rdt=1
Similar to you I've got the funds to buy whatever I want and all of the announcements came out but they didn't hit what I want and I'm not forking over +$2-3K for something I'm not in love with.
Its been hard to get the enthusiasm to find models to shoot or just shoot in general. I've temporarily turned to going to the gun range and focusing on shooting some paper targets...its been pretty neat but I'm just waiting to get my momentum back.
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