I like walking around taking photos. It's a nice way to pass the time, learn a camera, better understand where you live and even get a little exercise. It's interesting to me but I think the oldest camera I currently have in inventory is the Sigma fp. I got it back in 2020 and every time I use it I love the way the images I take look. Then I remember that it's slow, I don't have an EVF for it and the batteries suck. So I toss it in a drawer and start working my way back to it by starting with the easiest camera to use and sliding back toward the camera that provides the most challenges. So, segue from the Panasonic S5, through the Leica Q2, then the SL2, then the CLs, then the SLs and now the M240 until I'm frustrated by not being frustrated at which point I pull the fp back out of the drawer and recharge the batteries.
It's a process. I don't recommend it to most people. And it gets messy if real work intrudes and then you forget where you were and backtrack across the inventory.
Last year I bought myself a 50mm APO Voigtlander lens. It was an M mount even though a year ago I didn't have an M mount camera. Instead I used it with an adapter on the various L mount cameras. Including the well loved/much maligned fp. It's a good test for the lens as the sensor and color science in that camera are wonderful. And since I had to work the focusing myself it's a good test of my current ability to make a manual lens behave and play friendly.
I've come to appreciate the quality of the lens but I've also come to appreciate the fp just as much.
I can't believe I've had that camera for as long as I have. I must like it. Really, I must.
The thing about your cameras is that they're different from each other. I've realized too late that I have three brands of essentially the same camera. For practical purposes -- I'm thinking photo quality -- there's not much difference between my two Zs and the two GX8s and the one Fuji X-T5. I've had to learn a bunch of different operating systems (menus) for no practical purpose, since I don't print large, and look at most of my stuff on a computer screen. The only camera I have that's really different (and I don't count the iPhone) is the Pentax Monochrome, and I'm developing a sneaking suspicion that I really don't care for B&W.
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ReplyDeleteThe first one with incredible colors and depth -- and with a self portrait of the author as well. Wonderful.
Fritz
I like the subtly interesting hats photo best followed by the headline photo. I’m curious why you’ve never got the add on evf for the FP — I seem to remember it was in short supply originally and it is a bit of an odd beast though surely no more odd than the humungous loupe that you and MJ favour — perhaps as much for its quirkiness as utility. Not saying you should get the evf of course!
ReplyDeleteI'll say what Richard wouldn't. YOU SHOULD GET THE EVF.
ReplyDeleteRichard, I gave up on the big Loupe and now just use the FP in its most naked form. Nothing but the back screen. Why? Can't bear to sink even more money into a camera that is in a elliptical orbit around my photography.
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