Friday night creative writing

Remember the Great Megapixel Race? Time when companies were rushed to put more pixels into cameras. In year 2000 compact cameras with 'big' 2/3" sensors had just 2MP, and in 2004 the advanced 'not-so-compact' compact cameras had about 8MP. All major camera makers had top notch models with fixed lenses. Than the Great Extinction of Advanced Compacts had occurred, and it was coincided with the Rise of DSLRs. The DSLRs, the giants of the camera world, dominated on the planet. Do you want a good image quality? - get DSLR. The hegemony of DSLRs lasted for years and resulted in mass lens addiction among fellow photographers. It was not just picking up a camera, it was all about the choosing of a right system. However, some unexpected things happen. First, nearly instant renaissance of advanced compact cameras: around 2011-2012 all manufactures released 10-12MP fixed lens cameras with good lenses and UI aimed at enthusiasts. The number of pixels did non increased much over 8MP Olympus C-8080 or Minolta A1/A2 but the image quality did. It turned out that many people do like to have a small camera with a decent image quality for a casual shooting. It is simple and convenient. The other unexpected thing was a failure of mirrorless cameras to conquest the photographic world in the way of digital to film transition. It did not happen, and it probably would not happen very fast. One of the reasons is the identical media: both are digital, so there is no difference in post-shooting procedure. Compare it to film vs digital. Buy film rolls, keep several rills with you, develop film, print, put prints in album and send it to you relatives - or just copy the pictures to the computer. The only hassle was batteries but I had a spare set. In some sense, mirrorless do not offer much over DSLR cameras except for size and weigh, while loosing in battery life and continuos autofocus speed. Just to clarify: I am satisfied with the autofocus speed and accuracy on my Fuji X-E1 & XF18-55mm lens. DSLRs might be faster, but I am the limiting factor in this situation :-(

Compulsory reading

Here we go: link. Camera Obsession Disorder, Gear Acquisition Syndrome, quest for the ultimate IQ - you name it. I've thought about writing something similar but these guys put all things together, and they did it right.

I am curious why cameras are so important for men? (it is save to assume that the vast majority of people affected by Camera Obsession Disorder are men). Is it some kind of sublimation of a perfect hunting tool? It is irrational: people spend insane amount of time online reading about cameras instead of doing photography. Well, it is not about photography, it is about the ultimate IQ in the best camera. And it should run on Android :)

Well, at least I do take pictures :) I think it is because of the camera. It is joy to use, it is relatively small and light, and on top of it the camera produces very satisfactory photos. While I expect that X-E1 will be much better for landscapes than Fuji x10, I doubt that X-E1 will much convenience and supermacro mode of Fuji X10. The depth of field at 28mm eqv. on Fuji X10 is just hard to beat with big sensor.

As for picture: Velvia (photo below) produces very punchy and eye catching colors while Provia images appear somewhat  dull but have natural colours.

Tipuana and Tabebuia at St Lucia | Fuji X10

What camera should I buy?

All happy photographers are alike: they take pictures. The unhappy photographers ask what camera should they buy. No doubt, the spectrum of unhappiness is significantly wider. Some people do intensive pixel peeping, some shoot brick walls aka test samples, some argue about brand A over brand B on various forums, etc. It seems that this unhappiness is not even linked to photography but rather associates with the believe in existence of an ultimate camera. Obviously, the good images can be taken only with such ultimate camera.

So, why people are not happy with their equipment? Some  problems can be easily resolved. Want fast camera with long lens for wild life photography? Just decide on lenses, and get any DSLR. DSLRs are cheap in these days. Does not like bulk and weight of a DSLR? Get superzoom. It comes with compromise in image quality. Formulate the problem. The solution is simple.

The other issue is the "latest model" hype. I have one, I know. It is irrational. For example, early models of Olympus PEN cameras should produce images either identical or better than my Olympus E-30. The first PEN models, refurbished or new, cost just fraction of what I paid for the E-30. PENs are small capable cameras. But I would not buy such old models. Obviously, the image quality on cameras such as Nikon D7000 or D5100 is better than on Oly E-30 or PENs but I am generally satisfied with the pictures from the E-30. I don't like size, weight and small viewfinder, but this is another story.

In some sense, I perceive the cameras as toys. I do like new toys. I already ordered some filters, adapters and spare parts for a new camera because Fujifilm makes very addictive cameras. You start with a light stuff such as X10, but within less one year you realise that you want need more. There should be a law prohibiting people from having more than one working camera :) Or maybe the company should put sticker with warning on camera box, something like "buying Fuji cameras is addictive".

I am still hesitating about Fuji X-E1 because vast majority of pictures taken with this camera and posted on flickr were either taken at night or depict food. I am firmly believe that cameras affect human personality, so it is possible that acquisition of the Fuji camera may dramatically change my lifestyle and I will wander in the night from one eatery to another in search of next plate of delicious meal, for sake of photography of cause. In this sense Olympus OM-D E-M5 is a safer bet for me because I saw plenty nature pictures taken with it, so it probably would not transform my life dramatically.

At the UQ lake, St Lucia, Brisbane | Olympus E-30, ZUIKO 50-200mm F2.8-F3.5 SWD