One Camera?
The virtues of one camera system
Alright, I suspect I'm about to swat the hornets nest. I'm writing in response to Bob's newsletter touting the virtues of owning (and using) multiple camera systems.
Right off the bat I'll admit that I understand the notion that it can be a good idea to use more than one camera system. One of my professional colleagues whose work I respect and admire, Andy Biggs, uses the same Fujifilm GFX 100 medium format camera system I use. But he supplements that with his Sony and 200-600mm lens for his amazing African work as needed.
I admit that for a while I used both Nikon and Hasselblad digital, as well as a 4x5 view camera system. So, what's to argue with Bob's position? Well, I'll tell you what my objection is: AGE!!
I'm what is politely referred to as a "senior" photographer". Age-wise, that is. Thankfully, I'm still active and enjoy hiking around the world photographing, leading photo tours, and teaching. But I do not enjoy lugging two camera systems. I weigh 150 pounds. On one trip to the Arctic I took my view camera as well as my Nikon system. Let's get real. That view camera included multiple lenses, umpteen film plates, blackout curtain and film changing tent, blah, blah. That was an entire Pelican suitcase full of stuff. Then a backpack full of two Nikon bodies and too many lenses. Thirty pounds for the backpack alone. Not fun.
But that's not the real problem I have with multiple systems nowadays. Again, it's called aging, as in voltage loads that exceed my brain wiring. When I use more than one system, I find that I fumble, having to readjust constantly. My Fujifilm lenses couple opposite of my old Nikons. The menu systems of any two camera brands is different in maddening ways. Perspective changes. As a pro photographer I need my camera to be an extension of my hands and brain. I can't guess at controls, menus, submenus and still capture the images I want. I would rather stick with one camera system that I know well, accept its limitations and learn to work around them, and focus on the image I want to print.
So, all this is simply to say that whether you have one camera system or seven, it's a matter of personal choice. Just go out. Make nice pictures. Celebrate your passion. And always seek to elevate your art. Speaking of which, in my senior opinion, there is nothing in the world of photography that allows you to celebrate and elevate your art like printing and displaying your work.
My Nikon D810 set up got to be too heavy to travel with as I hit my early 70s. As soon as the Z mirrorless came out, I traded "up" to a much lighter system. I don't regret it at all. We were on holiday in Banff and went up to lake Louise on a rather cloudy day. I was looking for a good location to shoot and as I made my way to the lake there was pleasant Englishman who had his D810 mounted on a tripod. He saw my Z5 and asked how I liked it. I handed it to him and he marveled at how light it was.
Sony mirrorless for the small size and weight when in the bush (my zooms are all f4 and I carry a fast prime). Technically covers everything I want to do. But we are not automatons and part of the joy of this craft is the interaction with our gear and how it changes our thinking about the task at hand. I use a Leica D-Lux 109 (thank you Panasonic ;-) for shooting events because the Leica logo conveys to them that I’m serious about my craft. Another thing is the tonality of the sensor is different from the Sony and it becomes a creative act to think about which one might be best for the subject. As for menus, a pox upon them all!