p.3 #1 · Finding it harder to take my 7D with me places.
I'm with the P&S idea. Plenty of them are decent these days. Photography shouldn't feel like work. If you're burning out on the 7D, another set of interchangeable parts to fuss with isn't going to help you.
p.3 #2 · Finding it harder to take my 7D with me places.
I went with an Oly E-PL1 kit, body, 14-42 lens and Panasonic 45-200 tele. This little kit gives me incredible range and really takes quite good pictures. Are they 5D2/70-200 quality? Of course not, but it was indeed very liberating to carry the little m4/3's kit instead of the bulky 5D2/grip and 24-105 or 70-200. Plus, I actually got to relax a bit rather than trying to make sure I "got the shot"!
p.3 #4 · Finding it harder to take my 7D with me places.
All you guys are saying how small the 7D is, compared to my 350D's, the 7D is Godzilla. Can't wait to purchase my 7D in the coming months. To the OP, if the DSLR is becoming too much work, get the Canon PowerShot G1X, the camera blew me away. It's a great back up, heck it could take a DSLR's place IMHO, ( not that I would replace my DSLR's but still ).
p.3 #5 · Finding it harder to take my 7D with me places.
I tried doing the minimal camera, not being the Mr. Photo guy. I just kicked myself later agonizing over the shots I could have taken with what I had but didn't bring. So I just always take what I think I will need and save the stress on myself later.
I still can remember specific instances where I couldn't get the shot I wanted with the small P&S I had in my hand vs the lenses I left home. Bugs me still.
p.3 #6 · Finding it harder to take my 7D with me places.
I bought a Think Tank Digital Holster 20 (http://www.thinktankphoto.com/products/digital-holster-20-v2.aspx). If I extend it it will even fit my 30D with 100-400 lens without the hood (I loop the shoulder strap through the detached hood in this case). It's light and easy to carry over the shoulder or hooked to another bag. Makes bringing my 30D on trips so easy that I have no excuse to leave it behind.
p.3 #8 · Finding it harder to take my 7D with me places.
I saw the new 40mm pancake the other day. On my 5d (original), that would give me a package that could actually fit in the cargo pocket of my shorts. Granted, it would be a little bulky, but my point is that the pancake offerings will open up some ease of use options. On my tiny XS i'd have an even more compact package, and a 64ish mm equivalent...seems like a pretty nice combo!
p.3 #9 · Finding it harder to take my 7D with me places.
akin_t wrote:
Thanks, I think this is ultimately what I am going to do. It's our first vacation together and even though I know there are a lot of shots to be had at Carmel I really am not in it for super nice IQ, I just want to have as much fun as I can while capturing memories.
Thanks guys, I think any point and shoot will do, I guess I've just been shooting a DSLR long enough that I feel like anything less isn't good enough ... This is one time where I'll compromise though.
Not just any P&S, get a water proof camera, one with video, to capture playing in the surf, in a pool, some of the spontaneous fun stuff...for the remainder of your vacation focus on your lady, keep that smile in your life, heart, wide as can be...enjoy Carmel, but enjoy each other
p.3 #10 · Finding it harder to take my 7D with me places.
akin_t wrote:
Basically, when I travel or go out, I want to have a good time instead of babysitting and hauling my gear.
I'm going to Carmel Valley with my gf in 2 weeks and although I want to take my DSLR with me for some nice landscapes, I just don't want to deal with the hassle of the bulk of it (carrying it with me on the plane, bringing it for snapshots in the park etc).
I'm really thinking of a smaller system but I am on a strict budget.
Basically I don't shoot much anymore and was even thinking of trading the 7D in for something smaller, but I can't bring myself to do it....Show more →
You sound like a great candidate for a G12, or some similar. Or perhaps the new compact cameras that have interchangeable lenses (although there's still the hassle factor of changing lenses).
I justify my equipment, to myself (nobody else matters in that calculation, except my wife), by taking it practically everywhere. Yes, it's a hassle to get it on the plane, and to have it on my back on hikes, or when being a tourist, but I love the shots I get with it. So it's worth it to me.
When/if I reach the point that I don't use it much, and/or don't feel like bringing it with me on trips/hikes, I'll get rid of it. No point in having expensive equipment sitting there, unused, depreciating.
I have a G12 for those times when it's not practical to take my good stuff, and it's an excellent camera, with many of the attributes of a DSLR at a fraction of the price and size. Perhaps you could rent one for your Carmel trip, to see how you like it.
p.3 #12 · Finding it harder to take my 7D with me places.
CW100 wrote:
or just use an iPhone camera
I was thinking about that, not really been impressed with the pictures that I've gotten from my iPhone 4 to be honest.
I mean, in bright sunlight I'm sure it'll be fine, but anytime we're indoors and I take a picture, it's just meh. Honestly, as much as I loved learning to shoot with a DSLR I think it's time to give it up ... I miss too many opportunities for pictures because I hate being Mr. Nice Camera.
p.3 #14 · Finding it harder to take my 7D with me places.
akin_t wrote:
I was thinking about that, not really been impressed with the pictures that I've gotten from my iPhone 4 to be honest.
I mean, in bright sunlight I'm sure it'll be fine, but anytime we're indoors and I take a picture, it's just meh. Honestly, as much as I loved learning to shoot with a DSLR I think it's time to give it up ... I miss too many opportunities for pictures because I hate being Mr. Nice Camera.
After some struggle, I got over the "Mr Nice Camera" thing decades ago, but I know what you mean. If you don't like the images from an iPhone 4S, IQ from a tiny P&S will only be a notch better. Well, a much nicer lens and handling but IQ will be crap compared to a DSLR in low light and indoors. Sounds like you might be more comfy with a Fuji X-Pro 1, micro 4/3 or GX1--basically DSLR IQ in a smaller package. Of course your anxiety may merely scale down to the new camera size and you'll still feel like "Mr Nice Camera." Maybe a red or white Nikon N1 or Oly M4/3 would have less of a "Mr Nice Camera" vibe than a black one.
p.3 #15 · Finding it harder to take my 7D with me places.
Monito wrote:
Get a used Leica or Canon 7 rangefinder film camera and put a 35 mm lens on it and get close.
That's what I did. Picked up a Leica M6 and a 35 lens. Later I added a 25mm as that's what I felt was missing. Great camera and great pix though it's tough these days to hand to a bystander and ask them to grab a shot of us. The huge DOF of the 25 helps with that though.
p.3 #16 · Finding it harder to take my 7D with me places.
Just limit your shooting to magic hour and take the 17-55. You will be fine. If you really need a longer lens take something small like the 85 1.8 or the 135L (plus TC 1.4 would be nice).
p.3 #17 · Finding it harder to take my 7D with me places.
Well guys, I'm keeping the 7D.
But I think I'm going out to buy the Canon S100, is there any reason for me not to?
Honestly, I can't see myself selling my 7D as I still very much enjoy owning a DSLR ... I just cannot bring myself to take it with me on occasions where I'm also trying to have a good time.
p.3 #18 · Finding it harder to take my 7D with me places.
akin_t wrote:
Well guys, I'm keeping the 7D. But I think I'm going out to buy the Canon S100, is there any reason for me not to?
It's a good little pocket camera; no reason not to that I can think of. For times when you might want to grab a few shots, but you're not going out specifically to take pictures, a good P&S is all you need, and it's much better than a cellphone camera. (I'll start taking pictures with a phone when I start making calls on my camera.)
p.3 #19 · Finding it harder to take my 7D with me places.
BrianO wrote:
It's a good little pocket camera; no reason not to that I can think of. For times when you might want to grab a few shots, but you're not going out specifically to take pictures, a good P&S is all you need, and it's much better than a cellphone camera. (I'll start taking pictures with a phone when I start making calls on my camera.)
Yup, bolded your quote for emphasis, I'm going out to have a good time, I just want to have the memories captured.
This sort of photography isn't the reason I own a DSLR to be honest, I only ever use my DSLR when I'm with photographer friends, and we're going on an excursion specifically to take pictures.
Thanks, I think I'll pick it up this afternoon to get familiar with it for a while prior to having to use it.
