A change in camera systems (DSLR)

[AlbertSiegel]

Many things have changed for me. After all those months of lugging aroung all those heavy Canon lenses and bodies around Tokyo and Miami, I decided to change systems. I sold off most of my Canon gear and have jumped to Olympus. While their pro cameras may be low in the megapixel race, I find them to be fine for my work. I work in photojournalism, so high MP is not a big issue.

I love the quality of Olympus. I find their products to be some of the best I have ever seen. The only real issue I have with Olympus is the poor high ISO images. I can live with this as I only use them for newspaper. The build of the Olympus pro system gear is great. I love that I can use their gear in just about any weather condition.... dusty or wet! All for tons less than it would cost on a Canon system. Canon is the only other choice for weather-sealed gear.

As for my personal photography, I started to use Pentax. They have the very best prime I have ever used. That 77mm Limited is a dream. I am looking forward to that Pentax 645 digital when it comes out.

Any of you guys change systems? If so, why? If not, have you thought about it? What stopped you? Why did you choose the system you use now?

[FG Lurker]

Congrats on the new system! I know a couple of guys here who love their Olympus stuff.

I chose Canon during the EOS film "era". The choice was between Canon and Nikon, and at that time Canon's focusing system was far, far better (USM). That tipped the scales for me at the time.

These days I have both Canon and Nikon gear, although I use my Canon stuff (a lot) more.


The best autofocus primes I have used under 100mm are:

Canon EF 85mm 1.2 L (original one)
Canon EF 50mm 1.0 L (amazing lens, far better than its reputation)

Over 100mm the best I have used is the Canon EF 200mm 1.8L. It is as good as its reputation and equally difficult to use.

I've also used some Contax MF lenses on EOS bodies and the results can be stunning.

Are you coming back to Osaka sometime?

[AlbertSiegel]

I will be in Tokyo in two months. It will be a short stay. I will come one or two more times before the end of next year. So far, I only plan on Tokyo. Lets see where life takes me. I would love to visit Osaka. I will try to fit it in one of my trips.

I do plan to make a long-term move to Tokyo sometime in November or December of next year. I have about a year to plan. I would be able to visit Osaka fore sure then. I would love to go shooing with you. Have any new work to show off?

[omae mona]

Canon EF 50mm 1.0 L (amazing lens, far better than its reputation)

Canon has a 50mm f/1.0 lens? Is this an old one which has been discontinued? Or do you mean the brand new EF 50mm F1.2L? (but I didn't think it was on sale yet).

AlbertSiegel - congrats on the change. I just wish you had sold me your Canon equipment

[FG Lurker]

Canon has a 50mm f/1.0 lens? Is this an old one which has been discontinued? Or do you mean the brand new EF 50mm F1.2L? (but I didn't think it was on sale yet).

Yes, there was a 50/1L, it sold for about 300,000 yen new and apparently Canon lost money on each one even at that price.

None of Canon's EF 50mm lenses have good reputations. The 1L is said to be quite soft wide-open, especially when compared to an 85/1.2L. Although I don't have any sample photos I can post, I did not find the 1L to be particularly soft. I think the reputation probably comes from the razor-thin DOF at f/1.0 more than anything else. Plus there seems to be some variation between individual 50/1L lenses. Images taken with the 1L have similar characteristics (color, contrast) to images taken with an 85/1.2L.

The last 50 that Canon made that had a good reputation was the FD 50mm 1.2L. I'm very interested in new EF 50 1.2L for this reason. The price is also quite attractive, about 150,000yen. The 50/1.2L was scheduled for release at the end of November but it has been delayed until January. Canon isn't saying why.

[oyajikun]

I know it's not DSLR, but I'm looking to purchase a high range P&S camera before the end of the year. Right now I'm torn between the Ricoh GR, and the new Canon Powershot G7. Have any of you had any experience with either of these cameras?

[FG Lurker]

I know it's not DSLR, but I'm looking to purchase a high range P&S camera before the end of the year. Right now I'm torn between the Ricoh GR, and the new Canon Powershot G7. Have any of you had any experience with either of these cameras?

Of the two you are considering the Canon is a much better camera.

That said, the two biggest limitations of the vast majority of current p&s digital cameras are:
1) Over ISO400 the image quality is shockingly bad.
2) Most only go as wide as 35mm. This is not wide enough for most indoor use and is also very limiting many times outdoors.

The Canon has acceptable (for a p&s) image quality at ISO400 and you might be able to use ISO800 in a pinch. Forget ISO1600 though, the image quality is so bad that it is useless.

If you don't mind a slightly larger camera then I would suggest this:
http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/fuji/finepix_s6000fd-review/index.shtml

The only downside to Fuji's cameras is that they use xD PictureCard for memory. This is more expensive than SD Card. Otherwise that is a killer camera though, and it even goes as wide as 35mm film equiv of 28mm.

[jingai]

GR is a 28mm fixed lens I believe. Read user testimonials in the Leica/Rangefinder section on Photo.net and check out the pics from Mitch Alland.

[oyajikun]

Thank you for your input Lurker and Jingai. The Fuji is just too big though.

I'm looking for something unobtusive that can take great photos. The more I look at the GR the more I think that this may be the camera for me. I've never really had a use for zoom as all the photos I take tend to be up close and personal.

I know there are loads of complaints about noise over ISO 400, but this is a small sensor camera. I'll step up to SLR eventually

Those Mitch Alland pics are amazing. Thanks!

[IkemenTommy]

Oyajikun, if you're thinking of the Powershot series, G7 is good shit because it has the anti-shake. Actually most of the Canons have it now and I recommend having it over ones without. My old camera was the Powershot A40 but the shots were useless unless you had a tripod to mount it on.

I personally have the IXY900is and the DigicIII face recognition for AF is pretty sweet.

Canon really cares about product quality and one of the few cameras still built here in Japan (or at least the final assembly portion...). You pay it in price but it pays off in the long term.

[oyajikun]

Well I got the Ricoh GR in the end.

Here are some photos if you would like to have a look.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/88545034@N00/

I'm still getting my head around some of the settings; Color saturation is really nice.. So far I am very happy with it. It nice and compact and it will pair together nicely with a dSLR, once I get one.