Digital Instant Life Photography

Swapping all your dSLR gear for a smaller camera

Let me just start by saying I have not done this! Yes, the heat is getting to me somewhat but I am still in possession of the same tonnage of camera kit as I was last week. It is however a question I’ve allowed myself to ponder over the last couple of weeks, mainly because the quality of images produced by compact-system cameras is now amazingly good (and my Canon 5D MkII is amazingly heavy).

As I’m sure is the case with any photographer worth their salt, I’m more interested in the quality of an image rather than the thing that’s used to create it and up until now the best looking digital photography was created with big old dSLR’s and fancy lenses. Now though they have a bit of competition.

I’ve fallen a bit head-over-heels with the Fujifilm X-Pro 1 – it’s a mirrorless camera with interchagable lenses. I love how it’s pared back to basics and the controls for the apeture and shutter speed are with knobs and dials – just like a film camera. It has some wonderful lenses which by comparison are much cheaper than those for a dSLR and the images all seem to have a certain je ne sais quoi loveliness.

Fujifilm X-Pro1 by dacookieman on Flickr

Fujifilm X-Pro1 by dacookieman on Flickr

I’m focussing on tangible things like camera equipment as I feel like I’ve lost my photo mojo lately. The few photos I have taken are average at best and I’m deleting way more than I’m keeping (a lot of the time because the Canon 5D MkII chooses to focus on the most random of things). Blaming my equipment is the easiest way to explain this away and means I don’t have to dig too deep into all the squishy emotional reasons why this might be.

Just in time though to stop me from doing anything crazy, this week is Polaroid Week which has given me the kick up the bum I needed to take advantage of all the gorgeous daylight and reawaken my love affair with my Polaroid SX-70…

teacups

What do you think though… would you ever swap all your dSLR gear for a smaller camera?

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18 Comments

  • Reply
    leonie
    16 July 2013 at 06:23

    I am not sure if I will replace the dslr with a smaller camera, but I have just bought a small camera, and plan to take that travelling with me and pack the 5D in a box to ship back to NZ with the rest of our stuff. I am still finding my way around it and it is frustrating wometimes because the shutter speed is slower than I think it should be for the amount of light and the ISO. But I am having fun with it. Will bring it next week tucked into my handbag so you can have a play :)

    • Reply
      Angie
      18 July 2013 at 12:14

      Yay, can’t wait to see your nifty new camera you next week!

  • Reply
    Cass
    16 July 2013 at 09:50

    I will absolutely sell all my gear and swap it for a smaller camera when someone buys me a Leica. Just our of curiosity, I’m honestly clueless about this, are there any compact cameras out there with lenses that can produce that same lovely bokeh you can get with the bigger cameras/lenses. I just had a peek at the Fuji site and I saw they had a Fujinon lens for the camera you’re talking about that is 35mm and f1.4, but translated down to sensor size and whatnot, does that really give you the same effect as on a full-frame SLR? Cos that might push me a bit towards “smaller is beautiful” too. I also love that this camera does aperture and speed with nobs! Can’t handle all the screen twiddling with most small cameras. But so anyway: wanna buy me a Leica?

    • Reply
      Angie
      18 July 2013 at 12:22

      From what I can tell the lenses are pretty awesome – the scaling for sensor size is something to consider but doesn’t effect the performance/dof etc so 50mm on 5d = 35mm on xpro – you’re not losing anything like if you used a 50mm standard lens on a cropped 60d… i’m confusing myself now – have a look at this and you’ll understand why i’m a bit infatuated :)http://www.flickr.com/photos/angies/galleries/72157634662993117/
      PS – I will add the Leica to the list of things you want me to buy for you!

  • Reply
    Arvee
    16 July 2013 at 11:28

    I’m not sure If I would like to swap my dslr cam with a smaller camera. I was able to try a Fujifilm camera like yours from a friend. I love it since it’s sooo much lighter compared to a dslr and it looks like a film camera! 😉

    • Reply
      Angie
      18 July 2013 at 12:23

      I’m still not 100% sure I have the guts to make the swap… maybe though…

  • Reply
    Joanne
    16 July 2013 at 16:55

    I don’t think I’d completely swap my dslr for a compact camera. Probably only when I travel coz I don’t like to carry too much weight. However, if there was a compact camera that produces quality photos just like a dslr, then I may just consider it.

    • Reply
      Angie
      18 July 2013 at 12:24

      I’m trying to figure out a way where I can have both! :)

  • Reply
    Sergey
    17 July 2013 at 02:57

    Angie,
    I’ve been shooting XPro-1 for a year now alongside with my 5D and now my 5D MKIII. I’ve been on the fence about giving up my 5D. There are so many reasons why Fuji is so much better, lighter and a bit slower.

    Yet, for work I can safely say that most of it can be done with a mirrorless camera such as Fuji without suffering in printing. There are even wedding photogs who are ‘migrating’ to the likes of Fuji. Landscape and bird photographers will most likely will stay with DSLRs.

    I hope the big DSLR manufactures wake up to this soon.

    Cheers,
    Sergey

    • Reply
      Angie
      18 July 2013 at 12:27

      Hi Sergey, that’s great to know!I love your photos so that gives me even more hope for this camera :)
      I think I need to find a way to have both for a while, so I can shoot them side by side and make a fully informaed choice… it certainly looks like small and mirrorless is here to stay!

  • Reply
    Phoe
    18 July 2013 at 12:05

    I am 95% saying yes to that question. I want photography to be fun again and less about the nifty kit. And way less weight.

    • Reply
      Angie
      18 July 2013 at 12:28

      Exactly that! It’s all about the fun and this camera just looks amazing fun!

  • Reply
    Colin
    21 July 2013 at 22:42

    I’ve had an X100 for the last year, I bought it to supplement my Nikon DSLR. I now use it 90% of the time. It fits beautifully in my hand, is infinitely less intimidating to people when photographing them, the lens/sensor combination produces dreamy pictures and the manual controls are wonderful. I prefer prime lenses, but the lack of zoom is the one thing I occasionally miss – that and the slow focusing which has been fixed in the new X100S. I’m not sure why you’re not considering the XE-1 which is significantly cheaper and has the same functionality except for not having the optical viewfinder option.

    • Reply
      Sergey
      21 July 2013 at 23:25

      thats a good point Colin. XE-1 is a good buy and better then XPro.

      • Reply
        Angie
        28 July 2013 at 21:55

        It’s definitely a better buy financially!

    • Reply
      Angie
      28 July 2013 at 21:54

      The XE-1 is definitely on the shortlist too… i think i’m ging to hold on until an xpro2 or xe-2 comes out and see if what it has is strong enough to lure me to the mirrorless side for good! Or maybe a Canon 5D MKiv will make me stay…

  • Reply
    Whitney
    25 July 2013 at 06:48

    I have actually been pondering this exact thing lately! I am really excited about mirrorless technology. I have my eye on the Sony Nex 6 or 7. I am just over carrying a big DSLR; I think it’s one of the reasons I have stopped taking many pictures and have instead turned to my iPhone (only to be angry with the photo quality).

    Bigger does not necessarily mean better. I am beginning to think mirrorless systems are the way of the future.

    • Reply
      Angie
      28 July 2013 at 22:01

      You’re right it’s VERY exciting! They are such great quality now, it’s a hard one to call

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