I Rarely Watch New Gear Reviews Anymore: AKA Using A Sledgehammer To Drive In A Thumbtack.

First that phrase in the blog title.

Like Using A Sledgehammer To Drive In A Thumbtack.

A phrase I made up years ago, early in my career back when I was an engineer/programmer. I use it to describe Rube Goldberg machine scenarios.

What does that have to do with gear reviews?

For me, everything. But first, let me back up a bit.

Current State Of My Big Boy Bag.

My go bag for photo sessions is stacked with over achievers. WIldly proficient.

• AF is spot on. Almost eerily so.
• AE is spot on.
• And when AE may be missed?
  • Shadows are easily recovered.
  • Blown out portions easily recovered.
• Images so clean that crops come out just fine, especially with high MP options.

Great for photo sessions, but I find it lacking for day to day use.

This realization first crystalized years ago while I was doing an event session. It was a church program, and I was sat on the front pew. The thought hit me that I should get some reaction pics of the congregation. Both cameras had EVFs but I did not bother using them. Face and eye detect are such that I already know the camera will sort it out. Had a long lens on one camera and a wide lens on the other. So I:

• Stood up and turned around.
• Brought the cameras up, framed pics as I scanned the crowd near and far.
• Click, click, etc…
• Turned around and sat back down until more pics were needed.

But after the, “Gee, this technology sure is great.” wears off, I find it boring if I am honest.

Proficient and fun are not synonyms.

And that was years ago. I have since replaced those cameras. But the more I think about it, did I really need to?

Not really.

What brand am I talking about?

Does not matter. Any brand out has been proficient for years. I have used/owned/tested most digital brands over the years.

Canon

Fujifilm

Leica

Nikon

Olympus

Panasonic

Pentax

SIGMA

Respectfully, I do not care what brand you choose. Whatever floats your boat. Live long and prosper, so on and so forth. I could make do with any of them as my main system.

Along those same lines I must admit that the gear I have is already a sledgehammer to drive in a thumbtack. And I am perfectly happy with things as they are.

I am sure there are those who can make use of these new specs. Kudos to them. I am glad their needs are being met. But I wager most do not need such lofty specs to do what they need to do.

So I find little need to watch new release reviews. And not because I am concerned that I will be tempted. The few videos I have watched have bored me and I shut them off. Plus anything I need to know about new gear is outlined in the spec sheets. What do the numbers mean when they have long passed my personal use case?

But there are gear posts that do interest me.

• Bargains.
  • I can always appreciate value, but that does not mean I need to buy it.
• Film cameras.
• Old digital cameras.
• Odd cameras, film or digital.
• When a company tries a new or old thing.

But what interests me even more are articles and videos about the craft.

• Lighting.
• Posing.
• Tactics and tools.
• The philosophy behind the capturing of images.

In other words… not the camera.

So that covers the media I prefer to consume. What about my daily gear preferences?

Old and film gear.

This does not make sense on paper. The better and faster the camera and the more forgiving the better, right?

Nope.

This is nonsense I understand. In lieu of a drawn out diatribe that would, understandably, evoke eye rolls from many I have one word to offer.

Fun.

These cameras are great fun. From the feel in hand, to the wondering what will come of the capture I just attempted, to getting an image from an archaic device by modern standards, to the film development process where applicable. Great fun.

So yes. I am still interested in film, old, and odd cameras.

But new, latest, and greatest gear?

Not really.

And it is freeing.

Happy capturing.

-ELW