RNF: Tech Has Overrun My Use Case.

For those new here RNF is Random Neural Firing, aka a dumping ground for any epiphany that may pop up that I have spent some time pondering.

And I am not just talking about camera gear.

I will start with video games.

I was born right into the arcade to home gaming system sweet spot. Where with a few dollars in my hand I was effectively dumped into an arcade right when graphics started stepping it up a bit. Skill level was necessary because I needed to stretch that few dollars as far as it would go because I was not getting any more. For us home gaming systems were a revelation. What do you mean once we pay up front for the system and game we could just… keep playing? What? Especially as the systems video quality started rivaling what we saw in the arcade. Even though I did not follow football I was a Madden head. Then the system leap frogging. Get system. Get games. Upgrade system. Get new games. Could not choose a system because each had exclusive games you wanted?… Get two systems… You would never catch me arguing over system superiority. I saw the benefits of them all.

I am starting to see that this way of thinking started way before photography. Whatever floats your boat. Then one day seemingly out of nowhere I lost interest in the system upgrade hamster wheel. The Sparkly Mega Thruster 5000 has better graphics? The last looked fine to me. Madden 423 and NBA 5,011 have updated rosters and less uncanny valley looking players than last time? Ok. But I could not name a player on any team if my life depended on it and again, the players looked fine. GTA 7 mil has new tracks and more realistic physics… meh. And like that I simply stopped playing. At first my gaming system pivoted to being a streaming device and eventually, I just moved on and got a Roku stick. That was it. Game over for gaming if you will. My son still plays and good for him. But I am done.

Cars.

You may have heard about EVs. I do not see myself getting one anytime soon. Or any new car for that matter. I have nothing against EVs. Well… I do sometimes ponder whether we are just pivoting from one finite resource (crude oil) and pollution (CO2 emissions) to another finite resource(s) (lithium, copper, etc.) and pollution (CO2 still. The last I checked heavy machinery was required to extract these materials, and I still do not have a firm grasp on the feasibility of recovering/recycling these materials.) and the added human rights concerns and exploitative resource colonization. That is a rant for a different day. I may have it all wrong and this is all worked out… but I doubt it based on past experience. But none of that is the main reason I am not considering an EV. That would be:

Convenience.
- What I have works. No need to get a new set up at home. No need to transition to a new “fueling” model.
Cost.
- These EVs are quite pricey and the cars I already have work just fine.

Some point to performance, but that does not move me either. It is not like I am out here racing other Fathers for pink slips. A few years ago I transitioned from a HEMI surplus State Trooper car to a mild mannered better handling family sedan with killer gas mileage and way less HP because sketchy domestic reliability. I was worried about the power deficit. But I did not care. I traded right foot hoonery for a nicer place to live, way better handling, and far fewer stops at the gas station. So after many years of chasing HP/torque figures and 0-60 times I no longer care about such things. So I am good.

So what about cameras?

Pretty much the same.

My main cameras are not the latest the brand has to offer. The oldest of the two has been straight up replaced by a model II. But I am good.

In fact, the way I am built they are too good. Or at least too… competent? Normal?…

Yes. I know this makes no sense. The digital cameras I use most are much older and are technically less capable. But it is what it is. Used a many years old MFT sensor camera at a recent event.

And it’s small size played well in this casual setting. No one paid me any mind. Used another years old unconventional rig earlier this week.

And it killed it. And more importantly it was fun. Speaking of fun there is the very old by digital camera standards Leica M Type 240 that rewards me every time I take it out.

@brobeas Leica M Type 240 - 7Artisans 50mm f/1.1 — @brobeas

So with regards to latest and greatest gear as I have said above… I am good.

The “real” full frame kit I have already has features I do not use. So…

I have no motivation to upgrade inside my current mount ecosystem.

There is no other full frame kit I have any interest in switching to. All systems are so good this would be true no matter which one I owned.

I have no motivation to “upgrade” to medium format. I may catch heat from some but I use quotes because after much consideration I look at the most accessible medium format cameras as more of a lateral move. By accessible I referring to the sensor size of the Fujifilm GFX and Hasselblad XD lines of cameras. Many will point out that these are not true medium format cameras, or specifically 645 sensors. Something I dealt with when using Pentax 645 film and digital cameras.

And I would say it is close enough to 645 to get a similar look.

I would argue that the look is the only advantage. But full frame has an answer. At least one close enough for my purposes. Faster equivalent glass.

I have found a 50mm f/1.2 lens gives a reasonable approximation of the 75mm f/2.8 medium format lens above.

And, for my purposes, the full frame system I have is better than any of the current medium format cameras. Demonstrably so. I know because I tried my best lens and camera against a GFX 50S II/80mm f/1.7 kit, and…