Random Neural Firings: I Have No Interest In The Brand Loyalty Trap.
Subtitle 1: An Appreciation For All Brands & Different Tools For Different Tasks.
Subtitle 2: This is all nonsense. Read at your own risk.
I longed for and eventually acquired an M-mount Leica.
A great camera and, even though I eventually traded it on, I had great fun with it and produced images I really liked with it.
It was “enough” Leica for me.
What do I mean by that?
I am glad I imagined you asked.
The brand did not matter to me. I wanted a digital rangefinder, and it was the most affordable path to that end. Pixii did not get my money because it was more expensive than an M 240 and asked for too many compromises. For example, I wanted a mechanical shutter, and that was not on the Pixii menu. Strong effort. Not my cup of tea.
So from the start, I had no intention of going the full Leica route. Why would I?
Upgrade to an M11?
Why? Because it is newer? That makes no sense.
The M 240 was never meant to be my “real” camera. By that I mean the camera I would use when I just needed the pic. You know. Not only AF, but rock-solid AF and exposure, along with well-performing, versatile lenses. And 60MP is not needed at all for pictures taken for enjoyment, not for clients.
Replace the Sony kit with an SL3?
Why? Because it is a Leica? That also makes no sense.
Yes. The SL3 is a fine camera. But Sony is getting it done for me on the “Mee Ma does not care about my artistic intentions and just wants the pic of her babies” front.
An AF camera is not a passion purchase for me. It needs to complete a task. Period. Pedigree does not matter to me. Could an SL3 get the job done? Certainly. As could any other number of just fine camera brands. But I already have the Sony set up. Why change? In general, Leica gear is more expensive, and I would lose my shirt on the used market trying to sell my Sony gear. It could be argued that I would lose functionality and at best ot would be a lateral move at a loss.
Additionally, there are FE lenses that I have grown attached to that have no “L mount alliance!” (feels right to belt that out for some reason) versions or equivalents. For example:
I cannot state this plainly enough. For any system to be considered by me, this is a must-have lens. So that makes two. Sony and Nikon. How much do I like it need it in my life? Welp. I have a host of prime lens portrait options. From fancy pants unicorn lenses with ridiculous specs…
..to affordable gems.
But when I just need the pic, whether for events,,..
…portraits,…
…portraits at events,…
… or if I have no idea what I will need when I walk out the door…
…I reach for the Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8. I must have this lens. So when I had a headshot session yesterday, the primes stayed in the bag.
Another must-have is the bag of primes SIGMA 28-45mm f/1.8.
But fortunately for L mount alliance adherents, that lens is available for the SL3.
Then I pivoted from the Leica M 240 to the GFX system.
This led to a kind of Fujifilm interchangeable lens medium format and fixed lens body acquisition ‘splosion around these parts. And at some point, the thought of going full Fujifilm entered my mind. Ok. Full disclosure. I tried my best to make a case for a full on Fujfilm family conversion. But…
Why?
Yes. GFX is wonderful for those special photos where optimal IQ and surface area are appreciated.
GF adapted is holding down the fake rangefinder thing quite well.
And the Fujifilm fixed lens brethren are holding it down on the fun pocketable front.
But nothing has changed.
Sony is still getting it done for me on the “Mee Ma does not care about my artistic intentions and just wants the pic of her babies” front.
While a pivot to Fujifilm is theoretically easier on the pocket than a pivot to Leica, there are still issues.
G.
Even if I set aside the speed and performance impact, it would be impossible to flesh out a Fujifilm medium format lens kit that could match the FE lenses above. None are as fast, they cost more, the focal ranges available are limited, and they are rather large. You cannot fight the physics a larger sensor and the impact of being a more niche mount on lens options.
X.
For starters, I like full frame. But even if I set that aside, the limited lens option issue above arises here also. Yes. Sigma does offer the APS-C 17-40mm f/1.8 Art zoom, but f/1.8 on APS-C will not match f/1.8 on full frame. Yes, Tamron offers the 17-70mm f/2.8, but it is slower and has a more limited focal length at the long end.
So we get back to the same question. Why?
Why would I or anyone else feel a need to change to one system?
Brand “loyalty?”
That makes no sense.
With brand ambassadors set aside, these companies do not give a flip about us individually. Additioanlly I learned that going all in with one system can end up slapping you in the face. Not likely with many companies, but this was most certainly the case with a camera system I owned a while back.
While no other brand has just dipped entirely on their customers like Samsung did, some have killed off a lens mount like Canon did with the EF-M and Nikon did with the 1 mount. Other customer betrayals, in my opinion, take the form of limiting other manufacturers from making AF lenses for their cameras, like Canon has done with the RF mount. Nikon seems to be dipping a toe into the same practices as well, with recent lawsuits. Why do I say betrayal? It may well be within their rights to sue (I don’t know. My degree is in Engineering. My wife is the lawyer around here.) lens makers, but third-party lenses have been a thing for as long as I can remember. Back when I used a Nikon DSLR, Tamron zooms were a Godsend, offering excellent IQ for a reasonable sum. Even today, I do not own a single Sony lens and rely entirely on third-party glass.
I could never see myself switching to a system with not only fewer third-party options, but no access to them at all.
So. To recap. This is not a choosing a brand for brand’s sake proposition. There are real practical reasons behind my decision.
- Top-tier AF/AE performance.
- There are no bad-performing camera options on the market currently, so it makes sense that other factors will tip the scale. But hey… Like a brand for whatever reason you wish, and I will wholeheartedly support your choice. You do you.
- More lenses.
- Not only access to more third-party and adapting options than any other brand, it comes with a deep native used lens bench, also, since Sony was first to the mirrorless camera party.
- Unique lenses.
- Not only the Tamron lens mentioned above, but also other interesting offerings like the Rokinon/Samyang remaster slim pancake AF lens kit.
- Deep used camera bench.
- Since Sony was first to the mirrorless full frame party, there are older camera models that I could make do with. Give me a battery grip, and I could go back as far as the Sony A7II. If battery life with one battery is a must, then the A7III would be my pick. Give me either, and I could get the job done.
So…
Why anything but Sony?
Easy answer.
Not one that makes sense to a reasonable person, however.
Soul.
Or lack of a soul, to be more specific.
This is not just a Sony thing. For me, the same applies to all of the other main brand offerings also. None of the modern mirrorless cameras in faux DSLR costumes do it for me in that regard.
There is nothing wrong with any of them. It took me a long time churning through most of these brands before realizing that there was nothing wrong with any of them. The problem was with me.
Fine for getting the pic… but look at them. Sure, some companies have tried to spice things up a bit by putting their cameras in vintage frocks…
…but in use, they have little more fizz to them than the ones in the DSLR tuxedos above that they are based on.
Day to day? On my time? I want more. So much so that I abandoned the notion of trying to make one camera or even a camera mount all things.
There are times for convenience.
Like actual photo sessions.
And there are times when experience is more important.
But make no mistake, these are purely luxuries. If forced to choose one solution for all things, the soulless bunch would be at the top of the list.
But if given an option. Again, on my time with no deadlines or clients counting on results. Give me the goofiness. And over the years, they have been great fun.
Your SIGMA Foveon sensors.
Your odd interchangeable sensor and lens module RICOH GXR system.
Your old timey DSLR medium format offerings, like the Pentax 645D.
Old school DSLRs like the Canon EOS 5D.
Fun little MFT bricklets like the Panasonic Lumix GF1.
Your fixed lens premium cameras, like the Leica Q (Type 116).
You can also add the Leica M Type 240 mentioned above to this list.
All great fun. All great for carrying about day to day on your own time. But all have one thing in common.
I would not trust any as my main camera system.
For a myriad of reasons.
The slowness and narrow usable operating ISO bandwidth of the not-quite-finished Foveon technology.
The iffy AF that afflcts almost every camera above.
The lack of modern aids and features like IBIS, rock-solid Eye AF, tracking, and usable sjy high ISOs.
The limited availability of ancillary technology. Lack of up-to-date third-party TTL flash or any third-party lens options, for instance.
No. They are built for fun.
The weekend or sunny day vehicle, like a vintage classic, a ridiculously overpowered sports car, or a convertible of camera-dom, for instance.
Wrap up.
My solution?
Two classes of cameras.
- My “real” kit that I use for actual work.
- The kit I use on my time.
Look. I said at the beginning that this makes no sense.
But it makes me happy.
Or at least pleased.
Specifically not trying to force a square peg into a round hole.
A tool for each task.
No need to argue with others about your personal preference.
Stop trying to make a camera into something it is not.
Use whichever you please.
Enjoy the process.
Whatever floats your boat.
Welp.
I have prattled on for far too long about this, so I will end this here.
Enjoy yourself.
We need all the joy we can get our hands on nowadays.
Happy capturing.
-ELW
Eric L. Woods 
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