Comments on: The full frame obsession: valid or fallacy?

By: mike.kobal

mike.kobal — Mon, 02 Dec 2013 22:28:54 +0000

Hi Derek, we all behave like little kids in a toy store these days, well, I can’t speak for everyone, I sure do and this is one of my goals for 2014, DO NOT GET TOO EXCITED ABOUT ANYTHING, except great models and good pictures You are absolutely right, it is the perfect full frame for landscape shooters with high quality vintage glass. As for the flash system, it is a real shame Sony can’t offer something on the same level as Nikon or Canon. When I got the A77 for a project in Africa, it seemed to be the ideal tool for the variety I had to shoot and since I was advised not to bring pro looking gear, it was perfect. Everything worked great -well almost- however the bloody flash system was the real deal breaker, if you are interested you can read it here, scroll down to ugly. I am looking at the A7r – or even just the a7, not much difference in quality -as potential full frame video “brain” to use on shoots with the D800E. It is a real pain to go back and forth shooting stills then video with the same camera. Much better to have them specifically set up. Looks like it is going to take some time for Sony or anyone else for that matter to get it right in all departments for us to make the switch 100%

By: derek

derek — Mon, 02 Dec 2013 16:40:07 +0000

Mike ,as you say, I’ve really realized as a bread and butter camera the 7R des not work for event or wedding kind of photography due to its complete lack of any proper computer tethering option , and maybe more importantly the silly flash system.

there is no real radio trigger option and there is no flash like my SB910 for the tiny camera.
so until real flash tech breakthrough comes for the small camera system, we will have to use a big camera, albeit all big cameras even Nikon Canon pro level cameras will become mirrorless.

I think it is too risky to invest a lot of money into the Sony FE(Ihave only 2 lenses and mostly use my old Zeiss 50mm f2 ZM and Leica 90mm and 75mm primes). If you are considering it for pure work or pro use(as you obviously are a pro), especially for studio, portrait or event, etc , I think it will not work.
But for landscape or architecture it may be the best camera system under 20k.
Personally, I do not shoot landscape or anything like that, I mostly shoot weddings and events in lowlight , so I may return the 7R.
so I apologize my initial excitement did not last long.
I actually bought back my D800E and I am glad I did not sell all my Zeiss and Nikon lenses yet.

have a great one.

By: mike.kobal

mike.kobal — Sun, 01 Dec 2013 14:17:43 +0000

Thank you, John, glad to hear that! Shooting with the 5DmkII was an exciting period, I loved working with the 50mm L, the unique look from that lens esp when shooting video was out of this world. When Canon released the 5DmkIII most of my assignments where photo oriented with little need for video. I needed more resolution then Canon had to offer and ended up getting the D800E, there are a few things I miss from the days when Canon was my main gear, mostly the 50mm L, the 24 105mm kit lens and the video quality of the 5DmkIII of course. For video gig’s I often rent the 5DmkIII or C300. What I really like about the Nikon lenses is the ability to mount them on Canon and Sony bodies without the need for complicated and expensive adapters. I use them for video gigs all the time. Love the aperture ring and ended up replacing a few G lenses with D lenses just for that reason.
In response to your previous post, I am sure DLSR’s won’t suddenly vanish but mirrorless ILC’s are still at the beginning whereas DSLR’s have reached their peak, not much room left for improvements. Maybe I should have said DSLR’s are not dead yet, they just start to smell funny
Fuji full frame, now that should be very interesting, right? If Fuji manages to built on what they have achieved so far with the X100s and X E2 I think it will be a very interesting camera, let’s hope they get the AF thing right on the very first model. As for the Sony A7 releases, I am very excited about it, obviously they aren’t perfect, I am still waiting for my review unit to arrive….

By: John Havensworth

John Havensworth — Sun, 01 Dec 2013 05:46:27 +0000

By the way, your canon work has always been the most magical to me. Ever since I saw your tree of memory work and discovered it was a 5d mark 2 + 50L, I have gained a tremendous amount of respect gfor my canon gear. I favor it now more than my Nikon and Sony gear. Bought a x100s and the IQ wasn't completely there. But I look forward to their full frame cameras. I will pass on the Sony a7s for numerous reasons.

By: John Havensworth

John Havensworth — Sun, 01 Dec 2013 05:41:24 +0000

Hilarious how people claim to foresee the future and wish death upon the DSLR. For me, the camera system is what matters to me, its consistency and options. Evfs are fine but I’ll prefer ofvs. DSLR body and lens size feel better to me. I don’t see any reason why different systems cannot coexist. Thinking that one system has to eradicate the other is very primitive thinking.

By: mike.kobal

mike.kobal — Thu, 28 Nov 2013 13:46:38 +0000

thanks Tom and the same to you!

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 28 Nov 2013 13:44:06 +0000

I’ve got the X-E2 on order. Just sold the X Pro1 and the Leica (and all but one Zeiss) is going to be sent out for consignment. It *does* feel so liberating to pare down the gear. Now to focus on the shooting…

I do love the Zeiss 50 1.5, but you are right, that new Fuji 1.2 will be very tempting. A simplification to the 23, 35, and 56 could be a great choice. I’ll let you know how your prediction pans out… in the mean time, happy shooting and cheers to a simpler 2014.

By: mike.kobal

mike.kobal — Thu, 28 Nov 2013 13:18:24 +0000

Hi Tom! Thank YOU for taking the time to comment, very much appreciated. I have set a new goal for 2014-only keep the gear I use on a regular basis, no exceptions-
seems like a radical choice at first, but since I have sold off lots of stuff over the last few month, lenses and other items just sitting around unused, waiting for that magical day, I found it quite liberating. Assignments often require a specific piece of equipment and instead of buying and storing it for 6 month I end up renting it.
I can absolutely relate to your decision getting rid of the Leica, I loved mine to death during the film days but haven’t touched it since going digital.
I think you will like the X-E2 and 23mmm very much, so much, that I predict you will sell the 50mm at some point in the near future and order the Fuji 58mm 1.2

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 28 Nov 2013 11:36:22 +0000

Hi Mike,

Long time listener, first time caller. I really like this article and definitely like your photos. I agree 100% with you that we are seeing the end of the dSLR. We live an amazing time in the mirror less world with new releases coming one right after the other and vendors like Sony, Fuji, and Olympus innovating all over the place. Exciting times but one that also leads to a bit of gear acquisition syndrome and all the uncertainty that goes with it – “did I make the right choice and buy the right gear, or should I acquire something different.

I have shot the Fuji X Pro1 since it came out and even though I bought a Leica M-E (because the marketers and blogosphere tell me that is what I should strive for) I keep going back to my Fuji. Quirks aside, I love that thing and the images it gives me wide open with the 35mm 1.4. The images with my 50mm Zeiss Sonnar 1.5 are nothing short of (when I get the focus right) magical. I am *supposed* to love my full frame Leica, but truth be told, I love my APS-C Fuji more.

I’ve decided to sell my Leica and all of my Zeiss lenses except the 50 15. I’m going to do “one last” upgrade to the Fuji X-E2 and the 23 1.4… then with that camera and 3 lenses, try not to pick up anything else for the next three years and try to focus on taking images. We’ll see how that goes as new stuff is so, so tempting.

Anyway, a ramble on my own thoughts on the full frame vs smaller sensor and the mirror less world. For now (and I hope awhile) I have chosen APS-C and Fuji. Knowing what I have shot with it the last couple of years, I am happy with my choice.

Keep the reviews and the great images coming. Thanks!

By: mike.kobal

mike.kobal — Thu, 28 Nov 2013 10:21:29 +0000

Hi Derek, thanks for swinging by and your input, really appreciate it. I wish I could sell my D800E, however, as the bread & butter camera for 75% of my assignments I am going to hold off for a while since there really aren’t enough pro lenses available for the A system….yet. Not to mention a reliable pro TTL flash system, this is where Nikon really shines and rules, exciting times though, I can’t wait, I will definitely also check out the A7.