Getting a lot of questions about what I have been shooting lately and I talk about my gear philosophy a fair amount in here but for those who want a quick and dirty answer, feel free to jump to 31:06 :)
always enjoying your video and because of your video now i built some pretty extensive olympus collection (E1, E300, E330, E400, E420, E500, 11-22, 14-54, 25, 50, and lately 14-35 SWD) 😃
Thanks for that! Love hearing what you're up to. Old cameras absolutely have tons of potential, and are comparatively cheap. I'd love to have gear & camera reviews about lost gems, because its super difficult to find really thoughtful reviews for most of them. But anyways don't feel any pressure to dedicate your Videos on gear if you don't feel like it anymore. Thanks for your efforts!
I totally agree with you about using ANY camera and like yourself, I just love using camera's no matter what type. Currently I have gone back to using Pentax DSLR's because I am tired of looking at digital screens all the time, so I have a K200D (CCD) and a K5. I am 65 now and still learning but still loving photography :)
I felt the same about gear for my own channel. It's morphed into more about my own and my communities journey in Art/Photography. Gear is king on YT but as a creator, its not very satisfying to do exclusively. I support your choice to make content that's enriching to you!
This was really interesting. I agree with your point in modern cameras removing some of the fun - not that I want photography to be inaccessible, but I think the hobby can take different forms. I like the process more than the result, frankly, so small cameras and lenses are always high priority. Having modern cameras that make it very easy open the world of creative photography to a wider audience though, which can't be a bad thing. I like my olympus mirrorless cameras and I have a couple of old dslrs as well, all are fun and make great photos.
I'm not a huge gear person so I like to do what you talked about around 9 minutes in. Which for me is only on lenses as I just have three bodies which are all similar. But on lense, I like to live with a prime for maybe a whole week. I can actually feel the strengths and weaknesses of a focal length when I live with it. And the difference between a 35 and a 50 feels really significant in that context.
Absolutely keep posting about what cameras you're using please! It doesn't have to be super in depth, but a simple...what camera / lens, would be super helpful! 4:56
Ali my 1st digital camera was a 6mp CCD Pentax K110D with a plastic 100-300mm Quantaray cheapy lens. I sold because Pentax threw their reps under the bus but those 6mp images are just as good as anything afterwards. That camera and lens were SO lightweight. Still miss that camera/lens combo.
@@jameschang8174 i need the MFP on my XE1. The color palette is very similar. I like Fuji and Pentax colors as they are more of a pastel and more artsy to me. Have my heart set on a Q2M lately.
gear is cool but you do you. I enjoy the stuff you put up either way. FWIW I did find your channel because of the Zf review but I wouldnt sacrifice what feels right for that.
That's valuable feedback, and I do love the cameras so I think I just need to strike that balance because they're still fun to review. And they bring awesome people like you to the channel!
5:00 i love occasional and spontaneous older camera reviews. at the same time, it is equally if not more daunting for a recipient (as much for an author)of your channel to watch those on a fixed schedule basis.
Yeah it's funny I do really like 28mm as well but I have surprised myself to find that when it is my ONLY focal length, I'm long for a bit more of a constrained frame.
I do still shoot with a Fuji F20, Nikon D60, a Kodak Z1012 IS (a surprisingly good camera) and I just ordered a Fuji F45fd. The F20 has great colors, as good as any other camera I have.
My franken camera is a Leica M3 rangefinder in a Ricoh GR IIIx body with a 45mm lens and the digital parts from the Fujifilm X100 viewfinder using the 44mm x 33mm sensor from the Fujifilm GFX50S II in the multi aspect configuration that Panasonic uses for a bunch of their cameras. Also, what do you think about the interface theory of perception?
The thing with the CCD sensor is that you have to understand the following: Colours are not made on the sensor but interpreted by the processor. The sensor does dictate a bit the dynamic range, noise obviously but it does not tell you how the colours should look like. Same as it is our brain seeing colours and not our eyes. It is just a bunch of intensity values per wavelength.
YES! Absolutely! And for whatever reason, Lightroom reads and manipulates the colors wonderfully for my taste. It would be different in Capture One or DXO or Gimp or Raw Therapee etc. Great thing to point out.
Yes, I've been arguing about this for a while. It's not the sensor, it's the interpretation the processor makes out of the information it receives. The so called colour science. Current colour sciences are very accurate, but possibly at the cost of a more unique look, they reproduce tones extremely well. Older digital cameras are less faithful, both CMOS and CCD sensor ones, and that makes the results look more unique. And auto white balance was far less accurate too, for the most part which also affects colour rendering obviously
There are more things about the contribution of the sensor in the color rendering. Sure, the processor interprets want the sensor sees but that applies only for SooC jpegs. I am shooting raw for years because I have my very specific opinion about colors and contrast for my photos. I started with Canon 5D mk2 and later an 80D and I had a color issue on every single photo: oversaturated reds and blues! I started using the Adobe Standard, the most flat profile on Lightroom, and still I needed to reduce the global color to -4 or -6 along with the specific channels on HSL and sometimes even from calibration panel. Back then I blamed that on my eyes or my editing style until I made the transition to Sony cameras (a7C and a6000). Suddenly, everything was just right! The colors are perfectly natural even on adobe color. Every sensor is calibrated to make the on camera processing easier, and that way the color science passes (to a degree) even in raw files. As for the CCD technology, is a common misunderstanding today thanks to RU-vid and social media that any old CCD camera resembles the film rendering. That’s far from true! The very first pro grade Kodak CCD sensors found in Leica M8 and later the M9, had the purpose to render the photos in order to match the film. And even the interpretation of dynamic range was similar (it favored highlights) to film. But those CCD sensors was state of the art and crazy expensive. To the contrary, all those cheap, low megapixel, point and shoot CCD cameras with their laughable plastic lenses are a far cry from a Leica M8. Very bad dynamic range, lack of sharpness, no controls etc… what I want to say: don’t expect a real film look by buying suck a toy camera. Maybe is fun to shoot with them but not something for serious work.
@@forneverarrow actually, the camera attaches metadata to the RAW file and that gets interpreted by your RAW processor, for example Lightroom. By default, it tries to match your RAW to what a JPEG would look like in camera. There is some truth that the dynamic range and resolution of the sensor will also impact the colours. If the sensor clips, there is nothing to interpret anymore. I think the reason a lot of people like „CCD cameras“ is more because it reminds them of their youth and childhood. Now, the first people are over 20 that have never touched film in their past. All of the childhood and early youth images were taken with exactly that kind of cheap compact cameras. The same reason some of us older folks (😅😅😅) go back to film.
Hey there! I've been watching for vids for a while. I got a 5d classic after your video. But since I also shoot film I needed live view for scanning so I parted ways with that and got a Fujfilm Xt1 for a bargain. But I miss the colors I would get out of the 5d with your recipe. In your XE-1 vid you mentioned you were using a XT1 as well, Do you have any Film simulations you'd suggest for the XT1? TIA
I confess that for the XT-1, I'm really happy with the raw files but don't use the jpegs. But funny enough, the thumbnail for this video was shot with the X-T1!
I have Sony A380 and Sony DSC F828..both cameras are far from today's standard, but i don't care..for me it's so excited to shot with it in the afternoon.
What a cool video! I have a question: what do you love so much about micro four thirds cameras? I recently got an Olympus e-p1 and I do like it, but I then got a canon powershot G2 and I love it so much more! Oh and P.S. I’m Irish and it’s a stunning place to photograph so I recommend there to visit!
I have always wanted to go to Ireland! And I love both the G2 and the EP-1 :) I do like having the flexibility of interchangeable lenses on M43 because there are so many good and fun options, not to mention so many fun bodies.
I do have two Fuji point and point and shoots don't really use them but I believe they are CCD. I did have a Nikon D60 CCD. Great in low ISO. Don't really miss it but if I still had it I would shoot it from time to time.
I would love to know your opinion on the Panasonic S5II. Maybe a some sort of review video. Your point of view would be much more interesting than the typical review of the camera.
let me just unequivocally second this... started with a Lumix G95 (well - after a 2004 Casio point & shoot that died in the desert sand and a Canon S5is), went to a Z7ii and now I am a bit torn apart, ditching the Nikon in favor of the a6700, a7cii or S5ii. The Nikon is amazing - but the AF was too bad to use it reliably at events and I can't afford two modern cameras. Also, that point about having a fuck-it-camera is very good. I shell be looking for one.
I prefer the colors of both those cameras but find the X-T1 my perfect compromise so that is the camera I'm shooting. As a matter of fact, the thumbnail for this video was shot with it!
I know the feeling about trying to get away from the desktop/laptop for photo and video editing. I get too accustomed to the larger screen real estate, greater precision with a mouse, and hotkey shortcuts to ever fully switch to tablet-based editing.
@@OneMonthTwoCameras sorry. I'm watching from Japan, and it seems like it was a translation error. I would be happy if you could make a review video. I'm looking forward to more videos! thank you!
I remember his m this one photographer that released a photo book of 1980s kids hanging out at the mall. I saw a documentary video about malls inn the 1979s and it's really cool seeing people back then. It's like a time machine almost. The malls in the 70s all had wood sidings. I would like to do that but I don't want to get labeled the creepy photographer.
It's definitely a bit of a fine line photographing kids and teenagers. I worry about it myself. I do think I get a little more access and less questions as a woman but it doesn't entirely mitigate the understandable sensitivity and concern. Which is further reason I would love to embed and really get to know a group of kids with who there can be a genuine trust and connection to. Someday :)
S5. 2 looks great. I almost wanna trade in a ton of gear for one. Tom from the art of photography agrees it might be the one lumix finally got it perfect. The cl was nice, almost found one cheap unfortunately nutters on Fb market place think everything leica should be marked up regardless
The digital Leica CL. The black and whites are absolutely perfect for my taste. If you go to my Instagram @onemonthtwocameras, you'll see the latest photo is a B+W from the CL shot today, straight out of camera.
GAS can really hinder us I feel. Anxiety of choosing cameras and formats before a vacation or a trip is crazy. I think hard decisions have to be made. I choose to go with my XT2 for Vietnam as that is my most used camera with best lens option. I am happy I went simple as i shot lot more and better than last year in Japan where I tried to juggle both film and digital.
Re preferred focal length: Have you tried any of the leica Qs? IMHO too many people act like it can only be shot as a 28mm. For me I treat it more like a 35mm (turn on the crop) that also has an "extra wide" mode (28mm). Using it like this, you still get a "bigger sensor" for the 35mm FOV than APS-C and still plenty of pixels. Cropping down to 50mm FOV is super possible, as well, but that's getting too tight for me most of the time, anyway.
Yes! I actually really liked the Q and have owned it twice now but for whatever the reason when push came to shove, I decided to keep the CL and sell the Q. I think the flexibility of interchangeable lenses just won me over as I can use old Nikkor M39 as well as Leica M and all my L mount lenses as well. It's just a blast, but the Q is brilliant and I agree that cropping is often forgotten as one of it's awesome features.
@@OneMonthTwoCameras yup. i actually love the CL as an EDC (every day camera). i just cannot settle between the voigtlander 28mm/2.0 ultron or the ttartisan 25mm/2.0 on it. both give me the FOV between 35mm and 50mm FF, which is my sweetspot. the voigtlander is clearly a better lens, but the ttartisan is just the right size+shape (and can focus much closer). my biggest frustration with my Q2 is that i cannot select aps-c framelines, only "35mm" and "50mm". i also like the ttartisan because shooting on 2017 camera plus a "junk" lens is just too amusing to me. agree that CL wins over Q.
I like your very experiential gear reviews, but I tune in to see your very inspiring images. And while there were the requisite gear questions in this Q&A, I was glad to see so many sharing my interest in the way you work and how you _experience_ photography. When I was young I shot a LOT of Tri-X and some Pan-X and did a lot of candid and ‘storytelling’ photography. I developed and printed in my closet darkroom, experimenting with different developers and techniques for effect. The camera store where I work gave me access to super-high-quality color slides and printing, so occasionally I did those too. In my middle years it was all point-and-shoot to keep up with the kids, transitioning to digital when film became too exhorbitant. Now I am retired and I want to regain the photography of my youth. MFT is the only way for me to go because of the size, weight, and portability, the same reason I used Olympus bodies and Zuiko lenses in my youth (Nikon was trendy, and they were great cameras, but soooo big - even the FM/EM). How could I choose anything but a new OM-1, although I find myself grabbing my PEN-F much more often, because… Olympus. I find that the images you present here, and the explanations and discussion that accompany them, are like a free photography course. And THAT’S why I love your channel!
I once asked an Olympus rep to explain the differences between my OM-1 (bought at 42nd Street Photo in NYC by my Dad for my 14th birthday) and the ones National Geographic photographers took to the top of Mount Everest and the Sahara Desert. His answer: “None.” That was the point. ANY OM-1 was supposed to make those trips. And here I am talking about gear…
@@OneMonthTwoCameras i love it too. Its like a brick. I have 2 of them. I found a brand new one in the box for $45 2 years ago. Still had the plastic on the screen. Something was just right with the s45. I had the A80 (same sensor) back in the day and a G1 G2 and a G3
Historically no but I did just pick up my first ever Leica lens and I must say, the 35mm F2 V3 has hit the spot for me in every way. It's a bit of the unsung version in the summicron line up and what makes it perhaps a weak candidate for others is what makes it a favorite for me: sharp but without being clinical at all, lots of character, small, light and just a wonderful contrasty but aged rendering. I found mine in pretty beat up condition but the glass was perfect and it's everything I love about a 35.
It's a wonderful camera. I had the M-E, which is basically the same camera as the M-9 minus the frame selector and some other minor details. You have to be aware of the sensor corrosion issue that the M8 didn't suffer so I find the M8 to be a bit of a safer second hand purchase (though you need to add an IR cut filter if shooting color and concerned with blacks). Loved them both but when I went and looked at all the photos I'd taken, I found that the majority came from the M8 which is why I ultimately kept that and sold the M-E.
Hey Ali! I saw your video deciding what cameras you were going to keep and I am very interested on the Panasonic L1. There is not much information about it on the internet, could you do a review of it? Thanksss
Thailand? Come to Bangkok, I'll show you around, all the hidden gems, lol! Patagonia? A Bruce Chatwin fan maybe? I still use my Fuji F30 from 2009, awesome camera.
4:52 + I love those, they are as entertaining as anything else related and it's always interesting to hear what you have to say about a camera I had, own or planning to get.
Not at all! Sony was late to the game. Before was Minolta (who Sony bought), Pentax and Olympus. Then came Canon and a boatload of other lesser known brands like Casio, Gateway, etc.
@@OneMonthTwoCameras Actually I have the ff a850 and the APS-C a390 and a raft of Minolta AFs for both. But for the early Nikons with 6-10-14 mpx they were utilizing Sony's sensors.
29:02 you may know this Origen story. Joel Meyerowitz was a working at an advertising agency. He went to watch a photo shot with Robert Frank. He never heard of him. He was so enchanted with what he saw, not the images, but the way Frank moved. Maybe the dance like HCB? He returned to the agency that afternoon and quit. He wasn’t a photographer at that point. He didn’t have a job. He didn’t own a camera. His boss lent him his camera until he purchased his own camera. What a crazy thing to do. Quit your job. No camera. Your boss lends you his camera. If I saw this in the movies I’d never believe it. What a magical story. I can, but won’t, tell you an equally improbable origin story of my favorite wedding photographer. Long story short. How did you catch the photography bug? Mask On Nurse Marty (Ret)
Yes! I just read his latest book and thoroughly enjoyed his retelling of the journey. I was sort of born into the photography bug with my father, uncle and grandfather all having been professional photographers. Excited to share the upcoming Prime Lens episode I was on. i talk a bit more about my origin story there.
@One Month Two Cameras .. I'd love to get back to shooting like I used to with one body (Pentax MX or Canon EOS1) with three primes .. 28mm, 50mm, and 135mm. Unfortunately, I just love playing with different brands and formats. I suffer from GAS, but I put that down to you and Mattias Burling ... Sorry guys, but you have a lot to answer for .. 😉 😂 🤣
I mean between the CL, the ZF and the S5II (and a Leica Q that I proceeded to sell), it's probably more than all the vintage digitals that I've bought collectively over two years :P
So, I've noticed you have been moving towards #twomonthsonecamera for a while, and I think that's fine. Two weeks always seemed a bit rushed. (But stick with the original name, because that's what we all know you as...)
Gear doesn’t matter. You just want to encourage people to get out there and shoot. Hmmm. Don’t let Leica hear you say that. Yes, you can make images with any camera. I hear the Fuji fans say their gear makes them want to go out and shoot. Fuji gear makes them slow down and enjoy their experience. They love the Fuji colors. They love the nobs and dials. They may take exception to your statement too. I wanted the Fuji X100V. Was on the waiting list for a year before Fuji stopped manufacturing the V. Can you say D-I-S-A-P-O-I-N-T-E-D? I wasn’t willing to pay the premium for that camera. Go to your statement on para one. Preordered the VI on day one. Waited 2.5 months and cancelled the order. According to RU-vid sources ther is a million camera back log. I ain’t waiting no one year for that camera. I’m too old for this stuff. I too love M43 gear. Love my G9. We are going to a workshop in a couple days. Was turned on to the GX85. Wow, what a little beast. I do street photography and value small and lightweight. Upgraded to the GX9. Incremental improvements. I love, love, love the L monochrome D B&W jpegs out of the G & GX9. Then stumbled upon a nice GX8 at a local camera store. The GX8/85/9 are great for me and my wants. Maybe my last gear purchase as I’m retired and on a fixed income. Found a cheap Sony A7C. Bought a 35/2.8. I want to see if I can tell the difference between full frame and M43 images. For my purposes, shooting in good light and not needing great bokeh, I suspect not. My own one month two cameras project. I also want to experience Sony autofocus. I can probably break even after this experience when I sell. I am a bad boy. If not bad, at least lazy. A lazy photographer. My new RU-vid video title. LOL. Never gonna happen. I’m a technophobe if not a Luddite. I set my camera to auto ISO because I don’t care about that value. I go into aperture priority. Set the shutter speed and just forget about that. I forget a lot of things these days. I control the aperture so I maintain the expose based on changing light conditions ( I like ~ 1/2 a stop underexposed). I am then highly attuned and focused on the environment. I don’t have to think or worry about my light capturing machine in my hands. I look for reflections. I seek juxtapositions. I am constantly looking behind me like a paranoid person. There are images around me that want me to capture them. Walking up to 10 miles in a day is tiring. So for me gear matters. The right tool for the right job. I then take the images home. I look at them and either delete or record over them. I only like ~ 2-5% of my images. The rest not so much. I don’t share the images with anyone. I do this for me. I’m probably an adequate photographer. If not, I don’t want to know. I’m not going to become a Vivian Maier. When I die nobody will ever look at my images. If my computer and memory cards are still current technology they will be erased and Craigslisted or taken to the Good Will. So take pictures. Get exercise. Look at the pictures. Criticize the images. Delete the images. Repeat the process. I may start doing video clips too. I just need my gear to stay out of my way. KISS. Happy to say I have what I need. Regrettably buying the newest and best gear won’t make me a better photographer. Using the gear my heroes used or use won’t make me a better photographer. Going to workshops, classes, watching RU-vid videos, and buying photography books is what I need. I have old gear. I tend not to sell them. I then don’t use the old gear as my current gear is better. Sometimes I’ll take them out for a walk. Sometimes I’ll gift the gear. Sometimes I’ll take two bodies for a walk with different lenses so I’m not constantly changing them. Thus the GX collection. I’ve joined a 12 step group for GAS. Not having a lot of extra money has helped cured me of this affliction. As your videos highlighting old but inexpensive gear isn’t helping me. It is like an alcoholic In recovery going to a bar. Thank you for your videos. I always enjoy them. I even learn a thing or two. Whether I want to or not. Mask On Nurse Marty (Ret)
