The first is that they are heavy and a bugger to cart around all day - on holiday, for example.
The second is that they are very obvious. I keep having this romantic idea that I'm going to turn in Cartier Bresson. I find street photography, however, rather daunting. I feel - rightly or wrongly - that taking candid pictures of people is more confrontational with an obviously "serious" camera.
So I have kept my eyes open for a camera that is small, but is close to dSLR in functionality. I wanted the information I get in my dSLR viewfinder - exposure info and focus point specifically - in an optical viewfinder, having been spoiled by that sort of data provided by my big cameras. I also don't like holding a camera at arms length. It doesn't feel right.
I've had a couple of the Canon G range (10 and 11) and while they have an OVF they are just a hole and no information is provided. I've never really bonded with them.
So. I think I've found the right camera. I recently sold some old tat - Canon 5D, 5DII bettery grip plus a few other bits - and bought a Fujifilm Xpro1 with a 35mm f1.4 (53mm equivalent).
This is a camera which is smaller than a dSLR, and has a definite "rangefinder" feel to it (although on some forums you will be kicked senseless for suggesting such an idea). It also is less sophisticated that a dSLR, but then that shouldn't be such a surprise.
The reviews suggest that the images produced by this camera are stunning, but this is offset by some quirky operating issues. I'd agree that the camera does produce amazing images, but I'm less concerned with the quirks. I guess that's because every aspect of the way the camera works is different (not quite, but enough that it's hard to compare).
Some of the complaints surround the speed of the camera. The AF speed, and the speed of writing the images to the memory card. Yes, both of these are slower than my dSLRs, but as I mention above, why should that be a surprise? I actually like the fact that it slows me down a little. Makes it feel like a different way of making images, and I really like that change.
Being a bit poncey about photography, I think I tend to look for "grand vistas" when I have a dSLR in my hand. With this camera I'm happy taking "smaller" pics and this is great fun.
Arndale Book and Magazine Exchange, Shudehill, Manchester
A Victim of the Elements, St Anns Square, Manchester
I've only had it a week, but already I really feel I've bonded with it. I only currently have the 35mm lens and I really wondered whether to stay pure and just keep to one lens. However walking around Manchester this morning, it became clear that I would really benefit from having a wider lens as well (currently Fuji provide an 18mm and a 60mm in addition to the 35mm - although with adapters you can use other lenses).
I think another aspect which is quite exciting is that I have to be a little more aware of my technique. I think sometimes the clever stuff built into a dSLR can mask weaknesses in technique - no image stabilisation, for instance - and that is no bad thing.
There is one ergonomic factor, however, which is a disappointment. It is more to do with my growing decreptitude than it is an issue with the camera. The EVF and the data overlay is close when I put the camera up to my eye. I'm now of an age when I need reading glasses and so can't really see the data. I bought a +3 dioptre to replace the 0 dioptre supplied with the camera, but this now means I can't use the OVF as that is blurry. Ho hum. I now find myself almost exclusively using the EVF, which is not how I envisaged my Bresson-like approach. But beggars can't be choosers.
I am a bit of a stubborn bugger and poo-pooed some of the clever things this camera could do. What photographer worth his (or her) salt, would seriously use something called "Film Simulation"? Surely you'd simply take the RAW image and tiddle about with it in PS. Film Simulation? Pah, I say......
Actually, I am really liking this facility. My mono-mates always harp on about needing to "think in mono", which I'm not sure is a facility I have. But using the Mono "Film Simulation" I don't need to think in mono, because I can see in mono. And it's great.
I've not felt this excited about a new bit of kit since I got the Canon EOS 5D. That was mind blowing. This feels almost like that. It's made me feel invigorated about my photography and is helping me see in a different way.
