I have too many cameras, but they aren't the right ones.
My main bodies are a Hasselblad 503cx - which I love, and a Nikon Z8 - which I also love. I also use the following…
Leica V-Lux 20, a digicam
Leica Z2X, a 35mm point a shoot
Nikon N8008s, also known as the F-801
Canon A1 - the camera I bought in 1980
But those cameras have all seen action in the last 6 months.
I really like my Hasselblad, but I never get the results I see others getting out of the V-System camera. I have concerns the 80mm lens is a bit off. I have a Makro lens for it, so I am going to take it out and about to test it out to see if there is an issue with the 80mm… or if the issue is with me. I find it VERY difficult to get a sharp image, even with the fancy Acute-Matte D focusing screen. I don’t have difficulty getting sharp photos on the Z8 for example, but it might be me. I am old and delicate after all.
The Z8 is an amazing camera, but the long and flowing menu options makes taking it out of the studio cumbersome and useless for a dynamic environment like that needed for street photography. I get a faster shot out of my 46 year old Canon A-1 than I do with fiddling with menus on the Z8.
I was using the Leica Z2X for my EDC camera. I mean I am really tired of using my iPhone as a EDC camera. Ya know? I want a real camera for EDC. But I do see a UFO and all I got is an iPhone, I am snapping that photo!
The Z2X is a rock solid point and shoot and it has the reputation of being the most low-maintenance 35mm P&S Leica ever produced. Never had an issue with it. And don’t get me started on my love of film photography, that will never die. But damn, film and processing is getting crazy expensive these days. To process all the film in my freezer will cost me over $1200 at current The Darkroom pricing. I just got back 10 rolls with scans and it was over $220. That is another Mint +++ vintage film camera!!! I tend to see everything in units of buying a camera.
One of those rolls was Ilford HP5+ shot with my Nikon N8008s and the tones were amazing, the images were just as sharp as what I am getting out of the Hassie.
I feel the fidgety nature of 120 film in a Hassie and the my expectations being filled with sad feelings, I kinda dread taking it out. With the 8008 I just drop in the 35mm canister and go snap photos. The experience is more rewarding.
With all of that said, I started looking at my mission.
I love taking outdoor photos with the kind of contrast that would make Ansel Adams cry in jealousy. So I need an outdoor workhorse. The Z8 certainly is that but the menu system drives my autistic brain bat-shit crazy. I think a Hasselblad X2DII is a good replacement for the workhorse. The menu system is very simple - I can make quick changes on the fly INTUITIVELY instead of flailing around with a fine print instruction manual while the light is being lost. The other thing I want out of the workhorse is an overabundance of pixels. It gives me the crop capabilities a 20 megapixel camera can’t.
But I don’t need a 100 megapixel camera swinging around to capture my life journal snapshots. That is where a good EDC camera comes in. The 35mm Z2X is a joy to shoot. With it’s 35-70mm zoom, decent auto-focus and smallish size, it is perfect. But damn, the cost of film. Have I bitched about that yet? Back to mission, I would prefer it to be digital, have built in flash, awesome zoom (the Leica V-Lux 20 got be addicted to super zooms), and a very small size so it can fit well in my man-purse. A buddy got me turned onto Lumix (the peer pressure was insane). I been having unhealthy dreams about the Lumix ZS300. Awesome specs, man-purse compatible, 1 inch sensor with 20 megapixels, 24 - 360mm 35mm equivalent zoom, complete with macro and a flash. And to make sure the image is awesome, they come with Leica glass. Sounds perfect.
The next thing I need to address with my photo mission is a casual, high quality camera without all the video nonsense. It doesn’t need to have 100 megapixels of pure production power, but it does need to produce excellent images. I am typically spending $1000s in travel, meals and hotels to take these photos, I refuse to cheap out on the scene once I arrive after 1800 miles of driving and the last 50 miles being a rutted jeep trail, 13,000 feet in the mountains of California. This is the evidence I need to up my Leica game and take the M plunge. It makes sense. They are super expensive so I can spread the investment across multiple bodies, including another mission specific camera, a Leica M6. The M system is one of the strongest photos systems ever. With the ability to use ANY M mount lens ever made across digital and 35mm film platforms is incredible.
That brings me to the last part of my mission needs, medium film format. I’ve discussed my disappointment with the Hassie so far. It could be my aged eyesight or it could be the lens. Everything else on the camera has been sent in for restoration - the last thing to check is the lens. However, it will never scratch my landscape itch. 6x17 is a tad too much landscape for me, but 6x9 would be awesome. The Fuji 690 group of rangefinder cameras seem to be a better choice for me, plus the negative you are working with is IMAX sized. But the REAL thing I want to get into is infrared medium format. The 690s would be perfect for that. With some Rollei IR in the camera, the filter on the lens, the rangefinder would make composition easier on the fly. I do love my running and gunning.
To tally everything for Santa,
Now all I got to do is sell my house and just live in my gear truck.
