New camera Gill? I was told by a wise man that the difference between a club photographer & a pro photographer is the club tog buys the latest camera body while the pro tog knows a camera is just a lightproof box plus ISO, Aperture & shutter speed so spends their money on a better lens which will make a difference.
I’d buy mirrorless if I was a wildlifer - but I’m not.
It's easy to be seduced by the idea of a new camera even though I am not a gear person at all. I suspect I will change to mirrorless eventually but until then I will continue to enjoy my D850.
Happy Easter and thank you for your blogs. I can almost smell the sea seeing your pictures. No mean feat when I live in Nottingham. At 75 years, I have used a few brands and have to say that they all have their pros and cons, but I love using mirrorless. Being able to adjust the final image before it is taken is, to me, as big a revelation as changing from film to digital. Loving to take Landscape images, weight is now the biggest factor for me. The only thing I've learned is that I need to try out any potential purchases as opposed to buying on specs and reviews either on line or in print.
Happy Easter Trevor and thank you so much for your comments. I am glad you are enjoying the blogs and your comment about almost smelling the sea in my images is great because that means I am doing something right on the emotion front!
I think you are right - mirrorless cameras do make life easier in the field and they also help on the weight front. I think the right camera is the one you are most comfortable with.
Great question about technique vs emotion! I am a very technique oriented person, but strive for emotion in my photos. And with photography, it seems there can be multiple techniques to achieve very similar results, but at the same time, the same technique will not work for different scenes. It's fascinating!
My camera is not a professional grade camera, so I'm always longing for something more capable. But, I cannot justify the expense until I am able to figure out how to earn some money through photography.
Thank you for your comments Erik. Your approach to new equipment sounds very sensible to me and your images are lovely so I would suggest you are making the most of your current kit.
It is interesting to hear you class yourself as a technical photographer as I think the emotion definitely comes thorough in your images.
Well, I may have skipped over quite a bit of nuance here. I think my approach to everything is more rational/technical rather than intuitive or emotional. As a self taught photographer, I've spent A LOT of time studying various techniques and methods for getting the best exposures and sharpest images, as opposed to trial and error and figuring it out. However, I'd say my approach to composition is highly intuitive/emotional, and that carries over into post processing!
Love your images Gill, and an interesting read on the ‘technical’ vs ‘emotional’ considerations to your art. I can only add that removing the decisions about kit by reducing things down to one camera with a fixed 28mm lens was one of my better decisions a few years ago. I only ever think about the emotion now, yep it’s not perfect for many situations, but that does not matter, when I go out with my camera, we are at one with the surroundings 🤓
Thank you very much for your comments and kind words Chris. I think being at one with our surroundings is the most important part, it doesn't really matter what camera we have or what lens we use as long as we are connected to what we are photographing - well that's my view anyway. 🙂
Beautiful images Gill - that sunrise shot, wow. The ultimate test - will you see a difference in the final image? I have recently upgraded from my aps-c camera to full frame. And the difference in the image is night and day - I actually regret not pulling the trigger sooner. But I made some great images with my old camera, and it is quite a learning curve to get even familiar with a new camera.
You are right, and I think that is why I am hesitating. I am not sure I will see much difference between the two cameras.
I remember going from a crop sensor to a full frame and the difference was huge, but I don't think going from my D850 to a Z8 will have the same level of impact. I also realise that it will take me a while to familiarise myself with a new camera so am resisting the urge at the moment. 🙂
I would say if you feel comfortable still with the camera you have, hang onto it for as long as it serves your purpose. I switched from a heavy Canon 5D kit back in 2012 to a Fuji Xpro kit purely because my back and shoulders couldn't take the weight of the Canon any more! I bought the Fuji with the thought in mind that it would be a 10yr camera and sure enough in mid 2022 it finally died and so I went out and got a new Fuji which I hope will last another 10 years! My point is that I know the Fuji system well now, to the point it feels like an extension of me. In all the years using it I still don't know all it can do but it does what I need it to do and that's all that matters. So being technically brilliant isn't the aim for me, it's to be able to convey in images a sense of place or emotion without having to think too hard about what I'm doing with the camera. I would say one thing though - my shoulders and back thanked me for switching to mirrorless!!
You are absolutely right there is a lot to be said for familiarity and I always work so much better when I don't have to think about how to use my camera. It is so freeing just to react to what is in front of me without worrying about the technical side. However I do like the idea of a mirrorless system and a little reduction in weight - so I understand where you are coming from on that front. 🙂
Hi, it seems to me that cameras are being brought out in ever faster and more complex increments which is a shame but the way that things seem to go, take cars as another example. The last time I changed from Nikon to Oly it took me ages to get into the new system but I did like the weight reduction! I have a strong desire to go back to the simpler cameras but I guess there are features I would miss if I did.
Thank you very much for your comments Mark, I didn't realise you shot with an Olympus. I love the idea of those cameras for the weight reduction and would love one for a walk round camera. I am a bit reluctant to come away from the full frame sensor completely though. I can also understand what you say about simpler cameras - the Olympus OM1 is more like a computer than a camera, it has so much tech built in.
I agree with you, Gill. The image has to say something to the viewer, we'll, if you want to show it. (There can of course be images that only say something to yourself, and in any case the viewers will never feel the same emotions you did when pressing the shutter.) The emotions don't have to be positive.
As for the camera gear, yes, the temptations to "upgrade" are always there. Worse almost than the marketing pressures are the pressures from fellow photographers who are constantly upgrading their equipment. But then I look at the photos, and one cannot tell the difference from one camera to another, mostly. Anyways, lately I've been playing a lot with old analog cameras again, apart from my standard digital camera, and that has shown me that frills are not necessary to produce good pictures. In fact, I rather like the imperfections now
I absolutely agree Karin, you do not need a fancy camera to take great photos and sometimes the imperfections of old cameras and lenses really add to the mood and emotion of an image.
It is definitely much more productive to focus on expressing yourself with the camera rather than worrying about the gear, which is another reason I haven't switched yet. There is so much to be said for working with a camera you are familiar with.
I really enjoy reading your blog Gill, and find lots of food for thought. You are so generous in sharing your thinking and photography journey with us, as well as showing us your lovely images.
It strikes me that buying a new camera is a bit like buying new walking boots - they look lovely and bright and shiny, they come in a very nice box and eventually they're inevitable (as the previous ones wear out). But they do basically the same job and they're not really comfortable until you've worn them in. I always mourn the loss of a well worn pair of boots!
Thank you very much for your kind comments Judith.
I agree with your walking boot analogy and I think that is why I am reluctant to upgrade because I know there will be a degree of discomfort (ie learning) that I will need to go through before a new camera becomes as comfortable as my old one.
I too mourn the loss of a well worn pair of boots! 🙂
Why do you need to change your camera if the current one meets the requirements for your professional work? Not starting to fall into the GAS trap I hope? I have watched and read a number of posts recently where photographers have been talking about their personal carry camera, that is just for them, whilst leaving their commercial kit to one side. Most seem to fall down on mirror less, many to micro four thirds, perhaps that's something to consider? You know where and when you are going for your professional shoots, and what gear you will take, but for your daily walks, and travels perhaps a 'pocket' system would be good?
Thank you for your comments Chris. I had to google GAS trap so I suspect I am not falling into that category. I have been looking at upgrading to make sure I have a reliable system to work with in the future. I have also considered something smaller as a walk around camera and may well go down that route in the future. Its all good stuff to ponder when it's raining outside! 🙂
A new camera sounds very exciting indeed and maybe propering for the Nikon Z8 is like propering for life itself. Holidays, TV's, Photo Walks or even a Printer!
I know that my Olympus EM5 will eventually stop working and that will be very sad indeed. It helps me with my emotional photography, it almost whispers Black and White and more contrast and always makes me feel happy. even though it plays up now and then l still enjoy the moments it captures for me. And when the time comes I'll put Oliver on a shelf because it will have always been apart of my photography! Do I have a replacement in mind, of course! I'll purchase and introduce it to a second hand Olympus EM1ii that will be called Ollie!
Thank you very much for your comments Ian. I know how attached you are to your camera but I didn't realise how attached! I hope you and Oliver will have many more years together! 😆
Finding a camera that you love and that becomes an extension of yourself when you are out is important. I think we all take much better images when using the camera become an intuitive part of our photography.
Great post. I agree 100%. The quality of the photo is directly related to the quality of the person behind the lens.
Having said that. I traded in my D850 and all my DSLR lenses. I now own a Z7 and a Z8. The Z7 is nearly identical to the D850 but a lot lighter. And the Z8...fantastic, especially for night photography.
But as you pointed out, for me, and it appears for you as well, the outing is what it is all about. If I don't come back with even 1 good image, the day was well spent if it entailed walking along some trail and communing with nature.
It was interesting to hear your opinion on the Z7 and Z8. However I agree with your sentiments - it is all about the experience and the images are often secondary.
Hi Gill, I'm relatively new to your blog here, but am enjoying your thoughts very much.
I am, without a doubt, an emotional photographer. What matters most to me is capturing the feeling and emotion of the nature around me, it matters less to me whether the photo ends up being technically perfect. I know my basics with the technical side, and most importantly, I know how to capture the image how I envision it, and that, for now, is enough for me. I recognize, of course, that I am always learning and adjusting each time I go out. That's certainly part of the fun and keeps me engaged and growing as a photographer.
Thank you very much for your comments Whitney - it is good to know you are enjoying my posts.
I can definitely relate to your comments about being an emotional photographer and I feel exactly the same. For me being out in the landscape is such an immersive experience that I often don't think about the technical side. I guess it has become more intuitive as the years have gone by, leaving me free to act upon my emotions and connection.
Great content as always! Think be hard pushed to take better images than you already get with current camera , so true what you say if gear feels part of you and know it intermittently may regret changing it ? But if take the plunge think you have earned it 👍
Thank you so much for your kind comments and I am glad you are enjoying the posts. I expect I will change at some point but I'm in no hurry, it is more important to me to enjoy the experience. 🙂
It is interesting that you say you are not a technically minded photographer but that you know your stuff; you just don't think technically in the field. I would argue that you aren't giving yourself enough credit. You know the technical stuff inside/out but let your emotions guide you in the field. That is a far cry from not being technical. You allow your experience to carry the technical stuff, which sits just below the surface of your consciousness while you actively, consciously interact on an emotional basis with the scene in front of you. The technical is guiding you too, but subconsciously. This is as it should be. You are fully engaged in the moment. You are more conscious of your feelings than your thoughts. This is the domain of the seasoned photographer.
In your post, you divide photographers between "technical" and "emotional," but there is a third class of photographer that many technical photographers never advance to. These photographers are "integrated" where both technical and emotional are brought to every image, every situation. There are other things that you do which are subconscious. For instance, you are aware of your safety. You are aware of other people. You are aware of legal issues. Occasionally, you may even be aware of the passage of time. These issues are all secondary to the emotional dialog going on between you and the landscape. That emotional dialog is paramount, but the rest is no less important. You have just come to manage those thing subconsciously.
As for the new camera, keep in mind that currently your D850 is an extension of your body. It too has become part of your unconscious thinking. It's still there. You couldn't operate without it. You just aren't so conscious about it that you have to stop and think, now what button do I have to press to make such and such happen. In other words, you are not distracted by it.
If you buy the Z8, there will be a break in period. You will have to learn the shape and feel of it in your hands, learn and incorporate a new way of working, the location of the buttons, how it is different from the D850. All of this will be distracting. It will get in the way of your well developed and now intuitive workflow. Camera companies don't want you to think about this downside to new cameras. They want you to lust after the novelty and excitement of the new feature set. They don't want to remind you that you are in for a struggle until you can get to the point where the Z8 too, is now an extension of your body. Is that what you want? Are you ready for that struggle. Is this a good time for the extra effort that will be required. For whatever new features make things easier for you, learning the new way of shooting will hold you back, at least for awhile.
If you want novelty, limit yourself with your existing gear. Only shoot black and white for instance or only take one lens into the field. That could be novel. You may have to think a little bit more, but you aren't throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
As for myself, I have been shooting mirrorless since I bought a Panasonic G1 in 2008, the first camera in the micro 4/3 category. I love mirrorless and could never go back. Two years ago, I switched from a G85 to a Fuji X camera. I did that to get rid of the PASM dial and I took to it like a duck to water without ever looking back. It has made me a better photographer and brought me back to my original love of photography which I hadn't really experienced since I was shooting with a Nikon F3 back in the day.
Your decision isn't about what makes a good photograph. That just confuses the issue at hand. It's about equipment pure and simple. Choose the tool you want and need, but understand that any new tool has to be learned and that journey is likely not going to be entirely smooth sailing. Best of luck with whatever decision you make.
Thank you very much for your comments John, I really enjoyed reading your thoughts.
I agree with you about the idea of an 'integrated' photographer - there are lots of considerations that I hadn't really thought about, probably because they are now second nature and come intuitively.
I agree that with new gear comes new learning and I think that is one reason I have resisted upgrading. I like not having to think about the technicals too much when I am out in the landscape and I know a new camera will impact this.
Thank you again for reading my blog and for your very interesting comments.
Great post and you’re so right, 95% if it is what you notice, how you capture it and the message you want to convey. I’ve had my d3200 for 10 years now and I really would like to upgrade it but I really don’t know what to! I would like it to be light enough for travelling with.
Your images always have dreamy light! Half the battle….
Thank you very much for your comments Hayley. When you have had a camera for so long it feels difficult to change as there will be a degree of new learning that goes with new kit. I am sure you will know when you have found the right camera to upgrade to.
New camera Gill? I was told by a wise man that the difference between a club photographer & a pro photographer is the club tog buys the latest camera body while the pro tog knows a camera is just a lightproof box plus ISO, Aperture & shutter speed so spends their money on a better lens which will make a difference.
I’d buy mirrorless if I was a wildlifer - but I’m not.
Best wishes, Peter
Thank you for your comments Peter.
It's easy to be seduced by the idea of a new camera even though I am not a gear person at all. I suspect I will change to mirrorless eventually but until then I will continue to enjoy my D850.
Hi Gill,
Happy Easter and thank you for your blogs. I can almost smell the sea seeing your pictures. No mean feat when I live in Nottingham. At 75 years, I have used a few brands and have to say that they all have their pros and cons, but I love using mirrorless. Being able to adjust the final image before it is taken is, to me, as big a revelation as changing from film to digital. Loving to take Landscape images, weight is now the biggest factor for me. The only thing I've learned is that I need to try out any potential purchases as opposed to buying on specs and reviews either on line or in print.
Happy Easter Trevor and thank you so much for your comments. I am glad you are enjoying the blogs and your comment about almost smelling the sea in my images is great because that means I am doing something right on the emotion front!
I think you are right - mirrorless cameras do make life easier in the field and they also help on the weight front. I think the right camera is the one you are most comfortable with.
Great question about technique vs emotion! I am a very technique oriented person, but strive for emotion in my photos. And with photography, it seems there can be multiple techniques to achieve very similar results, but at the same time, the same technique will not work for different scenes. It's fascinating!
My camera is not a professional grade camera, so I'm always longing for something more capable. But, I cannot justify the expense until I am able to figure out how to earn some money through photography.
Thank you for your comments Erik. Your approach to new equipment sounds very sensible to me and your images are lovely so I would suggest you are making the most of your current kit.
It is interesting to hear you class yourself as a technical photographer as I think the emotion definitely comes thorough in your images.
Well, I may have skipped over quite a bit of nuance here. I think my approach to everything is more rational/technical rather than intuitive or emotional. As a self taught photographer, I've spent A LOT of time studying various techniques and methods for getting the best exposures and sharpest images, as opposed to trial and error and figuring it out. However, I'd say my approach to composition is highly intuitive/emotional, and that carries over into post processing!
Love your images Gill, and an interesting read on the ‘technical’ vs ‘emotional’ considerations to your art. I can only add that removing the decisions about kit by reducing things down to one camera with a fixed 28mm lens was one of my better decisions a few years ago. I only ever think about the emotion now, yep it’s not perfect for many situations, but that does not matter, when I go out with my camera, we are at one with the surroundings 🤓
Thank you very much for your comments and kind words Chris. I think being at one with our surroundings is the most important part, it doesn't really matter what camera we have or what lens we use as long as we are connected to what we are photographing - well that's my view anyway. 🙂
Beautiful images Gill - that sunrise shot, wow. The ultimate test - will you see a difference in the final image? I have recently upgraded from my aps-c camera to full frame. And the difference in the image is night and day - I actually regret not pulling the trigger sooner. But I made some great images with my old camera, and it is quite a learning curve to get even familiar with a new camera.
Thank you so much for your comments James.
You are right, and I think that is why I am hesitating. I am not sure I will see much difference between the two cameras.
I remember going from a crop sensor to a full frame and the difference was huge, but I don't think going from my D850 to a Z8 will have the same level of impact. I also realise that it will take me a while to familiarise myself with a new camera so am resisting the urge at the moment. 🙂
I would say if you feel comfortable still with the camera you have, hang onto it for as long as it serves your purpose. I switched from a heavy Canon 5D kit back in 2012 to a Fuji Xpro kit purely because my back and shoulders couldn't take the weight of the Canon any more! I bought the Fuji with the thought in mind that it would be a 10yr camera and sure enough in mid 2022 it finally died and so I went out and got a new Fuji which I hope will last another 10 years! My point is that I know the Fuji system well now, to the point it feels like an extension of me. In all the years using it I still don't know all it can do but it does what I need it to do and that's all that matters. So being technically brilliant isn't the aim for me, it's to be able to convey in images a sense of place or emotion without having to think too hard about what I'm doing with the camera. I would say one thing though - my shoulders and back thanked me for switching to mirrorless!!
Thank you very much for your comments Lin.
You are absolutely right there is a lot to be said for familiarity and I always work so much better when I don't have to think about how to use my camera. It is so freeing just to react to what is in front of me without worrying about the technical side. However I do like the idea of a mirrorless system and a little reduction in weight - so I understand where you are coming from on that front. 🙂
Hi, it seems to me that cameras are being brought out in ever faster and more complex increments which is a shame but the way that things seem to go, take cars as another example. The last time I changed from Nikon to Oly it took me ages to get into the new system but I did like the weight reduction! I have a strong desire to go back to the simpler cameras but I guess there are features I would miss if I did.
Thank you very much for your comments Mark, I didn't realise you shot with an Olympus. I love the idea of those cameras for the weight reduction and would love one for a walk round camera. I am a bit reluctant to come away from the full frame sensor completely though. I can also understand what you say about simpler cameras - the Olympus OM1 is more like a computer than a camera, it has so much tech built in.
I agree with you, Gill. The image has to say something to the viewer, we'll, if you want to show it. (There can of course be images that only say something to yourself, and in any case the viewers will never feel the same emotions you did when pressing the shutter.) The emotions don't have to be positive.
As for the camera gear, yes, the temptations to "upgrade" are always there. Worse almost than the marketing pressures are the pressures from fellow photographers who are constantly upgrading their equipment. But then I look at the photos, and one cannot tell the difference from one camera to another, mostly. Anyways, lately I've been playing a lot with old analog cameras again, apart from my standard digital camera, and that has shown me that frills are not necessary to produce good pictures. In fact, I rather like the imperfections now
I absolutely agree Karin, you do not need a fancy camera to take great photos and sometimes the imperfections of old cameras and lenses really add to the mood and emotion of an image.
It is definitely much more productive to focus on expressing yourself with the camera rather than worrying about the gear, which is another reason I haven't switched yet. There is so much to be said for working with a camera you are familiar with.
I really enjoy reading your blog Gill, and find lots of food for thought. You are so generous in sharing your thinking and photography journey with us, as well as showing us your lovely images.
It strikes me that buying a new camera is a bit like buying new walking boots - they look lovely and bright and shiny, they come in a very nice box and eventually they're inevitable (as the previous ones wear out). But they do basically the same job and they're not really comfortable until you've worn them in. I always mourn the loss of a well worn pair of boots!
Thank you very much for your kind comments Judith.
I agree with your walking boot analogy and I think that is why I am reluctant to upgrade because I know there will be a degree of discomfort (ie learning) that I will need to go through before a new camera becomes as comfortable as my old one.
I too mourn the loss of a well worn pair of boots! 🙂
Why do you need to change your camera if the current one meets the requirements for your professional work? Not starting to fall into the GAS trap I hope? I have watched and read a number of posts recently where photographers have been talking about their personal carry camera, that is just for them, whilst leaving their commercial kit to one side. Most seem to fall down on mirror less, many to micro four thirds, perhaps that's something to consider? You know where and when you are going for your professional shoots, and what gear you will take, but for your daily walks, and travels perhaps a 'pocket' system would be good?
Just a thought, enjoyed the blog!😀
Thank you for your comments Chris. I had to google GAS trap so I suspect I am not falling into that category. I have been looking at upgrading to make sure I have a reliable system to work with in the future. I have also considered something smaller as a walk around camera and may well go down that route in the future. Its all good stuff to ponder when it's raining outside! 🙂
A new camera sounds very exciting indeed and maybe propering for the Nikon Z8 is like propering for life itself. Holidays, TV's, Photo Walks or even a Printer!
I know that my Olympus EM5 will eventually stop working and that will be very sad indeed. It helps me with my emotional photography, it almost whispers Black and White and more contrast and always makes me feel happy. even though it plays up now and then l still enjoy the moments it captures for me. And when the time comes I'll put Oliver on a shelf because it will have always been apart of my photography! Do I have a replacement in mind, of course! I'll purchase and introduce it to a second hand Olympus EM1ii that will be called Ollie!
Fabulous photos Gill!
Thank you very much for your comments Ian. I know how attached you are to your camera but I didn't realise how attached! I hope you and Oliver will have many more years together! 😆
Finding a camera that you love and that becomes an extension of yourself when you are out is important. I think we all take much better images when using the camera become an intuitive part of our photography.
Great post. I agree 100%. The quality of the photo is directly related to the quality of the person behind the lens.
Having said that. I traded in my D850 and all my DSLR lenses. I now own a Z7 and a Z8. The Z7 is nearly identical to the D850 but a lot lighter. And the Z8...fantastic, especially for night photography.
But as you pointed out, for me, and it appears for you as well, the outing is what it is all about. If I don't come back with even 1 good image, the day was well spent if it entailed walking along some trail and communing with nature.
Thank you very much for your comments Paul.
It was interesting to hear your opinion on the Z7 and Z8. However I agree with your sentiments - it is all about the experience and the images are often secondary.
Hi Gill, I'm relatively new to your blog here, but am enjoying your thoughts very much.
I am, without a doubt, an emotional photographer. What matters most to me is capturing the feeling and emotion of the nature around me, it matters less to me whether the photo ends up being technically perfect. I know my basics with the technical side, and most importantly, I know how to capture the image how I envision it, and that, for now, is enough for me. I recognize, of course, that I am always learning and adjusting each time I go out. That's certainly part of the fun and keeps me engaged and growing as a photographer.
Thank you very much for your comments Whitney - it is good to know you are enjoying my posts.
I can definitely relate to your comments about being an emotional photographer and I feel exactly the same. For me being out in the landscape is such an immersive experience that I often don't think about the technical side. I guess it has become more intuitive as the years have gone by, leaving me free to act upon my emotions and connection.
Great content as always! Think be hard pushed to take better images than you already get with current camera , so true what you say if gear feels part of you and know it intermittently may regret changing it ? But if take the plunge think you have earned it 👍
Thank you so much for your kind comments and I am glad you are enjoying the posts. I expect I will change at some point but I'm in no hurry, it is more important to me to enjoy the experience. 🙂
Hi Gill;
It is interesting that you say you are not a technically minded photographer but that you know your stuff; you just don't think technically in the field. I would argue that you aren't giving yourself enough credit. You know the technical stuff inside/out but let your emotions guide you in the field. That is a far cry from not being technical. You allow your experience to carry the technical stuff, which sits just below the surface of your consciousness while you actively, consciously interact on an emotional basis with the scene in front of you. The technical is guiding you too, but subconsciously. This is as it should be. You are fully engaged in the moment. You are more conscious of your feelings than your thoughts. This is the domain of the seasoned photographer.
In your post, you divide photographers between "technical" and "emotional," but there is a third class of photographer that many technical photographers never advance to. These photographers are "integrated" where both technical and emotional are brought to every image, every situation. There are other things that you do which are subconscious. For instance, you are aware of your safety. You are aware of other people. You are aware of legal issues. Occasionally, you may even be aware of the passage of time. These issues are all secondary to the emotional dialog going on between you and the landscape. That emotional dialog is paramount, but the rest is no less important. You have just come to manage those thing subconsciously.
As for the new camera, keep in mind that currently your D850 is an extension of your body. It too has become part of your unconscious thinking. It's still there. You couldn't operate without it. You just aren't so conscious about it that you have to stop and think, now what button do I have to press to make such and such happen. In other words, you are not distracted by it.
If you buy the Z8, there will be a break in period. You will have to learn the shape and feel of it in your hands, learn and incorporate a new way of working, the location of the buttons, how it is different from the D850. All of this will be distracting. It will get in the way of your well developed and now intuitive workflow. Camera companies don't want you to think about this downside to new cameras. They want you to lust after the novelty and excitement of the new feature set. They don't want to remind you that you are in for a struggle until you can get to the point where the Z8 too, is now an extension of your body. Is that what you want? Are you ready for that struggle. Is this a good time for the extra effort that will be required. For whatever new features make things easier for you, learning the new way of shooting will hold you back, at least for awhile.
If you want novelty, limit yourself with your existing gear. Only shoot black and white for instance or only take one lens into the field. That could be novel. You may have to think a little bit more, but you aren't throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
As for myself, I have been shooting mirrorless since I bought a Panasonic G1 in 2008, the first camera in the micro 4/3 category. I love mirrorless and could never go back. Two years ago, I switched from a G85 to a Fuji X camera. I did that to get rid of the PASM dial and I took to it like a duck to water without ever looking back. It has made me a better photographer and brought me back to my original love of photography which I hadn't really experienced since I was shooting with a Nikon F3 back in the day.
Your decision isn't about what makes a good photograph. That just confuses the issue at hand. It's about equipment pure and simple. Choose the tool you want and need, but understand that any new tool has to be learned and that journey is likely not going to be entirely smooth sailing. Best of luck with whatever decision you make.
Thank you very much for your comments John, I really enjoyed reading your thoughts.
I agree with you about the idea of an 'integrated' photographer - there are lots of considerations that I hadn't really thought about, probably because they are now second nature and come intuitively.
I agree that with new gear comes new learning and I think that is one reason I have resisted upgrading. I like not having to think about the technicals too much when I am out in the landscape and I know a new camera will impact this.
Thank you again for reading my blog and for your very interesting comments.
Great post and you’re so right, 95% if it is what you notice, how you capture it and the message you want to convey. I’ve had my d3200 for 10 years now and I really would like to upgrade it but I really don’t know what to! I would like it to be light enough for travelling with.
Your images always have dreamy light! Half the battle….
Thank you very much for your comments Hayley. When you have had a camera for so long it feels difficult to change as there will be a degree of new learning that goes with new kit. I am sure you will know when you have found the right camera to upgrade to.
I’m thinking maybe the z50! Might try and get to a camera show to try one out