I have been a canon shooter since they came out with the 20D, which finally got me to abandon my old Praktica. The 20D wasn't my first digital camera, but it was my first primary camera that was digital. And it was awesome.
I have also used the 30D (I borrowed one from a guy who wa intending to sell it during a Glacier NP shootout, dropped it, and then kind of had to buy it, ethically speaking) and switched up to the full frame 5d Mk II, which is what I currently shoot. I know that makes me look like a dinosaur, but frankly I haven't upgraded because Canon hasn't come out with anything since the 5d mk ii that is going to make my pictures 2500 euros better.
The lenses I mainly use on the Canon are the 24-70 2.8 L mk i, the 70-200 L, also mk i, and the 35-135 (I know, it is old, but damn I love that lens). I also have the 50 1.8, the 100-400 L (All my L glass is first generation), a bunch of old M42 lenses which I can't really use on the 5dmkii because of mirror fouling, and some Zeiss Jena p6 mount lenses.
I shoot a little bit of everything, but what I am best at is documentary style travel pictures. Like street photography, but more religious festivals mixed with a few landscapes rather than homeless people.
Since 2015 I havn't been shooting much because I have had two kids, and dragging the Canon bag around with me, as well as diapers, food, teddy bears, extra clothes, and all that stuff is pretty much untenable- those of you with kids know the drill. I had been shooting the kids with (surprise) my iPhone, but this was unsatisfying, so I picked up an old Fuji X-E1 with the 18-55 XF on ebay.
There's a lot to love about this camera. It's super light, and the interface is great for me (reminds me very much of using my M42 mount lenses of my Praktica).
Image quality is decent, but you can see its 16MP vs 20 for the 5D MkII, and the Autofocus is terrible- the cold start up time is also crap. I'm not doing super artsy stuff (mainly using it is the "camera in my pocket") but I have some concerns about getting a shallow DOF if I go back to a crop sensor.
The new Fujis have apparently solved most of these issues.
Soon both kids will be out of diapers and able to walk around without being in constant danger of killing themselves, so I'm starting to shoot more and anticipate getting back into the game. A lot has changed since 2015, and my 5d mkii is getting long in the tooth. I was hoping to get an awesome mirrorless version of the 5Ds from Canon, but, well, you know the story on that. Not enthused.
The long and short of it is, that I can probably sell my Canon gear, upgrade to an XT-3, and replace all the effective focal lengths I have with Canon lenses (I already have the xf 18-55, which is more or less a 24-70) for a grand total differential cost of about 2000 euros, which is less than the new Canon mirrorless, and about the same price as the 5Ds (which doesn't have great ISO range, IIRC).
On the plus side:
The bag would be a lot lighter
Fujis are freaking beautifully designed
I am annoyed with Canon. Nose very much out of joint.
So here are my concerns.
Is the DOF an issue?
Is 24/26 MP noticeably lower quality than 30MP?
Is replacing Mark i L glass with Fuji glass a step down?
Is there something I am not thinking of?
Right now I am seriously considering abandoning Canon.
Do you think this is a good idea, or a terrible one, and why?
BTW, I rarely to never shoot video.
Hello Ryan,
It sounds like you are at good time to look at new options. All your kit is of such an age that virtually any way you go will give you a better experience.
Two suggestions of mine are, one, rent a bunch of bodies and see what fits your style and wants. And two, if you have not seen Sean's video about brand loyalty you might like to watch it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wI656MIUCsg
Good luck in the discovery and let us know what you end up getting.
Thanks for the link to the video.
I agree with Sean- I've never been a Canon fanboy despite having used them almost exclusively (outside my old Soviet toys) for a decade and a half. The Canon for me was just a box.
Two things bother me- one, I have an irrational antipathy for Sony. I honestly don't know why, although the one time I held the body, it didn't feel good in my grip. Perhaps it is because the design is so damn ugly. Then again, it isn't like the Canon bodies are beautiful- they're not hideous, they just aren't beautiful. There's no doubt that Sony is capable of capturing great images.
Secondly, I wonder if I am letting the fact that fuji makes such beautiful cameras sway me- or if I am being overcome by nostalgia or something. They are APS-C sensors, and that matters.
Anyway, thanks for the advice- renting some of these things is probably a good idea.
"Rent a bunch of bodies"? So...spend $600-$800 renting bodies and then purchase a $1500 - $3000 one? Not sure that makes sense.
Hi Ryan,
Yes I know it may sound crazy to do that but one thing I forgot to mention is that most good camera stores will apply the rental fee toward the purchase. Also most bodies rent for way less than $600-800. https://prophotosupply.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/rental.sheet_.4.26...
Enjoy the exploration and let us know what you end up getting and why.
But you said, "rent a bunch of bodies" which implies 3 or more to me. Typically, a body rental averages $150-$200 multiply by 3 and you're easily at $600+. Will they apply total rentals towards a single body purchase? That would be awesome and good to know, or do they only apply single rental fee if you buy one of the 3 rentals?
Hi Ryan. I just joined this group so I could comment.I wouldn't necessarily abandon Canon. I have a couple of older Canon apsc cameras,400d and 600d, plus some Pentax versions as well. I grew up with film and occasionally still shoot film. I also have a couple of older Nikon Digital Slr's which I like too. Nikon d60 and d70s. For me the quality is more so the lenses than how many megapixels and also how steady are you with your shooting.I have so many cameras that when I go on a holiday or a reasonable serious shoot I have to work out what to take with me. The mirrorless cameras are attractive and give you great images but I have found in helping others learn their cameras that the menu systems and nobs and dials are not so intuitive. Probably are when you get to know your camera.I still like taking my canons on most outings because they have become so easy to use to me.I will probably lash out and get something "better" one day but don't have any real need to. As I do shoot some video a video enabled slr with good focus tracking would be helpful to me.I shoot lots of Grandchildren photos, some birds, wildlife and sport and landscape.Quickness of use,size and light all come into the equation as obviously does quality. It is easy to get bogged down with technology with all the choice available but sometimes it's good to resist temptation and just enjoy taking pics.You are not a dinosaur. They are extinct I think.For what it's worth it's sometimes wise to listen to your significant other in this dilemma. eg " You don't need another camera!" Good luck in your choice.
Thanks Geoff- I agree that glass is key, and I like my current set up quite a lot (other than weight).
I actually find the fuji more "natural" than the Canon- mainly because I grew up on manual SLRs, and I shoot Aperture priority 90% of the time, and rarely fool around with the more "esoteric" arrangements on my Canon body. The only things I really pay attention to are the big three- aperture, shutter speed, ISO.
I'm not normally a megapixel hound, but I would very much like to be able to shoot at high ISO, and more MP would be great (the thing that stops me from buying the 5Ds is the low light performance, and I am still waiting for a new version of the 5Ds that fixes this).
All of this would be irrelevant if I hadn't held the Fuji in my hand. It feels nice. It rolls easy- it's like I knew where everything was without even having to consult the manual. If it was full frame I wouldn't even think about it. I'd just jump.
Anyway, lot's to think about. Thanks so much for your input.
good luck Ryan. There are so many choices aren't there? Yes better low light capability is what's on my want list and more megapixels would be good to do some nice prints. I have a couple of A3 epson printers that print really nicely.I have an admiration for fujii too from the beautiful medium format film cameras they made.All the best.
Don’t switch because the new smaller camera are lighter in wt. the lense are still big (physics still expats in mirror less- land). Get your hands on a 5D IV or a 7D II and see how u like your images. Same glass updated body and sensor. Good luck and show us your images.
Hi Ryan,
You could upgrade the Fuji XE-1 to a later body and add a couple of lenses to the Fuji kit for not a lot of money. It depends if you want the latest Fuji body.
I shoot with the 5D Mark II myself and will do for the foreseeable future but it's not a daily carry camera.. for that I have a Fuji X100.
Switching systems can be an expensive thing.. you just don't really know if you will like the switch until you have lived with it for while.
Rentals won't tell you a ton.
I made the decision to stick with Canon myself and going forward will be sticking to DSLR's for the main work. I just don't want to deal with getting use to a new system.
Tough choice to make.
All the best.
I went from a 5Dmk2 to a Sony a9. I can add a battery grip, and have a very comfy, heafty workhorse with amazing specs and a list of world class glass. Then the next day I can take the battery grip off, throw on a small and light Zeiss 35mm, and walk around with a great camera on a wrist strap. I imagine you could find the same basic setup with Fuji.
I can't speak highly enough of this setup. If you're really considering a whole change, the glass you want to use would be 90% of the decision for me.
I just switched from canon (been with them since before digital) to Fuji, and am quite happy, though it's early days. The lighter weight makes a BIG difference. There is a steep learning curve, though, because there are a lot more settings on the Fuji, the size and feel in the hand is so different, and the shutter button is much more sensitive. Glad I made the move