Buying a New Camera....Worth the weight?

I have not been inclined to change the contents of my camera bag for a long time. I have everything I need....or so I thought. I feel very fortunate to have some 'higher end' camera equipment: camera bodies and lenses. I have shot with Canon for years, but it really makes little difference which camera manufacturer you favour, the quality is pretty amazing whatever you have. Basically I am so connected with what I have; it is almost instinctive to use and the familiarity allows me to concentrate on the creative aspects rather than the technical. After all it isn't the gear you have, it's the way you see the world that matters in photography.

So, .all this gear works really well for the landscape photography that I really love doing and although it is heavy and relatively bulky, the choices of lenses that I have when at a location are worth the trade off of carrying all this gear. That said, I am no longer a spring chicken and carrying all this equipment and covering bigger distances on rougher terrain is pretty tough sometimes....especially given that I also like to use a tripod for a lot of my landscape work.

I have, however been trying my hand at more street photography: cities, people and architecture. I had a fabulous day in London with my friend Oli a few months ago and we covered a huge distance on foot (apart from the mandatory coffee stops). Carrying a large and heavy camera bag was not only exhausting and cumbersome but also the type of photography is so different to the 'considered' landscape compositions that I am more familiar with.

Put simply, I didn't feel that my existing range of equipment suited the demands of street photography, A large mirrorless camera body is not very discreet and I feel very self conscious photographing situations with people in them. This is a problem, because often it is the human element that is the integral element....the part that 'tells the story'. The weight and bulk also contributed to a desire to add a new camera to my 'gear'.

Buying a new camera is quite a big decision (I'm not going to hide the fact that a decent camera isn't cheap either). It is also a big decision to try something from another manufacturer, with all the buttons and functions being alien at first. I have, however, been rather smitten with the more compact Fuji cameras; they look quite retro and yet pack quite an astonishing amount of technical specification. They also have the potential to produce images that look more like those taken with a film camera. I'd like to do more film photography again, but that's another story.

I do love the retro look....It reminds me of my first 'decent' camera that I got my parents got me on my 18th Birthday

Having made the decision and receiving this rather beautiful bit of kit, I ventured out with Oli again last weekend for a mooch around Bristol. It would have been London again, but for the fact that I have not long welcomed a new dog into my life and London felt like a step too far with him in mind.

Bristol was really a learning day. Getting familiar with this new piece of equipment and boy, was it a steep learning curve. I accidentally turned off the autofocus at one point and had a group of images that were all out of focus. There were times when I moved the wrong button, changing something I wasn't wanting to change. Basically, I realised that I have a fair way to go to feel that the camera is extension of my eye.

Spring is just around the corner

Despite my somewhat clumsy choice of settings and lack of familiarity, I was pleased with some of the images I produced. The most pleasing thing however was the fact that the camera is so light, compact and discreet : A joy to not be lugging around a huge camera bag, especially while also trying to retain control of a 6 month old Cocker Spaniel.

Clifton, and a fine 'Avenue of Trees' This would look really fabulous once the spring arrives or on a misty day.. Patience is the key; waiting for the 'right' person to wander through the scene

I am so pleased how this image came out: I didn't even notice at the time, the irony of the guy sat waiting having no hair.

The rain throughout the day actually helped with atmosphere

My favourite shot from a first time out with the little Fuji....not sure which I prefer though; Colour or Black and White

There's still a lot to learn about this fabulous little addition to my gear, but I am pleased with some of the results and it was certainly much more usable than the larger and bulkier kit. I would have been disappointed had the images been poor, but I am thrilled with the way it performs; the images that were 'below par' were certainly down to my unfamiliarity with some of the controls rather than the camera itself.

Worth saving the weight? You Bet !!