Selling all Canon gear for x100 - crazy?

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Soldato
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The last few months I've been losing motivation with my photography. I still love the process, but it's the weight of all my kit that's putting me off. As the term goes "The best camera is the one you have with you", well if that's true my current set-up is probably the worst for me.

Currently have a gripped 40D with a selection of good quality lenses, tripod, rucksack etc. And it seems to spend most of it's time at home doing sod all.

Now I've always been interested in the Fujifilm x100 since it was released last year, but these days it seems to be more fairly priced. £765 delivered with Fuji Platinum warranty. Been doing research the last couple days, the thread on FM is a real eye-opener! IQ is to die for and the ISO performance is unbelievable. Being able to carry it easily with one hand and a couple 49mm filters in the pocket I find very appealing.

I'm aware that it's a prime of 35mm (FF equivalent), and the AF speed isn't exactly quick, but with my style of photography the latter doesn't matter and I'm more a fan of prime lenses than zooms.

So has anyone else done this sort of thing? I'm a bit worried I'd regret my decision to sell it all, but as it rarely gets used as it is I can't really see that happening.
 
I don't think you're crazy at all and in fact I also really like the idea of something you can fit in your pocket yet still having a fast prime lens.

In fact it would be ideal for stuff like concert photography where hauling a heavy DSLR would just be a pain.

One other thing to consider, what about getting a smaller canon body if they do one?

If you already have a smallish prime lens then try just going out with nothing but the body, lens, a few filters and see how it is taking the bare minimum of gear around. :)
 
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I may get shouted at for this but

I honestly think DSLRs and their weight is more for professional (money/job) making situations. I know they're so much better over a compact but as you say OP. Carrying a DSLR around every where you go is a PITA.

It's why tablets are so popular, portability! :)
 
I dont think your crazy to be honest, I started the move to Canon with a nice little 550D, then came the battery grip and F4L, then all the other lenses, tripods etc and my camera bag now weighs a ton lol
 
I sold up my Nikon SLR gear, about 20k worth including D700, D300, 14-24, 24-70, 70-200, bunch of primes, filter, gitzo gear, etc and now shoot with a G3 and GX1.

Couldn't be happier with the move, take more photos, get less grief from the missus and spend a lot less money on gear so have more to spend on other things.

The quality from smaller cameras is good enough now that you don't need to go for a full SLR setup to have gear that gives you heaps of potential.
 
I've just been playing with one whilst I'm waiting for my flight. It's a nice bit of kit but my god the AF is slow! You've already said that wouldn't be an issue for you though, I couldn't live with it. I'd never get a shot in focus of my daughter, it's almost as slow as the camera on my phone!

What strap are you using with your 40D? I hate neck straps and find using a rapid type strap really convenient. I can carry a 1Ds2 around no problem.
 
An Exception said:
Yes it's crazy, but only because I would be looking to get the below.

http://www.techradar.com/news/photo...nounces-x-pro1-lenses-and-accessories-1054083

That camera and a 35mm 1.4 would be all I would use most of the time.
Click to expand...

That's substantially bigger and a hell of a lot more expensive.

OP: It's not crazy but I'd make sure you're comfortable shooting the X100 as your only camera before you commit to it as a lot of people returned theirs within a few weeks because they found it so restrictive.
 
I've tried using xxxD bodies in the past, they're too small and plastic feeling for my taste. I know that's part of what makes them lighter, but the body is a small part of the weight problem.

The lenses make up the bulk of the weight. I'd rather go for a single lens solution and be done with it. It'll also help my bank balance that way lol.

It seems like firmware updates has made the x100 much more useable now. The AF isn't any quicker, but it's more accurate. Thanks for all the replies, I'm still in two minds currently. I roughly worked it out and I should get a fair wedge back on all the Canon gear, nearly everything was second hand so hopefully won't lose too much on it. :)
 
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I was thinking about getting a more compact camera but I dont mind carrying my 500D soon 7D as most of the time i just use the lens I have on the camera and I use a quick rapid strap so I dont feel it when I'm walking around... but it isn't about the camera it's what you do with it that matters so go for whats best for you.
 
I find it a bit amusing than people will upnose the "consumer" small DSLRs, and have the "big one" with a grip and the huge zooms, /then/ complain about weight.

Try a 550D with a set of 3 primes -- it fits into a tiny bag, and the 550d will give you a proper reflex, a pretty good viewfinder (as well as liveview) and the primes are a lot cheaper than the zooms.
 
BusError said:
I find it a bit amusing than people will upnose the "consumer" small DSLRs, and have the "big one" with a grip and the huge zooms, /then/ complain about weight.

Try a 550D with a set of 3 primes -- it fits into a tiny bag, and the 550d will give you a proper reflex, a pretty good viewfinder (as well as liveview) and the primes are a lot cheaper than the zooms.
Click to expand...

Thats what i thought. Mind you, i have a D90 and in the process of trying to sell it and keep my G3 as that is small and cuddly!! lol
 
Well I started off using a 400D and the size and weight was ok for carrying around.
Now I use a 7D I do not notice the weight some much. How ever the size is the real draw back when traveling around say in London.
So a decent m4/3 would be great for me to put in my jaket pocket especially for concerns !
The m4/3 market seems to be coming alive with some real good kit.
The deciding factors for me would be noise level, size, and lens range.
Plus fitting my current Canon lens on the m4/3 body would be a big advantage. As I can give the m4/3 camera to the wife to use while I snap away with my 7d knowning she use my lens !
 
m4/3 is interesting I have to say. Especially the E-P3 and the GX1. Although you can pick up an E-P1 for relative pennies these days which I'm considering even more to compliment the Canon gear when I'm not willing to carry it around.
 
If the AF speed isn't going to be a problem then its quite possibly a great choice (it kills the appeal of the camera for me)

The right camera is the one you have with you, and if you don't like carrying the 40D around then sell sell sell.
 
The X-Pro 1 appeals to me a lot more, but in terms of whether its crazy to buy the X-100, I'd say it was crazier having a DSLR sat there doing nothing. Go for it.
 
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