The good “kompromises” or how to be clever not follower!

[danielm]

 

 

 

 I have often the impression that people are now buying (digital) photographic gear not for themselves but for others even if that phenomenon is not new since many wants to impress or get the approbation of those who are thinking that they are detaining the “holy” knowledge. It is sad, it is highly counterproductive, and it is a waste of energy, of money and, at the end, of motivation to do what we really should devote ourselves to, i.e., do photography at the first place.

What you want to photograph? What will you do with your picture (image post-processing)? Where and how you will present your picture? What is your real expectation in terms of picture quality? All those questions should be considered as for the search for a comfortable camera to work with, and a camera that the design and the interface attract us and inspire us to bring with us. 
 

In fact, there are no real compromises if you choose a photographic tool that fit your need and pleasure to use it. For example, having a “pro” labelled camera model without the very need to own one, it can be simply a big turpitude and a great annoyance over the simple joy to do photography. Believe me, I have discovered and rediscovered this verity many times in the past. And you don’t need to spend a lot of money to get a reliable camera model that can be also interesting in its ergonomic, interface and body design. 

If you are a curious photographer that is traveling all over the planet or all over your country or all over your neighborhoods or all over your apartment, it is always interesting to get a handy camera coupled with a versatile optic (prime or zoom lens) and be able to take pictures to document, create or experiment in photography. After all, this is why we love photo. Small (compact) camera models are numerous to satisfy all sort of their future owner tastes and they shouldn't cost you a whole monthly rent to get them.
 

Such compact affordable cameras are still existing. Sure, Olympus (OM-D E-M10 Mark III), Panasonic (GX85 officially discontinue but still available), even Canon and Nikon offer some valid options. Fujifilm use to do so (X-T200, X-M and X-A series) but seems to phase down these opportunities. In doing a short search on Web, you will be able to locate good deals around. 

Between us only, many so-called "independent» photo gear reviewers can be now more define as nonofficial photo manufacturer marketers that love very high-end equipment. It's becoming a pity when you remember that a few years ago their good advice were interesting and self-uninterested. The other fact is that over the latest years, there has been a significant price increase for the newest camera introductions from manufacturers. Simply put producing an expensive and sophisticated product is easy if money is no object but creating an affordable, reliable. competent one is much more intelligent and cleverer ***. There is no reason to penalize the photo enthusiasms for satisfying the “pro” reviewers of the Web planet, don’t you agree?

Good shopping!

*** This is why I have always hated big cars; big trucks and I don’t understand the need to produce electric cars that have so much luxury “electrical” accessories at the first place!

 

Photos Daniel M: Lumix GX85 / G Vario 35-100mm F4-5.6; Lumix G85 / G Vario 12-60mm F3.5-5.6; Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II / M.Zuiko 40-150mm F4-5.6 R 

 

 

 

[Dallas]

Excellent observations, Daniel and 100% spot on with the current crop of “reviewers”. One doesn’t have to go far in a YouTube search to see exactly who is on the invisible payroll of the manufacturers these days. They always get the newly released cameras and lenses before they are released and they never pay for them either. This is why I created the lens databases here, so that people who actually use the lenses can share their actual experiences on the database. Sadly very few have done this. Perhaps I need to re-invigorate that element of the website? 

[danielm]

7 hours ago, Dallas said:

Excellent observations, Daniel and 100% spot on with the current crop of “reviewers”. One doesn’t have to go far in a YouTube search to see exactly who is on the invisible payroll of the manufacturers these days. They always get the newly released cameras and lenses before they are released and they never pay for them either. 

Thank you Dallas and your appreciation is always welcome. Now the photo gear "presenters" are relying essentially on the audimat of their websites to be paid by click by the vendors that are advertising into their pages. To get attention, they need the novelties and the manufacturers are using them as cheap promotors. The very critical ones are few and the "war" of the superlatives is now raging into the fan bases of each makers.

 

"This is why I created the lens databases here, so that people who actually use the lenses can share their actual experiences on the database. Sadly very few have done this. Perhaps I need to re-invigorate that element of the website?" 

 

One thing that everybody can do easily is indicating which optic they have used each time they post a new picture. Time to time they can add some remarks about the handling and the optical qualities of their lenses. 

 

Good day!

 

 

[crowecg]

Ahh, media and marketing, busy selling us stuff we don’t really need.   
 

We‘ve seen massive developments in technology if various types, particularly cameras and computers, in the last 40 years and the marketing depts have certainly taken advantage of that.  I think we are now reaching a plateau and it is going to get harder for the influencers to get attention and they are going to become more extreme before they realise no one really cares about them and they run off after the next get rich quick scam.  I won’t feel sorry for them but hopefully people with real knowledge and information can survive the shouting that will accompany the influencer decline.

[Dallas]

I wish I could concur with your assessment, Chris, but alas I believe that there are still way too many non-thinkers out there to keep these other people in "business".