Harsh Realities.

I have neck and shoulder issues. It’s not a new thing and the combination of poor posture, carrying excess weight and being fairly tall ; all combine to make carrying stuff about painful. This year has been what some could describe as turbulent in my camera gear ownership. I switched to full frame in spring and was initially happy I had done so. I failed to notice the inexorable rise in weight of my camera gear. Lenses and camera bodies got increasingly heavy and bulky. I accepted it as part of the deal with full frame. That’s what serious photographers use after all?

My neck and shoulders have got progressively worse as the year has gone on. Whether it is carrying round heavier gear or just anno domini creeping up; I knew I wasn’t doing myself any favours. By and large, I’m an outdoors photographer, either in nature or in towns and cities. I like to have an interchangeable lens camera with at least two lenses and the resultant accessories should my sd cards fail, lens cloths, filters etc. I have been using the Pentax K1 recently. It’s a stellar machine but heavy. Combined with a kit lens or telephoto zoom, it becomes even heavier. Yesterday, I went for a walk just outside Hebden Bridge. I used a backpack to distribute weight across my back and shoulders. The walk was fine but my neck and shoulders were painful. The images I got were disappointing partly because I felt the heft of the gear. It all felt a bit too much effort.

I downloaded the images and had a serious think. Why have I pursued the idea of going full frame? What discernible advantage has it given me over crop sensors ? Many of the Fujifilm zooms and pro grade lenses aren’t much smaller than full frame equivalents which is why I switched in the first place. I was already carrying a fairly heavy pack when out doing landscape photography. Maybe the truth that I was struggling physically with large gear had been filed away in the ‘well nevermind about that’ section. So, I needed to do something decisive. Make a change that will free me up to get out more.

I have decided to downsize to micro four thirds. Smaller lenses, generally smaller bodies, different prospect altogether. I am happy to relinquish megapixels if the payoff is more mobility. I know there are professional photographers who use MFT with some success. I feel I have the skills to deal with the possible consequences of a drop in file resolution. We have to make compromises sometimes and my search for the perfect system continues. Many of my prints for sale on this website are taken with smaller sensors, some with low megapixels. They print just as beautifully as the full frame images. Most people view my images online so having a 20.2 mp camera, is no loss really. I just hope I can stop this revolving door of camera gear and settle with a system that works for me in every way. I need to get to know a camera better.