Fuji Working on my own gear purge, but....

Bobby T

Out Of Nowhere
I have done like @tonyturley and some others. Narrowing down my kit. I have found that I enjoy shooting a lot more with a minimalist kit. Also, the photos are better. My brain is definitely one which works better with making a shot from what I have versus choosing from several pieces of gear to make a shot. My kit is currently down to a X-T2 with RRS Plate and battery grip. If I am just out and about I take the grip off to save size and weight. My lenses are the 23 f2, 50 f2, and 90 f2. I'm not even "cheating" anymore "borrowing" the 50-230 from my son's kit.

Here's where the "but" comes in. For working type shoots. Like an event, baptism, most portrait work, and the occasional live musician, my kit works perfectly. Where my brain pan and photography hit a snag in this plan happened last week. Some friends and I went to a local taco festival. I took the T2 with the 23/50 pair. While I got shots, with some decent keepers. They were nothing really great. Looking at the photos I realized that in the more personal work situations, the 16mm/35mm pair really fit my shooting style better. Also the couple of times out recently before last weekend yielded the same results. And adding to that line of thought, a 55-200 would fit my personal work better than the 90mm. But the 90mm gives such beautiful images it is hard to give up.

I am at the proverbial crossroads where I don't know which way to go. I know that want to stay at no more than three lenses. My mix of working shoots and personal shoot is about dead even currently. I know from the past I could shoot all of my portraits with a 35mm if I had to. But the 50mm has proven to be a fantastic portrait lens. If I hadn't already lost most of my hair I'd be pulling it out :D

If anyone has any thoughts on this I would love to hear them.
 
My solution is 3 kits, so don’t count on me for sound advice. All focal lengths in equivalents, to make this cross platform understandable.

1. kit with DSLR styled body (bigger grip) two 2.8 zooms (24-80 and 80-300) and a 1.2 prime 50. For event type situations.

2. (And favorite) kit: rangefinder type body, and 24, 35, 90 and 150 fast primes.

3. (And smallest) kit: ridiculously small body with small prime(s) or zooms
a) 40 prime
b) 30 and 85 primes
c) 24 - 64 and 70-200 mini zooms (depending on the occasion).

I have a lot of stuff to choose from, but only bring a little at a time. I choose which kit to bring beforehand. Each kit has its own set of limitations. This approach works for me, and I don’t mind cheating (looking at a bag where I put the 2.8 standard zoom of kit 1 on the rangefinder body of kit 2, and have the small body with the prime 40 as backup. Still limitations: no tele, but like you, I like limitations. And a filled cupboard from which I choose my limitations for the day.
 
Bobby, two points:

1) If your working and it's earning money for you and your family, then you probably need to keep all the gear, no? Right tool for the job and all that. Just don't use it for personal uses.

2) However, personal well being (I mean that in a photographic sense) is very important as well though, so if anything, you might be best served actually adding to the gear list. Why do I say that? Well, I think I recall you saying you sold the 16mm. It's not my most used lens, but it lights a spiritual fire in me when I do, makes me creative and gives me unique images I can't get with my other gear. You seem to appreciate this lens too in hindsight, so just re-purchase it! That (and, you mentioned the 35) sounds like fun and for me that's what it's all about.
 
I’ve always taken the Walker Evans approach and maintained a day job for my primary income. Working shoots have always been for gear/fun/extra money. And for charity work, or access to something I want to shoot. I.E. shooting a con to have access to the original Godzilla cast or Stan Lee. That said, I treat all working shoots as if it is my only source of income to maintain a high professional standard.

Rayvonn, you are correct that I sold my 16mm when I picked up the 23mm f2. I have considered just getting another one. And I have also considered selling the 90mm. That would cost me roughly 10-15% of all of my shots at most. I really want to stay at a three lens kit if possible.

If I took Marlof’s advice, it gives the possibility of doing a 23/50 kit and a 16/35 kit. Which unfortunately puts me back at four lenses. And more unfortunately would lead to me to eventually getting another X-Pro2. Subsequently leading to my wife hiding my body.
 
When I typed down my list, I worried about myself. When did I get this much stuff? The answer was easy: over time. I put money in my hobby fund and when I have enough I buy a lens. Then I save again, and buy another. I don’t sell lenses that I like, even when I don’t use them much. I never spend money that wasn’t in my hobby fund. And two camera bodies are a generation or so behind the latest and greatest. Staying within a system helped of course. I don’t mind using camera bodies that still function as good as when I bought them years ago. That newer siblings might be better doesn’t make me itch when my current camera works for me. Funny enough: I have two ridiculously small camera bodies. I prefer the older, purchased second hand for little more than the charger, lens and spare batteries that came with it. Older tech, but it works great for me.
 
I have no issues with older generations of gear. If I didn’t do working shoots, I would be just like you in having an older body. The X-T2 with the grip is the best performing tool for when I have to submit photos to someone. I can, and have done portrait shoots the the X-T1. And even both the E-E2/1.

It’s becoming a struggle to balance what want vs what I need vs how I want to have my kit. Which I know is a good problem to have.
 
The garage helps. I mean it's not really just for storing a car is it. My m43 gear is in there and I haven't seen it for ages. Out of sight, out of mind, but nice to have it there. I'm reading what @marlof is saying, most of which describes me. That system does work and is super at fending off G.A.S.
 
I am at the proverbial crossroads where I don't know which way to go. I know that want to stay at no more than three lenses. My mix of working shoots and personal shoot is about dead even currently. I know from the past I could shoot all of my portraits with a 35mm if I had to. But the 50mm has proven to be a fantastic portrait lens. If I hadn't already lost most of my hair I'd be pulling it out :D
Bobby I'm no help at all on this. I have listed my 16 an 90 twice and pulled them both down within 24 hrs. My 35 is on the block now but I'm already missing it and it's still in my bag. When I bought back the 18-55 I thought it would be bolted to my camera , but it hasn't happened that way. My 16,35,90 have taken the majority of the work. But would I part with it, not a chance. I just gave up and bought a bigger bag.(y)
 
If you know what works best for you, @Tim Williams , then stick with it.

After talking with you guys, thinking for a day, and sleeping on it. I am leaning towards selling the 90mm. I am no longer going to be covering concerts, which is the main reason I picked it up. With portraits being a secondary use. For the very few times I need reach beyond 50mm, there is a 50-230 in the house.

I'm thinking about picking up a 16mm. That would give me a 16/50 pair for personal stuff. And the 23/50 pair for working shoots. Then go from there to see if I still feel like something is missing.
 
If I absolutely had a gun to my head, I would get rid of the 90, even though I feel it's the sharpest lens in my bag. The 16 and 35 are razors in my opinion but I need the 90 to round out my primes. Good luck Bobby, I have never acquired the perfect kit. Gives me something to live for.:2thumbs:
 
@mnhoj I was looking through photos from the past few years. The best set from my family’s annual trips to North Myrtle Beach was the year I took just the 16mm and 56mm. That is one of the bigger factors in my thinking of going with a 16/23/50 kit.
 
Back
Top