I took my Pentax Q7 for a few Christmassy evenings out on the town with the children within the run as much as Christmas. I took it out as a result of it ended up discovering its solution to being the closest digital camera in my assortment to becoming the invoice for a really particular concept I had in my head for a capturing expertise I wished. Funnily sufficient although, when considering forward about what digital camera I wished to tackle these evenings out, it wasn’t the primary digital camera that got here to thoughts. The primary digital camera that got here to thoughts was one I didn’t already personal which triggered a bout of significantly unrealistic GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome). Fortunately, in the long run, my present private monetary circumstances put pay to my GAS whims, and truly the end result has happy me much more than shopping for a brand new digital camera would have. Although in terms of GAS, there at all times appears to be a punchline!)
I’m skint in the intervening time. I don’t wish to be seen to be occurring about it on a regular basis, however with the brand new web sites and ongoing automotive points the shortage of disposable earnings is unquestionably a consider my life in the intervening time. It’s simply life although – I’ve needed to promote some cameras – that’s the way in which issues go generally. I’m fortunate to have the cameras to promote within the first place, many others aren’t so fortunate, so I’m positively not complaining.
Fairly the other actually. I’ve really discovered promoting these cameras to be fairly cathartic. I plan to come back again to what I’ve needed to promote and what I’ve been in a position to preserve and why in additional element in a future submit I feel. The overall overview although is that I’m attempting to restrict the equipment to the purpose of little to no duplication in forms of digital camera, and solely lenses that I’ll really use. I’ve little discrete units of equipment that I can take out as an entire. So for instance I’ve just a little Leica Ic, a 28mm and 40mm that make a pleasant equipment. I’ve a Contax 139 with the 45mm 2.8 and 85mm 2.8. I did have the 50mm 1.4 and 28mm 2.8 too, however I wouldn’t have used these so that they went (the 50mm remains to be on the market on the time of writing in case you’re ). The 45mm and 85mm make for a equipment that I may simply take out by itself with out feeling like I’m lacking something. There are anomalies corresponding to my Nikon AF equipment the place I’ve just a few extra lenses and cameras, however that’s just about my foremost interest setup in the intervening time (particularly the D700 and F100) and I’m proud of it as it’s so it’s not bothering me to have a wider vary of equipment.
One other instance of one thing I bought which made me really feel unusually comforted by parting with it was the Sony RX100vii. Truthfully I didn’t suppose I might ever promote that digital camera. There was a stage once I carried it round with me nearly in every single place I went. I bought it as a result of I purchased an iPhone 15 professional max with the 15-120mm equal lenses. The Sony simply turned redundant once I simply stopped choosing it up. I by no means thought I’d say this a couple of smartphone, however truthfully the standard of the pictures (albeit with a little bit of AI intervention) is unimaginable. In fact it’s no the place close to pretty much as good because the Sony when it comes to photographic course of satisfaction, however really for the snaps I used to be utilizing it for, it doesn’t make that a lot odds simply utilizing my cellphone. I’m nonetheless getting pictures I like, and the cellphone is at all times at hand with out having to hold an additional factor.
That mentioned, that is the place my little bit of GAS began. Having bought the Sony I felt I wished a pocket digital camera that felt like a “correct” digital camera. Not one thing to hold on a regular basis, however one thing to take out alongside my cellphone once I wished a correct photographic expertise with out the majority of one in all my full sized cameras. The query was, how and what may I purchase that might be as small because the Sony however have a correct lens and correct sensor that might enable issues like shallow depth of discipline with out using AI? The one reply I may consider is the Ricoh GRIIIx. With its APSc dimension sensor and 40mm equal lens, I used to be initially satisfied it was the digital camera for me. That mentioned, it didn’t take me lengthy to grasp that even second hand these cameras aren’t a lot change from £1000 which is completely out of the query for me in the intervening time. Not least for the truth that if I had £1000 to spend on a digital camera proper now it will positively be a Rolleiflex… once more, that’s a narrative for one more day!
Eager about the Ricoh despatched me down an fascinating path although. The very first thing that got here to thoughts was that Pentax/Ricoh (the identical firm in case you weren’t conscious) not too long ago launched a black and white solely SLR. I keep in mind studying on the time that there have been some rumours that they may launch a black and white model of one of many GR cameras. This obtained me considering extra about factors of distinction from my iPhone. Pocketable, larger sensor, correct lens and black and white solely was now what I wished. Some extra studying and it appears the rumours a couple of black and white Ricoh have been quashed by one of many guys on the design crew there. While studying about this although, I used to be conveniently linked to an article a couple of man who had his color Ricoh transformed to black and white by an organization known as MG leisure. I discovered the corporate on fb, messaged (simply out of curiosity you perceive…) and obtained a response that it will value me 499 (euro I suppose) for the conversion. Not unhealthy, however I’m now as much as finest a part of £1300-1400 of cash I haven’t obtained for a digital camera I’d already determined that I wouldn’t purchase even when I did have the cash.
It additionally then occurred to me that even when I did purchase this digital camera, have it transformed to black and white, spending all that cash, it will nonetheless be a digital camera and not using a viewfinder. That is in all probability the one factor that at all times feels missing from the Ricoh level and shoot cameras to me. Even a reasonably small and easy viewfinder would make them much more interesting I feel. I’m not antagonistic to utilizing the display screen on the again of a digital camera in any respect, nevertheless it’s positively good to have a viewfinder for events when capturing in vivid daylight, and even simply when the whim takes me. This then turned one other level of distinction I wished from the iPhone. I wished a extremely pocketable digital camera with an even bigger sensor, correct lens, black and white pictures and a viewfinder.
At which level I realised I used to be at a useless finish. I used to be in a silly GAS gap that I wanted to reverse again out of. Taking the devoted black and white capturing out of the equation I discovered myself in a scenario the place I wished a pocketable digital camera with an even bigger sensor, correct lens and a viewfinder… and essentially the most logical reply to that query was very in all probability the Sony RX100vii I had simply bought. There was a motive I had purchased it within the first place, and that was the truth that it answered so many of those kinds of questions. However I’d bought it as a result of I wasn’t utilizing it sufficient to justify protecting it. I used to be utilizing my iPhone extra for my day by day snaps. What I used to be really craving was just a little digital digital camera to take out once I wish to have a extra of the expertise of taking photos, not simply iPhone snaps. And due to my monetary scenario even considering down the highway of the Ricoh GRIIIx had been pointless. Actually what I ought to have been doing it trying in my digital camera cupboard on the equipment I already personal.
I’ve left in my assortment just a few very fascinating and in addition fairly small digital cameras. The Fuji X100 that I had transformed to full spectrum. That ticks many of the containers. Larger sensor, pretty viewfinder, correct lens. It’s not fairly pocketable although – it’s not far off, nevertheless it’s not the form of dimension of digital camera I’m considering of. And it’s full spectrum transformed quite than black and white so already feels prefer it has a specified objective throughout the assortment. And to reiterate, it’s simply not as pocketable a digital camera as I’d like.
What else do I’ve? I’ve a Sony Nex-5. I preserve this digital camera purely as a result of it makes zero financial sense to promote it – it’s value subsequent to nothing and mounts lots of lenses I already in any other case personal and use with no matter full dimension Sony I’m presently capturing. It has a flappy display screen which I like and is tiny. I’ve shot it in black and white with the Funleader 18mm lens on it and had a great deal of enjoyable earlier than too. 28mm equal is a bit large for me although – particularly in the intervening time the place I’m principally used to capturing an 85. No viewfinder both. My Sony 35mm 2.8 is a pleasant match on it although, so I googled viewfinders for the Nex-5 and located they made one. It’s silly cash. There have been additionally a load of adapters so as to add a traditional shoe mount to the digital camera – these are additionally silly cash. One other useless finish, not least as a result of regardless of being small, it’s probably not the tiny dimension I’m aiming for.
The Panasonic Lumix LX3 was the subsequent digital camera to contemplate. Smaller sensor, however a really good lens and I do know its photos convert to black and white actually properly. No viewfinder. Although it does have a sizzling shoe… a little bit of studying and I’m reminded that it’s arduous to set the lens to match an optical finder with this digital camera. Not not possible (as you may learn right here), however not very sensible. The Panasonic LX5 could be the reply although. Comparable digital camera nevertheless it permits a digital viewfinder to be hooked up. In fact, a little bit of eBay looking out put pay to that too. £150 for the viewfinder and never far off £100 for the digital camera simply felt like a ridiculous factor so as to add to my assortment once I’m attempting to pare down the equipment. Plus, I don’t have £250!
What else have I obtained knocking round within the cupboard? Only a bunch of brightly colored cameras I purchased for the youthful child to play with… … and that’s when I discovered my yellow Pentax Q7. I forgot I had this digital camera. I as soon as put it up on the market having by no means actually shot it. I didn’t promote for what I wished for it, so I took the itemizing down considering I’d get round to capturing it someday after which forgot about it. Maybe it’s time had come…? I fished it out the cupboard, and re-familiarising myself with it I remembered that I’ve a set of three lenses. The fisheye, the toy pancake lens and the 40mm equal f/1.9. This latter lens really has a terrific popularity too. That’s to say it’s a “correct” lens. It’s additionally 40mm-ish equal. I’ve a ravishing Voigtlander 40mm viewfinder and the Pentax has a hotshoe I can mount it too. That is additionally a really pocketable digital camera – even with the large VF mounted to the highest. In fact, it’s not particularly black and white solely. Neither is the sensor very large in any respect so not a lot shallow DoF at hand. However, that’s a superb few gadgets ticked off the want listing, and extra importantly than anything, this was a digital camera that I already had within the cupboard.
A bit extra tinkering with the digital camera and I found it lets you shoot RAW and set the digital camera to black and white. That’s to say, the display screen exhibits a black and white preview and photograph in playback while nonetheless saving to RAW. I’ve Lightroom setup to make use of it’s in-built digital camera profiles so I knew this may be overwritten on the pc finish, however that didn’t trouble me an excessive amount of. A fast choose all and a sync of black and white conversion with a little bit of added distinction would repair that anyway.
This rediscovery of the Pentax Q7 got here simply in time for just a little outing into city with the children to shoot the Christmas gentle switch-on. This felt like it will be the right alternative to check this little pocketable rig to see if it will match the invoice and scratch that itch for one thing that slot in my pocket however felt like a correct digital camera and gave me a satisfying capturing expertise in the way in which an iPhone simply can’t. It did too! I used to be just a little frightened in regards to the autofocus which isn’t superb in low gentle, however in the long run it didn’t let me down in any respect – I obtained all of the pictures I wished. The expertise of utilizing the viewfinder generally and display screen others was precisely what I wished, and the upper distinction black and white outcomes that popped up on the again display screen happy me when it comes to my photographic expertise.
As soon as I obtained residence, I put them straight onto the pc, didn’t even give Lightroom the prospect to indicate me the color variations by rapidly making use of a tough excessive distinction conversion and I used to be there. Actually, it was at this level I had one other realisation. I don’t want the large fashionable sensor both. A giant fashionable sensor would simply give me cleaner extra digital outcomes. The outcomes I took with the Q7 in good gentle had been really too clear of noise. I made a psychological word to repair the ISO at the next quantity subsequent time I take the digital camera out like this. This might give me a extra constant look from one picture to the subsequent. The quick f/1.9 lens meant I obtained just a little little bit of topic separation once I was taking portraits too.
Following on from this outing I took the digital camera out once more to the Worcester Christmas Fayre. I take pictures at this Fayre yearly, and expertise has informed me that the most effective kind of capturing expertise to get pleasure from with the children in tow is one the place I can simply level and shoot with out having to fret about focus. It frustrates me generally as I do know all the intense vibrant lights look pretty blurred into the background of a photograph when taken with some bizarre traditional lens I’m attempting to evaluate. Nevertheless it’s simply not sensible attempting to shoot in such a busy surroundings when actually my job is simply to facilitate the children having some enjoyable. As such, the Pentax Q7 once more labored a deal with. This time I locked it out at 3200iso to get some consistency within the noise from one body to the subsequent. Apart from unintentionally switching it to a decrease ISO for a few pictures, it labored actually properly!
These pictures actually sum up the fayre for me. The noise and smoke and vivid lights in the dead of night. The grain simply fits them. As, I feel does the distortion from the 8.5mm lens when it’s shot in uncooked (ie with out the in-camera correction utilized).
In brief, my assault of GAS mixed with a scarcity of money had resulted in me utilizing a digital camera I already owned. And have you learnt what, I used to be all of the extra glad with the expertise. I had the expertise and the outcomes I used to be on the lookout for with out spending any cash and had obtained there by means of utilizing a digital camera that was little question the topic of a earlier little bit of GAS that I’d by no means even ended up utilizing. Not solely that, however this had occurred after I’d bought a bunch of different cameras. Good!
…Properly practically excellent. As I mentioned in my intro, in terms of images and kit and all of the silly GAS associated thought processes that it’s attainable to have there was at all times going to be a punchline. The yellow model of the Pentax Q7 appears to be like fairly cool, there’s no denying that… however is it actually me? Am I actually snug with it, or would I be happier if I had a extra discreet and stealthy black digital camera? I now have an eBay saved seek for a black Pentax Q7… except anybody has one they’d prefer to swap for a yellow one… …?
Completely happy Christmas/Holidays Everybody!
Hamish
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