man & nature # 48 ~ visions of sugar plums dancing in my head
Friday, October 3, 2008 at 10:00AM 
Wet tree trunk • click to embiggenA few days ago I brought up the subject of picturing with long telephoto lenses. Amongst the comments was this from Mary Dennis:
Currently I am really enjoying "light on my feet" photography. I find that I am happiest and most productive when my gear burden is next to nothing. (That means the camera and lens around my neck and whatever else I can fit in one cargo pants pocket--memory cards and extra batteries). There are lots of interesting possibilities working with a long lens for sure but, for the time being at least, the extra poundage isn't it worth it for me.
Even though I am currently lugging around 2 large dslrs (with battery grips) which weight somewhere in the neighborhood of 576 pounds, I am in complete agreement with Mary about the benefits of "light on my feet" photography. One of the reasons, I am currently hauling around boat anchors is because I need some of features that are only found on "pro" dslrs - a sync socket for my studio strobe lights, heavy-duty dirt/dust and water sealing, rugged camera bodies, etc.
That said, one of the reasons I chose Olympus dslrs (I also have a Pentax K20D) is for the very compact size (and fast) characteristics of their telephoto lenses. That said, while they are small as compared to their competitors, they still are not small. The simple fact is that whenever I am out and about with my 50-200mm f2.8/3.5 (100-400mm, 35mm equiv.) Zuiko lens attached to my E-3, I get stares and comments from guys that contain more than a smidgen of penis-envy like inferences about the lens.
In any event, just in case you live in a Photokina 2008 vacuum, Olympus & Panasonic have announced the co-development of a Micro 4/3rds format - cameras with a full-size 4/3rds sensor and interchangeable lenses that are not dslrs. By eliminating the mirror and pentaprism, the forthcoming bodies are very small and also allows for the design of very compact lenses at both ends of focal length spectrum.
Just check out these pictures of the soon to be released Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1. It's small. And check out this article that has pictures of a new 45-200mm (90-400mm, 35mm equiv.) lens that really is small - to use Mary's criteria parlance - cargo pants pocket small.
For reference, look at the camera with the 14-45mm lens attached in the hands of a woman and realize that the 45-200mm lens is not all that much bigger than the standard 14-45mm lens.
The other thing to take into account is that Olympus has previewed a prototype Micro 4/3rds camera without the pseudo slr-type pentaprism housing of the DMC-G1 - a camera that resembles the classic Leica rangefinder look. The Olympus body is smaller yet than the DMC-G1. Because the Micro 4/3rds standard is an open standard (just like the "standard" 4/3rds format), those same Panasonic lenses will be able to be used on the Olympus camera (along with whatever lenses Olympus introduces).
As all of you know, I am not an equipment / tech junkie but, that said, I find the prospect of a small, interchangeable lens, full-sized sensor (albeit 4/3rds) camera system to be a quite interesting and very desirable proposition. I won't be chucking my dslr anvils into the river and I can't imagine ever leaving the house without them, but the idea of having a "light on my feet" system is giving me sweaty palms - mostly likely from the combination of anticipation thereof mixed with a heavy dose of the wife's reaction to whole idea.
Reader Comments (4)
Frankly, I love being light on my feet! Even with an Olympus E520 and Canon 5D my favorite camera is still a Ricoh GRD2. For simply picturing the world it's perfect, especially in B&W. However, I too am looking forward to the micro four thirds offerings. An Olympus "M-like" camera with everything Olympus is known for would be simply fantastic. I prefer the Olympus mFT mockup to the Panasonic G1.
The best camera is the one you have with you,
I've now decided that from now on my kit will consist of an Olympus E-510 (490g), a 9-18mm lens (275 g) and a 35mm macro lens (165g), Total weight is a mere 930g or 33 oz.
There's a price to be paid: no weather sealing, no telephoto zoom, no fast lens. Sure I'll miss some photo ops. But I'd rather have my camera with me than at home.
Waiting for the 9-18mm to arrive, today I went out with only the 35mm macro lens attached to the camera. What a joy, I was enjoying photography again.
I have a feeling this is going the way of the mobile phone - too small to be held without jitters and buttons too small for adult fingers.
That Panasonic Lumix looks interesting Mark. Heck, I might even expand the parameters of my pants pocket rule and use both the left and the right side cargo areas to be able to carry around a couple of those cute little lenses! ;-)
Seriously though, even though the primary reason I travel light is because it's the way I am happiest and most productive, I can't stand the way people look at you and sometimes snicker about all the crap you are lugging around when you go full bore gear. It just makes be uncomfortable. Not only do I enjoy being light on my feet, I also like to be semi-invisible as a photographer. I think I've said it before here, but I DO NOT like to converse with people (especially about gear) while I am shooting. It really ruins the mojo for me. The less "serious" people think I am the better.