VE6AB Technical

Camera Porn

For the past 40 years I have owned many different types and makes of cameras, and for the most part they have been SLR cameras made by either Canon or Nikon. There was a time back in the 80's I decided that I couldn't move forward without owning a Leica rangefinder camera, and I soon acquired a Leica M6 with a full compliment of jewel like prime lens also made by Leica.
After a couple of years, I decided to go back to an SLR system, and put together a Nikon system that served me well for a number of years.
Then Canon released the first IS (Image Stabilization) lens, and I switched from Nikon to Canon for that reason alone.

Today I still shoot with a Canon system, probably because I have to much invested in Canon glass to switch to something else, although a long time ago I came to realize that I became a better photographer once I spent more time concentrating on learning how to see, and less time worrying about the next camera I wanted.
In all that time, the only regret I have is that I didn't keep the Leica M6, as it made your heart beat faster when you held it in your hands, and today the M6 is highly collectable for those who wish to shoot with an analog camera.

So over the past few years, and although I have been more than happy shooting with my DSLR cameras, I have been noticing a new kid on the block, the mirrorless camera that has been making waves and garnering a lot of attention from photographers.
In fact, I spend a fair amount of time on a photography forum frequented by photographers who make their living with a camera, and many of them have moved away from a DSLR system in favor of a mirrorless system.

Over the past couple of years I found myself spending time studying the specs of the various makes of mirrorless cameras available, and about a year or so ago, I acquired a Fujifilm X70 mirrorless camera (fixed 18mm lens - 28mm film equivalent) to use while tramping the prairies with my longbow, or while on a trout stream fly-fishing, that I realized I wanted to take the next step and assemble a mirrorless system.
Although there are many fine mirrorless cameras available, and for the record, they do not include Canon or Nikon, as they have been too busy worrying about eroding the sales of their DSLR camera systems, to offer mirrorless cameras, although they have made the attempt, but are lagging far behind, so they have been left in the dust by the likes of Fujifilm, Sony, Olympus and other camera manufacturers that build mirrorless cameras.

Now although Sony may possibly have the best sensors when it comes to digital cameras, and that means better than those built by Canon or Nikon (Nikon uses Sony sensors in their DSLR's), I find Sony cameras to be somewhat clunky to use, like as if the Sony engineer (or engineers) that design Sony cameras is not a photographer, or didn't listen to photographers as to usability of a camera.

So possibly first swayed by my positive experiences owning and using the Fujifilm X70, and also having owned and used the superb large format Fujinon lens with my homebuilt 4X5 film camera over the years, I decided to put together a Fujifilm mirrorless camera system as seen in the above photo.
For the record, I will grow this system beyond what you see here, but for the moment I'm doing it slowly, as I'm still shooting with my DSLR's, but one day it may be retired and put out to pasture, replaced by an all mirrorless system.
I must say I'm enjoying using this beautiful retro looking Fujifilm camera, with its jewel like Fujinon prime lens that include real aperture rings, and I will be adding several more primes to the mix soon.

Meanwhile, everything about shooting with this compact mirrorless camera, with its 24 megapixel APS-C Fujifilm X-Trans III sensor, has proven to be a winning combination, the files it shoots up to the task of holding their own when compared (pixel-peeping) to the files (raw or Jpeg) shot with my DSLR's.

I also must say that this camera is certainly a joy to carry and use, being as compact and light as it is, and it certainly wins in the build and looks department, not unlike shooting with a Leica M6 and its jewel like lens, but no Kodachromes however!

Expand the photo for a closer look.....