The End of an Era: Trading in my Canon Camera Gear
The Canon Years
I have shot with Canon since at least 2007. That’s a long time, over 20 years. It has my primary gear for everything in this digital era. The last time I upgraded my gear was in 2019, and back then I though I would switch to Sony, but I stayed with Canon.
I love Canon cameras. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with their gear, and they have some of the best lenses/glass on the market.
But I have this itch to just try something different
I have had my eye on Sony, still (for so many years). That never changed. But when it actually came down to research what is right for me, in this season of life. I found that it does not exactly reflect what I want to do with my work.
Picking out a new system is not a light decision
Everyone always asks me, what camera should they get? While I can give some recommendations, I feel like we have hit this plateau in terms of equipment. I’m not going to lie either, these camera phones have gotten really good, for the average user.
Camera phones still don’t beat that ‘photography’ look though, especially when you are using prime lenses, and just overall quality wise they really don’t match what a DSLR can do.
My advice to you (and to myself), when you pick out new camera equipment: figure out what the soul purpose of it is first
And that’s where I’m at. In the past 20 years, the primary focus of my work has been disc golf, nature, and some road trips. Given the age of my equipment, and this new season of life. I feel like I have been returning to this nostalgic era.
I want that tactile look and feel of a film camera, even if it is not
The outcome? I’m going to go with the Nikon Zf. I am beyond excited. While I don’t actually have this system in my hands yet, I recently traded in ALL of my Canon gear through KEH, and while I wait for their final appraisal, that is where I am at.
Years ago, I switched my cell phone from Apple to Android. Those first two weeks of not even really being able to figure out how to switch over screens to make a phone call were the worst.
I suspect this will be similar. But while my digital habits have always been with Canon. I am beyond familiar with all types of film cameras, and the basic mechanics exposure, with or without a light meter. So I’m not really worried about making a switch like that based out of my own mental mechanical habits.
I’m not going to sugar coat it
That feeling of wanting to create something with my old photo system, left me at least a year ago. There is something about trying something new, and struggling through the learning process a little bit, that really makes it fun again. I am counting down the days, of a timeline that does not exist, until then.
