GAS GAS: Please Share your Latest Desires Big and Small

GAS-wise this change-of-year is looking good. No signs of the usual December-January-darkness-induced GAS 😎

Dec 2015: gas for Fuji X100T (bought)
Jan 2017: gas for Fuji X-T1 (bought)
Jan 2018: gas for Olympus PEN-F (bought)
Dec 2018: gas for Leica MP240 (bought big time 😎)

So far, so good!
 
Well, I'm more into selling cameras than buying at the moment, but still on the fence as to what to let go next ... Might as well try to settle down.

However, that's not the case at all when it comes to glass ... just decided to play it safe with the "universal" 50mm for M mount (Voigtländer Nokton 50mm f/1.5). That leaves the tiny Apoqualia on my "desires" list ... It's tempting, very tempting (besides, I really like buying from Bellamy - he's a great guy to deal with).

EDIT: @TraamisVOS This is the image I remembered from the 50mm f/1.2 - the flare doesn't appear to be quite as bad as I remembered (at least it's not too brightly coloured), but veiling flare is pretty visible ... Sun just out of the frame to the top left.

LM102101.jpg
Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)


Still, quite a nice lens, if a bit big for walking around with. As a tool, it's top-notch, though!

M.
 
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Well, I'm more into selling cameras than buying at the moment, but still on the fence as to what to let go next ... Might as well try to settle down.

However, that's not the case at all when it comes to glass ... just decided to play it safe with the "universal" 50mm for M mount (Voigtländer Nokton 50mm f/1.5). That leaves the tiny Apoqualia on my "desires" list ... It's tempting, very tempting (besides, I really like buying from Bellamy - he's a great guy to deal with).

EDIT: @TraamisVOS This is the image I remembered from the 50mm f/1.2 - the flare doesn't appear to be quite as bad as I remembered (at least it's not coloured), but veiling flare is pretty visible ... Sun just out of the frame to the top left.

View attachment 211327

Still, quite a nice lens, if a bit big for walking around with. As a tool, it's top-notch, though!

M.
Lens flare is in these days thanks to JJ Abrams.
 
I've been thinking Leica T lately. For an M10 shooter it's a pretty ideal companion: shared pluggable EVF (Visoflex 020) and the lenses adapt nicely. The original T shares the story arc of Fuji X100 the original: initially dog slow but after gradual firmware updates it has become nice and affordable. And what a slim body it has. Just imagine slipping it in your camera bag next to M10.

On a related note, the Leica SL bodies are starting to drop in prices. By December I think they can be had for 2500 € on the regular. Because I'm not super satisfied with Fuji all-in-all, I might want to consider that one ultimate mirrorless FF body that can adapt it all. Olympus OM, Canon FD, Leica M, Leica R, Nikon F...

Sure enough, a Nikon Z6 or even Canon R with Kolari mod filter stacks might prove to be a much smarter idea in general but SL has certain charm.
 
I have come to realize that while I’m not really listing after any particular camera gear. Without realizing it light modifiers and backdrops have my full attention.
 
I have come to realize that while I’m not really listing after any particular camera gear. Without realizing it light modifiers and backdrops have my full attention.
It's all good babe 8)

I assume that light modifiers and backdrops both are enormous fun because you can treat them as zero-budget DIY craft projects?
 
Generally, I can't say I'm really pining for much these days - I have too much photo gear as it is. But if I could magically pick a single item at no cost, it would probably be a Leica Q2.

28mm isn't my favorite focal length (but it would get used fairly often). But there's more than enough resolution in that camera's sensor to leave it on the 35mm crop setting without losing any image quality.

And the best part is, I wouldn't have to jump on the expensive Leica lens bandwagon. The Q2 is the first and only digital Leica I've ever really wanted.
 
I'm considering wide angle options for my new A7Rii.
Primary candidates the Tamron 24mm f2.8 and the Voigtländer 21mm f3.5. They both have their pros and cons but these are the ones I keep coming back to when reading through reviews and comments online.
 
I'm watching the interwebs and waiting for my 50mm Heliar to sell, I'm set on the Voigtlander 35mm f2.5 Skopar for the Bessa T, and then I'll settle down (looking at M glass is a bad, bad rabbit trail to go down!) and shoot with it for a long while before I allow myself to think about anything else.

Still need a better M4/3 body, but I just can't decide which one, and don't want to spend a whole lot. So who knows when I'll be ready for that.
 
So far, so good!

Urgh. Augh. Getting real anxious and bothered about Nikon Df. It would be a solid "2nd camera" type of situation, and I'm currently thinking of maybe living in the moment and place an offer about trading Fuji gear for Df and some extras.

I know painfully well that Fuji X-T3 is an absolute powerhouse and all that jazz. Before I had it, it was this (at that time) the object of irrational desire for me.

But something compels about the Df. The OVF experience I would love. The TTL framing experience. That big pixel look. The ISO performance seems just crazy good. The glass selection.

While researching for this post, wow. Did not realise that Df is soon 6 years old. Crazy, it's almost as old as my Leica M but has ISO performance 2-3 stops ahead :D
 
Urgh. Augh. Getting real anxious and bothered about Nikon Df. It would be a solid "2nd camera" type of situation, and I'm currently thinking of maybe living in the moment and place an offer about trading Fuji gear for Df and some extras.

I know painfully well that Fuji X-T3 is an absolute powerhouse and all that jazz. Before I had it, it was this (at that time) the object of irrational desire for me.

But something compels about the Df. The OVF experience I would love. The TTL framing experience. That big pixel look. The ISO performance seems just crazy good. The glass selection.

While researching for this post, wow. Did not realise that Df is soon 6 years old. Crazy, it's almost as old as my Leica M but has ISO performance 2-3 stops ahead :D
Have you played with the DF? I've heard a few comments about the controls that I'm trying to remember. It might have just been like Fuji where some 1/3-1/2 stop settings are change with the controls dials.

One thing I do remember is it had the 39 point AF system like the D600/610. I found the point spread to narrow when I was shooting events. It was the main reason I dumped the D600* and why I dismissed the DF (sensor would have been nice for events).

*I had a D600 that had the oil issue, after the 3rd service Nikon sent me a new D610, I sold it new in the box for D800.
 
Urgh. Augh. Getting real anxious and bothered about Nikon Df. It would be a solid "2nd camera" type of situation, and I'm currently thinking of maybe living in the moment and place an offer about trading Fuji gear for Df and some extras.

I know painfully well that Fuji X-T3 is an absolute powerhouse and all that jazz. Before I had it, it was this (at that time) the object of irrational desire for me.

But something compels about the Df. The OVF experience I would love. The TTL framing experience. That big pixel look. The ISO performance seems just crazy good. The glass selection.

While researching for this post, wow. Did not realise that Df is soon 6 years old. Crazy, it's almost as old as my Leica M but has ISO performance 2-3 stops ahead :D

Had the Df. Loved it. The IQ matched the D4, and the ability to natively use the old non-Ai glass was brilliant. However... the OVF kicked my butt. If you have issues with OVFs depending upon their specs, be aware it's possible you could have problems with this one.

I shot a 50-minute event with the Df, with the camera up to my eye for maybe 15 to 20 minutes total during that time. At the end of the event my binocular vision was out of whack and I was literally seeing double. It took about 30 minutes before it returned, then I developed a migraine-type headache that lasted most of a day. The only other time I have had that happen is when spending too much time behind crappy optics on a rifle. I've spent a lot more time with other cameras up to my eye at airshows, and not had that problem.

I'm very sensitive to how a viewfinder is designed and implemented, so that makes me an aberration. Some people loved the OVF. But I thought I'd bring it up so you have another data point to consider, especially if you've had problems with any OVF in the past.
 
Thanks for the insights. I'm primarily kicking this GAS with the weight aspect and also the fact I can't adapt my expensive M glass to a DSLR body.

For example, with UWAs it just happens to be the case that TTL composing anything in 28mm or wider is the best, but what if I want to grow my M glass collection with expensive options and then at best, duplicate those in Nikon F?

Also the fact that I may want to play with some affordable SLR tele lenses but with the Df I'm limited to Nikon F glass. And those are heavy lenses also, just to play around with. I may have to channel my desires back to a mirrorless body :whistle:

Have you played with the DF? I've heard a few comments about the controls that I'm trying to remember. It might have just been like Fuji where some 1/3-1/2 stop settings are change with the controls dials.

One thing I do remember is it had the 39 point AF system like the D600/610. I found the point spread to narrow when I was shooting events. It was the main reason I dumped the D600* and why I dismissed the DF (sensor would have been nice for events).

Yeah it's a big problem with these direct dials that aren't that well implemented as with Leica. Full stops granularity is a bit too rough. Leica does it decently enough with half stops.

I agree -- if you have to use a control dial to finetune, the direct shutter speed dial is nothing but aesthetic. But I'd live using A mode, I think.

Wrt focus performance, I also read it's not very fast. Of course I'd have to ask is it slow wrt mirrorless cameras or just slow against DSLRs. I'd be pretty content with focus & recompose I reckon.

the OVF kicked my butt

One thing I didn't even think about! There are OVFs and there are OVFs.
 
<snip>
One thing I didn't even think about! There are OVFs and there are OVFs.

Again, I'm an aberration. Just wanted you to be aware that there could be an issue.

As for the lenses, at the time the old Nippon Kogaku Nikkor Auto non-Ai lenses were inexpensive for what they are, when you could find them. Not sure of current pricing and availability. IMHO they paired wonderfully with the Df with regards to rendering. I preferred them on the Df rather than the newer G series lenses. The better D series lenses were a joy to use as well. For me anyways.
 
.......Wrt focus performance, I also read it's not very fast. Of course I'd have to ask is it slow wrt mirrorless cameras or just slow against DSLRs. I'd be pretty content with focus & recompose I reckon........
Speed wasn't the issue, point spread was (from Niko Rumors):

AF-area-comparison-between-Nikon-D610-D750-and-D810-cameras.jpg


The far edges are not wide enough forcing more focus and recompose and there isn't time for that when shooting events.
 
Urgh. Augh. Getting real anxious and bothered about Nikon Df. It would be a solid "2nd camera" type of situation, and I'm currently thinking of maybe living in the moment and place an offer about trading Fuji gear for Df and some extras.

I know painfully well that Fuji X-T3 is an absolute powerhouse and all that jazz. Before I had it, it was this (at that time) the object of irrational desire for me.

But something compels about the Df. The OVF experience I would love. The TTL framing experience. That big pixel look. The ISO performance seems just crazy good. The glass selection.

While researching for this post, wow. Did not realise that Df is soon 6 years old. Crazy, it's almost as old as my Leica M but has ISO performance 2-3 stops ahead :D

A lot of people I know seem to be getting the DSLR itch again! As for myself, there are times when I like shooting DSLRs over MILCs. Also I've enjoyed the simplicity of just using single point focus AF and recompose!
 
The Df is unique DSLR with a massive selection available of old MF Nikkor glass that seems to be getting cheaper all the time.
Plays well with the older and newer AF lenses too. Great sensor!
I had thought about getting the new D780 and selling the Df. Or picking up a bargain priced barely used D750. Or even a Z6...
But, after using it the last two weeks for our Vision 2020, I am going to keep the Df.
The AF works great for the type of photos usually do.
That and the Coolpix A are my Nikon digital cameras. At least for now.
Can't see that Nikon would be producing anything like the Df or Coolpix A again.

So this week I picked up an original Monochrome CCD 18mp in mint condition that had just returned from Leica with a brand new replacement sensor. Should be in my hands tomorrow.
Somewhat ironic that Leica is announcing the new M10 Monochrome 41mp this week...
I did have the Monochrome 246 and sold it to get the M10-P.
I really liked the 246, and when I look back at those files some of the images are sublime.
But I could not resist trying the CCD sensor. So many people seem to love the images it produces.
I must say it did seem weird to buy a 2012 era camera today.
But of course it was less than a third of the price that Leica will want for the new M10 Monochrome.
 
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