Egypt4u

BK mentioned his new Olympus camera kit and the fact that he plans to dispose of his Nikon D300 outfit.

Over the last few years I have gone from disposing of all my old camera gear and deciding that all I needed was a compact. That didn't last long because I soon missed using the live viewfinder of an SLR, sold the compact and bought a Nikon D5000 with the 18 - 55mm kit lens. Added a 50.. f2 prime and the Nikkor 55 - 200mm zoom to complete a useful kit.

Wanting another compact, and with help from Horus, I settled on the Fuji X10. Super little retro style camera with live viewfinder. A bit later I wanted something with a longer zoom so again after discussion with H, I bought a Fuji HS50 with the 1000mm lens. (24 to 1000 zoom). I sold the two Nikon lenses as I thought I would no longer need them.

Much as I like the HS50, it only has an electronic viewfinder and with glaucoma I have some problems with it. (I seldom use the screen to frame my pictures. Can't see them in sunlight anyhow)

I packed the Nikon and accessories in their original boxes all ready to sell on ebay before Christmas. After a few weeks of using the fuji's I had second thoughts, unpacked the Nikon and ordered a 55 - 300 Nikkor lens on ebay.

So now I have three cameras, and I use them all. The little fuji is ideal to take anywhere as a snapping camera, the HS50 for when I feel I may need the long lens like for wildlife, and the Nikon is right back in favour for its quality and a viewfinder that my tired eyes can cope with.

So the moral is; Don't be too hasty BK, you might regret it.

I'm on the exact same page as you Grandad!! I have a little Nikon camera that I carry in my purse. The quality of the pictures is ok, I can carry it unobtrusively so don't worry about anybody ever yanking it off my neck in a snatch and grab and the quality of the photos is ok. It is good if I'm walking long distances and carrying an easy camera.

I absolutely LOVE my big Nikon. I've got a variety of lens for it and use all of them all the time. It is heavy and big and when I have it it is really obvious I'm carrying a camera. I don't worry about the snatch and grab of it here (although after my bike episode I might need to re-think that) but it has crossed my mind in a few of the areas of the world I've traipsed around in. I have no hesitation in KNOWING neither "I" nor my camera would last a walk through of the downtown of Port of Spain, Trinidad. SUPER HIGH CRIME and the size of the camera alone would make me a moving target of a theft.

I also now have the HS50 bought for the long lens ability and the fact of trying to take a GOOD photo of the swans. I do love using the long lens of my NIKON but the longer the lens the heavier it gets meaning I MUST use a stick (prefer monopod) so this little camera IS the ticket. I really need to study it more so as to get proficient with it but I'd of LOVED to have had it on numerous occasions trying to get a bird (or iguana) in a tree etc.

I totally vouch for having THREE cameras - the only downside is trying to figure out WHICH ONE to take on an outing!

During my brief 'sabatical' I joined a local Facebook photography group. There are some excellent photographers on there, some I guess are professionals. There are just a small number of regular contributors but I am finding that their subject matter is very confined.

Two regulars in particular. One has a group of dogs of assorted breeds and these are his main subject matter. Here are 5 of them but I think there is a white one missing.


The other post a regular daily picture, I assume from his home, of the same scene in the different daily lighting. Interesting and great pictures but a bit boring every day.


My pictures are much more varied in subject matter and do receive some nice comments and many 'likes' but I don't really feel 'at home' there. A little established clique perhaps.

The joy of cameras, a few months ago i was 100% Nikon, had the D300 + 18-200vr, Sigma 30mm f1.4, a 12-24, nikon sb600 flash and after the GD was born bought a 70-200 f2.8 (tamron, a beast of a lens ) plus a Nikon J1 kit 10 -30 + 30-110 and the 10mm prime.
The j1 kit and lens was sold on eBay and replaced with a Panasonic LX100 a few months ago, i like the j1 but wanted something with a fixed lens that i could take away with me. The LX100 fitted the bill, its a nice size, well built and i like the fact it has a viewfinder ( electronic one, not the best but still better than looking at screen on a sunny day), a hot shoe as it comes with a seperate flash and it has the shutter dial on the top with a aperture control ring on the lens. The only thing id like to change would be the zoom, at 75mm i feel its a bit short on a fixed lens camera.


The plan with the D300 and stuff ( i wasn't for keeping it Grandad ) was to PX it against a Olympus 40 -150 lens, i got a few prices but was thinking of using ebay, my niece has had a couple of lenses of me for her D3000 ( nikon 18-200 and the sigma 30mm) she's doing photography at school.
So i will be left with these two, not been out with the OMD EM1 yet but I am impressed with it, heres a couple of pictures of it next to the LX100

Your brace of cameras makes good sense BK I like the little LX100, a bit retro like my X10 but I DO have a live viewfinder that I need. Those Shutter speed and 'f' dials really take you back. Compur and Prontor spring to mind as blasts from the past
I had not realised that the D300 takes the same SWM lenses as my D5000. It only registered when you mentioned your neice's D3000.
All set to go now then BK

NICE cameras!

I think I appreciate cameras the way some men might appreciate cars!