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A New Beginning - A New Direction


Colin1974

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Hi, I recently suffered a "familiarity breeds contempt" phase: I lost all motivation.

Over the past 8 years, I've used SLR's, compacts and system cameras, used digital, 35mm and medium format, and even set up a darkroom in my 6x6 foot bathroom. What an adventure until.....I lost all interest and gave away various cameras and lenses to local charity shops. I didn't regret it then and I still don't. I needed a complete break from what was turning from a pleasure into a clinical obsession: I have chronic depression and anxiety going back to childhood.

Recently, the itch came back, but in a new form: do more with less and adapt to a single device, a single lens and single viewpoint.

I've just bought an X2 for under £500 from a shop London. My mission now is to use it as my one and only camera, and allow it to dictate my work, not the other way round.

I used it for the first time today and found myself doing some street photography after dark: I hope that the discipline of the camera will make me focus more and think less.

Maybe some hobbies are a breeding ground for insanity! 

 

All the best, Colin.

 

 

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Colin, a fine way to refresh your personal photography. By reducing the options to basic simplicity you will soon see a higher and more satisfying success rate. I often go out and about with just my venerable X1 and seldom find it wasted time. The little Elmarit lens is a match for most current lens performances with its limitations of speed and sensor size.  For most personal photography its performance is more than adequate. Enjoy your X2!

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Great read Colin, and you're right on track. Like David, I have the X1, (OK, with a few more, but let's leave that out).

You will not fault it. Sure, some shooting is difficult, or just impossible, but for 95% of what you are likely to do, the X2 is superb.

Congrats, enjoy.

Gary

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My mission now is to use it as my one and only camera, and allow it to dictate my work, not the other way round.

 

All the best, Colin.

 

Well, it's a nice change from the usual GAS threads! Clearing out and rethinking what gear to use is something I've thought of doing but haven't managed it yet! 

 

A new camera can often be the kick-start to get the creative juices flowing again. The only thing I'd say, and hence the quote above, is that no camera should dictate your work although I wonder if you mean exactly that? 

 

The X will limit you sometimes of course, with the fixed lens, but you can learn to work around the limitations and be happy to simply let some shots go e.g. when you would really need a telephoto or ultra wide. 

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I've got a lot of gear and am not ready to give it up, BUT, I love my Leica X (Typ 113).  It is my most-used camera, coming out when the fancy M rangefinders, Canon DSLRs and their fancy lenses stay home.

 

The fixed 35mm (equivalent) lens is just right, and like your X2 there really isn't much need for anything else.  I take the X with me on almost all business trips and even many days just on my commute to the office.  There are many things the system cameras will do that the X won't, but those limitations can be quite inspiring.

 

Here is one taken with the X in Seoul, Korea.  I actually brought an M and lenses with me on that trip as well, and rarely used them.

 

18763349219_8fa629e7e4_b.jpgL1151353-Edit.jpg by Andrew F, on Flickr

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Restricting oneself is a great way to regain enthusiasm. The X1 is a real sweet camera, IQ never fails to impress.. Sometimes I will throw my D90/X1/XVario & M with 35Cron into my trunk and go out for the day, using each exclusively for a couple of hours.. I find my local air museum (Castle) and the local lakes and parks are great for a relaxing day of photography...Take Care, L

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Colin,

 

 

I also gave away my big DSLR along with lenses to a worthy friend. I bought a used X which is now my favorite grab and go camera. My feet act as my Zoom . I love the simplicity and quality in a small package.

 

 

Best of luck ,

 

 

Rick

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The X series is not really a "new" direction for me.  Long ago I discovered the exhilaration of using quality compact cameras such as the Rollei 35 and the (doomed) 40mm Minilux. The X cameras finally have provided (and even exceeded) the quality and simplicity of the classic compacts in the digital medium.

 

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Thank you for all your kind words and encouragement. At the moment, I'm getting used to a slower, more relaxed pace of working. Working within these restrictions, I cannot prejudge what photos to take, but go out with an open mind and see what's in the world. I think I'm going to enjoy this.

 

All the best, Colin.

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I just realized my X1 is now 5 years old! It's my only digital camera and I like it, even with its limitation. Sometimes I lost pictures because of slow AF and or operation. But because of its size and weight I have it very oft with me, which at the end let me getting many more photos: balance is positive!

robert

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