I often go on about the convenience and portability of the cameras and lenses that are sold by Camera Electronic and sometimes get pulled up on it. People have asked whether it is at all important. After all - everything on Earth has a weight of some sort. We drive motor cars that weight far more than digital cameras ( Although you
do have to remember the Bronica S2...) and no-one really knows how much their car weighs.
Well they are riding in the car...not the other way around. The numbers mean great deal more heading in the other direction. But away from that, here are some comparative figures for Fujifilm cameras and lenses combined into practical outfits. See if you recognise some of the pitfalls.
A. System One. The photographer decides to take the latest Fujifilm H1 camera body, an
XF 16-55mm lens and an
XF 55-200mm lens along for his job. This adds 1,908 kg to his bag and shoulder. He shoots for 4 hours solid.
B. System Two. The same photographer hauls the
Fujifilm X-T20, the XC 15-45mm and the
XC 50-230mm lenses. This time the burden is 847 grams. Same shoot, same time.
He's opted with the first to heft an extra kilogram and a bit for the four hours. If these are four hours in a car and on a tripod it makes little difference to the comfort - if it is back packed and hand-held there is a considerable difference. And the surprising part is, that for a large range of applications and light conditions, the choices would make little or no difference to the results. Small shots, tourist shots, snapshots...all would be as good on the light gear.
So - is there any point in carrying the heavier equipment? Well the sensor is the same, the processor is as near as dammit, and the actual operation is too. The only scoring point for the heavyweight outfit would come with time - the metal mount might wear less than the plastic mount of the XC lens. The cost would be in the fatigue of the weight. There is a lot better video on the big one.
Try an experiment to see which of the two would be better for yourselves. Get a one kilo can of meat or cheese or whatever, and hold it up to your eye for four hours. Have your spouse or children ask you a foolish question at the start of the four-hour period and again at the end. Compare your language on both occasions to see what effect pressing an extra kilo of weight would have on your temperament. If it is considerably degraded at the end, opt for the lighter outfit.
Not everything needs to be heavy and weighted down - even aircraft are up in the air for much of the time...
