It’s better to invest your money in photographic experiences rather than new camera gear. Consider where you could go with the money that the new camera or lens will cost, and how much fun you might have wherever “there” is. I’m not saying never buy new gear, only that there’s no need to get every new thing that comes out, or right away when it is announced. While I have on occasion regretted a certain gear purchase, I’ve never once regretted traveling somewhere for photography.
A few days ago Fujifilm announced the GFX100RF, which I would love to own. Because it is so small and lightweight, I think it’s actually an ideal camera for a photographic project I started late last year, which will take place over a long period of time. This entails large panoramic prints of (hopefully) amazing landscapes, so you can probably understand how this particular camera might seem ideal. In anticipation of the announcement, and the excitement of announcement day, I had a lot of G.A.S. (“Gear Acquisition Syndrome”) and F.O.M.O. (“Fear of Missing Out”). After all, this is something that I really want, and arguably need.
Knowing that this camera was on the horizon, and knowing that I would have G.A.S. and F.O.M.O., I could have stretched the budget and put in my preorder purchase last week. Technically, I had the money. You see, my wife and I had been planning to take a trip over the kids’ spring break, and we wanted to take the family to someplace we’d never been. When things were becoming a bit more clear what the upcoming camera was going to be, we had a discussion about making the trip shorter and more local so that I could buy the new GFX. We hadn’t purchased any airline tickets yet or made hotel reservations, so it would have been easy. Instead, we decided to hold off on the gear, and use the money to fly to Charleston, South Carolina instead. We just arrived back in Arizona yesterday.
I had no idea just how cool and photogenic Charleston is. It was not a city on my radar. My wife had wanted to visit for quite awhile (since she did a research project on South Carolina in school many years ago), so we purchased airline tickets and found accommodations. We spent the money that we could have used to buy a new camera on an epic cross-country trip. It was amazing! I have zero regrets. It is quite obviously better to invest in experiences than new gear, and I’m quite happy that we chose to travel.
With that said, I feel even more strongly that the Fujifilm GFX100RF is a camera that I will eventually buy. It was such a pain to haul my GFX100S II, plus 80mm f/1.7 and 30mm f/3.5 lenses, through airport terminals and across town as we explored the city. My Fujifilm X-E4 with the 27mm f/2.8 pancake lens was a much better option for travel photography because it is so compact and lightweight. Unfortunately, that camera isn’t going to cut it for my panoramic project, but for general travel photography, it is quite excellent. I only wish there were a couple more pancake lenses available for it. My Fujifilm X100VI would have been great, too; however, I left it at home this time because I had just used it extensively over the last couple of months for a different project, so I wanted to give it a little rest.
Of course, I also brought along my Fujifilm X-T4 ES full-spectrum infrared camera. Of all the cameras I currently own, this is the one I’m having the most fun with right now. I’ve been considering making a book someday with the photos created using the Aerochrome v2 Recipe, but I have a long ways to go before I have a sufficient number of good images worthy of being published in a book. Without taking this camera on various travel experiences, such a book would be unlikely, or at least much less interesting.
Speaking of photographic experiences, I will be co-leading a photowalk with Ryan Faer and Lucas White in downtown Phoenix, Arizona, on Friday, April 4th, in partnership with Nuzira. The exact time and meetup location is TBD, but we will be photographing at the First Friday Art Walk, so that should give you an idea of the location and time (we will probably meet about 6 PM). If you live in the Phoenix area and want an excuse to get out with your camera, be sure to join us! Don’t forget to sign up (click here).
While you are signing up for that photowalk, consider joining Nuzira and my friend Christopher Berry on Saturday, April 5th, for a portrait lighting class at the Nuzira store in Scottsdale. If you have an interest in studio lighting or portrait photography, this is a class you’ll want to attend. The sign up form is on the same page as the photowalk.
That’s something I know, but it’s also hard to put into practice. It isn’t always just money that keeps me from traveling. Work and other obligations; it’s just not easy to go away for a length of time. But with something like a new lens, I can just bring that with me on a walk about town any time I have a stray hour or two during the week. Or an afternoon on the weekend.
Now, I’m not saying that as an “indulge the GAS!” line, more a reminder to myself that it’s good to go as far as I can when the chances arise.
Fully agree on that
Go as far as circumstances allow, and if that’s simply a quick stroll around the neighborhood, that is good. It’s the getting out with the camera in hand that matters.
You’ve done well Ritchie. Better to go on a trip while you and afford it than buying new stuff.
I’m happy you enjoy your trip and your X-T4 ES. Nice idea to publish a book in a while.
That saying said, I get fully inoculated by GAS virus and thus indulged myself greatly by pre-ordering a the GFX100RF (black edition while I prefer silver generaly). The RF will compete with my GFX50R, but I’ll keep the latter (I will not resell it, as my Fujifilm gear is more on the stage of being a collection now) as it is extra fun to use with the GFX 50R old / vintage FF lenses. But the 50R is brick compared to the RF!
And you can see clearly the tech differences between the 2. Quite impressive in fact. So I went for it. The Rf will be the big brother of my loved X100VI, when I will like to do panoramics and other formats + get the extra resolution and dynamic range that offer the GFX 100MP sensor.
Note: every single item of my collection serve a purpose.
About pancakes for the X-E4, you might like, as I do, to use the new Viltrox AF 28/4.5.
It is extra small as no aperture ring nor manual focus ring, only AF. It is cheap price wise but you have still a snappy AF (well not much glass has to move). Having a fixed aperture is no brainer. Very fun to use and get constraints with it. The lens produce nice sun/light stars. But do not expect premium lens coating of course (this lens is to be taken as such). Hence nice IQ for the price but please do not be extra picky.
The lens closing system with no lens cap is fun too, like old film disposable camera could have.
With this lens, the X-E4 realy becomes a pocketable camera, smaller than the X70 !
Previously to get that small you have to go for a manual fixed focus lens like the 7Artians 16/6.3 UFO II or Fujiflm one that was given only in Japan with the X-M1).
You are only forced to use now the new Viltrox app to make the firmware update as the lens as a BT chip. The USB-C port is only there to give power during updates (I was tricked at first).
Do upgrade it though to latest firmware v1.02 as on Fujifilm gen -1 cameras like the E-X4 the original v1.00 and v1.01 are a bit buggy and can cause camera freeze in certain conditions like I experienced.
For the moment this Viltrox AF 28/4.5 is plugged on my E-X4.
I get inoculated by GAS, too. And I have FOMO as much as the next person. It’s very difficult for me to pass on camera or lens purchases when the opportunities arise. I try to be thoughtful about it, but it doesn’t usually happen that way. 🤣
I’m pretty certain that you will love the camera, I think it will be especially great.
I will see about the Viltrox 28mm f/4.5. Saw mixed reviews, but I appreciate your input specifically. Maybe that will be my next gear purchase….
In my opinion, the advantages of APS-C over full-frame (or medium-format) is size, weight, and cost. But Fujifilm doesn’t really take advantage of that with a line of pancake lenses. The 27mm f/2.8 is obviously excellent and well-loved (and difficult to find in stock). The 18mm f/2 is only kind-of a pancake (I call it a Japanese pancake, I saw Patrick at Fujirumors call it a muffin), and it is in desperate need of a refresh. And that’s it. I saw on Fujirumors that a 23mm pancake might be in the works, which is great. I’d like a longer option, maybe a 40mm f/3.5, and a shorter, perhaps a 12mm f/4? A set of five pancake lenses to go with cameras like the X-E4 (and upcoming X-E5), X-M5, and X-T30 II/X-T50, seems like an important goal if you are trying to convey the benefits of the sensor format.
Yes, experiences are way better than gear. I’ve been on 4 workshops in 3 years with Offbeat photography based in Calgary, Canadian $ is low now so if you are American you get a 50% discount. I’ve been to Banff, Yukon, Skye and Ullapool, and the badlands in Drumheller, always a great time, highly recommend. It seems stupid to do landscape workshops but on your own, you don’t always know exactly where to go also the groups are great as we all have some affinity due to the same passion
Yeah, I went on one of Ken Rockwell’s trips, and don’t regret it whatsoever. Would definitely do it again. So workshops are an awesome way to get someplace cool with your camera, and also meet interesting people.
I think that GFX100RF is the ultimate camera for almost everything! If I wasn’t so passionate with (also) wildlife photography, therefore needing my XF 100-400 and X-T5, I would immediately trade in all my X-gear to buy that camera 😍. For the moment, it will stay at first place in my wishlist, waiting for the budget, or for good 2nd hand offers
I’ve got to wait for the budget, too. I’ll probably have to sell a few bodies and/or lenses to afford it.
Like the rolling stones used to sing: it’s GAS GAS GAS, but I would buy the x-e 5 if I had the cash in hand, at the moment I have better priorities
I’d estimate that at least 90% of all camera purchases over the last decade have been due to “want” rather than “need”. Imagine where you could travel to for $1,700….