Hi Allen, please don’t make it the last gear video. Your analysis of cameras is quite different from most of RUclips precisely because you ground it in a real world practical experience. Your no-nonsense honest and practical approach to cameras and gear is a very important element of knowledge transfer and education for the new generation of photographers. Without you and other practitioners, the new generation will be left with learning from paid marketers masquerading as photographers. The world needs your sage advice. A quick stroll through a Z8 Facebook group with its ridiculousness, snobbery and pretentiousness is enough to underline the importance of your practical methodology and structured unpacking of golden nuggets of photographic knowledge. Many thanks for all your hard work and for all your wonderful videos. Cheers from Canada!
Hi Allen. I have enjoyed following your photography gear journey and all the flip flopping you've done. I'm pretty sure this won't be the last gear video you make 😂
Hi Allen. I’m gonna miss your gear rambles, they are always interesting to listen to. Thanks for taking us along your journey ❤ Hope there’s more to come despite… 😊
Allen so pleased you love the 780. I just went to Paris for a week with my wife and only took the 780 and the 50 1.4G. It was fantastic and got some beautiful night shots as well a street photos. I also have the Z6-3 which is great and I do love it but it’s more complicated than the 780. Last piece of gear I don’t think you’ve discussed is flash units.
I love your thoughts about sensor and lens character! I have a Fuji X100, Nikon D3s and and a silver Nikon Df and I still have no plans on "upgrading" my gear. Wonderful cameras with G and old D-lenses, Ai and Pre-ai lenses. In fact, I might add a Nikon D200 or Fuji S5Pro to the list now. I really enjoy your videos!
I bought a D780 largely because of what you said, and couldn't be happier. As a hobbyist I just can't justify buying a bunch of Z mount lenses, and AF-D lenses are so small and cheap.
Hey Allen, love your gear breakdown. The flip flopping between gear seems a little annoying, but it's well worth hearing your gear journey in search of the best image quality for your work. I recommend other people to your page, especially if the got one of the DC lenses. Your breakdown on the 105/135 DC lenses is incredible. Looking forward to more content. Cheers.
I laughed out loud whem i saw the D200. I also have a D200 that I bought to use with some older AI, AIS and m42 screw mount lenses. I had Canon for decades and the time I spent with the D200 has made me think seriously about switching over completely. I’ll miss the gear videos. Thanks for sharing your experience and opinions.
That was so interesting, thank you! The fact that lots of lenses don't have enough "resolution" (pardon me, I don't recall the exact term) for big sensors like the 45MP of D850 and z8 is not known well enough. I think that is one of the plusses of the z mount, especially the full frame (FX) z lenses. Please continue your gear reviews!!
Hi - I used for a few weddings - just to get some cadid shots and really worked great. Liked the Xpro2 even more - had that maybe a year later and would still like one for anything like street photography - perfect. But I now just have too much gear and the Leica M10 is my love for street etc.
I have been following you for a long time and I’ve found it very interesting and informative how you changed gear and lenses every 6 months or so 😂 and maybe you’ll try out canon gear too one day? I use Fuji crop and medium format too plus I use canon too and I’m very tempted to add a Nikon zf to my collection too! Yes Sony is at the top for autofocus but it’s just don’t have any character and are boring just like canon and they both are working pros tools but I find Fuji and Nikon have the best colours for skin tones overall but canon is up there too for pleasing colours but the lack of third party lenses is terrible.
I couldn't be bothered faffing around with all those old lenses, cameras and adapters and then manual focusing. The whole idea of the Z system is their good AFC, and their very sharp Z lenses. I do have the AFS 28mm 1.4E lens. It is a special lens and lauded by many as one of the best fast 28mm lenses out there (my favourite focal length). However, when I put on the FTZ to put it on my Z6ii, it is front forward and doesn't balance as well. I've tried it on some of my paid gigs and events, but after looking at all the images and comparing everything, I'm finding I'm better off just shooting everything on my 24-70 2.8s lens. It's a special lens and the images from it are gorgeous, and so sharp, I use it to test against any new primes. Also, the Z lenses are so sharp and lovely, that one really can't go wrong. However, like Allen said, and unlike my 24-70, the images from my three S lenses (24,35,50), are very clinical, and perfect, but without any special wow factor or secret sauce. The only Z prime that I use and love, and is different to the others is the Z35 1.8s. It was the first prime they made, so maybe it wasn't so perfect because it was the first lens. I also have the two plastic 28mm and 40mm, but they are pretty crappy and the images don't look so hot. I'm thinking of trying the new 26mm 2.8 - it has a metal mount, weather sealing and gets a good rap. However, here in Australia it is a ridiculous $900!!
I find the D700 great where there's red and oranges - the Df seems better at Blues. We're talking really tiny differences! I tend to prefer the Df as it's way lighter and does look a bit more cool :-)
Hi Allen, please don’t make it the last gear video. Your analysis of cameras is quite different from most of RUclips precisely because you ground it in a real world practical experience. Your no-nonsense honest and practical approach to cameras and gear is a very important element of knowledge transfer and education for the new generation of photographers. Without you and other practitioners, the new generation will be left with learning from paid marketers masquerading as photographers. The world needs your sage advice. A quick stroll through a Z8 Facebook group with its ridiculousness, snobbery and pretentiousness is enough to underline the importance of your practical methodology and structured unpacking of golden nuggets of photographic knowledge.
Many thanks for all your hard work and for all your wonderful videos.
Cheers from Canada!
Thank you so much and Happy 2025. Doubt I'll really be able to Not do anymore gear videos :-) One on the way soon!
Hi Allen. I have enjoyed following your photography gear journey and all the flip flopping you've done. I'm pretty sure this won't be the last gear video you make 😂
Hi Allen. I’m gonna miss your gear rambles, they are always interesting to listen to.
Thanks for taking us along your journey ❤
Hope there’s more to come despite… 😊
Allen so pleased you love the 780. I just went to Paris for a week with my wife and only took the 780 and the 50 1.4G. It was fantastic and got some beautiful night shots as well a street photos. I also have the Z6-3 which is great and I do love it but it’s more complicated than the 780. Last piece of gear I don’t think you’ve discussed is flash units.
Please don’t make it the last one about gear. I’ve loved them all and loved your reasons for chopping and changing.
Certainly not the last video and tbh probaly need to ayt least mention gear at some point 🙂
I love your thoughts about sensor and lens character! I have a Fuji X100, Nikon D3s and and a silver Nikon Df and I still have no plans on "upgrading" my gear. Wonderful cameras with G and old D-lenses, Ai and Pre-ai lenses. In fact, I might add a Nikon D200 or Fuji S5Pro to the list now.
I really enjoy your videos!
I bought a D780 largely because of what you said, and couldn't be happier. As a hobbyist I just can't justify buying a bunch of Z mount lenses, and AF-D lenses are so small and cheap.
Hey Allen, love your gear breakdown. The flip flopping between gear seems a little annoying, but it's well worth hearing your gear journey in search of the best image quality for your work.
I recommend other people to your page, especially if the got one of the DC lenses. Your breakdown on the 105/135 DC lenses is incredible.
Looking forward to more content. Cheers.
I laughed out loud whem i saw the D200. I also have a D200 that I bought to use with some older AI, AIS and m42 screw mount lenses. I had Canon for decades and the time I spent with the D200 has made me think seriously about switching over completely. I’ll miss the gear videos. Thanks for sharing your experience and opinions.
That was so interesting, thank you! The fact that lots of lenses don't have enough "resolution" (pardon me, I don't recall the exact term) for big sensors like the 45MP of D850 and z8 is not known well enough. I think that is one of the plusses of the z mount, especially the full frame (FX) z lenses. Please continue your gear reviews!!
I had a D2X. Lovely skin colours. It was stolen but because it was so big I replaced it with a D700. Wish I’d bought another D2X.
What is the story with your x100t as a fun and candid camera for wedding photography?
Hi - I used for a few weddings - just to get some cadid shots and really worked great. Liked the Xpro2 even more - had that maybe a year later and would still like one for anything like street photography - perfect. But I now just have too much gear and the Leica M10 is my love for street etc.
I have been following you for a long time and I’ve found it very interesting and informative how you changed gear and lenses every 6 months or so 😂 and maybe you’ll try out canon gear too one day? I use Fuji crop and medium format too plus I use canon too and I’m very tempted to add a Nikon zf to my collection too! Yes Sony is at the top for autofocus but it’s just don’t have any character and are boring just like canon and they both are working pros tools but I find Fuji and Nikon have the best colours for skin tones overall but canon is up there too for pleasing colours but the lack of third party lenses is terrible.
I couldn't be bothered faffing around with all those old lenses, cameras and adapters and then manual focusing. The whole idea of the Z system is their good AFC, and their very sharp Z lenses. I do have the AFS 28mm 1.4E lens. It is a special lens and lauded by many as one of the best fast 28mm lenses out there (my favourite focal length). However, when I put on the FTZ to put it on my Z6ii, it is front forward and doesn't balance as well. I've tried it on some of my paid gigs and events, but after looking at all the images and comparing everything, I'm finding I'm better off just shooting everything on my 24-70 2.8s lens. It's a special lens and the images from it are gorgeous, and so sharp, I use it to test against any new primes. Also, the Z lenses are so sharp and lovely, that one really can't go wrong. However, like Allen said, and unlike my 24-70, the images from my three S lenses (24,35,50), are very clinical, and perfect, but without any special wow factor or secret sauce. The only Z prime that I use and love, and is different to the others is the Z35 1.8s. It was the first prime they made, so maybe it wasn't so perfect because it was the first lens. I also have the two plastic 28mm and 40mm, but they are pretty crappy and the images don't look so hot. I'm thinking of trying the new 26mm 2.8 - it has a metal mount, weather sealing and gets a good rap. However, here in Australia it is a ridiculous $900!!
Allen, what would be the scenario that you would take out the D700 instead of the Df? What can a D700 do that a Df can't?
I find the D700 great where there's red and oranges - the Df seems better at Blues. We're talking really tiny differences! I tend to prefer the Df as it's way lighter and does look a bit more cool :-)
How can you tell what looks good on that terrible monitor serious question.
That's my Number 2 you can see - my main one is to the left out of shot 🙂 Twice the size and resolution
panasonic better
"this video is (i think) the last video about gear"; sorry but I just don't believe you.