Guy Mancuso
Administrator, Instructor
I really need to read this thread but at first glance great stuff folks.
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David,LJ,
I think we can all agree that no one camera does it all. I think you have to prioritize what are the most important features for you to have on your system, and list them linearly or at least grouped linearly, with the intent of trading off "lower" groups for "higher" groups. For example, your main festures could be (in random order here):
Shutter speed range (and possibly granularity, like 1/3 stop?... 1/10 stop?)
Max Flash Sync (and flash capabilities in general)
Autofocus capability (including focus confirmation of manual lenses)
Lens selection (e.g., 28mm a must? 300/2.8 a must? APO lenses? ...)
Adaptability for alternative lenses (e.g., Hasselblad V on Contax 645...)
Format (6x6 or 645)
Viewfinder selection (Waist Level Finder availability?)
Mirror Lock-up (or Mirror Pre-release?)
Technical movements (e.g., bellows, t/s lenses, t/s adapters)
Size, Weight, Hand-hold ability
Cost
I explicitly left out MFDB considerations. This is because I believe that ultimately a photographer interacts with his environment/subject through the lens. It is how he chooses to render that moment in time, whether it be freezing the action or creating a sense of motion or narrowing the DOF to emphasize a particular subtlty....etc. The selection of a MFDB should follow and support your choice of how you wish to capture your images.
In some sense, it is similar to film choice. I don't know of anyone who first decided on a film choice, and then built their camera system around that.
These are only my opinions of course. In reality, economics may force you one way or another. But at least, you should have a vision of where you would like to be.
LJ,Al,
Thanks for sharing your selections and kit build. Your rationale on price, weight and availability of components is not lost, and your selection of things looks to cover a lot of ground for a fairly compact kit.
May I assume that your target use is more personal, plus having the ability to contract work as needed? Not that this is prying or critical, but sometimes it helps to understand selections by knowing what folks are shooting or are planning to shoot. Your gear sounds light and portable enough for travel and easy use, as you mentioned the SWC as a good walk around tool. I recall wanting that camera when it first came out. At the time, I was heavy into shooting Nikon professionally, and had just unloaded my Hasselblads that I used in the studio. My "love affair" with the SWC never really died, I guess.
Sounds like you are comfortable with your choices also, and that is good to hear.
LJ
This is obviously a highly subjective area of discussion and there can be no right or wrong, best or worst ... only preference based on experience.Probably been covered already but the choice of camera is a factor which can impact which system you choose. I found the menu driven Hasselblad less to my liking than what I considered the less complex Contax. Sort of like the difference between the Leica and the Nikon D3. I've gone nuts looking for the D Lighting selection in the Nikon menu and that's on a camera where you can actually see the screen. Even with a screen shade I find the Aptus unreadable for anything but the histo if I'm outdoors in sunlight.