Choosing Your Camera Equipment – What You Want vs What You Need (Practicing What I Preach)

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24/03/08 – Choosing Your Camera Equipment – What You Want vs What You Need (Practicing What I Preach)

Since I first started Flying With Fish I have preached the mantra “pack what you need not what you want.” Using this as a packing thought process has made my life on the road simpler and lighter. Most photographers are gadget-geeks, we all have our toys that we “sort of justify” and love to use, I know I am guilty of this, but when I must pack light I have one thought process, what do I need, what can I shed, how can I save space.

I have recently changed my choice in camera bodies based on my needs rather than my wants. When I was first introduced to Canon back in 1995 it was with the Canon/Kodak DCS-3 (the Canon version of the Nikon/Kodak AP NC2000c) which was based on the Canon EOS 1n film body; later in 1998 I used the Canon/Kodak DCS520 which was also based on the EOS 1n film body and when I switched to Canon in late 2002 I jumped right in with the Canon EOS 1D series bodies which was based on the EOS 1v film bodies. The Canon EOS 1 series bodies met my needs, I liked them, I loved them and after being a long time loyal Nikon shooter I was surprised at how happy I was with Canon.

Why is my choice in bodies relevant to packing what you need? Simple, the 1D bodies while comfortable sucked up more space than I need! The Canon EOS 1D batteries are more than twice the size of the Canon 5D batteries (same battery in the 20D/30D/40D/Rebel/PowerShot G9, etc) and on average shoot more frames per charge than the 1D batteries! Forget the batteries, the charger for the Canon 1D series bodies takes up nearly as much space and 4 (FOUR!!!) Canon 5D battery chargers when you factor in length, width, heigh and external power cord. The 1D battery charger, with two power leads, charges one battery at a time, while two 5D battery chargers can charge two batteries simultaneously.

Yes the Canon 1D/1Ds MkIII batteries are smaller, but they are still considerably larger than the 5D batteries. Yes the MkIII battery charger is differently shaped, but it is still larger than I want to pack. I won’t even mention that the cost of the 1Ds MkIII is four times than of a 5D body (cost is not a packing issue, but it is a huge issue for almost everyone!)

For me camera size is not the big issue. I won’t trade camera ergonomics for space, my camera is my tool, it must feel comfortable, it must be balanced, but everything else is up for grabs. I will miss the 1/250 flash synch of the Canon EOS 1Ds vs the 1/200 flash synch of the 5D……….but with the 1Ds (and every other body) I really miss the 1/500 flash synch of the Nikon D1 and Canon 1D (CCD sensors can shoot 1/500, CMOS sensors tend to top out at 1/250).

So while I have always practiced what I preached about packing essentials and only essentials…….no matter how hard it may be……I have taken my equipment to a new level and chosen my equipment on the basis of saving space, saving weight and being able to charge my batteries faster (which allows me to further maximize my time on the ground).

Below are photos of two Canon 5D batteries side by side with a single Canon 1D battery and two Canon 5D battery chargers side by side with a single Canon 1D battery chargers. I also have a photo of a 5D with my old (much loved) 1Ds body. The body sizes are about equal,everything else frees up considerable space and weight in my bags

Happy Flying!

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