My new 'forever' camera system

In my last post I discussed my struggles recently with the Sony system. More specifically the A-mount system. I won't go over this again (read my last few posts) - needless to say I had decided it was time to move on to something else. Something 'new'.

And this time, when I say 'new' I actually mean it. In the past on this blog, when I have changed systems and introduced my 'new' camera, it's always been placed in inverted commas. 'New' has meant 'new - for me', but second-hand in reality. And I can't say that I've had a brilliant run with used camera equipment in the last year.

I'm not going to draw this out too long (you'll be pleased to know) - other than to say that I did do some serious thinking, and a bit of research to try and figure out what my 'forever' camera should be. But in the end, as is often the case (weirdly), the decision was almost made for me. How so?

I had a good idea of the features I wanted, if I was going to stick with this camera/system for the rest of my life (yes, you heard that right). And to be fair, my list wasn't long. I really don't have a large wish-list of must-haves - especially if you take video out of the equation altogether (which I do). Several brands could have quite easily have fit the bill.

And then a post came through my Facebook page from Photo & Video in Christchurch. And I had 'found' my forever camera and system. They were (and still currently are as I write this) having a fantastic deal on the Panasonic Lumix S5 with 20-60mm (almost $1k off the price) - while stocks last!

Panasonic Lumix S5 with 20-60mm f3.5/5.6

To be honest, I didn't know all that much about the Lumix S5. I'm not even sure I knew it existed! The Lumix S1 had vaguely been on my radar a few years ago when Panasonic launched it - but it wasn't a camera - or a system - that I'd taken much notice of. It was a) full frame, b) big and heavy, and c) didn't have many lenses available for the system.

But that was about four years ago, and the system has grown since then. Panasonic have addressed all of the above issues during that time. The S5 is smaller and lighter than the S1, is still full frame, and the lens lineup has grown substantially. This has been helped by the S series being built around the Leica 'L' mount, and the establishment of the 'L' Alliance between Leica, Panasonic and Sigma. With all three companies producing lenses for the system, the line-up has trebled almost overnight! That's great news for anyone looking to 'invest' in the Lumix S full-frame system.

And if that wasn't enough, the S5 itself is an absolute beast of a camera (in terms of specs). It is mentioned, and reviewed, favourably - up against the likes of the Sony a7iii, Canon R6 and Nikon Z6. Of course Lumix are well known as a video brand, and as such the S5 is crammed with seriously impressive video specs (including built-in vlog). But since I'm only interested in it as a stills camera, those are really the specs that interest me. And the S5 doesn't disappoint. 

For a start, it has a fantastic 24MP full-frame sensor with dual ISO (whatever that is!?), amazing low-light image quality and 14+ stops of dynamic range! It has dual card slots (one UH1 and one UHII), Live Composite Mode, High Res Shooting Mode (for a 96MP image), Image Stacking, Intervalometer, Face and Animal Focus/Tracking, and a host of other features I'll probably never use. Although it uses contrast detection AF, Panasonic have mastered this for stills photography, and the AF is as fast and as accurate as any other system on the market. Once I'd read the specs on the S5, and watched a few review videos on Youtube, I couldn't order one fast enough!

But first things first - I needed to convince my wife that we should be buying me a brand new camera!

Moana Sunrise. First image shot on my Lumix S5 with 20-60mm lens. f/11 @ 1.3secs, ISO 100

I've been writing this blog for over 15 years now, and I've stopped counting the number of times I've changed camera gear. In numerous posts I've written about my latest purchase being 'the one' - only to change to something else six months later. Anyone could be forgiven for rolling their eyes when I claim that 'this is the one'. But my wife, who has followed along on this journey with me, has more reason than most to be sceptical. So when I sat her down and proposed that we buy me a brand new 'forever' camera, I could completely understand (and was expecting) her scepticism.

But to her great credit, she did listen. And she did understand my frustration at the second-hand gear woes I had been having. She doesn't understand all the techy jargon I throw at her, but she does appreciate my knowledge and enthusiasm for all things photographic. So in the end, she said 'yes' (thanks honey), and I purchased the camera on-line that evening.

Lake Brunner Reflection. Lumix S5 with Lumix S 20-60mm. f/11 @ 5 secs, ISO 100

Is her support misplaced? Am I going to change my mind in six months time?

No, I'm not. Unequivocally. And here's why... 

I've been a serious photographer for over 35 years. And in that time, I've purchased maybe four cameras brand-new. My first was the Canon T70 - my first film camera. The second was the Canon EOS 10, which I purchased new after trading in all my manual focus Canon gear once they had changed their lens mount to the EF auto focus technology. My third was the Nikon D70 when I moved (eventually) from film to digital. And my last brand-new camera purchase was the Canon 5D. 

I loved the 5D, and would probably still be using it (or have upgraded to the Mk2/3/4) were it not for the fact that it developed a circuit board problem. Although to be fair, even that statement is somewhat disingenuous, since the 5D isn't a mirrorless system. And I have, for a very long time, been an advocate for mirrorless cameras. So in fairness, my change to mirrorless was inevitable. But that's also the point...

Whenever I have purchased a new camera, it has been at a pivotal moment in technology, and I have moved with the times (eventually). The T70 was replaced by the EOS10 when Canon switched to autofocus. The Nikon D70 was brought when I moved from film to digital. And the 5D was purchased when digital cameras finally went to full-frame sensors. I've never purchased a new mirrorless camera. The closest I got was with the Olympus OMD-EM-5Mk2. And I wanted to love that camera. I really did. But in the end, it was too small and fiddly, and really not for me.

Mt.Te Kinga, Moana. Panasonic S5 with Lumix S 20-60mm. f/11 @ 1/25th, ISO 100

The Panasonic Lumix S5 is my first - and last - brand new mirrorless camera. And I do say this with utmost confidence. I have thought for a few years now that cameras - at least if you are primarily concerned with stills photography - have seriously peaked. Manufacturer's just don't make bad cameras anymore. Period. I honestly believe that camera technology for the stills photographer has plateaued. To the point where 'what' camera you buy if you are a general (travel/landscape/portrait) stills photographer has basically become irrelevant.

Does that mean manufacturers will stop adding new features to their cameras? No, of course not. But most, if not all, of the 'new' features will be 'fluff'. Heck, most of the upgraded features on cameras for the last five years could be considered fluff. Nice to have, but fluff. In a recent review video I watched for the new Canon R8, at the end of the video the reviewer said that he hated reviewing modern cameras. Because they are just all brilliant. They all have everything that 99% of photographers will ever need.

Which is why I can say, with the utmost confidence, that the Panasonic Lumix S5 will be the only camera I will ever need. And, barring accidents or malfunction (please no), it will be the camera I will use for the rest of my life! There, I've said it.

Andersonia. Panasonic Lumix S5 with S 20-60mm. f/8 @ 160th, ISO 100

I'm 56 this year (don't tell anyone). God willing and if my eyesight holds up, I may have another 30 years of taking photos left in me? The S5 should last 30 years (I've got a Nikon D70 that is coming up for 20 years old and still takes great images) all things being equal. But even if I get 20 years of solid work out of it (I'm no longer a heavy shooter) I'll consider that a win.

As you can see from this post, I have already been out on my first shoot with the S5. And very successful it was too - as can be seen in the images. The full-frame 24MP sensor is fantastic, the lens is sharp and contrasty - with a great range for travel/landscape photography, and the body controls and ergonomics are a joy to use. Can I finally say I've found my mirrorless home? Yes, I think I can.

Camera gear for the occasional wedding photographer

I'm shooting a wedding in a months time.

Not earth-shattering news, I know. But for someone who doesn't photograph weddings very often anymore, it becomes something of a big deal. Or maybe you're just starting out on your wedding photography journey and don't know what gear you need (or want, or should have)? What to take to a wedding if you're 'the' photographer can be quite daunting (I know it was for me).

I was a wedding photographer for several years - several years ago. And I still get asked to shoot the occasional wedding for friends or family. Hence the wedding next month (as I write this). 

Fortunately, I'm in the enviable position of having a lot of very nice gear to choose from. But I don't need to use all of it. In fact I shouldn't take all of it on a wedding. That would be overkill.

So then what should I take? What gear do you need to photograph a wedding? Do you have to use all f/1.4 primes with pro DSLR's, or will a basic camera and kit lens suffice?

As with most things in life, the answer isn't always simple. And I could fall back on the old 'it depends' answer. But that's not particularly helpful. What I want to do in this post is go through my choices for what I will be taking to photograph the upcoming wedding - and why. I'm not for a moment suggesting that the list will be exhaustive, or that it's what you should take whenever the need arises. But I do hope that it will help someone maybe looking to get into wedding photography, or who might have been asked by a friend to shoot their wedding. So lets go photograph a wedding, shall we? 

Ok, so let's start with the easy one first shall we? First things first, you're going to need a camera. You've got one of those - right? Great. Let's move on.

But hang on. Not so fast. You'd better make that two. 

Yes, that's right. If you are the main photographer at a wedding, never - I repeat never - go with only one camera! This kinda goes without saying for most paid (or non-paid) professional gigs. Especially if it's a 'once-in-a-lifetime' non-repeatable event like a wedding. Back-up is the key. And maybe even a back-up for the back-up! (although that may be slightly overkill)?

Does it need to be the exact same camera as your main one? No, not really. If your main camera is a Canon 5D Mk3, your 'back-up' could be a 5D Mk2, or even a Canon 80D. Preferably something that will take the lenses you've got. Just as long as if your main camera dies (for whatever reason), you can just pick up another camera and keep shooting.

And while we're on the subject of cameras, don't worry if you haven't got the latest or greatest gear on the market. Are big, expensive 'pro' cameras necessary for photographing weddings? No. They are not. Should you feel 'inferior' if you shoot a wedding on a Canon 80D, a Nikon D7200 or an Olympus E-M5? No - you should not. I realised very early on in my wedding career that some guests at the wedding were likely to have 'better' gear than me. Did that make them better photographers? (That's a rhetorical question). Take a look at any of the wedding images that accompany this post and tell me if they were taken on a Canon 1D Mk4 or a Canon Rebel. What's that? You can't tell!? Of course you can't. And that's the point....

Are 'pro' cameras more solidly built that prosumer cameras? Of course they are. But that doesn't mean that Canon Rebels are prone to failing constantly. Want to know the only camera that has ever failed on me? The Canon 5D. The most expensive camera I've ever purchased brand new. It lasted just as long as the warranty period and then died on me - just before a wedding. Which takes me back to point number one. Whatever camera you choose to use, have a back-up.

Are dual card slots in a camera necessary for photographing weddings (hang on, it's about to get controversial)... No, they are not!

Yes, I realise that I've just finished banging on about the importance of back-up. But trust me, hundreds of thousands of weddings have been photographed, by professionals, who used cameras that only had one card slot - long before dual-card slots in cameras were a thing. If your camera has dual card slots, then by all means use one slot as a back-up. Of course. But if your camera doesn't have dual card slots, it's NOT a deal-breaker. 

Case-in-point, my main camera for the upcoming wedding will be the Sony a77ii - which has a single card slot. My back-up camera will be the Sony a99 (which does have dual card slots, but which is getting old in the tooth now so will only be my back-up camera).

Ok. That's enough about cameras. What about the seriously difficult question of lenses....? What lenses should you buy/beg/borrow/steal to photograph a wedding?

Everyone is different. Some wedding photographers pride themselves on using only two primes over an entire wedding (usually something like a 35mm and an 85mm), while others have a bag-full of fast glass and three camera bodies slung over their shoulder (perish the thought).

Again, do you need to use fast primes at a wedding? No, you don't. Do you even need to have 'fast' lenses to cover a wedding? Again, I would argue (especially with the recent crop of modern digital cameras) that no - you don't. But should you have some fast glass on a wedding shoot? Yeah, I think you probably should.

At least as fast as you can afford. Because I also don't think that anyone starting out in wedding photography should need to take out an extra mortgage or personal loan to buy a bag full of fast glass. You can get by without it. 

My recommendation if you are just starting out, is to at least have a 50mm f/1.8, especially if you are using an APS-C sensor camera. That will equate to a 75mm (or 80mm on Canon) f/1.8, which I use mostly for hair and makeup shots of the bride and bridesmaids getting ready - and for some individual portraits. Used at around f/2.8 I get some very nice, out-of-focus creamy backgrounds which help to remove any distracting elements that may be present. A 50mm f/1.8 is the cheapest fast prime in any manufacturers line-up, and a must-have for the budding wedding photographer (imho).

Ironically I don't have a 50mm f/1.8. But what I do have is a 50mm f/2.8 macro which, at f/2.8, is a sharp lens. And as a bonus, it can also do double-duty as a macro lens to take detailed ring, dress and flower photos (see first image of this post).

As useful as a fast prime like a nifty fifty is, it probably won't see you through an entire wedding! For your main wedding lens - something that you might use at least 80% of the day, you will be better suited with a zoom lens. Something like a 24-70mm (or equivalent for APS-C).

Since most (if not all) cameras come packaged with a 'standard' zoom (often referred to as a 'kit' lens), will this do, since you probably already own one? And the answer, which may surprise some of you, is undoubtedly 'yes', it will do. I shot my first half-dozen weddings using the 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5 Nikkor 'kit' lens than came with my Nikon D70, and not one bride complained about her images - ever.

Again, look at most of the images in this post. I'm not sure any of them were taken at f/2.8? More than likely they were all shot around f/5.6 - which all lenses are capable of. Wedding days aren't about capturing background blur and 'bokeh'. they are about capturing emotion and moments that express that emotion. That's what will make a bride cry when she sees your images after the wedding is over.

Are there 'better' lenses out there? Of course there are. I would suggest, if  (and when) you can afford it, to 'upgrade' to a constant aperture standard zoom. Something like the outstandingly sharp (and reasonably priced) Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8. These can be found regularly on the second-hand market, and make a great wedding/portrait standard zoom.

My zoom of choice for the upcoming wedding? I'll probably take two (remember back-up) - the Sony 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* and the Minolta 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5. One of those will probably be on my lens for most of the wedding, covering everything from group portraits to the service itself, and bridal photos afterwards.

To be honest, you could get away with just those two lenses for an entire wedding - a 50mm prime and a reasonably fast standard zoom (and in all honesty, you could probably ditch the prime).

But there is one more lens that I will be taking in my bag, and that I will use on about 10% of the shots. And it's another prime - a medium telephoto 85mm.

On my a77ii this will equate to roughly a 130mm field-of-view - still somewhere in the medium telephoto range. And this is a lens that I will use for a specific look -  those classic, out-of-focus background, creamy bokeh, portrait images. I like swapping to the 85mm prime when I'm working with just the bridal party on individual portraits. There's just something about an 85mm prime that oozes confidence, and it's a lens I really enjoy using when I get the chance.

I'm fortunate to own the Minolta 85mm f/1.4, but the f/1.8 version is certainly just as good, and a lot cheaper when you're starting out. So the Minolta 85mm f/1.4 will be the last lens to go into my wedding bag.

To be clear, this last lens is an optional extra - the icing on the cake, and not strictly 'necessary'. I shot dozens of weddings before owning an 85mm prime. But when I finally got one, it 'elevated' my portrait work to the next level - so is a highly recommended piece of kit to work towards if you are serious about your wedding/portrait work.

So is that it? What else do you need on a wedding day? What else will I be taking with me?

Well I guess the rest is almost common sense for any photography shoot. Lots of charged/spare batteries (I'll take five), spare SD cards (64Gb x4), a flash (with spare batteries) for the reception/indoor shots (if allowed), and a good solid backpack to keep it all in.

I'm not one of these wedding photographers who carries spare needle and thread with them so they can be the hero on the day if there's a serious dress mishap. Some may disagree (and that's their prerogative), but I really don't see that as my job. And I've never actually needed it on any wedding I've ever shot - so there's that.

I also don't take a drink bottle or snacks with me. There tends to be enough drink and food around as a natural occurrence on a wedding day, and I don't mind asking for a glass of water if needed. New Zealand wedding days are fairly relaxed as a rule (at least the ones I've been involved with have been), and now I only shoot for friends or family, so I'm not a 'stranger' on the day.

The last piece of kit worth mentioning, that certainly is an added 'extra', is a vertical grip for your camera (if it supports one). Whilst certainly not a 'necessity', I always tend to shoot weddings with a vertical grip attached. For two reasons. 

First, it adds a second battery, which means you get double the shooting time. Depending on your system, you might even be able to get through an entire wedding without having to change batteries.

And second, it makes shooting in the 'portrait' orientation (which I do during a wedding a lot), so much easier. Yes, it adds weight and bulk to your system - but the two benefits I've mentioned above out-way the extra weight (in my humble opinion). Your mileage may vary. 

I don't actually have a grip for my a77ii at the moment - but one is on its way. It's an after-market product (I'd prefer an actual Sony one), but should do the job.

So, as you can see, you don't need to take a tonne of gear with you on a wedding shoot. My kit will consist of a Sony a77ii with grip (and a99 body as a back-up), 50mm f/2.8 macro, 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5, 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 and 85mm f/1.4. A Sony flash, and associated batteries and memory cards, will round out the kit - all kept in a Lowepro Flipside 400 AW backpack. Not a bad kit.

Finally, I want to reiterate what I said earlier. More than about what 'gear' you use, wedding photography is about capturing the emotion, the energy, and the essence of a wedding day. Use whatever gear you can (yes, even a fisheye) to create captivating and memorable images for your bride and groom and you will have successfully fulfilled your purpose.

Trust me, your clients won't care what camera/lens combination you shot their wedding on, what f-stop it was, or what shutter speed you used. If you can present them with a set of photographs that tell the story and encapsulate the joy of their wedding day, you've done your job. Well done you.