I’ve been experimenting with various cameras lately. My main “photo” camera was my Sony a7Cii, as it’s small enough, but has great image quality. Funny story, that camera has been in my stable for some time, but only the past few months has it seen any real use.
I even purchased a much older camera to play with, a Canon G9. Yup, that is a nineteen-year-old twelve megapixel camera.
My intent was to have just an older compact to carry around and shoot with. Using it for videos to show that the camera is just not that important really. Well…
When I turned it on, I realized quickly that something was amiss. The screen was all red, as in, everything was hued VERY red. I set it up with date and time and all that, checked every setting for color, and nothing changed it. So I tried taking a few photos.
I immediately realized this camera had been converted for shooting infra-red only. That involved removing the hot mirror and adding a filter behind the lens. Not something I would DIY, but many do. So, back to KEH it’s going tomorrow.
It got me thinking though, and Derica even said it out loud, “Why do you need an old camera?”.
Okay, I’ll admit, I am a bit spoiled and very lucky to have the gear I have. However, five minutes with the G9 told me that I wouldn’t be happy with this camera anyway. It’s just too slow for my needs and uses. Could I have “made it work”? Maybe.
But!
I have several cameras already. I had benched my Sony ZV-1 due to it just being a little… awkward to use, and the shaky footage for video bothered me. Then I realized, this was a 20MP camera with really quick autofocus that could also do 4k/30 video and had a zoom lens, all in a compact body less bulky than the G9. It’s also from 2020, so it’s not exactly new. The one thing that does bother me though is that it’s not USB-C. That still bugs me a lot.
I realized the G9 was basically the same camera from a use case perspective, just worse in every single way. So I’ll play with the ZV-1 a bit more I think. Both for video, and for photos.
Yes, I love my Ricoh GRiv and that is my go-to carry around camera, but, I do feel a little guilty talking about it on an instructional channel since, it’s a very expensive point and shoot. Not everyone will, or should, buy this camera.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the GRiv, it’s just… not everyone’s cup of tea.
I mentioned the a7Cii earlier, and I can’t fully explain it, but, I like my Sony a7iii better. I have two. Both from when we were wedding photographers. We retired from that about five years ago. My a7iii’s were phenomenal for wedding work.
Anyway, I picked it up from time to time and every time I did, I wondered why I got the a7Cii. I also have an a7iv that we purchased for video use, and well, it overheated a few too many times, so we upgraded to an FX3, but that’s another story.
I just like the feel of the a7iii in my hands. The controls all sit exactly where they should, and the functionality is fast and responsive. Also, it’s got a pretty decent viewfinder. The image quality is still holding up even by today’s standards for photography. 24MP is plenty, and it’s actually a little better for noise at high ISO’s than my a7Cii.
So… I decided to try it out for a day of shooting. I put on a Tamron 50-400mm Lens and we headed out to Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, Florida.
First, it was hot. Like, over 90F hot. We took breaks in the AC and took hundreds of photos. I used high speed drive mode since… why not? I normally eschew such things, but, I also don’t usually shoot tiny moving things with a long lens in heat that can make you pass out if you try holding a position for too long.
I have to say, I am totally pleased with the results. But not just the results, the experience of using that camera, I just love it. From the feel, to the layout to… the shutter sound. YES, the sound of the shutter on that camera is just pleasing to me.
So, an 8 year old camera is new to me again.
Here’s some photos that I took using that combination:
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