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Honestly if I had it to do over, I would have kept my Pentax K-3 (original) and the kit I had assembled with it. I’m very happy with my Fuji X100VI, but I really didn’t need to spend the money on switching (not that I spent much after selling my Pentax equipment). It was mostly a form factor change, the image quality upgrade is (mostly) lost on my work.

I'm still using a D5000 that I got in 2009, a used D7200, and a whole mess of F-mount glass that I've picked up over the years and I've found that the benefits presented by the new equipment is not enough to justify the upgrade and expenses involved.

LRC gives me wormy images with both Fuji x100v, xt5, and Sony A72, a6500, and Panasonic gx9 raws.

I think you make valid points... Digital has exploded the idea that you have to keep up with the latest and greatest. People's threshold to be satisfied.. as with anything in life, is now so low, its really quite sad. I understand when you start, like I did, you do swap around a bit as you find your style and what you like in terms of format, or you just want to experiment and enjoy all kinds of photography, from 35mm to 10x8! But for most yes i think you are correct, 20mp is way more than what most people need. BUT.... there are caveats to that right. Format and tonal quality do come into it, as well as detail. People enjoy photography for all different reasons. We cant hold people to 1 standard and say that is all you need. Ive had all cameras in 17 years there are, APSC digital, full frame digital and film, medium format digital and film, and large format film. I stopped shooting about 6 years ago but have recently taken it back up. Im not a professional. But ive settled on the Fuji GFX 50sii for my digital setup, and I have a large format 4x5 film camera. Do I need it? Yes I do! Because the format and detail is important, and the process is important. Printing is also very important because or me that should be the goal of every photograph... to enjoy it! For home, I do have prints up to 100cm that I like to do because I want to immerse myself into what I shoot, because for me detail is very important. Tonality is important in the print also. Now i only have a few of these prints up at any one time, mostly I do 20" prints or less, but that isnt the point. There are too many variables to consider when it comes to why people use what they use. The GAS issue though is separate to this I think. You began by holding up a MK book... there is someone to respect, who's shot with the same camera i think for most of his working life. He has a vision, and he pursues it, for himself. His camera perfectly fits him for his needs AND wants. I think these arent a choice but must exist and compliment each other. Speaking of YT photographers.. they are not photographers i respect personally.. I think most of their works are sub standard, especially Heaton, I dont enjoy his work at all. You think Ansel would be on YT.? What about Galen Rowel, or Peter Dombrovskis? What about Edward Burtynsky, or Andreas Gursky in the contemporary scene? These people and many others are set apart because they were and are masters, busy excelling at what they do, enjoying their passion, and being good enough to have highly desirable works. Im sure they have a camera system they love and are about doing it for themselves more than anything to. They arent busy trying to earn money from YT chasing followers to make their living. I see a big difference to those who post of YT for their passion, and those have put their trust in YT to earn a living. Im not saying YT photographers dont have a passion, but im afraid all i see is a passion that is watered down by being enslaved to the system of producing content. YT is the worst form of platform for any artist I think... to maintain subscribers as a goal must be so burdensome. They deviate, buy and sell gear, shoot any old thing, and do their best to come up with something every week to try and stand out. Have you noticed how they all produce the same content almost on top of each other all the time. Where are the visionaries, where are the ones coming up with great images that take real time and real effort. They arent on YT lol

Interesting alternative to Lightroom - I like it!

Great video that does raise some interesting questions. For me digital stimulates the brain in a cold logical way but film stirs the heart and the soul. Ultimately its what inspires you to create fine art images - to each is own(!) Looking back on analogue images I took 40 years ago and scanned properly there ia no doubt film has another dimension and I think an honesty about its strengths and limitations. I have chosen to combine both film and digital processing - due to allergies to darkroom chemicals. Nothing compares wit the joy of working a 5x4 or larger analogue camera and the joy (and sometimes frustrations) creating a fine negative. It takes patience, skill and commitment. Something digital shooters are largely insulated from. Love the channel! PS you are spot on with the valve solid state analogy!

I agree with you. I am tired of these influences who tell you what cameras you need for this or that. But I still use Nikon F5 and Fuji Velvia 50 and I sell my prints in larger sizes. I have a digital camera but it is 10 yrs old also. Its ability not tools. How many tradesmen have we hired based on ability and experience not based on what tools they use.

Wish I hadn't seen this video. I have been a Fuji user since the X Pro1. I am happy with my XT-3, and use it as an EDC. But... I have looked very hard at a Nikon Zf with a few Voightlander lenses, and I was about ready to pull the trigger on it. Now, it's back to the drawing board..... Influencers. Harrumph! 🤣

Lenses - not cameras.

I get what you're saying regarding the summer conditions. I live in SW Florida and it's not working for me right now with the humidity and indexes over 100f every day. Regarding the gear, . . . . I'm just a hobbyist, but I think my XT5's would be more than sufficient for anything not requiring less than billboards. But maybe I'm just talking myself into thinking that. Regardless, your video helps convince me that I don't need anything better than what I already have. Thanks for your video.

I'm still using a Nikon aps-c from 2016, it's not perfect but gets the job done. I haven't really been inspired to upgrade to anything yet despite trying a lot of different cameras. Some of the cameras I've tried have some of the things I want but none of them have all of the things I want.

We are drowning in information and starved for wisdom. There is a lot of wisdom in this video. The best photos are those that evoke emotion. I have not figured out how the whole pixel count vs system weight dynamic meshes with creating emotion. What I find odd, is photos that make me happy which are highly detailed so I can identify every plant species don't generate as much interest in my work as some random "snapshot" I have taken that has great color but isn't particularly sharp. I think there is a certain level of cognitive dissonance in CZcams photography channels where it's preached that your photos should look a certain way, versus what actually creates a response by the viewing public. It has taken me a long time to figure that out. As I look back on my own photos, those I took with the X-H1 and X-T3 always stand out as my favorites. I wish I had not chased gear so hard. :(

It is only internet gearheads that obsses about pixel count or camera models. Most people are happy with camera in their phone, most pros use what they bought years ago and never change until it breaks cause why when it delivers. I am using 1/1.7'' 10 or so Mpx 16 years old compact side by side with 26 Mpx APS-C, I print photos from both and hang them on my wall. Perfectly happy with them. But people like numbers. Higher the number the better the gear. Camera, phone, car - more under hood = better in opinion of many people. And influencers get money from advertising stuff, so people hear about "I just switched to... it is SOOO much better cause it has 5 Mpx more and it can detect mouse eye". So they switch too. And after few months the same guy "switches" again cause... and yeah. Well, manufacturers need money from camera sells after all.

Hey Edward, always a pleasure to hear your insights and see the results... or "impressions". Yes impressions. We forget that photography is maybe simply that: impressions exposed... It comes from latin, "impressum" meaning simultaneously the material act of pressing an image on a medium (as paper)... and the feeling it can give and communicate.. Someone can impress me... or his/her expression, act, or art... So what is the value of the tool you need to express yourself, is, to my view, very personal so that you can find your best way to... impress... Lately I was absolutely shocked by the quality, the use, the colors, and the pleasure I discovered using an Olympus OM-D-EM1X I found for 25% of its original price. And the PRO line, as the basic one of their f 1.8's. Yes it is MFT... but the "impression" I discovered with the result, is beyond my expectations. So to me, I discovered that the majority of the CZcamsrs are completely out in space about MFT. I am not a pixel peeper, nor a professional, but let's go back to basics. Photography is all about "impression", the feeling you get at the end of your personal use of those tools that suit you best...Resolution will never overcome the overall impression an image can give. Because it's ART, not science or technology. Needless to say that I love Fuji, Sony to some extent, Nikon and Canon, and Pentax or Leica.. but I'm rediscovering Olympus and it is a pleasure.

Im 67 yrs old. Been shooting 35mm FILM since I was 12 yrs old. At 14 jumped to 120 PENTAX 6x7.. The ideal format.! 50 years later...... Still using it today with a complete 25 lens system and 4 6x7 bodies. Its perfect...no need for lazy digital .50 years of NEGATIVES and KODACHROME slides and they still reign supreme.

Another excellent video. Very true. I had the XT-3, an excellent camera. For me, the Pentax K-1 meets my needs with a few lenses like the DFA 28-105 and the DFA 21 Limited as my favorites. Along with an Osmo Pocket 3, and Action 4, I’m set for landscapes and video. The K-1 is heavy, but worth the trade off. 😊

Wisdom in the current atmosphere is hard to come by. Yes, we need to work with good equipment, but there is a line each of us needs to define between sanity and overkill. Thanks for bringing the question before us and bringing clarity. Keep up the good work.

You make a good point as I can do almost everything with my micro 4/3 20mp Olympus-OM camera system. I would really argue that the Olympus/OM System is about the best for wildlife and macro (focus bracketing and stacking) that there is. These micro 4/3 cameras do 99% of all my wildlife and macro photography. It does take those correct lenses for the job to make any camera shine though. I'm just not personally satisfied with the 4/3 system for high detailed landscapes though. I've spoiled myself with the GFX system as you know but I surely don't need it as the X-T5 is absolutely good enough. I do actually prefer the look of the images from the GFX but do shoot with my X-T5 more often as it's just easier to lug around. If I had to get rid of all my gear except for one system, I'd absolutely keep the Olympus/OM System as I enjoy wildlife (birding) and nature macro shooting the most. And, I could also make it work for landscapes too ;)

Hey I don’t quite understand I saw a video from a while back where your k1 dies and you said you were not getting another not being rude just curious

There are no true desires without true needs...

Please add NSFW warning to this video, as it is clearly Not Safe For Wife 😄

Always interesting. Thanks

I need ALL the camera, Ed...lol 🖤🤍

The "clear memory function" is the clunkiest bit of design ever. Did no one at Sekonic take it out for a test? I'd like to see a scrolling zone system ribbon at the bottom of the main screen. Can't be beyond the wit of man? Or can it?

Hi End. Loved the video, very informative, as always. I don't have an LX but have shot one. We did a comparison with a Nikon F3 and much preferred the Pentax. I shoot MX, KX, Program A, spotty, and lots of others and haven't watched your videos since I became obsessed with film. Prior to that I watched them religiously, being a pentaxian. Now I know you are shooting film videos I am a happy bunny. Keep up the great work and its good to see you looking so well :)

It's simple; If you are serious about your b&w, maybe print a lot, know the differences and are well versed in monochrome and is a majority of your imagery then the Pentax is a no brainer. If you mainly shoot color and "occasionally" convert to b&w for online viewing, then No, stick with what you got. The monocrome cameras are usually for those who grew up in the b&w darkroom and knows what true non color tonal exposures offer by way of registering true light values. It is for those (like me) who miss the pure value of monochrome photography.

Simply superb transitions of the subtle light differences. ❤.

Now that you’ve had the replacement mount for 1 month + have you seen any cracking or wood splitting around the screws?

Hey mate! It’s good to know I wasn’t the only one who had thus sane issue with the front standard splitting the wood around the screws. I have the plywood addition but same issue. The wood started to split after only 10 sheets of film. It seems the screws were loose inside the wood and the force of securing the front standard wound pull the screws through the wood. They did send me another one free of charge do good customer service

Hey mate! It’s good to know I wasn’t the only one who had a similar issue with the front standard splitting the wood around the screws. I have the plywood addition but same issue. The wood started to split after only 10 sheets of film. It seems the screws were loose inside the wood and the force of securing the front standard would pull the screws through the wood. They did send me another one free of charge do good customer service

Do you produce a TIFF version? I currently use Capture One but I’m considering moving to DxO PL. when I moved from Lightroom to Capture One I discovered to my cost that raw edits were not transferred and only jpeg and TIFFs made it across successfully. I now always generate a TIFF file just in case. One of the downsides of C1 is that you can’t stack the versions so that you have the raw file at the bottom and then the various colour and b&w versions on top. You could do this in Apple's Aperture and I found it very useful. Can PL do that?

First time hearing of DXO Photolab. I have used Silver FX for a while, but I have been looking for something more user friendly than Lightroom.... Looks like this might just fill the bill. Liked, Subbed... all the stuff. Thanks!

I'm also using PL6. Of note, you can correct your horizon (without hitting the close button) and click the crop tool and PL6 will automatically crop to the edges to avoid any blackness. I like this type of video. Since you know quite a bit about film, it might be interesting to know more about that.

To switch from Fujifilm? 🤯 Are you crazy? Where? I already hate Canon which I must use course my employer said so, Panasonic is fat & ugly & slow & expensive, Leica is ungodly overpriced, Pentax is still Pentax only on paper, Olympus is dead, so the only viable solution would be Nikon. Maybe. Course I hate Sony with a passion. Not that they are making bad cameras per se, I have some beef with Sony from times past - NOTHING that I ever bought from Sony works anymore. Just saying...

Too bad those chemtrails ruin those beautiful photos......

Thank you

I started testing Darktable with the module NegaDoctor for my scans. OMG it rocks, it's an open free source. FYI

I wanted one back in the day when it was new, but life had other plans...

So the a7riv versus k3mark iii monochrome image quality comparison

Adams was a master of photography and a great man who gave much to our country.

interesting. so the fuji was the widest at 50mm ff equiv, the k1 next at 43mm, then the k3 mff equiv at 46mm. i'd keep the pentax m, we all know fuji sucks in low light

Interesting would be if they could do a drop in filter option. Or maybe as Irix lenses have a built-in socket for filters from the bayonet side. But on some lenses this can affect IQ, as after light goes out of last optical element from lense you really do not want to affect it by anything as it fully corrected. Interesting is that on Irix 15 mm f2.4 full frame this option is available and IQ not affected, so should work for Sigma I assume.

Good review. GSM is a measure of weight, not the thickness of the paper. Baryta is pronounced bah-right-tah.

Awesome photos! Thanks for the video.

Great purchase! Sigma make some outstanding lenses in their Art Series.

That’s a very nice lens Ed. I used it for 2 years with the filters before I decided to sell it for the 20mm 1.4 DG DN when it came out.

8:33 awesome shot

That filter kit does not have a polarizer?

Lots of Long exposures with this lens.

I love the X trans technology too. Sensor technology is developing very fast and fuji is taking APS-C very seriously