With the announcement of Nikon’s full-frame Z 6 and Z 7 mirrorless bodies, we’re getting very close to having all the major players fully engaged. Canon will bring their own full-frame model in the coming months to complete the process. Technology marches on.
It was 10 years ago that Panasonic brought out the first mirrorless interchangeable lens camera—the Lumix G1. Micro four thirds sensors led the way for quite a while, though Fujifilm stirred things up with the X-Pro1 in 2010. Then Sony entered the market, first with APS-C sensors then moving to full frame, and has made a very big slash. Within the last two years Fujifilm and Hasselblad raised the bar higher with 50MP medium format models (GFX 50S and X1D-50c respectively).
I’ve been using a Panasonic G9 for a few months. As a dedicated Canon user for many years, retraining brain and muscles to accommodate a markedly different camera workflow has been a challenge. When applied methodically, some results have been very good, though I’m still much more familiar with Canon operation and have a higher success rate using the “old” tools. Time will tell.
Canon has yet to make their statement. The speculation has been rampant for months and it will likely be a little while yet before we know the answers. One key question is whether they will stick with the EF mount or go a similar route to Nikon by using a new mount and a dedicated adapter for the over 130 million EF lenses in the field. Interesting times ahead.
The blooming of summer continues in full swing with wild geraniums at their peak, along with larkspur, chiming bells, and many others. Fireweed has begun to add its bright magenta hue as well. It’s all part of the rush to grow, blossom, and seed is a few short weeks before winter arrives again.
Waterfowl are beginning to show up again on their annual flights north. A small patch of open water in Anchorage called Spenard Crossing is one of the better spots to observe early arrivals. Today a pair of trumpeter swans, several common goldeneyes, one Barrow’s goldeneye, a bufflehead, and a pair of common mergansers worked the open leads between snow-covered banks of ice still covering much of the impound. Three gulls were also sitting atop light poles along the roadway. Geese and terns will be here soon as well.