I love big gear

[docholliday]

After years of traveling around the world on vacation carrying a Hasselblad (503 & 203) with a 110FE and 50CF/FLE, it's nothing to carry around a 1Ds3 with 21/2.8ZE - feels like half the weight. Well, that and before the Hasselblad stuff, I traveled with an RB67...

[epsiloneri]

Pansies  The LSST camera will be the largest digital camera ever constructed, measuring roughly 5' x 10'

And that doesn't even include the front lens: the 8.4 meter diameter mirror and the building to support it! http://www.lsst.org

[Nishi Drew]

I was all for big heavy gear especially for how grip-able and balanced to the lenses the camera bodies are + of course the IQ and dof/perspective control that bigger stuff provides.

But what's this, the OM-1 with the extra grips are perfect, fits my hand nicely and with how lightweight the lenses are I can carry more gear. I just need to keep on convincing myself that I 'need' an FF sensor when IQ, DR, ISO for photo and video of them mFT cams are getting so much better and super fast AF and weather sealing and the swivel screen...

[dr croubie]

Reminds me of when I went on a 5-day Scout Hike when i was 14 or so. They always recommend you carry 20% of your body weight or so, that that should have been 15kg at the time. Not only did I not have the lightest tent and sleeping bag, my bag was 23kg because I deemed that I couldn't live without a home-made sound system strapped to my backpack, powered by a few 6V lantern batteries, a whole heap of cassettes to listen to, plus a bottle of vodka and 2L of Coke to mix it with. With all that booze i never noticed the extra weight...

Anyway, the one lens that I haven't been hiking with yet is my big boy and my Hasselbladski...

[docholliday]

I caved and hiked for years with about 45-65lbs of gear on my back (of course, in a real backpack). So, to add a bit more weight to my camera gear isn't really noticable - it's still lighter than what I used to carry!

Of course, my 4x5 outfit wasn't exactly the lightest either. Even with CF tripods and everything else toned down, the camera, holders and lenses still makes my 1Ds3 feel like a feather.

Then again, you could always try carrying this for Hasselblad (yeah, that's a 203FE/205FCC at the end of it):

[insanitybeard]

Personally I wouldn't want a smaller body than the 7D I own. I like the solid feel of the 7D in my hands, I have used my partner's 400D on occaision and dislike the smaller viewfinder, the more cramped controls and the less solid feel in the hand, as well as the control layout. For me it just isn't as nice to use. So for this reason, whilst having lighter and smaller kit is not to be ignored, especially when you have other equally or more important things to carry, there is a limit to how small and light you can get things whilst maintaining full usability! And as has been said before, a compact (eg, mirrorless) body may be all well and good but place a big-ish tele lens on that body and the balance just isn't the same, the grip isn't as good, and for action subjects, BIF etc that can be a big issue!

[FunPhotons]

he enjoys the flexibility of having all of his gear available to him to use. as a generalist, I couldn't agree more. one moment I am shooting a landscape with GND filters on a tripod, the next moment I may want to be shooting a bird with a telephoto and extender. to do that, you have to walk softly and carry a big bag.

Yup. The serious part of my point is that I've got a couple smaller cameras, among them a S100 and a Fuji X100, that I got for just the reason of having a small side camera. The S100 gets some shots because during the working day it really is the only camera I can have with me. But, the poor quality of the shots compared to the DSLR is a bugger. The Fuji gets better shots, but the features - focus, speed, and shooting accuracy sucks. Again I find myself wanting the DSLR.

Will we ever have a camera that is as good as a DSLR in a tiny package? Possible, but I doubt it for a couple of reasons. One is the physics, a small camera simply won't be able to achieve the capabilities (speed, features, noise, IQ etc) of a DSLR. As small cameras advance so do the DSLR's. That will leave me wanting to use the DSLR.

Two, manufacturers want to place products such that there is a high end market and a middle end. Will somebody come out with a P&S body that has the capabilities of a Canon DSLR, with its full range of lenses, flashes, filters, etc etc? Possible but not probable.

Finally - more serious part here - I like my equipment. I like messing with it, taking care of it, and most of all using it. I would be lonely if I just had a little itty-bitty Leica and one lens, I'd feel like a puny girly man.

[zim]

.... 2L of Coke to mix it with.....

Now that's girly! 

[FatDaddyJones]

Bigger is better when it's bigger for a reason. Big DSLRs are generally better cameras than little point and shoot cameras. One of my favorite things about the 7D and the 5D Mark III is the ergonomics - they just feels good in my hands. They fit. They're well balanced. I've got a small shoulder bag that I can throw my camera and lens into when I don't need all the gear, but if I know I'm gonna use it, or there's even a chance I might need it, I take it all. Isn't that what photography's all about. What's the use of having it if you don't take it with you and use it?

The people who say that "good things come in small packages" are trying to sell you something. I like my camera gear like I like my women - Big, Fat, and in the sack.  

[crasher8]

In class today we were discussing pinholes and Holgas when the guy sitting in front of me whips out  100-400 Push Pull. I think I drooled on my desk. Not that there's anything wrong with that…him whipping out his push pull

[Rienzphotoz]

"him whipping out his push pull in front of me"
"I drooled on my desk"

Now that sounds disturbing

[FatDaddyJones]

It's not you focal length, it's how you steer your gear.

[crasher8]

Didn't Ansel say it's the 8 inches BEHIND the camera that matters?

[skinkfoot]

While not the biggest lens in the world I do use this 400mm f4.0 from the 60's once in a while and I find it to be a beast!

[KyleSTL]

^ Ironically, the nifty fifty is also in the picture for contrast.  Nice touch.