I did the foam roller at 6 AM. I followed this with pull-ups. Then I did traction and the inversion table. And then I went to my chiropractor. You could say that my neck and back have seen better days. Yes, you would be correct. I live in constant pain. Three of the fingers on my left hand are numb. Anything around my neck results in more pain. My only goal is to work my way out of this. Avoid surgery. I’m not sure this is possible, but I will do my damnest to try. Consequently, my camera kit is front and center as I prepare for post-Germany/England Blurb life.
Size matters.
As you can see, my daily driver camera is the Nikon Zf, pictured on the left. I love this camera. Fully functional, a breeze to use, and the files and technical abilities are top-notch. The camera on the right is the Fuji X100VI. You see where I’m headed with this. The Nikon is a more versatile camera. The Nikon is full frame, has a better viewfinder, better autofocus, IBIS, and displays a more pleasing falloff. The Nikon is also built like a tank. But the Nikon is twice the size and more than twice the weight. That’s all that matters.
Despite its Napolean Complex size, the Fuji is a fully functional machine. The 40MP resolution, color fidelity, and silent operation are stellar. The X100VI effortlessly pairs with the XApp . And most importantly, the Fuji doesn’t cause me any pain. I love both these cameras, but the pain has overruled all else. A friend was recently on the fence about which cameras to buy. We both concluded these cameras are different enough to warrant a double purchase.
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Chronic pain sucks, sorry you’re dealing with all that. You know when your fingers are numb and you’ve got to pair down your gear to a point and shoot for comforts sake, it’s annoying and can be depressing. I battled a bad back for years and the chronic pain can wear on your spirits. I wish you the best and know it will get better.
Author
Thank you. It does suck. I’ve got work to do.
Yes the x100vi is a compromise – but a very nice one – very light / great files (the 40MP makes a difference). I might suggest adding the SmallRig hand grip – very little additional weight and much easier to hold.
Author
The thumb grip is enough for me. I have the grip on the Nikon, however.
I’ve owned a Leica Q2 for 5 years and always felt happy with its compact size and lightweight. But you still can NOT slide it in a coat’s pockets. I bought an X100VI a few weeks ago and I only started to take a camera with me ALL the time since then. It has been transformative. – On the physical side, my back (L5-S1 disc) gave up on me in 2017. I spent two months without leaving the bed, and two years working on it. Horrible. Eventually, thanks to the help of a handful of physiotherapists I made it back to where I was before the incident. Settle for no less than the best practitioners. Best wishes, Daniel.
Author
I need a really good physio….and yes, the Fuji is SO light I think I forgot it when I pick up my bag.
Amen brother. Take a look at used prices of any large-sensor compact camera and you’ll see a ton of people agree with you. Not just the X100 series but the Sony RX100 series (I bought a mint RX100 IV in 2018 for $500, good luck finding one at that price today), the Ricoh GR, heck even the Nikon Coolpix A from 2013 still fetches plenty used. Wish the camera makers could give us more small-but-good options
Author
Yikes.
A bulging disc at L5/S1 in 2008 caused intense sciatica and, per my doctor, eventual risk of incontinence. So I had a 40 minute discectomy surgery. I awoke free of pain, and my back has been fine ever since-although I gave up jujitsu to play it safe. Some back surgeries are lifesavers, others lead to further problems-so I understand your concern. Hope things improve. I too use the X100VI for its convenient size/weight, but other times I use my XPro-3 and its marvelous 35mm f1.4 lens.
Author
I need to elevate to a pro therapist.
Hey Dan. I hope you feel better soon, man. If one can afford it, I agree in that a double purchase may be warranted. I have the Zf, and my smaller system is the Olympus E-M5 (mark 1). I actually have two E-M5’s. I love both systems, for different reasons. The small size/weight of the E-M5 with great quality output (despite being a 15 year old camera now). The Zf for uncompromising image output (imho) and the ability to adapt vintage 35mm lenses to full frame with fantastic focusing ability with that Zf viewfinder.
Author
I like having both. For sure. And I have a Z8 for the birding.
If I gave a rats about megapixels I’d have dropped my Olympus gear ages ago. m43’s are a bit sucky in low light but the lenses are minuscule and weight almost nothing compared to almost every other system I’ve used – even the Fujis. I can carry two cameras all day and not feel my neck wanting to stay at 45 degrees at the end of the day. That’s how I felt last week when I shot a music festival with a 100-400 Sigma tank. I don’t want to be old, bent over and not be able to make work because I felt like I had to carry around a load of heavy equipment.
Author
I’ve never minded the “sucky in low light” thing because I came from the film era. Sucky looks in low light was normal.
“We both concluded these cameras are different enough to warrant a double purchase” – exactly why I have both. It is just very difficult to choose one. But, whenever I just want to go out and have a camera with me, X100 is guaranteed to be picked up. Nikon on the other side, is used mostly to take portraits of my kids.
I had back pain for years, which has been resolved completely by swimming. Maybe try that? Start slow and focus on technique so you do not hurt yourself even more.
Author
I”d love to swim more. Such an incredible workout and low impact.
Given your love of books I recommend that one to add to your list could be Sarah Key’s Back Sufferers’ Bible (and the accompanying BackBlock). Many in my family are surgeons and dentists and each have had their own particular way of destroying their backs during work. All now swear by the back block as the thing that finally worked after a lot of money spent on physios etc. Also, a long time follower of your blog from the Smogranch days and still very much enjoy reading it (especially the book recommendations and your take on all that is happening on your side of the pond).
Author
Hey Stephanie, thank you for saying hello. Even seeing “Smogranch’ in print makes me laugh. I’ve never heard of the back block! Thank you for suggesting. Looking it up now.
I swam lots. (And lots and lots and lots!) It’s a wonderful workout, but between swimming, photo and book editing, I now have cranky shoulders. I lug around a DSLR mainly because it works just fine and I’m too cheap to go mirrorless where the huge files would drive me into updating the computer. Or I’ll lug around a medium format film camera (Fujica GW690), or a small 35 mm film camera with a small 50mm lens on it. Note the OR statement there. I no longer carry more than one of them at a time, or more than one lens for the DSLR.
Good luck with the chronic pain. I saw an acupuncture guy for chronic sciatica pain for a while, and it worked, and it’s never come back.
Author
Swimming is such a great exercise. We are limited on pools here in the High Desert. But, there are a few options.
We all need friends who enable us by helping to justify keeping 2 cameras 🙂 Small and light is the way.
Author
I’m here to help.
Myofascial therapy fixed my neck. I’ve had surgeries and tried everything else in the world. Find a Barnes approved therapist and go once a week for 2 months and you’ll feel like you were 17 again
Author
Ohhh, this sounds good.