Lately, I’ve been revisiting some of the simpler setups I used to love, and it’s been a refreshing journey down memory lane. It all started when I got my hands on the new ZV-E10 II, which came bundled with the APS-C 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 lens. After some initial testing, I decided to get a little experimental and swapped the kit lens over to my trusty ZV-E1, while the ZV-E10 II got paired with my 24mm GM. And you know what? That tiny, compact setup stirred up some serious nostalgia for me.

A Trip Down Memory Lane

There’s something about using that lightweight, no-frills kit lens on the ZV-E1 that took me straight back to the early 2010s—a time when everyone who wanted to be cool was carrying around a Holga. Back then, the goal wasn’t pixel-perfect shots; it was all about capturing the moment, experimenting, and having fun with your gear.

That got me thinking about the lifecycle of my own journey with cameras:

• The Sony Digicam: My very first digital camera, the one that got me hooked on photography. It was simple, compact, and came everywhere with me. The blue 32mb memory stick I’ll never forget.
• The Nikon D90: My entry into the world of DSLRs. It felt like a huge leap in quality but came with the downside of being heavier and bulkier.
• Mobile Phone Cameras: As smartphones evolved, I found myself reaching for my phone more than my DSLR. It was just so much easier to carry around, especially as the image quality kept improving.
• Multi-Camera Phones: The era of phones with multiple lenses arrived, offering a variety of focal lengths in one sleek package. This versatility was hard to beat, and it pulled me even further away from my DSLR.
• The Move to Mirrorless: Eventually, I made the switch to mirrorless for the blend of portability and image quality. It was like finding the perfect middle ground.

The Joy of Going Back to Basics

I’ve been using my current setup—a ZV-E1 with the 24mm GM lens—for quite a while now. It’s been great for content creation, with its stellar color science and impressive slow-motion capabilities. But playing around with the ZV-E10 II and revisiting that compact form factor has been a gentle reminder of how fun it can be to just pick up a camera and shoot without overthinking it. The 16-50mm kit lens, despite its humble specs, has a simplicity that makes photography feel lighthearted again.

I think this experience has reignited a yearning in me for something lighter and more straightforward. So, for the next few days, I’m going to switch things up and try using the ZV-E1 with that APS-C 16-50mm lens combo. It’s like stepping back to a time when cameras were about capturing life as it happened, not chasing the highest resolution or the fastest autofocus. Sometimes, a simple setup is all you need to fall in love with photography all over again. Below are some shots that will win no awards but rather warm me back into what I love about the spontaneity of photography.