We can invest a lot of money in photography equipment and some simple camera kit considerations can help us choose the best gear for our needs. As has been stated in many of my previous articles, we should all buy and use whatever camera format, brand and camera model that best meets our individual needs. There is no such thing as a perfect, one-size fits all camera system. Best is a relative term that is totally dependent on our individual needs.
Category Archives: Cameras & Lenses
Investment Decisions
Regardless of the sensor format and brand we may choose, we all face investment decisions when considering various cameras and lenses. This article utilizes some current data and compares the relative costs and weight of my ‘low light’ PRO M4/3 lenses with comparable Nikon mirrorless full frame lenses. I did not include comparisons with other full frame brands simply because I don’t have any personal experience with them. Photographers can do similar comparisons with any equipment they are considering.
Specs Aren’t Everything
As photographers it is good for us to remember that specs aren’t everything when it comes to buying and effectively using camera gear. Like other folks I’ve learned some lessons the hard way. Fortunately those lessons didn’t cost me a huge amount of money. It is critical that each of us buy and use whatever format and brand of camera gear best meets our individual needs.
Maximizing Dynamic Range
Maximizing dynamic range can be a key consideration when we are out with our cameras photographing a wide range of subject matter. It can be of prime importance with landscape photography. This article provides a quick overview of some of the things we can do to help maximize the available dynamic range that our cameras provide.
Compatibility and Differentiation
It is interesting to consider camera product compatibility and differentiation, as sometimes these factors can work at cross purposes. There are photographers who feel that OMDS should make its proprietary computational photography technologies compatible with lenses from other manufacturers. And, that OMDS should expand the compatibility of these technologies further down its own product line to include less expensive lenses.
Some other photographers are upset that Canon appears to be ready to bar third party lens manufacturers from using its new camera mount and suing them if they attempt to reverse engineer the design. Some folks wonder if this could eventually lead to third party lens manufacturers disappearing down the road.
Lens Kit Choices
Regardless of the interchangeable lens camera format that we may choose to use, it is critical that we make the right lens kit choices for the work that we do. This article discusses some of the considerations that come into play when making lens kit choices.
Redefine Camera Systems
We live in a photographic age that is causing us to redefine camera systems well beyond our previous, and simplistic, two dimensional view. It wasn’t that many years ago when many photographers only considered two factors. The camera body. And, the lenses associated with it. In the past some cameras were bought more because of the lenses that could be married to it, rather than specific attributes of the body itself.
Comfort and Ergonomics
When using camera gear for extended periods of time, the importance of comfort and ergonomics can become a critical factor. This month marks the third anniversary of the purchase of my first E-M1X. I loved the camera so much that six months later a bought a second one. My love affair has only deepened over time.
Focal Length and EFOV
To get the most out of our camera gear it’s important to consider the focal length and EFOV of the equipment we use. As photographers the camera gear that we choose is less important than our knowledge on how to use it effectively. How we express our creativity through this artform called photography, is the most critical factor. Not the camera gear we own.
The Right Tool
In a wide range of professions a large part of success is understanding your needs and using the right tool for the job at hand. When it comes to photography we have a wealth of choices in terms of sensor formats, cameras and lens. There is no such thing as the ‘best camera’ in terms of a ‘one format fits all’ solution.