What Kind of Camera Should I Buy?
Q: What kind of camera should I buy?
A: I feel strongly about this question because people can get distracted by worrying about having the correct gear and it can stop people from shooting altogether.
To that point, consider that my highest-selling photograph was shot on an iPhone 5S in the middle of a snowstorm. It’s a photograph of lonely chairlifts which collectors have asked to print at between five to six feet high.
If you are after something other than your phone, my advice to everyone is that if you don’t like holding and operating the physical camera (as in enjoying having it in your hands and how the menus are organized), then it doesn’t matter what the specs are. You’re probably not going to use it. Sure, there are some cases where specifications can make a difference. For instance, the Hasselblad X1D medium format camera is so beautiful and nice to hold, but if you’re trying to capture a fast-moving toddler or something similar, your odds of success are quite slim because the camera is unlikely to react or focus quickly enough.
Camera manufacturers also go through periods where they exchange leads on the basic specs, with one exception being Fuji who are known for their physical dials and more retro look. With the resurgence of film, you may want to consider that as well. For what it's worth, my professional work is done on the Canon R3 and R5 because of speed and reliability. My every day carry is the Fuji X100VI, and for film I mostly shoot a Rollei 35 and the Hasselblad XPan II.
Otherwise I don’t think equipment should be the primary focus. On that chairlift, the phone was all that was necessary and it’s possible that “a something else” may not have made the photograph any more successful or even possible. So my advice is to find a store where you can try holding a few cameras or that has a lenient return policy so you can field test a few... Hold it, go though the menus, because if you don’t like the experience and “how it communicates with you” then the megapixels and stuff will have no relevance.
In this way, buying a camera is the same as buying a bicycle. :)
Stills