Do I Really Need a Brand New Expensive Camera?
Let’s be real, if I had unlimited resources, I’d probably own a top of the line Canon mirrorless camera with big white, fast, 600mm prime lens attached. I’d also have a Medium Format digital camera made by Fujifilm or Hasselblad for capturing the sweet landscape scenes here in southeast Arizona. And finally, I’d round out my kit with something I could stick in my pocket and take anywhere; and if money was no object, it would probably be a Leica.
But, since I live here in the real world …
The overwhelming majority of pictures I capture these days happen on either a decade old Canon 80D dSLR, or my Pixel 9 Pro XL smartphone.
Heck, even with the 80D, I bought it used about 5 years ago for $500. Before that I shot for a couple of years with a $300 EOS M, and before that, with a Canon 20D that I did buy new, in 2004.
I’m not mad or disappointed about it though. Below are examples of images from each camera. If I didn’t tell you which two were taken on phones could you guess?
Heck, now that I’m lookin though my archive, I remember that my first “real” camera was a Sony F-717 that I got in 2002. Check out this shot I captured with that 5 megapixel fixed lens beast:
Final caveat: I DO own some pretty nice lenses. But even those were bought used, or are from quality 3rd parties. The Sigma 150-600mm that Kelly got me for my birthday is attached to the Canon 95% of the time. I also have a 70-200F4L (that I bought with poker winnings in 2005), a Tamron 28-75 F2.8 (this was the first and one of the only new lenses I ever bought, also in 2005), a 17mm Tokina, and (if I can ever find it) a Tamron 90mm macro (which was a gift from a friend).
Bottom line: it would be fun to have one (or more) of the latest and greatest digital cameras. But realistically, unless you’re getting paid to do this, you can probably have a perfectly enjoyable time taking just about any kind of pictures, with a camera that doesn’t cost four figures.
Til Next Time,
~ Todd
Every photo tells a story, and stories are better with company. If you enjoyed this glimpse into our life in the Sky Islands (and beyond), please pass it along to a fellow explorer. Thank you!
