For the better part of the last 20 years, I’ve often thought about buying a “real” camera again. But, it always felt excessive. I lived by the mantra The best camera is the one you have with you—which meant my iPhone. As the sensors and lenses continued to improve (especially once they launched the iPhone Pro line), I mostly felt like it was enough.
And yet there was always this nagging. As a student of photojournalism, I longed for a longer lens. Better ISO. More control…
And if I did get one, would it just sit on the shelf and be a waste of money? Also, who wants to lug a giant-ass camera and lens around—or worse, multiple lenses?
But then, since I’ve stopped working, and after the election—filled with all of my world-ending doom—I just did it. After decades of research, I woke up one morning, walked into the local camera shop, and bought one.
Here’s the good news: it’s incredible. It’s everything I’ve always wanted and more. My god, the resolution on this thing. The form factor, the glass… it’s all so next-level.
Here’s the bad news: walking around with something that costs as much as a used car around your neck fills me with impostor syndrome. Oh yeah, who’s that asshole with the giant camera going “click-click-click”… The old reminder that however many exposures you take, most will be shit.
But, all that said, it is—and always has been—something I love. I’m going to stick with this, and like anything else, the more you do it, the easier it gets.
Wish me luck.