Downtown LA, 2016 #pentax645z. Cindy and Gopro

How Does Your Camera Matter?

When people say, “the camera doesn’t matter”, what they really mean to say is:

Your skill as a photographer doesn’t increase proportionally with the expense of your camera.

For example having a $10,000 camera won’t make me 10x skillful than if I have a $1000 camera.

So this is what I want to explain — how the camera matters in photography.

Image quality

How does image quality matter?

For example, of course a digital medium format camera is going to have better image quality than an iPhone Photo. But how so? Let’s compare:

iPhone Pro camera

For example here are some photos I’ve shot on iPhone Pro. All with default camera app, and the noir filter. Some photos have additional contrast and post-processing applied afterwards.

I like the photos. I stressed good composition, lighting, etc. I tried to make the photos look as aesthetically beautiful as I can.

But for some reason, the photos still lack that “oomph” for me. Generally speaking the iPhone is really good enough for photography. But if your personal goal is to reach the summit of aesthetic pleasure, joy, and beauty, I think you must go BEYOND phone cameras.


Digital medium format

This is where things get interesting. The photos do truly look 1000x different than other formats and sensors (crop sensor, micro 4/3, full frame).

With digital medium format (Pentax 645z), you get an insane amount of detail, color rendition, color vibrancy and pop, sharpness and smoothness, and generally humans look more epic on digital medium format. Honestly for me at this point, I think it’s best to skip full-frame and just go straight into digital medium format.

For example, I’d rather have a Fujifilm GFX 50S or 50R instead of any Sony A7-full frame, over a Leica SL, or any other full frame sensor cameras on the market right now. The only full frame digital camera which I think is cool is an older and used Leica M9. For some reason after the Leica M9 and original Leica M9 monochrom, the digital Leica cameras have lost soul.

Some Fujifilm GFX50R photos:

We are searching for aesthetics

water droplets

We think we want ‘better image quality’, but what we really want is sublime and beautiful aesthetics in our photographs.

And yes, you can make beautiful photographs on digital cameras.

What is more important: image quality/aesthetics or ergonomics?

screenshot jaguar
RICOH GR III macro mode, JPEG high contrast black and white.

Right now I think the best camera is RICOH GR III:

Super small, fits in your front pocket, and phenomenal image quality.

And ultimately, I would always make the trade-off of having a camera with inferior image quality (but superior ergonomics), compared to a camera with higher image quality (but worse ergonomics).

When is image quality overrated?

Providence sunset. RICOH GR III in positive JPEG mode.
Providence sunset. RICOH GR III in positive JPEG mode.

For example if I had a large-format digital camera with the most supreme image quality and aesthetics (but it weighed 10 pounds), I would HATE it. Why? Lugging it around would be a positively PAINFUL, UNPLEASANT, and torturous thing.

As much as I enjoyed the Pentax 645Z, after lugging it around for a few days in NYC, I literally started to get elbow pain (similar to tennis elbow). No matter how much I love photography, I will never sacrifice my physical health (and pain) for it.

Lightweight is always superior to heavyweight. When we are lighter, we do more, we move more, we make more, we create more, we walk more, we live more, and we BECOME MORE!

Does it matter what your camera looks like?

ERIC KIM NECK STRAP x RICOH GR III x 21mm Adapter
ERIC KIM NECK STRAP x RICOH GR III x 21mm Adapter

I believe so. The aesthetics of the design of the camera is important. Similar to how the aesthetics of how your car looks like matters.

Why? No matter how great the performance of your camera, as long as it looks ugly (in your eyes), it will always make you feel a bit depressed. From a philosophy of aesthetics perspective:

Ugly aesthetics depress, beautiful aesthetics uplift us.

Of course don’t let other superimpose their definition of ugly or beautiful on you. If you think it looks beautiful, it is beautiful. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Leica as the apex of design aesthetics

Film Leica MP x Henri Shoulder Strap (CREMA BROWN)
Film Leica MP x Henri Shoulder Strap (CREMA BROWN)

For example I think the black paint film Leica MP is the most beautiful (and functional) Leica M camera ever made. Same goes with the Leica 35mm f/2 Summicron ASPH lens (most beautiful Leica lens ever made, and even superior to the Summilux as the Summicron is lighter weight).

Furthermore, I consider the RICOH GR cameras as the best designed point and shoot compact cameras ever designed. This includes the original digital RICOH GR, Ricoh GR II (same design as the original digital RICOH GR, and the RICOH GR III.

Why is it important that the camera looks beautiful to you?

If the camera looks beautiful to you, you’re more likely to shoot with it. Anything which looks ugly — you won’t be as motivated to shoot with it.

Henri Neck Strap Mark III [Mahogany Brown]
Henri Neck Strap Mark III [Mahogany Brown]

Cultivate your own aesthetics

For clothing I like “all black everything” to keep things simple. For goods, I prefer things which can patina and “wabi sabi”, like the brassing on a black paint Leica, or the beautiful patina in leather goods (why I prefer leather for HAPTIC INDUSTRIES instead of synthetic materials).

What’s the best camera?

Selfie ricoh flash
RICOH GR II x ERIC KIM WRIST STRAP MARK II

For black and white flash, RICOH GR II with integrated flash.

For nonflash photos, RICOH GR III: