John Fjeldsted Photography - The Camera that's Right for YOU

The Camera that's Right for YOU

Find a Camera That You Love to Have With You

Anyone can agree, in order to take the picture you have to carry a camera. In this regard, smartphones have the right idea. But what if you would like to have more creative control? What if you really do want the very best in image quality? What's most important is to find a camera that you love - one that you want to carry with you to capture the moments and subjects that interest you.

There are Many Camera Options

Size determines how much control we can gain over the images we produce, all based on the laws of physics. Size also has a bearing on the weight and 'ease of use' we are looking for. There's no universal answer.

With the advent of digital photography, small sensor cameras with collapsible zoom lenses that could easily fit in your pocket became popular. While these small cameras presented little obstacle to always having a camera on hand, their image quality was limited. Images from small sensors have limited ISO capability - restricting good color, contrast and sharpness to only the best of lighting conditions.

The introduction of digital sensors in to traditional Single Lens Reflex (SLR) cameras created the Digital SLR (DSLR) system cameras with the full frame (FF) format using a sensor the same size as 35mm film. These cameras carry over functionality which most users have become accustomed to, including interchangeable lenses, auto-exposure, autofocus (AF), and fast shooting times and then adding auto-white balance, subject aware autofocus, in body image stabilization (IBIS) and video recording. This has brought and overall increase in camera and lens size compared to their film counterparts a generation ago. While size might not be an issue for a professional photographer on the job, it does present a dilemma for kicking around on holiday. To both reduce size and cost their are also DSLR cameras with reduced sensor size APS-C sensors.

With the advent of Electronic View Finders (EVF), the option to view the scenes and subjects we're shooting electronically instead of being reflected off a mirror behind the lens has become common place, and Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Cameras (MILC) have arguably taken the reins from DSLRs. This allows for a reduction in the size of the camera body, but for most part, they still couple with larger lenses.

A further reduction in camera and lens size has also been achieved based on the micro four-thirds (MFT) sensor which is half the height and width of the standard full frame sensor.

Of course, there are also digital cameras based on larger sensors, derived from medium format film cameras. These cameras are generally larger in size, and due to their larger sensors have unsurpassed image performance.

Unbeknownst to many, there is another less popular, but highly respected digital alternative - based on the historic and compact 35mm rangefinder camera design. The modern digital rangefinder makes use of a full frame senor, as is found in top performance DSLR and Mirrorless cameras, but achieves focusing through a separate 'rangefinder' view window and weighs less than 1.2 lbs. The first FF digital rangefinder was the Leica M9 introduced in 2009. There are two things unique about rangefinder cameras. The distance from the film or sensor to the rear optics of the lens is very short (there was never the mirror to span across) and secondly, they rely solely on lenses that are manually focused. Together this allows for very compact design - with intrinsically close coupling of the lens to the sensor and the elimination of motor drive components to power autofocusing.

Every photographer, based on the type of subjects and conditions, has his or her own score card listed with both performance, functionality, ease of use, and overall camera size and weight considerations. Each individual applies different significance to each aspect.

My Ideal Camera

Over the years, I've shot with most of the above camera sizes and features. I still switch between them based on the occasion and what I am trying to achieve. Sometimes I use a MFT camera with integrated autofocus when shooting kids at play. There are also times I shoot with a 35mm film camera.

My most common subjects are people, travel, city & landscapes and street photography. To support my photographic style, I look for excellent depth of field control, great color science, expanded tonality and contrast to bring focus and life to the subject. I enjoy photographing life as I live it, so compactness is key.

When I add up my requirements, combining both performance and compactness, I find my needs best addressed based on a camera with a full frame (FF) sensor. When I'm traveling or on the street and need the most compact solution, I mount a manual focus (one of several Leica M-lenses) on my digital rangefinder (Leica M240). When I need to have the utmost in photographic control, for weddings or other professional shoots, I use one of these same lenses on my Mirrorless camera body (Leica SL2-S).

If you believe a rangefinder and/or compact manual focus lenses might be right for you this video segment will provide several good points for you consideration. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDOf2zyLZzw

Your Ideal Camera

Consider what your specific needs are. Remember, there are many options, and even options within each sensor format.

For those like myself who tend towards a FF based senor camera, want to maximize creative control and don't always require autofocus consider adding an outstanding fast manual focus prime lens to your kit. This can be achieved in two ways. There are several outstanding third party lens brands (Zeiss, Voigtländer, Sigma, etc.) which offer lenses designed specifically for your camera. Or select an often inexpensive prime lens from the past. There is a wide range of adapters which makes this possible. For either approach, a modern Mirrorless camera will provides great exposure, white balance and auto-ISO control in aperture priority mode letting you set your desired f-stop and depth of field, while at the same time give you modern capabilities peak peaking to assist in critical focusing and IBIS to allow the use of slower shutter speeds.

Most of all, select a camera that you are love to pick up, have with you and photograph with. As Thorsten van Overgaard puts it, "Always Wear a Camera". That's the first step to great photography.

Continue reading: The History of Full Frame or skip to The Essence of Great Images

Table of Contents: Fundamentals & Techniques

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