As a product journalist, I have access to a wide range of gear for hobbyists, pros, and the general public. Lately, I’m seeing more and more pitches from companies touting “professional” features in cameras that target an audience that will never need them. Many consumer cameras available today allow you to shoot 8K “open-gate” video, offer continuous burst rates of 120 fps, and some even claim to autofocus in near-total darkness. None of these features has made someone a better photographer – you’ll need a silly, simple camera for that.
Too Many Features, Not Enough Fundamentals
In a recent review of the Sony a7V, I found myself flummoxed by the value proposition Sony claimed: the a7V was a camera that could keep pace with the much more robust Sony a9III. The a9III is a professional camera that prioritizes speed above all else – you can shoot up to 120fps with no blackout in the EVF on the a9III. On top of the sheer speed, the a9III and a7V both claim to benefit from “AI-powered subject detection,” which, during my testing, worked well enough but seemed hollow. None of these features made my images any more impactful or satisfying to capture.
This isn’t a Sony problem either. In the last year, I’ve tested several cameras from Sony, Canon, and Panasonic. I also tested several point-and-shoot cameras – both from days past and from Chinese manufacturers on Amazon and AliExpress. What I found most interesting was that I enjoyed the process and the results from those cheaper, older, and sometimes downright quirky point-and-shoot cameras. Of the bunch, when I shot with Canon PowerShot G1 (a camera first released in 2000), I found myself more engaged with the act of making photographs.
In my review of the camera, I wrote:
…today’s image sensors and processors are good to the point of being clinical. And like film, you can achieve an undeniable character with these older cameras. But, it requires patience and a willingness to relearn the photography process.
It’s that combination of patience and intentionality that makes you a better photographer. In something like the G1, I could not let the camera decide the perfect focus; you basically have the center to work with so there’s a lot of locking focus, then composing your shot. It’s slow. It can be cumbersome. And yes, I’ve missed some shots. But the ones I got felt like a prize unto themselves. That has always been the appeal of photography for me.
My New Obession
Having said all that, I have a simple fix for this tech overload: buy a silly, simple camera. The fewer features, the better! I’ve said for a while now that there aren’t any “bad” cameras out there. Especially not any made or released in the last decade or so. I still use my FujiFilm X-Pro (the original), especially for family gatherings, travel, or anything where I don’t plan on editing when I get home. But sometimes, even that camera feels like too much to carry around, and that’s how I ended up with a Camp Snap Pro within arm’s reach. The Camp Snap doesn’t have autofocus, subject detection, or even RAW files. It doesn’t even have a screen, for that matter.
This culling of features and tech has done more to improve my ability to see a scene better than any AI-powered feature ever has. From having to be intentional about my shot, to having to wait for the final result (no instant gratification, and that’s a post all its own), the Camp Snap Pro does something cameras cost nearly 70x what it does: it allows me to get out of my head when walking around and making photographs. So, you can either keep chasing the tech dragon or buy a silly camera. You might even have some fun along the way.