Do We Really Only Need Three Cameras? (In Theory)

[lalan45]

I’ve been thinking about camera needs lately, and I feel like, at the most basic level, everything can be broken down into three main cameras.

First is the do-it-all, high-spec work camera. This is the one you use when clients ask for serious specs like 4K/120p or even 8K, or when you just want the best possible image quality. Cameras like the EOS R5 II, Nikon Z8, Sony a1, or Panasonic S1R II fit here. They’re expensive, but they can handle almost anything.

Second is what I’d call an “art camera.” This is for personal use, travel, street photography, and just having fun. Ergonomics, size, and character matter more here, but it still needs to shoot good 4K video and work well in low light. Think Fuji X-Pro3, X100 VI, Sigma fp or fp-L, or even the Sony RX1R if video isn’t important. These are the cameras you actually want to carry around.

Third is the high-end smartphone camera. Like it or not, this one is essential now and fills a lot of gaps.

Of course, three cameras don’t really cover everything for professional work, and budget changes things a lot. You can get very capable work cameras for well under $3k, like the Fuji X-H2S. And if I added a fourth “serious” category, it would be medium format, like the Fuji GFX line or Hasselblad.

But in reality… things get out of control fast. I somehow end up with way more “categories,” like high-spec all-rounders, art cameras, retro digicams, CCD cameras, Foveon cameras, IR-modded cameras, impulse buys, cameras I bought twice, cameras bought to flip, broken cameras I’m fixing, run-and-gun small sensor bodies, weird stuff like Mavicas with CD drives, and compact CCD cameras with flash for that Polaroid look.

I’m sure I’m forgetting a few. What camera “category” am I missing?

[kye]

I suspect that most people will have different "categories" depending on what they're doing, but I absolutely like the thinking behind this.  The more we can make sense of what we do and how we do it, the more clarity we can get and the faster we can get a kit that works and then focus on using it.

As I only shoot personal projects, I don't need a work camera, so my main category is my run-n-gun travel camera, the GH7, which is used exclusively hand-held.  
For daytime use it's the GH7 with 14-140mm zoom, which has incredible stabilisation, and the zoom lens means I can capture almost anything I can see.  It also has an integrated fan, great image quality, strong codecs, etc.
For night use I can use the GH7 with 12-35mm F2.8 and get great neutral images.
For funky night cinema I can pair it with fast primes like the Voigtlander 17.5mm F0.95 or Speedbooster with Takumar 50mm F1.4.

The second camera is (of course) my phone, which I recently upgraded to the iPhone 17 Pro from the 12 Mini.  The combination of Apple Log, internal Prores HQ, and the 0.5x / 1x / 2x / 4x / 8x cameras makes it incredible for travel.  I'm waiting for a good vND solution to come out.  Apart from the low-light, it's basically an all-in-one solution now.

Some time ago smartphones replaced my waterproof camera category which was previously GoPro / Sony X3000 action cameras.

I used to have a fourth "category" which was a backup camera and used for time-lapses, but now the iPhone is good enough in the unlikely event of something happening to the GH7 and I don't really shoot time-lapses anymore so I don't really need one, but I still have an "itch" for something else.

Random thoughts:

• It could be something very retro, like something with poor video quality that was nostalgic in some way, and graded to look either digital or analog electronic or film
  My OG BMPCC and BMMCC and GF3 all come to mind for this.
• It could be something very stylised / attitude like being super fisheye or 360 or something
• It could be something very niche in how you'd use it, like it could be mounted on something for a unique perspective, or could be on a pole for strange perspectives..  or even something like an action camera that you wear on your wrist and take a 10s clip every 15 minutes, or pocketable camera that you record a clip with every so often.

The whole point would be a tool that would make me use it differently to how I normally use / think about shooting, and therefore be a fun and creative addition.

[kye]

In my latest review of my gear, I started taking note of things I want to use but haven't found a use for.  Certain things have an X-factor and in creative endeavours it's useful to listen to that voice.  Equipment can be inspirational sometimes.

[Andrew - EOSHD]

14 hours ago, lalan45 said:

First is the do-it-all, high-spec work camera. This is the one you use when clients ask for serious specs like 4K/120p or even 8K, or when you just want the best possible image quality. Cameras like the EOS R5 II, Nikon Z8, Sony a1, or Panasonic S1R II fit here. They’re expensive, but they can handle almost anything.

Having owned (and sold) a lot of the high-end stuff I have given up a bit on the idea of an 'end-game' camera, because limitations breed creativity and part of the enjoyment of camera tech is experiencing 'camera culture', all the rich tapestry of ways to get an image and how different tools inspire different shooting styles, altering the creative vision.

So when you lock yourself into 1, or even 3 capable models, you always yearn for something more weird. Well, I do anyway.

Everyone should have an old beater camera for instance where carrying flashy experience gear makes you nervous. I always feel tense with an expensive camera, if an accident happens, or it gets nicked, it'd be a fucking disaster.

Everyone should try an old CCD model, they do have a different look. I recommend original Canon 1D with Panasonic APS-H CCD, Minolta 5D or a Canon Powershot G10.

And the reason you can't stick to just one format is there's so many nice and unique lenses for other sensor sizes.

Actually that's where a Sigma Fp-L comes in handy with the crop modes and Cinema DNG 4K even at 2x crop for the Super 16mm look and C-mount lenses.

I'm still in favour of small sensor options, like a Panasonic G9 II or Olympus OM-1... Full frame look is not always what you want.