RNF: Brand Selection – An Arbitrary Exercise.

Oxford Definition:

ar·bi·trar·y
/ˈärbəˌtrerē/
adjective
based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system.

It is my opinion that a brand selected is an arbitrary exercise. Many will argue me on this which is fine… actually, that would be nonsensical.

Why?

It is my opinion.

o·pin·ion
/əˈpiny(ə)n/
noun
a view or judgment formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge.

Arguing opinion is a pointless exercise. Your mileage may vary but as I have stated many times before in this space I could make do with any camera system out right now. For the sake of simplicity, I will only discuss full-frame options. Another arbitrary choice I put in place in order to create some bumpers to keep this ramble fest somewhat in check. Nothing against Fuji. I think they are brilliant for doing business just below and just above full-frame rather than running headlong into the bulk of competition in the middle. Will also only consider systems that employ AF. No ding against Leica M, but in my opinion (That word again.) Leica M is a different breed from mainstream offerings. A point bolstered by the seeming inverse relationship between features and price point. While we are talking about AF Panasonic just addressed the last matter keeping me from seriously considering the L Mount Alliance (Always feel like that should be shouted for some reason, a la Fro Knows.). Phase detect AF. After many years of tweaking contrast detect AF to better and better results that still did not keep up I am glad they joined the Phase detect party. Now they also could be considered an also ran for main system selection.

As a result, I have recently stopped discussing camera system selection entirely. For a while now I have usually recommended numerous brands when asked for camera buying advice. Will even provide comparable lenses based on advice for these systems. They are all that good.

Heck, if I were shopping for a camera clean slate right now I would have a heck of a time selecting a camera. Every brand has a camera that could draw me in. Some with an impressive value/feature proposition. Some with unique designs that do not skimp on features. The entry level and just above cameras would do just fine for me in all cases. The top offerings from each brand have flown far past my use case. I am glad they are innovating. Good for those who do need these features. But I do not. And that is a good thing. This features race is a sliding scale it seems. Entry level cameras now have features that seemed like dark magic not that long ago.

Here is my personal preference base feature set:

• 24MP
• Eye AF
• IBIS
• 8fps w/ AF-C

More is welcome, but that is all I would need to cover what I do. I do not shoot sports or wildlife. Intentionally anyways. On the odd occasion where I might stumble across such, I could make do with the specs above.

In other words just about any full frame camera on the market now. And many used ones years old as well.

No. I do not need your latest blaze-a-non 5000 processor camera so fast it can practically see into the future. Not now anyway. Maybe in a few years on the used market. For now? I am good.

So, when someone opines why their Ni-Can-Ony-Sic is so far superior to whatever it is you or I have selected I will simply nod my head while backing towards the real or virtual exits. Reminds me of something years ago. Had to do with cars.

The first car I bought with my own money was a VW as was the second. The reasoning for me was simple. Fun to drive. A cousin of Audi, which I adored but could not afford. Both were available with a manual. Well… A co-worker, that I am fairly certain has at least one VW tattoo on his person, got wind of this. On sight, he would launch into a fevered discussion of VW minutiae until I was about to fall over. It got to the point where if he entered the room I would exit that same room. Nice guy. Was just a bit intense and it was just not that serious to me. Went on to own two more VWs and still have one today… along with many other brands also over the years. It is just a car at the end of the day. A thing to complete a task. This brings me to another thing about me.

I do not get emotional allegiances to for profit entities.

This applies to cars, cameras, phones, sports, and so on and so forth. Great. You like that widget. I have this one. As long as it meets the needs of the user so what?

But never underestimate humanity’s need to band together over a thing to then turn and speak badly of those who did not choose likewise.

Nonsense.

Your camera choice will cause me no upset. Likewise, whatever I choose should not bother you in the least. Beyond cars, phones, sports, and cameras I believe that is largely what is wrong today. Individuals who turn personal preference into reasons to argue. Again.

Nonsense.

At the end of the day, I do not care much about the cameras I chose as my main system. I would feel the same way no matter what main system I chose. All of them have the same issue. So competent. Borderline boring. With modern AF aids and high ISO performance, they can be a bit appliance-like. Great when I need the pic. Not so great when I am looking to capture images for the sake of capturing images. I prefer a more interactive experience.

Would rather have an oddball for daily use. An old camera, or vintage digital as I call it. An old variant of a vaunted brand. Odd tech like a Foveon sensor or interchangeable lens and sensor modules like the GXR. A film camera would be great as well.

Sidebar: Now let me be clear. I did not mention a topic that rhymes with ball-of-ticks (Chosen on the fly and oddly on the nose.) on purpose. This minefield/dumpster fire hybrid violates a simple rule where “whatever floats your boat” is concerned. No harm. While it is a choice between varying degrees of awful I am firmly anti sociopath. Process that as you like. Unfollow me if this bothers you. Please. Life is too short. Anyhoo. Back to our regularly scheduled programming.

Gear wise? Run what you brung. Whatever floats your boat. Whatever is clever Trevor. Etc. So on and so forth.

Happy capturing.

-ELW