Eagle Omomuro
Member
I watched some youtubers talk about the idea that ‘your camera tells who you are,’ and I actually think it makes sense. On the surface, choosing a camera might seem like a rational decision. But deep down, I believe there’s always a psychological reason behind every choice we make.
I want to talk about my version of ‘your camera tells who you are’. And let’s keep it limited to DSLRs and mirrorless cameras. OF COURSE I'M BIASED because of my own experience with cameras and people. So don't take it seriously if you feel offended.
Sony
From what I’ve seen, a large number of Sony users are trendy. They look young and fashionable, and many of those seemed too wealthy and too confident for their age, and that sometimes made me a bit jealous. They never want to miss a single megapixel, and they’re always eager to upgrade to the newest version. It often feels like they got a Sony just because they followed the vibe and they could afford it. I know it's biased to say so, but I rarely see them as real photographers from a traditional still-image perspective. And I often judged them like 'your photo looks good but... you are shooting fully automatic?' But surprisingly, many of them are also at the frontier of creative video production, an area that’s too new, too complex, and honestly too challenging for me to even give it a go. And when there’s no one watching, I have to admit that I might just be too outdated compared with them.
Canon
Many Canon users I knew were real photographers. I mean, those who actually earn a living by taking photos, those who serve the photography business world (weddings, events, babies, families... everything). They are the opposite of the geeky vibe of Sony users. That doesn’t mean they don’t want the newest tech or features. It simply means they don’t over-concern about those tech-heavy numbers on paper or the good or bad words from others. What they care about is business opportunities and production efficiency. A camera for them is just like a pen for a clerk or tongs for a chef, an essential tool. It works. And that's enough. They chose Canon because it’s everywhere in the industry, and they can take advantage of shared knowledge and a huge range of accessories. That means higher efficiency and lower cost.
Nikon
Nikon photographers, or at least many of whom I often saw during my career in photojournalism, are also real photographers who live on taking photos. But they’re quite different from Canon users. They do give a crap about what camera they’re using. I’ve heard some Canon shooters joke that Canon users spend more time on photography while Nikon users spend more time on cameras. Maybe it’s not entirely wrong. I quote that with a smile because I’ve met plenty. Some Nikon fans seem to believe that the professionalism of a photographer comes from the professionalism of a camera. And Nikon always has something to be proud of, like how tough it’s built or how unbelievably reliable the autofocus is. It feels like the camera is ready for a battlefield and what it produces will win the Pulitzer Prize. The loyalty is so strong that some of Nikon fans would rather hear people criticize their photos than their cameras. And guess what? I really respect that (cuz I am partially a Nikon fan too!).
Fujifilm
Fujifilm photographers (like me) probably believe this ‘the professionalism of a photographer comes from the professionalism of a camera’ crap too, but in a different way. The professionalism we talk about is attitude. It’s about how seriously we handle exposure and tone, and how Fujifilm really knows our needs and gives us just the right tools (manual exposure hard dials and film sims) to do so. We see ourselves as real photographers because we’re not making products, we’re making something with a soul. And before that, we want our camera to look like it has a soul too. We even dress up our words, such as classic, cult, culture, to make our choice sound more poetic than what it probably is. Unfortunately, many of those I know in the Fujifilm circle, including myself, aren’t really living on photography. We know the market doesn’t often appreciate or pay for the kind of ‘soul-rich’ work we try to make. We just pretend that we don’t care.
Minolta & Sigma
Putting Minolta and Sigma photographers in the same place might sound strange, but they share a surprising number of similarities. Most Minolta and Sigma (the Foveon era) users I’ve met have an awakened mindset. They believe they’ve already found what’s right for them and feel no need to convince others. They quietly live by the idea that 'the truth is rarely popular'. They’re fully aware of their cameras’ flaws, and they know neither Minolta nor Sigma will ever return to fix them, yet they’ve learned not to care. What they truly value, whether it’s the oil-paint-like bokeh or the true-film-like color, can only come from the brand they love. And that’s enough. These photographers embody the philosophy of 'letting go to receive'. They accept that their cameras limit them in some ways, especially in following new trends, but they also know their cameras give them something they see as a gift. Maybe that’s why they carry the same philosophy into other parts of life. Sounds too good? Yes I’m biased. Cuz I’m a Minolta user too.
Leica
As one who can never afford a Leica, let's sing a song:
Money money money...
Must be funny...
In a rich man's world!!
I want to talk about my version of ‘your camera tells who you are’. And let’s keep it limited to DSLRs and mirrorless cameras. OF COURSE I'M BIASED because of my own experience with cameras and people. So don't take it seriously if you feel offended.
Sony
From what I’ve seen, a large number of Sony users are trendy. They look young and fashionable, and many of those seemed too wealthy and too confident for their age, and that sometimes made me a bit jealous. They never want to miss a single megapixel, and they’re always eager to upgrade to the newest version. It often feels like they got a Sony just because they followed the vibe and they could afford it. I know it's biased to say so, but I rarely see them as real photographers from a traditional still-image perspective. And I often judged them like 'your photo looks good but... you are shooting fully automatic?' But surprisingly, many of them are also at the frontier of creative video production, an area that’s too new, too complex, and honestly too challenging for me to even give it a go. And when there’s no one watching, I have to admit that I might just be too outdated compared with them.
Canon
Many Canon users I knew were real photographers. I mean, those who actually earn a living by taking photos, those who serve the photography business world (weddings, events, babies, families... everything). They are the opposite of the geeky vibe of Sony users. That doesn’t mean they don’t want the newest tech or features. It simply means they don’t over-concern about those tech-heavy numbers on paper or the good or bad words from others. What they care about is business opportunities and production efficiency. A camera for them is just like a pen for a clerk or tongs for a chef, an essential tool. It works. And that's enough. They chose Canon because it’s everywhere in the industry, and they can take advantage of shared knowledge and a huge range of accessories. That means higher efficiency and lower cost.
Nikon
Nikon photographers, or at least many of whom I often saw during my career in photojournalism, are also real photographers who live on taking photos. But they’re quite different from Canon users. They do give a crap about what camera they’re using. I’ve heard some Canon shooters joke that Canon users spend more time on photography while Nikon users spend more time on cameras. Maybe it’s not entirely wrong. I quote that with a smile because I’ve met plenty. Some Nikon fans seem to believe that the professionalism of a photographer comes from the professionalism of a camera. And Nikon always has something to be proud of, like how tough it’s built or how unbelievably reliable the autofocus is. It feels like the camera is ready for a battlefield and what it produces will win the Pulitzer Prize. The loyalty is so strong that some of Nikon fans would rather hear people criticize their photos than their cameras. And guess what? I really respect that (cuz I am partially a Nikon fan too!).
Fujifilm
Fujifilm photographers (like me) probably believe this ‘the professionalism of a photographer comes from the professionalism of a camera’ crap too, but in a different way. The professionalism we talk about is attitude. It’s about how seriously we handle exposure and tone, and how Fujifilm really knows our needs and gives us just the right tools (manual exposure hard dials and film sims) to do so. We see ourselves as real photographers because we’re not making products, we’re making something with a soul. And before that, we want our camera to look like it has a soul too. We even dress up our words, such as classic, cult, culture, to make our choice sound more poetic than what it probably is. Unfortunately, many of those I know in the Fujifilm circle, including myself, aren’t really living on photography. We know the market doesn’t often appreciate or pay for the kind of ‘soul-rich’ work we try to make. We just pretend that we don’t care.
Minolta & Sigma
Putting Minolta and Sigma photographers in the same place might sound strange, but they share a surprising number of similarities. Most Minolta and Sigma (the Foveon era) users I’ve met have an awakened mindset. They believe they’ve already found what’s right for them and feel no need to convince others. They quietly live by the idea that 'the truth is rarely popular'. They’re fully aware of their cameras’ flaws, and they know neither Minolta nor Sigma will ever return to fix them, yet they’ve learned not to care. What they truly value, whether it’s the oil-paint-like bokeh or the true-film-like color, can only come from the brand they love. And that’s enough. These photographers embody the philosophy of 'letting go to receive'. They accept that their cameras limit them in some ways, especially in following new trends, but they also know their cameras give them something they see as a gift. Maybe that’s why they carry the same philosophy into other parts of life. Sounds too good? Yes I’m biased. Cuz I’m a Minolta user too.
Leica
As one who can never afford a Leica, let's sing a song:
Money money money...
Must be funny...
In a rich man's world!!
No, I won't. My film Canon went back to its legitimate proprietary (my sister), my film and digital Nikons went to nephew and son, my LX100 Mark II will stay inside the walls of my house (and I hope that my wife will use it, too).
