Your everyday carry could be any camera. But your cup holder camera is the one that does not live in a bag or even with a lens cap. It’s your cup holder camera.
This is the camera that will actually transform your work.
Most of the images in today’s videos were edited with Filmist, Natural HDR, and Alchemist.
It can be a better photographer than any premium new body.
New overpriced cameras abound. But most of them are just copies of each other as camera makers ignore what photographers are saying and try to push every more premium toys on us.
But your Cup Holder Camera is rarely that expensive. Sure, you want a good camera, but as you know, if this video is a decade old, it will still be amazing. It’s about the agility of a camera that’s always ready and that makes you want to take a photo.
My CHC is usually a cheap to mid-priced camera that is really well-made and small. I know it’s going to get knocked around, and I know it will handle that, and that if something does happen, it’s not a huge deal.
Thinking like a journalist.
Whether you like landscapes, portraits, sports, or crazy events, the CHC is really about being a journalist. Being able to take any situation you find, grab your camera with a second thought, and get the photo.
Speed and agility are king. And if I jump out in the middle of a street fight to do something or say something, I also don’t want to be worried about how much I will lose if I get robbed or someone breaks my heart.
I’m not saying what you need to do is get a small camera so you can run into a police standoff. I’m just saying that a journalist’s mindset will make you take photos more, with more confidence, and improve every area of your work.
If you want to carry a Leica or get the high-priced Sony RX1R III, that’s fine. The main thing is that it’s a camera you will never have an excuse to toss in your cup holder and grab at a moment’s notice.
But a Pocket is even more accessible, right…
Maybe… In 25 years of doing this, the Cup Hold Camera I have found is the most convenient.
Even a pocket camera can get left behind. For example, my Sony RX100 was powerful if a little uninspiring to me. It was also very expensive and felt delicate. So in real life I neither wanted it kicking around the car or collecting dust in a pocket.
Perhaps the most “POCKET” camera in these times is the Ricoh GR, and while I don’t have one, I’ve been eyeing it as an even smaller solution for when I don’t even want a camera seen on my neck.
You want a camera you love. But it’s not about being trendy. The Fuji X half is more of a fun overpriced toy than a true pocket camera, and it’s not even well built, so as a CCH it’s not the best choice either.
Camera companies are trying to make expensive fashion accessories instead of really great cameras. They think if they can become Apple and trendy, they will get those numbers back. It won’t work in the long term.
So I think the lack of a truly pocketable camera in 2025 is a problem, and I hope we’ll see more quality compact cameras in the coming years. For now, I think buying used is the best way to send a message and get a great, always-ready camera that you will always take with you.
