March 28, 2025

Camera makers want us to buy their latest models. Then you have the question of what system to choose and do you need the latest one. I’m going to show you real world examples.

These days when I pick a camera it’s less about sensor size and more about what makes me want to take photos. Or what system is the most versatile. I’ve used 4 brands in the past year and today we’ll talk about the best camera for 2025.

Come to my free Shadow Hackers here. Also you can find the Free Filmist pack here and actions like Pictorialist here or everything else I mentioned don my homepage.

Cameras are sold as being the best these days because and influencer did a side by side test or because of specs. IN reality is about how you use a camera.

All of them are good. Choosing a sensor size is more about the lens system you want and how big you want things than an image quality problem.

Choosing a brand is more about flexibility than name. Canon for example makes great camera. But they have been preventing third party lens makers from selling alliterative glass making them much more limited as they try and force you to buy their overpriced glass.

Nikon with it’s small flange distance and blatant support of vintage lenses by adding great manual focus aides is saying. Use the lens you want.

Olympus and Panasonic in Micro Four thirds are two brand using the same mount and also third parties making lenses. Giving them endless options.

All the great features are mute if you don’t want to take a camera with you. Fuji’s X100 series may be fixed lens and not perfect for everything.

But it’s a camera that wants to be picked up. It’s almost part of your outfit rather than a weight to carry. Because I can feel safe throwing it in a cup holder, I always have it. The same can be said for small study micro four third cameras

Don’t limit yourself. If you’re not picking up a camera. Sell it and look for a camera you want at your side. Because that will have you taking photos, hunting shadow and learning faster.

If you have been to one of my classes you know it’s more about shadow and feeling than how clean your sensor is. I think we make buying a camera a decision too much based on specs and not enough on feeling.

Most if the camera I buy are used these days. When I find something special like the Nikon ZF for using my classic lenses I sometimes buy new. But don’t fall for the marketing hype. Your new camera might be 6 years old and inspire you more than any camera you ever owned.

In the end the biggest and the best is not always the cam,era you will actually use and that is often a trap photographer fall for that makes them less creative.

The best camera is not just the one you have with you. The best cam,era is the one you want to use every day.

Gavin Seim

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June 7, 2019

War in heaven is a PPA Loan winner and one of my best night sky images. So for today’s vlog I dug into my field recordings and we’ll look at how I made as well as a bunch of tips for getting amazing deep field starscapes.. I’ll keep it brief. Enjoy – Gav

 

final run

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November 11, 2015

I recently switched to the Sony A7R II and I’m finding it an amazing body. There’s countless YouTube reviews on this camera, so I don’t feel I need to make another. It’s a great system, with great ISO and great resolution that it makes amazing prints. Sony is leading the market, simple as that. But what about the viewfinder?

What I found lacking when I was considering this was details on what the EVF (Electronic Viewfinder) was like. Coming from years of traditional viewfinders on cameras like my Canon 5D series, I was unsure. I require a good viewfinder on my main camera. I could find no inside video of the EVF. I took the risk, but you don’t have to.

As it turns out the EVF has come into it’s own. At least with Sony. This fast digital view gives real time images and information with virtually no lag, it makes photographing easier, especially in low light. I love it. Here’s a quick video I made to show what the EVF looks like inside.

— Gav

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September 9, 2008

SOny D900We know that Sony has been pushing hard towards the DSLR market that Canon and Nikon have pretty well cornered. They have now announced the D900, their first full frame pro level version.

Inside we find 25 megapixels, a 3 inch screen, 5fps, Minolta (as well as their own) lens support and built in steady shot. Some pretty solid specs, but it looks like Sony is still going to be a step behind the big boys in terms of at least high ISO shooting. Sony is coming against a tough crowd with this 3k SLR, and people won’t go easy. Still their looking to be a future contender in this space.

DPReview has a nice little hands on. This seems like a nice body, with some good things going for it. If Sony sticks with this, and doesn’t pull any stupid stunts akin to adding invasive DRM to our lenses or images (wink) they may really go somewhere in the pro market. We’ll keep and eye on them, and if any of you are using Sony bodies let us know what you think!

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