Good Enough?

The bench may look a bit sketchy, but evidently it is "good enough."  This image was made with a micro4/3 camera
and zoom lens and they are certainly more than "good enough" for most all needs of most photographers.  This image has great resolution with detail in the shadows and highlights and with pleasing colors. What's to criticize? (click to enlarge)
Olympus E-M1 Mark II; 12-100mm f/4 PRO lens @ 100mm; 1/500th sec. @ f/5.6; ISO 200

Let's talk about "good enough."  "Good enough" has really gotten an undeserved connotation in today's digital photographic world.  It seems if you "settle" for a camera that is "good enough" for your needs rather than buying the latest, greatest full frame camera, you are settling for less than you should.  I don't believe that is true.

Today's digital cameras and lenses are all really good.  Really good.  I mean that by comparison to the past as well as empirically.  I think you would be hard pressed to find a digital camera that doesn't give you excellent image quality, no matter what the sensor.

My questions for you are these, "Are your cameras and lenses good enough?  Are they good enough to meet all of your photography needs?  If your answer is yes, is 'good enough' a bad connotation?  Should you want more?"

It seems more and more we are told "good enough" is reflective of a bad way of thinking.  In some cases, yes, absolutely.  I don't want my surgeon operating on me, saying his work is "good enough," then sewing me up and going golfing!  But when it comes to digital cameras and lenses, I counter and say "good enough" is not a negative and shouldn’t be construed in a negative way.  Accepting “good enough” does not mean settling for something inferior or less than perfect for your needs and wallet.  "Good enough" can mean excellent image quality in digital photography.  Good enough can me a camera without 62 features is okay and will serve all of your needs.  Good enough could mean that you don't need a full frame sensor and that your smaller sensor gives you better quality than you will ever use.  

Don't confuse "professional" with "good enough."  A digital camera and lenses aimed at the amateur or enthusiasts' market can produce better results than most photographers need.  Also, what exactly does "professional" mean when it comes to digital cameras?  There can be many definitions from "any camera a professional uses" to cameras that only have certain high end capabilities.  There is no accepted definition when it comes to defining a "professional" camera.

If you are a sports car person, is a Corvette “good enough” as it will go at least 186 mph (299kph) or do you need a Ferrari or Lamborghini?  While a Corvette is not the fastest sports car, not the absolute best sports car nor the priciest sports car or a foreign marque, it is a damn good sports car.   I think the Corvette is “good enough.”  There is nothing negative about a Corvette in my mind.  It has more performance and better handling than 99.9% of enthusiast drivers will ever need.

Do you like watching your big screen television?  Tell me, do you need a $2500 US 75" (190cm) Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) screen to watch your favorite programs or will a smaller television with a 4K LED screen serve your purposes?  How much difference can you see between the two?  Is a 65" (165cm) 4k LED TV "good enough?"  There is nothing wrong with a 65" (165cm) 4K LED television, in my opinion.  Is it good enough?  For 99% of the people, yes.  Are you settling?  Not at all.  I bet you would get just as much enjoyment from the smaller, less expensive television as you would from the gigantic one.

When you travel do you only book rooms in the most expensive hotels, such as a Ritz Carleton (I really don't know which are the most expensive) and pay $400-$800 US for one night?  Is a clean, spacious, well equipped room in a moderately priced hotel fine for all of your needs?  After all, it has a nice hot shower, a comfortable bed, a television with satellite or cable and good Wi-Fi connection.  Are you settling if you book a moderate hotel?  Are the extra amenities that you probably won't use anyway really necessary or is it overkill?  Good enough?  Is good enough negative?  No.


If you are a Fujifilm, Olympus or Panasonic user and you feel that your cameras and lenses are “good enough” for everything you want to do with your photography, you are NOT settling for less.  You are getting everything you need and most likely, more than you will use.  While none of these has a full frame sensor or 40+ million pixels, your Fujifilm, Panasonic and Olympus cameras are as good as any for your purposes and better than most.  Most likely you don’t need the most extreme cameras and lenses and the associated high prices unless you photograph under extreme conditions.  In my opinion, it is only at the "edges" that you see a difference in image quality as well as the ability to successfully capture what you intend.  What does "edges" mean?  I call the "edges" very, very low light, extremely high ISO, certain features such as continuous focus tracking at very high rates with very fast moving subjects and requirements for a very high number of pixels for extremely large prints.  Pretty much other than those circumstances, most cameras will get the job done in today's photographic world for most photographers.

Never feel inadequate because you don’t have the biggest, most expensive, most prominent brand or what some reviews say is the best camera (best for whom?  Them?) or a poor camera.  Be happy you have the gear you carefully chose and which serves you well every time you go out to photograph.  Don't be swayed by the "influencers" who don't know you, your needs and probably are hyping or dissing a camera they have only used for a week or so, have received as a "review copy" only and have no intention of using  themselves.

My best advice?  Most of all, trust yourself and your own judgment.  Known your gear inside and out so you can exploit every bit of its goodness, have fun and make photographs.

Join me over at Instagram @dennisamook or my website, www.dennismook.com. 

Thanks for looking. Enjoy! 

Dennis A. Mook 

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