Which Camera is Better? Which Lens is Best? I No Longer Find These Kinds Of Comparison Videos Of Value

I found these in an old barn in Colorado.  The image was made in 2003 with a 4mp camera. (click to enlarge)

With these stay-at-home and lock down orders during this pandemic still in force in most places, I've had way too time than I have ever wanted to watch You Tube and read photographic articles on the Internet.  One type of video that I've repeatedly seen is the kind that compares cameras or lenses.  These aren't typically reviews of a camera or a lens but "which is better" videos and articles.  I've now come to realize something.  I think these so-called "comparisons" among cameras and lenses are pretty much useless to me.  I'll tell you why.

We see them everywhere.  A You Tube video or an Internet photography website with headlines about their newest comparison of which camera or lens is better.  With names in the titles including such words as "shootout" or "king" or "killer" or "sharpest" or "best," they grab our attention so we can be told which to buy.  I no longer watch these kinds of presentations.  In reality, they hold little value for me.

First, in my opinion, all digital cameras and lenses made in the past few years produce excellent image quality.  With few exceptions, today's cameras and lenses give use better image quality, sharper and more detailed photographs, faster and more accurate focus, more features and more dynamic range than the cameras or lenses of only a decade or so ago.  They are all good.  I'm convinced there are no bad digital cameras made today.  Also, I'm convinced that all modern, computer designed lenses containing the latest aspheric, low dispersion elements coupled with the newest coatings perform, at least, well enough for most people and most applications.  Even kit lenses now have these technological attributes.  

All of today's digital cameras of which I'm familiar have more than enough pixels, almost instantaneous focusing, a plethora of features, more than adequate ability to rip off plenty of frames per second, etc. That, in and of itself, removes any concern that any camera I'm considering buying isn't going to produce excellent image quality or adequately serve my needs.  For me, if I consider buying a new digital camera, it is not a factor of which digital camera has the lowest noise at high ISOs or has more pixels or focuses the fastest, etc., it is about which camera meets my personal photographic needs best.  In fact, I think I could choose any of them and be happy.  Isn't technology wonderful?

As I've looked at these comparisons, it has always comes down to camera A is a tad bit faster than camera B.  Or, camera A locks on focus a shade better than cameras B and C.  Or, camera A's noise is slightly less at ISO 12,800 than cameras B, C and D.  Or lens X has better corner sharpness wide open then lens Y.  All of those small differences that are highly emphasized don't mean much to me.  They are only meaningful if I need absolutes.  What do I mean by absolutes?  Hold that thought.

Before I get to absolutes, I want to comment on the thousands of Internet and photography You Tube sites that are vying for your attention.  Most of the people who run these sites derive money for their efforts.  There is nothing wrong with that.  Entrepreneurship.  Capitalism.  Good for them.  However, because there are so many, these individuals have to find a way to distinguish themselves from every other internet reviewer to attract your attention to get the clicks they depend upon to make money.  I'm not saying that most all of them are not doing good work or are not sincere, but that they need to find something to write about so they can generate readers or viewers.  They become nitpicky, so to speak.  In many cases, they point out insignificant differences among cameras and lenses and make a big deal out of them so you will go to their sites to read or view what they present.  But are the differences, in all practicality, for the vast, vast majority of us photographers meaningful?  Not in my opinion.  As I said, all cameras and lenses are really, really good today.

Absolutes.  Personally, I don't need the absolute best camera or lens.  For my personal photography, I don't need the absolute fastest focus or the absolute greatest number of pixels or the absolute fastest number of frames per second or the absolute best dynamic range or the absolutely lowest noise using the highest ISO or the absolute sharpest image files.  All of those minor differences these Internet based reviewers tell us about really don't matter much to me.  I don't need the absolute best in any feature on my cameras.  I'll bet you don't either.  So these sites provide little or no value unless I need the absolute best and, as I said, I don't.

When these sites tell me that camera A focuses a micro-second faster than camera B, it is meaningless to me.  When these sites tell me that lens X is resolves a minute amount more detail at the edges than lens Z wide open, so what?  If you notice, most of the differences in cameras and lenses are so minor that, for most of us, it doesn't matter.

I think many of us, including me, have fallen into the trap of giving more priority to minor differences in cameras and lenses than we should.  We are getting bombarded with more information about minute differences that was ever before available.  Psychologically, I think it has caused me to over analyze, over research and over think my purchases—not just with photo gear but with everything.  

The availability of so much information has caused angst and indecision.  Which to buy?  Which is a bit better?  Which will give me better results?  Which will make me happier?  Add to that the number of choices now available in cameras and lenses and the pleasure of actually buying and using gear, in some cases, has been diminished.  Did I make the right decision?  Oh no!  This You Tuber now says the "other" lens was a shade better.  I should have bought that one instead.  Now, I'm unhappy with my purchase. (Funny, but I was happy yesterday until I read what someone else said about it!)  We've become too analytical and too concerned over minor differences that in all practicality make little or no difference.  We reduce our own pleasure by being overly influenced by others when, in reality, we need to take back our own decision-making process.  We've become "pixel peepers" and obsessive/compulsive over only accepting the absolute best.

So, the bottom line for me is that the next time I want to buy a camera or a lens my focus (pun intended) will be toward "how will a particular camera serve my particular needs" and "will a particular lens produce the images I want to make and adequately display those images in the manner of which I plan?"  (enlargements, small prints, Instagram, Internet, etc.)

I no longer worry about sensor size, fastest focus, lowest noise, tons of pixels or best lens on the planet.  I find value in and still read or view objective reviews (not comparisons) for only the facts or specifications presented and NOT for the opinion of the reviewer.  The reviewer doesn't photograph or present images as do.  The reviewer doesn't know me or my needs.  The reviewer doesn't have any idea of what I'm trying to accomplish with my photography I so why would I care about his or her opinion about a camera or lens or how a camera or lens meets his or her needs?  I don't.  I have to determine, based upon objective facts, if a camera or lens will meet my particular needs only.

From now on, my camera purchases will be determined first, by what features the camera has that will give me more versatility to create the images I want to create in the future.  It will also be made on how large, bulky, expensive a camera isn't.  I have been striving toward smaller, lighter, less bulky, more versatile and less expensive for several years now.  I have written about that repeatedly in this blog.  Then the camera must feel good in my hands.  Very important.  If I don't like picking it up and it naturally doesn't feel good in my hands, I probably won't use it much.  The camera must have the controls I want and positioned where they feel natural to me as well.  Lastly, the camera must have a menu system that I can understand and will largely become transparent to me.  Having to think about and look for where in the menu I might find a feature or setting when I'm in the field is not what I want to have to do.  That "My Menu" feature that is now becoming prevalent in cameras is a Godsend.  It puts those frequently used items at your fingertips.  Also, as I said, all digital cameras made today are good so the number of pixels are pretty much irrelevant.  That isn't much of a consideration any longer.

For those of you who might be interested, personally, I have a few "deal breaker" criteria for any future camera purchase.  Not many, but ones that I feel are important to how I use a camera and how my mind works.  

First, the camera must be mirrorless.  I won't consider a camera that is not mirrorless.  There are too many advantages to mirrorless, in my opinion, than to choose a DSLR.  Second, IBIS.  If the camera doesn't have IBIS, I won't consider it.  Third, a joystick.  If a camera doesn't have a joystick, that is also a deal breaker for me.  Fourth, back button focus.  If I can't set up  back button focus, I am not interested in the camera.  Fifth, being able to photograph with manual exposure, auto ISO and easily utilize exposure compensation.  I photograph that may the majority of the time now.  Those are about all that are deal breakers for me.

My recommendation is to be your own person.  Look only at the facts presented.  Make your own decisions.  Don't listen to which camera or lens is best.  Those who present those kinds of things don't know anything about your particular needs.  They most often present from their perspective and needs, which is most likely very different from yours.  Finally, don't obsess over only finding and having the absolute best.  In the real world, it won't make a difference in almost all photographic situations.  Most of all, remember why you got into photography and enjoy it.

Your civilized questions, comments, suggestions and feedback are all welcome.

Join me over at my website, www.dennismook.com. 

Thanks for looking. Enjoy! 

Dennis A. Mook 

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