What Are Your “Deal Breakers” For Your Next Digital Camera Purchase?

Last Day of Winter Walk. (click to enlarge)
Last Saturday was a beautiful day to go out for a walk.  I have photographed this s-curved trail from
 the opposite direction but not from this direction.  I made this test shot just to gauge location,
focal length and composition for future reference.  I'll return here later in the spring hoping the
budding trees will provide some nice pastel springtime color to compliment the scene. 

For a couple of reasons I'm now shopping for a new digital camera.  As a result, I started thinking about my 'must haves' versus 'nice to haves’ when it comes to buying a new camera.  I needed to identify what features are essential for me and which are only highly desirable as part of my research.

I certainly can’t speak for any of you about what camera might be best as the kinds of photography you practice as well as your preferences and priorities most certainly are different from mine.  What one wants or needs in a digital camera is an individual decision.  

That said, there are a few attributes and features that have become important to me as the years have passed.  Some attributes in or on a camera body, if not present, are ‘deal breakers’ as far as I'm concerned.  Other features, things I would really like in a camera but may not quite be ‘deal breakers,’ are also important to consider.  Are any of these attributes absolutely necessary to make good images?  Most likely not but if I'm going to spend money on what now have become very expensive cameras (IMHO), I might as well get what I feel I need to raise my level of satisfaction and success when I practice my various genres of photography.

The reason I bring up this topic now is, if you have been a reader of this blog for some time, you’ll remember I sold off all of my Nikon and Olympus digital cameras and lenses almost a year ago.  Along with selling our home (then building a smaller home), discarding, donating or giving away about half of our possessions, I felt that I had much too much gear and, in my attempt to continue to simplify my life, I decided to sell most of it.  

I kept my Fujifilm camera and a few lenses.  I would say I now have a ‘minimal’ photographic kit.  Of course, minimal is relative to my needs only.  Lol  I have one camera and just enough lenses to fulfill my photographic needs.  No excess.  No redundancy.  Also, I want to point out that there was nothing wrong with the Nikon and Olympus gear I owned and I certainly made many memorable and satisfying images with them.  The Nikon Z7 and Olympus E-M1 Mark III were excellent tools and I would buy them again without hesitation, if necessary.  It was just that the Fujifilm X-T4 was the camera that was the most satisfying and pleasurable for me to use.  At the time of the great ‘sell-off’ I thought to myself, “If I had only one system to use, which would it be and why?”  The answer was Fujifilm.

That said, my issue now is that same lack of redundancy as I only own one camera body—the Fujifilm X-T4.  Although all of the several Fujifilm cameras that I have owned have been flawless and have worked perfectly, I don’t want to be caught short if the X-T4 should malfunction while I'm out photographing either locally or while on a road trip.  I would be without a camera for weeks while it would be in for repair.  I don't like the idea that I would be 'photographically neutered.'  (Now that is an interesting new term! Lol)  I would like to have a second camera as a backup (or new primary camera).  If I'm going to spend a considerable amount of money to buy a second camera body, I would rather buy a new, state-of-the-art camera with the latest technology and then use my X-T4 as the backup.

Everything points to the notion that Fujifilm will introduce an X-H2 camera body (or potentially two of them) during their live Internet presentation in May (2022) and that may present an opportunity for me to acquire the new model as a primary camera.  I say ‘may’ be an opportunity because I have some ‘musts’ for attributes for my next digital camera that I consider ‘deal breakers’ if not present.  I also have some strong ‘wants’ that would make my photographic efforts more satisfying and pleasurable.  Wants aren’t ‘deal breakers’ but if I can find a camera with them rather than without, then that would make my choice easier.

Here are my ‘musts’ for a new camera body purchase.

Mirrorless Camera Body

There are just too many advantages to using mirrorless camera bodies.  I first starting using mirrorless bodies in May of 2012 and immediately knew they were my future.  I have no desire for a digital camera with a pentaprism and optical viewfinder.  No DSLR for me.

Haptics, Buttons, Dials and Menus 

If the camera doesn't feel good in my hands, if I don't want to pick it up and use it every time I go out to photograph and the buttons, dials and menus don't seem intuitive to me, then what's the point of having it?  To have to purposely struggle to use a tool makes no sense to me.  I want a camera that 'just fits' with my hands and my brain.

In-body-image-stabilization (IBIS)

I find IBIS absolutely necessary.  My success rate when using slower shutter speeds with telephoto lenses has risen exponentially.  Additionally, even when using wide angle or normal lens focal lengths, the IBIS increases camera (and my 70 year old) stability.  IBIS has become an essential asset to my photography.

Joystick

Once I had and used a joystick on a camera, I knew that I would never want another camera without one.  It becomes so easy to move the focus points around quickly and accurately as well as giving me another programmable button.  Using the Multi-selector 4-way button pad  to move focus points is very inefficient in comparison.  A joystick makes my photographic life much easier.

State-of-the-art autofocus to include subject recognition (birds, animals, people, vehicles)

I find myself photographing birds and wildlife much more often than in the past.  When I photograph with friends, usually bird photography is part of that experience.  My life and needs would be much simpler if I only photographed static subjects, but I do more than that.  With the X-T4, Olympus E-M1.3 and Nikon Z7, I got a taste of 'eye-detection' AF in humans.  I like that.  Since I plan on photographing birds-in-flight and wildlife in the future, my next digital camera must have the ability to identify and track them.  I wouldn’t want to buy a new camera with sub-par or last generation focusing abilities.

Stacked, Backside Illuminated Sensor 

Stacked backside illuminated sensors are the latest technology.  I have always believed in 'future proofing' my electronic purchases as much as possible.  I won't buy a new digital camera with an old technology sensor.  Simple as that. 

Better dynamic range than my current camera 

Why buy a new camera and not improve fundamental image quality?  Why pay more for much of the same?  If the basic capabilities of the sensor are not improved, I can't justify spending $$$ on a new body.

Lower digital noise profiles at high ISOs than my current camera 

Same as above.  Why buy a new camera and not improve fundamental image quality?  Why pay more for much of the same?  If the digital noise profiles of the sensor are not improved, I can't justify spending $$$ on a new body.

Three Control Dials 

I won't buy a camera that doesn't have three rotating command dials—one in the front by the shutter button, another on the back of the camera at the top right and a third for exposure compensation.  I find myself, more often than not, selecting an aperture, shutter speed and setting the camera for Auto ISO.  A simple and easily rotatable exposure compensation dial is a must as well.  Trying to use only two dials with their functions changing with the change in shooting modes (Aperture priority, shutter priority, etc.), is not conducive to muscle memory and efficiency.  My Olympus cameras were like that and it was frustrating.  Three dials are necessary for me and, if the camera does not have the three separate rotating dials, I won't buy it.

In-EVF horizon and histogram 

It find it absolutely necessary to have an horizon line as well as a good histogram showing in the EVF while I photograph.  I don't use the light meter to set exposure nor do I use the brightness of the of the image in the EVF.  The histogram is key to proper exposure.  Additionally, for whatever reason, I tend to slightly tilt my horizons.  I’ve done that for year.  I guess my brain must be slightly askew! (Don’t ask my wife about that!)  An horizon line in the EVF (and LCD) is imperative.

Price 

Lastly, price.  I don't have unlimited funds for camera gear.  I will spend quite a bit to get what I need but not necessarily everything I want.  Photography is my passion and my main avocation in life since I've retired.  I don't have a second home, cabin, boat nor an RV nor do I spend money frivolously.  That said, I won't spend $6500 US for a Sony A1 or $5500 US for a Nikon Z9.  I would think long and hard on spending $3900 US on a Canon R5.  If I can get what I need for under $3500 US and preferably around $3000 US or less, that is where I would like to keep the price.  If not, then everything else in this post is meaningless as price is an issue for me as it is for most of us.

Here are my ‘wants’ and ‘nice to haves’ for features in my next camera.

4-Way Button Pad (D-Pad)

I don’t care for swiping up/down/left/right on my LCD in lieu of using the 4-way button pad.  I can use the screen, if necessary, but it is much easier while having one’s eye to the viewfinder to press the 4-way pad with a right thumb to invoke features or change settings.  I find I must take my eye away from the EVF to use the proper ‘swipe’ motion on the LCD.

An Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) with more than 3.68mp 

I can live with a 3.68mp EVF.  That's the best I've had in the three cameras I've recently owned.  However, an EVF in the 5mp range with a large magnification factor and 120hz refresh rate is certainly within the realm of what is becoming industry standard.  It is not absolutely necessary, but highly desirable.  I will say that Nikon’s 3.68mp EVFs have some sort of magic as they subjectively to me seem better than either the Olympus’ or Fujifilm’s.  I probably could be satisfied with Nikon’s version but, still, it is old technology.

Blackout-Free EVF

Having the EVF momentarily blackout as well as a slow refresh rate so you are actually tracking a moving subject behind its actual position is not the thing you want when photographing fast moving subjects.  Although it is not a 'deal breaker,' a blackout free EVF in high speed sequential shooting is highly desired.

More than 24mp

Twenty-four megapixels has been my 'sweet spot' for many years.  I've written about that in this blog more than once.  However, time passes, things change and I now think I would like to have some additional pixels for finer detail rendering.  I tasted the ‘Kool-Aid’ with Nikon’s 45.7mp sensor cameras and it was sweet and satisfying!  Of course, more pixels allow you to crop in more.  However, you wouldn’t want to routinely do that but it might come in handy at times when you just don't have a long enough lens with you to properly record your image.  In other words, the ability to crop in tightly while retaining a good number of pixels might allow you to make a properly composed photo when otherwise you could not.  I have not yet decided on a specific number of pixels that will be my new sweet spot.  I will say again that I loved that 45mp sensor in both the D850 and Z7 cameras I used to own.  Everything to love and nothing to dislike.

Tilting LCD, not a fully articulating one 

This may not be possible since the camera companies have pretty much created fully articulating LCD screens for the video crowd.  That said, I really dislike them.  I have one on my X-T4 and had one on my Olympus E-M1.3, but continue to dislike them.  Why?  First, when trying to use the LCD on a tripod with an L-Bracket with the camera in the vertical position—well, you basically can't easily or at all use the LCD properly so you can see it when looking down.  Second, when holding the camera above or below eye level and using the LCD to compose your image, it is much more difficult to compose and have the horizon level with the screen way off to the side instead of in line with the lens axis.  Third, it is much harder to inconspicuously photograph when you increase the width profile of the camera by about 75%.  Just give me the LCD that the Fujifilm X-T3 or the Nikon Z9 has.  I would be very happy.

Robust Auto Exposure Bracketing 

Sometimes autobracketing consists of two exposures, sometimes three and sometimes more.  Sometimes autobracketing consists of normal exposure plus one or normal exposure minus one—or more.  A robust auto exposure bracketing feature is a must for the kind of work I do.  Some camera manufacturers have reduced the options for exposure bracketing.  A robust exposure bracketing function is very helpful.

Automatic Focus Bracketing 

Often times I use focus bracketing to ensure my composition is in sharp focus from the nearest detail to infinity.  The Fujifilm X-T4 has an automatic focus bracketing feature, which I find quite nice and very useful.  No need to try to figure out the best focus differential setting (1-10) which is the setting that moves focus a bit farther away from the camera with each subsequent exposure or how many total exposures are needed to ensure everything in the frame is in focus.  With the X-T4, you focus on the closest object you wish to be sharp and press a button.  Then you focus on the farthest object you want to be sharply focused and press another button.  The camera then automatically figures out the appropriate focus differential setting needed as well as how many exposures are sufficient to ensure everything you have designated will be in sharp focus.  The only thing the X-T4 doesn’t do is blend the exposures automatically in-camera as does the Olympus E-M1.3 and OM-1.  Nice.  Very handy and very useful feature.

Those are the major things I need or would like to have.  There are other, less important features but I won't go into all of them here.  Notice I didn't mention sensor size.  I have been and can be happy with micro4/3, APS-C as well as 35mm sized sensors.  I find the sensor size wars, so to speak, no longer an issue worthy of discussion.  As I have said before, unless you photograph at the ‘extremes’ all sensor sizes will most likely serve your needs well.

In the end, I would like to stay within the Fujifilm camera ecosystem if possible.  But if I can't find a camera to fully suit my photographic needs in a reasonable amount of time, I don't mind changing systems.  I've done it before.  All the major brands give us excellent cameras.  I just have to decide which best fits with my needs and preferences.

As for the presumed X-H2 (possibly two variations) that is supposed to come in May, I once owned the X-H1 and liked its form better than the X-T series of cameras because of the forward position of the shutter button.  However, I didn’t care at all for the top plate button layout for using exposure compensation.  The button arrangement just didn’t fit my hands.  I found it difficult to press the exposure compensation button and simultaneously turn the dial to use the exposure compensation, which is probably the feature I used most frequently.  If that is carried over to the X-H2, then almost assuredly I would rule out purchasing that camera.

What are the 'deal breakers,' must-haves and really would like to have features you would look for in your next camera?  I would like to hear from you as well as other readers.

Join me over at my website, https://www.dennismook.com.  

Thanks for looking. Enjoy!  

Dennis A. Mook  

All content on this blog is © 2013-2022 Dennis A. Mook. All Rights Reserved. Feel free to point to this blog from your website with full attribution. Permission may be granted for commercial use. Please contact Mr. Mook to discuss permission to reproduce the blog posts and/or images.