Tools Of The Trade: My Love Letter To DSLR’s

Hello again and thanks for showing an interest in my process. In this entry, I’m going to talk a bit about why I love using a dslr and have no plans on jumping to mirrorless in the near future. Now, this is totally and completely my opinion on the subject and anyone reading this is certainly welcome to disagree with my statements. I am only one person and we are all free to like what we like. Mirrorless cameras have certainly taken hold of the photographic world as of late and they seem like the next logical step in the progression of the field. These cameras tend to have a lot of cool features and, for many reasons, benefit the photographer in the type of scenarios we often find ourselves. Regardless of how helpful they can be, however, they don’t really make me feel the same rush of excitement that I’m used to - there’s just something missing from the recipe that leaves me wanting more.

Cameras, like lenses, flashes or any other equipment we carry in our bags, are simply tools we can use to perform specific tasks. Now, while I believe this to be true I would be lying if I said I didn’t feel a connection to my equipment. Sure, I originally chose my “tools” for the specifications they promised and what those possibilities might allow me to do with my craft. That being said, there is a sort of feeling or mood that some tools bring to the table time after time and dslr cameras do that for me. They’re very mechanical in nature and inherit certain aspects of their operation from the analog days. Because of that I get a sense of history when I use them. I can see a faint lineage that goes back to my earlier days in the darkroom and I can almost smell the developer working its magic on a sheet of light-senstive paper. On the surface these cameras may all seem like black bricks but there is something very aesthetic about them, something individual. They all have their own lines and curves that separate them from each other, similar to people. This, of course, means that your hands fit them in different ways making it a Cinderella Story when you find one that fits just right for you. This is part of the reason why I feel certain cameras are more in tune to different types of events. They can all capture images but some just have a special way of doing it.

Another thing I admire about using dslr’s is the fact that you really need to pay attention to what you’re doing. There are certain expectations the cameras have of you and if you don’t meet those expectations the result isn’t going to be what you hoped for. Even when doing your part there is still a bit of uncertainty with how the image is being captured until you’re able to upload the file to your computer. No amount of understanding will prepare you for every lighting situation you come across and this brings an added layer of excitement for me. Preparing myself ahead of time and knowing that I still need to adapt on the fly keeps things from feeling routine. The electronic viewfinders in mirrorless cameras are absolutely incredible and, at the same time, they take away that sense of pride that “I created that image.”

I love the build quality, the heft and the tactile feedback of dslr’s. I want to hear the slap of the mirror when I press the shutter, it’s part of my reward for taking the shot in the first place. While it’s true that dslr’s are usually heavier and blockier than their mirrorless counterparts I see that as a plus. With the professional grade lenses I use the heavier camera bodies balance the weight better and the quality has been tested over and over again to the point that I trust them as an extension of myself. I know my equipment and I follow my workflow. This sort of comfortability doesn’t happen overnight and I’m not one to ditch my besties because the latest model has just arrived on the scene. I have no worries regarding what I carry in my bag. I am familiar with every piece of equipment I use and I know I can count on them to work predictably whenever I reach for them.

Last but not least, the quality of the image I get from my dslr’s is exactly what I’m looking for. If there was something lacking from this area I would surely look into making some changes but there isn’t. My cameras have proven to be dependable each and every time I pull them from my bag. They deliver, rain or shine, and they help me express the ideas I have roaming around in my head. Cameras are tools and the best ones are those that allow you to work the way you want to. Who knows what the future has in store for photography but, as for me, I plan on sticking with dslr’s as long as I can.