How Pro Photographers Choose Their Camera Brand

Knowing how to chose the right camera brand is really tough. Hopefully this will help you to make a more informed decision.

I hope you find this of use

You can find me on;

[TinHouseStudioUK]

Yesterdays video was shot in the exact same set up but with a MUCH cheaper camera. Interesting to know if you noticed before seeing this much higher end version...

[jacobh]

You’re so right! I do fashion and make-up portraits and though a lot of post is done by a specialist we hire, I actually like grading Nikon and Hassy-files but, like handling, that is very personal. My colleague is a Sony shooter and she dislikes the NEF files coming out of the Nikon. Nevertheless, we both produce the end results our customers need, so there are many ways to Rome.

I advise our workshop attendees to rent a camera before buying in into a system. Next to paying attention to the file editing, I also advise them to try the handling. I find that many modern mrrorless cameras (e.g. Nikon Zx and Sony Ax) are quite small for larger hands, while other models (e.g. Panasonic S1) are sometimes too big for smaller hands. Either way you can’t get really used to that unlike e.g. menu layouts. For some the camera brand almost feels like a football club to them and they get very anxious whenever there’s even the mildest criticism. Funny…

[tundrusphoto]

Hello, Scott: Thank you for this video. From the perspective of a commercial photographer, your comments of the differences between RAW files and colour grading are spot on. Any camera brand will perform if it fits the needs case. But, the buyer has to understand what they actually need before making the purchase. That is the tricky part. People are motivated to buy for personal reasons (price, camera feel in their hands, recommendations from YouTube stars, etc.). But in the end, it's all what you get accustomed to using.

[johnc_]

Some of the camera companies do short free loans (with giant deposits) e.g FujiFilm does a two day free loan for almost all their GFX range

[MichaelLaing]

There are so many variables when choosing a camera system. Yesterday, a couple of days ago, I bought my 4th camera system, the Panasonic S1R. Now, I remember when I first tried the S1R, it just fitted my hands like a glove, and I do think that is important to me. I also knew that the AF was not the most reliable, but my intention was to use it with my Zeiss Milvis lenses, due to the EVF.

When it comes to processing files, yes, there are big differences, but given it a few days I have always been able to adapt to a new file format, so for me, it is not a big deal.

So I don't think there is one best way to look at a camera system, it comes down to the strengths and weaknesses of the photographer.

[joostmak]

I myself really like Nikon, not only for the great handling and that in the Z-system line-up I found everything I want for good lenses which fit within my budget, but also for the menu-system I find very intuitive and very pleasing to work with thanks again for the revalations 😅😅

[AdrianBacon]

When evaluating a new body, I also look at the sensor native white balance (the setting in K where the red and blue WB multipliers are as close to the same as possible) as that is where the camera tends to perform the best, and where that WB is will dictate how you gel your lights to get your lights to that Kelvin range. Some cameras have a native WB that is almost exactly the same as flash, and some are way down in the low 4000s to high 3000s K range while others are way up in the 6000+ K range. I personally prefer A native WB in the 5000-6000 range so I don’t have to run heavy gel on my lights.

[johannvantassel]

finally someone with reasonable takes. I never understood why sony gets hate for ergonomics. I'm perfectly used to the layout, and I can use it effectively

[samcooper]

The raw thing I didn't understand fully until I got my Phase One back. The raw file is so much closer to my intended result than my Nikon (so much so I'm electing to sell my Nikon kit). And I chose Hasselblad because of the lenses. But also because the H series is so intuitive for me. Win win win.

[thisischarliet]

Love this video. As a Sony shooter (mainly product and lifestyle), upgrading from the A7RIII to the RIV I noticed a big difference in color tonality. I don’t spend as much time as I did getting things looking natural.

I’m invested in their GM lenses and have the processing power to work with the files, and they look great!

[samanthaodonnell]

Started with Nikon, happy with nikon, don't see me changing any time soon (I might, who knows!) I found I need to do less to an image than I do with other brands (yes, I have used other brands briefly in college/uni) and I mostly try to get it right in -camera with minor fettling, despite working in challenging conditions 🙂The flow just feels right 🙂

[kyleberg]

This video was super helpful, I enjoyed the way you thought and how you spoke!

[subarusensei]

I find your content so true, I do mostly media work with fast turn around times using a canon 70d, my lenses are 24-105 for general purpose, 70-200, and 50mm1.8. I originally choose this camera because of the video autofocus because I sometimes have to do run ang gun video. I also know my buddies have lpe6 charges. One of the things that I do like is how nice out of camera is, I can legit sometimes give the person that contracted me the jpgs, but also the editing is super streamlined and it helps pushing photos fast.

[honkhonkler]

I like that my '90s film SLR and my modern DSLR use the same modern EF mount lenses with 100% functionality. So no duplicate lenses needed when Im traveling with both bodies.

[davidadrien]

It would be really cool if you could compare raw files for color grading. The Nikon vs Canon vs Phase One vs Hasselblad.

[filibertkraxner]

I agree with you about chosing a camera system based on lens choices: that's how I arrived at adding Canon recently: they had the 28-70/2.0, which is a big deal for me. After that, it was simply a matter of choosing a body and the rest of it. For pure image quality, I have a Fuji GFX system but that can't do every job.

[intrepidscotland]

Yes, great idea, a very helpful and very generous proposition.

[ChrisLonsberryMedia]

Yeah.. I can't get into the camera wars any more than I could the computer OS wars. Any of the cameras we use today are significantly more capable than the cameras that took pictures we still look at 50.. 60 years later. I think I ended up with Canon because it was the name I knew the most. I stick with Canon because of my lenses but also because I know my way around. I know how to make it do the stuff I need it to do.

That said.. I did just pick up a Mamiya C330. Really excited to learn that one. ;-)

[fran_flynn]

You mention tilt-shift lenses in this video and this is a topic I'd love to see a video on. I have hired a tilt-shift once to see what impact it might have on my food/product photography but I didn't have it for long enough to really experiment properly. I'm not 100% sure on the getting the best use out of them (well I kind-of do, but I'd love to hear your take on it) and which tilt-shift lenses suit which scenarios...

[stuart_anderson]

I've always shot with Sony. It's what I bought into early on. So far, I really like it but I'm also not a crazy Sony fan boy. My biggest complaint is that they don't have a tilt shift lens. I've been considering adapting a Canon or something but I'm not sure if I want to mess with that. I know I would love having a good tilt shift lens but I don't know that I really have an actual need for one.