Like most hobbyist photographers, I have owned a lot of gear over the years. From DSLRs to mirrorless cameras. Some gear stands out more than the rest. For me that one camera has been the Fujifilm X-Pro1. For the better part of the last decade the X-Pro 1 has become my camera of choice. Despite newer models available with faster autofocus and better quality displays as well a plethora of other newer features, the X-Pro 1 has carved out a special place in my heart.
Physical dials, a bit worn out but still operational
The vintage look of the camera adds to its charm. The film camera inspired physical dials make the photographic process feel more tactile and real. Some of the buttons on my X-Pro 1 don’t work properly anymore and the dials have yellowed, the brass thumb rest has also faced substantially, but I still gets the job done and then some.
The X-Pro 1 has and continues to have numerous quirks and limitations. The autofocus is quite slow and the memory buffer fills up relatively quickly. However, I have learned to work around the quirks and perceived short comings of the camera to the point where I understand it like a close friend. A friend that taught me that creativity thrives when we place restrictions on ourself. A friend that showed the possibilities when shooting with only one lens. A friend that showed what can be achieved when we get close to the those we want to photograph.
Every time I consider upgrading, I ask myself if buying a new camera would make me a better photographer? Would a newer camera allow me to take photographs I otherwise couldn’t? Every time the answer has been no.
All the moments where I have missed a photograph or made a mistake, it always has something to do with where I am standing, poor composition or not paying attention to what is happening around me as closely as I should. Never an issue with the camera itself.
Cameras are tools, and photographer should pick up whatever tools best fit their need and inspires them to take photos. And like all creative tools is only as good the person who uses it. Gear is worthless for a creative individual and can be a distraction. The rights tools on the other hand, can take any piece of technology and turn it into something that can inspire the creation of great works of art. Its very easy to fool ourselves into thinking that if we buy that one new lens or get a new camera body, it’ll improve the quality of our photos.
However, gear just gets in the way with its features and technical complexities. Focusing on the gear will never yield results that we can be proud of years later. Treating gear like the creative tools that they are, allows us to focus on what is important, to observe life and photographing moments without bruising them.
