I was talking to a friend who is a very good photographer last fall who used to always have a camera on him and he says that, like myself, he only uses his cameras for specific purposes these days. Mostly his smartphone is fine.

I started using iPhone Pros a few generations ago for the better camera, and it’s been great for random snapshots. The adage about the best camera is the one in your pocket is true.

But, I still have a mirrorless (Olympus) and some vintage 35mm cameras. The mirrorless is great for photos that I want to look very good (portraits, landscapes, mixed lighting, etc). The film cameras are a pleasure to use, but I’ll freely admit that using them is a bit like preferring a nice Seiko to a smart watch or basic digital Casio.

Anyways, with the prices of used cameras being so low, you can get a really nice, compact mirrorless setup for $500 or less. And fixed lens 35mm rangefinders from the 70s can be had for $200 or so. I won’t claim it’s a cheap hobby, but it’s no worse than golf or cycling.

I rarely carry it because my cellphone is usually good enough but it’s good for travel and for lower light areas where cellphones struggle. It won’t fit in my pants pocket but it fits in my jacket fine.

When I first got it, I didn’t know when I should carry it and when I shouldn’t but now I know and don’t even bat an eye about it.