The Best Camera Is the One You Have With You

Taken with a Nikon FG and Kodak Ultramax

I own cameras that are considerably better than others, but the best camera I own does me absolutely no good sitting at home.

I have missed more photographs because I did not have a camera with me than because I had the wrong lens, not enough megapixels, or an older camera.

That is why I think there is real value in carrying some sort of camera with you as often as possible.

It does not have to be your full professional setup. It can be a small digital camera, a film camera, or even your phone. The point is simply to have something available when something catches your attention.

A lot of photographs happen during ordinary parts of the day. Driving somewhere. Getting gas. Walking into a store. Waiting on someone. Seeing good light hit a building for a few minutes. None of those moments require a planned photo trip, but they can still produce photographs worth keeping.

I also think carrying a camera regularly makes you more observant. You start noticing light, color, shapes, people, and details that you may have otherwise ignored. Even when you do not take a photograph, you are still looking.

There is also something freeing about not always carrying your best camera. A smaller or older camera can make photography feel less serious and more natural. You are not trying to justify bringing a huge amount of gear with you. You simply have a camera nearby in case something is worth photographing.

The best camera is not always the newest one or the most expensive one.

The best camera is the one you have with you.