The perfect camera is the one I have in my hands

The discussion of the “perfect camera” will be debated forever, by every photographer who has ever had access to a camera. There are elitists, reverse-snobs, pragmatists, brand loyalists, agnostics, evangelists, geeks, and every shade in between. Over time, I have embraced about all those points of view.

If I could wave my magic wand and make every option available simultaneously for my students, I would have them use every camera and make the same images over and over again until the novelty work its way through their brain. And then everyone would find out which system, camera, method that they feel most fluid with, and then go make photos.

For the record, I definitely have favorite lenses and simply attach them to any camera that fits. (more on that later)

But what struck me today was the contrast between these two photos of my Irish Water Spaniel, Cooper. On the left is a studio shot made with a medium format camera and digital back that cost in the neighborhood of $30K. The image on the right was made yesterday with my cell phone. Cost? Free, if you don’t count the monthly charges from Verizon. (It is an iPhone 4)

The value of the iPhone is that it is the one in my pocket, all the time, and is available for times like this. It is limited in speed, resolution, color, dynamic range, focal length, aperture controls, etc., etc. But it is convenient and if it captures that moment in time otherwise missed, then it is the perfect camera.

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