Beyond the Brand: Why Mastery Matters More Than the Camera

Sony, Nikon, Cannon…..does the camera brand matter?

Dear photographers and Videographers, lets gather, perhaps over a cup of Uhunye’s ‘uji’. I believe with that maybe we will have a sober discussion. Let’s have a talk, a candid one. Rub shoulders even possible but in the end am damn sure we will put an end to the long raging debate of does the camera brand really matter in photography and videography?

My attention is picked by a video while scrolling on Tiktok and the question is Cannon, Nikon or Sony? Well, I need not tell you which camera brand won or had most in favor of it. The comment section on the post sided with most photographers interviewed on the post. They said the camera had a better color science than the others. Some didn’t have a clear or good reason for supporting the brand. I would assume they were beginner photographers.

That wasn’t my issue, I picked a feud at how they were demeaning or looking down upon a certain camera brand saying its old fashioned and heavy. How could one say that about Nikon? In my experience as a photographer, if one could tell me to choose the best camera in photography I will pick the Nikon.

Now let me share with you my photography journey. When I was first employed in as a corporate communications officer the first camera I handled was a Cannon 850 D with a kit lens of 18 to 55 mm. I would have preferred a more superior one but at the time that was the only camera available and as they say beggars can’t be choosers so I had to find a way to utilize it to perfect.

The camera did great work in videography, I produced some great stories with it. On the photography bit I didn’t rank it that high. Later I came to realize that it was because of using the kit lens perhaps that’s why it didn’t give me the quality I wanted.

A year later, the organizations received a new camera a Nikon 750 D with a 18 to 200 mm lens and to date I rank that Nikon camera as one of the best cameras I have used in my photography journey. It gave me the warmth I desired in photos. The lens was wide enough and had good zooming power. It was a two in one lens, and any photographer would admire using that type of lens.

Fast forward, years later it came at a time when I had saved enough money to buy my own camera. I weighed on the different options I had. Did thorough research on which camera could serve my best interest and settled on a Sony A7 iii. I picked the camera despite the fact that I had never interacted with it before.

I know you are wondering why I did not settle on Nikon 750 D that I said was the best. At the moment, the photography landscape was shifting and photographers were embracing mirrorless cameras than DSLR due to their versatility, dynamics and having improved and better specs. It’s more of choosing automatic cars than manual cars.

That aside, I don’t regret purchasing the Sony A7 series. The first time I interacted with it, it have me some good shots especially in low light situation. As it goes in the photography circle, low light is always a nightmare to any photographer. I like the camera because of the fact it strikes a good balance in photography and videography and of course Sony cameras have the better autofocus.

Dear photographers, and camera enthusiasts, my point is this, it does matter the camera brand you use. In my time in this field I have come to learn that the most important thing to master in photography is understanding the exposure triangle and mastering your camera. Incorporating these two elements will make you make the best out of any camera you use.

As a beginner photographer, you mostly don’t have a choice at the camera you will use because you will rely mostly on friends’ cameras or hired camera of which depends largely on availability. Who will refuse that gig that pays you Ksh 50,000 in two hours simply because you did not get your preferred Cannon camera and only Nikon was available, absolutely no?

Take that camera, understand the interface. Know where the shutter button is. Choose the lens that best compliments the type of shoot you are doing, landscape, portrait or street photography. Compliment your camera with the right set of gears, whether lights, flash, soft box and see yourself perform magic with that camera.

Forget about the marketing gimmicks that make one brand feel more superior to the other. That’s the key of survive the photography world. There’s more to photography than camera brands.

Writer, John Otieno