Cameras come in all different shapes and sizes, and each one of these cameras makes a different kind of picture. Whether it’s a land camera that makes two foot polaroids or two rings that act as an invisible camera, having been around for almost two centuries now cameras have had plenty of time to evolve into different directions. Obviously a two foot polaroid is going to look much different then the digital picture made from a two ringed invisible camera, so one might be better suited for a specific situation then another not only because of physical constraints, but because the camera causes you to work differently as well as the final product being better suited for a specific type of subject matter.

Recently I took a quick weekend trip with DC Shoes’s bmx team to Arizona for a demo and brought three different cameras along for the ride: a Nikon D3 digital SLR, a Mamiya RB67 medium format film camera, and a Fuji X100 digital rangefinder. Each one I bring out for a specific situation, to make a specific kind of picture. My Fuji X100 is light, portable, has a built in flash, and is good for snapping quick on the fly pictures. The images it makes are very gestural with loose framing, which suits the loose candid situations I use it in. Being digital with a 16gb SD card in it, I can snap as many as I want without having to worry about filling up the card:

For more serious pictures that require emphasized framing as well as situations with fast movement or requiring strobes, my digital SLR Nikon D3 is my weapon of choice. With it’s broad range of lenses, tough weather sealed body, and good quality sensor, it’s a very flexible camera that can produce amazing results making it ideal for many different situations. It works well in action or lifestyle, but often times draws attention due to it’s large size, and attempting to bring it everywhere with me as I do with my X100 isn’t as practical:

A Mamiya RB67 medium format film is what I pick up when I see a shot I really want to make count. It’s heavy, slow to use, costs roughly $2 a picture, and takes time to develop/scan. Because the camera slows down your working process, it forces you to spend more time framing and considering exposure then a digital slr or point and shoot which results in more forceful compositions. Besides physical constraints, the financial cost of it means there’s alot more on the line then throw-away digital shots which causes you to think twice before hitting that shutter. I get 10 shots on each roll, and brought 5 rolls with me on the trip, so I was much more picky about which situations I brought the camera out in: