Why the Best Camera is the One You Have with You…Kind Of

I still remember the first time I heard the phrase, “The best camera is the one with you,” coined by Chase Jarvis. It was around the time one of the early iPhones was released, and Jarvis had put together a book entirely made up of photos taken with his iPhone. That idea resonated with me deeply, especially as I was just getting into photography at the time. The phrase perfectly captured the balance between gear mattering—and not mattering at all. But over the years, as I’ve progressed in my own photography journey, I’ve come to tweak that saying a bit: The best camera is the one you have with you… kind of.

Here’s why.

Finding Your Best Gear Takes Time

When I say “kind of,” I mean that the camera you have with you is only the best one if it’s the right fit for you. Sure, any camera can capture a moment, but as you dive deeper into photography, you start to realize that not all cameras are created equal, especially when it comes to your specific needs and preferences.

Over the years, I’ve bought, sold, and traded more cameras and lenses than I care to admit. But through this process, I’ve honed in on the gear that works best for me. I’m currently using a Sony A7 II that’s nearly a decade old, alongside an iPhone that’s a few generations behind, and a Samsung phone that’s not much newer. My Ricoh GR IIIx is my everyday carry camera, but even that’s a few years old now. The Fujifilm X-T5 is my nestest addition and is the camera I take with me anytime we go out for a hike. The funny thing? I absolutely love using every single piece of gear I own. Outside of the X-T5, none of it is the latest or greatest, but I’ve found what works for me.

My Minimalist Approach to Photography Gear

When I first started, I was carrying around a Sony A3000 with a 50mm lens, and I eventually added a 200mm Minolta lens. My backpack was heavy—packed to the brim with gear I thought I “needed” to capture the perfect shot. But over time, I’ve adopted a more minimalist approach. I now trust that whatever I bring will be enough to capture what I want.

Of course, there are moments when I wish I had a different camera or lens with me. Take vacations, for example. If I only pack my Ricoh GR IIIx, I might regret not bringing my Fujifilm X-T5 with its 18-300mm lens when I see a shot far off in the distance. But these moments are few and far between because I’ve learned to work within the limitations of my gear. And, often, those limitations push me to be more creative.

Avoiding the Gear Trap

One of the biggest traps in photography is the obsession with gear. It’s so easy to fall into the mindset that upgrading your camera or adding another lens to your kit will automatically make you a better photographer. But here’s the truth I’ve learned after almost 20 years in the hobby: better photos don’t come from better gear. They come from getting out there, shooting regularly, and learning to see the world through your own unique lens.

I’ve spent years finding the right gear for me—gear that feels like an extension of myself. When I go out now, I don’t worry about whether I have the “right” camera. Instead, I focus on what’s around me, the moments I want to capture, and how I can see something in a new way. The camera is just a tool to document that process.

Legacy Over Fame

At the end of the day, photography, for me, is not about chasing fame, fortune, or Instagram likes. It’s about leaving a legacy. It’s about creating a record that says, “I was here. This is what I saw.”

That’s why, while the best camera might be the one you have with you, it’s only truly the best if you want to use it. If you don’t like your gear, you’re less likely to take it with you, which means you’re less likely to capture those moments that matter. So, find the camera that fits you like a glove, the one you can’t wait to grab when you head out the door. That’s when the magic happens.

Because in the end, the best camera isn’t just the one in your hands—it’s the one that inspires you to see the world and tell your story.

Keep shooting,

Kwame.