There are very few camera manufacturers with the legacy and pedigree that Canon has built over the years. So much so, in fact, that it can be easily argued that Canon is the most popular camera manufacturer in the world. As a result, Canon cameras have accumulated many fans and super-fans. This article is not for them.
You Can Always Spot a Professional: Red Rings and White Lenses
As a Canon Photographer, it needs to be said – these are tools for professionals. Not influencers or TikTok people. If you’ve ever been unsure if the person you found on social media is a serious, professional photographer, don’t ask for their website or their portfolio; just ask them to send you a picture of their bag. You see, a true Professional will have a camera bag that contains the following: a Canon R5 Mark II, an RF 50mm F1.2L, an RF 70-200mm F2.8L, and an RF24-70 F2.8L. If it isn’t packed with a Red Ring© or White Lens™, run away – they are simply not pro enough. Look, when Canon decided to create these Red Rings and White Lenses, it was to easily distinguish those of us who take photography seriously, and the pretenders.
Canon Does Bokeh Better
Speaking of these lenses, have you ever seen the bokeh they produce – creamy, beautiful, blurred-out backgrounds are the hallmark of perfectly captured photographs. You might be thinking, “Why is this photo so blurry? Is it in focus?” Not only would you be wrong, but it would demonstrate your ignorance of what beautiful Canon Photography looks like. As any good Canon shooter would know, the aim of photography is to obliterate your background. Sure, these L lenses can be stopped down and create tack-sharp images, but then why would they make so many F1.8 and better lenses? Bokeh, that’s why!
Keep Your LUTs, We Have (Color) Science
Have you ever heard of color science? That’s what we’ve had since the very beginning. Look, I get it – some influencer you follow has been spewing this garbage about LUTs and “Film Recipes,” but have you ever seen photos that came out of the Canon 5D Mark II? The images are beautiful and filmic without all that extra garbage. What? Yes, I know that this camera was released in 2008 and was discontinued in 2012 – but we’re all about legacy!
While the competition might finally be coming around to the beauty of colors other than what reality gives you, Canon photographers have long been trying to tell you that our color science is unbeatable. We’re not bogged down by flimsy sensors like you Fujifanbois and Micro Four-Thirds Girlies – nope! We have color, character, and a full-frame sensor. You can’t get colors like these just anywhere.
Some call it Vanilla; I call it Reliable
You might ask, “What if they shoot Sony or Nikon?” Firstly, thank you for not mentioning Fujifilm in your question – no one takes those hobos seriously. “Film simulations,” whatever. No, if they shoot Sony or Nikon, the reality is that these are edgy wannabes that keep touting stupid tech specs, selling flash instead of steadfast reliability. And that’s what Canon is all about. Reliable, stable, never changing… Boring?! Nay!
When Canon first developed SLRs, they were perfect. When they went digital, they were perfect. So, what if they were dead last in producing a serious mirrorless camera system? So, what if they ignored their own fan base, which is begging for improved still photography features, now that everyone is a “hybrid content creator?” We have L lenses! And everyone knows that a reliable lens is better than any hyped-up camera.
So what if the latest mirrorless cameras have eschewed much of that character as they ride the trends from five years ago? They’re a huge company, and it’s expected that it takes time for them to make changes. And look at the changes they’ve made: Did you love RAW Multiple Exposures in their cameras? Clearly, we didn’t know we wanted it removed in favor of new video features I won’t use. This is the kind of top-down decision-making that has worked for nearly 100 years – can you say the same for yourself?
While other companies are whoring themselves out and collaborating with third-party manufacturers, Canon continues to show us we don’t need outside validation to be great photographers – just the latest L lens. We don’t need a plethora of options or experiences, like an international buffet of flavors or a spicy love life. Some of us think tahini is too hot and missionary is perfectly fine, thank you very much. All this inter-corporate menagerie doesn’t sit well with me, and I’m perfectly fine overpaying for some of the same lenses that some other guys get on the cheap.
Frankly, I’m afraid of change, and I like it when things stay familiar. I’ve been wearing the same photography vest at family functions for the last 20 years, and I will continue to do so. Again, it’s not about stubbornness if we frame it as reliability. And that’s why I’m a Canon Photographer.