The relationship you have with your camera gear is hugely important in my eyes. If you feel comfortable and inspired by the camera you are using then it will only make you want to shoot more, which in turn will improve your photography.

I get asked the question about the gear which I use quite often on my Instagram account @eddcope and thought I’d put this blog post together to give a guide to what I use.

To tell this story properly I need to go back a few years to 2016. We planned to take 2017 as a year of travelling, and obviously I wanted to take my camera with me. I had a Canon 40D with several lenses, it was really nice kit at the time and always provided good shots. However, it was super bulky and heavy, and I didn’t want to be lugging it around the world while backpacking.

I can’t remember exactly how, but a similar time I came across the little Fujifilm X70 online. Instantly the look of it had me mesmerised. Manual dials, aperture control on the lens and retro looks. I treated myself to one just before we embarked on our trip, and I’ve got to say it was the best thing I did. Lightweight, small and unobtrusive, it was perfect for my needs and allowed my creativity to soar. Of course every camera has it’s drawbacks and the fixed lens (no zoom) was probably it, although having this restriction can really make you think about composition. The X70 is an awesome little camera, and I still love using it till this day.

Once back from travelling I reassessed my gear setup and the inspiration I gained from using the X70 really made me want to explore their range further. I decided at the start of 2019 to buy a Fujifilm X-T2, and I’ve loved this camera every bit as much as my first Fuji, all the charm is there with manual dials and a retro feel, but I now have the flexibility of changing lenses.

I look at the X*T2, sat on my shelf, and immediately I want to head out on an adventure to use it. To me it’s a work of art and the connection I have with it really inspires my to take photos. Sure, it’s got its quirks, like relatively poor battery life, but for me the feeling it gives me is far more important.

After years of shooting with digital SLRs, being able to view real time my exposure through the screen or viewfinder was mind blowing and completely changed the way I approach my work. The ability to hold the camera at arms length and at different angles while composing the shot is so amazing. Overall, I’m so pleased that I decided to invest in my Fuji gear, the excitement and creativity it gives me reignites my passion for photography every time I use it. My advice would be to find a camera that does the same for you.

In a future blog post I’ll be providing a guide to the lenses I use and enjoy.

In the meantime if you have any questions please comment below or drop me and email here, I’d love to hear from you.

If you’d like to purchase the same camera as me, at a bargain price please use the following link

Take it easy, Edd

A Guide to My Camera Gear (Fujifilm Review)