Smartphones and their cameras have come a long way since the early days of two-megapixel flip phones. Gone are the pixelated photos which require more squinting than an impressionist painting just to make sense of them. But, even with the latest technology, many of us are still not satisfied with what a smartphone can muster. It leads us to search out alternatives and find the best cameras for wristwatch photography.
The bar is set high on Instagram these days. The only way to keep up and take pictures that will truly impress is to go with a ‘proper’ camera, with plenty of options starting from a few hundred pounds up into the more serious price point that will get the job done. And as an added bonus, most of these will also produce great videos too, so you’ll be churning out reels in 4k to keep the algorithm in your favour.
It’s not a matter of megapixels, or the size of your lens. In the words of professional photographer Chase Jarvis “the best camera is the one that’s with you.” And if the weight and dimensions of your photographical device are keeping it at home instead of slung over your shoulder, or in your bag, that’s an issue. So, today, we’re focusing on practicality and results. Some of these cameras are far from top-of-the-line options, but their results speak for themselves. All of these options are also equipped with convenient Wi-Fi file transfer options, so you can quickly go from camera to smartphone, and with a quick edit start reeling in those likes!
Olympus Pen E-PL10
We’re going straight to my favourite camera for watch photography — the Olympus Pen. I opted for the E-PL8, a camera which has now been replaced by the marginally improved E-PL10. The differences between those two and the E-PL9 are minimal, so my advice here would be to find the best price you can. The key feature of the Olympus Pen range is the small and stylish footprint of the camera in relation to price. This is the perfect platform for beginners and experienced wristwatch photographers alike. Don’t feel comfortable going manual yet? No problem, you can use any of the programme modes available, or even go fully automatic.
The learning curve isn’t steep, and the standard kit-lens offers a versatile zoom range, the upper end of which is perfect for wrist-shots. Once you get to grips with it and you’re ready to step up the game and get some bokehlicious soft-focus action you will have to get your hands on a prime (or fixed-focal- length) lens. The 30mm macro option from Olympus’ Zuiko range is my go-to for watch photography. Some downsides include an ill-placed video button next to the camera’s thumb grip, and a lack of viewfinder. This means that on bright days, you might find yourself squinting at the screen. Under normal conditions, it’s not an issue.
An electronic viewfinder (EVF) can also be purchased as a handy add-on. The camera features a Wi-Fi option, which allows you to transfer files (only jpeg) to your smartphone. Once there, you can share them directly, or use Lightroom mobile to edit to your heart’s content. Priced at £650 on Amazon this is a perfect entry to mid-level option.
Available at Amazon.
Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9
The Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9 is a perfect first step away from smartphone cameras. You’ll immediately notice a jump in the quality of your shots. Do keep in mind that a lot of the quality of smartphone photos comes from the post-processing that is applied to them by the proprietary software. This is something you’ll miss at first when moving to a camera, but which you’ll quickly learn to make up for with your own editing.
Much like the Olympus, this Panasonic is fully kitted out with everything you need for quick camera to phone to Instagram processing. With a stabilized 20.3 Megapixel sensor (a step up from Olympus’ 16 MP), you’ll be able to get sharp shots which would be unthinkable with a more traditional camera. Plus, with high-ISO capability (meaning the sensitivity of the sensor in low-light conditions) you won’t struggle to shoot at night or indoors.
Unlike the Olympus Pen options, here you get a built-in articulated EVF in addition to an equally-articulated screen (for those tricky pocket-shot angles). You also have a built-in flash, the ability to shoot 4K video, as well as all the other features you’d expect from a modern camera.
A big plus is the fact that you can use a wide range of Olympus lenses in addition to the Panasonic Lumix offering, including the cheap but wonderful 25mm f/1.7, which is my recommendation as a first go-to prime lens. You also have the option of transferring files via Bluetooth, which saves you both time and battery. Stepping up from the Olympus to the Panasonic will only add another £100 to £200 to your budget, but in return you get some key features that you might miss once you grow into the Olympus environment.
More details at Panasonic.
Sony ZV-E10 ‘Vlog Camera’
The Sony A-series of cameras has built quite a name for itself. These are often the choice of pros and aspiring amateurs alike. But a couple of steps below these high-end machines, you can also find some incredibly good options, especially at a sub-£1,000 price-point. The Sony ZV-E10 is marketed as a ‘vlog camera’.
For those of you who didn’t grow up watching an unhealthy amount of YouTube videos, the term comes from a mix of the words video and blog, and has become a popular way for influencers and the influenced to broadcast themselves to the world. But we’re here to shoot watches, not silly internet videos (unless it’s silly internet videos about watches). Here, the main selling point is a bigger sensor (up from 20.3 to 24.2 MP), as well as all the brand-exclusive goodness that makes Sony cameras some of the most popular on the market.
On top of that, you get a pocketable camera with interchangeable lenses, a great battery life, excellent ergonomics, and plenty of built-in post-processing options. The real strength of this camera lies in its impressive video capabilities, but everything that makes it an outstanding video camera translates seamlessly into watch photography. Sixty lenses are available for the Sony system, which means you’ll always find exactly what you need.
As always, it’s good to start with a versatile zoom kit-lens, and then expand with either a prime or macro lens. Other than that, the sky is the limit. Weight-wise it comes in 40g lighter than the Olympus, so you can enjoy all of these features without adding unnecessary grams to your camera bag. Prices including a lens start at about £770, meaning that this is just about the best option available on the market below £1,000, leaving you some budget for additional lenses and accessories.
Available at Sony.
Fujifilm X-T5
Are you feeling flush? Have you already bought all your favourite watches, and now find yourself with enough money left over for a brilliant camera to immortalize them with? Then the Fujifilm X-T5 is the way to go. Much like watches, cameras and their corresponding prices tend to scale up quite quickly. But staying within what someone serious about watches will likely find reasonable, we land upon the inevitable Fujifilm option.
No, I did not go for the fixed-lens classic that is the Fuji X-100v — a solid choice for sure. Instead, I have opted for something slightly heftier in size, but also in features and versatility. This Fujifilm camera has virtually all of the features of the previous options, but with some general improvements.
These range from ergonomics and the hardware controls on the camera, to the sensor inside. Essentially, you get a properly large sensor (a 40.2MP X-Trans CMOS 5 HR image sensor to be precise), better low-light performance, and plenty of high tech features. These include Pixel Shift Multi-Shot function; Deep Learning AI-assisted focusing; a maximum electronic shutter speed of 1/180,000 of a second; and the ability to record video in 6.2K at a recording rate of 30P in 4:2:2 10-bit colour depth. I promise you that this is all as impressive as it sounds. All you need to know though is that the camera has all the tools you need to take great shots in the least favourable of conditions.
It does all the heavy lifting for you. Although compared to the previous cameras it’s over 200g heavier (without a lens), this Fuji is as robust as it gets, with a weather and dust-sealed construction. The electronic viewfinder is bright and comfortable to use, and the images it produces are stunning. Just the body will set you back about £1,700 and a decent lens (such as the Fujifilm XF 35mm f/1.4 R) will add an extra £600 on top. A proper piece of kit, with a price tag to match.
More details at Fujifilm.
Leica Q2
The sky is truly the limit when it comes to cameras. However, if you want to touch the sky without actually flying, the closest you can come to doing so (some would say) is the Leica Q2. In the true spirit of luxury, the Leica Q2 tops the price bracket of this list, yet at the same time comes with one or two compromises. For instance, you can’t swap the lens. It’s a fixed 28mm lens with an aperture of f/1.7, which is actually a rather wide angle. This is because it’s the only full-frame option on the list. However, the Leica has a couple of tricks up its neatly ironed German sleeves.
The first is a crop-equivalent shooting mode, which allows you to virtually shoot with a 35, 50, and 75mm equivalents. This works thanks to its massive 42 Megapixel sensor. Once uploaded, the shots can be processed as per their crop, but all the data is there, so they can also be un-cropped to the full 28mm field of view. On top of this, you get a macro mode, which allows you to get in as close as 17cm, meaning that wrist shots are a breeze.
The biggest perk, other than a quiet leaf shutter, IP52 weather and dust-sealed construction, Gorilla glass coated screen and a Wi-Fi transfer feature, is the Leica magic. This is a combination of hardware, software, processing, and years of making some of the world’s best cameras. There’s something inexplicably tasty about shots taken on a Leica. It’s hard to describe, but easy to spot and with the Q2 you’ll quickly produce shots that look exactly like what you had in your mind.
And once you master its many tricks, you’ll have a photographic companion for life. It’s a more minimalist approach to modern photography, taking the time to slow down, think, and shoot to capture the moments worth capturing, as well as to take some beautiful pictures of your favourite watches. For the Leica magic you’ll have to pay a premium, as the Q2 has a retail price about £4,750. It’s entry-level in the Leica universe, but tops today’s list, almost doubling the price of the runner-up.
Available at Leica.
Oracle Time
