After we finished up that series, we couldn’t help but think up a few more reasons that these two hobbies are so similar. We promise this is the last article, but we thought we’d detail a few more reasons that cameras and firearms share some of the same traits.
The Advancements Would Surprise Previous Generations
Imagine time traveling back to the 1850’s, when the revolver was in its infancy and still being loaded like muzzleloaders. You pull your Smith & Wesson 500 out of its revolver holster and show them just how incredibly finely machined it is, the size of the cartridge, the smooth action of the cylinder as it rotates, and the hole that it can put in a tree. To them, it’s impossible that something can be so powerful and still hold up to the pressures, and that’s all thanks to the computer design and the advancements in metallurgy.
Something similar has occurred in cameras over the years. Just as guns can fire faster, so can cameras. In 1850 you might have to stand still for several minutes to get your picture taken, while today you can shoot 10 frames a second or more. And while your lens might have been a medium-wide angle back then, lenses of today can get much wider and much, much closer to the action, with affordable lenses reaching 500mm or more.
Upgrades!
You can grab a used Canon SLR from Craigslist for $250 or less, and it’s going to take some pretty good pictures. After a while, though, you find out its limitations and start drooling over the $3,500 50-megapixel 5DR. We’re guessing the same has happened to you with guns; once you realize the high-powered revolver isn’t quite going to cut it for handgun hunting because it doesn’t have a long enough barrel, you probably won’t have much problem justifying buying yourself something with a bit more muzzle velocity.
You’ve Got To Get Them Around Somehow
There’s a chance that you just have one firearm, but let’s admit it…those chances are slim! At the very least you probably have at rifle, shotgun, semi-automatic pistol, and revolver. If you’ve sought us out for speedloaders, you might even have multiple revolvers. You might have picked up a beater for $100 at a gun show, while spending $1000 on something new and considerably more powerful.
You might not do much to protect that cheap pistol, but you’ll want to get a custom-fit revolver holster for the expensive one so that you can get it around safely and in style. You don’t want it to drop to the ground, you don’t want it to get scratched as you’re climbing over barbed wire. You’ll probably also buy a locking hard case for it to keep it safe and for transporting in the trunk.
You won’t be surprised to know that there are also dozens of options for carrying around a camera. While a person might leave an old SLR on the counter (secretly hoping it will get milk spilled on it so that they’ll have an excuse to replace it), the newer camera gets specialized camera straps that keep it close the body, centralizing that nine-pound lens’ weight in order to protect back muscles. There are hard cases, soft cases, rolling cases, and just about anything else for a camera that wouldn’t look out of place protecting a firearm.
There Are Always Compromises
Ever imagine a fully-auto .454 Casull that fires 1000 rounds a minute, but it weighs 10 ounces is still small enough to fit in your front pocket? Oh, and it has no recoil. You might imagine it, but it’s not going to happen. It goes against the laws of physics and modern metallurgical science to have that much power in such a small space.
If you want the .454 Casull, you’re going to need something much heavier and much larger than a pocket pistol. If you want to fire 1000 rounds a minute, you’ll need something much more complex than a revolver, like a minigun. Want no recoil? You’re better off playing a video game! In the end, you have to take the right gun for the situation at hand, because you’re not going to take your concealed carry pistol as your sole firearm when you go duck hunting. Compromise is necessary.
Cameras are much the same. Camera people want something that has all of the latest functions, can go from ultra-wide to ultra-telephoto, shoots in the dark, can do super-macro, and deliver the most beautiful photos that you can crop at 400-percent and still make a wall-sized portrait out of.
Of course, that camera doesn’t exist. Want to be shooting when it’s dark? You’ll need a lot more glass, or a bulky tripod. Interested in a camera with the highest resolution? You’ll give up your portability and need to spend $50,000. Want ultra-wide and ultra-telephoto? You’d better have deep pockets (literally) because you’re going to be carrying around at least two big fat lenses (one of which weighs 36 pounds). Much like guns, you have to carefully choose what equipment you’re going to take with you based on the shooting you’ll be doing. Shooting landscapes? Leave the macro lens at home. Interested in insects? Take the macro lens and leave the fisheye in the case. Hunting and hikes can get long, and you want to pack as efficiently as possible.
Okay, we’re done. You now have 21 reasons why cameras and guns have so much in common. We’re done, we promise! And while we might not have the gear that’s going to protect your Canon 5DS, we can certainly keep your ammo in place with our loading blocks and reload your revolver faster than ever with moon clips and speedloaders. Oh, and let’s not forget about the importance of a good revolver holster to keep your gun in its place. Trust in Speed Beez!