This is difficult to answer, because I change my settings depending on the situation that I’m in. But generally, these are the settings I use:

• Focus: Wide Area - then use ‘Human’ or ‘Pet’ for subject tracking.

• White Balance: Either leave it on Auto, or manually set it if it’s a demanding scene.

• Shutter Speed: Minimum 1/160 for humans, 1/200 - 1/1000 for animals.

• F-Stop: For portraits I mostly shoot wide open at f1.4 or f1.8. If there are multiple subjects in the frame, then I adjust this to f2.8-4.5. I’ll also use a higher f-stop like f8 if I’m trying to include more of the surroundings in the photo.

• ISO: Auto (Sony has incredible low-light capabilities, plus the grain from Sony cameras is easy to fix in Lightroom - so I never worry about the ISO being too high).

• EV Compensation: I use the EV compensation dial to make the image brighter or darker. I typically leave this at -0.3 to slightly underexpose the image.

• Drive Mode: Continuous Shooting: Mid - I like to take a LOT of photos, then choose the best ones in post. I get a lot of flack sometimes from other photographers, but this is the best way by far to capture unexpected candid moments (like laughs, giggles and micro-expressions).

The Insta360 GO3 and GO3S comes with everything you need in the box, including a clip mount and magnet mount to mount it on your chest.

You don’t need any additional accessories to wear the camera on your chest.

I recommend upgrading your camera only after you’ve outgrown what your current gear can do.

If you’re not getting good photos with the camera you have now, buying a new one won’t solve that. It usually means you need to build your skills first, not buy better equipment.

Start by learning how to get the most out of the camera or phone you already own.

When you consistently feel limited by your current setup, that’s the right time to consider investing in new gear.

This is not an easy answer, as it totally depends on your individual goals and shooting style.

• Are you using it for fun or professionally?

• Want to shoot portraits or landscapes?

• What’s your budget?

Depending on your answers, you might choose one camera over another.

To make things easier, I’ve put together a set of free guides to help you find the best camera for your goals.

Beginner Camera Guide – A walkthrough of many different options, broken down by budget and goals. It even includes shopping lists for each tier.

Focal Length Guide – Side-by-side comparisons of lenses (24mm, 35mm, 50mm, etc.) so you can see what kind of look each one creates.

Camera Gear Database – My personal Notion database of camera gear and accessories, including notes for every piece of equipment I’ve tested.

Monetization Guide- A realistic look at how you could potentially monetize your photography, which may affect which gear & equipment you invest in.

“You say gear doesn’t matter, but you use expensive camera gear?”

That’s because I make a full-time living as a professional photographer, and there are features that make investing in high-end gear worthwhile for my work.

These include:

• Data redundancy

• Speed and reliability

• Fast, accurate autofocus

• Better low-light performance

• Minimal chromatic aberration

• Higher resolution for cropping

• Ergonomics and user experience

• Access to specific focal lengths

• Professional video features

For professional photographers, these upgrades make our jobs easier, help us work faster, and ensure we can deliver consistent, high-quality results to clients.

If you just want to take nice photos of your dog, then you don’t need backup memory card slots, or a 60-megapixel sensor.

For most people, learning to use the camera you already have will get you much further than buying the most expensive equipment you can find.