There’s a quiet joy in working with small, lightweight gear. The XE-4, paired with compact lenses, has transformed the way I approach photography in everyday life. It’s not about shooting from strange angles or experimenting with unusual perspectives. It’s about carrying the camera more often, being ready at a moment’s notice, and letting the opportunity dictate the pace of the shoot.

On my way to work or while wandering through the streets, I can switch into shooting mode almost instantly. The camera is small enough to slide out of my bag without drawing attention, and the moment I lift it, my “photographer’s mind” clicks on. People are always moving, always engaged in their own world. In that fast rhythm, speed matters. Small gear lets me react quickly, capture the fleeting gestures, and then blend back into the crowd before anyone notices.

When it comes to lenses, I prefer simple, sharp, ready-to-shoot optics. Pancake lenses, 15-45mm zooms — these are all about immediacy. I rarely feel the need to zoom; the lens I mount is my first choice for almost any scenario. Light, sharp, and unobtrusive — it’s about minimizing friction between seeing and capturing.

Contrary to what some might think, compact gear doesn’t make you freer; it makes you more disciplined. In my style, nailing a composition often takes time. With limited lenses, I physically move: I crouch, I step back, I inch forward. Every frame requires intention. This discipline forces me to respect the moment, to give the photograph the attention it deserves. In a strange way, these constraints have become my creative allies.

For me, minimal gear doesn’t feel limiting. A 24mm lens for the streets, a 50mm for portraits or details, a couple of spare batteries, maybe a polarizer or bloom filter — that’s all I need. That setup feels complete. Every piece has a purpose, nothing extra to weigh me down.

Compact gear turns the ordinary into something extraordinary. It’s the subtle freedom of being able to shoot anywhere, anytime, without the burden of heavy equipment. And yet, paradoxically, that freedom comes from discipline — from making every frame count, from learning to move with intention. The XE-4 and its companions have taught me that sometimes, less is not just more convenient; it’s better. It makes me a more attentive, deliberate photographer.