I did too toward the end of the sixties in San Francisco. Then switched to a Walther PPK.

If you need to make massive changes to an image the I feel you failed as a photographer. That comes from starting out in film photography, I suppose. With digital imaging, it makes “tweaking”
easier to correct for shadows and highlights. Adding and subtracting parts or pieces I draw the line.

I shoot film in manual exposure and focus camera. Huh? Yup, I’m an antique. Oh, I have two pro level digital cameras, a pile of p&s cameras too (unused mostly). An iPhone for work doing security to document issues.
I sort of agree with the idea. We are sold a bill of goods because the guy (or gal) next door will have a better this or that. I don’t care what they have. A Sony 7 mk V may be able to dance longer and faster but it doesn’t know what is in my head (so far).

Both

The labs in my life have been the best dogs ever.

There was a bit on 60 minutes a while back. Frames are manufactured by one company in Italy. They make all the frames for every company. There are now new places like Warby. The send you three frames to pick from (plastic). They put the prescription lenses in and send the glasses back to you. Don’t know how long. Ad is on TV. Not the most stylish but costs under $100. I’m next.

Film or digital? Film, Olympus XA. Film speed up to iso 800. f2.8 35mm lens.Sony had a 20 megapixel zoom (Zeiss) tiny camera. Simple. W830, I think. Those were the best I used. Worst, wow! Depends. Many “good” ones. Canon 9, before the X version, I liked. Casio sucked.

Choosing from what you have. iPhone. A compact rangefinder type camera? Point and shoot camera from a thrift shop? I went with an Olympus EP5 two lenses in a jacket pocket. A friend had a Pentax Q and four lenses on a trip with his grandkids. Stick with the iphone.

Good choice. One of the EPL cameras would be smaller and lighter. There are those who prefer a rangefinder “look” but a prism EV is also better in bright living situations. Good lenses, you could up grade later to pro lenses if the micro 4/3 grows on you like it has me. I assume the body and lenses have been checked out by a tech person or you trust the seller with your purchase.

Some of it may be what others have already spoken of. One camera idiosyncratic problem could be the programming is just too old to provide the results you believe are inbred. My mark 2 will my do what a Mk3 or OM 1 is capable of doing. Living within the capacity of an older camera may mean going all manual
like an old film camera, settings all done by hand, skills learned in the film days. No autofocus, no auto exposure and manual flash settings. At least you can check you results quickly and make adjustment before continuing. Chimping works when you need to in a crutch situation. Read what the others have said and checkout your results by practicing and seeing what works. You have many great ideas here.

Olympus TG 6. Rugged water proof camera zoom built in. Close focus (dare I say the “M” word). Mono or color. They make a wider angle and tele add-on lenses. Pocketable. Batteries are small (good or bad). TG 5 had more megapixels and cheaper, maybe.
I’m partial sooooo.

One more thing. Montana has no sales tax either. I know there was a camera shop in Bozeman, due to Montana State having a fine arts program and TV production department.

Living in Oregon, no sales tax. But drive to north Portland during rush hour on narrow
I-5 to get to Blue Moon Camera is a pain. They deal mainly in film cameras but I’m retired so…it is what I use.

It depends what cell phone you have. Even
variations within model years can determine what works well and what does not. One that worked on my iPhone 7 does not work very well on my iPhone 13 Pro Max.

Mine just lit campfires. I put it up finally because it leaked lighter fluid so much.