Camera Equipment
It’s not about what equipment you have, it’s what you do with it. That’s where the soul is. - Richie Hawtin
Can you spend a lot of money on camera equipment? Absolutely! Will it make you a better photographer? Not necessarily. In the end, you still need to know how to use it and know the basics of taking pictures. We are in the age of digital, but you still need to know how F-stops, shutter speeds, and ISO settings affect your photo. I’m glad to see the resurgence of film photography by the younger generation because they will have to learn about lighting, focal points, and actual photography basics. If not, there will be a lot of film wasted!
There is a lot to say about the good and bad of digital photography. It is good that you can take 1000 photos in one day, it is also bad. Can you take an amazing picture with the $2500 Hasselblad x2d ii mirrorless camera (lens not included)? Absolutely. Can you take an amazing picture with a $600 Cannon Rebel EOS DSLR camera (lens included)? Absolutely. That Hasselblad is useless in the hands of someone that has no clue. Actually, you probably couldn’t take a good picture with a high-end camera if you didn’t know how to take a picture. The lower end kit cameras are made for the enthusiast and the beginner. They are tools for teaching. And they are perfectly capable of taking amazing pictures.
As you progress through your photography journey you decide what you want to invest in your craft. When it comes to camera equipment, you need three things.
1). A camera body that has a good sensor. The sensor is the soul of the camera. Decide on the camera manufacturer that you want to use. Cannon, Sony, Nikon, Pentax, doesn’t matter which. Once you’ve decided, then compare sensors. Find the one with the best specs. If you go the cheapest in any brand, you are going to get something that is subpar. It doesn’t matter if the LCD screen is a touch screen. It doesn't matter how many buttons are on the camera body. It doesn't matter if it has built-in GPS or exterior accent lighting (yes, that actually exists). And don’t be afraid of the crop sensor. There are some really good crop sensor cameras out there. Full Frame and Medium Format cameras are specific in what they are designed for. Full Frame is a great studio camera. Medium Format is a great landscape camera. But you can take an amazing (and printable) landscape photo with a crop sensor camera. I just had a conversation with a photographer in our studio today who takes amazing Eagle photos. They are National Geographic worthy! Know what he uses? A crop sensor. Do you know what he invested in though?
2). A good lens! The lens and sensor combo make all the difference. A good lens is the window into the soul of the camera. A good lens brings detail and beauty to the sensor to be captured. Start small too. No need to get the 600mm telescoping lens. Get the 50mm prime lens or the 18 – 55 mm telescoping lens. But make it a good lens. Research and compare. Avoid ‘kit’ lenses. There are the lenses that come with cameras. They are mass produced and have lower quality glass in them.
Once you have a camera and lens you are happy with, all you need is number 3). Passion. You can’t get the shot if you don’t take the shot. Explore what type of photography you like and then pursue that passion. And as you pursue the passion, make the mistakes and then learn to fix those mistakes. Learn what your camera can actually do and have fun doing it! When I started my digital photography adventure, I started with the Pentax K30 crop sensor camera body with the 18 – 55 mm kit lens. After a while, I bought the 55 – 300 mm zooms lens. A good lens with good reviews. That’s when I discovered the value of a good lens and replaced that kit lens with a better lens. I took that K30 everywhere and pushed myself technically in the photos I attempted to take. From landscape, to macro, to astrophotography. I tried it all. And many times it was humbling, even frustrating. But boy it has been fun! I now have that Pentax Mark 2 Full Frame camera (with the accent lighting) and the Pentax 645Z Medium Format camera. They are beasts! Heavy, complicated, challenging! They have their advantages. But I still carry that K30. Still my favorite (and lightest). Most of my favorite photographs are with the K30. I now own four of them and always looking for another in a different color!
Bottom line is this. Don’t start by dropping $10,000 on your first camera kit. It’s going to be frustrating and disappointing and you may end up putting it in a closet and forgetting about it. Start with reasonable equipment with a lot of passion. The rest will follow. Seek it, Explore it, Live it.
