I agree with majority of what you've said, I'm still excited to buy a pricey glass for my ancient Canon, but a lot of what you just said only applies to studio photography. When you're out on a rough evening hike through the mountains, and take a super sharp picture with a handheld 600mm, with ridiculously high ISO, but barely any grain, and the whole setup weighs less than a DSLR body, you start to appreciate how far the camera bodies have improved over the last decade. All the stabilisation systems, dual ISOs, new sensors and all that jazz, doesn't matter when it's on a tripod with lights around, but that's only one scenario out of the huge variety of types of photography.
My thoughts as well. I think it's a mix of both, the changes from model to model are indeed not as big as they're being advertised. But over the years, they can still make a huge difference. When I was new to photography, I was able to take decent pictures with my 2019 camera that my friend with his 2012 camera wouldn't even try. ISO performance has evolved so much in recent years, along with image stabilization and autofocus, that it really does make a difference when you're shooting in difficult lighting situations.
@@holdfast5332 Sorry I don't quite understand how I missed the point. I clearly stated that what he mentioned applies mainly to studio photography, where you have super controlled conditions with lights, stands, reflectors, etc. There is a time and place for every type of equipment, also for that drone you've mentioned. In the scenario I've described there is a big chance I couldn't safely or legally use a drone (for example: national park, airport proximity, wild animals, etc) and even if I could, it's not going to replace the look, ease of use and speed of 600mm lens. Even if that mountain goat decided to wait 10min for me to set up the drone, it would most likely run away when I would fly the drone anywhere close to it. I do use drones, gopros, new fancy cameras, old cameras with vintage manual lenses, and each one of them has a valid use in different scenarios and final look, that often you cannot replicate with any other gear.
Thanks for this. I have a teenage daughter who is getting into photography and, like most people her age, she easily falls for the marketing hype regarding new camera bodies. I always try to explain to her that you spend most of your money on glass, not the body. Better to have a pro lens on a consumer body vs. the other way around. But why would she listen to me? - I'm just her father that has been taking pictures for 20 years. What do I know? Better it comes from an actual pro. I'll share this video with her ASAP.
It really does boil down to how good the photographer is. We always seem to get into conversations about gear and it all goes back to the person behind the camera. I still go back to my basic fundamentals and they never fail. Different tools for different reasons. Thanks for sharing!
Agree on lenses ... but also think most serious amateur photographer understand their importance and grave the good ones (and spend serious money on them). Not sure about lighting and lighting modifiers. Clearly, if you do portraits this may be important, but a lot of amateur photographers focus on landscapes and street
If you're doing studio work or working in some other controlled seeing the camera really doesn't matter much. Get into concert photography and the difference between that 10 year old camera and the low light sensitivity of my a7iv is actually very substantial. Right tool for the right job imo 🙃 but if you don't know why you need that camera upgrade it's probably a waste
I started my photography journey with the random Nikon DSLR I found in the closet. I bought a "better than kit lens" and went shooting. Every upgrade in equipment I've done has been informed by my pictures. Better focus for shooting moving birds; more keepers. More megapixels; I can crop further and get a decent picture. Better strap; don't drop the camera.
Great advice. Lens is everything, just upgraded my canon 70-200 f2.8 I purchased 13 years ago second hand with the RF version, that old lens has made who knows how much for me over the years, was a no brainer to upgrade to the RF version now I’m looking to go full RF mount. Have never understood the whole upgrade your camera body every year and those that seem to do it are the ones that don’t need the performance advantages of yearly new tech, they would be better of honing their craft.
There’s a few upgrades that improved my imagery and workflow. Upgrading to premium glass and a flash with fast recycle time has been the biggest impact. One thing that sucks at a event or shoot is waiting for the flash to recycle. If I want the image to look grungy, I can always add something in front of the lens. During my years as an assistant, I’ve noticed many professional photographers use a standard kit. For example, one fine art photographer uses of Canon 430 as his main flash, but he uses Canon L glass . Another photographer only uses a plastic 50mm and 100mm 1.8 as her main lens. So it definitely depends on our preference and workflow. I also believe a particular technique used by a photographer highlights their creative ability. This can include lighting, storytelling, presentation, and composition which gives an overall feel to their imagery. The one thing we should never skimp on is confidence, research, and action.
SO nice to hear an upvote for Nikons these days!!! I grew up with that brilliant minimalist 60s advertising slogan: just a glorious B&W picture, and the slogan: "For the photographer who wants Nikon pictures!" So I have used many, still do, and love 'em. As the world has turned to Canons, Sonys, and Fujis... I can only say, Nikons still take a lovely photo....
Looking into a video camera at the moment as my EOS R has issues with video (focus breathing being the main issue - but learning to overcome with manual focus). But my best purchase and now something I won’t skimp on are definitely modifiers. After purchasing my first Broncolor modifier, I bought a second and now won’t buy anything else. I am looking at a second hand reflector dish but need to keep my “I want it” voice in check. Next best purchase was the 5DSR (looking to get a backup body in the near future) which has been an awesome camera to use along with the EOS R (such a workhorse of a body for a great price and at 30mpx, Canon doesn’t have anything else to replace it for photos).
Great video very informative as a professional photographer Los Angeles my go to light is a ring light and the rest of my lights I’ve had forever are Normans some of my heads I’ve had for the last 30 years plus and they still work like you said light is light!
Ha... I shoot with a 15 year old camera, the 5d mark II because I like the filmlike look. And lets face it, with the human eye being only able to see how many pixels... you can only go so far, unless you plan on blowing the print up to the size of a barn door. I would affirm that it also has something to do with confidence. Those pros who use those 15 year bodies are confident it'll do what they want it to do. The one go-to lens I have 24-70 f4, has a macro mode which is a throwback from the 90's.
I just upgraded a year ago from the 5d II after having it for more than 10 years. I loved the camera, but the R5 I bought completely blows it out of the water. That being said, I'll keep my R5 at least 10 or 15 years if it holds out. Bodies are more important than they used to be. IBIS that works with the in lens IS makes tripods darn near unnecessary. I know, let the derogatory comments start. Shutter speeds are amazing, so if you are taking action shots, it is easier to catch that moment. High ISO performance and dynamic range are better. This doesn't mean getting the best glass isn't important; in fact, it may be more important with the high-resolution sensors. I love my L glass and prefer it, although Sigma Art lenses are intriguing, and one or two may be in my future if/when they can make RF mount versions. The Canon RF15-35 f2.8 is outrageously good.
I absolutely agree it's all about the lenses! I will add to that though software and computer kit and a wealth of knowledge using the software really helps, maybe because I am a designer and photographer I have a bias, but I don’t think I am alone in this as it’s predominantly photography these days.
On the post-production side of things, I have seen tremendous value in not skimping on a powerful computer and robust/diverse file backup solutions. Fortunately I have really only ever had one instance of a shoot getting corrupted, but backups saved the work and kept things organized so there was hardly a hiccup in my workflow
Backing up is so important. If a digital file doesn't exist on three devices (one of which is off-site), it is at risk. I use SyncToy because although it is dated and amateurish, it is simple and it works. The other thing with backups is constant curation - backups take up time and space. Backing up junk or unnecessary duplicates wastes both of those which discourages prompt backing up. I have a workflow policy of only bringing forward the keepers. I only pull off the cards the things I want to keep - the junk gets erased when I format the card for next use. That gives me a short time to change my mind. I frequently have "For Trash" folders where I put files that have served their purpose and won't need to be retained after the project is finished. Again, that gives me a short time to change my mind but saves me having to go back and clean-up later because I never find time to do that.
Agreed. Not a pro. Done some work though. Met Joel Grimes and took an in person class of his. Nice guy. Said many similar things and we got to test and see them. Bought 1 highly rated lens and I could see that difference. So stunningly clear images. Same camera. New images. Thank you this your video should help a few, including me.
Hi Scott, question: Whenever you have your 100mm Zeiss Milvus on video, you always call it the "makro-planar" version, while also stating it's the newer version with the lens coating. Based on Zeiss' product catalog however (!), the Zeiss Makro-Planar T 100mm f/2 came out first, in 2010, and was then followed by the Zeiss Milvus 2/100M (special coating version), in 2015. Could you clarify which one it is we are seeing in your videos, or what the mix-up is here? Thanks!
Thanks for this, you made a thing click in my brain, I used to be a mechanic, and I drive an old beater… and it’s great because it could get destroyed and I wouldn’t care, and it’s a tool, nothing more. Wish cars were as modular as modern camera systems though.
Thanks for this non commercial, non biaised video! I fully agree and put the emphasis on the same philosophy on my channel. Old cameras are doing a great job up until now and to do so, depending on the result the photographer wants to achieve, they deserve high quality lenses.
I agree, I spend my money on lenses but I cannot afford to upgrade often. I'm will get a 2nd hand D850, a Zeiss Milvus 15mmF2.8 and a 2nd hand 400mmF2.8 G VR to my Nikon system. I use D700 and D800E today. I stay in the F-system but in the future I will get a Fuji GFX 100S for landscape due to be able to crop to panorama without losing to much Mpix.
I see a similarity in amateurs obsessed with new camera bodies and pros obsessed with lenses and gear. Both seem to spend more time spending lots of money than shooting pictures. One of the most amazing photographers I know goes out to shoot every day with a cheap phone and comes back with gold. But I understand that investing in reliable gear is insurance against failure when you're being paid to deliver.
I have some more modern battery powered lights but my day to day mains powered units have been in service with me since the mid 90s. Still going strong, the only feature they lack that more modern ones have (that I would actually make use of) is the ability to change the power level from the camera position.
So funny you mentioned a mechanics car. My dad now 72 has been a mechanic since he was 15, has never had a “nice” car but he’s also never had one that’s broken down or had to be recalled for a new engine (I’m thinking of Range Rovers here) loving your videos man.
RIGHT ON. You are so correct. As long as there are enough mega pixels for the task, then all you need is good glass AND good light. I can still get battery for my Nikon D3 and there are vids on how to repair old ones. The are firmware updates so modern high capacity CF cards work. My Norman beauty dish still gives great light after 40 years. I have upgraded diffusers for regular reflectors and new backgrounds. Leica M are still my favorite cameras, but now Nikon has mirrorless. APO Leica glass fits right on. Still have D700 D750 and D800 DSLR and pics are good as ever. Photoshop CC now has an Ai function in raw to make 4x the pixels. As long as Nikon does not learn to rent cameras, I am set. Do I like mirrorless? So I can use any glass so yes. But they AF stopped down which bothers me. Silent shutter keeps down vibration in addition to being quiet. Computers need upgrades or they die. New M1 and new EIZO pro top line monitor is cats meow. All said the is little reason to buy new cameras and the sales figures show it.
What is your personal opinion of the Canon EOS 5DS vs the new Canon EOS R5? Is it worth purchasing a used EOS 5DS over an EOS R5? Curious of your opinion from your experience with the EOS 5DS. Thanks
In my opinion the body is important but in different ways than the lens. I think some mentioned focus stacking, tracking, better sensor less noise, fps - all very important depending on what you are doing. I don’t think it’s all hype, features are added based on the needs of photographers that have always been there and technology is finally making some of these features possible. IBIS, and focus peaking are huge fairly recent improvements and IBIS can reduce the cost of glass as you don’t necessarily need to buy lenses with optical image stabilization which drives lens costs up. There are many settings that can be used on today’s cameras to help the photographer in ways a lens cannot, and these are getting better as they evolve and will only get better with the evolution in AI. Look at phone cameras and where they are compared to where they’ve been and it’s not all improvements in the lenses. Lenses are important, and are good investments as they do not depreciate nearly as quickly as the bodies, but disregarding technological improvement to the bodies as just hype I would say is incorrect. Most importantly though is the photographers understanding of the use of these features built into the bodies, their own creativity, and their understanding of all their gear as well as software that is used in post. It all works together and the tough part is deciding what we truly need, it’s different for everyone. As an amateur/hobbyist, I invest in good lenses, good bodies, and good software… I don’t buy all the stuff pro’s buy because I’m not professional, but I do want to be the best I can be and that means I do need good equipment including some of the features of the new bodies, high fps for wildlife photography, silent electronic shutter, good video capabilities, IBIS, focus peaking, EVF - are all game changers with the newer bodies for me… it’s not hype, it’s helped me a lot.
where we can buy that cables in EU? im sick of tethertools... they dont work.... sometimes i lost 30min for then to start to work, and in the middle of the shoot they stop again :(
Yes! I’ve been shooting for a long time (and used to be an assistant to a number of excellent commercial photographers) and what you say is the truth. People so often chase all the wrong things and wonder why it doesn’t make their work any better. Also, for people wanting good lighting gear, old strobes from the 80s and 90s really do represent a fantastic value. I paid the equivalent of about US $200 for my current Profoto kit and it’s all I need. Good modifiers can be staggeringly expensive, but it should also be said that you can get very close indeed by modifying cheaper modifiers or just building your own. I recently built my own Profoto ProBox equivalent, it’s working great, and cost me under $50 to make.
Absolutely love my Think Tank bag. I had a Manfrotto one but the zipper blew out on it and it dropped my 85mm F1.4 out. Thankfully all the damage was easily repaired at home. The robust zippers on the Think Tank bags is everything I needed to see after that. I have also been enjoying my Shimoda bag for hiking. Waterproofing over the zippers is brilliant.
To be fair there were a lot of different films back in the 80s... but as very much an amateur I do agree with you about the lens... enjoyed listening to what you had to say.
You're the antithesis of a RUclips photographer. The only time most of them will tell you the general "Gear doesn't matter." Is as a pallette cleanser before trying to sell you more new shit. Thank you for doing the lord's work 🙌🏼
I've been shooting since the 80s ( 35mm / 6x7 / 4x5 / 8x10 ) and I am surprised that you shoot with old Canons with limited dynamic range compared to something from the last 10 years. The newer sensors have much better dynamic range than the old ones. Looking at your portfolio the lighting looks a little harsh ( you've got top of the line Braun lighting gear ), and I'm sure some of that is from shooting with old Canon sensors.
I mostly agree. But some camera bodies will have nice advantages over others. For me, what seems to be the game changer is ergonomics. Weight + handling. Was using basic apsc Canon for long time, eventually switched to Sony A7II and even thought the pictures were nicer, I kinda hated it. Took a break from photography sold it. Recently got Fujifilm X-T30. Took me maybe 20min, to figure out all I need and process is so much smoother.
Tether tools cables are definitely a bit dodgy now, you're the second person I've heard mention Area 51 cables, will have to check them out. I don't totally agree on the camera body comment, I think your possibly coming at it from a studio / product angle, forgetting that shooting moving subjects, especially at wide apertures, the newer bodies can make a Huge difference. 'Pro photographer' covers a wide range of disciplines, and I totally get that most won't need the 'new fancy tech' but it's definitely super useful in some areas, if you know it will save you a decent amount of time, money or stress, then it's possibly worth the upgrade. Not to say I haven't been totally guilty of buying some updates I didn't' need 🙈 but others have been a huge help. Great points on the whole though 🙌
Can you make a video comparing the bowens sunlite to a covered beauty dish, the difference can be interesting I think? As for the hazy light alternative I would say it can be done by putting together many square led lights but in this case I assume there would no signifficant difference. I think the hazy light is a softbox with no hotspot and a very even light, right?
Thanks again for your Video! ......... Some items especially for Videography would be: Universal Batteries (NP-F &/or V-Mount).....you can adapt these to any camera and they will relief you of the major PITA of handling multiple batteries & chargers .....also bought a lot of them used......v-mounts for 50€ all day long because no one else would trust a used battery.....but you can buy 8 instead of 1.....of 6 v-mounts i bought for very cheap (one even for 20€+shipping ) only one had a defect (did discharge very fast.....yes the 20€one but was also listed as "untested" so i should've known better)......maybe they don'T have full capacity anymore but the should be at least at 70-80% from what i can tell (but i didn't measure anything ).......
SD Cards - I don't really tether often so I use SD cards and I make sure to get some of the high end quality Sandisks as ive had 0 issues with them ever since using them
yes but beware....ironically .... in my old sony a6300 .....ONLY SanDisk Extreme Pro were not working at all. I would always get "Memory Card locked" althoug it was definately not locked.....and i had not 1 but three different SanDisk-Card...............sure this is very rare as i was not able to find anyone online who experienced the same issue as consistently as i did.
This is great to know. Its the same with audio equipment. You don't need new speakers since those things hasn't changed since the 80s. The receiver is where the technology is.
Totally agree about old gear. I know than Broncolor and Profoto are top of the top in terms of quality and understand their high prices. On the other hand, I still use a Balcar Jet 1600 w.s with some light modifiers. Typical "savoir-faire français" with nice results.
Couldn't agree more! My first off camera flash changed my world when it came to "interesting lighting", so much more so than any single lens/body. Lighting should really be a priority when learning photography in the first place.
Right on point! I'm still using Elinchrom EL 250, EL 500 and EL 1000 monoblocs from the late 80's. That's all the rental house had for hire back then. I bought accessories for them that the rental house didn't have over the years. It was a no-brainer to buy Elinchrom when choosing to buy my own. I already had all the shit for them. Already had a blimped Onan 20Kw generator/inverter for location work in my truck from back in my filmmaking days. Not gonna say they're the best, I just know them best from years of renting until buying my own. Near four decades of experience. Got four of each. Like you said, light is light. Profoto? BA! HA! HA! HA! I'll take a road trip instead! The best accessories I've bought were the entire collection of Mola-light dishes and two that I put together from a pair of gigantic freeway fixtures that were knocked over by a lorry outside Los Angeles. Stole those fuckers at first sight! Got each on a Matthews roller stand. Lenses are indeed everything. I have two or three exact copies of my favored lenses. Gotta have spares. Same goes for camera bodies. That goes for my identical-spec'd computers. Thanks for putting a perfect video on a subject so missed out on, even by professionals. Kudos!
The difference between what you buy for business and I’d buy for hobby is my horizon for use is far broader yet less critical. Your beautiful resolving lens may not be my choice for photographing a Grizzly at 100 meters. My hobby includes shooting macro, studio, landscape, portrait, wildlife, street and Astro. The breadth of tools prohibits investing beyond L series glass… however much l’d like to. Thank you for another enjoyable diversion.
Very instructive video for todays gearcentric community. Camera body + lens + light should be considered as a "system" and changing into a better lens+light combination will make a huge difference on photographs than changing the camera body only. As a photo enthusiast shooting mainly landscapes, my personal key gear is (apart from glass): --> Tripod and tripod head --> Polarizer filter --> ND-filters Also, rather than having expensive gear sitting in the closet; allocating more of your resources (time&money) into travelling would definitely bring better and more interesting photographs. (for lanscape & wild life photography) It should also be noted that camera-body (specifically the auto-focus systems) can make a difference for fast moving subjects (ex: spots & action photography, wild life, birds in flight). Nevertheless, you can still use 10 year old second hand body (with APS-C sensor) and a decent ~400mm f5.6 tele-photo lens (rather than spending most of your budget on a newer body) as an economical way to get into action photography.
Re travel, I was thinking about this recently. Personally a huge fan of travel. But with the interconnectedness of the world now, me going to get a shot of a cool animal in a cool landscape doesn't really bring extra value to anyone, because anyone who's already there can do that too and share it with/sell it to the world instantly. Made me wonder if there's hidden value in developing local expertise. Just piggybacking off your thoughts with mine.
First megaimportant tool I bought was a solid tripod for my studio: extremely heavy, but stable as a rock, no vibrations that come through even at very long exposure times: Plaubel from the 70's, 2m high 2 arms , arond 60kgs weight and carries all types of cameras. I got it from a resigned colleague for € 100,- , just had to pick it up and reassemble it at home. Refurbished it totally, put two new Linhof and Arcaswiss heads on it, here we go.
I would suggest to amateurs not to hurry and go by too much gear and use one light to start and do the best out of it and then slowly add. I saw amateurs getting a ton of lights and the result was really bad
So I have a Sony 24 prime 1.4, A Sony 24-70 GMii and a 70-200gmii. I use the Sony A7iii for photos, and I feel I need the A1 version 2 when it comes out. Maybe if I learned how to use manual focus, I wouldnt think I need the best of the best. What I see with my photos as a newer hobbiest with 30 years of hobby experience, I continually miss shots. Especially action shots. I suck at manual focus, and the person never is in the right spot or pose, and I feel I need a more FPS with high pixels to crop. I bought the sony A7iii for video, I wanted to do youtube and that was the best at the time for it, so being I invested in somy G Master lenses. I really cant go to a older model of camera for these lenses.
I make a very comfortable living shooting special portraits and I use a D700 and an 85mm Nikon f1.8 AF-D lens. I tried a Zeiss for $1000 and I could not see the difference. Peter Coulson uses a $5000 75mm Leica M Summicron on a Leica S 24MP body. He is booked out for months.
@@TinHouseStudioUK is there something similar to it? like a Mola soft light? , what could I search in google to find something similar? Thanks for your help!
Oh, how I love obsessing with gear! Sometimes I fear I am more a collector then a photographer… But I was able to restrict my GAS somewhat. I started out with an Olympus E-M10 about 8 years ago. My kit lens was awful. I heard the good advice soon and started adding lenses, first the really good Oly premium primes, 25mm, 45mm… then later the fantastic Oly 40-150mm f/2.8 pro zoom. Wow, that was a revelation! Added the E-M5 mk3 body with the grip for better balance and the 12-14mm f/2.8, then the 7-14mm f/2.8 to complete the holy trinity of Oly pro zooms… Yeah, lenses all the way! Recently I bought a used OM System OM-1 body. My first pro body! Great learning experience and a fantastic piece of kit with the right glass… Along came the 75mm f/1.8 and the 17mm f/1.8, the 20mm f/1.4 pro and the 45mm f/1.2 pro and finally the most fantastic 12-100mm f/4 pro… I needed a bigger bag too 😂 But now the 12-100 together with the 20 fit in the small bag I started with and cover most of my normal shooting needs. I would add to your advice: don’t switch systems, get all the greatest lenses for the system you have! I am so happy with MFT because the lenses are great and comparatively affordable. I love shooting people and my fast glass gives me all the shallow depth of field I long for. Did I mention how small and light the lenses are compared to full frame? These days I added my first full frame body, an Olympus OM-1 SLR from the 70ies with the Zuiko 50mm f/1.4, because I want to shoot that manual film glory for practice to improve my skills and maybe later some artistic reasons. There I go down the rabbit hole. I might need more vintage lenses and maybe, maybe a Yashica to try medium format film… but this is reserved for later, if I really catch fire with the film manual shooting ways. And it probably does not mean that I will drop shooting digital at all. LOL, I am just an enthusiast but man, I am addicted…
Yes when I was a camera sales person I always told the my favourite clients, for others my job was to convince them the body they bought last year was crap and this years model was the best thing since slice bread. ( True story only the names of the innocent have been changed )
I think amateurs rotate through bodies because their photos aren’t great in the beginning. So they look for a magic solution. The answer isn’t a new camera body it’s learning. Whether it’s RUclips, taking a photography course or reading a book (e.g. Understanding Exposure), they won’t progress until they practice what they are learning by taking lots of photos. I went through this stage myself, thinking I’d outgrown my camera. But it wasn’t true then, and it isn’t true now. Most people will never outgrow their equipment. Once I learned to invest in quality glass the images I produced were far better than anything I’d obtained by switching bodies. I’m now comfortable on old equipment, not needing to jump ever couple years between bodies or even systems. However there are some “professional” RUclipsrs out there I see pushing people to jump systems particularly to Fuji and Leica (a few years ago everyone was jumping to Sony). It’s a big investment for people to switch especially if they’ve invested in lenses and I find their “gear” videos are just encouraging the problem. Thanks for telling us what real photographers invest in!
Thanks for this Marina, very good advice and so true. Am new to the photography world and was looking for the magic solution. Glad I did not buy a new camera (I have an EOS R) will invest in light modifiers and lenses instead.
"We'll use a camera til it catches fire" - YES! Oh man I laughed out loud at this - yes, that is so true! The differences between most bodies are so MINOR that it just doesn't matter once you put the image through processing / Photoshop. Especially compositing.
My Zeiss Batis 85 1.8 was a stellar prime investment. I have some great glass in my arsenal. The Batis is just loads sharper on my a7iii. Definitely worth the extra scratch. I stray from Gmasters(great, but overpriced) when there are just as great options for the fraction.
I wish I had seen this before I bought my Tether tools USB-C to USB-C cable. Oddly, it does work on my PC, but when it comes to my laptop it doesn't work at all. It is a real pain.
I don’t shoot people any more, but when I did, the Sigma 85 1.4 always got me enquiries for more work. As for macro, I’ll wager the 90 tse with/out extensions gives the Zeiss a run for its money.
@@josephasghar I love it for portraits. It has a superb creaminess to it. It's definitely a great lens for the price. But it's always good to know what else is out there… I may not always want the creamy look and the RF 85 1.2 is not the only game in town after all (I shoot with RF lenses mostly but use EF with an adapter too).
I skimped on a lens the other day, lol. Had a job where I'd need a really wide lens for a few shots. Rental is a hassle in my area, so I just bought the cheap Canon 16mm. It's good enough for the rare occasions I need it. My regular glass is top notch of course ;-)
Thank you so much / with respect to cables - buying a tether tool cable is always making a deep hole in the pocket and they aren’t even reliable they snap left and right. Need to find how to get my hands on Area 51 now
I never used a tether cable. As for the lens. I can't afford a expensive one. I need to get booked for 20 shoots to afford a expensive one. But it's a bit of the story of the chicken and the egg on that.. right now I got a body and a 50mm, it will have to do till I get more bookings. As for the lights I use Godox light with Godox modifiers. Best thing my money allows me to buy.
ive run in to a bit of a thing with Zeiss glass that turned me off, and no one could tell me if this was normal. It was a 16-35/4 that i bought to do real estate with, but i found that it put an ugly orange hue to everything on my A7R IV, and no one could tell me why i was getting that, so i wound up selling it. I wound up with a Sigma 14-24/2.8 i was happy with instead. (I've actually been very happy with Sigma ART glass, and in some cases prefer it to Sony) Also i love my D810 and cant get rid of it. Theres something about a DSLR experience that mirrorless just doesn't have.
I will not skimp on camera batteries. As a Nikon shooter I only use Nikon batteries. I only use SanDisk SD memory cards. Nikon, Sony, or Delkin XQD cards.
As an amateur I skimped out on a tripod. Bought one of the cheapest and lightest ones out there. It works! But it's shaky as hell. Having better glass now is making me think about buying a sturdier one since the total value on that tripod is more dan doubled.
I still haven't fully invested in the dream lens collection as I needed to upgrade the body. I agree about investing in lenses is more important, but I had reached the point in my niche where my continuous shots couldn't keep up with what shots I needed. I've still got a 15 year old camera, but an upgraded body has increases my ability to capture the shots I want more confidently. Love the videos mate 😄👌
Personally, I think getting into mirrorless is the way to go if you want a high fps. It wasn't so long ago you had to get the higher end ones for high fps, but now even the low end of one's have high fps. It is so much easier to catch a moment that was darn near impossible with dslrs or slrs. I would also say better glass is getting more important as sensors become even higher resolution.
I have invested in a cleaning cloth! If you do macro photography or product photography, you will find that EVERYTHING is filled with dust and dirt! If you don't want to sit and remove spots on LR and PS day in and day out, you need to learn how to clean! And a good piece of cloth (micro fiber) is your best friend!
I shoot live music with a Nikon D3S, and seems like every show I shoot the other photographers have got a new camera, asking me if I’m not upgrading soon. Well that old Nikon can focus in almost complete darkness, and will produce excellent shots at iso 12800 if exposed properly. I can even pull that up a full stop in post if necessary. No reason to spend two grand or more on a mirrorless. My money is in the glass and editing tools (iPad pro/Mac mini M2). Got a D810 for studio/slower work, beautiful 36mp files. No need to upgrade that either. Lights, modifiers and glass, and boom stands to make my life easier.
When I go birding, I can tell the pro's apart from the pro-sumers based on their gear choices. I frequently see an R5 body ($3700 USD) rocking a Sigma 150-600mm ($989) because they spent so much money on their camera body, they have no money left for good telephoto glass. Meanwhile, I will regularly see a pro still using an old Canon 7D (14 year old body, $250 USD on eBay) with a Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II ($12,999 USD) lens + a 1.4x extender ($449 USD) because what matters more than anything is the glass. They know what's up! I have befriended some of these pro folks with their "crappy camera bodies" but amazing glass and you better believe me when I say it. The photos they get with their prime glass is next level amazing. They have literally no shortage of jaw dropping stunners in their collection of shots. tldr; preach the glass advice! Technique, persistence, and glass will churn out keepers!
I just bought a 7D about five years since I sold my original one. I am amazed at what it can do - if you don’t blow any highlights. I caught the upgrade bug in that five years and that was semi successful, but I consigned the 7D to history because I didn’t get great results from it back then. It turns out knowledge and experience actually make a difference and blaming the old equipment in our rush to buy “new stuff” is and was a mistake!
I spend my money on two things. 1 lenses, specifically prime lenses. 2 lighting, weather it is a speed light or studio strobe you have to have good lighting.
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I agree with majority of what you've said, I'm still excited to buy a pricey glass for my ancient Canon, but a lot of what you just said only applies to studio photography. When you're out on a rough evening hike through the mountains, and take a super sharp picture with a handheld 600mm, with ridiculously high ISO, but barely any grain, and the whole setup weighs less than a DSLR body, you start to appreciate how far the camera bodies have improved over the last decade. All the stabilisation systems, dual ISOs, new sensors and all that jazz, doesn't matter when it's on a tripod with lights around, but that's only one scenario out of the huge variety of types of photography.
Exactly my thoughts. Thanks for bringing this to attention.
My thoughts as well. I think it's a mix of both, the changes from model to model are indeed not as big as they're being advertised. But over the years, they can still make a huge difference. When I was new to photography, I was able to take decent pictures with my 2019 camera that my friend with his 2012 camera wouldn't even try. ISO performance has evolved so much in recent years, along with image stabilization and autofocus, that it really does make a difference when you're shooting in difficult lighting situations.
@@holdfast5332 Sorry I don't quite understand how I missed the point. I clearly stated that what he mentioned applies mainly to studio photography, where you have super controlled conditions with lights, stands, reflectors, etc.
There is a time and place for every type of equipment, also for that drone you've mentioned. In the scenario I've described there is a big chance I couldn't safely or legally use a drone (for example: national park, airport proximity, wild animals, etc) and even if I could, it's not going to replace the look, ease of use and speed of 600mm lens. Even if that mountain goat decided to wait 10min for me to set up the drone, it would most likely run away when I would fly the drone anywhere close to it.
I do use drones, gopros, new fancy cameras, old cameras with vintage manual lenses, and each one of them has a valid use in different scenarios and final look, that often you cannot replicate with any other gear.
Thanks for this. I have a teenage daughter who is getting into photography and, like most people her age, she easily falls for the marketing hype regarding new camera bodies. I always try to explain to her that you spend most of your money on glass, not the body. Better to have a pro lens on a consumer body vs. the other way around. But why would she listen to me? - I'm just her father that has been taking pictures for 20 years. What do I know? Better it comes from an actual pro. I'll share this video with her ASAP.
Yearp! The most important part of a camera is the lens and not the body.
Let your daughter buy the camera so she can make her own mistake, this is how we evolved.
When it comes to camera gear marketing hype affects any age. GAS is real, and most of us on these pages have had it at some point.
Wait a second... I just typed this same message. I'm so glad I'm not the only one
We ALL learn the hard way 🤣
It really does boil down to how good the photographer is. We always seem to get into conversations about gear and it all goes back to the person behind the camera. I still go back to my basic fundamentals and they never fail. Different tools for different reasons. Thanks for sharing!
Agree on lenses ... but also think most serious amateur photographer understand their importance and grave the good ones (and spend serious money on them). Not sure about lighting and lighting modifiers. Clearly, if you do portraits this may be important, but a lot of amateur photographers focus on landscapes and street
If you're doing studio work or working in some other controlled seeing the camera really doesn't matter much. Get into concert photography and the difference between that 10 year old camera and the low light sensitivity of my a7iv is actually very substantial. Right tool for the right job imo 🙃 but if you don't know why you need that camera upgrade it's probably a waste
I started my photography journey with the random Nikon DSLR I found in the closet. I bought a "better than kit lens" and went shooting. Every upgrade in equipment I've done has been informed by my pictures. Better focus for shooting moving birds; more keepers. More megapixels; I can crop further and get a decent picture. Better strap; don't drop the camera.
I’ve been a pro in Oz for over 30 years,and this is truly the best advice for anyone.Great channel.
Great advice.
Lens is everything, just upgraded my canon 70-200 f2.8 I purchased 13 years ago second hand with the RF version, that old lens has made who knows how much for me over the years, was a no brainer to upgrade to the RF version now I’m looking to go full RF mount.
Have never understood the whole upgrade your camera body every year and those that seem to do it are the ones that don’t need the performance advantages of yearly new tech, they would be better of honing their craft.
There’s a few upgrades that improved my imagery and workflow. Upgrading to premium glass and a flash with fast recycle time has been the biggest impact. One thing that sucks at a event or shoot is waiting for the flash to recycle. If I want the image to look grungy, I can always add something in front of the lens.
During my years as an assistant, I’ve noticed many professional photographers use a standard kit. For example, one fine art photographer uses of Canon 430 as his main flash, but he uses Canon L glass . Another photographer only uses a plastic 50mm and 100mm 1.8 as her main lens. So it definitely depends on our preference and workflow.
I also believe a particular technique used by a photographer highlights their creative ability. This can include lighting, storytelling, presentation, and composition which gives an overall feel to their imagery.
The one thing we should never skimp on is confidence, research, and action.
Ive only just begun photographing and I use old Nikon bodys and they are awesome
SO nice to hear an upvote for Nikons these days!!! I grew up with that brilliant minimalist 60s advertising slogan: just a glorious B&W picture, and the slogan: "For the photographer who wants Nikon pictures!" So I have used many, still do, and love 'em. As the world has turned to Canons, Sonys, and Fujis... I can only say, Nikons still take a lovely photo....
Looking into a video camera at the moment as my EOS R has issues with video (focus breathing being the main issue - but learning to overcome with manual focus). But my best purchase and now something I won’t skimp on are definitely modifiers. After purchasing my first Broncolor modifier, I bought a second and now won’t buy anything else. I am looking at a second hand reflector dish but need to keep my “I want it” voice in check. Next best purchase was the 5DSR (looking to get a backup body in the near future) which has been an awesome camera to use along with the EOS R (such a workhorse of a body for a great price and at 30mpx, Canon doesn’t have anything else to replace it for photos).
Great video very informative as a professional photographer Los Angeles my go to light is a ring light and the rest of my lights I’ve had forever are Normans some of my heads I’ve had for the last 30 years plus and they still work like you said light is light!
Ha... I shoot with a 15 year old camera, the 5d mark II because I like the filmlike look. And lets face it, with the human eye being only able to see how many pixels... you can only go so far, unless you plan on blowing the print up to the size of a barn door.
I would affirm that it also has something to do with confidence. Those pros who use those 15 year bodies are confident it'll do what they want it to do.
The one go-to lens I have 24-70 f4, has a macro mode which is a throwback from the 90's.
I just upgraded a year ago from the 5d II after having it for more than 10 years. I loved the camera, but the R5 I bought completely blows it out of the water. That being said, I'll keep my R5 at least 10 or 15 years if it holds out. Bodies are more important than they used to be. IBIS that works with the in lens IS makes tripods darn near unnecessary. I know, let the derogatory comments start. Shutter speeds are amazing, so if you are taking action shots, it is easier to catch that moment. High ISO performance and dynamic range are better. This doesn't mean getting the best glass isn't important; in fact, it may be more important with the high-resolution sensors. I love my L glass and prefer it, although Sigma Art lenses are intriguing, and one or two may be in my future if/when they can make RF mount versions. The Canon RF15-35 f2.8 is outrageously good.
How do you film, to SD card in camera or is it via som sort of cable directly to a computer? Thank you.
I absolutely agree it's all about the lenses! I will add to that though software and computer kit and a wealth of knowledge using the software really helps, maybe because I am a designer and photographer I have a bias, but I don’t think I am alone in this as it’s predominantly photography these days.
On the post-production side of things, I have seen tremendous value in not skimping on a powerful computer and robust/diverse file backup solutions. Fortunately I have really only ever had one instance of a shoot getting corrupted, but backups saved the work and kept things organized so there was hardly a hiccup in my workflow
Backing up is so important. If a digital file doesn't exist on three devices (one of which is off-site), it is at risk. I use SyncToy because although it is dated and amateurish, it is simple and it works.
The other thing with backups is constant curation - backups take up time and space. Backing up junk or unnecessary duplicates wastes both of those which discourages prompt backing up. I have a workflow policy of only bringing forward the keepers. I only pull off the cards the things I want to keep - the junk gets erased when I format the card for next use. That gives me a short time to change my mind. I frequently have "For Trash" folders where I put files that have served their purpose and won't need to be retained after the project is finished. Again, that gives me a short time to change my mind but saves me having to go back and clean-up later because I never find time to do that.
Agreed. Not a pro. Done some work though. Met Joel Grimes and took an in person class of his. Nice guy. Said many similar things and we got to test and see them. Bought 1 highly rated lens and I could see that difference. So stunningly clear images. Same camera. New images. Thank you this your video should help a few, including me.
Hi Scott, question: Whenever you have your 100mm Zeiss Milvus on video, you always call it the "makro-planar" version, while also stating it's the newer version with the lens coating. Based on Zeiss' product catalog however (!), the Zeiss Makro-Planar T 100mm f/2 came out first, in 2010, and was then followed by the Zeiss Milvus 2/100M (special coating version), in 2015. Could you clarify which one it is we are seeing in your videos, or what the mix-up is here? Thanks!
Thanks for this, you made a thing click in my brain, I used to be a mechanic, and I drive an old beater… and it’s great because it could get destroyed and I wouldn’t care, and it’s a tool, nothing more. Wish cars were as modular as modern camera systems though.
Thanks for this non commercial, non biaised video! I fully agree and put the emphasis on the same philosophy on my channel. Old cameras are doing a great job up until now and to do so, depending on the result the photographer wants to achieve, they deserve high quality lenses.
What was that modifier you showed? The Soft Lighter? Never heard of it. Great size.
I agree, I spend my money on lenses but I cannot afford to upgrade often. I'm will get a 2nd hand D850, a Zeiss Milvus 15mmF2.8 and a 2nd hand 400mmF2.8 G VR to my Nikon system. I use D700 and D800E today. I stay in the F-system but in the future I will get a Fuji GFX 100S for landscape due to be able to crop to panorama without losing to much Mpix.
Subbed! looks like a no-nonsense channel on product photography. Hard to find such. Thanks!
Thanks for the sub!
Shoes, camera harnesses and file storage/backups.
Good shoes are something everyone deserves in life.
I see a similarity in amateurs obsessed with new camera bodies and pros obsessed with lenses and gear. Both seem to spend more time spending lots of money than shooting pictures. One of the most amazing photographers I know goes out to shoot every day with a cheap phone and comes back with gold. But I understand that investing in reliable gear is insurance against failure when you're being paid to deliver.
I have some more modern battery powered lights but my day to day mains powered units have been in service with me since the mid 90s. Still going strong, the only feature they lack that more modern ones have (that I would actually make use of) is the ability to change the power level from the camera position.
So funny you mentioned a mechanics car. My dad now 72 has been a mechanic since he was 15, has never had a “nice” car but he’s also never had one that’s broken down or had to be recalled for a new engine (I’m thinking of Range Rovers here) loving your videos man.
RIGHT ON. You are so correct. As long as there are enough mega pixels for the task, then all you need is good glass AND good light.
I can still get battery for my Nikon D3 and there are vids on how to repair old ones. The are firmware updates so modern high capacity
CF cards work. My Norman beauty dish still gives great light after 40 years. I have upgraded diffusers for regular reflectors and new backgrounds.
Leica M are still my favorite cameras, but now Nikon has mirrorless. APO Leica glass fits right on. Still have D700 D750 and D800 DSLR and pics are good as ever. Photoshop CC now has an Ai function in raw to make 4x the pixels. As long as Nikon does not learn to rent cameras, I am set. Do I like mirrorless? So I can use any glass so yes. But they AF stopped down which bothers me. Silent shutter keeps down vibration in addition to being quiet.
Computers need upgrades or they die. New M1 and new EIZO pro top line monitor is cats meow.
All said the is little reason to buy new cameras and the sales figures show it.
I bought a Tether Tools cable and it is unusable. It crashes the PC and the camera.
What is your personal opinion of the Canon EOS 5DS vs the new Canon EOS R5? Is it worth purchasing a used EOS 5DS over an EOS R5? Curious of your opinion from your experience with the EOS 5DS. Thanks
Which Mamiya Sekor is that? I have a 35/3.5 and 135/3.5 Mamiya Sekor lenses I haven’t utilised much
In my opinion the body is important but in different ways than the lens. I think some mentioned focus stacking, tracking, better sensor less noise, fps - all very important depending on what you are doing. I don’t think it’s all hype, features are added based on the needs of photographers that have always been there and technology is finally making some of these features possible. IBIS, and focus peaking are huge fairly recent improvements and IBIS can reduce the cost of glass as you don’t necessarily need to buy lenses with optical image stabilization which drives lens costs up. There are many settings that can be used on today’s cameras to help the photographer in ways a lens cannot, and these are getting better as they evolve and will only get better with the evolution in AI. Look at phone cameras and where they are compared to where they’ve been and it’s not all improvements in the lenses. Lenses are important, and are good investments as they do not depreciate nearly as quickly as the bodies, but disregarding technological improvement to the bodies as just hype I would say is incorrect. Most importantly though is the photographers understanding of the use of these features built into the bodies, their own creativity, and their understanding of all their gear as well as software that is used in post. It all works together and the tough part is deciding what we truly need, it’s different for everyone. As an amateur/hobbyist, I invest in good lenses, good bodies, and good software… I don’t buy all the stuff pro’s buy because I’m not professional, but I do want to be the best I can be and that means I do need good equipment including some of the features of the new bodies, high fps for wildlife photography, silent electronic shutter, good video capabilities, IBIS, focus peaking, EVF - are all game changers with the newer bodies for me… it’s not hype, it’s helped me a lot.
where we can buy that cables in EU?
im sick of tethertools... they dont work.... sometimes i lost 30min for then to start to work, and in the middle of the shoot they stop again :(
Yes! I’ve been shooting for a long time (and used to be an assistant to a number of excellent commercial photographers) and what you say is the truth. People so often chase all the wrong things and wonder why it doesn’t make their work any better.
Also, for people wanting good lighting gear, old strobes from the 80s and 90s really do represent a fantastic value. I paid the equivalent of about US $200 for my current Profoto kit and it’s all I need. Good modifiers can be staggeringly expensive, but it should also be said that you can get very close indeed by modifying cheaper modifiers or just building your own. I recently built my own Profoto ProBox equivalent, it’s working great, and cost me under $50 to make.
I absolutely love your no nonsense “techno sucked in” speak. I bet the camera marketers hate you. Let them, you’re pure and honest, not hyped.
A good bag, think tank best i have had up to now!
yes I have three think tank airports and they are all about 10 years old and going strong
Absolutely love my Think Tank bag. I had a Manfrotto one but the zipper blew out on it and it dropped my 85mm F1.4 out. Thankfully all the damage was easily repaired at home. The robust zippers on the Think Tank bags is everything I needed to see after that. I have also been enjoying my Shimoda bag for hiking. Waterproofing over the zippers is brilliant.
To be fair there were a lot of different films back in the 80s... but as very much an amateur I do agree with you about the lens... enjoyed listening to what you had to say.
Wow, I want every piece of gear you showed. The old stuff looks so cool 😄 Wish they made those today.
If there is a descriptor below "amateur" regarding photography (digital or film), that's me. And yet I found your video fascinating. Thanks.
You're the antithesis of a RUclips photographer. The only time most of them will tell you the general "Gear doesn't matter." Is as a pallette cleanser before trying to sell you more new shit. Thank you for doing the lord's work 🙌🏼
I wrote that before seeing the pinned comment about your course, though my own comment still stands 😅
I've been shooting since the 80s ( 35mm / 6x7 / 4x5 / 8x10 ) and I am surprised that you shoot with old Canons with limited dynamic range compared to something from the last 10 years. The newer sensors have much better dynamic range than the old ones. Looking at your portfolio the lighting looks a little harsh ( you've got top of the line Braun lighting gear ), and I'm sure some of that is from shooting with old Canon sensors.
I mostly agree. But some camera bodies will have nice advantages over others. For me, what seems to be the game changer is ergonomics. Weight + handling. Was using basic apsc Canon for long time, eventually switched to Sony A7II and even thought the pictures were nicer, I kinda hated it. Took a break from photography sold it. Recently got Fujifilm X-T30. Took me maybe 20min, to figure out all I need and process is so much smoother.
Tether tools cables are definitely a bit dodgy now, you're the second person I've heard mention Area 51 cables, will have to check them out.
I don't totally agree on the camera body comment, I think your possibly coming at it from a studio / product angle, forgetting that shooting moving subjects, especially at wide apertures, the newer bodies can make a Huge difference. 'Pro photographer' covers a wide range of disciplines, and I totally get that most won't need the 'new fancy tech' but it's definitely super useful in some areas,
if you know it will save you a decent amount of time, money or stress, then it's possibly worth the upgrade.
Not to say I haven't been totally guilty of buying some updates I didn't' need 🙈 but others have been a huge help.
Great points on the whole though 🙌
I'd love to know the correct name for the soft lighter dish.
I agree. With Canon transitioning to mirrorless cameras, I've found bargains on used EF lenses.
Can you make a video comparing the bowens sunlite to a covered beauty dish, the difference can be interesting I think?
As for the hazy light alternative I would say it can be done by putting together many square led lights but in this case I assume there would no signifficant difference. I think the hazy light is a softbox with no hotspot and a very even light, right?
Nope. Not the same thing at all, especially as regards the Broncolor Hazylght.
Thanks again for your Video! ......... Some items especially for Videography would be: Universal Batteries (NP-F &/or V-Mount).....you can adapt these to any camera and they will relief you of the major PITA of handling multiple batteries & chargers .....also bought a lot of them used......v-mounts for 50€ all day long because no one else would trust a used battery.....but you can buy 8 instead of 1.....of 6 v-mounts i bought for very cheap (one even for 20€+shipping ) only one had a defect (did discharge very fast.....yes the 20€one but was also listed as "untested" so i should've known better)......maybe they don'T have full capacity anymore but the should be at least at 70-80% from what i can tell (but i didn't measure anything
).......
Why do you use 1ds mark ii even lot of new versions has been launched ?
SD Cards - I don't really tether often so I use SD cards and I make sure to get some of the high end quality Sandisks as ive had 0 issues with them ever since using them
I always use SD cards. I need idiot proof big chunky things haha
yes but beware....ironically .... in my old sony a6300 .....ONLY SanDisk Extreme Pro were not working at all. I would always get "Memory Card locked" althoug it was definately not locked.....and i had not 1 but three different SanDisk-Card...............sure this is very rare as i was not able to find anyone online who experienced the same issue as consistently as i did.
This is great to know. Its the same with audio equipment. You don't need new speakers since those things hasn't changed since the 80s. The receiver is where the technology is.
Thx for the video, is there a link for those cables?
Totally agree about old gear. I know than Broncolor and Profoto are top of the top in terms of quality and understand their high prices. On the other hand, I still use a Balcar Jet 1600 w.s with some light modifiers. Typical "savoir-faire français" with nice results.
Couldn't agree more! My first off camera flash changed my world when it came to "interesting lighting", so much more so than any single lens/body. Lighting should really be a priority when learning photography in the first place.
Right on point!
I'm still using Elinchrom EL 250, EL 500 and EL 1000 monoblocs from the late 80's. That's all the rental house had for hire back then. I bought accessories for them that the rental house didn't have over the years. It was a no-brainer to buy Elinchrom when choosing to buy my own. I already had all the shit for them.
Already had a blimped Onan 20Kw generator/inverter for location work in my truck from back in my filmmaking days.
Not gonna say they're the best, I just know them best from years of renting until buying my own. Near four decades of experience. Got four of each. Like you said, light is light. Profoto? BA! HA! HA! HA! I'll take a road trip instead!
The best accessories I've bought were the entire collection of Mola-light dishes and two that I put together from a pair of gigantic freeway fixtures that were knocked over by a lorry outside Los Angeles. Stole those fuckers at first sight! Got each on a Matthews roller stand.
Lenses are indeed everything. I have two or three exact copies of my favored lenses. Gotta have spares. Same goes for camera bodies. That goes for my identical-spec'd computers.
Thanks for putting a perfect video on a subject so missed out on, even by professionals. Kudos!
I love the old Elinchrom. Proper buttons and sliders. None of this crappy plastic housing and bubble wrap button stuff you get nowadays.
I'd love to hear you speak about color calibration and Eizo monitors.
The difference between what you buy for business and I’d buy for hobby is my horizon for use is far broader yet less critical. Your beautiful resolving lens may not be my choice for photographing a Grizzly at 100 meters.
My hobby includes shooting macro, studio, landscape, portrait, wildlife, street and Astro.
The breadth of tools prohibits investing beyond L series glass… however much l’d like to.
Thank you for another enjoyable diversion.
I have gone the lenses are everything route, got some good lenses still use a Sony A7ii
Very instructive video for todays gearcentric community. Camera body + lens + light should be considered as a "system" and changing into a better lens+light combination will make a huge difference on photographs than changing the camera body only. As a photo enthusiast shooting mainly landscapes, my personal key gear is (apart from glass):
--> Tripod and tripod head
--> Polarizer filter
--> ND-filters
Also, rather than having expensive gear sitting in the closet; allocating more of your resources (time&money) into travelling would definitely bring better and more interesting photographs. (for lanscape & wild life photography)
It should also be noted that camera-body (specifically the auto-focus systems) can make a difference for fast moving subjects (ex: spots & action photography, wild life, birds in flight). Nevertheless, you can still use 10 year old second hand body (with APS-C sensor) and a decent ~400mm f5.6 tele-photo lens (rather than spending most of your budget on a newer body) as an economical way to get into action photography.
Re travel, I was thinking about this recently. Personally a huge fan of travel. But with the interconnectedness of the world now, me going to get a shot of a cool animal in a cool landscape doesn't really bring extra value to anyone, because anyone who's already there can do that too and share it with/sell it to the world instantly.
Made me wonder if there's hidden value in developing local expertise. Just piggybacking off your thoughts with mine.
First megaimportant tool I bought was a solid tripod for my studio: extremely heavy, but stable as a rock, no vibrations that come through even at very long exposure times: Plaubel from the 70's, 2m high 2 arms , arond 60kgs weight and carries all types of cameras. I got it from a resigned colleague for € 100,- , just had to pick it up and reassemble it at home. Refurbished it totally, put two new Linhof and Arcaswiss heads on it, here we go.
What are the cables for? ☺️
I would suggest to amateurs not to hurry and go by too much gear and use one light to start and do the best out of it and then slowly add. I saw amateurs getting a ton of lights and the result was really bad
So I have a Sony 24 prime 1.4, A Sony 24-70 GMii and a 70-200gmii. I use the Sony A7iii for photos, and I feel I need the A1 version 2 when it comes out. Maybe if I learned how to use manual focus, I wouldnt think I need the best of the best.
What I see with my photos as a newer hobbiest with 30 years of hobby experience, I continually miss shots. Especially action shots. I suck at manual focus, and the person never is in the right spot or pose, and I feel I need a more FPS with high pixels to crop. I bought the sony A7iii for video, I wanted to do youtube and that was the best at the time for it, so being I invested in somy G Master lenses. I really cant go to a older model of camera for these lenses.
I make a very comfortable living shooting special portraits and I use a D700 and an 85mm Nikon f1.8 AF-D lens. I tried a Zeiss for $1000 and I could not see the difference. Peter Coulson uses a $5000 75mm Leica M Summicron on a Leica S 24MP body. He is booked out for months.
How do you find that soft lighter reflector? I have been looking for something like that for ages!
I love it. One of my faves for sure and looks like nothing else
@@TinHouseStudioUK is there something similar to it? like a Mola soft light? , what could I search in google to find something similar? Thanks for your help!
@@simonepasley9608 looks like you're asking him about his "special ingredients" ;)
Oh, how I love obsessing with gear! Sometimes I fear I am more a collector then a photographer… But I was able to restrict my GAS somewhat. I started out with an Olympus E-M10 about 8 years ago. My kit lens was awful. I heard the good advice soon and started adding lenses, first the really good Oly premium primes, 25mm, 45mm… then later the fantastic Oly 40-150mm f/2.8 pro zoom. Wow, that was a revelation! Added the E-M5 mk3 body with the grip for better balance and the 12-14mm f/2.8, then the 7-14mm f/2.8 to complete the holy trinity of Oly pro zooms… Yeah, lenses all the way! Recently I bought a used OM System OM-1 body. My first pro body! Great learning experience and a fantastic piece of kit with the right glass… Along came the 75mm f/1.8 and the 17mm f/1.8, the 20mm f/1.4 pro and the 45mm f/1.2 pro and finally the most fantastic 12-100mm f/4 pro… I needed a bigger bag too 😂 But now the 12-100 together with the 20 fit in the small bag I started with and cover most of my normal shooting needs.
I would add to your advice: don’t switch systems, get all the greatest lenses for the system you have! I am so happy with MFT because the lenses are great and comparatively affordable. I love shooting people and my fast glass gives me all the shallow depth of field I long for. Did I mention how small and light the lenses are compared to full frame?
These days I added my first full frame body, an Olympus OM-1 SLR from the 70ies with the Zuiko 50mm f/1.4, because I want to shoot that manual film glory for practice to improve my skills and maybe later some artistic reasons. There I go down the rabbit hole. I might need more vintage lenses and maybe, maybe a Yashica to try medium format film… but this is reserved for later, if I really catch fire with the film manual shooting ways. And it probably does not mean that I will drop shooting digital at all.
LOL, I am just an enthusiast but man, I am addicted…
After I got the Zeiss Milvus lenses. I actually started getting older cameras on eBay to try them with film. So this checks out.
Getting my first quality lens was an eye-opener. It was like the sensor had doubled its megapixels! I couldn't bear to use the kit lenses after that.
I really need to order some Tether cables. I tried using the wireless tethering with the Sony A7IV but it would bottleneck pretty quickly.
Yes when I was a camera sales person I always told the my favourite clients, for others my job was to convince them the body they bought last year was crap and this years model was the best thing since slice bread. ( True story only the names of the innocent have been changed )
Quality content.
I'm not a professional photographer, but this is sound content for those who are, or strive to be.
link to that modifier?
They don’t make them anymore
I think amateurs rotate through bodies because their photos aren’t great in the beginning. So they look for a magic solution. The answer isn’t a new camera body it’s learning. Whether it’s RUclips, taking a photography course or reading a book (e.g. Understanding Exposure), they won’t progress until they practice what they are learning by taking lots of photos. I went through this stage myself, thinking I’d outgrown my camera. But it wasn’t true then, and it isn’t true now. Most people will never outgrow their equipment. Once I learned to invest in quality glass the images I produced were far better than anything I’d obtained by switching bodies. I’m now comfortable on old equipment, not needing to jump ever couple years between bodies or even systems. However there are some “professional” RUclipsrs out there I see pushing people to jump systems particularly to Fuji and Leica (a few years ago everyone was jumping to Sony). It’s a big investment for people to switch especially if they’ve invested in lenses and I find their “gear” videos are just encouraging the problem. Thanks for telling us what real photographers invest in!
Thanks for this Marina, very good advice and so true. Am new to the photography world and was looking for the magic solution. Glad I did not buy a new camera (I have an EOS R) will invest in light modifiers and lenses instead.
"We'll use a camera til it catches fire" - YES! Oh man I laughed out loud at this - yes, that is so true! The differences between most bodies are so MINOR that it just doesn't matter once you put the image through processing / Photoshop. Especially compositing.
Yes, the adapters are important❤
Dealing with various personalities also priceless.
My Zeiss Batis 85 1.8 was a stellar prime investment. I have some great glass in my arsenal. The Batis is just loads sharper on my a7iii. Definitely worth the extra scratch. I stray from Gmasters(great, but overpriced) when there are just as great options for the fraction.
It would be great if you would list the items you’re talking about below. Thx
Light modifiers: reflectors, mobile 'clouds'; & stands. Even the self-moving voice-activated type!
I wish I had seen this before I bought my Tether tools USB-C to USB-C cable. Oddly, it does work on my PC, but when it comes to my laptop it doesn't work at all. It is a real pain.
I don’t shoot people any more, but when I did, the Sigma 85 1.4 always got me enquiries for more work. As for macro, I’ll wager the 90 tse with/out extensions gives the Zeiss a run for its money.
What camera brand do you shoot with? My current favourite lens is the Canon EF 85 1.8. but your recommendation sounds intriguing!
@@corinneportmann326 this was canon ef gear. I’m sure the 85/1.8 is plenty good.
@@josephasghar I love it for portraits. It has a superb creaminess to it. It's definitely a great lens for the price. But it's always good to know what else is out there… I may not always want the creamy look and the RF 85 1.2 is not the only game in town after all (I shoot with RF lenses mostly but use EF with an adapter too).
Beginners think cameras make a difference. Amateurs think lenses make a difference. Pros know that lighting is what actually makes a difference.
@@JeffreyHauser and an artist knows that it's not a question of either/or.
I skimped on a lens the other day, lol. Had a job where I'd need a really wide lens for a few shots. Rental is a hassle in my area, so I just bought the cheap Canon 16mm. It's good enough for the rare occasions I need it. My regular glass is top notch of course ;-)
Thank you so much / with respect to cables - buying a tether tool cable is always making a deep hole in the pocket and they aren’t even reliable they snap left and right. Need to find how to get my hands on Area 51 now
I never used a tether cable. As for the lens. I can't afford a expensive one. I need to get booked for 20 shoots to afford a expensive one. But it's a bit of the story of the chicken and the egg on that.. right now I got a body and a 50mm, it will have to do till I get more bookings.
As for the lights I use Godox light with Godox modifiers. Best thing my money allows me to buy.
Oooooooo that lens is gorgeous at the beginning
ive run in to a bit of a thing with Zeiss glass that turned me off, and no one could tell me if this was normal. It was a 16-35/4 that i bought to do real estate with, but i found that it put an ugly orange hue to everything on my A7R IV, and no one could tell me why i was getting that, so i wound up selling it. I wound up with a Sigma 14-24/2.8 i was happy with instead. (I've actually been very happy with Sigma ART glass, and in some cases prefer it to Sony)
Also i love my D810 and cant get rid of it. Theres something about a DSLR experience that mirrorless just doesn't have.
Superb. Thank you!😊
I will not skimp on camera batteries. As a Nikon shooter I only use Nikon batteries. I only use SanDisk SD memory cards. Nikon, Sony, or Delkin XQD cards.
As an amateur I skimped out on a tripod. Bought one of the cheapest and lightest ones out there. It works! But it's shaky as hell. Having better glass now is making me think about buying a sturdier one since the total value on that tripod is more dan doubled.
Lenses and soft boxes indeed. Most of my $ sits in that area. I have some sweet glass for sure.
I still haven't fully invested in the dream lens collection as I needed to upgrade the body.
I agree about investing in lenses is more important, but I had reached the point in my niche where my continuous shots couldn't keep up with what shots I needed.
I've still got a 15 year old camera, but an upgraded body has increases my ability to capture the shots I want more confidently.
Love the videos mate 😄👌
Personally, I think getting into mirrorless is the way to go if you want a high fps. It wasn't so long ago you had to get the higher end ones for high fps, but now even the low end of one's have high fps. It is so much easier to catch a moment that was darn near impossible with dslrs or slrs. I would also say better glass is getting more important as sensors become even higher resolution.
I buy mirror-less bodies so I can attach more different lenses on them. Canon SLR's I can attach my Takumars to them.
No problems with mu USB-C TetherTools cable, used daily in my studio.
Canon FD had metal lens hoot.
Canon EF 400MM has built in lens hood.
I have invested in a cleaning cloth! If you do macro photography or product photography, you will find that EVERYTHING is filled with dust and dirt! If you don't want to sit and remove spots on LR and PS day in and day out, you need to learn how to clean! And a good piece of cloth (micro fiber) is your best friend!
Clearly aimed at advanced studio photographers, but interesting all the same. Thanks for posting.
I shoot live music with a Nikon D3S, and seems like every show I shoot the other photographers have got a new camera, asking me if I’m not upgrading soon. Well that old Nikon can focus in almost complete darkness, and will produce excellent shots at iso 12800 if exposed properly. I can even pull that up a full stop in post if necessary. No reason to spend two grand or more on a mirrorless. My money is in the glass and editing tools (iPad pro/Mac mini M2). Got a D810 for studio/slower work, beautiful 36mp files. No need to upgrade that either. Lights, modifiers and glass, and boom stands to make my life easier.
When I go birding, I can tell the pro's apart from the pro-sumers based on their gear choices. I frequently see an R5 body ($3700 USD) rocking a Sigma 150-600mm ($989) because they spent so much money on their camera body, they have no money left for good telephoto glass. Meanwhile, I will regularly see a pro still using an old Canon 7D (14 year old body, $250 USD on eBay) with a Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II ($12,999 USD) lens + a 1.4x extender ($449 USD) because what matters more than anything is the glass. They know what's up!
I have befriended some of these pro folks with their "crappy camera bodies" but amazing glass and you better believe me when I say it. The photos they get with their prime glass is next level amazing. They have literally no shortage of jaw dropping stunners in their collection of shots.
tldr; preach the glass advice! Technique, persistence, and glass will churn out keepers!
I just bought a 7D about five years since I sold my original one. I am amazed at what it can do - if you don’t blow any highlights. I caught the upgrade bug in that five years and that was semi successful, but I consigned the 7D to history because I didn’t get great results from it back then. It turns out knowledge and experience actually make a difference and blaming the old equipment in our rush to buy “new stuff” is and was a mistake!
I have the Sunlight, but do you think I can get a Super Soft 600 for the front of it that isn’t going to cost me $2000 😭
I spend my money on two things. 1 lenses, specifically prime lenses. 2 lighting, weather it is a speed light or studio strobe you have to have good lighting.