Thank you, your videos are great. So honest and true. I find them inspiring. Please keep them coming. After a nearly two year break from photography due to burnout, I’ve sold all my Nikon and Fujifilm gear and decided to find fun in learning new system and get Canon. I don’t plan to do it professionally anymore because that is what caused me to quit. I want to have fun again, and only take photographs for myself. I avoided getting the R5 because that is also quite a bit more expensive and I don’t need the megapixels really. I got the R6 Mk2 (Amazing camera)with the rf50mm 1.8 and I find it refreshing not thinking about what lens to use! Thanks again 😊 subscribed
Thanks, I really appreciate it! I will do ☺️ Honestly, at times I feel like doing the same….! I hope you have fun with your new camera system and find the joy in photography again - I’d be keen to know how that goes so keep me updated 👍🏻
My camera never held me back. My camera has abilities I don’t know how to use. I have five year old cameras I haven’t outgrown. I need a small and lightweight body and lenses. I enjoy older cameras. If they took good images five years ago they probably still take good images. I don’t need or want a full frame camera as the additional capabilities they provide I don’t need. The weakest link in this process is six inches behind the EVF. Mask On Nurse Marty (Ret)
I just bought a Canon R8. I wanted an R6mk2 but it’s not $1000 better than an R8 for me. I don’t think there is any camera on the market that offers the same performance and capabilities for the money.
Well done Rick - some solid advice there for the vast majority of hobbyist photographers. When I considered upgrading to the latest model I asked myself a simple question; will it solve a problem with the current model and it did - IBIS and stickier, more accurate auto focus. The manufacturers and tbh, a lot of your fellow RUclipsrs tend to try and suck us into thinking that we need the latest, the best and invariably the most expensive gear but on the flip side, I have to own own up to not feeling too proud when stood at the side of a rally stage with other photographers and I pull out my ‘budget’ Sony A6700 but some of your advice did resonate as the lens on it is the Sony 70-200 F2.8ii. Looking forward to seeing more of your work, which so far seems genuine and not just for the sake of views/subs even though I appreciate that the monetisation must be attractive.
Great video. I moved from Canon to Nikon when my old 5d mkii packed in. There were three reasons. 1. The 46mp Z7 would allow me to crop in with less loss of quality than the lower resolution of the equivalent Canon. 2. I love the way the Z7 feels in my hand. 3. I preferred the menu system of the Nikon. I find I am using my camera more than ever and have no intention of replacing it for a number of years.
Thanks, appreciate it. They are great reasons to switch systems, and menu systems is so important. Thankfully they’ve improved now, but when I moved to Sony the menu systems were absolutely horrendous which gave a pretty bad first impression. Not ideal. At the time though, they were just ahead of the game when it came to mirrorless, but it’s great for the consumer now that the others have caught up.
I’m retired and I have the means to afford a Nikon Z8. However, I also have a Nikon D 700 that was released in 2007, and a Nikon D800 that was released more than 10 years ago. I enjoy shooting with all of these cameras.
dont buy a cropped sensor camera, they are lying about mirrorless video cameras on night using photos your own iPhone can compete with apart lenses, het a FULL frame camera under $500, like a used Canon RP, this will blow away even what you see in this video, the liars are promoting cropped sensors to create an amateur out of you who will no doubt move up to a FULL FRAME and pay even more $$$
hey yall. im a beginner photographer, looking to make a blog/portfolio. i want to take portraits of people, landscape stills, and even some video. what's a good starting camera i could buy in the $200-$350 range?
When I look at a camera it has to be good in lowlight with good lowlight AF that's it,and I don't care about the brand or if it's an older camera. The amount of photogs I see in the pit using older Dslrs is normal, camera companies are pushing all these shiny new toys to the usual suspects. I will use my gear till it breaks down, the images that they produce are exactly the same as they were 8-10 years ago. Age doesn't stop them being professional level cameras, and remember the shiny new top of the range mirrorless camera you bought a couple of years ago has just diminished in price by a couple of thousand and counting.
Hi! I'm an equestrian content creator, I'd like to shoot high quality videos and clear ones. ( Budget is 500-1500 ) If it's below 1000 would be amazing! Shoting videos of me riding and jumping... What camera would you orefer?
Thanks for helping people clarifying their mind in improving photography It’s so time wasting when reaching for new gears. I have just been through that. Luckily I used similar methods in this video. Instead of buying the latest release, I bought a slightly older (still less than one year old) that would fix my main limitation with my current gear. Really to think thoughtfully of my use case I will try to sell some of the old gear that I don’t need, . Hopefully to compensate for the new purchase.
After years of Nikon I switched to Fuji to lighten the load + I liked the analogue style. from XT3 to XT5, missed the XT4 as I didn't like the rear screen and the camera was bigger, I don't shoot video. The IBIS is what I wanted, the 40mp was secondary but handy for cropping. It suits my purpose, I am not going to print up above A0, if there ever was a need I would borrow a GFX. I agree with what you are saying, too many people buy into the hype, as the old marketing saying goes, sell the sizzle and not the sausage. Another top tip, if you want to have a meal with friends, go to a restaurant, it saves spending £15000 on a new kitchen to impress them with.
from my experience at least down here no one is a certain kind of photographer hence why they update... i don't know anyone that is just a landscape photographer or a wedding photographer hence why they want the extra features.
Thanks for this!! Not being a pro, every camera over $600 can do more than I'll every use it for. Camera (like phones) innovation peaked a few years ago. Everything now is tiny incremental changes they add in to make the spec sheet look better trying to sell the next shiny thing even when it isn't objectively better than what you already have.
Great video thanks, Rick, you make alot of very sensible points which I'll definitely consider. Funnily enough, I have been thinking about buying a Fujifilm X-S20 mainly for street photography as my current Nikon D750 is quite heavy as well as being large and conspicuous. But maybe with a small lens it could be light enough.. My Nikon is also weather sealed which is another major reason for sticking with it!
Great stuff, Rick 👏🏻👏🏻 As I commented on a previous video more people “need” to follow this; as least think about it.I only recently bought my Nikon Z6ii because I was just limited by my previous camera. I would love the Z7ii or Z8 but I don’t do professional work, yet, so the Z6ii does more than I could ever need. Again, though, good explanation for folks and look forward to your next video.
That handheld shot is WILD! I would've immediately thought that was something on a tripod, with ND filter, and at least a couple seconds shutter speed. NICE! There is a saying, "you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince" and I found that to be my case where I acquired a lot of gear thinking THIS ONE will solve my unhappiness. But I just felt repeatedly disappointed (as in the case of choosing a Canon mirrorless system just because I came from a Canon DSLR system, not realizing that maybe brand loyalty/continuity was a bad rationale). There's another saying: "we accept the love we think we deserve" - for a while I settled with Canon mirrorless even though I was deeply unhappy with the form factor and physical user experience. Heh, am I still talking about cameras? 👀
There were a few of the same that aren’t quite as sharp, but just shows what they’re capable of!! No filters either I don’t think… Totally get that as a reason to persist with a system though
The thing I've taken away from nearly 40 years in photography, off and on, amateur, semi-pro and full-time pro is start with the lenses you want to use, then go from there. I'm just about to switch from from DSLR to mirrorless and as Nikon changed the mount I'm in the position where looking at everything again makes sense. For me though, Nikon offers the best lenses for my use case at the best price and it helps I can use my existing F mount collection with adapters whilst I'm switching over a period.
Hi Rick, thanks for your video. I like the way you explain things transparently. Me, as a hobby photographer, I am wondering which way to go, when investing in a new camera system. Your video helps me a lot. Thanks and all the best, Sven
I've been earning a pretty decent living as a landscape photographer for the last 5/6 years using a Lumix G6 from 2013 (A camera you can purchase used now for £80), for me good glass matters more than the body for the most part. I've just upgraded to an OM-1 so I can continue to use the great M4/3 lenses I've acquired over the years. After ten years of using the G6 I don't mind buying the latest and greatest flagships if the trend of me updating my body every ten years stands true. At the end of the day the gear only accounts for ~20% of what it takes to capture a great photograph. The rest is skill and experience
£80?! Crazy, you could make that back in a morning! What you’ve said about buying the best makes sense… ‘IF you keep it for 10 years’. There just seems to be this trend (probably fuelled in some part by RUclips) of people buying the newest cameras every year like they’re upgrading a phone. Actually, it rings true with phones now too, there’s just no need to get the latest one in the majority of cases. Those last two sentences are spot on 👍🏻
Ive been shooting with the fuji xt3 and i love it and the only thing that tempts me is ibis, but i dont like the swivel screen on the xt4 and the 40 megapixel files kind of put me off aswell, i hope the next version of the 16-55 has image stabilisation that i would buy 😊
I appreciate your professional reply. My first camera Minolta X-700 then changed to Canon 5D series. Now thought of upgrading to mirror less, have some ef lenses. Waiting for any updates in R5. Thought of managing my EF lenses with convertors.
I had a Nikon D3500, which was great, but upgraded to the Z7 for weather sealing and more megapixels. I have a habit of shooting the scene wider than necessary, then cropping in a lot so it seemed worthwhile to upgrade. I also like the auto bracket setting on the Z7 for real estate, which I couldnt do on my D3500. Great video, I always enjoy your content!
I delved into digital Photography around 2018 when I bought a Nikon D5600 with 2 x DX lenses which even in kit level have produced some good (I won't say great) results, then the Mirrorless systems in most brands ramps up and many have stopped making DSLR cameras which is disappointing because I still think the DSLR is a good system but it's when brands change lens mounts that makes me think...what's the point in continuing with what I have. So, I'm thinking of changing to Fujifilm or the Z lens range just so i can buy lenses in a current system rather than a now obsolete AF DX System. Now the Nikon still make the D7500 AF DX Camera but for how long and it's the same issue with Mounts whereas the Fujifilm's lenses you can use on all Models except the GFX. I admit I do like the flippy screen on the D5600 Nikon so a XT4 Fujifilm would give me that facility but it doesn't seem they need to change lens mounts anytime soon.
Yeah, that's a tough one. At some point, DSLRs will fail and then you're a bit stuck - I don't think using lens adapters is a good long term solution either so maybe a switch to mirrorless is in order. I don't think Lens mounts will change again for a looong time, so I guess it depends on which system you prefer.
Yeah Rick, good point you make and whilst it's working really well know, eventually it might all go to shit......as much as you get persuaded to go with one system or another, they are all good so it's even harder to choose for a novice, should i invest with FF or will CC's be adequate, will future CC cameras from Fuji for example be able to match the other big guns for performance such as low light photography etc. I'm liking the lightness of a CC System but what would i really be missing by not going FF?@@RickBebbington
As always an excellent video. Agree with you comments. I have bought second hand lots of times always bought from either Wex or MPB, both very reliable and great service.
I do photos buildings, landscape people, etc from the back of our motorcycle while riding upwards of 60 mph. What camera would be good for those photos? plus i do videos for youtube, so would like camera/video combo. currently using my Galaxy S21 Ultra.
It's a hobby for me so no need to have the latest gear. Mainly shoot landscapes and some low light stuff. I have a Nikon D200, D7200 and a Z5 which all make good photographs. The Z5 is great for low light since is has the IBIS in it, which makes the low light easy. Combine that with Lightroom Denoise and one can get great shots. Was just looking a the Z6-III but it's more than I need. My old D200 still captures great shots if I do my part. Thanks for a great video!
Hello Rick and thanks for this video. I am (usually) more of a hobbyist but from time to time I record lectures (my own or others) at my university. I started recording some of my lectures during the first year of the pandemic. Your video helps many of us fight against GAS; very useful to keep up the will power. You probably made the right estimation that most viewers of this video would own one, possibly two, system cameras, 3-4-5 lenses etc. Perhaps the camera some viewers have now may not be their first one and perhaps some have experience of more than one system/brand. However, what to do with the complete newbie? I think your video might not be as helpful for this latter group that stumbles upon it. Don't take this a criticism, it is difficult to find neutral and objective YT videos pitched towards this group. In my mind it is a bit like which comes first the chicken or the egg. Our interests and needs should be helping us guide system choices. But without experience how do we know what we want to take pictures of save for our experiences using a cell phone camera. Ideally a potential future hobbyist should come across 2-3 people who are hobbyists with focus on different genres and who have different systems and then pick their brains, get to borrow there cameras for a day....and then try to make an informed decision. As hobbyist and professional photographers we know other photographers amd have our own knowledge and experience to build upon...and yet we sometimes succumb to GAS or make decisions that 6 weeks/months down the road turn out to be "wrong" So how is the absolutely complete novice supposed to make decisions?
Hi Joe, thanks for that - I totally get where you are coming from. For a total newbie, I’d probably say just buy something and it doesn’t really matter what it is. Just something to get you into it whilst you learn what you like to shoot together with all the other elements of photography. Then as your needs change, and confidence builds, you’ll be better placed to make the right decisions when upgrading your kit. Set a sensible budget, consider second hand, and don’t overthink it. When I got my first camera (Canon 550D with kit lens) I just knew what I had to spend, that I wanted a dslr and I trusted the canon brand, that’s all that came into it. If any newbies read this, then I hope it helps. There’s little point in getting drawn into all of the technicalities if you are just starting out.
Right, but you cannot tailor make a camera the satisfies your needs only. I am shooting birds in flight and I am waiting for the next Nikon camera with stellar autofocus (can't afford the Z8). It will probably be great for video as well. And I am a person that shots max. 3 videos per year which I do on my phone.
Needs analysis, always good advice. The camera for me to buy in 2024 is none. I got 4 last year :-( GAS isn't just something we Americans put in our petrol tanks. I suppose one could consider an L-mount or micro four-thirds body as those _can_ be switched without re-purchasing lenses, theoretically.
Great, straight up, honest, rational, through, response Rick, to the question, What should I buy? Statistically, I'm an outlier when it comes to answering this question. The outlier part: I'm a one-handed southpaw. I'd like to shoot hand-held as much as possible. There is no camera made for someone in my position. You touched on what I think is an often overlooked element. How does it feel in your hands? Putting a smallrig cage on a Canon APS-C camera was a complete game changer for me. Then comes: What is/are my main interest(s)? Who can help guide my journey? Brand? Why? Minimum gear, training, software, travel? Even more specifically, How will I be able to use this gear? Great channel Rick, now that I can pickup and use a camera.
Thank you so much. I’m so glad you found a solution as that must have followed years of frustration. All those points you mention at the end are often considered after a camera has been bought, and I do understand why that is, but I think better purchasing decisions would absolutely be made if people flipped it around.
One of the first questions you should always ask is: who is my target audience. If the bulk of your images are for social media, you're in luck...you don't need to transition away from your smart phone and waste countless dollars on bodies and lenses. If you're thinking of going into business, then the pathway for equipment obviously changes significantly. But learn from the pros: as the amateurs chase technology and purchase equipment they don't really need, the pros hang on to their 'dated' DSLR's and continue to produce the great images that made them successful. Photography is one of those hobbies where people seem to be satisfied wasting thousands of dollars to realize what they don't need. As one pro told me, no matter what the camera brand, no matter what the technology and no matter what the style of camera that is owned, they are all equally capable of being pointed at bad compositions.
I love that you've got no one definitive answer - creatives are all different and will have different needs! I'm saving up for my first proper camera this year both for filming video and taking photos. I've recently developed a hand tremor though, and when you mentioned shooting handheld I was like, oh, crap, that might be an issue going forward! Any advice there?
I just purchased a entry level camera and am going back to the basics to built on my skills. I have nicer cameras but I'll work with the entry level camera and see how I can improve without the latest and the greatist. Every skill is dependent on solid basics.
Just moved from a Canon 6D mkii with heavy Sigma lenses to an Olympus OM1. Slightly fewer pixels and incredible IBIS, so I can now mainly shoot handheld reducing weight I'm lugging around which now I'm 70 matters if I want to carry on with my photography. Before I decided on the Olympus I was seriously considering getting a Canon R6 mk2 but I would still have needed new lenses and would have spent a lot more and had a lot more weight to lug around. So for me the key issue was weight, although some of the deals available around Black Friday did help clarify my decision. Thanks for another thoughtful video Rick.
Great video again dude and you're nailing it with giving really good advice. I commented on your other excellent video about not needing the latest and greatest which is something a lot of people needed to hear. Also, being an X-T4 owner myself, it put a smile on my face when it was the camera you recommended:). Before upgrading from my Canon M50 mk ii, i researched the hell out of what camera to get next. The X-T4 turned out to be the perfect choice and it's completely turned me into a hybrid shooter as well as helping me improve dramatically. I've also started to get paid work with it, so that combined with the sheer joy of using it creates a perfect balance between being a pleasure to use and a workhorse.
Thanks man!! It seems to be useful for people which is great 👍🏻 I'm a bit jealous... such a nice camera!! Currently very tempted to cash in on my X100V and make the switch to that plus the 23mm f2 which I thought was brilliant. Glad you are having some success with it 🙌🏻
@@RickBebbington I think that's a smart move if you do that and you won't be disappointed I reckon (even though I appreciate that the X100V must be a lovely camera). I love photographing and filming action in particular with the X-T4 and the last 4 videos on my channel have been short films involving that kind of genre. It's also nice to use for landscapes and people photography and speaking of landscapes, your images w/ the X-T2 and 100V are superb by the way!
Very helpful. Very genuine. Thank you sir. Wish you the best 🙂🙏🏻🇮🇳
Thank you, your videos are great. So honest and true. I find them inspiring. Please keep them coming.
After a nearly two year break from photography due to burnout, I’ve sold all my Nikon and Fujifilm gear and decided to find fun in learning new system and get Canon. I don’t plan to do it professionally anymore because that is what caused me to quit.
I want to have fun again, and only take photographs for myself.
I avoided getting the R5 because that is also quite a bit more expensive and I don’t need the megapixels really. I got the R6 Mk2 (Amazing camera)with the rf50mm 1.8 and I find it refreshing not thinking about what lens to use! Thanks again 😊 subscribed
Thanks, I really appreciate it! I will do ☺️
Honestly, at times I feel like doing the same….! I hope you have fun with your new camera system and find the joy in photography again - I’d be keen to know how that goes so keep me updated 👍🏻
@@RickBebbingtonthank you for your reply. I will keep you posted.
Very insightful video, I own a DSRL Sony a77. Currently looking for a mirrorless camera for vlogging on a budget. This has greatly helped
Sony a7iv with small rig base plate + 24-70mm f2.8 gm ii + Sony ecmm1 mic. 😊
My camera never held me back. My camera has abilities I don’t know how to use. I have five year old cameras I haven’t outgrown.
I need a small and lightweight body and lenses. I enjoy older cameras. If they took good images five years ago they probably still take good images. I don’t need or want a full frame camera as the additional capabilities they provide I don’t need. The weakest link in this process is six inches behind the EVF.
Mask On Nurse Marty (Ret)
I just bought a Canon R8. I wanted an R6mk2 but it’s not $1000 better than an R8 for me. I don’t think there is any camera on the market that offers the same performance and capabilities for the money.
I don’t know much about the current Canon lineup, but that sounds like a sensible choice 👍🏻
Well done Rick - some solid advice there for the vast majority of hobbyist photographers. When I considered upgrading to the latest model I asked myself a simple question; will it solve a problem with the current model and it did - IBIS and stickier, more accurate auto focus.
The manufacturers and tbh, a lot of your fellow RUclipsrs tend to try and suck us into thinking that we need the latest, the best and invariably the most expensive gear but on the flip side, I have to own own up to not feeling too proud when stood at the side of a rally stage with other photographers and I pull out my ‘budget’ Sony A6700 but some of your advice did resonate as the lens on it is the Sony 70-200 F2.8ii.
Looking forward to seeing more of your work, which so far seems genuine and not just for the sake of views/subs even though I appreciate that the monetisation must be attractive.
Great video. I moved from Canon to Nikon when my old 5d mkii packed in. There were three reasons. 1. The 46mp Z7 would allow me to crop in with less loss of quality than the lower resolution of the equivalent Canon. 2. I love the way the Z7 feels in my hand. 3. I preferred the menu system of the Nikon. I find I am using my camera more than ever and have no intention of replacing it for a number of years.
Thanks, appreciate it. They are great reasons to switch systems, and menu systems is so important. Thankfully they’ve improved now, but when I moved to Sony the menu systems were absolutely horrendous which gave a pretty bad first impression. Not ideal. At the time though, they were just ahead of the game when it came to mirrorless, but it’s great for the consumer now that the others have caught up.
I’m retired and I have the means to afford a Nikon Z8. However, I also have a Nikon D 700 that was released in 2007, and a Nikon D800 that was released more than 10 years ago. I enjoy shooting with all of these cameras.
dont buy a cropped sensor camera, they are lying about mirrorless video cameras on night using photos your own iPhone can compete with apart lenses, het a FULL frame camera under $500, like a used Canon RP, this will blow away even what you see in this video, the liars are promoting cropped sensors to create an amateur out of you who will no doubt move up to a FULL FRAME and pay even more $$$
hey yall. im a beginner photographer, looking to make a blog/portfolio. i want to take portraits of people, landscape stills, and even some video. what's a good starting camera i could buy in the $200-$350 range?
When I look at a camera it has to be good in lowlight with good lowlight AF that's it,and I don't care about the brand or if it's an older camera.
The amount of photogs I see in the pit using older Dslrs is normal, camera companies are pushing all these shiny new toys to the usual suspects.
I will use my gear till it breaks down, the images that they produce are exactly the same as they were 8-10 years ago.
Age doesn't stop them being professional level cameras, and remember the shiny new top of the range mirrorless camera you bought a couple of years ago has just diminished in price by a couple of thousand and counting.
If you're a beginner then the answer is simple you should buy used gear.
Do you have any recommendations?
Hi! I'm an equestrian content creator, I'd like to shoot high quality videos and clear ones. ( Budget is 500-1500 )
If it's below 1000 would be amazing! Shoting videos of me riding and jumping... What camera would you orefer?
NONE!
Thanks for helping people clarifying their mind in improving photography
It’s so time wasting when reaching for new gears. I have just been through that.
Luckily I used similar methods in this video. Instead of buying the latest release, I bought a slightly older (still less than one year old) that would fix my main limitation with my current gear. Really to think thoughtfully of my use case
I will try to sell some of the old gear that I don’t need,
. Hopefully to compensate for the new purchase.
After years of Nikon I switched to Fuji to lighten the load + I liked the analogue style. from XT3 to XT5, missed the XT4 as I didn't like the rear screen and the camera was bigger, I don't shoot video. The IBIS is what I wanted, the 40mp was secondary but handy for cropping. It suits my purpose, I am not going to print up above A0, if there ever was a need I would borrow a GFX. I agree with what you are saying, too many people buy into the hype, as the old marketing saying goes, sell the sizzle and not the sausage. Another top tip, if you want to have a meal with friends, go to a restaurant, it saves spending £15000 on a new kitchen to impress them with.
None more hype than Fujifilm, welcome to the hyperbole.
from my experience at least down here no one is a certain kind of photographer hence why they update... i don't know anyone that is just a landscape photographer or a wedding photographer hence why they want the extra features.
Thanks for this!! Not being a pro, every camera over $600 can do more than I'll every use it for. Camera (like phones) innovation peaked a few years ago. Everything now is tiny incremental changes they add in to make the spec sheet look better trying to sell the next shiny thing even when it isn't objectively better than what you already have.
Great video thanks, Rick, you make alot of very sensible points which I'll definitely consider. Funnily enough, I have been thinking about buying a Fujifilm X-S20 mainly for street photography as my current Nikon D750 is quite heavy as well as being large and conspicuous. But maybe with a small lens it could be light enough.. My Nikon is also weather sealed which is another major reason for sticking with it!
Great stuff, Rick 👏🏻👏🏻 As I commented on a previous video more people “need” to follow this; as least think about it.I only recently bought my Nikon Z6ii because I was just limited by my previous camera. I would love the Z7ii or Z8 but I don’t do professional work, yet, so the Z6ii does more than I could ever need. Again, though, good explanation for folks and look forward to your next video.
Thanks Andy, appreciate it. Glad you enjoyed it!
That handheld shot is WILD! I would've immediately thought that was something on a tripod, with ND filter, and at least a couple seconds shutter speed. NICE!
There is a saying, "you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince" and I found that to be my case where I acquired a lot of gear thinking THIS ONE will solve my unhappiness. But I just felt repeatedly disappointed (as in the case of choosing a Canon mirrorless system just because I came from a Canon DSLR system, not realizing that maybe brand loyalty/continuity was a bad rationale). There's another saying: "we accept the love we think we deserve" - for a while I settled with Canon mirrorless even though I was deeply unhappy with the form factor and physical user experience. Heh, am I still talking about cameras? 👀
There were a few of the same that aren’t quite as sharp, but just shows what they’re capable of!! No filters either I don’t think…
Totally get that as a reason to persist with a system though
The thing I've taken away from nearly 40 years in photography, off and on, amateur, semi-pro and full-time pro is start with the lenses you want to use, then go from there. I'm just about to switch from from DSLR to mirrorless and as Nikon changed the mount I'm in the position where looking at everything again makes sense. For me though, Nikon offers the best lenses for my use case at the best price and it helps I can use my existing F mount collection with adapters whilst I'm switching over a period.
A very valid point, thank you
Hi Rick,
thanks for your video.
I like the way you explain things transparently.
Me, as a hobby photographer, I am wondering which way to go, when investing in a new camera system.
Your video helps me a lot.
Thanks and all the best,
Sven
You keep forgetting to link video you talk about.
I've been earning a pretty decent living as a landscape photographer for the last 5/6 years using a Lumix G6 from 2013 (A camera you can purchase used now for £80), for me good glass matters more than the body for the most part. I've just upgraded to an OM-1 so I can continue to use the great M4/3 lenses I've acquired over the years. After ten years of using the G6 I don't mind buying the latest and greatest flagships if the trend of me updating my body every ten years stands true. At the end of the day the gear only accounts for ~20% of what it takes to capture a great photograph. The rest is skill and experience
£80?! Crazy, you could make that back in a morning! What you’ve said about buying the best makes sense… ‘IF you keep it for 10 years’. There just seems to be this trend (probably fuelled in some part by RUclips) of people buying the newest cameras every year like they’re upgrading a phone. Actually, it rings true with phones now too, there’s just no need to get the latest one in the majority of cases. Those last two sentences are spot on 👍🏻
Ive been shooting with the fuji xt3 and i love it and the only thing that tempts me is ibis, but i dont like the swivel screen on the xt4 and the 40 megapixel files kind of put me off aswell, i hope the next version of the 16-55 has image stabilisation that i would buy 😊
Shows what I know, I didn’t realise they’d changed the screen on the X-T4!!
I appreciate your professional reply. My first camera Minolta X-700 then changed to Canon 5D series. Now thought of upgrading to mirror less, have some ef lenses. Waiting for any updates in R5. Thought of managing my EF lenses with convertors.
I had a Nikon D3500, which was great, but upgraded to the Z7 for weather sealing and more megapixels. I have a habit of shooting the scene wider than necessary, then cropping in a lot so it seemed worthwhile to upgrade. I also like the auto bracket setting on the Z7 for real estate, which I couldnt do on my D3500. Great video, I always enjoy your content!
Thanks, appreciate it!
I delved into digital Photography around 2018 when I bought a Nikon D5600 with 2 x DX lenses which even in kit level have produced some good (I won't say great) results, then the Mirrorless systems in most brands ramps up and many have stopped making DSLR cameras which is disappointing because I still think the DSLR is a good system but it's when brands change lens mounts that makes me think...what's the point in continuing with what I have. So, I'm thinking of changing to Fujifilm or the Z lens range just so i can buy lenses in a current system rather than a now obsolete AF DX System. Now the Nikon still make the D7500 AF DX Camera but for how long and it's the same issue with Mounts whereas the Fujifilm's lenses you can use on all Models except the GFX. I admit I do like the flippy screen on the D5600 Nikon so a XT4 Fujifilm would give me that facility but it doesn't seem they need to change lens mounts anytime soon.
Yeah, that's a tough one. At some point, DSLRs will fail and then you're a bit stuck - I don't think using lens adapters is a good long term solution either so maybe a switch to mirrorless is in order. I don't think Lens mounts will change again for a looong time, so I guess it depends on which system you prefer.
Yeah Rick, good point you make and whilst it's working really well know, eventually it might all go to shit......as much as you get persuaded to go with one system or another, they are all good so it's even harder to choose for a novice, should i invest with FF or will CC's be adequate, will future CC cameras from Fuji for example be able to match the other big guns for performance such as low light photography etc. I'm liking the lightness of a CC System but what would i really be missing by not going FF?@@RickBebbington
As always an excellent video. Agree with you comments. I have bought second hand lots of times always bought from either Wex or MPB, both very reliable and great service.
Thank you Bernard - glad you’ve had good experiences with them both 👍🏻
If using the camera for video mostly and you're a beginner, get yourself a camcorder ... Something like a Sony FDR-AX700
I do photos buildings, landscape people, etc from the back of our motorcycle while riding upwards of 60 mph. What camera would be good for those photos? plus i do videos for youtube, so would like camera/video combo. currently using my Galaxy S21 Ultra.
My Panasonic GH5ii still inspires and motivates me more than any other body ever has. Great content
It's a hobby for me so no need to have the latest gear. Mainly shoot landscapes and some low light stuff. I have a Nikon D200, D7200 and a Z5 which all make good photographs. The Z5 is great for low light since is has the IBIS in it, which makes the low light easy. Combine that with Lightroom Denoise and one can get great shots. Was just looking a the Z6-III but it's more than I need. My old D200 still captures great shots if I do my part. Thanks for a great video!
Hello Rick and thanks for this video.
I am (usually) more of a hobbyist but from time to time I record lectures (my own or others) at my university. I started recording some of my lectures during the first year of the pandemic.
Your video helps many of us fight against GAS; very useful to keep up the will power.
You probably made the right estimation that most viewers of this video would own one, possibly two, system cameras, 3-4-5 lenses etc. Perhaps the camera some viewers have now may not be their first one and perhaps some have experience of more than one system/brand.
However, what to do with the complete newbie?
I think your video might not be as helpful for this latter group that stumbles upon it. Don't take this a criticism, it is difficult to find neutral and objective YT videos pitched towards this group. In my mind it is a bit like which comes first the chicken or the egg. Our interests and needs should be helping us guide system choices. But without experience how do we know what we want to take pictures of save for our experiences using a cell phone camera.
Ideally a potential future hobbyist should come across 2-3 people who are hobbyists with focus on different genres and who have different systems and then pick their brains, get to borrow there cameras for a day....and then try to make an informed decision. As hobbyist and professional photographers we know other photographers amd have our own knowledge and experience to build upon...and yet we sometimes succumb to GAS or make decisions that 6 weeks/months down the road turn out to be "wrong"
So how is the absolutely complete novice supposed to make decisions?
Hi Joe, thanks for that - I totally get where you are coming from.
For a total newbie, I’d probably say just buy something and it doesn’t really matter what it is. Just something to get you into it whilst you learn what you like to shoot together with all the other elements of photography. Then as your needs change, and confidence builds, you’ll be better placed to make the right decisions when upgrading your kit. Set a sensible budget, consider second hand, and don’t overthink it. When I got my first camera (Canon 550D with kit lens) I just knew what I had to spend, that I wanted a dslr and I trusted the canon brand, that’s all that came into it. If any newbies read this, then I hope it helps. There’s little point in getting drawn into all of the technicalities if you are just starting out.
@@RickBebbingtonperhaps my comment and your reply could be the foundation of a new video of yours?
Right, but you cannot tailor make a camera the satisfies your needs only. I am shooting birds in flight and I am waiting for the next Nikon camera with stellar autofocus (can't afford the Z8). It will probably be great for video as well. And I am a person that shots max. 3 videos per year which I do on my phone.
Needs analysis, always good advice. The camera for me to buy in 2024 is none. I got 4 last year :-( GAS isn't just something we Americans put in our petrol tanks. I suppose one could consider an L-mount or micro four-thirds body as those _can_ be switched without re-purchasing lenses, theoretically.
Great, straight up, honest, rational, through, response Rick, to the question, What should I buy? Statistically, I'm an outlier when it comes to answering this question. The outlier part: I'm a one-handed southpaw. I'd like to shoot hand-held as much as possible. There is no camera made for someone in my position. You touched on what I think is an often overlooked element. How does it feel in your hands? Putting a smallrig cage on a Canon APS-C camera was a complete game changer for me. Then comes: What is/are my main interest(s)? Who can help guide my journey? Brand? Why? Minimum gear, training, software, travel? Even more specifically, How will I be able to use this gear? Great channel Rick, now that I can pickup and use a camera.
Thank you so much. I’m so glad you found a solution as that must have followed years of frustration. All those points you mention at the end are often considered after a camera has been bought, and I do understand why that is, but I think better purchasing decisions would absolutely be made if people flipped it around.
I completely agree Rick. You're quite likely buying into a full package deal not just a camera. Cheers
One of the first questions you should always ask is: who is my target audience. If the bulk of your images are for social media, you're in luck...you don't need to transition away from your smart phone and waste countless dollars on bodies and lenses. If you're thinking of going into business, then the pathway for equipment obviously changes significantly. But learn from the pros: as the amateurs chase technology and purchase equipment they don't really need, the pros hang on to their 'dated' DSLR's and continue to produce the great images that made them successful.
Photography is one of those hobbies where people seem to be satisfied wasting thousands of dollars to realize what they don't need. As one pro told me, no matter what the camera brand, no matter what the technology and no matter what the style of camera that is owned, they are all equally capable of being pointed at bad compositions.
I won't buy any.
Dont buy a camera use your phone like a normal person
Phones aren't good enough for most photographers though, no matter what apple and google try to tell us.
I love that you've got no one definitive answer - creatives are all different and will have different needs!
I'm saving up for my first proper camera this year both for filming video and taking photos. I've recently developed a hand tremor though, and when you mentioned shooting handheld I was like, oh, crap, that might be an issue going forward! Any advice there?
I have a Sony a6000 should I update or buy a lens. And if I am to upgrade which camera can i buy
I just purchased a entry level camera and am going back to the basics to built on my skills. I have nicer cameras but I'll work with the entry level camera and see how I can improve without the latest and the greatist. Every skill is dependent on solid basics.
the best option for photo/video now is LUMIX s5II . on B&H with 50 1.8 costs 1750$
Just moved from a Canon 6D mkii with heavy Sigma lenses to an Olympus OM1. Slightly fewer pixels and incredible IBIS, so I can now mainly shoot handheld reducing weight I'm lugging around which now I'm 70 matters if I want to carry on with my photography.
Before I decided on the Olympus I was seriously considering getting a Canon R6 mk2 but I would still have needed new lenses and would have spent a lot more and had a lot more weight to lug around.
So for me the key issue was weight, although some of the deals available around Black Friday did help clarify my decision.
Thanks for another thoughtful video Rick.
Great video again dude and you're nailing it with giving really good advice. I commented on your other excellent video about not needing the latest and greatest which is something a lot of people needed to hear.
Also, being an X-T4 owner myself, it put a smile on my face when it was the camera you recommended:). Before upgrading from my Canon M50 mk ii, i researched the hell out of what camera to get next. The X-T4 turned out to be the perfect choice and it's completely turned me into a hybrid shooter as well as helping me improve dramatically. I've also started to get paid work with it, so that combined with the sheer joy of using it creates a perfect balance between being a pleasure to use and a workhorse.
Thanks man!! It seems to be useful for people which is great 👍🏻
I'm a bit jealous... such a nice camera!! Currently very tempted to cash in on my X100V and make the switch to that plus the 23mm f2 which I thought was brilliant. Glad you are having some success with it 🙌🏻
@@RickBebbington I think that's a smart move if you do that and you won't be disappointed I reckon (even though I appreciate that the X100V must be a lovely camera).
I love photographing and filming action in particular with the X-T4 and the last 4 videos on my channel have been short films involving that kind of genre. It's also nice to use for landscapes and people photography and speaking of landscapes, your images w/ the X-T2 and 100V are superb by the way!
Great insight
Thank you!
great!
The one you can afford.
Absolutely