This is one of the best pieces of gear-buying advice I've come across - so reasonable, wise and concise -it will definitely help me make a purchasing decision.
I've subscribed, unsubscribed, and re-subscribed this channel (each at least twice) over the last five or six years. I disagree with you a lot, but you've also helped me with the decision to buy every camera body I've ever owned (D5500, D810, D500, XT2, and A7RIV) -- usually around this time of year -- along with the concurrent decision of which ones to leave behind. (For me, Raymond's line, "XQD Card? I don't even know what that is!", is still one of the funniest things on RUclips.) I don't think I ever realized how long you've been doing this. You're an asset to the community, Leigh. Thanks!
Thank you for an excellent down-to-earth approach to equipment acquisition. I get asked a lot what gear people should get and one of the worst traps that I see from those giving advice is to look at the question from their OWN perspective: saying some thing like " I use this (or that) gear and you should get it too. This is completely contrary to the first principle of good consulting: always ask questions to find out the perspective and priorities of the person SEEKING advice and avoid our own personal biases and preferences. Many people are wowed by the new technology, but buying technology will not, in itself make one a better photographer - it may HELP a good photographer to take better images under specific circumstances. Technique will always outlast tech... The next challenge is sorting out the relationship between Features, Benefits and Value: A FEATURE is a characteristic of a product or service that is specific to that thing, but has no specific relationship with the purchaser or user. Basically, features simply show what the gear consists of, and what it can do. A BENEFIT is a characteristic of the person. It represents a means to either overcome a limitation to performance or to improve performance, and is specific to the person and their activities. In a way it's like the Spice Girls "Tell me what you want, what you really, really want!" Benefits should always be couched in terms of results. E.g. "I want to be able to take portraits where the face is clearly defined but the background is not." VALUE is only established when a Feature can be matched to a Benefit. If that association CANNOT be made, there is no VALUE to the Feature. For example, a camera may have a Feature of shooting 8K, uncropped video, but that is of no Benefit if one does not shoot video, thus that Feature has no value (in its own right). Like you, my first question is (if they own gear) what is it about your current stuff that is holding you back. Almost all cameras available today are capable of taking amazing images. Compared to camera from 50 years ago any digital camera is good - I still shoot with a 21 y.o. camera that does a great job - depending upon my output! WHAT IS THE BUDGET - don't get upsold! I was horrified to discover that students on a photography course with which I was associated, were putting themselves into debt to get cameras that were far in excess of the prescribed performance level, as they were talked into greater investment by savvy sales guys and their contemporaries. WHAT IS THE INTENDED COMMITMENT: Is the purpose purely social (the occasion is more important than the quality of the image), student of photography, enthusiast, prosumer or full pro (the latter few are unlikely to need too much advice!). The more serious the intent, the more one has to consider the camera as part of a SYSTEM - so compatibility with lens developments, and other gear. Switching brands can be really expensive, and the more gear you have the more you are committed. WHAT WILL BE THE SUBJECTS: these suggest both lens and sensor characteristics. Many may start off with a general-purpose intent, but it is worth considering specialty issues: a macro lens is unlikely to be great for imaging grizzly bears, for example... If looking to get gear for a specific project: going to shoot in Antarctica or the great migration in the Masa Mara, it may well be more economic to hire gear there, rather than invest and then face the cost and risk of transporting it around the globe. Renting is also a good way to try before you buy... WHAT WILL BE PRODUCED: This is rarely asked, but in the end it is the most important thing, because in the end it is what one produces that counts. It requires a lot less NECESSARY investment to create images for social media (that may well downsize images) compared to producing large, high resolution, Fine Art prints. WHAT ABOUT THE INTERFACE: I have come across folks who have bought gear from the spec sheets and then been put off by the ergonomics or interface controls - try before you buy... WHAT ARE YOU PREPARED TO CARRY: As the old adage goes, the camera you are carrying is the best one: having an awesome camera is useless if you leave it at home. As one ages, or has injury, less is more... it also applies for specific activities like long, multi-day hikes when weight and bulk may be of a premium concern. And yes, if you are also keen on the technology (I sure am) then that can be a good reason for getting new gear, just don't fool yourself that the spend is necessarily making you a better photographer! {:-D
Great video. While there is no best camera, I would recommend starters to buy into an active camera system; Pentax K, Micro 4/3, Canon M, Hasselblad XCD, APS-C Leica L-glass are in my opinion less future proof than many other modern mounts and are therefore a less good long-term investment. They are also a bit less exciting as few new gear comes out. On the other hand could buying such a camera be great value for money, as they may be a bit cheaper than the hot cameras of the moment, while still being great cameras to shoot with. It's a consideration. Another point I have started to consider more is cost of ownership. If you buy e.g. a Sony GM lens second hand in good condition and resell it later, the price of ownership is actually fairly low as it retains its value quite well. If you buy more entry level glass, this price drop may be higher, and the costs of ownership about the same while it gets you a less premium lens. This applies for the popular mounts like Sony E, Canon RF, Leica M, Nikon Z and Fuji X and GF which retain their value well if they are cared for nicely. And in many places you can buy good second hand glass with a 'no questions asked' return period and 6 or 12 month warranty, which makes buying second hand much less risky (e.g. KEH in USA or MPB in Europe, or Kamera Express in the Netherlands). This works less well for camera bodies, and especially Sony's, as they may no longer support them with firmware or a new version comes out which suddenly makes your camera 'the old model' and thereby less desirable in the second hand market.
Leigh During lockdown I took up Bird photography my current gear was barely adequate I was using a 15 year old Tamron zoom lens and a camera body with few focus points. I bought a new zoom lens with a high speed motor and upgraded my camera body with double thre focus points with a used camera body from KEH camera. The camera and lens are much faster and more suited for Bird photography then my older camera and lens
I did the same! I got myself a Sony a9, Sony 200-600mm lens with a 1.4x tc and I am good to go! Became a reason to get outside (stay outside) and still be socially distant from others!
Excellent! People new to photography ALWAYS tend to mid/high level gear... My advice would be: buy used Full Frame like Canon 5D MkII or Sony A99... Those two are perfect for learning photography, and not suprisingly, they hold its own even today in terms of image quality...
I'm big into Travel , street photography and nature in general. My favorite camera to use is my olympus tg5. I also have a pentax k70 with pancake lens. When I was in Singapore I purchased a pentax k01 my first mirrorless camera . Stylish and very different. My wife is a big lumix fan . Photography can be complicated if your a perfectionist, it's also become a little on the expensive side . Sad to see that cell phones are making point and shoot cameras redundant. Good video very educational.
I have finally slow down on wanting new gear all the time. As you were saying about the Sony A1, I too was contemplating on getting it. Trying to justify to myself that I need this camera. I already have the Sony A7riv and A9 that I bought both this spring when I switched over to Sony and thought the Sony A1 would make my life so much easier and the photos would be so much better then my A9. But I actually like not having to shoot 62 mega pixels for everything like my weddings. So I took that money and bought the Sony 135mm GM, 200-600 G, Sigma 105mm f1.4, and the Sigma 28-70 f2.8 and I couldn’t be more happier with my decision. Cameras make life easy but great glass makes the pictures.
Why haven't you posted this content before I went on my last spending thrift? I got myself a Sony 35mm f1.4, the old Zeiss for the pleasant shortcomings versus boring perfection. Before I only had mf luminous 35mm glass. That was the reasonable part of the purchase! The great yet unnecessary part was the up-to-date body for the cool lens. As such the Nikon Z5 with the techart Sony E to Nikon smartadapter are awesome - thank you so much for the recommendation! As I now know the old Sony A7ii shines with that lens for my slow shooting style. AF on it can be a drag. However the transition to manual focus override goes so smoothly thanks to the easy override via pressing an obvious button rather than messing with the stupid Sony menu and the focus enlargement in the standard setting. Well, I should not complain about the excellent Z5. It seems far sturdier and the focus settings so similar to Nikon SLRs I'm used to are most enjoyable. And as a cold weather outdoor photographer I'll always need SLRs for winter. Mirrorless battery capacity goes from low to negligible already in low positive Fahrenheit degrees. I could use powerbanks. Ever used a powerbank while shooting outdoors with cold fingers? No desire to even trying that out. So being able to smoothly going between SLRs and the mirrorless is key
great video as usual...I just bought a Nikon Zfc with the kit zoom lens as my carry camera, to augment my Z-11, it is lighter and smaller for those street photos that I love. The smaller sensor is not a problem at all. Thank you again for all of your wonderful videos.
The thing that is missing from many reviewers, and I think what you were getting at here, is because camera A is the best at something, doesn't mean camera B sucks at that thing. I'm very tired of people saying "Sony wins at autofocus" and then automatically assume that Nikon/Canon/Fuji suck - it's more like Sony gets an "A" grade, and everyone else gets an "A-". You really can't buy a technologically bad camera today. It's all about price, "fit", and horses for courses.
Great thinking 🤔 Still waiting to receive my first Full Frame camera…a Sony A7IV next month …a dream for me since many years ! Have a great weekend and thanks for your wonderful videos Serge H&S 👩❤️👨🌈🇨🇦
Thanks for the spot on information. I was given a pentax sf10 for free. Has 2 lenses but have won 1 and bid on another one due to the fact they will cover 2 spots im missing from the other 2 lenses. They were cheap. 9 dollars for one the other 5 dollars. And found out pentax that many newer bodies can use the older lenses. This also give me room to know they will work on the digital camera. I already know which one id love to have but that will not be for awhile and know that itll be worth the funds. First i need to get good with the 35mm camera. But for my future business will need to do the research and get things in order.
Regarding brands: a good friend of mine is a really big Leica fan (apart from being an extremely talented photographer). We often send each other pictures, mostly in RAW, and he was amazed at the quality of the Canon EOS 1000D sensor I sometimes use besides my 60D. Sometimes older gear is better than one might think.
Thank you for another super video. There is a decision making technique called ‘semantic differentials’. It’s very simple. First, list out those features which are important to you. Second, give each one a score for how important each one is. Third, give each potential gear purchase a score for each feature Fourth, multiply the two scores so that each camera/lens has a total weighted score. This should help point you in the direction of the right gear for your needs and help you avoid wasting your money on, say, a super fast lens when max aperture is a low priority for you.
I have been using my Nikon D3000 with the old fx 35-80 f4 for the last 6 years. I tend to do landscape, street photography and thunderstorms. The lack of autofocus is irrelevant as I tend to shoot at infinity, generally speaking. My next camera would have a metal body, dual SD card slot, weather shielding, more buttons and customisation so that I don't have to go into the menu all the time. Oh, and a bigger buffer. The Nikon D7100 would be my ideal camera body. It would accept the Nikkor 10-20mm (which the D7000 doesn't) for taking lightning shots. I would be in heaven 😉
Excellent advice Leigh! I myself used to own Canon gear at one point, and finally settled on Fujifilm, I wish I had known this from the start but with all the marketing out there, holiday sales, and many YT videos, it was difficult. Fujifilm is my style of shooting and it IS what wakes me up at dawn to go out and shoot. Large gear did not inspire me, I felt like I was shooting for the camera's sake, with smaller equipment I feel that I am shooting what I feel and see.
Great introduction for someone new to photography. I like your point on horses for courses. Would be gtreat if you could point out that if one wants to shoot fast moving object, fast auto focus is a must. On that subject, perhaps you may ike to share with us which mirrorless camera can match those dying DSLR cameras with fast auto focus. I am still looking for one to replace my Nikon D4s and D5 for fast action photography. Perhaps you may like to do a video on Nikon Z9 vs D6/D5 on autofocus.speed. Many Thanks.
Geez I didn't think my DSLRs were dying...will have to inform my clients that my files, which they love, will soon be self-destructing! Thanks for the heads-up, since I didn't get the memo ;)
My personal photography journey started back with C126 in black and white. Jumping ahead many years I purchased a Canon AE-1 35mm camera followed by an AE1 Program with kit lens and Vivitar 70-210 Zoom lens (My budget would not stretch to the semi-professional Canon A-1 nor any Canon FD lenses). After professional experience with an early Nikon Digital experience I went through a couple of Nikon Compact Digital Cameras. Next came my Nikon D40 with kit lens and Zoom lens I imported from the Far East. Unfortunately after a number of years I had to sell my Nikon kit to raise some money for living expenses. A number of years later I was back in the position to purchase a new camera so was looking at the market afresh. Here my experience has been to start with a new Sony A5100 with kit lens then after a few years purchase on Ebay an A6000 body and 4 other Sony E-mount lenses. It was only last year that I started to frame my own work and have larger prints done professionally. I have learned through the framing process that I'm a pretty good photographer.
Great video Leigh thanks Ive got a Nikon D5500 and I want to go Nikon Mirrorless Im torn between DX and FF I like the extra buttons on the Z5 or Z6, but the extra wight and cost of the bodies and cameras puts me.
Full frame is great if your upping the mp count , otherwise 24mp dx is good . The weight of say d850s are twice the weight and pro lenses are heavy a kg each 14-24 and 24-70 .both a kg , but i wouldnt change them . Tripods have to be chunkier to support them , filters £100 each ( if you prefer them to editing and faffing with computers ) iv not edited a photo since changing to 48mp full frame (35mm) , i was lucky to have a few fast lenses before buying the higher mp camera
I've spent like 3 years researching cameras, and all this time later i still don't know wtf to buy... Should've just bought a camera years ago and gone out and used it 🤣 instead I'm still here watching youtube videos endlessly..
Thanks for the information! I have been a hobbyist for a long time with many different cameras with my first love being Nikon then canon. I now own a sony A6400 with two lenses. The Sony is very good for video but terrible for photos. I am close to choosing the Nikon Z6ii, I mainly shoot landscapes. Is this a good idea?
Awesome timing to watch this video. I am considering an upgrade to my Canon G7Xii and the cameras I’m looking at are M50ii or R orRP all by Canon. I felt that I wasn’t ready to know which best suited me and now I know I need to work more with the G7Xii to discover what is limiting me and then see which of the alternatives would fulfil that best. Thank you for the insights Leigh. I am struggling with focus so am working on that currently, any suggestion for videos to watch would be appreciated.
a very good video about the stuff we love to talk about - purchase and comment. You mention all the points that keep me with my old/new gear. I have nikon gear since 1998 and have made a system, the lenses (6, DX and FX, from 15 mm to 300 mm in FX) the flashes, cords and so on... so now I see the sony´s and canon bodies and would like to, but I already have a system and do not want to put up the money, instead I will go back to.... Europe, Canada, Asia, South America or anything close to me, and make more images.... but if I had nothing I would be answering those questions, what I need, want and can pay! Thank you lady!!!
Thank you for the balanced perspectives, really thoughtful approach and genuine advice, especially on the local camera shop. I've preordered the a7iv, but really like the specs on the z6ii, so this is a timely post.
Thanks for sharing again ...a great video & advice...I wish I had listened to you then years ago as I have upgraded my camera instead of investing in better lenses....I do buy s/h gear as I am only a hobbyist but appreciate good results... thanks again for sharing your experienced.... cheers from Australia 😀
One big area I see people avoid (or ignore) when choosing a camera is ergonomics. I see a lot of people who go after features more so than ergonomics, and granted, some features are important, but, for example to buy a high resolution camera even when you don't plan to print, but buying one you don't feel comfortable holding (but buying because it's 45 or 60MP) is pointless because you're less likely to pick up that camera and shoot with it. I'd say that ergonomics is almost equally as important as things like resolution. If the camera doesn't feel comfortable in the hand, you're less likely to use it. And this also goes for camera size too. For example, the Z9 is a huge camera compared t othe other Z bodies, and personally I would never pick one up myself (being an enthusiast, not a professional). Not so much because of the cost, but because of the size with the built-in grip. I feel for my needs it would be less comfortable for me, despite it being a high-end camera that's read for just about everything (and could easily replace my D7500, Z6 and Z7).
I've seen some of your nikon and fugi videos, do you have any experience with Olympus? I presently have an olympus stylus1 but want to get a mirrorless. My 1st SLR (1968)was a Minolta film camera. The fugi's remind me a little bit of my Minolta. But I've recently looked at an OM5iii and a OM1iii and they feel so good in the hand. I'll probably get either an xt4 (or 3) or the om1iii. Do you have any thoughts regarding olympus?
You say that DSLR’s are “winding down”. You seem to ignore Pentax, which continues to remain committed to DSLR photography. The new K-3 Mark iii is an excellent camera. Seeing the subject, I think, is extraordinarily important. The dynamic range of the viewfinder of a DSLR still beats the best mirrorless viewfinder. The ergonomics and weather sealing on Pentax is unbeatable. I would like to see you include Pentax in the gear you cover.
I just bought a pocket camera, because I thought the sony a6400 was a little bit too big for me. I returned the a6400 and think I will bring my smaller camera more often with me outside. (people who use heavy full frame cameras, maybe even dslr`s will probably laugh at the weight of the a6400^^ (I know there are some light ff cameras like the sigma fp, and the sony a7c)
Most of us, I think buy a Camera in the wrong way. I, myself, catch me regularly, upon a new camera release trying to find use cases that would only fit that camera so I have a justification to buy it. Even though, I never shoot these cases, nor did I think of them before that camera release. If we do it the other way around, it is surprising how good all cameras are and how almost no one needs a new camera if the “older” camera has been bought less than 5 years ago. But we all get sucked into the hype at some point 😅
I think 'don't buy a camera' can be a good advice too, as I think modern day smartphones may give non-photography enthusiasts better results than an entry-level point-and-shoot camera, as many people would state their budget to be around USD 500. For that money, most can better buy the latest smartphone before their holiday than a camera, if the consideration is picture quality out of their hands. The real step up in my opinion comes when you enter the regions of e.g. Canon M50, Eos R, Fuji X-S10, Ricoh GR III etc. but these would require an initial investment of about USD 1.000 - 1.500 for a body and lens, and have a learning curve to achieve good results. Many people consider this too much for holiday-purposes.
Bragging rights?😉😅 Im shooting apsc fuji and sony and purchased a D610 solely for the use with a lensbaby 56mm lens due to the difference in rendering. The fact i have nikkors for my filmbodies is an extra benefit, still prefer my fujis though. So many good points made in this video
It's not easy to decide what to buy. I dont need full frame and I already own 6 lenses for Sony (4 APS-C and 2 FF). I dislike the EVF of my a6500 a lot. It is small and placed at a wrong place for a person using the left eye. Sony will probably never make an APS-C camera in an a7xx body.
Someone asked me what camera I was using at a wedding and if it was the best. I told her my camera I was using and thus camera was best for me at thus wedding. In reality I grab my iPhone the most to take pictures.
In terms of dealing with a local store - if it is not your intention to purchase a camera or lens at that store don't use them just as a place to test the item - only later to purchase it on line from some internet site - that's just a scummy thing to do - the local camera store is not there just to let you play with an item that you have no intention of purchasing from them.
One of the issues here in the UK is that so many of the local camera stores have closed. However the Pandemic has opened up a lot of retail space so I'm hoping a camera shop will move in. There are a lot of photography enthusiasts in my town and no doubt some will seek employment in a new store.
@@stephenwabaxter That's true - so many smaller camera shops have had to close due to poor sales - far too many folks think it's ok to take advantage of the extra service and advise they can get at a good store but then opt to save a few dollars by doing the actual purchase on line. Before retiring a couple of years ago I worked for a major camera retailer. I can remember a situation that one of our sales associates faced - he spent about an hour or so showing a customer several camera versions in her price range and at the end of their in-store meeting she told him that she liked one particular model but needed to consult with her husband before actually making the purchase - so he gave her a written quote. Some days later she came back to the store with the camera in hand. At first our sales associate figured she bought it from us when he wasn't on duty - but no - she had purchased it elsewhere - and now she wanted him to spend more time answering her questions she had about the operation of the camera, basically giving her a tutorial. He declined to do so (although we did such all the time for people who purchased from us as a service to them) and suggested she go back to the retailer (a big box store) for the help she was seeking - her answer - they don't really know anything about the camera and none of their sales associates are actually photographers - and, she was incensed that he wouldn't spend more time with her. As to price - she told him that the other store actually quoted her a bit higher price - but when she showed them our quote, they agreed to meet our price - so the whole thing wasn't even a pricing issue - just total arrogance and cluelessness on the part of the customer.
Buy a Fuji X100V and you are out of this problem. Take some recipes and you get the best pictures of your life. But you are wrong here if you want to do long telephoto things like bif, sports or similar else. Photographing is always a compromise.
Ms. Leigh, Finally, I disagree with you. My CanoSoNikonFuji not only gets me out of bed but also prepares breakfast, paints the exterior of my house, and goes out and gets those hard-to-predict exposures for me. Camera gear doesn't matter? I think it does ... if you live in my twisted, fantastical musings. Otherwise, choose with care and reason. People should listen to professionals - such as Ms. Leigh, on this wonderful channel.
The next camera you should buy is an old fully manual film camera. Best way to learn the craft, hands down.
This is one of the best pieces of gear-buying advice I've come across - so reasonable, wise and concise -it will definitely help me make a purchasing decision.
Goddamnit. It's so refreshing to hear somebody say all the right things.
I've subscribed, unsubscribed, and re-subscribed this channel (each at least twice) over the last five or six years. I disagree with you a lot, but you've also helped me with the decision to buy every camera body I've ever owned (D5500, D810, D500, XT2, and A7RIV) -- usually around this time of year -- along with the concurrent decision of which ones to leave behind. (For me, Raymond's line, "XQD Card? I don't even know what that is!", is still one of the funniest things on RUclips.)
I don't think I ever realized how long you've been doing this. You're an asset to the community, Leigh. Thanks!
Thank you for an excellent down-to-earth approach to equipment acquisition.
I get asked a lot what gear people should get and one of the worst traps that I see from those giving advice is to look at the question from their OWN perspective: saying some thing like " I use this (or that) gear and you should get it too. This is completely contrary to the first principle of good consulting: always ask questions to find out the perspective and priorities of the person SEEKING advice and avoid our own personal biases and preferences.
Many people are wowed by the new technology, but buying technology will not, in itself make one a better photographer - it may HELP a good photographer to take better images under specific circumstances. Technique will always outlast tech...
The next challenge is sorting out the relationship between Features, Benefits and Value:
A FEATURE is a characteristic of a product or service that is specific to that thing, but has no specific relationship with the purchaser or user. Basically, features simply show what the gear consists of, and what it can do.
A BENEFIT is a characteristic of the person. It represents a means to either overcome a limitation to performance or to improve performance, and is specific to the person and their activities. In a way it's like the Spice Girls "Tell me what you want, what you really, really want!" Benefits should always be couched in terms of results. E.g. "I want to be able to take portraits where the face is clearly defined but the background is not."
VALUE is only established when a Feature can be matched to a Benefit. If that association CANNOT be made, there is no VALUE to the Feature. For example, a camera may have a Feature of shooting 8K, uncropped video, but that is of no Benefit if one does not shoot video, thus that Feature has no value (in its own right).
Like you, my first question is (if they own gear) what is it about your current stuff that is holding you back. Almost all cameras available today are capable of taking amazing images. Compared to camera from 50 years ago any digital camera is good - I still shoot with a 21 y.o. camera that does a great job - depending upon my output!
WHAT IS THE BUDGET - don't get upsold! I was horrified to discover that students on a photography course with which I was associated, were putting themselves into debt to get cameras that were far in excess of the prescribed performance level, as they were talked into greater investment by savvy sales guys and their contemporaries.
WHAT IS THE INTENDED COMMITMENT: Is the purpose purely social (the occasion is more important than the quality of the image), student of photography, enthusiast, prosumer or full pro (the latter few are unlikely to need too much advice!). The more serious the intent, the more one has to consider the camera as part of a SYSTEM - so compatibility with lens developments, and other gear. Switching brands can be really expensive, and the more gear you have the more you are committed.
WHAT WILL BE THE SUBJECTS: these suggest both lens and sensor characteristics. Many may start off with a general-purpose intent, but it is worth considering specialty issues: a macro lens is unlikely to be great for imaging grizzly bears, for example... If looking to get gear for a specific project: going to shoot in Antarctica or the great migration in the Masa Mara, it may well be more economic to hire gear there, rather than invest and then face the cost and risk of transporting it around the globe. Renting is also a good way to try before you buy...
WHAT WILL BE PRODUCED: This is rarely asked, but in the end it is the most important thing, because in the end it is what one produces that counts. It requires a lot less NECESSARY investment to create images for social media (that may well downsize images) compared to producing large, high resolution, Fine Art prints.
WHAT ABOUT THE INTERFACE: I have come across folks who have bought gear from the spec sheets and then been put off by the ergonomics or interface controls - try before you buy...
WHAT ARE YOU PREPARED TO CARRY: As the old adage goes, the camera you are carrying is the best one: having an awesome camera is useless if you leave it at home. As one ages, or has injury, less is more... it also applies for specific activities like long, multi-day hikes when weight and bulk may be of a premium concern.
And yes, if you are also keen on the technology (I sure am) then that can be a good reason for getting new gear, just don't fool yourself that the spend is necessarily making you a better photographer! {:-D
Great video. While there is no best camera, I would recommend starters to buy into an active camera system; Pentax K, Micro 4/3, Canon M, Hasselblad XCD, APS-C Leica L-glass are in my opinion less future proof than many other modern mounts and are therefore a less good long-term investment. They are also a bit less exciting as few new gear comes out. On the other hand could buying such a camera be great value for money, as they may be a bit cheaper than the hot cameras of the moment, while still being great cameras to shoot with. It's a consideration.
Another point I have started to consider more is cost of ownership. If you buy e.g. a Sony GM lens second hand in good condition and resell it later, the price of ownership is actually fairly low as it retains its value quite well. If you buy more entry level glass, this price drop may be higher, and the costs of ownership about the same while it gets you a less premium lens. This applies for the popular mounts like Sony E, Canon RF, Leica M, Nikon Z and Fuji X and GF which retain their value well if they are cared for nicely. And in many places you can buy good second hand glass with a 'no questions asked' return period and 6 or 12 month warranty, which makes buying second hand much less risky (e.g. KEH in USA or MPB in Europe, or Kamera Express in the Netherlands).
This works less well for camera bodies, and especially Sony's, as they may no longer support them with firmware or a new version comes out which suddenly makes your camera 'the old model' and thereby less desirable in the second hand market.
Leigh
During lockdown I took up Bird photography my current gear was barely adequate I was using a 15 year old Tamron zoom lens and a camera body with few focus points. I bought a new zoom lens with a high speed motor and upgraded my camera body with double thre focus points with a used camera body from KEH camera. The camera and lens are much faster and more suited for Bird photography then my older camera and lens
I did the same! I got myself a Sony a9, Sony 200-600mm lens with a 1.4x tc and I am good to go! Became a reason to get outside (stay outside) and still be socially distant from others!
Excellent! People new to photography ALWAYS tend to mid/high level gear... My advice would be: buy used Full Frame like Canon 5D MkII or Sony A99... Those two are perfect for learning photography, and not suprisingly, they hold its own even today in terms of image quality...
Valuable advice. I would suggest that photographers also consider books, online courses, or in person courses as an alternative to buying new gear.
I'm big into Travel , street photography and nature in general. My favorite camera to use is my olympus tg5. I also have a pentax k70 with pancake lens. When I was in Singapore I purchased a pentax k01 my first mirrorless camera . Stylish and very different. My wife is a big lumix fan . Photography can be complicated if your a perfectionist, it's also become a little on the expensive side . Sad to see that cell phones are making point and shoot cameras redundant. Good video very educational.
I have finally slow down on wanting new gear all the time. As you were saying about the Sony A1, I too was contemplating on getting it. Trying to justify to myself that I need this camera. I already have the Sony A7riv and A9 that I bought both this spring when I switched over to Sony and thought the Sony A1 would make my life so much easier and the photos would be so much better then my A9. But I actually like not having to shoot 62 mega pixels for everything like my weddings. So I took that money and bought the Sony 135mm GM, 200-600 G, Sigma 105mm f1.4, and the Sigma 28-70 f2.8 and I couldn’t be more happier with my decision. Cameras make life easy but great glass makes the pictures.
Why haven't you posted this content before I went on my last spending thrift? I got myself a Sony 35mm f1.4, the old Zeiss for the pleasant shortcomings versus boring perfection. Before I only had mf luminous 35mm glass. That was the reasonable part of the purchase! The great yet unnecessary part was the up-to-date body for the cool lens. As such the Nikon Z5 with the techart Sony E to Nikon smartadapter are awesome - thank you so much for the recommendation! As I now know the old Sony A7ii shines with that lens for my slow shooting style. AF on it can be a drag. However the transition to manual focus override goes so smoothly thanks to the easy override via pressing an obvious button rather than messing with the stupid Sony menu and the focus enlargement in the standard setting. Well, I should not complain about the excellent Z5. It seems far sturdier and the focus settings so similar to Nikon SLRs I'm used to are most enjoyable. And as a cold weather outdoor photographer I'll always need SLRs for winter. Mirrorless battery capacity goes from low to negligible already in low positive Fahrenheit degrees. I could use powerbanks. Ever used a powerbank while shooting outdoors with cold fingers? No desire to even trying that out. So being able to smoothly going between SLRs and the mirrorless is key
RUclips reviews invaluable ,I do alot of research before I make my decision ,lots of info on here
great video as usual...I just bought a Nikon Zfc with the kit zoom lens as my carry camera, to augment my Z-11, it is lighter and smaller for those street photos that I love. The smaller sensor is not a problem at all. Thank you again for all of your wonderful videos.
The thing that is missing from many reviewers, and I think what you were getting at here, is because camera A is the best at something, doesn't mean camera B sucks at that thing.
I'm very tired of people saying "Sony wins at autofocus" and then automatically assume that Nikon/Canon/Fuji suck - it's more like Sony gets an "A" grade, and everyone else gets an "A-". You really can't buy a technologically bad camera today. It's all about price, "fit", and horses for courses.
Great thinking 🤔 Still waiting to receive my first Full Frame camera…a Sony A7IV next month …a dream for me since many years !
Have a great weekend and thanks for your wonderful videos
Serge
H&S 👩❤️👨🌈🇨🇦
Thanks for the spot on information. I was given a pentax sf10 for free. Has 2 lenses but have won 1 and bid on another one due to the fact they will cover 2 spots im missing from the other 2 lenses. They were cheap. 9 dollars for one the other 5 dollars. And found out pentax that many newer bodies can use the older lenses. This also give me room to know they will work on the digital camera. I already know which one id love to have but that will not be for awhile and know that itll be worth the funds. First i need to get good with the 35mm camera. But for my future business will need to do the research and get things in order.
Regarding brands: a good friend of mine is a really big Leica fan (apart from being an extremely talented photographer). We often send each other pictures, mostly in RAW, and he was amazed at the quality of the Canon EOS 1000D sensor I sometimes use besides my 60D. Sometimes older gear is better than one might think.
Thank you for another super video.
There is a decision making technique called ‘semantic differentials’. It’s very simple.
First, list out those features which are important to you.
Second, give each one a score for how important each one is.
Third, give each potential gear purchase a score for each feature
Fourth, multiply the two scores so that each camera/lens has a total weighted score.
This should help point you in the direction of the right gear for your needs and help you avoid wasting your money on, say, a super fast lens when max aperture is a low priority for you.
I have been using my Nikon D3000 with the old fx 35-80 f4 for the last 6 years. I tend to do landscape, street photography and thunderstorms. The lack of autofocus is irrelevant as I tend to shoot at infinity, generally speaking.
My next camera would have a metal body, dual SD card slot, weather shielding, more buttons and customisation so that I don't have to go into the menu all the time. Oh, and a bigger buffer.
The Nikon D7100 would be my ideal camera body.
It would accept the Nikkor 10-20mm (which the D7000 doesn't) for taking lightning shots.
I would be in heaven 😉
Excellent advice Leigh! I myself used to own Canon gear at one point, and finally settled on Fujifilm, I wish I had known this from the start but with all the marketing out there, holiday sales, and many YT videos, it was difficult. Fujifilm is my style of shooting and it IS what wakes me up at dawn to go out and shoot. Large gear did not inspire me, I felt like I was shooting for the camera's sake, with smaller equipment I feel that I am shooting what I feel and see.
Great introduction for someone new to photography. I like your point on horses for courses. Would be gtreat if you could point out that if one wants to shoot fast moving object, fast auto focus is a must. On that subject, perhaps you may ike to share with us which mirrorless camera can match those dying DSLR cameras with fast auto focus. I am still looking for one to replace my Nikon D4s and D5 for fast action photography. Perhaps you may like to do a video on Nikon Z9 vs D6/D5 on autofocus.speed. Many Thanks.
Geez I didn't think my DSLRs were dying...will have to inform my clients that my files, which they love, will soon be self-destructing! Thanks for the heads-up, since I didn't get the memo ;)
My personal photography journey started back with C126 in black and white. Jumping ahead many years I purchased a Canon AE-1 35mm camera followed by an AE1 Program with kit lens and Vivitar 70-210 Zoom lens (My budget would not stretch to the semi-professional Canon A-1 nor any Canon FD lenses). After professional experience with an early Nikon Digital experience I went through a couple of Nikon Compact Digital Cameras. Next came my Nikon D40 with kit lens and Zoom lens I imported from the Far East. Unfortunately after a number of years I had to sell my Nikon kit to raise some money for living expenses. A number of years later I was back in the position to purchase a new camera so was looking at the market afresh. Here my experience has been to start with a new Sony A5100 with kit lens then after a few years purchase on Ebay an A6000 body and 4 other Sony E-mount lenses. It was only last year that I started to frame my own work and have larger prints done professionally. I have learned through the framing process that I'm a pretty good photographer.
Great video Leigh thanks
Ive got a Nikon D5500 and I want to go Nikon Mirrorless
Im torn between DX and FF
I like the extra buttons on the Z5 or Z6, but the extra wight and cost of the bodies and cameras puts me.
Full frame is great if your upping the mp count , otherwise 24mp dx is good . The weight of say d850s are twice the weight and pro lenses are heavy a kg each 14-24 and 24-70 .both a kg , but i wouldnt change them . Tripods have to be chunkier to support them , filters £100 each ( if you prefer them to editing and faffing with computers ) iv not edited a photo since changing to 48mp full frame (35mm) , i was lucky to have a few fast lenses before buying the higher mp camera
Excellent comments well said!
I've spent like 3 years researching cameras, and all this time later i still don't know wtf to buy...
Should've just bought a camera years ago and gone out and used it 🤣 instead I'm still here watching youtube videos endlessly..
Thanks for the information! I have been a hobbyist for a long time with many different cameras with my first love being Nikon then canon. I now own a sony A6400 with two lenses. The Sony is very good for video but terrible for photos. I am close to choosing the Nikon Z6ii, I mainly shoot landscapes. Is this a good idea?
Awesome timing to watch this video. I am considering an upgrade to my Canon G7Xii and the cameras I’m looking at are M50ii or R orRP all by Canon. I felt that I wasn’t ready to know which best suited me and now I know I need to work more with the G7Xii to discover what is limiting me and then see which of the alternatives would fulfil that best. Thank you for the insights Leigh. I am struggling with focus so am working on that currently, any suggestion for videos to watch would be appreciated.
always great vids. Thank you Snappy!!
a very good video about the stuff we love to talk about - purchase and comment. You mention all the points that keep me with my old/new gear. I have nikon gear since 1998 and have made a system, the lenses (6, DX and FX, from 15 mm to 300 mm in FX) the flashes, cords and so on... so now I see the sony´s and canon bodies and would like to, but I already have a system and do not want to put up the money, instead I will go back to.... Europe, Canada, Asia, South America or anything close to me, and make more images.... but if I had nothing I would be answering those questions, what I need, want and can pay!
Thank you lady!!!
Thank you for the balanced perspectives, really thoughtful approach and genuine advice, especially on the local camera shop. I've preordered the a7iv, but really like the specs on the z6ii, so this is a timely post.
Very convincing words of wisdom 👍👍👍♥️
That was awsome, these kind of advices should apply to everything in life, thank you.
Some good advice. I might have missed it but didn’t you forget perhaps the most important question of all? What do you like to take pictures of?
Thanks for sharing again ...a great video & advice...I wish I had listened to you then years ago as I have upgraded my camera instead of investing in better lenses....I do buy s/h gear as I am only a hobbyist but appreciate good results... thanks again for sharing your experienced.... cheers from Australia 😀
One big area I see people avoid (or ignore) when choosing a camera is ergonomics. I see a lot of people who go after features more so than ergonomics, and granted, some features are important, but, for example to buy a high resolution camera even when you don't plan to print, but buying one you don't feel comfortable holding (but buying because it's 45 or 60MP) is pointless because you're less likely to pick up that camera and shoot with it. I'd say that ergonomics is almost equally as important as things like resolution. If the camera doesn't feel comfortable in the hand, you're less likely to use it. And this also goes for camera size too. For example, the Z9 is a huge camera compared t othe other Z bodies, and personally I would never pick one up myself (being an enthusiast, not a professional). Not so much because of the cost, but because of the size with the built-in grip. I feel for my needs it would be less comfortable for me, despite it being a high-end camera that's read for just about everything (and could easily replace my D7500, Z6 and Z7).
Unrelated to this but, what lens do you use for wildlife with you 7r4?
Does KEH deliver outside US? In India?
I am thinking of buying the Sony a seven mark three or later mark two could you give me any idea which one I should buy thank you bye
you are FANTASTIC!!
1. "Easy" to use
2. Comfortable
3. Motivate me to use it more often
That's it, :)
I've seen some of your nikon and fugi videos, do you have any experience with Olympus? I presently have an olympus stylus1 but want to get a mirrorless. My 1st SLR (1968)was a Minolta film camera. The fugi's remind me a little bit of my Minolta. But I've recently looked at an OM5iii and a OM1iii and they feel so good in the hand. I'll probably get either an xt4 (or 3) or the om1iii. Do you have any thoughts regarding olympus?
You say that DSLR’s are “winding down”. You seem to ignore Pentax, which continues to remain committed to DSLR photography. The new K-3 Mark iii is an excellent camera. Seeing the subject, I think, is extraordinarily important. The dynamic range of the viewfinder of a DSLR still beats the best mirrorless viewfinder.
The ergonomics and weather sealing on Pentax is unbeatable. I would like to see you include Pentax in the gear you cover.
But nobody buys Pentax except diehard Pentaxians and as the years go by less and less of them as most are elderly men.
I just bought a pocket camera, because I thought the sony a6400 was a little bit too big for me. I returned the a6400 and think I will bring my smaller camera more often with me outside. (people who use heavy full frame cameras, maybe even dslr`s will probably laugh at the weight of the a6400^^ (I know there are some light ff cameras like the sigma fp, and the sony a7c)
Most of us, I think buy a Camera in the wrong way. I, myself, catch me regularly, upon a new camera release trying to find use cases that would only fit that camera so I have a justification to buy it. Even though, I never shoot these cases, nor did I think of them before that camera release. If we do it the other way around, it is surprising how good all cameras are and how almost no one needs a new camera if the “older” camera has been bought less than 5 years ago. But we all get sucked into the hype at some point 😅
Love it!
Great info! Thank you for sharing 😁
If you already have gear, I suggest spending your money on travel to take the pictures you want.
shots fired!
I think 'don't buy a camera' can be a good advice too, as I think modern day smartphones may give non-photography enthusiasts better results than an entry-level point-and-shoot camera, as many people would state their budget to be around USD 500. For that money, most can better buy the latest smartphone before their holiday than a camera, if the consideration is picture quality out of their hands.
The real step up in my opinion comes when you enter the regions of e.g. Canon M50, Eos R, Fuji X-S10, Ricoh GR III etc. but these would require an initial investment of about USD 1.000 - 1.500 for a body and lens, and have a learning curve to achieve good results. Many people consider this too much for holiday-purposes.
Bragging rights?😉😅
Im shooting apsc fuji and sony and purchased a D610 solely for the use with a lensbaby 56mm lens due to the difference in rendering. The fact i have nikkors for my filmbodies is an extra benefit, still prefer my fujis though. So many good points made in this video
Marry Panasonic ibis with Sony auto focus!
beautiful
I have 6 cameras already, but I still want to buy another one. Reason ? It just looks so beautiful. Ha ha.
It's not easy to decide what to buy. I dont need full frame and I already own 6 lenses for Sony (4 APS-C and 2 FF).
I dislike the EVF of my a6500 a lot. It is small and placed at a wrong place for a person using the left eye.
Sony will probably never make an APS-C camera in an a7xx body.
I wish I would have tried Fuji earlier in life.
Someone asked me what camera I was using at a wedding and if it was the best. I told her my camera I was using and thus camera was best for me at thus wedding. In reality I grab my iPhone the most to take pictures.
In terms of dealing with a local store - if it is not your intention to purchase a camera or lens at that store don't use them just as a place to test the item - only later to purchase it on line from some internet site - that's just a scummy thing to do - the local camera store is not there just to let you play with an item that you have no intention of purchasing from them.
One of the issues here in the UK is that so many of the local camera stores have closed. However the Pandemic has opened up a lot of retail space so I'm hoping a camera shop will move in. There are a lot of photography enthusiasts in my town and no doubt some will seek employment in a new store.
@@stephenwabaxter That's true - so many smaller camera shops have had to close due to poor sales - far too many folks think it's ok to take advantage of the extra service and advise they can get at a good store but then opt to save a few dollars by doing the actual purchase on line. Before retiring a couple of years ago I worked for a major camera retailer. I can remember a situation that one of our sales associates faced - he spent about an hour or so showing a customer several camera versions in her price range and at the end of their in-store meeting she told him that she liked one particular model but needed to consult with her husband before actually making the purchase - so he gave her a written quote. Some days later she came back to the store with the camera in hand. At first our sales associate figured she bought it from us when he wasn't on duty - but no - she had purchased it elsewhere - and now she wanted him to spend more time answering her questions she had about the operation of the camera, basically giving her a tutorial. He declined to do so (although we did such all the time for people who purchased from us as a service to them) and suggested she go back to the retailer (a big box store) for the help she was seeking - her answer - they don't really know anything about the camera and none of their sales associates are actually photographers - and, she was incensed that he wouldn't spend more time with her. As to price - she told him that the other store actually quoted her a bit higher price - but when she showed them our quote, they agreed to meet our price - so the whole thing wasn't even a pricing issue - just total arrogance and cluelessness on the part of the customer.
Wow
Weight and size, that’s why you buy Sony for full frame.
Buy a Fuji X100V and you are out of this problem. Take some recipes and you get the best pictures of your life.
But you are wrong here if you want to do long telephoto things like bif, sports or similar else. Photographing is always a compromise.
Ms. Leigh, Finally, I disagree with you. My CanoSoNikonFuji not only gets me out of bed but also prepares breakfast, paints the exterior of my house, and goes out and gets those hard-to-predict exposures for me. Camera gear doesn't matter? I think it does ... if you live in my twisted, fantastical musings. Otherwise, choose with care and reason. People should listen to professionals - such as Ms. Leigh, on this wonderful channel.
What about me I drive a Electric car and dont use gas 🚙 😂