I'm very glad to be able to hangout with older photographers who grew up in film era without internet and social media. I am 29 years old and found photography as my new hobby. I bought a film camera from him, it is a Pentax Spotmatic with 55mm lens. My first camera ever. He also told me to go to library and immerse my self to the greats from the past and learn from them. And here I am now without social media. I send my film to local drugstore and I also get prints there. Photography became a therapy for me and it is so much fun. I am addicted to it.
Great perspective, I have carried a Nikon F2 with a 50mm f/1.4 since I started taking photos forty years ago. I experimented with different focal length lenses, and always come back to my old loyal 50. The only other lens I may go to is a 105mm, but rarely do I pull it out. You are spot on about having to lug a bunch of gear around this indeed impedes my approach to being able to get the shot I envision. Thank you.
100% agreed - in 2007 I needed a new camera - my requirements from former experience: lightweight, top quality, one lens and (if possible makro)- after 1 month looking all kind of youtube videos and comparison I bought my ideal camera: Leica Q and never looked back since
Your comments around 5 minutes struck a chord with me! I live in a very “modern” city and there was one beautiful historic French style building that was recently torn down and in a pile of debris before they clean the lot up. It struck me as a beautiful photo idea with all the shiny cold glass sky scrapers as a backdrop as I drove by it on my way home - but the light was still too harsh and it has been way too hot in Texas for being outside lately so I drove past it and headed home to some sweet air conditioning. After hearing this you me to get back in my car close to sunset hour and head back to the scene of the crime. I got some great shots with good lighting and it was such a satisfying experience. Thank you for the lessons and the inspiration!
Its true.. Went to Italy with my fuji xt4 and my only lens the 23mmf2 aka 35mm equivalent FF. Shot the whole trip with this setup and loved it. No fiddling around with a heavy bag and no stress if it will be stolen. Just pure relief. And yes sometimes you need to accept that you can't get every type of shot.
Brilliant! I learned photography 40+ years ago with an Olympus OM10 & 50MM lens. And I tell people who want to try photography to be prepared to take a lot of bad photos because that's how you learn. I learn more from my bad photos than any good one I've ever taken.
Such good advice and insights. Diving head-on into photography on sabbatical leave from work, I usually go out with a compact camera and the same prime hooked to it. I traveled for 3 weeks in Asia, doing much street photography, and I left my new APS-C (with zoom) in the hotel most of the time in favor of the manual focus rangefinder. It made my life simpler. I may have missed many shots I would have nailed with the other camera, but the reward and feeling I got by slowing down and not worrying about anything but observing and making pictures was worth it. Walking 15+ kilometers daily would have been impossible - or at least unpleasant - with more gear. Love the observation about the warm blanket provided by the endless online stream of - often - pointless info about gear that detracts from going out. IMO it's a form of procrastination and a result of the fears - essentially of failure and rejection - one needs to overcome. And what's with this obsession with likes. Likes are pointless without a (good) strategy/goal behind posting stuff. Watch the other vids from Daniel and Marc - nuggets of gold.
I have my XPro3 with the 23, 35 and 50f2 lenses. 99% of the time I’m using the 35mm. I strive to get as close to the look I want sooc so my edits are minimal and quick. Now if only I could achieve status as a mediocre photographer! I need to start printing my photos.
yes finally someone who actually speaks sense man you're speaking gold here i downloaded this video because it is really really important, for everyone this is the highest yield video in the field very important very informative just amaaazing
I mostly in film cameras use an M3(1967) new then and mine! A 50mm Collapsible Summicron , Va filter, shade. Film mostly Ilford HP5+ or Kentmere 400/100. That's it. Backpack for groceries.. Your work proves your discussion. Well done!
Had Canon dslr's, lenses and all the kit. Came out of studying with a great portfolio and pass. Sold the lot, now happy wandering with a Canon compact.
You nailed it once more thank you! Re ratio when I have a studio photo session I want to get 6 pictures I'm OK with at the end of the day and it takes at least 300 to 600 shots to get them. When I shoot street I reduce my daily shooting to 30 to 50 frames because I want to take time and think and feel and choose and enjoy the process. I'm a huge fan of the 'one camera one lens' concept but not before I bought the original X100 did I realize how good and right it is. To this day I have a X100V with me at all times no matter what. Actually I traveled the world from Russia to down under and from Europe to Asia and America with my X-pro1 with a 35mm f2 lens and my X100 as a back up using either one or the other but never both at the same time. It felt risky and crazy at times but I loved the thrill and the fun and how it made me try and solve solvable problems while remaining creative and positive. I had the time of my life and I'm planning to do it again next year with the X-pro3 and the X100V
Sold my 80-200mm lens today before I came across this video as I was also lost in the “gear hype”. Decided to sell it because I rarely used it and it made my bag heavier! Also didn’t enjoy second guessing myself when i wanted to step out for some shots cause I kept thinking of the opportunity cost of leaving it behind. Glad I got rid of it now :)
Glad I stumbled across this, thanks! All of it is so true. I shoot digital but still revert to my old film Leica's and enjoy the process. There's no substitute for thinking in terms of light, patience and settings.
Buying expensive camera gear doesn’t magically turn me into Ansel Adams any more than buying expensive running shoes magically turns me into Usain Bolt. Gear is good, but knowledge is better.
I saw an interview with a photographer called Farn where he basically answered the question "if you had x amount of money, what gear would you buy?"(meant as a beginner) with "spend 80% of it on photography classes, buy a cheap camera for the rest". Basically, skills over gear any day is what I learnt.
I really enjoy this straight talk. It makes me feel normal to have multiple days in a row when I just take lousy pictures. But good days are great days. So, yeah! I work in some places where the walk is hard n gear is a pain to carry uphill. Can't afford heavy n many.
I always have my Soviet lomo LC-A with me all the time, sometimes one of those certain German rangefinders (with a 35 f2), occasionally a giant modern DSLR.
I think part of simplfying your lens choices in particular is realising you don't have to take everything. Be relaxed with not taking photos just as much as you enjoy taking photos.
My first camera was a Nikon F2AS I got 40 years ago. It was a beast at the time. 40 years later, I finally bought my 3rd camera, a Fuji X100V, small enough to be used anywhere. This might be the last camera I buy. Lets focus on taking photos.
Thanks to you both! I really enjoy the sharing of “no BS” knowledge. After watching your vids, there’s no way I can go back to watching the hipsters lol.....you are both an inspiration to me, to strive to do better, slow down, and make it the very best shot I can. Thank you, thank you!
Best thing was when my Canon EOS30 and 24-85 zoom lens was stolen while I was travelling China for six months in 2003. I found a Nikon FM2 and a 35mm lens in a shop. It immediately made an incredible difference in my photos. Instantly! I had been lead to believe I needed autofocus, matrix metering and zoom lens. When learning the opposite is true. Manual focus and fixed lenses makes you more engaged with the scene and a better photographer.
I always come back here to remind me to keep it simple. X-E2 with the XC 15-45mm (never really zoom in unless need some bokeh) and I have 2 FD lenses (28 & 35mm). I am now investing in stuff for long exposure landscapes (filter/tripod) and a printer. I am happy report I've printed a magazine at blurb in black and white. There was a march here on Aruba against child abuse capturing 3000 Arubans and we encapsulated that in a photo journal magazine! Thanks guys!
A Fujifilm X-E2 with the XF 28mm (41mm) f/2.8 pancake lens is exactly what Dan's talking about. IMO that lens hits a real sweet spot for focal length. The XF 35mm (50mm) f/2 might be one of Fujifilm's best lens and everyone needs a 50mm. Also there's a lot of folks out there that prefer the 16MP X-Trans CMOS II sensor that's in the X-E2 over the X-Trans CMOS III or IV because of the colors in JPEGs and "grain" rendered. If you want a longer prime look into the XF 60mm (90mm) f/2.4. It's reasonably priced compared to the XF 56mm f/1.2 and is rather small. The bokeh is still good at f/2.4. I worked as a photojournalist in Southeast Asia for a couple of years and that was my go to lens for portraits although everyone thinks of it just for macro photography. Early copies have a flaw with the f-stop ring failing so either buy new or from a store with a warranty. Think about sharing a copy of your 'zine on the Internet Archive. Still sell the print version but a freely available PDF version could get you a lot of views and help sell copies of the print version.
@@brian-beeler Thanks for the information! I will def. put the mag for free online! I've been eye-ing the XC35 as my native portret lens. So 2 lenses one body (kit!)
Lot's of good stuff in there for all of us. I can tell you the most important camera decision that I ever made was to get a Leica M6. Wide angle up close-know your subject. Not hanging back. These days no Leica rangefinder....DSLR in studio.
it is amazing, last week people buy the newest camera out there, next week's model they want that one. Rule of thumb when getting good info on YT, when the video doesn't have that techno music peppered throughout the video.
Great words of wisdom. I no longer shoot color work with film. I now use my Nikon Df for color work. As for black and white I use medium format Bronica SQ and the Mamiya C330. Simplicity is good down to 3 cameras. Every so often I will grab the Rolleiflex 3.5, but use it very rarely.
I always have one camera with me, it has Leice Summilux f1.8 aspherical lenses and it's in my Huawei P10 plus smart phone. My film cameras are a Nikon F2 with a 50mm sc 1.4 lens, and a 1957 Yashica Mat with the 75mm Lumaxar f3.5 lens for making big enlargements in my darkroom through a Schneider Componon S lens on a 1950s Gnome enlarger. Tri x film and Rodinal I've been using this set up for years. Know your equipment, and know exactly what it can do. This is from a 76 year old who has been making pictures for 65 years. Then you have confidence.
I have a basic mirrorless with kit lens and I only love photography on my hikes or going to the woods in autumn. The only lens I wanna buy is a Fuji 10-24 Hope I'm making the right decision
Less gear is hard to get your heart around. I have taken to "hiding" all gear except one camera one lens. Just had another grandson and only photographed him for the last 2 months with one camera and one lens. The consistency makes a big difference. I may be imagining it but my keeper ration seems to be higher.
I feel lucky that I came to these same realisations early on. I didn't have to buy all the gear and then realise is didn't need it. From early on I know I needed one body and one lens.
A7III and Tammy 28-75 mm. Bought some new lenses in corona panic, but still this is the combo I end up bringing with me, and 80% of my images are still from this combo, neatly fitting in a small shoulder bag.
Advancing Your Photography It was good to hear or re-affirm the following points. These are what resonated with me: 🔸you don’t want anything in front of you that impedes the process 🔸when you have too much stuff you will be reluctant to carry it; better to have less and smaller 🔸camera needs to be out all the time 🔸we have diluted ourselves through technology 🔸outside world terrifying vs online world being known and familiar 🔸it’s a facade to build a following; things are not always perfect as they seem (photo-artificiality) 🔸you need thick skin as things are stacked against you sometimes (culture, focus, etc...) 🔸there is a cohesiveness in using one lens; too many lenses becomes a jigsaw 🔸print your work
As long as it was the RIGHT body and lens. I once made the mistake of starting a project with one body/lens only to then find out that its field of view was a bit wider than how I naturally see the world. Not massively so, but enough to make everything feel slightly uncomfortable when I was shooting. 🤦♂😅
by having a single prime lens , you look at subjects it can take . You miss shots out of its reach but you are more likely to bring good ones it can takes . If you have several focals , lets say 3 , concentrating on 1 that day depending of the environnement might also do it, as long as you don't loose time deciding and switching... wich is likely to happen. The other thing about having a reasonnable single prime lens, even a full frame DSLR becomes quite easy to carry.
I just sold all my gear down to one good camera and a few lenses, got too caught up in gear and wound myself around the proverbial axel. I'm bad at photography, but I love it. I take my camera all over and take hundreds of pictures. I find that I get 1 good picture out of every 50 shots if I'm lucky. Thats the fun. Lots of learning to do and gear doesn't teach you.
While I have other lenses, I normally walk around with two cameras. I have a Sony RX100 V with its Zeiss 24-70 f/1.7, 2.8 zoom in my shirt pocket that is set for B&W and a Nikon Z50 with a 28mm f/2.8 lens that translates to a 42mm on the camera for color. Both are small enough to easily carry and neither is intimidating. I consider myself a photo-documentist, as I photographically document what I see. Yes, I am an amateur and have been one, off and on, for decades.
I totally agree! I only have an old Canon 5D1 with 50mm STM and three vintage lenses (canon 200 nfd, tamron 70-210 adaptall, tokina 20-35). However most of the time I end up using only the 50mm STM.
@@marcsilber I think it's a combination of a kind of Santa clause moment, where you realise the scale of the huge lie you've been sold, by people you trust, regarding the accumulation of photography gear… Dan Milnor, when viewed against the half-crazed, oversaturated gear-heavy, online-space right now, with brand new, half-baked, and overheating cameras being released by all the brands, with promises of sharper, better, higher resolution images… This being showcased on almost every other channel right now, and then you see THIS!… WOW… just WOW is all one can say. ✊🏿
There are many reasons why people are interested in photography (and it's not always to make photos). I'm sure low barrier to entry and instant gratification is a small part of the reason....
My ancient Nikon D600 and Nikon AIs 50mm 1.2. "The height of cultivation always runs to simplicity ... the ability to express the utmost with the minimum. It is the halfway cultivation that leads to ornamentation." Bruce Lee.
Easyjet (a European low-cost airline) is my best Minimal Gear Coach! I live in a remote part of northern Scotland and most trips anyplace start with an EasyJet flight from Inverness to London. They have a pretty strict cabin bag policy, so I tend to travel light. Sure does concentrate the mind on what photography gear to take. Fujifilm X-E2 + 35mm f/1.4 and an iPhone 7+ and that's me done. (Oh, and a change of underwear).
I photographed news for wire service in Africa for more than 3 decades. The "standard" equipment was, and still is 17-35mm on one body and 70 200mm on another and a bag with spare batteries, cards, notebook and stuff. The job demands that rig. Every job demands a different rig. Now in retirement I am fighting the need to carry all that stuff plus it kills my back.
I like looking at gear and occasionally buying gear almost as much as taking photos, but when I actually go out to photograph, I bring my one and only camera and 1 or 2 lenses. I think I will try a 28mm (on a crop sensor) and hope that that’s the only focal length I actually need. For the situations I find myself in, 21mm is often a little too wide and I crop or 35mm is a little too tight. I really hope 28mm is the answer. I’ll keep the other lenses for occasional use and pass them on to my boys when I’m older.
I have three go to cameras and I use them one at a time. I never take more than one body/lens combo: 1. EOS 1N w/EF 35mm f/2.0 IS 2. EOS 5D MkII w/EF 50mm f/1.4 USM 3. EOS R w/RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM With a tripod w/shoulder strap for easy carry. I love to shoot b&w street and documentary photography. I shoot the EOS R with Kodachrome 64 picture style I shoot the EOS 5D MkII with Velvia 50 picture style I have other lenses; EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L and EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L when I carry those I also use the tripod. I don't care about the weight because I know that I'll shoot some amazing photos. On the occasion when I don't have the tripod then I tend to miss shots.
How refreshing. I wish more would think this way and stop obsessing about gear....and worse, slagging off people and camera companies for daring to use a different sensor or brand.
Single type of film also applies to this? Like yeah i use my rangefinder all through out. And i started with an iso 100. Does that mean it would be better to use iso 100 until im done?
So that took care of one particular caricature... what about all the other ways of photography that people engage in? Is my 'one lens' allowed to be a super-zoom so i can still shoot my environmental triptychs?
@@marcsilber there's a few on ebay that are quite cheap. I've gone from nikon dslr + lenses to a fuji x30 (which was brilliant btw) and now a teeny tiny Sony, but you are 100% right about not getting bogged down in the lenses game, I had a 50mm f1. 8 on the nikon, was lovely to use.
Start LR up, go into your metadata, do a sort on lens focal length. You'll probably discover that the majority of you images were shot at a particular focal length. Does that suggest something to you?
You have to make bad, unnecessary decisions to get better. You can watch a video like this, maybe it helps to open your mind. But you have to carry a backpack with tons of equipment, missing shots etc. to really learn your lesson. Otherwise there always will be doubt. There is nothing better then own expirience. I really appreciate your words, because they mirrors my thoughts. But i hope beginners dont take it too serious, they have to learn from their own mistakes.
WOW! I loved this clip. When I began taking photographs, I did get the best camera that I could find. It was, and is, a Leica M3 with a collapsible 50mm Summicron. It cost me $275.00CAN, and even then it was a spectacular deal.It worked, and works, perfectly. Then I bought the attachable light meter and the flip polariser filter designed for rangefinders. So I figured what I wanted to shoot. And I shot with Kodachrome. The trick with Kodachrome is that your exposure had to be spot on or it was too light or dark in 1/3 of a stop. I had the camera lens zone focused, and I had it on my shoulder at all times, ready to draw at a second's notice. That was a discipline that was demanding. In the digital age, I use a Fujifilm X-T2, with one lens, an 18-55 zoom. And I am ready for anything. Thank you for your words, Daniel. They are affirming.
Equipment or not the most important/basic thing to master photography is to first understand the paintings. Just 100 years old Photography is an extension of 1000 years old painting.
Great video as always! I have a challenge for you, Marc! Try to do an interview with Ken Rockwell to maybe get some opinions from the other spectrum, especially when it comes to gear 😂
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I'm very glad to be able to hangout with older photographers who grew up in film era without internet and social media. I am 29 years old and found photography as my new hobby. I bought a film camera from him, it is a Pentax Spotmatic with 55mm lens. My first camera ever. He also told me to go to library and immerse my self to the greats from the past and learn from them. And here I am now without social media. I send my film to local drugstore and I also get prints there. Photography became a therapy for me and it is so much fun. I am addicted to it.
Wonderful! You’re doing exactly what I did learning photography. Next step is to find a darkroom and discover that magic.
...I've got time for people like this - brilliant, incisive and grounded in reality. Nothing else.
Great perspective, I have carried a Nikon F2 with a 50mm f/1.4 since I started taking photos forty years ago. I experimented with different focal length lenses, and always come back to my old loyal 50. The only other lens I may go to is a 105mm, but rarely do I pull it out. You are spot on about having to lug a bunch of gear around this indeed impedes my approach to being able to get the shot I envision. Thank you.
100% agreed - in 2007 I needed a new camera - my requirements from former experience: lightweight, top quality, one lens and (if possible makro)- after 1 month looking all kind of youtube videos and comparison I bought my ideal camera: Leica Q and never looked back since
🙌
Brilliant and perceptive as ever. I'm 40 years a pro' next year and Dan is one of the few 'voices' in photography I listen to for wise words.
Very much enjoyed the talk! Thank you to both David and Marc for taking the time.
🙏
Your comments around 5 minutes struck a chord with me! I live in a very “modern” city and there was one beautiful historic French style building that was recently torn down and in a pile of debris before they clean the lot up. It struck me as a beautiful photo idea with all the shiny cold glass sky scrapers as a backdrop as I drove by it on my way home - but the light was still too harsh and it has been way too hot in Texas for being outside lately so I drove past it and headed home to some sweet air conditioning.
After hearing this you me to get back in my car close to sunset hour and head back to the scene of the crime. I got some great shots with good lighting and it was such a satisfying experience. Thank you for the lessons and the inspiration!
🙏 fantastic
Pure gold! Best advices I have heard for a while. Thanks for sharing ☺️👏👏
Its true.. Went to Italy with my fuji xt4 and my only lens the 23mmf2 aka 35mm equivalent FF. Shot the whole trip with this setup and loved it. No fiddling around with a heavy bag and no stress if it will be stolen. Just pure relief. And yes sometimes you need to accept that you can't get every type of shot.
I’m in agree
Brilliant! I learned photography 40+ years ago with an Olympus OM10 & 50MM lens. And I tell people who want to try photography to be prepared to take a lot of bad photos because that's how you learn. I learn more from my bad photos than any good one I've ever taken.
👍
Such good advice and insights. Diving head-on into photography on sabbatical leave from work, I usually go out with a compact camera and the same prime hooked to it. I traveled for 3 weeks in Asia, doing much street photography, and I left my new APS-C (with zoom) in the hotel most of the time in favor of the manual focus rangefinder. It made my life simpler. I may have missed many shots I would have nailed with the other camera, but the reward and feeling I got by slowing down and not worrying about anything but observing and making pictures was worth it. Walking 15+ kilometers daily would have been impossible - or at least unpleasant - with more gear.
Love the observation about the warm blanket provided by the endless online stream of - often - pointless info about gear that detracts from going out. IMO it's a form of procrastination and a result of the fears - essentially of failure and rejection - one needs to overcome.
And what's with this obsession with likes. Likes are pointless without a (good) strategy/goal behind posting stuff.
Watch the other vids from Daniel and Marc - nuggets of gold.
So much truth spoken on this vid.
👍
I have my XPro3 with the 23, 35 and 50f2 lenses. 99% of the time I’m using the 35mm. I strive to get as close to the look I want sooc so my edits are minimal and quick. Now if only I could achieve status as a mediocre photographer! I need to start printing my photos.
Nice set up
Been there done that with lots of equipment. Now I’ve pared down myself.
Good stuff, best thing I've seen in ages. I feel much better about my failures now, they are part of the process.
yes finally someone who actually speaks sense
man you're speaking gold here
i downloaded this video because it is really really important, for everyone
this is the highest yield video in the field
very important very informative just amaaazing
i very agree ! you need two things for a good picture: a story in front of your lens and a brain behind the camera body.
Haha so true!
I mostly in film cameras use an M3(1967) new then and mine! A 50mm Collapsible Summicron , Va filter, shade. Film mostly Ilford HP5+ or Kentmere 400/100. That's it. Backpack for groceries.. Your work proves your discussion. Well done!
As always, thank you. Love you guys!
Thank you for joining us!
Man. I really have to pare down my gear. Thanks for this. A serious eye opener!
👍
Had Canon dslr's, lenses and all the kit. Came out of studying with a great portfolio and pass. Sold the lot, now happy wandering with a Canon compact.
🙏
You nailed it once more thank you! Re ratio when I have a studio photo session I want to get 6 pictures I'm OK with at the end of the day and it takes at least 300 to 600 shots to get them.
When I shoot street I reduce my daily shooting to 30 to 50 frames because I want to take time and think and feel and choose and enjoy the process.
I'm a huge fan of the 'one camera one lens' concept but not before I bought the original X100 did I realize how good and right it is. To this day I have a X100V with me at all times no matter what.
Actually I traveled the world from Russia to down under and from Europe to Asia and America with my X-pro1 with a 35mm f2 lens and my X100 as a back up using either one or the other but never both at the same time. It felt risky and crazy at times but I loved the thrill and the fun and how it made me try and solve solvable problems while remaining creative and positive.
I had the time of my life and I'm planning to do it again next year with the X-pro3 and the X100V
👍
Some great points from Dan. I think everyone starting on the photographic journey should watch this.
🙏
Sold my 80-200mm lens today before I came across this video as I was also lost in the “gear hype”. Decided to sell it because I rarely used it and it made my bag heavier! Also didn’t enjoy second guessing myself when i wanted to step out for some shots cause I kept thinking of the opportunity cost of leaving it behind. Glad I got rid of it now :)
I worked as a press photographer for a couple of years, and the lens I used the most was a Tamron 28-70mm f 2.8 and a Vivitar 285 flash.
Glad I stumbled across this, thanks! All of it is so true. I shoot digital but still revert to my old film Leica's and enjoy the process. There's no substitute for thinking in terms of light, patience and settings.
Buying expensive camera gear doesn’t magically turn me into Ansel Adams any more than buying expensive running shoes magically turns me into Usain Bolt. Gear is good, but knowledge is better.
Too true my man
I saw an interview with a photographer called Farn where he basically answered the question "if you had x amount of money, what gear would you buy?"(meant as a beginner) with "spend 80% of it on photography classes, buy a cheap camera for the rest".
Basically, skills over gear any day is what I learnt.
I’m all about that thanks
Yes great interview and message. Thanks for sharing. Good to see you on our live today
Excellent interview, so much wisdom about getting to a objective.
👍
I really enjoy this straight talk. It makes me feel normal to have multiple days in a row when I just take lousy pictures. But good days are great days. So, yeah! I work in some places where the walk is hard n gear is a pain to carry uphill. Can't afford heavy n many.
👍
I always have my Soviet lomo LC-A with me all the time, sometimes one of those certain German rangefinders (with a 35 f2), occasionally a giant modern DSLR.
I think part of simplfying your lens choices in particular is realising you don't have to take everything. Be relaxed with not taking photos just as much as you enjoy taking photos.
My first camera was a Nikon F2AS I got 40 years ago. It was a beast at the time. 40 years later, I finally bought my 3rd camera, a Fuji X100V, small enough to be used anywhere. This might be the last camera I buy. Lets focus on taking photos.
Yes agreed Johny!
Thanks. Agree, I have the Camera, the 35mil and a spare battery. Tons of stuff back in a cupboard somewhere. Cheers (Ps Z6II f1.8 35mm)
Fumbling in their backpacks. 😂 Hilarious. Seen that so many times. Keep it simple stupid couldn't be more true. Excellent vid.
YES! KISS!!
Thanks to you both! I really enjoy the sharing of “no BS” knowledge. After watching your vids, there’s no way I can go back to watching the hipsters lol.....you are both an inspiration to me, to strive to do better, slow down, and make it the very best shot I can. Thank you, thank you!
Best thing was when my Canon EOS30 and 24-85 zoom lens was stolen while I was travelling China for six months in 2003. I found a Nikon FM2 and a 35mm lens in a shop. It immediately made an incredible difference in my photos. Instantly! I had been lead to believe I needed autofocus, matrix metering and zoom lens. When learning the opposite is true. Manual focus and fixed lenses makes you more engaged with the scene and a better photographer.
I always come back here to remind me to keep it simple. X-E2 with the XC 15-45mm (never really zoom in unless need some bokeh) and I have 2 FD lenses (28 & 35mm). I am now investing in stuff for long exposure landscapes (filter/tripod) and a printer. I am happy report I've printed a magazine at blurb in black and white. There was a march here on Aruba against child abuse capturing 3000 Arubans and we encapsulated that in a photo journal magazine! Thanks guys!
A Fujifilm X-E2 with the XF 28mm (41mm) f/2.8 pancake lens is exactly what Dan's talking about. IMO that lens hits a real sweet spot for focal length. The XF 35mm (50mm) f/2 might be one of Fujifilm's best lens and everyone needs a 50mm. Also there's a lot of folks out there that prefer the 16MP X-Trans CMOS II sensor that's in the X-E2 over the X-Trans CMOS III or IV because of the colors in JPEGs and "grain" rendered.
If you want a longer prime look into the XF 60mm (90mm) f/2.4. It's reasonably priced compared to the XF 56mm f/1.2 and is rather small. The bokeh is still good at f/2.4. I worked as a photojournalist in Southeast Asia for a couple of years and that was my go to lens for portraits although everyone thinks of it just for macro photography. Early copies have a flaw with the f-stop ring failing so either buy new or from a store with a warranty.
Think about sharing a copy of your 'zine on the Internet Archive. Still sell the print version but a freely available PDF version could get you a lot of views and help sell copies of the print version.
@@brian-beeler Thanks for the information! I will def. put the mag for free online! I've been eye-ing the XC35 as my native portret lens. So 2 lenses one body (kit!)
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Lot's of good stuff in there for all of us. I can tell you the most important camera decision that I ever made was to get a Leica M6. Wide angle up close-know your subject. Not hanging back. These days no Leica rangefinder....DSLR in studio.
I’ve had my M2 for decades and in love 🥰
I agree, and love everything you are saying. You speak reality. Thanks for the validation.
Thanks for watching!
it is amazing, last week people buy the newest camera out there, next week's model they want that one. Rule of thumb when getting good info on YT, when the video doesn't have that techno music peppered throughout the video.
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Great points. Thank for sharing.📸🙌🏽
Great words of wisdom. I no longer shoot color work with film. I now use my Nikon Df for color work. As for black and white I use medium format Bronica SQ and the Mamiya C330. Simplicity is good down to 3 cameras. Every so often I will grab the Rolleiflex 3.5, but use it very rarely.
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What a great suggestion. I'm gonna take this forward when I shoot for my own channel. Thanks.
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I always have one camera with me, it has Leice Summilux f1.8 aspherical lenses and it's in my Huawei P10 plus smart phone.
My film cameras are a Nikon F2 with a 50mm sc 1.4 lens, and a 1957 Yashica Mat with the 75mm Lumaxar f3.5 lens for making big enlargements in my darkroom through a Schneider Componon S lens on a 1950s Gnome enlarger.
Tri x film and Rodinal
I've been using this set up for years.
Know your equipment, and know exactly what it can do.
This is from a 76 year old who has been making pictures for 65 years.
Then you have confidence.
Solid set up Neil! Yes that’s how you gain confidence
I have a basic mirrorless with kit lens and I only love photography on my hikes or going to the woods in autumn. The only lens I wanna buy is a Fuji 10-24
Hope I'm making the right decision
Best video ever ❤️
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interesting thoughts, thx for the interview :)
Less gear is hard to get your heart around. I have taken to "hiding" all gear except one camera one lens. Just had another grandson and only photographed him for the last 2 months with one camera and one lens. The consistency makes a big difference. I may be imagining it but my keeper ration seems to be higher.
Haha good workout. Share your photos with us in AYPClub
I feel lucky that I came to these same realisations early on. I didn't have to buy all the gear and then realise is didn't need it. From early on I know I needed one body and one lens.
Good on ya!
A7III and Tammy 28-75 mm. Bought some new lenses in corona panic, but still this is the combo I end up bringing with me, and 80% of my images are still from this combo, neatly fitting in a small shoulder bag.
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I only have one camera and one lens! Love this!
💥 boom!!
Best advice in a long time, thanks Dan and Marc.
thanks! What was biggest point for you?
Advancing Your Photography
It was good to hear or re-affirm the following points. These are what resonated with me:
🔸you don’t want anything in front of you that impedes the process
🔸when you have too much stuff you will be reluctant to carry it; better to have less and smaller
🔸camera needs to be out all the time
🔸we have diluted ourselves through technology
🔸outside world terrifying vs online world being known and familiar
🔸it’s a facade to build a following; things are not always perfect as they seem (photo-artificiality)
🔸you need thick skin as things are stacked against you sometimes (culture, focus, etc...)
🔸there is a cohesiveness in using one lens; too many lenses becomes a jigsaw
🔸print your work
Thanks for that summary! Would you cut and paste in AYPCLUB?
Sure will do.
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thank you !
Give me my GRIII and I’m happy 😃 Cheers from The Netherlands 🇳🇱
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The happiest I’ve ever been as a photographer is when I committed to one body and one lens for an entire project or trip.
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As long as it was the RIGHT body and lens. I once made the mistake of starting a project with one body/lens only to then find out that its field of view was a bit wider than how I naturally see the world. Not massively so, but enough to make everything feel slightly uncomfortable when I was shooting. 🤦♂😅
by having a single prime lens , you look at subjects it can take . You miss shots out of its reach but you are more likely to bring good ones it can takes . If you have several focals , lets say 3 , concentrating on 1 that day depending of the environnement might also do it, as long as you don't loose time deciding and switching... wich is likely to happen.
The other thing about having a reasonnable single prime lens, even a full frame DSLR becomes quite easy to carry.
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I just sold all my gear down to one good camera and a few lenses, got too caught up in gear and wound myself around the proverbial axel. I'm bad at photography, but I love it. I take my camera all over and take hundreds of pictures. I find that I get 1 good picture out of every 50 shots if I'm lucky. Thats the fun. Lots of learning to do and gear doesn't teach you.
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I just bought a 5D mk ii and sigma 35mm 1.4 lens…hope to use just that for most shots and video stuff
While I have other lenses, I normally walk around with two cameras. I have a Sony RX100 V with its Zeiss 24-70 f/1.7, 2.8 zoom in my shirt pocket that is set for B&W and a Nikon Z50 with a 28mm f/2.8 lens that translates to a 42mm on the camera for color. Both are small enough to easily carry and neither is intimidating. I consider myself a photo-documentist, as I photographically document what I see. Yes, I am an amateur and have been one, off and on, for decades.
I totally agree!
I only have an old Canon 5D1 with 50mm STM and three vintage lenses (canon 200 nfd, tamron 70-210 adaptall, tokina 20-35). However most of the time I end up using only the 50mm STM.
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WOW… just WOW!…
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What’s the biggest wow for you?
@@marcsilber I think it's a combination of a kind of Santa clause moment, where you realise the scale of the huge lie you've been sold, by people you trust, regarding the accumulation of photography gear… Dan Milnor, when viewed against the half-crazed, oversaturated gear-heavy, online-space right now, with brand new, half-baked, and overheating cameras being released by all the brands, with promises of sharper, better, higher resolution images… This being showcased on almost every other channel right now, and then you see THIS!… WOW… just WOW is all one can say. ✊🏿
I love it! Thanks!
Wise words. For me it‘s 35 and 50, that‘s it. Anything below or above is an exception for a specific purpose.
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I have the original Fuji x100. I have to move around, squat, bend over, jump etc to get the photo I want. Lots of fun.
There are many reasons why people are interested in photography (and it's not always to make photos). I'm sure low barrier to entry and instant gratification is a small part of the reason....
I'm a big believer of Robert Capa's "If your pictures aren't good enough, you aren't close enough.". Lots of gear doesn't lend to "close".
Me too! Amen 🙏
Word! When I only have my Canon AE-1 with a 50mm, 1.4 lens with mie I take my best pictures.
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@AgentQQ8 Because sometimes it is necessary to take digital photos. It's not about my personal taste.
Agreed, that's why I shot film photography.
I have the Canon T70 with the 50 1.4 and it is awesome! It delivers great results!
My ancient Nikon D600 and Nikon AIs 50mm 1.2. "The height of cultivation always runs to simplicity ... the ability to express the utmost with the minimum. It is the halfway cultivation that leads to ornamentation." Bruce Lee.
Easyjet (a European low-cost airline) is my best Minimal Gear Coach! I live in a remote part of northern Scotland and most trips anyplace start with an EasyJet flight from Inverness to London. They have a pretty strict cabin bag policy, so I tend to travel light. Sure does concentrate the mind on what photography gear to take. Fujifilm X-E2 + 35mm f/1.4 and an iPhone 7+ and that's me done. (Oh, and a change of underwear).
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Amen Dan!
This was great. Thank you!
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I’m basically down to my Xpro 2 and either he 23mm f2 or the 35mm f1.4
Sucofni Sucofni yeah but who do I sacrifice I cannot choose
I am on a X-Pro 1 and 35mm 1.4, 18mm f2. 👍🏼
I photographed news for wire service in Africa for more than 3 decades. The "standard" equipment was, and still is 17-35mm on one body and 70 200mm on another and a bag with spare batteries, cards, notebook and stuff. The job demands that rig. Every job demands a different rig. Now in retirement I am fighting the need to carry all that stuff plus it kills my back.
I hear you!
Amen!
I like looking at gear and occasionally buying gear almost as much as taking photos, but when I actually go out to photograph, I bring my one and only camera and 1 or 2 lenses. I think I will try a 28mm (on a crop sensor) and hope that that’s the only focal length I actually need. For the situations I find myself in, 21mm is often a little too wide and I crop or 35mm is a little too tight. I really hope 28mm is the answer. I’ll keep the other lenses for occasional use and pass them on to my boys when I’m older.
I do that. One Minolta x-300 and one 50mm f1.4 lens which my grandfather used. Thanks.
Good stuff!
I have three go to cameras and I use them one at a time. I never take more than one body/lens combo:
1. EOS 1N w/EF 35mm f/2.0 IS
2. EOS 5D MkII w/EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
3. EOS R w/RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM
With a tripod w/shoulder strap for easy carry.
I love to shoot b&w street and documentary photography.
I shoot the EOS R with Kodachrome 64 picture style
I shoot the EOS 5D MkII with Velvia 50 picture style
I have other lenses; EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L and EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L when I carry those I also use the tripod. I don't care about the weight because I know that I'll shoot some amazing photos. On the occasion when I don't have the tripod then I tend to miss shots.
How refreshing. I wish more would think this way and stop obsessing about gear....and worse, slagging off people and camera companies for daring to use a different sensor or brand.
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Single type of film also applies to this? Like yeah i use my rangefinder all through out. And i started with an iso 100. Does that mean it would be better to use iso 100 until im done?
So that took care of one particular caricature... what about all the other ways of photography that people engage in? Is my 'one lens' allowed to be a super-zoom so i can still shoot my environmental triptychs?
I have no exp. Sir but I want to start also , what camera would be great for beginner sir??
Great convo def subbed
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Excellent.
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Currently seeking out a used Sony rx100 m3. Had a gorgeous fuji x30 last year but had to sell it.
Hope you find it!
@@marcsilber there's a few on ebay that are quite cheap. I've gone from nikon dslr + lenses to a fuji x30 (which was brilliant btw) and now a teeny tiny Sony, but you are 100% right about not getting bogged down in the lenses game, I had a 50mm f1. 8 on the nikon, was lovely to use.
All true
Is a leica m6 and 35mm summilux 1.4 enough as a one camera and lense for life and everything.
Start LR up, go into your metadata, do a sort on lens focal length. You'll probably discover that the majority of you images were shot at a particular focal length. Does that suggest something to you?
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THANKYOU
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This is where its really at.
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I bit confused... is anything wrong having one 18 - 200mm lens?
I don’t think I’ve ever seen Dan Milnor in colour before… #shifter
there he is!
You have to make bad, unnecessary decisions to get better. You can watch a video like this, maybe it helps to open your mind. But you have to carry a backpack with tons of equipment, missing shots etc. to really learn your lesson. Otherwise there always will be doubt. There is nothing better then own expirience. I really appreciate your words, because they mirrors my thoughts. But i hope beginners dont take it too serious, they have to learn from their own mistakes.
Yep but the advice may make it easier
WOW! I loved this clip. When I began taking photographs, I did get the best camera that I could find. It was, and is, a Leica M3 with a collapsible 50mm Summicron. It cost me $275.00CAN, and even then it was a spectacular deal.It worked, and works, perfectly. Then I bought the attachable light meter and the flip polariser filter designed for rangefinders. So I figured what I wanted to shoot. And I shot with Kodachrome. The trick with Kodachrome is that your exposure had to be spot on or it was too light or dark in 1/3 of a stop. I had the camera lens zone focused, and I had it on my shoulder at all times, ready to draw at a second's notice. That was a discipline that was demanding. In the digital age, I use a Fujifilm X-T2, with one lens, an 18-55 zoom. And I am ready for anything. Thank you for your words, Daniel. They are affirming.
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Equipment or not the most important/basic thing to master photography is to first understand the paintings. Just 100 years old Photography is an extension of 1000 years old painting.
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🙏🙏🙏🙏from 🇳🇱NL
Didn’t mean to push dislike button...apologize. Pushed it back 😏👌
No worries 😉
I took my favorite pictures with disposable cameras 😅
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Never got past the Kodak Brownie....
Still?
@@marcsilber Yeah great little camera...:)
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I have a Sony a7iii with a Samyang 45mm and 75mm . Works for me.
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Does he mean 50mm on a crop sensor or full frame 😮
Great video as always!
I have a challenge for you, Marc! Try to do an interview with Ken Rockwell to maybe get some opinions from the other spectrum, especially when it comes to gear 😂
Yes I have done that with him in the past
Advancing Your Photography no frickin’ way! So I see that there’s really no photographer you haven’t talked to. Props to you!