Started with a Sony crop sensor and moved to a Sony full-frame a couple of years later. (Yes, it highlighted how much I had to grow.) The best decision I made after purchasing the full-frame and three lenses was stop watching YT videos on camera gear. I stopped reading reviews and purposely ignored all new releases for more than a year. Once there was two or three new cameras/lenses past what I already had, the fear of missing out and the need to have "better" equipment... just disappeared. It made me happy and I appreciated the camera in my hands much more. Still, I do baby my equipment so gotta work on that. Thanks for another great video, Sean.
you’ve obviously got a great point about gear not making you a better photographer (and sometimes making you worse), but caring about ergonomics isn’t shallow. some people can live without caring and that’s great! those of us who need good ergonomics aren’t shallow tho, it’s no different than some people needing color and art in their life and others not really caring about their interiors and being comfortable everywhere. neither one is superior. i can’t work under fluorescent lights. good lighting makes me want to work more. that doesn’t mean i’m leaving my motivation to lighting. bad ergonomics make everything a struggle. struggling with a tool isn’t noble and it doesn’t make my photographs better. and if you study art history… great painters are often inspired by materials. they’re often inspired by asking “what if…?” and “what can i do?” saying that is a negative thing is like saying photographers can’t be inspired by light. it’s a medium. of course it can be inspiring. also, i buy gear for the fun of using it and the images it gives me that i can’t get anywhere else. therefore the only thing i can’t get enough of is quirky old lenses but luckily they’re cheap.
I needed this I have bought over 150k in gear, now I have so much it’s overwhelming that I am stuck, I now have 5 full systems, and I don’t even have a photograph business yet, I will say my wife is so understanding with me, I love her so much
Still one of my favorite people on RUclips - LOVE the philosophy. I'm a hobbyist - and new to it all - so for me - bargain shopping for vintage lenses is part of the hobby - then figuring out if I like and when I like a lens. On the flip side - in the world of vintage - the ergos and functions (for focusing and framing) do count - but the vintage world is a niche. Noted in similar fashion - I still have and use a Sony R1 (slowest of the slow) - and get a huge kick out of using it to create something special. The camera might just be a tool - but for those who have ever freehanded a dove tail or planed manually - having the RIGHT tool does make a difference. Shaun is a PRO - he sets a threshold based on performance and specs - then selects. I'm a hack - thereby certain items make a huge difference (In time savings and often in functionality) - tomorrow if someone took the Alpha 1 EVF, chunked it on a good sensor (Sony 24), ELIMINATED AF and the rear screen (CEPA rating of what - 3000), and gave dual display (Fuji) - and then the same dials/nobs for the triangle - I'd be in line because I'll get to shoot more because the tool FITS. He never used the word FITS nor ADAPT - but I think those are two items that are critical and SUPPORT his point.
Hi Sean, it has taken me about 45 years to arrive at the points you raised. Thanks for summarizing this points. Since concentrating on creating compelling images with what gear I have with me, I am a less frustrated photographer 😊
I agree with one exception, the autofocus system. I have only an XT3. I am thinking of investing in the XH2S as I have mised too many oportunities. Luckily nowadays almost all brands seem to have reached a point where autofocus is good enough.
@@Magneira The work he does may be very different from yours and could be much more demanding in regards to auto-focus. You know your work and he knows his, bud.
Hi Sean. I'm a 61 year old photographer. I have been doing photography for over 40 years. In my early years there was no internet or RUclips so my inspiration was magazines. Everyone goes through a dry spell and needs a little motivation sometimes. I'm glad you brought this subject up about gear. I find most RUclipsrs today are all about the gear and the processing them on the computer but your view reflects how I feel about the art of photographer. That little "high" you get when you capture something special. I've watched a lot of your videos and don't get me wrong about me wanting to get your attention but I just find your opinion and advise refreshing. It reminds me of the good old days and why I got into photography. It's not about the money or the number of likes, it's about that "high" i get and the knowledge I gain from getting out there and photographing things that interest me. Thanks again.
I came to photography after 25 years of fine art background. One thing that always stood out, was how blown away most other photographers here were to find out I had only been shooting a couple of years when I first started. The reason was my understanding of lighting, composition, and emotion from that art background. My approach to gear has been heavily shaped by this: If you believe the gear will make you a photographer, then you'll be replaced when that gear becomes obsolete. But if you are the artist that creates, and the camera is just the tool, then no new gear can replace you. People have never asked what camera those photos were shot with when they see my work....they ask who the photographer was. For that reason. Create, and always grow. You'll be irreplaceable.
Well, you've hit me with points 2 and 3 :))) I've sold my fancy Canon gear (nothing to complain about them, they were nice jewelry) and got myself and XT-3 and 35mm because I was thinking of smth light and sticking to only one lens. It changed everything, so dear people: Sean has really valid points.
One of the best videos I have seen in the subject. I'm one of those people who bought a lot of expensive stuff and found myself learning a lot from that journey. The conclusion was exactly the one you brought up: I have nothing but me to blame my shortcomings in photography. My tale on it is, that if you're not able to produce fantastic images with gears from 2013, no gear in the world will help you. While I still use all of my lenses, even 70 y o ones(!), I don't recommend walking the path I did. After 20 years of shooting, I'm still curious and trying to improve myself. But that I didn't know when I spent A Lot of money on gears. Most people loose their interest in hobbies quickly. My standard advice is have fun, explore, try everything, and if you still like it after five years - shoot!
Eventually, you realise that your art is what matters, not the specific brush you used to create it. I love these discussions. I was having one with a friend last night comparing analogies of being a photographer versus a musician. There are so many transferable lessons between creative fields. Nice work as always, Sean!
Can confirm. I am a photographer, visual artist, musician (what my channel is for) and filmmaker. Many of the the lessons I learn in one field transfer to the other, especially the visual mediums.
Hey Sean. You raised some great points and your videos are my absolute faves - It’s so refreshing to subscribe to a photographer who focusses their work towards developing themselves, rather than the latest and greatest gear / web tool / etc. Years back I was a sports photographer, and the required tools were simple: Speed, battery life, reach & reliability. End result, 2x 1D4’s, 400mm f2.8, 70-200 f2.8 and a 24-70 f2.8. Now as tiles has moved on and I’ve got older, I shoot weddings and have with me a whole bunch of stuff: 2x 5D4’s, 70-200 / 24-70 / 16-35 / 135 / 85 / 35 / 24. My point is that I have all this ‘gear’ but they are just tools. They get used, abused, I can work them with my eyes shut, but when the day is done, they’re packed away and forgotten about until the next gig. I’m not saying I have no love for camera gear. For me it’s like a carpenters chisel; they know exactly how it works and what it can and can’t do, but it’s a tool. They control it. It doesn’t control them. On a side note - My personal stuff is shot on a 5Dmk1 or 1DS mk1 and a 35. Solid tools that I don’t worry about, meaning I can focus my energy in creating. If you’ve made it this far, thank you. Thanks for all that you do Sean. 👍
Hi Sean, found your channel after a mention by Alex from The Photographic Eye. “Less reverence to to tools” is going to be my mantra going forward. Subscribed and working my way through your back catalogue with a mug of tea on a cold, windy and rainy morning. Had to stop when I watched the video about your grandmother as there was something in my eyes!!! As a grandfather myself I have a special bond with my 3 year old granddaughter and am building an archive of photos documenting her childhood. It may sound vain but it would be nice to think that after my days she looks back on our relationship with the same fondness you had for your grandmother.
Love this … I bought an XT2 some years ago now. It does everything I want (and more, I’m still learning). I’ve had a long slump, but am going out with a friend today to see if I can remember what to do!
I was a collector of cameras which sat in a glass case and rarely got used. After years of buying the latest/greatest/gotta have, I realized I was still using the 2 bodies I bought early on in my practice to become a better photographer. I thought the latest and greatest would give me the best images available. I learned the best images come from the body I'm most familiar with, the body I have a relationship with and know it's limits, it's strength and it's weaknesses, and can with confidence create the image I'm seeking. I sold a lot of "like new" gear rather than keep it in my "worship" case and put the money to good use in things I'll actually use, actually take out of the house. Thanks for this video and validation!
Yes, totally agree. Well mostly agree. I come from a musical background and Im new to photography. But I recognise the problem here, it's GAS - gear acquisition syndrome. The forums are full of experts who will tell you which guitar you need etc., but a real musician can make music from cheap gear. I said I mostly agree, because I don't see anything wrong with a bit of reverence for your gear. Have you ever looked at your cameras up close, maybe through a macro lens? And as we know even a macro lens isn't going to reveal the intricate level of engineering inside the chips or on the sensor. They're incredible things and even old mechanical SLRs hidden in your cupboard have layer upon layer of beautiful precision. so yes, they are tools, but it is a mistake to dismiss them. If we don't love them, who will? Thanks for the video 👍🇦🇺
Restrictions are the mother of creativity. Being a photographer is being a problem solver, getting creative to overcome limitations of hardware. To me having the perfect camera is recipe to losing creativity. Choosing gear is looking at the output which is closest to the look I want for my style in terms of colour, contrast, tonality & sharpness. The gear that gets me as close to that in camera. That leaves me more time in the field to create a compelling image - composition, perspective and structure. Affordability is important as it’s a hobby and there will be no ROI, it’s just art for arts sake…You have skills and talent and have put in the blood sweat and tears to be able to leverage high end equipment…
Brother Sean, usually I'm a bit philosophical regarding your videos because I seek to encourage you. But not this time. Thankfully I don't wrestle with GAS (gear acquisition syndrome) largely because camera gear has become so expensive for a hobbyist like me. So, I use my old gear while honing my skills. But, I keep coming back to this video for the B-roll. The scenes and locations really have character (i.e., not the oft-times sterility of modern photog and videography). Something about this particular B-roll touches me inside. Continue on your journey, my Brother. Peace.
"Oh, Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz?" pleaded Janis Joplin in the 60s. Now that I've dated myself I have to explain that I am a rangefinder addict. Been through most types of cameras from large format view, TLR and SLR, but when I stumbled on the Fuji X-Pro 2, I had to have it. That led to an X-E3 for a back-up body, then an X-100V for daily carry. But, I always fancied a Leica, so I fell for a Q2 Monochrome and eventually an M-10R. I got my "Mercedes Benz" and use it alternately with all the others, enjoying each immensely and producing images that satisfy me. Moral of the story: Life is fragile and brief-do that which makes you happy.
I like gear/new stuff and I've probably switched around too much, searching for the right combo that made me as happy as my old D700 DSLR did, but I think I'm to the point where I'm very happy with what I have and don't truly need anything else. I admit I do have two different systems (Nikon and Fuji) and 3 camera total, but it's just a hobby for me and something I enjoy, so I don't mind having two different systems. I have minimal lenses though because I just don't need too many lenses. There's a comfort in getting to the point where you are definitely happy of content with what you have. I think the biggest trap people need to be careful with is not worrying about what the OTHER person has. If it's what you need and want, OK...but you don't need it just because someone else makes nice photos with it or they tell you THIS brand or that is the right one for you. Nonsense. What's right for you is what's right for you...and don't worry about what anyone else thinks, if you know you can use that camera to make the images you want or need.
Thank you Sean for another great video. And sharing the images. I would like to add that there’s a third group of photographers. Those of us who are hobby photographers. I have been tempted to fall into these traps. Thankfully, I’ve been able to keep myself from falling into them. I do feel the same, the point of this is to capture images that inspire and tell a story. But I have come to enjoy the process through the use of tools that feel good to use. Which isn’t always the most expensive gear but the gear that gets out of your way. I liken it to the difference between a poorly designed hand plane that has never been sharpened and one that has been designed to last lifetime of use and is well maintained and sharpened. The feeling you get while the blade shears off a slice of wood fibers can’t fully be describe, it must be felt.
I had come across you/rchannel about three years ago. Watched a lot of your videos mainly cause of your soulful deliberations. I am now looking to buy a camera to direct my feature in India and came across your video. More than the information you shared, I wanted to share that it felt like I had come across an old friend again and sat down for a drink. It is a special quality that you have, much needed. Thank you for what you do.
I stopped watching photo videos for uite a while, but Sean really has some amazing talent and eye and now I have been sitting here for two hours watching his channel and going through all of my junk photo gear to donate to Good Will. So long Gorilla Pods and about nine hundred filters I don't even know what they do.
You're definitely on point about the fetishization of commodities like the camera, I just don't know if I'd say ergonomics and UIs are connected to that consumerist tendency. A good camera won't motivate you to use it more, but an uncomfortable/ annoying camera will definitely motivate you to use it less.
Take your point but some cameras can leave you feeling 'meh' because the images are disappointing compared to what you thought you saw with your eye. Whereas some surpass your expectation - or maybe it's the difference between cropped and full frame sensors.
@@johnwaine56It's not that last point. There's a little more to work with for editing but it's more the lens that you like that'll make the difference. And getting your color settings dialed in. And of course, shooting in good light and finding good subjects.
Thank you Sean. This video is an affirmation of my approach. To me a camera is a tool, nothing more. There are certain specifications I require, much the same as anyone else. On top of that I am a one-handed southpaw. I do see that gear matters, technically, but how it fits in my hand is an issue not addressed by any camera company. All my gear fits in or on one medium-small camera bag. What I am able to accomplish, with what I have, is most important. Love your work & channel.
Might be a year ago, but I agree 100% with you. I was a tech chaser for years thinking that´s what makes photography, you Sean have prove me wrong since I follow you many years ago. Great video. Still great in 2024!!!
Great video! I myself started with Canon DSLR’s and found them capable cameras but felt they lacked the ergonomics and feel of older SLR’s when I began shooting more film. Fujifilm filled that need for me. At the end of the day the photos are really what is most important and finding the box that does that works for you is an amazing feeling.
I've never had anyone tell me 'you used this model camera and lens to make that photo' Photography is part of my skillset, I shoot portraits, weddings, events etc. for friends because I want to. Not a pro by choice, I consciously only have one camera and one lens and only change when there is a big leap in performance. Its about IQ and AF. Don't care too much about size with one camera/lens. And inspired by Sean in an older vid, I do all editing in my phone. I'm mobile and I don't ever have to think what to bring. Shot 10 years with 35mm FL only, a great limitation teaching composition, now got a zoom as they are so good nowadays. And I never talk about gear on forums, but interesting to read when researching gear ;)
I am a working photographer who has been such for about 35 years. With the exception of my first FE2, I have bought every camera I have or have had used - buying them specifically for the work I do rather than for the features the manufacturer advertises. I have good gear (at least for my purposes) - Two Nikon D750s, a Nikon D600 (emergency backup), a Nikkor 80-200mm f2.8, a 24-70mm f2.8, a 35mm f2, a 50mm f1.8 and a Micro-Nikkor 105mm 2.8. The money I have saved on camera gear over the years has allowed me to buy the lighting gear that I need for my work, and none of the new Nikons would make a significant difference in the product I deliver. Thanks for the video, I think way too many photographers get wrapped up in GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome).
This was the video I needed to see right now as I have been contemplating buying a new camera to help motivate me to shoot. Maybe its not the gear I need, but a change in perspective and new subjects.
What CAN motivate to shoot, if you already have adequate camera and lenses, rather than new gear, is a trip ! Now that the pandemic is kinda in our rearview mirror, and every country is slowly starting to open their borders, it might be a good idea to spend the money you were otherwise gonna spend on a camera on another country
I absolutely agree with you. It took me almost 15 years to find my perfect match. It wasn't easy and I needed the money I didn't have. Now I'm very happy with my gear, as I feel it perfectly matches my needs and skills.I still have my "dream camera", but that doesn't stop me from throwing my gear in my backpack or pocket and go out to shoot what I like to shoot.
Whenever I get the 'urge' to buy new gear I come back to your video. It helps me to avoid making decisions that I will regret later. I especially fall into trap number 3. And I forget that while I would like my camera to be smaller and lighter and 'motivate me to take it with me all the time', I would always regret losing the image quality that my current camera provides. So instead of buying a new camera, maybe I just get a smaller lens or just travel with one or two lenses and challenge myself to make the best of those restrictions. Thank you!
This is a mantra for all craftsman, they all hunker after gear to avoid facing their truth and few get down and do the work. Because if you apply yourself and do the work you’ll get mastery(even if you are “dumb”)it’s as simple as that. Soul/feeling is more important than clever. Simple… but simple is hard, be still, breathe, no fluff… put your heart into it! ❤
I love the guitar players statement near the end... I just decided they were the tool for me. There's something about owning limited gear and just maxing out what you can do with it. You also spend less time stressing about what to shoot with and you just go shoot.
Hi Sean, a bit late to the party here but that's a great video you made. I ended up with the D850, and I can sense everyone reading this to begin rolling their eyes - but the reality of it for me strikes a chord with much of what you said in the video. I had quite a gear journey myself to end up with what I have. It is an eclectic mix, let me explain. The body speaks for itself. I am almost purely a pet and landscape photographer and the level of detail with that body just never disappoints. Particularly if good attention has been paid to composition and thus requiring little or no cropping out. Unlike action or street work, there is usually plenty of time to get that right. This leaves me with lenses. 4 Nikkor and one Tamron. on the Nikkor front I have the wonderful 16-35mm f/4, which I traded down from the hard to use 14-24mm f/2.8. The 16-35mm gives me wonderful compositional scope where the use of ultrawide to wide angle is warranted. Love it. The general purpose lens is my 24-120mm f/4. Many might say I should have the 24-70mm /2.8 but quite honestly, working around f/6.3 - f/9.5 with this lens yeilds great image quality. From some reviews I wonder if i was lucky and got a better than average copy of the lens, although some reviews rate it highly anyway. My next two lenses are the fun lenses. The Nikkor 45mm and the Nikkor 24mm Tilt and Shift lenses. If you are not familiar with what the tilt can do, I would urge everyone to start finding out. There is a kind of magic in the ability to change the way the depth of field works with these. With tilt engaged, the depth of field is no longer parallel to the back of the camera, but wedge shaped. You should watch a few videos about these lenses if you want to try something really mind blowing. Finally, and mostly for my pet photography, I have the no longer made Tamron 85mm f/1.8 VC. It launched in 2016 and because of the mirrorless revolution, was dropped in 2020. They are hard to come by at reasonable prices - because they outclass all other 85mm lenses apart from the Zeiss Otus, which is around four thousand pounds. They certainly beat Nikons own f/1.8 and even the Nikkor f/1.4 in terms of both overall sharpness and edge to edge sharpness. How long it took me to get down to these lenses, and that body, is a story of the last ten years. I've used some perfectly good bodies and lenses along the way, but these days, on a 26" screen, I can go to 100% in post processing and the image can be scrolled so that its overall length is three times that of the screen - and yet, usually sharp as a razor, especially with the prime lenses. I confess, in the early days, to being coerced by advertising and reviews into buying upgrades that eventually didn't pay off, but even with those, valuable knowledge was gained so that now I can see the wheat from the chaff. Some would argue that my most recent body upgrade from a D810 was not worth it, but at the time, it seemed the D850 was destined to be discontinued, and that day is looming soon, no doubt, as the mirrorless wave marches on. The bottom line for me, across the last ten years, is that my strive to get what I needed took a very convoluted route, yet, here at last I am, like a kid in a sweet shop, with a perfect set of lens options and a fabulous relevant-to-me body to meet any challenge. Watching your video, waves of my own memories came flooding back, and I felt bound to share them with you Sean, and the lovely people who read your site and watch your videos. I would urge any photographer to not put up with a lens or body they dont feel happy with - the impact on your photography will show. I found myself at times going weeks, even months, without picking up the camera - and looking back, I can see that most of it was a subconcious fear of damaging expensive equipment, or, just not feeling comfortable with the gear I was using at the time. A great video, and a lesson for everyone.
I see often in photography groups people showing pictures of their cameras but only a few show the pictures they’ve been taking with their cameras. You said right at 10:05 “A painter who doesn’t really paint that much but worship his brushes” 🤯
My Fuji is really fun to use, I love turning and seeing my settings on the dials. If it’s fun I will take more pictures. I also took some great shots with Sony cameras and my Canons are so wonderfully intuitive and easy to use but I keep choosing the Fuji to take with me.
What an inspiring video! While many would see some of my gear lagging behind the times (Canon M5 and R), and while they are not a source of my photo motivation, I am glad when I reach for them because they are a fun part of making a much greater whole possible.
Hey Sean, I've not been around much lately so I thought I'd pop by to see you on here, I'm glad I did. As always what you have to say makes a lot of sense my friend. Thank mate. Regards, Tony
Good video, I must be a bit of an oddball too. The first time I held the Pentax K-1 was when the mailman handed it over. Fortunately Pentax are renown for super ergonomics so it immediately felt right at home, everything laid out perfectly with menus that made complete sense. Later came the XT4, and again the first experience holding it came after the Amazon delivery. I hated how it felt at first (Pentax spoiled me), but being pragmatic like yourself I knew this was the right tool for the work I was going to do moving forward and was wise enough to know that things like ergonomics and menus are just learning curves you need to go through. Eventually that new awkward thing that causes finger strain and headaches no longer plagues you, you have bonded with the camera both physically and mentally. In fact I make a point about this with other togs, the opposite can be very harmful (being unable to let go and pass through the other side of learning something new both physically and mentally). It is nice to feel a pull to picking up a certain camera, I think we have all been there but you're spot on about being cautious where you put your motivation. I do find it interesting however, that many people won't batter an eyelid when upgrading camera bodies (and losing thousands in the process), however to buy a new lens they will scrutinize over incessantly. I recently purchased the Kipon/IBELUX 40mm f0.85 and adore the way it renders, this was not a cheap lens but its style and what it achieves is very unique. You won't really be able to tell a difference between an image shot on my $1k XT30II vs the latest $3k XH2S, however taking an image with the IBELUX 40mm vs another fast aperture lens will render quite differently. If we're talking gear that actually results in different images then lenses typically will do that more than camera bodies, but somehow we are harder to separate our funds with glass than bodies (despite glass holding its value better and for longer). Good message Sean.
Ironically this video almost led me straight into another gear trap thinking of trading in the A7iii for all the A7C for all the wrong reasons. The fact that it's sponsored by a gear company made me chuckle too. I know what you're saying - buy and think more sustainably in a purpose driven manner. I did catch myself in time! Thanks Sean
I did something similar when I bought my very first camera, an OM-5. I did my research online and learned that it was compact, lightweight and that it had very good image stabilisation. The camera specs are modest...but I am a beginner! I never touched the camera until I held it the store; but I had already decided to buy it. Since that day, I have loved this camera and loved the images it helps me make. I could afford to buy the OM-1 but, with my skill level, there was just no point. Maybe in 10 years time. Thanks Sean. Love your work. Cheers.
Thank you for this Sean. It really challenged me. I like your pragmatic approach and that you are totally invested in the art of photography and not the tools of the trade so to speak.
I felt that way as well I started in the fujifilm system with the the fuji xt10 after that camera broke down on me I purchased the fuji xm1 but it lacked features so I purchased the fujifilm XT4 and I found my sweet spot which I found myself going out shooting daily. Sometimes I think about gear than I understand it’s the desire of being a gear addict . I work off of what I have.
You hit the spot and i feel I have fallen into all these traps! I was just in the process of asking myself the same questions, and selling of the gear. But i strugled with being in love with the gear. Some of my best images where made using a Lumix LX3 and 12MB. I miss that camera, because it wasn't precious. Sean, you are to the point as ever!
When I want to photograph people, their first instinct is to look at the camera and lens to see if they are "nice" which helps them decide whether or not I am going to take a good photo. It distracts from why I wanted to take their photo and suddenly makes me the subject instead of them. It even makes me feel self conscious and perhaps more likely to mess up what I am trying to accomplish in photographing them. I admire that you choose the workman quality of a smaller kit that does what you need. Not only is it portable, it doesn't turn the eye of your subjects to you; especially when you want the focus to be on them.
Fascinating first point you make there. I know exactly the feeling of just knowing that something thing is right, yet for different reasons to what you gave. It’s funny that it’s such a individual decision to shift systems. Yet I completely agree with the rest of the video here, with it being great all round advice (at least it all seems to make sense to me)
Loving the same Sean but with North East photos and film, Staithes is a beautiful village, as is so much of the north east coastline, I so hope you are enjoying your move to this wonderful part of the world.
I've been doing photography for a little bit in mainly fashion, editorial, and art photography. I always bought, sold, and babied so many of my cameras before but throughout the years of taking photographs I still, or now have the setups for all my needs. So simple and so practical and useful but provide something of the more conceptual side of my art. The lack of thinking of getting better gear. Because the focus is on the art and image taking/making I don't now think about what to use, it's there at my hand, available without the hassle like before.
I approach gear purchases in same way no matter if I buy camera or hammer. My gear needs to handle well. So I do research, choose some products that are OK spec wise and then test them and choose what I feel was handling best. Never got wrong with this approach and it actually solve pt 2 and 3 you mentioned. I treat my tolls as tolls. I spent money to use them. My hammer is to hammer nails, my camera is to go out and take photos. If it gets wet, it gets wet, if I scratch it, it is OK. And as I never look at my hammer to inspire me to hammer stuff, I never look at camera to inspire me to take photos. Now pt 1 is different thing. I suppose I made same thing you mentioned in the beginning. I was getting more and more lenses I was rarely using or that make me fiddle more in field with gear than with taking actual photos. At one point I realised that I miss things because I have too much gear I do not need, but want. So I sold most of it and kept only two lenses that cover all my needs. It is pretty nice feeling when I just grab my camera and go out thinking only about what I will shot today. And not stand before shelf and think with what I will shot today.
Thank you for this video. I appreciate the perspective of whether you’re a collector or a photographer. I have some friends that have the most high end gear and don’t even use it. It’s all just conversation pieces. Me on the other hand just bought a used camera and got some hand me down lenses and got myself a budget lens that I absolutely love. And even though some of the lens not the greatest. It’s the art form in taking the flaws and making it work that makes me want to keep practicing. I was feeling a little embarrassed for while because of the gear I had compared to everyone else. But then I saw this video and it truly changed my way of thinking. In a nutshell. It definitely made me think of what I have consider. Can I afford and is it necessary? Although I do plan on buying some lenses that are fully functional later on down the line. I’m learning to just to make do with what I got in order to grow , show and improve. Thanks again for this video. It truly inspired me more than anything. Cheers.
Sean, I couldn't agree with you MORE! I've done this since I picked up my first 'pro' camera. Moreover, I've made it a rule -- being that I shoot photography and videography for my full-time income -- that I never buy new equipment that I didn't earn the money for with my current gear. It's far too easy to get into a cycle of buying whatever new toy is hot at the moment, under the premise that I 'need it' to progress professionally, then end up being in debt and stressed, taking any low-ball job that comes my way. This way, I also never upgrade til I'm certain I've wrung every last ounce of potential out of my old kit, and can be confident WHAT I want to be able to accomplish, and how THIS specific purchase will get me there, AND that what I want to do has value to my CLIENTS, not just me as an artist. I'm not opposed to making purchases for artistic purposes, but I separate those from business ones (and use different funds!).
After I got the Ricoh GR II and GR IIIx, which I used to see as boring cameras, but now they have completely changed my perception of cameras, as they just make me concentrate much more on the subject, and I don't care about they don't look as professional as my Sony equipment. Don't get me wrong, I'm still happy with my Sony equipment, but it's like I work in a different way with the small cameras that I enjoy a bit more, so now I'm also more motivated to photograph more 👍
Love this. I still shoot with a Nikon D750 and i often get asked when i am going to upgrade to mirrorless. The D750 was launched in 2014 but still does everything i need. Sure, there are some nice to have features on mirrorless cameras like eye AF but that doesn't improve me or my technique. In fact you could argue Eye AF and other AI features of modern mirrorless cameras detract from the photographer and can slow down your progress if you allow the camera to make too many of your decisions.
i'm not a photographer... however in all my other hobbies I do have a tendency to be more focused on the gear than what i do with the gear, so i get where this video is coming from and appreciate the perspective. I initially bought my camera (pentax k-5) for some product shots of some things i was selling at the time. For 90% of photos I shoot the 18-55 kit lens works well (mostly around the 50mm zoom). I bought an older used tele lens, which is fun for wildlife, but it feels very limiting, so I dont use it very often. I like photographing buildings and landscapes a lot. I like street photography, run-n-gun type stuff as well. My daughter bought a 85/1.4 all manual Rokinon that has such a beautiful bokeh and she loves shooting people. That lens makes such nice photos that it's made me realize I might be leaving a lot on the table with the kit lense, and makes me want to take more photos and to try my hand at some portraiture. So, sometimes i guess gear does motivate me, but not always. Now I am contemplating additional lenses. I'm thinking since I shoot at ~50mm a lot, I should buy a 50 prime. Pentax has a $90 one (plastic), and they also have a $300 one that is metal and weather sealed. My conundrum with camera gear always centers around quality and value for the money. With as infrequently as I shoot, I feel like the cheaper is probably what I'll buy, but otoh i have a real strong urge to buy the more expensive one due to higher durability, longevity, and ironically less likely to baby it or keep it on a shelf since I know it's more rugged. I'm not sure, but i suspect the optics may be better in the metal one as well. Also, Pentax makes a 55-300 that has me interested, since with just two lenses i can span from 18-300. Of course they also make a single 18-300. 🤦🏻♂️ Anyone got any thoughts or suggestions?
I have to admit that I succumbed to trap #1 on multiple occasions, when I buy stuff and then hardly use it at all. In my circles this is called "having GAS" - gear acquisition syndrome. But more importantly and more satisfying was the opposite effect, where a new piece of gear expanded my horizon of what I personally would be capable of photographing. It is those moments that I realize that the old gear had been holding me back and with the new gear I feel as advancing to "the next level". Trap #2 may have been more of a problem in my earlier days - now it is almost the opposite for being a bit too careless. If I take a risk to my gear and and it gets damaged - no big deal, I can always repair or replace - but I may not be able to capture the moment if I didn't take that risk. Most recently I opted to upgrade my computer equipment rather than photography gear, and I feel it was the right time with the new chips that had entered the market in Q4 2022. My Photoshop workflow is much faster now, and switching to 10Gbe network speed made a huge difference for browsing images located on the file server.
If I may, one of the gear trap that I often find myself contemplating is modern camera features. Every time I learn about a new camera or lens and learn it has new features like 5 axis IBIS, or 40 FPS shooting, or AI powered autofocus or 10x zoom range etc, I often fall into this state of mind where I think about the shots I took which didn't turn out right and contemplate whether these new features would have made it work. Funny enough the antidote to my conundrum is film photography. I primarily shoot street photography and only use digital. And when I look at a picture taken in film I never care to question the detail and the sharpness and minute motion blurs. Its the image that talks to me, not its technicality. I know this doesn't translate to wildlife, sports, studio, wedding photographers. Just wanted to pass this on to anyone who is just starting off in the genre I'm in and is worried about what gear to get. Trust me, almost all modern gear are more than enough and will not hamper your creativity.
I guess that's why I'm on auto ISO then slapping lightroom grain on every image I took Shoot only jpeg as well. It's also the experience, not just the result
Nicely put Sean. The guitarist analogy reminded me of when I first learned this as a teenager with my first guitar… it was pretty cheap and nasty, and didn’t sound great in my hands. Yet in the hands of my much more accomplished teacher, it came alive and sounded like the Real Deal. It’s was just an instrument, a tool, and the music came from the skill and creativity of the musician. It’s the same with photography. A great photographer will make great images with any camera, period. While I can’t help myself collecting old film cameras (purely nostalgia driven, though they all get used) my digital cameras are simply tools and given I tend to beat up my gear, buying old used kit makes perfect sense. My current cameras were made in 2015-2016, probably going to upgrade soon for something from 2012 ;-)
Thank you. I think a lot of the popular movement back to film and even vintage digital has a lot to do with a lot of photographers, who aren't top tier pros, despairing of ever having cutting edge gear, gear for which you have saved for years, or bought on credit, only to find out that after six months their beloved object is now old and obsolete. A lot of people are opting out of it altogether. You can buy a good 20 year old film camera and lenses for something less than three months salary, you buy vintage digital cameras for pennies on the dollar. Keeping up with the gear hucksters is emotionally exhausting.
I won't be one of those disagreeing comments. I thank you for that thoughtful message. I'm a hobbyist and wanted to upgrade my eight-year-old DSLR to a mirrorless system. I purchased a Fujifilm X-T4 with kit zoom and a used 56mm (85mm equiv) prime lens. I was and still am intimidated by the menu system and the almost unlimited customization choices. (I came from Canon). I've had the camera for 4 months now and hit kind of a low point and wondered "Did I make the wrong choice?" Your video is helping me to consider that choice was right at the time and is still right. The three traps you talked about all play a part in my feelings of doubt. Thanks again for the perspective.
I came from Canon to a Fuji XT2 ….. I wondered for the first couple of months …. Like most cameras these days, there are too many settings and options ….. I got through it (read the manual and changed any settings I wanted) and now don’t think about the camera … it just works …. It’s me that needs to work (on getting great shots)! I do enjoy having a lighter/smaller kit.
As a photographer I enjoy my Canon gear and don't plan on changing it. I made sure to do my research before I bought anything, so that I don't have to keep changing. I have a small backpack with 2 great lenses, and they do the job perfectly. I do see your point though Sean on what you said about quality gear over looks and style.
I totally agree with this. I look at cameras like guitars. I don't really care how it feels in my hands at first, I just know that if I have it long enough, it will feel perfect because what really matters is what I create with it. I recently bought the Panasonic S5, the original one, simply because it had the ability to shoot anamorphic in-camera. And inexpensively. And I knew it could do everything else that I needed, so I pulled the trigger. And I have been extremely happy with that decision. And I'm somebody who's been shooting with a Sony camera for the past couple of years. Thanks so much for sharing, great video as always.
Great points, and those are really barriers that prevent people from reaching the next level. Especially #3: if you're asking the camera to motivate yourself to take photos, then you clearly have no real interest in photography, it has never been about the camera.
I enjoyed reading and greatly benefited from Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. She understood well how emotions play into our relationships to things, and it was funny to recognize how much they were operative in my life. People who have a very instrumental approach are at times critical of those who are emotional about their decision-making and thus of the Kondo method which seems to centralize the emotional response. However she says that the things that sustain us - lowly things like toothbrushes or undershirts or a box of nails - often do, and at any rate surely should, “spark joy” as we think about what they mean to us. So with cameras, you may not romanticize it, but you appreciate it for what it can do and how it can serve you in whatever moment.
I do ask myself if I’m more of a photographer or a collector, but I have definitely changed my attitude over the last decade. I am NOT bent on having the greatest dynamic range or highest number of megapixels. But, I have learned that some cameras annoy the hell out of me or literally hurt to shoot with for hours at a time. I admire your approach. It is sensible. I am more prone to ask myself if I NEED the extra megapixels, better tracking AF or an f1.2 aperture than I used to be. On the other hand, I bought a LUMIX GM1 in brown with a silver 12-32 just because it’s so damn stylish. 😄
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I do agree with most of your points. I do however, prefer to at least see and handle the camera bodies before buying. I don’t care much about how they look, but i like to see the materials used in detail (mostly make sure there’s nothing too flimsy or might cause annoyance) I’ve whittled down my lens line-up to 4 lenses now, 2 of which i bought used. I have a wide angle f2.8 zoom, a standard f2.8 zoom, a compact prime for portraits, and a compact telephoto. I
Thanks for the video! My reasoning is very similar. Plus, when people ask me which camera to buy I usually tell them to go for a cheaper option until they really understand if, and why they need the more fancy one. Regarding the "feel" though... I like my cameras, and I got used to them! I'd need a big motivator to move to another system. For those curious: I'm on Fujifilm, I find these cameras and lenses quite unique and the quality they give is often more than enough for what I do.
Thanks for this conversation, Sean I had some pretty serious GAS : got 4 Fuji cameras, the modest but fantastic X-T10 with its fantastic 18-55mm kit, which were my gateway drug to Fuji, followed by the X-T20, X-H1, with a plethora of Fuji lenses, prime and zoom... until I finally got what I consider the perfect camera to me, the X-T3. Getting to the X-T3, my search of the perfect gear ended, and a few years later, I've now sold most of my Fuji lenses to replace them with a few great old vintage Nikon lenses, as well as the incredible Mitakon 35mm f.0.95. And it's been my bag for the past 3 years and I'm perfectly content like this.
I am going to have to dissent with you over the ergonomics of the gear we choose. But perhaps in a different way than most. I think different photographers interact different cameras and camera systems differently. What appeals to me may not appeal to others and vice versa. It’s all about whether that camera and lenses allow me to work in the field in a way that allows me to be efficient and effective at what I’m doing. If I have to do a deep dive in the menu system of camera A to find a feature that I use regularly while camera B would make it easier for me, then Camera B it is for me. You on the other hand may have little use for that feature, so Camera A works just fine for you. So my point is that the way we use our tools and the tasks we use those tools for can make a difference as to which tools we want in our kit.
Hey Sean! Just subscribed - seriously inspiring work. Funny enough, I went through a similar lens-selling spree a few years back with my Sony A7III. That camera and I just never clicked. Ergonomics felt janky, the menus were a labyrinth, and the colors just didn't sing to me. Luckily, I hadn't parted ways with all my Canon gear yet. Ever since then, I've embraced this weird (but oddly satisfying) habit of swapping out my entire lens kit every few years. It's like a fresh perspective shake-up! Went from an EF 24-70 f/2.8, EF 35mm f/1.4 II, and EF 85mm f/1.2 to an RF 15-35 f/2.8, EF 24mm f/1.4 II, and RF 50mm f/1.2. Next chapter? Ditching the 24mm and 50mm for the brand new RF 35mm f/1.2 and grabbing an RF 100-500mm. It's all about pushing my boundaries and finding new ways to see the world through the lens, you know? Keeps me learning, keeps me interested. Excited to see what you cook up next - keep the fire burning!
Totally understand the logic behind the a7c. It's a beast of a camera in such a small body. That said, I just sold mine, just because the viewfinder is like trying to stare through the eye of a needle (particularly bad in the sun with no eye cover) - and the flippy viewfinder is really at odds with my preferred style. I seem to recall you shoot largely using a screen, so it makes sense the EVF wouldn't be a hinderance to you. I respect your viewpoint, but, for me, the tool in question *needs* to feel good enough to make me want to pick it up and use it. . Menu system challenges can be overcome, looks don't matter, but ergonomics and build quality are vital. During the pandemic I made some real errors by buying cameras without getting a feel for them first. 90% of my photography is for my own pleasure, and I *need* to feel that joy when shooting - something that poor ergonomics can crush very easy.
Sean, So appreciate your approach to gear! I actually arrived at the same place but from a different path. For 25 years my only camera was the Nikon Fe2 and three lenses. I used this lens for everything and by today's reality, shockingly I never once thought of upgrading! Then the digital scene hit and I fell prey to the next i-shiny gotta have it thing until I woke up to what I was doing. So I sold all of my gear and purchased a Fujifilm X-T3 with four lenses and that's all I need. Cheers!
I totally get taking a cheaper camera when traveling. The newer camera I rely on to shoot a wedding is not the camera I take hiking in the mountains. Also, each piece of my gear takes on a personality to me, so I use different cameras and lenses for different situations (weird, maybe, but it works for me!) But I am finding these days I am looking for a "swiss army knife" in my approach to gear.....the less I have to tote around, the easier it is to shoot and be creative. Thanks for posting!
How strange. I was just thinking earlier that it feels like a while since we had a video from Sean. I rewatched some older videos and then boom - new upload! Great video. I've never been one for the latest and greatest (mainly due to funds), but that hasn't stopped me from falling victim to all of these traps. I've made a concerted effort to get out in bad weather or riskier situations and use it for the last 6 months, and it's been great! I've been eyeing up a Sony setup for a while, but it would add size and weight compared to my Fuji setup. Honestly I'm more than happy with my gear, I just hear a very small whisper in my ear tempting me to try full frame... Maybe if/when this one breaks...
This was definitely needed to be said. I've caught my self on a number of occasions trying to use the camera I have as motivation. I even caught myself "thinking" I need this or that camera because it would motivate me again. But it never works that way and like you said the shine always, ALWAYS, wears off. It's easy to think you need a new camera when you're always bombarded with new cameras on the Internet. Thanks for this video Sean. It's giving me something to think about because let's face it...any camera in the last 5 years will take amazing pictures. It's just up to us to take them, not the camera.
What a timely video, I bought a Nikon Z5 for the ergo and quality Z primes, but have been frustrated by things like missed focus in times I feel it shouldn't. I bought an A7C as I knew it would nail this aspect, but I've been struggling with the 'feel'. I've had both for a while now and I still battle daily. I recognise my problem and really want to not care. This video has affirmed what I've been trying to persuade myself for a long time. The A7C is a great camera and absolutely fits my needs. The Z5 is nice, but it is bulkier, the glass is bigger, and I'm much less likely to take it out with me.
A typically thoughtful video delivered with passion, Sean. Thanks. I was a Nikon D750 shooter, decided the stuff as too heavy and went over to Fuji. Great. And then i thought that the Fuji gear was too heavy and decided I had it all wrong. The mirrorless APS-C bodies are light but what about the lenses? I checked out what i needed - wide angle and standard zooms, plus something long for landscape and occasional wildlife. Found the Sony 16-55, 70-350 and the Tamron 11-20. Brilliant. Then I had an epiphany which is a little in opposition to what you experienced. I had an A6600 which I didn’t like to shoot with. Sorry - for me photography is process and result. So i sold it and got the best camera for my APS-C lenses:Sony A7R V. People tell me I’m not getting the best out of my camera - but I am getting the best out of my lenses 😢 Thanks for your work and clinical analyses.
I get the reasoning behind the third trap, and this is coming from someone who has recently made the same exact choice as you, buying the a7c because it was the right tool that I needed, but I honestly have to say that there is something to be said about the importance of a good user experience when it comes to these devices, and how that can make tools stand in the way when you do have the motivation to shoot. I love the results coming out of the a7c, but I often find myself joking that the a7c is a camera that hates its user. Everything from button placement to the software design seems to be made with complete disregard for the user, so learning to use this tool (even though I am an experienced photographer, just never shot on a Sony before) has become an extra hurdle on the way to creating images, the path from intent to execution becomes longer, until I get to a point where I feel that I’ve learnt the camera enough that is. So in a way sure, don’t let the camera be the one in the driver seat of your motivation, but there’s definitely something to be said about cameras that kind of pump on the breaks… or maybe it’s just me.
I've used 3 version of Sony's camera of different generations, and they are like shooting with a computer that handle your camera, the upside of it is Sony is conscious enough to also make everything on it customizable, when you have locked down every settings to fit your need, 90% of your need will be fulfilled without needing to go into the menus, just the dials, C buttons and Fn button. It's just the last 10% of the time that people most remember, fumbling around the menu they rarely go into.
Well said. GAS for me comes with lens acquisition which led me from Fujifilm to Sony full frame to enhance the glass to sensor relationship for low light. The PASM camera system does feel more like a computer than Fuji, but once I setup my User profiles to my most used settings, I fiddle with the camera less and look into the viewfinder more. My simple mantra on gear and getting the job done: ‘Everything is a Hammer except a Screwdriver, which is a Chisel’.
Quite true. Ultimately it comes down to what is in the frame. Reminds me of guys who had all the fancy knives and camping gear meeting those who lived in the woods and had a very pedestrian kit. The well equipped felt a little embarrassed.
Very good photography philosophy! In the day of digital, I still mostly use 30 40 and 50 year old equipment. A no name 4x5 field camera, a Bronica SQ-a, a few Spotmatics, a Minolta, and a Yashica TLR. I did finally pick up a Fuji X-T3 recently, and I am getting used to it too. I am not good with digital, but I am working on it, so it is just a matter of putting in the time with it. Thanks for the video!!
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I waste so much time watching camera gear reviews but Whenever I want to see a photographer talking about the art of photography, I come to Sean ❤
Started with a Sony crop sensor and moved to a Sony full-frame a couple of years later. (Yes, it highlighted how much I had to grow.) The best decision I made after purchasing the full-frame and three lenses was stop watching YT videos on camera gear. I stopped reading reviews and purposely ignored all new releases for more than a year. Once there was two or three new cameras/lenses past what I already had, the fear of missing out and the need to have "better" equipment... just disappeared. It made me happy and I appreciated the camera in my hands much more.
Still, I do baby my equipment so gotta work on that. Thanks for another great video, Sean.
you’ve obviously got a great point about gear not making you a better photographer (and sometimes making you worse), but caring about ergonomics isn’t shallow. some people can live without caring and that’s great! those of us who need good ergonomics aren’t shallow tho, it’s no different than some people needing color and art in their life and others not really caring about their interiors and being comfortable everywhere. neither one is superior.
i can’t work under fluorescent lights. good lighting makes me want to work more. that doesn’t mean i’m leaving my motivation to lighting. bad ergonomics make everything a struggle. struggling with a tool isn’t noble and it doesn’t make my photographs better.
and if you study art history… great painters are often inspired by materials. they’re often inspired by asking “what if…?” and “what can i do?” saying that is a negative thing is like saying photographers can’t be inspired by light. it’s a medium. of course it can be inspiring.
also, i buy gear for the fun of using it and the images it gives me that i can’t get anywhere else. therefore the only thing i can’t get enough of is quirky old lenses but luckily they’re cheap.
💯 bang on here. What do you shoot with your vintage lenses?
I needed this I have bought over 150k in gear, now I have so much it’s overwhelming that I am stuck, I now have 5 full systems, and I don’t even have a photograph business yet, I will say my wife is so understanding with me, I love her so much
150k in which currency?
@@debadri us
Still one of my favorite people on RUclips - LOVE the philosophy. I'm a hobbyist - and new to it all - so for me - bargain shopping for vintage lenses is part of the hobby - then figuring out if I like and when I like a lens. On the flip side - in the world of vintage - the ergos and functions (for focusing and framing) do count - but the vintage world is a niche. Noted in similar fashion - I still have and use a Sony R1 (slowest of the slow) - and get a huge kick out of using it to create something special. The camera might just be a tool - but for those who have ever freehanded a dove tail or planed manually - having the RIGHT tool does make a difference. Shaun is a PRO - he sets a threshold based on performance and specs - then selects. I'm a hack - thereby certain items make a huge difference (In time savings and often in functionality) - tomorrow if someone took the Alpha 1 EVF, chunked it on a good sensor (Sony 24), ELIMINATED AF and the rear screen (CEPA rating of what - 3000), and gave dual display (Fuji) - and then the same dials/nobs for the triangle - I'd be in line because I'll get to shoot more because the tool FITS. He never used the word FITS nor ADAPT - but I think those are two items that are critical and SUPPORT his point.
having a coffee in the morning before my day starts and watching/listening to ur videos is kinda therapeutic
Same here
Hi Sean, it has taken me about 45 years to arrive at the points you raised. Thanks for summarizing this points. Since concentrating on creating compelling images with what gear I have with me, I am a less frustrated photographer 😊
I agree with one exception, the autofocus system. I have only an XT3. I am thinking of investing in the XH2S as I have mised too many oportunities. Luckily nowadays almost all brands seem to have reached a point where autofocus is good enough.
I use an X-T3 professionally and it works perfectly.
@@Magneira The work he does may be very different from yours and could be much more demanding in regards to auto-focus. You know your work and he knows his, bud.
Hi Sean. I'm a 61 year old photographer. I have been doing photography for over 40 years. In my early years there was no internet or RUclips so my inspiration was magazines. Everyone goes through a dry spell and needs a little motivation sometimes. I'm glad you brought this subject up about gear. I find most RUclipsrs today are all about the gear and the processing them on the computer but your view reflects how I feel about the art of photographer. That little "high" you get when you capture something special. I've watched a lot of your videos and don't get me wrong about me wanting to get your attention but I just find your opinion and advise refreshing. It reminds me of the good old days and why I got into photography. It's not about the money or the number of likes, it's about that "high" i get and the knowledge I gain from getting out there and photographing things that interest me. Thanks again.
I came to photography after 25 years of fine art background. One thing that always stood out, was how blown away most other photographers here were to find out I had only been shooting a couple of years when I first started. The reason was my understanding of lighting, composition, and emotion from that art background. My approach to gear has been heavily shaped by this: If you believe the gear will make you a photographer, then you'll be replaced when that gear becomes obsolete. But if you are the artist that creates, and the camera is just the tool, then no new gear can replace you.
People have never asked what camera those photos were shot with when they see my work....they ask who the photographer was. For that reason.
Create, and always grow. You'll be irreplaceable.
Well, you've hit me with points 2 and 3 :)))
I've sold my fancy Canon gear (nothing to complain about them, they were nice jewelry) and got myself and XT-3 and 35mm because I was thinking of smth light and sticking to only one lens.
It changed everything, so dear people: Sean has really valid points.
One of the best videos I have seen in the subject. I'm one of those people who bought a lot of expensive stuff and found myself learning a lot from that journey. The conclusion was exactly the one you brought up: I have nothing but me to blame my shortcomings in photography. My tale on it is, that if you're not able to produce fantastic images with gears from 2013, no gear in the world will help you. While I still use all of my lenses, even 70 y o ones(!), I don't recommend walking the path I did. After 20 years of shooting, I'm still curious and trying to improve myself. But that I didn't know when I spent A Lot of money on gears. Most people loose their interest in hobbies quickly. My standard advice is have fun, explore, try everything, and if you still like it after five years - shoot!
I full agree, Lenny! Greets
Eventually, you realise that your art is what matters, not the specific brush you used to create it.
I love these discussions. I was having one with a friend last night comparing analogies of being a photographer versus a musician. There are so many transferable lessons between creative fields.
Nice work as always, Sean!
Love this
Can confirm. I am a photographer, visual artist, musician (what my channel is for) and filmmaker. Many of the the lessons I learn in one field transfer to the other, especially the visual mediums.
Hey Sean. You raised some great points and your videos are my absolute faves - It’s so refreshing to subscribe to a photographer who focusses their work towards developing themselves, rather than the latest and greatest gear / web tool / etc.
Years back I was a sports photographer, and the required tools were simple: Speed, battery life, reach & reliability. End result, 2x 1D4’s, 400mm f2.8, 70-200 f2.8 and a 24-70 f2.8.
Now as tiles has moved on and I’ve got older, I shoot weddings and have with me a whole bunch of stuff: 2x 5D4’s, 70-200 / 24-70 / 16-35 / 135 / 85 / 35 / 24.
My point is that I have all this ‘gear’ but they are just tools. They get used, abused, I can work them with my eyes shut, but when the day is done, they’re packed away and forgotten about until the next gig.
I’m not saying I have no love for camera gear. For me it’s like a carpenters chisel; they know exactly how it works and what it can and can’t do, but it’s a tool. They control it. It doesn’t control them.
On a side note - My personal stuff is shot on a 5Dmk1 or 1DS mk1 and a 35. Solid tools that I don’t worry about, meaning I can focus my energy in creating.
If you’ve made it this far, thank you. Thanks for all that you do Sean. 👍
Hi Sean, found your channel after a mention by Alex from The Photographic Eye. “Less reverence to to tools” is going to be my mantra going forward. Subscribed and working my way through your back catalogue with a mug of tea on a cold, windy and rainy morning. Had to stop when I watched the video about your grandmother as there was something in my eyes!!! As a grandfather myself I have a special bond with my 3 year old granddaughter and am building an archive of photos documenting her childhood. It may sound vain but it would be nice to think that after my days she looks back on our relationship with the same fondness you had for your grandmother.
youre one amazing granpa Rob , and i hope you a very long years of health and joy to make lots of these memories
Love this … I bought an XT2 some years ago now. It does everything I want (and more, I’m still learning). I’ve had a long slump, but am going out with a friend today to see if I can remember what to do!
Keep shooting!!!
I was a collector of cameras which sat in a glass case and rarely got used. After years of buying the latest/greatest/gotta have, I realized I was still using the 2 bodies I bought early on in my practice to become a better photographer. I thought the latest and greatest would give me the best images available. I learned the best images come from the body I'm most familiar with, the body I have a relationship with and know it's limits, it's strength and it's weaknesses, and can with confidence create the image I'm seeking. I sold a lot of "like new" gear rather than keep it in my "worship" case and put the money to good use in things I'll actually use, actually take out of the house. Thanks for this video and validation!
You made a good point, about the camera your most fulmar with, making the best photos I have 2 glasses case full with 5 systems now,
Yes, totally agree. Well mostly agree. I come from a musical background and Im new to photography. But I recognise the problem here, it's GAS - gear acquisition syndrome. The forums are full of experts who will tell you which guitar you need etc., but a real musician can make music from cheap gear. I said I mostly agree, because I don't see anything wrong with a bit of reverence for your gear. Have you ever looked at your cameras up close, maybe through a macro lens? And as we know even a macro lens isn't going to reveal the intricate level of engineering inside the chips or on the sensor. They're incredible things and even old mechanical SLRs hidden in your cupboard have layer upon layer of beautiful precision. so yes, they are tools, but it is a mistake to dismiss them. If we don't love them, who will? Thanks for the video 👍🇦🇺
Restrictions are the mother of creativity. Being a photographer is being a problem solver, getting creative to overcome limitations of hardware. To me having the perfect camera is recipe to losing creativity. Choosing gear is looking at the output which is closest to the look I want for my style in terms of colour, contrast, tonality & sharpness. The gear that gets me as close to that in camera. That leaves me more time in the field to create a compelling image - composition, perspective and structure. Affordability is important as it’s a hobby and there will be no ROI, it’s just art for arts sake…You have skills and talent and have put in the blood sweat and tears to be able to leverage high end equipment…
Brother Sean, usually I'm a bit philosophical regarding your videos because I seek to encourage you. But not this time. Thankfully I don't wrestle with GAS (gear acquisition syndrome) largely because camera gear has become so expensive for a hobbyist like me. So, I use my old gear while honing my skills. But, I keep coming back to this video for the B-roll. The scenes and locations really have character (i.e., not the oft-times sterility of modern photog and videography). Something about this particular B-roll touches me inside. Continue on your journey, my Brother. Peace.
Always re-watching this when I'm about to make my next bad decision, thank you Sean for humbling us!
"Oh, Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz?" pleaded Janis Joplin in the 60s. Now that I've dated myself I have to explain that I am a rangefinder addict. Been through most types of cameras from large format view, TLR and SLR, but when I stumbled on the Fuji X-Pro 2, I had to have it. That led to an X-E3 for a back-up body, then an X-100V for daily carry. But, I always fancied a Leica, so I fell for a Q2 Monochrome and eventually an M-10R. I got my "Mercedes Benz" and use it alternately with all the others, enjoying each immensely and producing images that satisfy me. Moral of the story: Life is fragile and brief-do that which makes you happy.
I love this. This is how I approach any piece of equipment in any medium I do. So nice to hear someone share this. ✌️
I like gear/new stuff and I've probably switched around too much, searching for the right combo that made me as happy as my old D700 DSLR did, but I think I'm to the point where I'm very happy with what I have and don't truly need anything else. I admit I do have two different systems (Nikon and Fuji) and 3 camera total, but it's just a hobby for me and something I enjoy, so I don't mind having two different systems. I have minimal lenses though because I just don't need too many lenses. There's a comfort in getting to the point where you are definitely happy of content with what you have. I think the biggest trap people need to be careful with is not worrying about what the OTHER person has. If it's what you need and want, OK...but you don't need it just because someone else makes nice photos with it or they tell you THIS brand or that is the right one for you. Nonsense. What's right for you is what's right for you...and don't worry about what anyone else thinks, if you know you can use that camera to make the images you want or need.
Thank you Sean for another great video. And sharing the images.
I would like to add that there’s a third group of photographers. Those of us who are hobby photographers. I have been tempted to fall into these traps. Thankfully, I’ve been able to keep myself from falling into them. I do feel the same, the point of this is to capture images that inspire and tell a story. But I have come to enjoy the process through the use of tools that feel good to use. Which isn’t always the most expensive gear but the gear that gets out of your way. I liken it to the difference between a poorly designed hand plane that has never been sharpened and one that has been designed to last lifetime of use and is well maintained and sharpened. The feeling you get while the blade shears off a slice of wood fibers can’t fully be describe, it must be felt.
I had come across you/rchannel about three years ago. Watched a lot of your videos mainly cause of your soulful deliberations. I am now looking to buy a camera to direct my feature in India and came across your video. More than the information you shared, I wanted to share that it felt like I had come across an old friend again and sat down for a drink. It is a special quality that you have, much needed. Thank you for what you do.
I stopped watching photo videos for uite a while, but Sean really has some amazing talent and eye and now I have been sitting here for two hours watching his channel and going through all of my junk photo gear to donate to Good Will. So long Gorilla Pods and about nine hundred filters I don't even know what they do.
You're definitely on point about the fetishization of commodities like the camera, I just don't know if I'd say ergonomics and UIs are connected to that consumerist tendency. A good camera won't motivate you to use it more, but an uncomfortable/ annoying camera will definitely motivate you to use it less.
Take your point but some cameras can leave you feeling 'meh' because the images are disappointing compared to what you thought you saw with your eye. Whereas some surpass your expectation - or maybe it's the difference between cropped and full frame sensors.
@@johnwaine56It's not that last point. There's a little more to work with for editing but it's more the lens that you like that'll make the difference. And getting your color settings dialed in. And of course, shooting in good light and finding good subjects.
Thank you Sean. This video is an affirmation of my approach. To me a camera is a tool, nothing more. There are certain specifications I require, much the same as anyone else. On top of that I am a one-handed southpaw. I do see that gear matters, technically, but how it fits in my hand is an issue not addressed by any camera company. All my gear fits in or on one medium-small camera bag. What I am able to accomplish, with what I have, is most important. Love your work & channel.
Might be a year ago, but I agree 100% with you. I was a tech chaser for years thinking that´s what makes photography, you Sean have prove me wrong since I follow you many years ago. Great video. Still great in 2024!!!
Great video! I myself started with Canon DSLR’s and found them capable cameras but felt they lacked the ergonomics and feel of older SLR’s when I began shooting more film. Fujifilm filled that need for me. At the end of the day the photos are really what is most important and finding the box that does that works for you is an amazing feeling.
I've never had anyone tell me 'you used this model camera and lens to make that photo'
Photography is part of my skillset, I shoot portraits, weddings, events etc. for friends because I want to. Not a pro by choice, I consciously only have one camera and one lens and only change when there is a big leap in performance. Its about IQ and AF. Don't care too much about size with one camera/lens. And inspired by Sean in an older vid, I do all editing in my phone. I'm mobile and I don't ever have to think what to bring.
Shot 10 years with 35mm FL only, a great limitation teaching composition, now got a zoom as they are so good nowadays. And I never talk about gear on forums, but interesting to read when researching gear ;)
Couldn’t agree more. I’m a working photographer still using an X-t2 and just two primes.
I am a working photographer who has been such for about 35 years. With the exception of my first FE2, I have bought every camera I have or have had used - buying them specifically for the work I do rather than for the features the manufacturer advertises. I have good gear (at least for my purposes) - Two Nikon D750s, a Nikon D600 (emergency backup), a Nikkor 80-200mm f2.8, a 24-70mm f2.8, a 35mm f2, a 50mm f1.8 and a Micro-Nikkor 105mm 2.8. The money I have saved on camera gear over the years has allowed me to buy the lighting gear that I need for my work, and none of the new Nikons would make a significant difference in the product I deliver.
Thanks for the video, I think way too many photographers get wrapped up in GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome).
This was the video I needed to see right now as I have been contemplating buying a new camera to help motivate me to shoot. Maybe its not the gear I need, but a change in perspective and new subjects.
What CAN motivate to shoot, if you already have adequate camera and lenses, rather than new gear, is a trip ! Now that the pandemic is kinda in our rearview mirror, and every country is slowly starting to open their borders, it might be a good idea to spend the money you were otherwise gonna spend on a camera on another country
I absolutely agree with you. It took me almost 15 years to find my perfect match. It wasn't easy and I needed the money I didn't have. Now I'm very happy with my gear, as I feel it perfectly matches my needs and skills.I still have my "dream camera", but that doesn't stop me from throwing my gear in my backpack or pocket and go out to shoot what I like to shoot.
Whenever I get the 'urge' to buy new gear I come back to your video. It helps me to avoid making decisions that I will regret later. I especially fall into trap number 3. And I forget that while I would like my camera to be smaller and lighter and 'motivate me to take it with me all the time', I would always regret losing the image quality that my current camera provides. So instead of buying a new camera, maybe I just get a smaller lens or just travel with one or two lenses and challenge myself to make the best of those restrictions. Thank you!
This video, and your words are the slap up the side of my head that I needed to hear. Thank you!
This is a mantra for all craftsman, they all hunker after gear to avoid facing their truth and few get down and do the work. Because if you apply yourself and do the work you’ll get mastery(even if you are “dumb”)it’s as simple as that. Soul/feeling is more important than clever. Simple… but simple is hard, be still, breathe, no fluff… put your heart into it! ❤
The pathway lies in the feeling
Suspend your emotions and thinking. Done
Now you are feeling.
Use wisely 🙂
I love the guitar players statement near the end... I just decided they were the tool for me. There's something about owning limited gear and just maxing out what you can do with it. You also spend less time stressing about what to shoot with and you just go shoot.
Thanks so much for all your work, I appreciate your teaching and sharing a lot!
Thanks for the support. I appreciate it
Hi Sean, a bit late to the party here but that's a great video you made. I ended up with the D850, and I can sense everyone reading this to begin rolling their eyes - but the reality of it for me strikes a chord with much of what you said in the video. I had quite a gear journey myself to end up with what I have. It is an eclectic mix, let me explain. The body speaks for itself. I am almost purely a pet and landscape photographer and the level of detail with that body just never disappoints. Particularly if good attention has been paid to composition and thus requiring little or no cropping out. Unlike action or street work, there is usually plenty of time to get that right. This leaves me with lenses. 4 Nikkor and one Tamron. on the Nikkor front I have the wonderful 16-35mm f/4, which I traded down from the hard to use 14-24mm f/2.8. The 16-35mm gives me wonderful compositional scope where the use of ultrawide to wide angle is warranted. Love it. The general purpose lens is my 24-120mm f/4. Many might say I should have the 24-70mm /2.8 but quite honestly, working around f/6.3 - f/9.5 with this lens yeilds great image quality. From some reviews I wonder if i was lucky and got a better than average copy of the lens, although some reviews rate it highly anyway. My next two lenses are the fun lenses. The Nikkor 45mm and the Nikkor 24mm Tilt and Shift lenses. If you are not familiar with what the tilt can do, I would urge everyone to start finding out. There is a kind of magic in the ability to change the way the depth of field works with these. With tilt engaged, the depth of field is no longer parallel to the back of the camera, but wedge shaped. You should watch a few videos about these lenses if you want to try something really mind blowing. Finally, and mostly for my pet photography, I have the no longer made Tamron 85mm f/1.8 VC. It launched in 2016 and because of the mirrorless revolution, was dropped in 2020. They are hard to come by at reasonable prices - because they outclass all other 85mm lenses apart from the Zeiss Otus, which is around four thousand pounds. They certainly beat Nikons own f/1.8 and even the Nikkor f/1.4 in terms of both overall sharpness and edge to edge sharpness. How long it took me to get down to these lenses, and that body, is a story of the last ten years. I've used some perfectly good bodies and lenses along the way, but these days, on a 26" screen, I can go to 100% in post processing and the image can be scrolled so that its overall length is three times that of the screen - and yet, usually sharp as a razor, especially with the prime lenses. I confess, in the early days, to being coerced by advertising and reviews into buying upgrades that eventually didn't pay off, but even with those, valuable knowledge was gained so that now I can see the wheat from the chaff. Some would argue that my most recent body upgrade from a D810 was not worth it, but at the time, it seemed the D850 was destined to be discontinued, and that day is looming soon, no doubt, as the mirrorless wave marches on. The bottom line for me, across the last ten years, is that my strive to get what I needed took a very convoluted route, yet, here at last I am, like a kid in a sweet shop, with a perfect set of lens options and a fabulous relevant-to-me body to meet any challenge. Watching your video, waves of my own memories came flooding back, and I felt bound to share them with you Sean, and the lovely people who read your site and watch your videos. I would urge any photographer to not put up with a lens or body they dont feel happy with - the impact on your photography will show. I found myself at times going weeks, even months, without picking up the camera - and looking back, I can see that most of it was a subconcious fear of damaging expensive equipment, or, just not feeling comfortable with the gear I was using at the time. A great video, and a lesson for everyone.
I see often in photography groups people showing pictures of their cameras but only a few show the pictures they’ve been taking with their cameras. You said right at 10:05
“A painter who doesn’t really paint that much but worship his brushes” 🤯
Oh my gosh. It's like you were inside my head and took notes. Thanks for validating my thoughts, Sean. Lots to think about here.
Great video. Great insights. Totally agree - it's not the camera, it's the person looking through the lens that matters most.
My Fuji is really fun to use, I love turning and seeing my settings on the dials. If it’s fun I will take more pictures. I also took some great shots with Sony cameras and my Canons are so wonderfully intuitive and easy to use but I keep choosing the Fuji to take with me.
What an inspiring video! While many would see some of my gear lagging behind the times (Canon M5 and R), and while they are not a source of my photo motivation, I am glad when I reach for them because they are a fun part of making a much greater whole possible.
Thanks!
Thanks so much for the support.
always grateful having Sean bring us back down to earth.
Hey Sean, I've not been around much lately so I thought I'd pop by to see you on here, I'm glad I did. As always what you have to say makes a lot of sense my friend. Thank mate. Regards, Tony
so refreshing & honest... thank you
Good video, I must be a bit of an oddball too.
The first time I held the Pentax K-1 was when the mailman handed it over. Fortunately Pentax are renown for super ergonomics so it immediately felt right at home, everything laid out perfectly with menus that made complete sense. Later came the XT4, and again the first experience holding it came after the Amazon delivery. I hated how it felt at first (Pentax spoiled me), but being pragmatic like yourself I knew this was the right tool for the work I was going to do moving forward and was wise enough to know that things like ergonomics and menus are just learning curves you need to go through. Eventually that new awkward thing that causes finger strain and headaches no longer plagues you, you have bonded with the camera both physically and mentally. In fact I make a point about this with other togs, the opposite can be very harmful (being unable to let go and pass through the other side of learning something new both physically and mentally).
It is nice to feel a pull to picking up a certain camera, I think we have all been there but you're spot on about being cautious where you put your motivation.
I do find it interesting however, that many people won't batter an eyelid when upgrading camera bodies (and losing thousands in the process), however to buy a new lens they will scrutinize over incessantly. I recently purchased the Kipon/IBELUX 40mm f0.85 and adore the way it renders, this was not a cheap lens but its style and what it achieves is very unique. You won't really be able to tell a difference between an image shot on my $1k XT30II vs the latest $3k XH2S, however taking an image with the IBELUX 40mm vs another fast aperture lens will render quite differently. If we're talking gear that actually results in different images then lenses typically will do that more than camera bodies, but somehow we are harder to separate our funds with glass than bodies (despite glass holding its value better and for longer).
Good message Sean.
Thank you for this video. I really enjoy your channel!
Ironically this video almost led me straight into another gear trap thinking of trading in the A7iii for all the A7C for all the wrong reasons. The fact that it's sponsored by a gear company made me chuckle too. I know what you're saying - buy and think more sustainably in a purpose driven manner. I did catch myself in time! Thanks Sean
I did something similar when I bought my very first camera, an OM-5. I did my research online and learned that it was compact, lightweight and that it had very good image stabilisation. The camera specs are modest...but I am a beginner! I never touched the camera until I held it the store; but I had already decided to buy it. Since that day, I have loved this camera and loved the images it helps me make. I could afford to buy the OM-1 but, with my skill level, there was just no point. Maybe in 10 years time. Thanks Sean. Love your work. Cheers.
You are such a wonderful speaker Sean. You speak, people listen. You either have that ability or you dont.
Thank you for this Sean. It really challenged me. I like your pragmatic approach and that you are totally invested in the art of photography and not the tools of the trade so to speak.
I felt that way as well I started in the fujifilm system with the the fuji xt10 after that camera broke down on me I purchased the fuji xm1 but it lacked features so I purchased the fujifilm XT4 and I found my sweet spot which I found myself going out shooting daily. Sometimes I think about gear than I understand it’s the desire of being a gear addict . I work off of what I have.
You hit the spot and i feel I have fallen into all these traps! I was just in the process of asking myself the same questions, and selling of the gear. But i strugled with being in love with the gear. Some of my best images where made using a Lumix LX3 and 12MB. I miss that camera, because it wasn't precious. Sean, you are to the point as ever!
When I want to photograph people, their first instinct is to look at the camera and lens to see if they are "nice" which helps them decide whether or not I am going to take a good photo. It distracts from why I wanted to take their photo and suddenly makes me the subject instead of them. It even makes me feel self conscious and perhaps more likely to mess up what I am trying to accomplish in photographing them. I admire that you choose the workman quality of a smaller kit that does what you need. Not only is it portable, it doesn't turn the eye of your subjects to you; especially when you want the focus to be on them.
Fascinating first point you make there. I know exactly the feeling of just knowing that something thing is right, yet for different reasons to what you gave. It’s funny that it’s such a individual decision to shift systems. Yet I completely agree with the rest of the video here, with it being great all round advice (at least it all seems to make sense to me)
Loving the same Sean but with North East photos and film, Staithes is a beautiful village, as is so much of the north east coastline, I so hope you are enjoying your move to this wonderful part of the world.
I've been doing photography for a little bit in mainly fashion, editorial, and art photography. I always bought, sold, and babied so many of my cameras before but throughout the years of taking photographs I still, or now have the setups for all my needs. So simple and so practical and useful but provide something of the more conceptual side of my art. The lack of thinking of getting better gear. Because the focus is on the art and image taking/making I don't now think about what to use, it's there at my hand, available without the hassle like before.
I approach gear purchases in same way no matter if I buy camera or hammer. My gear needs to handle well. So I do research, choose some products that are OK spec wise and then test them and choose what I feel was handling best. Never got wrong with this approach and it actually solve pt 2 and 3 you mentioned. I treat my tolls as tolls. I spent money to use them. My hammer is to hammer nails, my camera is to go out and take photos. If it gets wet, it gets wet, if I scratch it, it is OK. And as I never look at my hammer to inspire me to hammer stuff, I never look at camera to inspire me to take photos.
Now pt 1 is different thing. I suppose I made same thing you mentioned in the beginning. I was getting more and more lenses I was rarely using or that make me fiddle more in field with gear than with taking actual photos. At one point I realised that I miss things because I have too much gear I do not need, but want. So I sold most of it and kept only two lenses that cover all my needs. It is pretty nice feeling when I just grab my camera and go out thinking only about what I will shot today. And not stand before shelf and think with what I will shot today.
Thank you for this video. I appreciate the perspective of whether you’re a collector or a photographer. I have some friends that have the most high end gear and don’t even use it. It’s all just conversation pieces. Me on the other hand just bought a used camera and got some hand me down lenses and got myself a budget lens that I absolutely love. And even though some of the lens not the greatest. It’s the art form in taking the flaws and making it work that makes me want to keep practicing. I was feeling a little embarrassed for while because of the gear I had compared to everyone else. But then I saw this video and it truly changed my way of thinking. In a nutshell. It definitely made me think of what I have consider. Can I afford and is it necessary? Although I do plan on buying some lenses that are fully functional later on down the line. I’m learning to just to make do with what I got in order to grow , show and improve. Thanks again for this video. It truly inspired me more than anything. Cheers.
Sean, manufacturers probably wouldn't agree with you, but photographers ought to. Sage advice, fella.
Sean, I couldn't agree with you MORE! I've done this since I picked up my first 'pro' camera. Moreover, I've made it a rule -- being that I shoot photography and videography for my full-time income -- that I never buy new equipment that I didn't earn the money for with my current gear. It's far too easy to get into a cycle of buying whatever new toy is hot at the moment, under the premise that I 'need it' to progress professionally, then end up being in debt and stressed, taking any low-ball job that comes my way.
This way, I also never upgrade til I'm certain I've wrung every last ounce of potential out of my old kit, and can be confident WHAT I want to be able to accomplish, and how THIS specific purchase will get me there, AND that what I want to do has value to my CLIENTS, not just me as an artist. I'm not opposed to making purchases for artistic purposes, but I separate those from business ones (and use different funds!).
After I got the Ricoh GR II and GR IIIx, which I used to see as boring cameras, but now they have completely changed my perception of cameras, as they just make me concentrate much more on the subject, and I don't care about they don't look as professional as my Sony equipment. Don't get me wrong, I'm still happy with my Sony equipment, but it's like I work in a different way with the small cameras that I enjoy a bit more, so now I'm also more motivated to photograph more 👍
Love this. I still shoot with a Nikon D750 and i often get asked when i am going to upgrade to mirrorless. The D750 was launched in 2014 but still does everything i need. Sure, there are some nice to have features on mirrorless cameras like eye AF but that doesn't improve me or my technique. In fact you could argue Eye AF and other AI features of modern mirrorless cameras detract from the photographer and can slow down your progress if you allow the camera to make too many of your decisions.
i'm not a photographer... however in all my other hobbies I do have a tendency to be more focused on the gear than what i do with the gear, so i get where this video is coming from and appreciate the perspective. I initially bought my camera (pentax k-5) for some product shots of some things i was selling at the time. For 90% of photos I shoot the 18-55 kit lens works well (mostly around the 50mm zoom). I bought an older used tele lens, which is fun for wildlife, but it feels very limiting, so I dont use it very often. I like photographing buildings and landscapes a lot. I like street photography, run-n-gun type stuff as well.
My daughter bought a 85/1.4 all manual Rokinon that has such a beautiful bokeh and she loves shooting people. That lens makes such nice photos that it's made me realize I might be leaving a lot on the table with the kit lense, and makes me want to take more photos and to try my hand at some portraiture. So, sometimes i guess gear does motivate me, but not always.
Now I am contemplating additional lenses. I'm thinking since I shoot at ~50mm a lot, I should buy a 50 prime. Pentax has a $90 one (plastic), and they also have a $300 one that is metal and weather sealed. My conundrum with camera gear always centers around quality and value for the money. With as infrequently as I shoot, I feel like the cheaper is probably what I'll buy, but otoh i have a real strong urge to buy the more expensive one due to higher durability, longevity, and ironically less likely to baby it or keep it on a shelf since I know it's more rugged. I'm not sure, but i suspect the optics may be better in the metal one as well.
Also, Pentax makes a 55-300 that has me interested, since with just two lenses i can span from 18-300. Of course they also make a single 18-300. 🤦🏻♂️
Anyone got any thoughts or suggestions?
I have to admit that I succumbed to trap #1 on multiple occasions, when I buy stuff and then hardly use it at all. In my circles this is called "having GAS" - gear acquisition syndrome. But more importantly and more satisfying was the opposite effect, where a new piece of gear expanded my horizon of what I personally would be capable of photographing. It is those moments that I realize that the old gear had been holding me back and with the new gear I feel as advancing to "the next level".
Trap #2 may have been more of a problem in my earlier days - now it is almost the opposite for being a bit too careless. If I take a risk to my gear and and it gets damaged - no big deal, I can always repair or replace - but I may not be able to capture the moment if I didn't take that risk.
Most recently I opted to upgrade my computer equipment rather than photography gear, and I feel it was the right time with the new chips that had entered the market in Q4 2022. My Photoshop workflow is much faster now, and switching to 10Gbe network speed made a huge difference for browsing images located on the file server.
If I may, one of the gear trap that I often find myself contemplating is modern camera features.
Every time I learn about a new camera or lens and learn it has new features like 5 axis IBIS, or 40 FPS shooting, or AI powered autofocus or 10x zoom range etc, I often fall into this state of mind where I think about the shots I took which didn't turn out right and contemplate whether these new features would have made it work.
Funny enough the antidote to my conundrum is film photography. I primarily shoot street photography and only use digital. And when I look at a picture taken in film I never care to question the detail and the sharpness and minute motion blurs. Its the image that talks to me, not its technicality.
I know this doesn't translate to wildlife, sports, studio, wedding photographers.
Just wanted to pass this on to anyone who is just starting off in the genre I'm in and is worried about what gear to get. Trust me, almost all modern gear are more than enough and will not hamper your creativity.
I agree with you 100%. Wait, no. at least 300%. 👍
I guess that's why I'm on auto ISO then slapping lightroom grain on every image I took
Shoot only jpeg as well. It's also the experience, not just the result
Nicely put Sean. The guitarist analogy reminded me of when I first learned this as a teenager with my first guitar… it was pretty cheap and nasty, and didn’t sound great in my hands. Yet in the hands of my much more accomplished teacher, it came alive and sounded like the Real Deal. It’s was just an instrument, a tool, and the music came from the skill and creativity of the musician. It’s the same with photography. A great photographer will make great images with any camera, period. While I can’t help myself collecting old film cameras (purely nostalgia driven, though they all get used) my digital cameras are simply tools and given I tend to beat up my gear, buying old used kit makes perfect sense. My current cameras were made in 2015-2016, probably going to upgrade soon for something from 2012 ;-)
Thank you. I think a lot of the popular movement back to film and even vintage digital has a lot to do with a lot of photographers, who aren't top tier pros, despairing of ever having cutting edge gear, gear for which you have saved for years, or bought on credit, only to find out that after six months their beloved object is now old and obsolete. A lot of people are opting out of it altogether. You can buy a good 20 year old film camera and lenses for something less than three months salary, you buy vintage digital cameras for pennies on the dollar. Keeping up with the gear hucksters is emotionally exhausting.
I won't be one of those disagreeing comments. I thank you for that thoughtful message. I'm a hobbyist and wanted to upgrade my eight-year-old DSLR to a mirrorless system. I purchased a Fujifilm X-T4 with kit zoom and a used 56mm (85mm equiv) prime lens. I was and still am intimidated by the menu system and the almost unlimited customization choices. (I came from Canon). I've had the camera for 4 months now and hit kind of a low point and wondered "Did I make the wrong choice?" Your video is helping me to consider that choice was right at the time and is still right. The three traps you talked about all play a part in my feelings of doubt. Thanks again for the perspective.
I came from Canon to a Fuji XT2 ….. I wondered for the first couple of months …. Like most cameras these days, there are too many settings and options ….. I got through it (read the manual and changed any settings I wanted) and now don’t think about the camera … it just works …. It’s me that needs to work (on getting great shots)! I do enjoy having a lighter/smaller kit.
Spot on. Photography is about the art and motivation to get out and shoot, to push yourself to develop that eye and vision. The tools are just that :)
As a photographer I enjoy my Canon gear and don't plan on changing it. I made sure to do my research before I bought anything,
so that I don't have to keep changing. I have a small backpack with 2 great lenses, and they do the job perfectly.
I do see your point though Sean on what you said about quality gear over looks and style.
I totally agree with this. I look at cameras like guitars. I don't really care how it feels in my hands at first, I just know that if I have it long enough, it will feel perfect because what really matters is what I create with it. I recently bought the Panasonic S5, the original one, simply because it had the ability to shoot anamorphic in-camera. And inexpensively. And I knew it could do everything else that I needed, so I pulled the trigger. And I have been extremely happy with that decision. And I'm somebody who's been shooting with a Sony camera for the past couple of years. Thanks so much for sharing, great video as always.
Great points, and those are really barriers that prevent people from reaching the next level. Especially #3: if you're asking the camera to motivate yourself to take photos, then you clearly have no real interest in photography, it has never been about the camera.
I enjoyed reading and greatly benefited from Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. She understood well how emotions play into our relationships to things, and it was funny to recognize how much they were operative in my life. People who have a very instrumental approach are at times critical of those who are emotional about their decision-making and thus of the Kondo method which seems to centralize the emotional response. However she says that the things that sustain us - lowly things like toothbrushes or undershirts or a box of nails - often do, and at any rate surely should, “spark joy” as we think about what they mean to us. So with cameras, you may not romanticize it, but you appreciate it for what it can do and how it can serve you in whatever moment.
I do ask myself if I’m more of a photographer or a collector, but I have definitely changed my attitude over the last decade. I am NOT bent on having the greatest dynamic range or highest number of megapixels. But, I have learned that some cameras annoy the hell out of me or literally hurt to shoot with for hours at a time. I admire your approach. It is sensible. I am more prone to ask myself if I NEED the extra megapixels, better tracking AF or an f1.2 aperture than I used to be. On the other hand, I bought a LUMIX GM1 in brown with a silver 12-32 just because it’s so damn stylish. 😄
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I do agree with most of your points. I do however, prefer to at least see and handle the camera bodies before buying. I don’t care much about how they look, but i like to see the materials used in detail (mostly make sure there’s nothing too flimsy or might cause annoyance)
I’ve whittled down my lens line-up to 4 lenses now, 2 of which i bought used. I have a wide angle f2.8 zoom, a standard f2.8 zoom, a compact prime for portraits, and a compact telephoto.
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Thanks for the video! My reasoning is very similar. Plus, when people ask me which camera to buy I usually tell them to go for a cheaper option until they really understand if, and why they need the more fancy one.
Regarding the "feel" though... I like my cameras, and I got used to them! I'd need a big motivator to move to another system.
For those curious: I'm on Fujifilm, I find these cameras and lenses quite unique and the quality they give is often more than enough for what I do.
Thanks for this conversation, Sean
I had some pretty serious GAS : got 4 Fuji cameras, the modest but fantastic X-T10 with its fantastic 18-55mm kit, which were my gateway drug to Fuji, followed by the X-T20, X-H1, with a plethora of Fuji lenses, prime and zoom... until I finally got what I consider the perfect camera to me, the X-T3. Getting to the X-T3, my search of the perfect gear ended, and a few years later, I've now sold most of my Fuji lenses to replace them with a few great old vintage Nikon lenses, as well as the incredible Mitakon 35mm f.0.95. And it's been my bag for the past 3 years and I'm perfectly content like this.
I am going to have to dissent with you over the ergonomics of the gear we choose. But perhaps in a different way than most. I think different photographers interact different cameras and camera systems differently. What appeals to me may not appeal to others and vice versa. It’s all about whether that camera and lenses allow me to work in the field in a way that allows me to be efficient and effective at what I’m doing. If I have to do a deep dive in the menu system of camera A to find a feature that I use regularly while camera B would make it easier for me, then Camera B it is for me. You on the other hand may have little use for that feature, so Camera A works just fine for you. So my point is that the way we use our tools and the tasks we use those tools for can make a difference as to which tools we want in our kit.
Wow! This cuts deep. I’ve been guilty of all three points. Thanks you for the clarity
Hey Sean! Just subscribed - seriously inspiring work.
Funny enough, I went through a similar lens-selling spree a few years back with my Sony A7III. That camera and I just never clicked. Ergonomics felt janky, the menus were a labyrinth, and the colors just didn't sing to me. Luckily, I hadn't parted ways with all my Canon gear yet.
Ever since then, I've embraced this weird (but oddly satisfying) habit of swapping out my entire lens kit every few years. It's like a fresh perspective shake-up! Went from an EF 24-70 f/2.8, EF 35mm f/1.4 II, and EF 85mm f/1.2 to an RF 15-35 f/2.8, EF 24mm f/1.4 II, and RF 50mm f/1.2. Next chapter? Ditching the 24mm and 50mm for the brand new RF 35mm f/1.2 and grabbing an RF 100-500mm. It's all about pushing my boundaries and finding new ways to see the world through the lens, you know? Keeps me learning, keeps me interested.
Excited to see what you cook up next - keep the fire burning!
Totally understand the logic behind the a7c. It's a beast of a camera in such a small body. That said, I just sold mine, just because the viewfinder is like trying to stare through the eye of a needle (particularly bad in the sun with no eye cover) - and the flippy viewfinder is really at odds with my preferred style. I seem to recall you shoot largely using a screen, so it makes sense the EVF wouldn't be a hinderance to you.
I respect your viewpoint, but, for me, the tool in question *needs* to feel good enough to make me want to pick it up and use it. . Menu system challenges can be overcome, looks don't matter, but ergonomics and build quality are vital. During the pandemic I made some real errors by buying cameras without getting a feel for them first. 90% of my photography is for my own pleasure, and I *need* to feel that joy when shooting - something that poor ergonomics can crush very easy.
Sean, So appreciate your approach to gear! I actually arrived at the same place but from a different path. For 25 years my only camera was the Nikon Fe2 and three lenses. I used this lens for everything and by today's reality, shockingly I never once thought of upgrading! Then the digital scene hit and I fell prey to the next i-shiny gotta have it thing until I woke up to what I was doing. So I sold all of my gear and purchased a Fujifilm X-T3 with four lenses and that's all I need. Cheers!
I totally get taking a cheaper camera when traveling. The newer camera I rely on to shoot a wedding is not the camera I take hiking in the mountains. Also, each piece of my gear takes on a personality to me, so I use different cameras and lenses for different situations (weird, maybe, but it works for me!) But I am finding these days I am looking for a "swiss army knife" in my approach to gear.....the less I have to tote around, the easier it is to shoot and be creative. Thanks for posting!
It’s so satisfying to see still camera video shots… thank you for this intro!
How strange. I was just thinking earlier that it feels like a while since we had a video from Sean. I rewatched some older videos and then boom - new upload!
Great video. I've never been one for the latest and greatest (mainly due to funds), but that hasn't stopped me from falling victim to all of these traps. I've made a concerted effort to get out in bad weather or riskier situations and use it for the last 6 months, and it's been great!
I've been eyeing up a Sony setup for a while, but it would add size and weight compared to my Fuji setup. Honestly I'm more than happy with my gear, I just hear a very small whisper in my ear tempting me to try full frame... Maybe if/when this one breaks...
This was definitely needed to be said. I've caught my self on a number of occasions trying to use the camera I have as motivation. I even caught myself "thinking" I need this or that camera because it would motivate me again. But it never works that way and like you said the shine always, ALWAYS, wears off. It's easy to think you need a new camera when you're always bombarded with new cameras on the Internet.
Thanks for this video Sean. It's giving me something to think about because let's face it...any camera in the last 5 years will take amazing pictures. It's just up to us to take them, not the camera.
What a timely video, I bought a Nikon Z5 for the ergo and quality Z primes, but have been frustrated by things like missed focus in times I feel it shouldn't. I bought an A7C as I knew it would nail this aspect, but I've been struggling with the 'feel'.
I've had both for a while now and I still battle daily. I recognise my problem and really want to not care.
This video has affirmed what I've been trying to persuade myself for a long time. The A7C is a great camera and absolutely fits my needs. The Z5 is nice, but it is bulkier, the glass is bigger, and I'm much less likely to take it out with me.
A typically thoughtful video delivered with passion, Sean. Thanks. I was a Nikon D750 shooter, decided the stuff as too heavy and went over to Fuji. Great. And then i thought that the Fuji gear was too heavy and decided I had it all wrong. The mirrorless APS-C bodies are light but what about the lenses? I checked out what i needed - wide angle and standard zooms, plus something long for landscape and occasional wildlife. Found the Sony 16-55, 70-350 and the Tamron 11-20. Brilliant. Then I had an epiphany which is a little in opposition to what you experienced. I had an A6600 which I didn’t like to shoot with. Sorry - for me photography is process and result. So i sold it and got the best camera for my APS-C lenses:Sony A7R V. People tell me I’m not getting the best out of my camera - but I am getting the best out of my lenses 😢 Thanks for your work and clinical analyses.
I get the reasoning behind the third trap, and this is coming from someone who has recently made the same exact choice as you, buying the a7c because it was the right tool that I needed, but I honestly have to say that there is something to be said about the importance of a good user experience when it comes to these devices, and how that can make tools stand in the way when you do have the motivation to shoot. I love the results coming out of the a7c, but I often find myself joking that the a7c is a camera that hates its user. Everything from button placement to the software design seems to be made with complete disregard for the user, so learning to use this tool (even though I am an experienced photographer, just never shot on a Sony before) has become an extra hurdle on the way to creating images, the path from intent to execution becomes longer, until I get to a point where I feel that I’ve learnt the camera enough that is. So in a way sure, don’t let the camera be the one in the driver seat of your motivation, but there’s definitely something to be said about cameras that kind of pump on the breaks… or maybe it’s just me.
I feel the same when using Windows on my PC. But it's still the right tool for my job, even if I don't enjoy using it. ¯\_ (ツ)_/¯
I've used 3 version of Sony's camera of different generations, and they are like shooting with a computer that handle your camera, the upside of it is Sony is conscious enough to also make everything on it customizable, when you have locked down every settings to fit your need, 90% of your need will be fulfilled without needing to go into the menus, just the dials, C buttons and Fn button.
It's just the last 10% of the time that people most remember, fumbling around the menu they rarely go into.
Well said. GAS for me comes with lens acquisition which led me from Fujifilm to Sony full frame to enhance the glass to sensor relationship for low light. The PASM camera system does feel more like a computer than Fuji, but once I setup my User profiles to my most used settings, I fiddle with the camera less and look into the viewfinder more. My simple mantra on gear and getting the job done: ‘Everything is a Hammer except a Screwdriver, which is a Chisel’.
Just rewatched, loved it Thank You. I hope Im right about the last picture,nice touch, Godspeed.
Quite true. Ultimately it comes down to what is in the frame. Reminds me of guys who had all the fancy knives and camping gear meeting those who lived in the woods and had a very pedestrian kit. The well equipped felt a little embarrassed.
Very good photography philosophy! In the day of digital, I still mostly use 30 40 and 50 year old equipment. A no name 4x5 field camera, a Bronica SQ-a, a few Spotmatics, a Minolta, and a Yashica TLR. I did finally pick up a Fuji X-T3 recently, and I am getting used to it too. I am not good with digital, but I am working on it, so it is just a matter of putting in the time with it. Thanks for the video!!
Love the last photo there. You are an awesome individual.
Bang on. Same advice I have been giving my students for two decades.