I am 70 years old and and I’m ashamed to admit, it’s only fairly recently that I have tried (very hard and not always successfully!) to stop myself buying the very latest and most technically advanced photography gear. Your advice is timely, practical, useful and sensible. Thank you Lei. Alun
What needs to be better is knowledge, and techniques. I am glad I am constrained and not buying the RUclips hype. I haven't bought anything new in a long time. I try to stay on a used. I can't swing the money people are talking about. Sony Gmaster is out of reach, as is L glass from Canon. I get paid from nobody. This is called a hobby. I am very frugal to start with. Photography like everything else is out of control if you play by the money rules they have. I want something good. Not something beyond my means that makes not enough of a difference. I bought a demo tripod on BH photo for cheap. It is great. Built nice. One from Amazon for my professional camcorder. I appreciate your video. Stop wasting money. I have a used Canon 6D, and a used Sony a6400. Just bought used Canon 1D mk.4. Barely used, with warranty. Sony is the grab and go, the Canon is the landscapes, and nature. The mk.4 for races of fast moving events like airshow. I bought a good cheapie backpack for my gear, but sometimes use it as easy carry for clothes. Doubles for that. I travel very light. I try to make sense on my buys. I am not rich. And glad I am sensible, and know the money tree is not on my porch.
I totally agree. Lenses are so good that even the cheap lenses are so good. I love Sigma lenses myself. I have a ton of Canon L glass but bought it all used and even still my favorite 50mm is my Sigma 50mm f1.4 ART. For the first time I would even argue that the Camera might be more important then the lenses as these newer cameras of the last few years like the Canon R6 or A7IV actually make the lenses better. It was like I got new lenses with those bodies.
My rule of thumb is that if you're a non-sports/wildlife still photographer, put your money in your lens kit. You don't need the latest and greatest body. Any body released in the last 5-6 years should be okay. But if you're a videographer, spend your money on the camera body to get features such as high res and high frame rates. Sports and wildlife photographers may also want the higher burst rates and faster AF on high-end bodies.
I think your recommendations are correct for most amateur photographers. After shooting with a lot of different lenses including the Tamron 28-75 2.8 and the 70-180 mm 2.8 I have moved to the Sony 35mm 1.4 gm, the Sony small, light and sharp 85mm 1.8, and the Sony 135mm 1.8 gm as my three prime lens trinity for Sony. Everytime I put one of those lenses on my camera it makes me want to go out and shoot. They all separate the subjects from the background no matter how far they are apart. Everything I point the 135mm gm at just looks amazing. I have a couple of wildlife zooms and a couple of EF lenses I adapt to my Sony and my R7 but those three primes make me very happy with my A7iv. I don't feel the need for any zoom lenses except for the big 200-600mm wildlife lens. Long after I've forgotten the money I spent for those two GM primes I'll still be enjoying them on my camera each time, and they hold their value very well and will sell for a good price if I ever decide to let them go. If I ever upgrade to an a7rV or an A1 those three primes will come with me.
I agree with most of your points, most beginning photographers (including me) fall prey to GAS. We all want to take the amazing shots we see in magazines and online and we like to think that's it's in the gear we use. One thing I don't agree with is your point about focal length, as if covering all focal lengths is an end goal. Primes like the 24mm 1.4 or a 85mm 1.4 have their purposes.The holy trinity is especially useful in situations where you're not in control and need to capture moments fast , like weddings. I learned and enjoyed photography most using primes. If you walk around long enough with a certain prime, being a 24, 35, 50, 85mm or whatever , your brain will adapt to this field of view, changing the way you see things, improving your sense for composition, etc. At least this is my experience. Anyway I don't see any point in covering all focal lengths and call it a deal.
I believe your advice is sound. I mostly shoot landscapes and in all sorts of weather and purchased a Manfrotto tripod with a fluid head in the 1980s, it has held up all that time and I still am using it there is no need to purchase another one. I started taking picture when the M42 mount for Pentax was still popular, with adapters I am still using these prime lenses, even though the quality of the lenses has improved over the years, there is a distinct look using these older lenses and I use more modern lenses too but to fill in the gaps and to create a more modern look that today's lenses gives. There has to be a good reason to spend money for photo equipment. I think people should save money in order to meet life's needs, have it for emergencies and have some fun with it too, like traveling to a great place to take pictures.
I agree with almost everything you said. Except for the tripod, I won't mount my expensive lens and gears to el cheapo tripods. Or, cheap tripods won't last. Manfrotto is a must the least. For bags, it's also important coz it will protect your gears on the field. So I don't buy cheap bags as well.
Personally, I’ve only used the $20 tripods (they’ve lasted for going on nine years). I’m not spending $150 on a tripod unless I plan to use it to shoot videos because I’ll need a study wobble free tripod with a smooth rotation for filming. Photography doesn’t require that. I’ve also only used the $20 Amazon bag and I have no problem yet. I’ve spent north of $200 for each of my flashes and thousands on my camera body and two lenses. Beyond that, I can’t justify spending the excessive amount for brand name marketing campaigns. I love your video. I think you hit the nail on the head with all your points.
Lei, just found your channel...excellent video BTW. All great points, If I may add a couple points on 2 of the subjects. 1) on the Lenses...for Canon Users, Canon EF Used Glass is a great option, you can even use on the New RF Mirrorless mounts with a cheap $99 adaptor. and 2) on the Tri-Pods, Spending $300-$450 for a Good TriPod is a Solid investment, I spent $430 on a Manfrotto 055 Tri-pod with a Fluid head, I originally thought way to expensive at the time, but soon came to learn, one of the best investments I have ever made. 7 years later and is still as solid as a Mack truck...Zero Regrets. Again thanks for sharing.
I feel like the difference between a $300 lens and a $1000 lens can be pretty big for anyone when it comes to image quality in general, but the difference between a $1000 lens and a $3000 lens is going to be negligible for anyone who isn't a professional. Like a 1.8 prime vs a 1.2 prime. I've been more than satisfied with new mid-range lenses. They take exceptional photos and for what most of us do, they are more than sufficient.
That's true. I can see how f1.2 would be useful(astrophotography, crazy bokeh, night photography), but if it's double or triple the price of f1.8, then it's not worth it.
Hey, just a thought on upgrading gear you already have. If there is something specific that you want or you find an amazing deal on something, just sell the lower quality item. Then use that money and fund something new. The rest of the video is great!
Some great tips here, but you should really add "...For Begginners" to the end of your title. High end lenses, tripods, etc. all serve a purpose and all absolutely have a place along a person's photographic journey. I kept things cheap with a Canon 80D and all third-party lenses for years, until it became clear my gear was holding me back. Jumping to a Canon R6 and a few Canon "L" lenses made an immediate and massive impact on my image quality, and I feel like I have more room to develop further from here. At a certain point, you'll be getting every ounce of performance out of your low-mid tier equipment, and the only way to see better results is to go to the next level. Mario Andretti wouldn't be a racing legend if he never stepped out of a 1970 Yugo. Gear doesn't matter FIRST, but it does matter in the long run.
I buy used gear. But my Manfrotto 190 was new 15 years ago and it still works great. I’m certainly guilty of buying duplicate bags (used) because of the good price.
I have only owned one Tamron lens in my life when I was shooting Canon and that was the 45mm 1.8 which was phenomenal. I am no longer a gearhead. I have exactly what I need and now get more out of life by traveling lightly to the places I’d like to go to instead of spending my money on needless upgrades and equipment.
I use 2 old dslr's in liveview and spent the money on some batteries, now I can compose through the viewfinder if I want to, hit the liveview button and boom a mirrorless camera which does a great job, sharp, excellent
I have a friend who takes some of the most breathtaking professional photos Ive ever seen. - On a Canon T7i and some thrift lenses. He's been doing it forever, so the experience definitely weighs in, but still, that just goes to show that you dont really need pro gear, unless youre an actual pro, then maybe you need those high-end features.
I'm retired, and because my budget is limited, I have purchased the Sigma 150-600C and a Sigma 105 macro lens, and they are both awesome lenses. Very happy to buy 3rd party lenses over Canon.
In 1986 I bought a Nikon FM-2 with a “Ritz Camera”-branded 28-80 zoom, which I used until going digital in 2002 (Pentax K-10). The Pentax 18-55mm zoom gave me the complete range of 24~105 equivalent. Along the way I picked to a 70-300 zoom for landscape and nature shots. In 2016 I added a K-1 full frame body and splurged on a Nikon-to-Pentax mount for that old 28-80. Can’t touch me when I put on the Ritz!
Regarding cases and backpacks, you will tend to buy bigger and bigger until you reach the point where carrying all that crap becomes a burden, and you don't want to go out with it. I hit that point with a McKinnon 35L backpack that would carry 2 bodies, 7 lenses, a shotgun mike, a gimbal, a tripod AND a laptop. The ONLY thing I use this pack for is an extended trip where I want everything available, but for each day's shooting, I would select maybe 3 lenses and 1-2 bodies carried in a smaller bag. The most I ever carry at once, anymore, is 3 primes, 1 tele zoom, 1 aps-c ultrawide zoom, which I mostly use for vlogging, 1 full frame, 1 aps-c body, a lav mike, and a tripod. A more common day trip kit is 3 fast primes, a full frame body, and an aps-c body. I get effective coverage from 24mm to 127.5mm. And even adjusting aperture for crop factor, I don't go slower than f/2.7, so I've got decent bokeh and good low-light capability in a kit that will fit in a medium shoulder bag. Sometimes I'll swap my 85mm prime for a tele zoom. And if I really want to keep it light, I'll pack my just 24mm f/1.4 and my 85mm f/1.8 and my full frame body in a small satchel. 24mm and 85mm lenses compliment each other well, with 85mm isolating details, and 24mm showing the context.
Definitely guilty of the glass part, but hear me out: I briefly had the Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 and I hated it, but not because of the image quality. In fact the IQ was pretty good, but I hated it because of the experience. It felt cheap, didn't feel special at all, and just the "ownership experience" made me feel as if the lens was just "there if I needed it". Sold it not long after and made the decision to only buy native Sony glass. Fast-forward to now and I have the Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 GM II and I love this thing and it actually makes me want to go out of my way to use it. So YMMV I guess
It’s gratifying to hear this list. I’ve pretty much followed these guidelines but I often find myself pining after gear that I don’t really need or would only make a fraction of a difference in my photography. Currently, I’ve been thinking of upgrading my Sony 50mm1.8 to the Sigma Art 50mm1.4. I keep thinking that it will give me better colour accuracy and that I can take sharper portraits in low light but the difference between 1.8 and 1.4 is not huge and generally I avoid shooting fully wide open anyway. I’d love to hear a list of low quality cheap gear to avoid. I’ve fallen down that trap a few times.
Good advice, I have the 2.8 trinity in my 15 yr old backpack LOL. Tripods now that's a touchy subject, I'm going to risk 8k of gear on a 150 tripod cause i was too cheap to get me Gitzo, Promediagear or RRS. But your right starting off yes save the money 3rd party lens are great these days, and a nice carbon fiber tripod isn't that expensive, it always comes down to the glass, that Tamron 150-600 G2 is great starting out , but eventually you move on to the 200-500/600 Canon, Nikon or Sony, or the way out there 600 f/4 for an arm and a leg LOL. Camera bodies, backpacks change quickly, lenes can last you 20 yr or a lifetime.
You offer excellent comments. It’s nice to have a couple of good things and a couple of more budget things so that you can learn the difference. A lot of what we have to do as videographers and photographers is to know light and to know how to make people look good. you can learn that with any kind of gear, and then when you get the jobs that pay incredible amount of money, you can move up to get some new feature that you really know you need.
I strongly disagree with your example of having "bought the same gear that you already had". Sure in a way you already had the 24mm in your Tamron lens. However the Sony GM 24mm f1.4 is a prime lens. Primes you use differently than zoom lenses. For example for my Canon R6 I bought the 24-105/4L glass *and* the 50mm f1.8! For low light situations the zoom won't do the job but the 50/1.8 will! So different use for the same 50mm focal distance! 😇 Also your advice of not buying too expensive tripods seems to be valid. But you'll often end up buying two or even three (so called) mid range tripods (when you could have bought your "too expensive tripod" only)! I'd look at tripods and lenses in a different way! Those could easily serve you for years. What's wrong with buying the very best tripod and lenses you could possibly afford? Isn't it crazy to see people buying expensive cameras and lenses and putting those on a $150 tripod? 🤔 Don't get me wrong. I'm also guilty of buying too many bags instead of one multipurpose one! 😮 And I don't want to justify all my purchases (for too many tripods - in search for "the right one")! 😟 However zoom and prime lenses serve different purposes!😉
I actually “downgraded” to a better camera for my particular needs/wants. Started my mirrorless journey with a Fujifilm X-T2. Found out after a while that EyE preferred the earlier Trans2 sensor. As I could care less about video or actionn photography, the X-E2 fits my bill . Consequently, “upgrading “ in my case would make no sense, especially so as my X-E2 body in Mint, very low shutter count condition was only $350 Ta Boot!
Yes i have an X-T2 and XT-3 for my professional work and use an X-T10 for my personal work. I have an X-T5 on order and thought I would use the X-T2 as my personal camera but after using it for a week i was missing the magic of the 16mp x trans 2 sensor of the X-T10 so i went back to it as my personal camera, its more, if done a few professional portrait shoots earlier this year with the X-T10 and sigma 56mm f1.4 in combination with the X100T and my client’s loved the look and feel of the pictures and nobody was asking for mor megapixels
Well Thought Out system 👌 I still havw, love, & use my X-T2 for it’s Superior EVF, Acros Simulation, more substantial feel, faster performance, and a couple more reasons when called for, reasons that also played into me currently using an X-T20 for general street shooting, especially so as the extra megapixels go a long way in allowing me to crop in on street shows that are caught at a moment’s notice without much time or thought given to composition. Consequently, I shoot wider than I might otherwise intend in order to give myself post processing framing choices. That being said, tho, the X-E2 is my all time favorite, trans wise & ergonomic wise (& looks wise as well), so that the logic I presented above takes a back seat to me using the X-E2 as much as I do the X-T20 & X-T2 just because the heart wants what the heart wants 😍 The most noticeable problem EyE have with the X-E2, tho (nothing is perfect), is the fact that the EVF (which I use exclusively) doesn’t brighten up sufficiently on bright sunny days, an annoyance that was solved with the X-T2 & X-T20. P.S. - I also have an X-T1 for a clearer view on the trans2 🤓
Yeah the xt2 is still a greater camera and is definitely faster and has a better evf, i also like the vertical tilt screen over the just horizontal on the xt10. My thinking was to use the xt2 as my personal camera so when i use the xt3 and xt5 professionally the same muscle memory would apply, I will probably end up using both. I also own the x100t and the x70 and every time I consider selling one i cant decide and can’t bring myself to sell one 😅😂
Being a lover of very compact full featured cameras, & Fujifilms in particular, I would likely own an X-70 if it were not for the fact that it doesn’t come with an EVF, a dealbreaker for me. This also puts any other camera similarly limited in that manner I might otherwise like to have unfortunately out of reach. A few years back I picked up a Ricoh GRII to see if I could overcome that aversion, but wound up selling it after one day’s use. Not only is it difficult to see what the heck is going on in any but the best semi shaded light, but it totally takes me out of the sense of being present in the picture I’m creating, not an enjoyable experience at all, a chore. Guess I’m just settled into my ways (coming up on 73, more than 50 of which being spent beneath a shutter of one sort or another), as my view on the subject seems to be in the vast minority.
In my experience everything about camera gear works with the law of diminishing returns. If you start with beginner gear and invest in mid-range stuff you'll notice amazing improvements, but the more you spend the less impressive the additional perks are. Going from a 50$ lens to a 500$ lens will be night and day, but from 500$ to 5000$ glass you'll be hard pressed to find much difference. Sure, it's going to be better, but not 10x better. A professional can sometimes justify the expense for high end gear and make the money back, but I'm not going to spend 15k on a high-end telephoto lens when I shoot sports events for 200$ a day once or twice a week and my 300$ lens does a decent job.
Thanks for the reminder!! Im known to be frugal and budget ortiented consumer. Getting into video gear, I totally got lost in the "latest and greatest" trend. Photography/videography is one of the most expensive hobbies out there and this video helps reminds me what TRUELY is important to me ahaha. Thanks brother! Great advice! I want to be driven by my passion not necessarily my gear.
As a photographer that works in and out of the studio (less so these days) an important question to ask is can your client tell the difference. Lenses most modern lenses are good enough for most use cases, if you pixel peep hard enough you will find differences, but are they enough to justify the cost. I have acquired way more lenses than I need (6 primes and 5 zooms), and the result is lots of duplication especially in zoom ranges, and some become very niche products (2 of the primes see very little use, as do 2 of the zooms) and this is with 2 different photographers working at the same time (sharing the same lenses) the 50mm (Eqv) lens is the only one where we have 2 lenses with exactly the same focal length but both of those get used, if I was the only photographer we would not have 2 of those. Me personally, I use 4 lenses 2 primes and 2 zooms. 50mm F/1.4, 84mm F/1.4, 15mm - 36mm F/4 and 24mm - 120mm F/4 I could never find a backpack that was suitable for my needs (carry a camera, 3-4 lenses, the space to hold a gimbal, laptop, charges, over night clothes etc) . I ended up buying a cheapish and large normal backpack with laptop compartment, and using the removable cube/bag from a Lowepro camera bag I already own, I have a bag big enough to do it all. There are downsides, there is no quick access to grab a lens etc... but the type of photography I do, once I am set up, I am set up for the day and if a change is needed, it does not need to be made in 10 seconds.
This is too much common sense. I reached the same conclusion some time ago. I have a lot of " wants" but I do not "need" to upgrade my equipment every year. I love this video.
Great video and insight. I am Canon shooter on the Rf mount. Canon restricts the Rf Mount from third party support. Hence Sony and Nikon shooters have better lens options. I agree with all of your recommend recommendations. I am adapting lens. . While I have some L glass. I have made with used Sigma primes.
Definitely great comments. What has worked well for me on the lenses is looking for used options. Not 100% success, as I did have to send a 70-200 back that had issues, but otherwise saved a lot of money. Outfits like MPB and KEH have good gear with easy return policies.
I carefully choose my gear what i spent money on and when to upgrade. My recent upgrade was from EF to RF 100mm f2.8 L macro just because it was starting to do something weird. So i took it to local shop to exhange it and give some money between. I like Canon line lenses since old premium EF glass is really good with new RF cameras and you can find lots of used lenses for cheaper price if you carefully look good deals.
I got my Canon M50 (Mark II) with the 15 to 45mm f/3.5 - 6.3 kit lens. Purchased the Canon 55 - 200mm f/4.5 - 6.3 & Sigma 30mm f/1.4 about 3 months later. Then I ordered the Sigma 16mm f/1.4 & 56mm f/1.4 3 months ago.
Just found your channel, love the vid mate, thank you for the sound advice. One thing though, noticed in your intro video, photography is spelt wrong.. might wanna get that fixed... 🤣🤣
Just got back into the hobby after about a decade, I wish this video came into my life/existed sooner. I have 4 lense bags, an old sling bag, and a tamrac backpack. I use the sling and the backpack, film and digital. The 4 lense bags have 2 medium zooms and 2 tele-zooms that very literally have no use anymore. Dont invest in cheap glass just to fill out the bag, i got a very acceptable trinity going on now that costs 2x what the 4 unused lenses cost and now I have to try to sell them back to the store I got them from for a loss, luckily i have glass at said shop he knows ive been eyeing up and would gladly take profit from essentially me renting lenses.
The funny thing about high-end lenses is that pro photographers (product shooters particularly) tend to rent gear. Cost the rental into the job total payment. Buying ALL the high end lenses is for camera gear collectors. If you work regularly on smaller paid jobs (weddings etc) then buy what works, don't buy what you will be paying credit for years.
I am also a tech nerd. I have the godox v860ii and its really good. I have the nikon d750 with the kit 24-120 f4 lens. Even though v860 is good outdoors its a little lacking in power. So i really want to get an ad300 or ad400. I also wanna get the 70-200mm f2.8 lens(used). Which one should i invest in first because i cannot get both at the same time due to budget constrain. could anyone suggest please?
Very honest and sincere opinion, and very true, these are actually very sensible advice, but yet many people fall into the trap of wanting to get the best gear out there, maybe many of us all have that false sense that we can take better pictures if we have the top-of-the-line gears, and some of us (including myself from time to time) enjoy playing around with our gears even more than actually going out to shoot pictures with them, haha.......I'm guilty of pretty much every single point you mentioned, haha....
I've been a victim of upgrading a perfectly fine tripod (a $60 Manfrotto, super lightweight) and somehow I found myself putting down $600+ on a carbon fibre tripod from Peak Design. Did it significantly improve my photos or user experience of using tripods? Nope. So I'm selling it.
I'm waiting on my tamron 35 150 to come back and my 17-28 the most flawless kit I could ever dream of and it is Sharp as he'll and I have the viltrox 85 if I need a fast lens, I have a neewer tripod I bought for 7$ and a godox v1f I also got for 7$ brand new love these kinds of videos youtubers definitely try to make you think that your not good enough if you don't have the latest
Hi Lei, just some food for thought because I really understand where you are coming from. If I can put this out there, if you push and really refine yourself and keep creating bigger goals, you will get to the point where spending 50% more on a GMaster is cheaper than missing the shot. Or, even if you have an expensive vacation with your family and the hotel upgrades you when they see your camera gear and give the family free dinner (tiger shrimp spread), in hopes you will post some photos (happened to me yesterday). Or, maybe you are having to do less editing makes the lens pay for itself because of how you value your time. Maybe pays for itself over a week, over 3-months, but it will pay immediately in increased energy you can keep for the important things in your life. Also, believe me that when people see your gear they also equate you are worth more phschologically which in essense makes your upgrades perhaps even free or can make you money. Change your thinking and great things will happen. 5-years ago I lived in my car, but now I'm there. You will love it.
It's really tough sometimes to resist the urge for new "must-have" gear. One important point for me is to look for used stuff. Photographers are prone to try out gear to figure out if it fits their workflow, so barely touched gear, especially lenses, is always easy to find. Wouldn't think of buying new glass if I don't have to. While some will say "but warranty!", I'll ask: When was the last time a lens failed on you? For me, the answer is "never" (well, apart that one sad Canon lens I forgot in a box and put in the moldy basement of our 120-year-old apartment building ;-)). And for the feeling "But I really do need this!" I'd also recommend to "suffer" a bit longer to see if that doesn't let you find ways around your problem and even brings you further artistically/professionally in the process.
Let me just say that I agree with most of what you're saying except one. IF you can afford it buy the best high end glass first especially when it comes to the "Holy Trinity" then you won't feel the need / desire to upgrade. I for one would have bought the Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 Art lens over the Sony 24-70mm F2.8 GMII. For roughly half the cost ($1099 versus $2298) you're getting 90-95% of the same performance. But my only issue is that Sigma doesn't currently have a 70-200mm F2.8 to pair with it. All comes down to muscle memory and I wanted uniformity. As far as the Tamron lens I wanted 24mm versus 28mm. And the Tamron lens quality was behind both Sony and Sigma.
My $40 tripod has been doing fine for 40yrs and thousands of backpacking miles and every kind of weather that comes with those kind of miles. Yes it's old yes it's ugly. Yes it's not looking cool. If it's not broken don't fix it. I sure like to have one of those cool color carbon fiber ones though. :) those do look cool. I could make the arrangement for my old smashed up back and how carbon fiber would be more light.....:) Thanks for sharing your video.
I can relate to that! I've got a very old Kmart cheapy from 45 years ago that's still just as good as it was new. 6 years later, got a heavier Manfrotto. Haven't moved up from either one since.
Nice video mate! Super interesting to see what you, as a photographer would avoid to waste money on looking back. Funnily I'm editing the exact same video just focused on videography. With many things that don't have a "lifespan" I'd also always consider buying used, I've saved so much money already because of that and the truth with many pieces of gear is that it's not being revolutionized, if you have a piece of glass, a tripod or a light modifier that was good 10 years ago, it's still good today. The yearly improvements are just so incremental and rarely truly exciting, let alone worth the hundreds or sometimes thousands of $
Just saw this comment, so I'm not sure if you've finished or posted your video yet, but let me know when you do! I'd love to see what your perspective is on video gear!
I recently bought the Sony a6400 with the kit lens and now I am thinking about the sony 50mm 1.8 and if I should buy it. Would you say it’s worth it although I already have a 50mm(kit lens)? Would love to hear your opinion!
I have both and use them both. The 50mm prime from Sony - or the 56mm f/1.4 from Sigma will impress you with a unique look to your photos thru subject separation from the backgrounds and a great ability to shoot in low light.
Just upgraded my "normal" lens to the new Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG DN Art. It's got the new AF motor Sigma introduced on the 60-600mm lens, and the AF is scary fast.
As far as lenses goes, if you’re a shooter like me, who most of the time sticks to around f5.6 - f11, there’s even less of a need for top tier lenses. For example, instead of purchasing the Fujinon f1.4 primes for my Fujifilm, I picked up instead the Fujinon f2 versions at a fraction of the cost, with which I challenge anyone to differentiate between their results with the way I shoot. & even when I shoot wider open, the difference is real world negligible to most anyone other than pixel peepers under direct comparison.
Sensible advise for the most part. The example you gave with the 17-28 vs. 24 GM wasn't the best. In low light situations, the prime will give you a much cleaner image with the wider aperture. Professionals buy the best and hold on to it forever - hobbyist/enthusiasts (myself included! 🤣) are the suckers that are always chasing the latest and greatest.
expensive tripods are 100% worth it... for higher end video. a flowtech is worth it so you can change fast and not have to finic with 6 extension points while you have a 12 pound rig on top. But for photo i think the vanguard tripods with a the quarter tun extensions are the the best at 350 unless you really need a small light weight travel tripod
Damn dude.... GREAT content in here.... I am a gear junky myself.... and I am SOOOOO glad you mentioned the camera bags, I cant even count how many different bags and backpacks I have had..... I think that was the most important part of the video. Now I have three.... All lowepro, a rolling back, a back pack, and a shoulder (messenger type bag). I use the messenger type bag for photo shoots, and the backpack has my video equipment (Im a real estate photographer) Anyway... great video!!!
I'm upgrading my F-system to D850 standard,. I cannot afford to switch system. I will get a used D850 and a used AFS 400mmF2.8 G VR. I'm using a D700 and a D800E today.
my grandfathers always told me spend less on the camera and more on the lens so I get entry level cameras that are a few years old and buy newer used lenses I have a canon rebel T7 and a Sigma 150-600
This is why I has to let My canon 24mm f/1.4 II lens go. Made no real sense to have that next to my RF 15-35 lens. I thought the extra light would be useful, but I always ended up shooting at f/2.8 or wider anyways. Plus I’m not a pixel peeper, so the 15-35 was plenty sharp for me. The unfortunate thing about these journeys that photo and video nerds go through is that, at some point in your journey, you will still buy gear that you later realize you didn’t need.
15:15 Yes, mid-range tripods that are sturdy enough to support your camera and lens can perform exactly the same as high-end tripods. The difference is usually weight. That's why the mid-ranges usually have a hook to hang extras weight on them.
Agree with your points unfortunately poor timing for me, as I just sold my Canon 1DX, 5DMIII, 600XT Flash and 7 EF-L lenses, and replaced them with an R3, EL-1 Flash and 7 new RF L lenses.... but I drawn the line at new tripod and camera bag - gotta save somewhere #suckerfortech
Upgrades can often be a slippery slope... Ask anyone who's emptied a bank account to buy a camera only to find out that now they'll need a whole new computer to edit the files.
One advice I have is once you've assembled a kit that you're happy with: stop looking. Unless you do certain very specific kinds of pro photography, you only need to upgrade some parts of your kit every decade or so. Spending time on knowing your gear down to the last nook will do more towards improving your photography than getting the latest gear.
Avoid switching camera systems instead of just waiting for your system to also get the latest feature. Adapting a few filter sizes instead of different filters for each lens/size. And avoid unnecessary filters.
What I do is buy a step up ring for every lens I buy and a third party lens cap. Then all your lens have the same front thread, and all your lenses use the same size cap, and are ready to put your filters on which are all the same size. I picked 67mm, so I can’t buy fancy glass.
The appeal of the profoto A10 is that it can be sync with an iPhone. Unfortunately Godox gave up on this for the newer iPhones otherwise it would be a no brainer to get a couple of V1s.
Gel flashes at night problem solved. agree with all but you take your mafroto in a river with strong current and say good bye to your gear and also try and get your medium priced tripod repaired or parts. Legs are $1000 for a reason. If your in the middle of know-where and it fails. Tripods are so underrated.
It can be quite subjective indeed and newbies should really be careful not to fall for the fanboy-ism out there when researching equipment. I've seen certain groups where the fanboys will shame someone for not using the top end Profoto lighting under the guise, "you get what you pay for". Really? So someone got the job done without spending needless amounts of money and you berate them for it? Common sense is your greatest Allie.
Yes, an iPhone 12 can record 4K decently enough if you're not talking about ultra low light. Most cameras released in the last 10years are already good enough.
Good content and thanks for the advice. Just a small heads up, though…your intro footage has a typo in it. Not sure if you’ve fixed it since this is my first video of your channel, but I’ll be sure to watch all your other photography related videos.
I am 70 years old and and I’m ashamed to admit, it’s only fairly recently that I have tried (very hard and not always successfully!) to stop myself buying the very latest and most technically advanced photography gear. Your advice is timely, practical, useful and sensible. Thank you Lei. Alun
i still have more than 20 yrs to buy lastest n most technically advanced photography gears:)
Never buy yongnuo. It doesn't work on Canon R system with the adaptor
Dont be ashamed. Your taking steps to the right direction alun.
What needs to be better is knowledge, and techniques. I am glad I am constrained and not buying the RUclips hype. I haven't bought anything new in a long time. I try to stay on a used. I can't swing the money people are talking about. Sony Gmaster is out of reach, as is L glass from Canon. I get paid from nobody. This is called a hobby. I am very frugal to start with. Photography like everything else is out of control if you play by the money rules they have. I want something good. Not something beyond my means that makes not enough of a difference. I bought a demo tripod on BH photo for cheap. It is great. Built nice. One from Amazon for my professional camcorder. I appreciate your video. Stop wasting money. I have a used Canon 6D, and a used Sony a6400. Just bought used Canon 1D mk.4. Barely used, with warranty. Sony is the grab and go, the Canon is the landscapes, and nature. The mk.4 for races of fast moving events like airshow. I bought a good cheapie backpack for my gear, but sometimes use it as easy carry for clothes. Doubles for that. I travel very light. I try to make sense on my buys. I am not rich. And glad I am sensible, and know the money tree is not on my porch.
I'm 82 and have the same problem. Someone once said it's G.A.S., gear acquisition syndrome.........
This is the most necessary intro on RUclips today
I totally agree. Lenses are so good that even the cheap lenses are so good. I love Sigma lenses myself. I have a ton of Canon L glass but bought it all used and even still my favorite 50mm is my Sigma 50mm f1.4 ART. For the first time I would even argue that the Camera might be more important then the lenses as these newer cameras of the last few years like the Canon R6 or A7IV actually make the lenses better. It was like I got new lenses with those bodies.
My rule of thumb is that if you're a non-sports/wildlife still photographer, put your money in your lens kit. You don't need the latest and greatest body. Any body released in the last 5-6 years should be okay.
But if you're a videographer, spend your money on the camera body to get features such as high res and high frame rates. Sports and wildlife photographers may also want the higher burst rates and faster AF on high-end bodies.
I think your recommendations are correct for most amateur photographers. After shooting with a lot of different lenses including the Tamron 28-75 2.8 and the 70-180 mm 2.8 I have moved to the Sony 35mm 1.4 gm, the Sony small, light and sharp 85mm 1.8, and the Sony 135mm 1.8 gm as my three prime lens trinity for Sony. Everytime I put one of those lenses on my camera it makes me want to go out and shoot. They all separate the subjects from the background no matter how far they are apart. Everything I point the 135mm gm at just looks amazing. I have a couple of wildlife zooms and a couple of EF lenses I adapt to my Sony and my R7 but those three primes make me very happy with my A7iv. I don't feel the need for any zoom lenses except for the big 200-600mm wildlife lens.
Long after I've forgotten the money I spent for those two GM primes I'll still be enjoying them on my camera each time, and they hold their value very well and will sell for a good price if I ever decide to let them go. If I ever upgrade to an a7rV or an A1 those three primes will come with me.
I agree with most of your points, most beginning photographers (including me) fall prey to GAS. We all want to take the amazing shots we see in magazines and online and we like to think that's it's in the gear we use. One thing I don't agree with is your point about focal length, as if covering all focal lengths is an end goal. Primes like the 24mm 1.4 or a 85mm 1.4 have their purposes.The holy trinity is especially useful in situations where you're not in control and need to capture moments fast , like weddings. I learned and enjoyed photography most using primes. If you walk around long enough with a certain prime, being a 24, 35, 50, 85mm or whatever , your brain will adapt to this field of view, changing the way you see things, improving your sense for composition, etc. At least this is my experience. Anyway I don't see any point in covering all focal lengths and call it a deal.
+1 re: primes
I believe your advice is sound. I mostly shoot landscapes and in all sorts of weather and purchased a Manfrotto tripod with a fluid head in the 1980s, it has held up all that time and I still am using it there is no need to purchase another one. I started taking picture when the M42 mount for Pentax was still popular, with adapters I am still using these prime lenses, even though the quality of the lenses has improved over the years, there is a distinct look using these older lenses and I use more modern lenses too but to fill in the gaps and to create a more modern look that today's lenses gives. There has to be a good reason to spend money for photo equipment. I think people should save money in order to meet life's needs, have it for emergencies and have some fun with it too, like traveling to a great place to take pictures.
I agree with almost everything you said. Except for the tripod, I won't mount my expensive lens and gears to el cheapo tripods. Or, cheap tripods won't last. Manfrotto is a must the least. For bags, it's also important coz it will protect your gears on the field. So I don't buy cheap bags as well.
Personally, I’ve only used the $20 tripods (they’ve lasted for going on nine years). I’m not spending $150 on a tripod unless I plan to use it to shoot videos because I’ll need a study wobble free tripod with a smooth rotation for filming. Photography doesn’t require that. I’ve also only used the $20 Amazon bag and I have no problem yet. I’ve spent north of $200 for each of my flashes and thousands on my camera body and two lenses. Beyond that, I can’t justify spending the excessive amount for brand name marketing campaigns. I love your video. I think you hit the nail on the head with all your points.
Lei, just found your channel...excellent video BTW. All great points, If I may add a couple points on 2 of the subjects. 1) on the Lenses...for Canon Users, Canon EF Used Glass is a great option, you can even use on the New RF Mirrorless mounts with a cheap $99 adaptor. and 2) on the Tri-Pods, Spending $300-$450 for a Good TriPod is a Solid investment, I spent $430 on a Manfrotto 055 Tri-pod with a Fluid head, I originally thought way to expensive at the time, but soon came to learn, one of the best investments I have ever made. 7 years later and is still as solid as a Mack truck...Zero Regrets. Again thanks for sharing.
I feel like the difference between a $300 lens and a $1000 lens can be pretty big for anyone when it comes to image quality in general, but the difference between a $1000 lens and a $3000 lens is going to be negligible for anyone who isn't a professional. Like a 1.8 prime vs a 1.2 prime. I've been more than satisfied with new mid-range lenses. They take exceptional photos and for what most of us do, they are more than sufficient.
That's true. I can see how f1.2 would be useful(astrophotography, crazy bokeh, night photography), but if it's double or triple the price of f1.8, then it's not worth it.
Hey, just a thought on upgrading gear you already have. If there is something specific that you want or you find an amazing deal on something, just sell the lower quality item. Then use that money and fund something new.
The rest of the video is great!
Some great tips here, but you should really add "...For Begginners" to the end of your title. High end lenses, tripods, etc. all serve a purpose and all absolutely have a place along a person's photographic journey. I kept things cheap with a Canon 80D and all third-party lenses for years, until it became clear my gear was holding me back. Jumping to a Canon R6 and a few Canon "L" lenses made an immediate and massive impact on my image quality, and I feel like I have more room to develop further from here. At a certain point, you'll be getting every ounce of performance out of your low-mid tier equipment, and the only way to see better results is to go to the next level. Mario Andretti wouldn't be a racing legend if he never stepped out of a 1970 Yugo. Gear doesn't matter FIRST, but it does matter in the long run.
I buy used gear. But my Manfrotto 190 was new 15 years ago and it still works great. I’m certainly guilty of buying duplicate bags (used) because of the good price.
I have only owned one Tamron lens in my life when I was shooting Canon and that was the 45mm 1.8 which was phenomenal. I am no longer a gearhead. I have exactly what I need and now get more out of life by traveling lightly to the places I’d like to go to instead of spending my money on needless upgrades and equipment.
I use 2 old dslr's in liveview and spent the money on some batteries, now I can compose through the viewfinder if I want to, hit the liveview button and boom a mirrorless camera which does a great job, sharp, excellent
I have a friend who takes some of the most breathtaking professional photos Ive ever seen. - On a Canon T7i and some thrift lenses. He's been doing it forever, so the experience definitely weighs in, but still, that just goes to show that you dont really need pro gear, unless youre an actual pro, then maybe you need those high-end features.
Well said - #4 applies to me!
Good info, I am surprised that you don’t have more followers, however hang in there and keep doing quality and success will come.
I'm retired, and because my budget is limited, I have purchased the Sigma 150-600C and a Sigma 105 macro lens, and they are both awesome lenses. Very happy to buy 3rd party lenses over Canon.
My brain actually registered 585K subs! Can't believe I'm watching a new YTC! Keep it up!
In 1986 I bought a Nikon FM-2 with a “Ritz Camera”-branded 28-80 zoom, which I used until going digital in 2002 (Pentax K-10). The Pentax 18-55mm zoom gave me the complete range of 24~105 equivalent. Along the way I picked to a 70-300 zoom for landscape and nature shots. In 2016 I added a K-1 full frame body and splurged on a Nikon-to-Pentax mount for that old 28-80. Can’t touch me when I put on the Ritz!
Regarding cases and backpacks, you will tend to buy bigger and bigger until you reach the point where carrying all that crap becomes a burden, and you don't want to go out with it. I hit that point with a McKinnon 35L backpack that would carry 2 bodies, 7 lenses, a shotgun mike, a gimbal, a tripod AND a laptop. The ONLY thing I use this pack for is an extended trip where I want everything available, but for each day's shooting, I would select maybe 3 lenses and 1-2 bodies carried in a smaller bag. The most I ever carry at once, anymore, is 3 primes, 1 tele zoom, 1 aps-c ultrawide zoom, which I mostly use for vlogging, 1 full frame, 1 aps-c body, a lav mike, and a tripod.
A more common day trip kit is 3 fast primes, a full frame body, and an aps-c body. I get effective coverage from 24mm to 127.5mm. And even adjusting aperture for crop factor, I don't go slower than f/2.7, so I've got decent bokeh and good low-light capability in a kit that will fit in a medium shoulder bag. Sometimes I'll swap my 85mm prime for a tele zoom.
And if I really want to keep it light, I'll pack my just 24mm f/1.4 and my 85mm f/1.8 and my full frame body in a small satchel. 24mm and 85mm lenses compliment each other well, with 85mm isolating details, and 24mm showing the context.
Great points. Love your video. 👏👏♥️ Thank you.
Definitely guilty of the glass part, but hear me out: I briefly had the Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 and I hated it, but not because of the image quality. In fact the IQ was pretty good, but I hated it because of the experience. It felt cheap, didn't feel special at all, and just the "ownership experience" made me feel as if the lens was just "there if I needed it". Sold it not long after and made the decision to only buy native Sony glass. Fast-forward to now and I have the Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 GM II and I love this thing and it actually makes me want to go out of my way to use it. So YMMV I guess
It’s gratifying to hear this list. I’ve pretty much followed these guidelines but I often find myself pining after gear that I don’t really need or would only make a fraction of a difference in my photography. Currently, I’ve been thinking of upgrading my Sony 50mm1.8 to the Sigma Art 50mm1.4. I keep thinking that it will give me better colour accuracy and that I can take sharper portraits in low light but the difference between 1.8 and 1.4 is not huge and generally I avoid shooting fully wide open anyway. I’d love to hear a list of low quality cheap gear to avoid. I’ve fallen down that trap a few times.
Good advice, I have the 2.8 trinity in my 15 yr old backpack LOL. Tripods now that's a touchy subject, I'm going to risk 8k of gear on a 150 tripod cause i was too cheap to get me Gitzo, Promediagear or RRS. But your right starting off yes save the money 3rd party lens are great these days, and a nice carbon fiber tripod isn't that expensive, it always comes down to the glass, that Tamron 150-600 G2 is great starting out , but eventually you move on to the 200-500/600 Canon, Nikon or Sony, or the way out there 600 f/4 for an arm and a leg LOL. Camera bodies, backpacks change quickly, lenes can last you 20 yr or a lifetime.
You offer excellent comments. It’s nice to have a couple of good things and a couple of more budget things so that you can learn the difference. A lot of what we have to do as videographers and photographers is to know light and to know how to make people look good. you can learn that with any kind of gear, and then when you get the jobs that pay incredible amount of money, you can move up to get some new feature that you really know you need.
I strongly disagree with your example of having "bought the same gear that you already had". Sure in a way you already had the 24mm in your Tamron lens. However the Sony GM 24mm f1.4 is a prime lens. Primes you use differently than zoom lenses. For example for my Canon R6 I bought the 24-105/4L glass *and* the 50mm f1.8! For low light situations the zoom won't do the job but the 50/1.8 will! So different use for the same 50mm focal distance! 😇
Also your advice of not buying too expensive tripods seems to be valid. But you'll often end up buying two or even three (so called) mid range tripods (when you could have bought your "too expensive tripod" only)!
I'd look at tripods and lenses in a different way! Those could easily serve you for years. What's wrong with buying the very best tripod and lenses you could possibly afford? Isn't it crazy to see people buying expensive cameras and lenses and putting those on a $150 tripod? 🤔
Don't get me wrong. I'm also guilty of buying too many bags instead of one multipurpose one! 😮
And I don't want to justify all my purchases (for too many tripods - in search for "the right one")! 😟
However zoom and prime lenses serve different purposes!😉
I actually “downgraded” to a better camera for my particular needs/wants. Started my mirrorless journey with a Fujifilm X-T2. Found out after a while that EyE preferred the earlier Trans2 sensor. As I could care less about video or actionn photography, the X-E2 fits my bill . Consequently, “upgrading “ in my case would make no sense, especially so as my X-E2 body in Mint, very low shutter count condition was only $350 Ta Boot!
Yes i have an X-T2 and XT-3 for my professional work and use an X-T10 for my personal work. I have an X-T5 on order and thought I would use the X-T2 as my personal camera but after using it for a week i was missing the magic of the 16mp x trans 2 sensor of the X-T10 so i went back to it as my personal camera, its more, if done a few professional portrait shoots earlier this year with the X-T10 and sigma 56mm f1.4 in combination with the X100T and my client’s loved the look and feel of the pictures and nobody was asking for mor megapixels
Well Thought Out system 👌 I still havw, love, & use my X-T2 for it’s Superior EVF, Acros Simulation, more substantial feel, faster performance, and a couple more reasons when called for, reasons that also played into me currently using an X-T20 for general street shooting, especially so as the extra megapixels go a long way in allowing me to crop in on street shows that are caught at a moment’s notice without much time or thought given to composition. Consequently, I shoot wider than I might otherwise intend in order to give myself post processing framing choices. That being said, tho, the X-E2 is my all time favorite, trans wise & ergonomic wise (& looks wise as well), so that the logic I presented above takes a back seat to me using the X-E2 as much as I do the X-T20 & X-T2 just because the heart wants what the heart wants 😍 The most noticeable problem EyE have with the X-E2, tho (nothing is perfect), is the fact that the EVF (which I use exclusively) doesn’t brighten up sufficiently on bright sunny days, an annoyance that was solved with the X-T2 & X-T20. P.S. - I also have an X-T1 for a clearer view on the trans2 🤓
Yeah the xt2 is still a greater camera and is definitely faster and has a better evf, i also like the vertical tilt screen over the just horizontal on the xt10. My thinking was to use the xt2 as my personal camera so when i use the xt3 and xt5 professionally the same muscle memory would apply, I will probably end up using both. I also own the x100t and the x70 and every time I consider selling one i cant decide and can’t bring myself to sell one 😅😂
Being a lover of very compact full featured cameras, & Fujifilms in particular, I would likely own an X-70 if it were not for the fact that it doesn’t come with an EVF, a dealbreaker for me. This also puts any other camera similarly limited in that manner I might otherwise like to have unfortunately out of reach. A few years back I picked up a Ricoh GRII to see if I could overcome that aversion, but wound up selling it after one day’s use. Not only is it difficult to see what the heck is going on in any but the best semi shaded light, but it totally takes me out of the sense of being present in the picture I’m creating, not an enjoyable experience at all, a chore. Guess I’m just settled into my ways (coming up on 73, more than 50 of which being spent beneath a shutter of one sort or another), as my view on the subject seems to be in the vast minority.
Lei! A Great common sense approach to photo equipment! Great advice!
In my experience everything about camera gear works with the law of diminishing returns. If you start with beginner gear and invest in mid-range stuff you'll notice amazing improvements, but the more you spend the less impressive the additional perks are. Going from a 50$ lens to a 500$ lens will be night and day, but from 500$ to 5000$ glass you'll be hard pressed to find much difference. Sure, it's going to be better, but not 10x better. A professional can sometimes justify the expense for high end gear and make the money back, but I'm not going to spend 15k on a high-end telephoto lens when I shoot sports events for 200$ a day once or twice a week and my 300$ lens does a decent job.
Thank you for the advice.
Totally agree..nice one
Thanks for the reminder!! Im known to be frugal and budget ortiented consumer. Getting into video gear, I totally got lost in the "latest and greatest" trend. Photography/videography is one of the most expensive hobbies out there and this video helps reminds me what TRUELY is important to me ahaha. Thanks brother! Great advice! I want to be driven by my passion not necessarily my gear.
As a photographer that works in and out of the studio (less so these days) an important question to ask is can your client tell the difference.
Lenses most modern lenses are good enough for most use cases, if you pixel peep hard enough you will find differences, but are they enough to justify the cost.
I have acquired way more lenses than I need (6 primes and 5 zooms), and the result is lots of duplication especially in zoom ranges, and some become very niche products (2 of the primes see very little use, as do 2 of the zooms) and this is with 2 different photographers working at the same time (sharing the same lenses) the 50mm (Eqv) lens is the only one where we have 2 lenses with exactly the same focal length but both of those get used, if I was the only photographer we would not have 2 of those.
Me personally, I use 4 lenses 2 primes and 2 zooms. 50mm F/1.4, 84mm F/1.4, 15mm - 36mm F/4 and 24mm - 120mm F/4
I could never find a backpack that was suitable for my needs (carry a camera, 3-4 lenses, the space to hold a gimbal, laptop, charges, over night clothes etc) .
I ended up buying a cheapish and large normal backpack with laptop compartment, and using the removable cube/bag from a Lowepro camera bag I already own, I have a bag big enough to do it all.
There are downsides, there is no quick access to grab a lens etc... but the type of photography I do, once I am set up, I am set up for the day and if a change is needed, it does not need to be made in 10 seconds.
This is too much common sense. I reached the same conclusion some time ago. I have a lot of " wants" but I do not "need" to upgrade my equipment every year. I love this video.
good advice!
since i began buying godox and sigma products, and off brand other stuff, i will never go back to nikon gear.
Great video and insight. I am Canon shooter on the Rf mount. Canon restricts the Rf Mount from third party support. Hence Sony and Nikon shooters have better lens options. I agree with all of your recommend recommendations. I am adapting lens. . While I have some L glass. I have made with used Sigma primes.
RUclips recommending me this video as i’ve been eyeing the rf 70-200 f2.8 that is on sale for over a week 😂
Definitely great comments. What has worked well for me on the lenses is looking for used options. Not 100% success, as I did have to send a 70-200 back that had issues, but otherwise saved a lot of money. Outfits like MPB and KEH have good gear with easy return policies.
I carefully choose my gear what i spent money on and when to upgrade. My recent upgrade was from EF to RF 100mm f2.8 L macro just because it was starting to do something weird. So i took it to local shop to exhange it and give some money between. I like Canon line lenses since old premium EF glass is really good with new RF cameras and you can find lots of used lenses for cheaper price if you carefully look good deals.
I got my Canon M50 (Mark II) with the 15 to 45mm f/3.5 - 6.3 kit lens.
Purchased the Canon 55 - 200mm f/4.5 - 6.3 & Sigma 30mm f/1.4 about 3 months later.
Then I ordered the Sigma 16mm f/1.4 & 56mm f/1.4 3 months ago.
Just found your channel, love the vid mate, thank you for the sound advice. One thing though, noticed in your intro video, photography is spelt wrong.. might wanna get that fixed... 🤣🤣
Just got back into the hobby after about a decade, I wish this video came into my life/existed sooner. I have 4 lense bags, an old sling bag, and a tamrac backpack. I use the sling and the backpack, film and digital. The 4 lense bags have 2 medium zooms and 2 tele-zooms that very literally have no use anymore. Dont invest in cheap glass just to fill out the bag, i got a very acceptable trinity going on now that costs 2x what the 4 unused lenses cost and now I have to try to sell them back to the store I got them from for a loss, luckily i have glass at said shop he knows ive been eyeing up and would gladly take profit from essentially me renting lenses.
Great advice! Sometimes I question whether I’m a photographer or a gear collector!!! I do love the Tamron lenses! Thanks for your input!
This is a very worthwhile video. You make a lot of sense and I learned some good things. Thank you.
The funny thing about high-end lenses is that pro photographers (product shooters particularly) tend to rent gear. Cost the rental into the job total payment. Buying ALL the high end lenses is for camera gear collectors. If you work regularly on smaller paid jobs (weddings etc) then buy what works, don't buy what you will be paying credit for years.
I am also a tech nerd. I have the godox v860ii and its really good. I have the nikon d750 with the kit 24-120 f4 lens. Even though v860 is good outdoors its a little lacking in power. So i really want to get an ad300 or ad400. I also wanna get the 70-200mm f2.8 lens(used). Which one should i invest in first because i cannot get both at the same time due to budget constrain. could anyone suggest please?
Very honest and sincere opinion, and very true, these are actually very sensible advice, but yet many people fall into the trap of wanting to get the best gear out there, maybe many of us all have that false sense that we can take better pictures if we have the top-of-the-line gears, and some of us (including myself from time to time) enjoy playing around with our gears even more than actually going out to shoot pictures with them, haha.......I'm guilty of pretty much every single point you mentioned, haha....
I've been a victim of upgrading a perfectly fine tripod (a $60 Manfrotto, super lightweight) and somehow I found myself putting down $600+ on a carbon fibre tripod from Peak Design. Did it significantly improve my photos or user experience of using tripods? Nope. So I'm selling it.
I'm waiting on my tamron 35 150 to come back and my 17-28 the most flawless kit I could ever dream of and it is Sharp as he'll and I have the viltrox 85 if I need a fast lens, I have a neewer tripod I bought for 7$ and a godox v1f I also got for 7$ brand new love these kinds of videos youtubers definitely try to make you think that your not good enough if you don't have the latest
Hi Lei, just some food for thought because I really understand where you are coming from. If I can put this out there, if you push and really refine yourself and keep creating bigger goals, you will get to the point where spending 50% more on a GMaster is cheaper than missing the shot. Or, even if you have an expensive vacation with your family and the hotel upgrades you when they see your camera gear and give the family free dinner (tiger shrimp spread), in hopes you will post some photos (happened to me yesterday). Or, maybe you are having to do less editing makes the lens pay for itself because of how you value your time. Maybe pays for itself over a week, over 3-months, but it will pay immediately in increased energy you can keep for the important things in your life. Also, believe me that when people see your gear they also equate you are worth more phschologically which in essense makes your upgrades perhaps even free or can make you money. Change your thinking and great things will happen. 5-years ago I lived in my car, but now I'm there. You will love it.
It's really tough sometimes to resist the urge for new "must-have" gear. One important point for me is to look for used stuff. Photographers are prone to try out gear to figure out if it fits their workflow, so barely touched gear, especially lenses, is always easy to find. Wouldn't think of buying new glass if I don't have to. While some will say "but warranty!", I'll ask: When was the last time a lens failed on you? For me, the answer is "never" (well, apart that one sad Canon lens I forgot in a box and put in the moldy basement of our 120-year-old apartment building ;-)).
And for the feeling "But I really do need this!" I'd also recommend to "suffer" a bit longer to see if that doesn't let you find ways around your problem and even brings you further artistically/professionally in the process.
Yeah, buying used can sometimes yield amazing gear if you know where to look at and how much the gear should be worth.
Let me just say that I agree with most of what you're saying except one. IF you can afford it buy the best high end glass first especially when it comes to the "Holy Trinity" then you won't feel the need / desire to upgrade. I for one would have bought the Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 Art lens over the Sony 24-70mm F2.8 GMII. For roughly half the cost ($1099 versus $2298) you're getting 90-95% of the same performance. But my only issue is that Sigma doesn't currently have a 70-200mm F2.8 to pair with it. All comes down to muscle memory and I wanted uniformity. As far as the Tamron lens I wanted 24mm versus 28mm. And the Tamron lens quality was behind both Sony and Sigma.
My $40 tripod has been doing fine for 40yrs and thousands of backpacking miles and every kind of weather that comes with those kind of miles.
Yes it's old yes it's ugly. Yes it's not looking cool.
If it's not broken don't fix it.
I sure like to have one of those cool color carbon fiber ones though. :) those do look cool.
I could make the arrangement for my old smashed up back and how carbon fiber would be more light.....:)
Thanks for sharing your video.
I can relate to that! I've got a very old Kmart cheapy from 45 years ago that's still just as good as it was new. 6 years later, got a heavier Manfrotto. Haven't moved up from either one since.
Totally agree 📷
This was really helpful!!! Honest, effective and straightforward. And i needed to hear this from a fellow photographer, for it to register 🤪🙈
I bought a drone and barely used it… then I sold it and upgraded to a better one. Still barely used it… lesson learned.
Nice video mate! Super interesting to see what you, as a photographer would avoid to waste money on looking back. Funnily I'm editing the exact same video just focused on videography. With many things that don't have a "lifespan" I'd also always consider buying used, I've saved so much money already because of that and the truth with many pieces of gear is that it's not being revolutionized, if you have a piece of glass, a tripod or a light modifier that was good 10 years ago, it's still good today. The yearly improvements are just so incremental and rarely truly exciting, let alone worth the hundreds or sometimes thousands of $
Just saw this comment, so I'm not sure if you've finished or posted your video yet, but let me know when you do! I'd love to see what your perspective is on video gear!
This is a lot of solid advice! Especially for a starting filmmaker/content creator like myself. Good video!
you are right to the point of reason and sense which will save your hard earned money.
I recently bought the Sony a6400 with the kit lens and now I am thinking about the sony 50mm 1.8 and if I should buy it. Would you say it’s worth it although I already have a 50mm(kit lens)? Would love to hear your opinion!
I have both and use them both. The 50mm prime from Sony - or the 56mm f/1.4 from Sigma will impress you with a unique look to your photos thru subject separation from the backgrounds and a great ability to shoot in low light.
Just upgraded my "normal" lens to the new Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG DN Art. It's got the new AF motor Sigma introduced on the 60-600mm lens, and the AF is scary fast.
As far as lenses goes, if you’re a shooter like me, who most of the time sticks to around f5.6 - f11, there’s even less of a need for top tier lenses. For example, instead of purchasing the Fujinon f1.4 primes for my Fujifilm, I picked up instead the Fujinon f2 versions at a fraction of the cost, with which I challenge anyone to differentiate between their results with the way I shoot. & even when I shoot wider open, the difference is real world negligible to most anyone other than pixel peepers under direct comparison.
Sensible advise for the most part. The example you gave with the 17-28 vs. 24 GM wasn't the best. In low light situations, the prime will give you a much cleaner image with the wider aperture. Professionals buy the best and hold on to it forever - hobbyist/enthusiasts (myself included! 🤣) are the suckers that are always chasing the latest and greatest.
expensive tripods are 100% worth it... for higher end video. a flowtech is worth it so you can change fast and not have to finic with 6 extension points while you have a 12 pound rig on top.
But for photo i think the vanguard tripods with a the quarter tun extensions are the the best at 350 unless you really need a small light weight travel tripod
Damn dude.... GREAT content in here.... I am a gear junky myself.... and I am SOOOOO glad you mentioned the camera bags, I cant even count how many different bags and backpacks I have had..... I think that was the most important part of the video. Now I have three.... All lowepro, a rolling back, a back pack, and a shoulder (messenger type bag). I use the messenger type bag for photo shoots, and the backpack has my video equipment (Im a real estate photographer) Anyway... great video!!!
I'm upgrading my F-system to D850 standard,. I cannot afford to switch system. I will get a used D850 and a used AFS 400mmF2.8 G VR. I'm using a D700 and a D800E today.
Canon Ef-m is the best budget for quality still photos with sigma trio 1.4 and canon 32mm 1.4
The high iso noise can be treated easily by dxo pureraw
my grandfathers always told me spend less on the camera and more on the lens so I get entry level cameras that are a few years old and buy newer used lenses I have a canon rebel T7 and a Sigma 150-600
This is why I has to let My canon 24mm f/1.4 II lens go. Made no real sense to have that next to my RF 15-35 lens. I thought the extra light would be useful, but I always ended up shooting at f/2.8 or wider anyways. Plus I’m not a pixel peeper, so the 15-35 was plenty sharp for me.
The unfortunate thing about these journeys that photo and video nerds go through is that, at some point in your journey, you will still buy gear that you later realize you didn’t need.
You could even buy the Tamron 35-150 and have one do it all lens that's perfect for weddings, portraits, fashion or just a one lens travel lens.
15:15 Yes, mid-range tripods that are sturdy enough to support your camera and lens can perform exactly the same as high-end tripods. The difference is usually weight. That's why the mid-ranges usually have a hook to hang extras weight on them.
Agree with your points unfortunately poor timing for me, as I just sold my Canon 1DX, 5DMIII, 600XT Flash and 7 EF-L lenses, and replaced them with an R3, EL-1 Flash and 7 new RF L lenses.... but I drawn the line at new tripod and camera bag - gotta save somewhere #suckerfortech
Very good advice... Thank you
What tripod would you recommend? Currently shooting with the sony a7iii and looking for a tripod to purchase? Great video Btw!
Hie Lei, what Lens would you recommend for one using a canon camera (250D) on the Tamron brand.
100% agree!
i am from india i have got a 70$ backpack which i choose to keep , i have tried backpacks around 300$ by vanguard or manfroto but they dont feel good
I'm missing the "camera thing". Should you trade in a 24Mp DSLR for a 24Mp mirrorless? Knowing the differences.
Cameras too are very tempting to upgrade to latest releases...now that camera manufacturers are competing to sell latest brands of cameras.
Good video sharing!!!
No offense but it’s all the gear reviewers on RUclips that make us think we need the latest and greatest
he who dies with the most toys wins... hahaha
Upgrades can often be a slippery slope... Ask anyone who's emptied a bank account to buy a camera only to find out that now they'll need a whole new computer to edit the files.
One advice I have is once you've assembled a kit that you're happy with: stop looking. Unless you do certain very specific kinds of pro photography, you only need to upgrade some parts of your kit every decade or so. Spending time on knowing your gear down to the last nook will do more towards improving your photography than getting the latest gear.
totally agree, well said!
I'm poor enough not to have dilemmas like these at all :)
Avoid switching camera systems instead of just waiting for your system to also get the latest feature. Adapting a few filter sizes instead of different filters for each lens/size. And avoid unnecessary filters.
What I do is buy a step up ring for every lens I buy and a third party lens cap. Then all your lens have the same front thread, and all your lenses use the same size cap, and are ready to put your filters on which are all the same size. I picked 67mm, so I can’t buy fancy glass.
The appeal of the profoto A10 is that it can be sync with an iPhone. Unfortunately Godox gave up on this for the newer iPhones otherwise it would be a no brainer to get a couple of V1s.
All these iphone app to control camera gear are ridiculously unreliable, & I ignore them completely.
Gel flashes at night problem solved. agree with all but you take your mafroto in a river with strong current and say good bye to your gear and also try and get your medium priced tripod repaired or parts. Legs are $1000 for a reason. If your in the middle of know-where and it fails. Tripods are so underrated.
....i would only say...invest in glass...not camera bodies.You've covered all the other bases imho.
It can be quite subjective indeed and newbies should really be careful not to fall for the fanboy-ism out there when researching equipment. I've seen certain groups where the fanboys will shame someone for not using the top end Profoto lighting under the guise, "you get what you pay for". Really? So someone got the job done without spending needless amounts of money and you berate them for it?
Common sense is your greatest Allie.
What if I make hella money in my day job and just buy gear for fun?
this video is amazing
It's like you reached into my head and pulled out all my gear acquisition secrets.I am guilty,guilty,guilty.....
Great video
Yes, an iPhone 12 can record 4K decently enough if you're not talking about ultra low light. Most cameras released in the last 10years are already good enough.
Good content and thanks for the advice. Just a small heads up, though…your intro footage has a typo in it. Not sure if you’ve fixed it since this is my first video of your channel, but I’ll be sure to watch all your other photography related videos.
All this time and I had a typo? 😭 well thanks for letting me know, i’ll be sure to fix it!
I see that after this video you'll never get free gear from anyone....maybe from pampers😂...but I like your video and I Subscribed...take care