SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

I think I hear that here on the Hog at least once per day, if not a lot more often, and in some posts, A LOT!!!
Technically, with ANY machine, that would be true. Even a lowly shovel cannot dig it's own hole!
And I'll be the first to agree that the true art produced by any camera is dependent on the skill of the operator.
But personally I have NEVER traded up to another camera until the shortcomings of my current equipment were not becoming blatantly apparent!
But plain and simple, different types of photography needs different types/levels of cameras.
Sure a new photographer is happy if their camera just takes a sharp image of a landscape.
But what about if you're shooting with a backlit subject using a dedicated spot focus point in the upper left hand corner with changing light and your exposure just won't be correct if the metering system is not linked to that focus point, and you're shooting fast and furious action??? Sorry folks, but a cell phone won't cut it in that situation no matter HOW good the monkey is!!
So do you really believe that the 12 inches behind the camera is all that's needed, the heck with the camera?
Landscape, sports, BIF's, is it all the same?
Are you the one that gives that advice? If so, I'd like to hear your opinion? And WHAT do YOU shoot and with WHAT that has led you to give that advice???
No blame here, just a friendly philosophical discussion! LoL
SS

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I'm waiting for the shovel that digs its own hole.

One thing I like about life is the technology. Cars, cameras, computers, and power tools are all better than they were a few years ago, and they will continue to get better. When I was a kid, I drove a 1958 English Ford Prefect. It started, stopped, and got me from here to there. If I had maintained that car, it would still do those things today. I prefer to have a car with auto trans, electric windows, A/C, keyless entry, and no ignition points.

It's the same with cameras. When something new and appealing comes along, if the temptation is strong enough, I sell what I have and buy the new model. Then I go out and shoot even more. I admire people who can keep a camera for years and shoot half a million pictures with it, but that's not me.

"What does your current camera not do that a new model would do?" doesn't work on me.

tcthome Loc: NJ

I agree. Its the photographer & , the cell isn't gonna cut it for someone who knows & apreciates the difference. As far as trading up on equipment , better iso performance, better dynamic range , better focusing systems , higher per second frame counts . If you need them or even want them , I say go for it!

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

There needs to be a balance between the 12 inches behind the camera and the equipment that 12 inches needs to accomplish the vision. I've always felt the equipment should be of high enough quality that the limit is the operator.
--Bob

blackest Loc: Ireland

Examples of this please.

I'm tempted to suggest aperture priority preset focus with a fairly deep depth of field or perhaps completely manual.

How many good shots do you need? It's extremely unlikely every shots going to be a winner but some will hit the right exposure. It may be like whacka mole if you can't predict what is coming next. A certain amount of spray and pray is likely to be needed. What camera and lens combination is going to work for this situation. Maybe this is an impossible shot for your usual camera, perhaps you might want to rent a camera and lens combination that will work? What alternative shots would work with the equipment you do have?

Sometimes there just isn't enough light to get a good shot and noise and a terrible dynamic range is going to make it impossible to get anything worthwhile.

The 12 inches behind the camera, doesn't just pick up a camera and start shooting, not if the brain is engaged.

Skill is needed, luck is needed, if you can capture say 8 frames a second at 1/1000th of a second then there are 992 thousands of a second where you can't. The bat is going to strike the ball sometime but there is no guarantee any of your burst is going to capture that moment. Hopefully experience will help you pick the right moment to squeeze the shutter.

The camera by default does nothing, it's the photographer that chooses to use that camera with a particular purpose in mind that gets the shot.
There is no doubt in my mind that the 12 inches behind the camera are the most important, sure without the right camera some shots are impossible but the camera and lenses did not pack themselves.

Japakomom Loc: Originally from the Last Frontier

SS,

I personally know that a camera can limit your ability. I purchased a 6D because my interests are landscape, macro, and portrait photography. What I didn't consider at the time was that I have 3 boys that play sports. A 6D is by no means a great camera for sports, BIF, or anything else that is fast moving. It does do very well in low light though. I used that camera for football, lacrosse, wrestling, and track and field. It worked, but I really felt the FPS were limiting. I honestly could still use the camera, but I chose to upgrade to something that was a little faster. Amazed by the amount of keepers now! Surprisingly, an upgraded camera can make all the difference!
Some folks just do not like others to upgrade or spend money. Still can not figure that one out.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

My philosophy is a little different. Technology is not static. When I buy a camera or lens I get the best that is available within a reasonable price range (future proofing a bit). Not until a new camera emerges that offers significantly better image quality - and a distant second, more convenience - do I consider a change. I did a Nikon D70, then a D200, then a D300, D700, D3S, D800, and most recently a D810, but I did wait a while until I could justify the small improvements in noise, sharpness, focus etc and could also find a buyer for one of my D800s, and a few print sales to make the purchase make sense. And though I see the D850 as a camera I will eventually own, I won't be doing it for a while, maybe just before they release the D900.

I look for versatility in a camera, so I can continue to successfully capture a range of subjects. I do "all of the above" type shooting - birds, flying insects, landscape, moonscape, portrait, events, sports, motor sports, macro and closeup, etc etc etc. and I like lots of pixels for cropping and adjusting later. I have been able to do all of that with the cameras I've owned in the past with the possible exception of sports and birds in flight with the D70 and the D200, though I did get some decent slow moving large birds (eagles, hawks, osprey, egrets, herons) with the D200.

As far as what matters most - it's the combination of the gear, the skill, and the vision - that makes for good pictures. I have on several occasions gone out with just my 12mp cellphone camera to take pictures, and I have also gone out with a rented D4 and a 300-800mm F5.6 zoom to do wildlife, and everything in between. I have so far please myself (I am my worst critic) and my clients when shooting their subjects.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

For me, it's the process rather than the technology. The act of bringing the camera to my eye and looking thriugh the viwefinder, is very satisfying. I can't explain why, it just is. Do I want the latest and greatest-of course. But my 7d original still meets my needs, and because money is always a consideration, I see no good reason to "upgrade". I use spot focus as well as spot metering, so the number of focus/metering points is of no importance to me. The reason I went with Canon as opposed to any other, was that it just felt better in my hands that any other. Plus Nikon attaches their lenses backwards (righty tighty, lefty loosey) as any plumber will tell you. I guess it's just a case of old fashionedness. I still use a flip phone.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

I think there is a good reason we all appreciate good cameras and fine lenses, because it does not matter how good one thinks he is at picture taking, certain "techniques" require certain gear to handle the task! No one can make precisely measured cuts, if they don't have precise measuring devises!

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

If you are 12 inches behind the camera, how do you see through the viewfinder?

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

I really think the point is that with two newbies of equal skill, one with a decent starter DSLR and one with a top of the line pro rig, the end results will generally be similar. And if you had a seasoned pro using a starter DSLR and a newbie use a top of the line rig the results from the pro photographer would likely be significantly better in almost every respect. Yes some cameras have capabilities that others don't. like a faster fps or better low light performance, but having a superior camera is unimportant if you don't possess the skills to get the best from it. And the camera doesn't know anything about how to use light, how to compose, how fast the shutter speed should be, or how wide the aperture should be. It all comes down to the experience and talent of the person using it.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Black, yes I agree that sometimes NO technology is the only way and the 12 inches behind the camera needs to know when that needs to happen. Sometimes preset focus on manual focus is the only way to get the shot.
How many good shots do we need? That may depend on whether we are shooting for our portfolio or for pay. Sometimes, like a wedding, every participant needs to be recorded at least once.
Experienced photographers all know that the 12 inches behind the camera is important, and often equally important is the 12 inches in front of the shooter.
Camera gear is EXPENSIVE! Most of us have a limit on how many $5000+ lenses we will own, so we balance our skill carefully with our equipment, both new and used to be able to pull off our shots with a decent rate of success!!
Blackest, thanks for your input!!!
SS

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Mom, I know exactly what you mean!
My first FF was a 5Dll. It has virtually the exact same focus system as your 6.
Landscapers might say it's one of the finest cameras made, and I will agree with them, it's a VERY fine camera. But sports shooters might say it's one of the worst cameras ever made, and I'd have to agree with them Too!!! LoL
That said I shot a ton of high action sports with it. And yes, it was frustrating as all get-out! Fortunately, most of it was outdoors. THAT said, I landed quite a number of award winning sports shots with it, but I was wringing every ounce of performance out of it and augmenting it with everything I knew to be able to get those shots. I've never worked so hard for a few good sports shots!! Thanks mom!
SS

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

Their is no rule that says you must meter directly off the subject; you can meter off some other object that you believe will give you an equivalent exposure, then lock the exposure. And when necessary, use a little bit of exposure compensation. Similarly, this technique can be applied to focusing - when I have trouble locking focus onto the subject (because of lack of contrast, too much subject movement, etc.), I find some other object of equivalent distance that I can more easily focus on. Skilled smartphone camera photographers use this technique all the time to establish proper exposure and focusing when the camera is unable to do so.

Sometimes one just needs to use the 12 inches behind the camera a little more, rather than blaming the camera and replacing it with a newer one.

JPL

I tend to think that the person behind the camera is the most important piece in the puzzle, except when he is in front of the camera with a remote in his hand. But of course everything matters. I have different cameras for different use. That is mostly because I can not afford to buy only the best so I have decided to settle for some compromises and more variety in gear And I always need some post processing for my pictures because I can never get them perfect right out of camera.