Bill McKenna

Not a week goes by where there isn’t some level of discussion on UHH about the latest camera gear or equipment. This is all fine, because this forum is meant to help all of us in our quest to have the perfect compliment of equipment in our bag. I’ve done a lot of research and soul searching lately as I explore my own future equipment needs. Over the years, I’ve progressed from Nikon film cameras to the d2h, d1x, d3, d500, and d850, the last two, my current cameras. As I was reviewing some of my work over the years, a realization hit me like a ton of bricks: My best work was taken on all my cameras and with all the many great lenses I own. Although I believe all of us seek to maximize the technical quality of our gear, I realized that the single most important component in achieving great results was ME. This is something I’ve always known deep down, but sometimes we need to remind ourselves of this important fact. When I’m inspired, the combination of my skills, knowledge and equipment, is what creates the results. Is the gear important? Sure. But if I’m not in focus, it doesn’t matter if my lens is or not. The results won’t be there. And in the future, if I can’t get great results with cameras like my d850 and d500, then the problem is NOT whether my gear is the latest and greatest. The problem is the guy behind the camera. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t seek the best gear, but let’s not forget that the most important “equipment” in our arsenal is ourselves. If you consider the masters, people like Ansel Adams, his gear was archaic compared to our offerings. Yet…he created masterpieces. Who among the greats was ever considered great because of the equipment they used? I can’t think of one. So…let us not forget that it’s fine to want the latest and greatest. But nothing will replace US in the determination of the quality of our work!

PaulBrit Loc: Merlin, Southern Oregon

Bill, you are spot on!

I have a Nikon D750 and was starting to use it as the most expensive snapshot camera in the world. Luckily a fellow member of the Caveman Camera Club took me under his wing and showed me how to set the camera up for much better composition; he has had a D750 for much longer than I have. The challenge is that modern digital cameras can almost do everything one could think of and much that one cannot think of!

Now I can really focus on taking photographs!

Bill McKenna

Awesome, Paul. Becoming better is a great goal in our photography journey. I always try to keep learning. Someone once said, “My best photograph? I haven’t taken it yet.” That’s the attitude we should all have.

PaulBrit Loc: Merlin, Southern Oregon

I like that saying. I like it a lot!

PaulBrit Loc: Merlin, Southern Oregon

P.S. I love that second photograph of yours. I am into landscapes and wondering where that is? It is beautiful!

Peterfiore Loc: Where DR goes south

As it's always been, a camera's weakest component is the photographer.

Bill McKenna

Maroon Bells, CO. This is always a difficult shot when the sun is out. You’re always dealing with hard shadows. I got lucky on this fall day. The weather cooperated, which it often doesn’t do. Shot this a number of years ago on my”old” and “outdated” Nikon d3 (on a tripod).

PaulBrit Loc: Merlin, Southern Oregon

Thank you!

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

There are no limits to what you can accomplish when you own the best equipment.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

I have used many cameras and many lenses during my life span. From point and shoot to dSLR bodies and lately Olympus mirrorless cameras with Olympus and Panasonic lenses. None of them, lenses or cameras, failed to give me the results I expected when I did my part.
As has already been mentioned, digital cameras are sophisticated tools capable of doing practically everything, especially modern cameras. I bet no one will ever be able to use every single parameter those cameras have.

Over the years I bought many lenses that I still keep. Some of them with poor reviews in the Web and instead I have found them to be great performers for my needs. I have compared the Nikon lenses I have, mostly amateur lenses and I have not been able to say that optically one is better than the other.
Something we all see all the time in the forum is someone who wants to buy the "sharpest" lens made by an optical company without understanding that the sharpest lens and the most professional camera mean nothing in the hands of those that lack the expertise to use them. We all know how useful a tripod is for sharp images but do not use that tripod the right way and no matter what the images will not be sharp at all.

I agree with Peterfiore, the camera's weakest component is the photographer.

JimmyTB

I couldn't agree with you more Bill. I shoot a Canon T5i which is an entry level DSLR 3 or 4 generations old. Yet I see many here using that same camera or even earlier models producing images far superior to mine. When I feel I have maxed out what I can do with my camera AND I find things that can't be done with my T5i then I will think about upgrading. In the mean time any money I spend on photography is for equipment that I lack to do what I want. I fell in love with macro so I got a Tamron 90 2.8 Macro, I could have done it other ways but I definitely couldn't do macro with only the lens that came with the camera. I also purchased a speedlite and a few other peripherals but I don't feel that I need the latest and most expensive of anything when I haven't yet mastered the art of photography. For me the learning journey is most of the fun.

Bill McKenna

Great comments, Jimmy, especially about not needing any new equipment until you master the equipment you already have. And mastering photography in general requires the training of our technique and composition skills, skills often lacking by many people who happen to own GREAT equipment.

Toment Loc: FL, IL

BebuLamar

The people who don't want to give credit to the gears are those who have the best gear.

PaulBrit Loc: Merlin, Southern Oregon

Camerapapi, explain more about using a tripod correctly.