Do You Really Believe Its The Photographer And Not The Equipment (Page 7): Both, I used for almost 8 years a low end DSLR, when I got the Nikon 810 I was surprised how nice and more...

uhaas2009

Both, I used for almost 8 years a low end DSLR, when I got the Nikon 810 I was surprised how nice and more easy to use. I didn’t win composition, or not being a master. I enjoy taking pics. Yes, my pics are liked a lots

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

If you work and live in a big city a Ferrari won't get you to work any quicker...but take it out on the open road and it will soar; that is if you can handle it. Its not any different with camera gear.

Brokenland

it can be one or the other or even both. If the camera doesn't mate up with the photographers skills or minds eye, it will not achieve the desired images. yet when the photographer hasn't a clue what he or she is doing. No matter what camera at what ever price is going to make them any better.

The object of this is to be who you are, use what you've got (even if it's broken) and make the best of it. If you don't have enough self confidence in your photography, then you're wasting your time. I'm perfectly happy with my photographic level of experience so who cares if my image is good or bad. I like it no matter how good or bad it is or that it could become.

There's only one person I need to worry about whom has yet to dislike any of my art or photographs since 1994.. My wife of 25 years and that's all that matters.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

When I was just a little boy, my parents used to take me to the camera store. I wanted to see the cameras. Such amazing designs, such amazing lenses, such amazing prices. My father would buy a new camera every few years even though his pictures where never really very good. He was always reading the DXO sharpness charts and discussing the micron size of the pixels. His images were hardly ever in focus. After he passed I was going through his things. I fear he read on UHH that equipment is what matters most and as he grew older, he never could free himself from this thought.

Ched49 Loc: Pittsburgh, Pa.

joer wrote:

Mostly what one hears from photographers, i.e., pro, enthusiast and neophytes, is that the equipment doesn't matter; its the photographer.

Then one has to ask, how many cameras, lenses, flashes, accessories, etc., do you have? Or what cameras or equipment do you lust after?

I think the evidence suggests that gear does matter, although it may not be most important. A skilled lumberjack with an axe will not compete with a man/woman who knows how to use a chain saw.

People who say..."It's not the equipment, it's the photographer" are people trying to sound more intelligent than they really are. Of coarse skill and equipment does matter when doing anything the right way.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Ched49 wrote:

People who say..."It's not the equipment, it's the photographer" are people trying to sound more intelligent than they really are. Of coarse skill and equipment does matter when doing anything the right way.

Or maybe we just know what we're talking about and are responding to the OP's original question.

Toment Loc: FL, IL

joer wrote:

Mostly what one hears from photographers, i.e., pro, enthusiast and neophytes, is that the equipment doesn't matter; its the photographer.

Then one has to ask, how many cameras, lenses, flashes, accessories, etc., do you have? Or what cameras or equipment do you lust after?

I think the evidence suggests that gear does matter, although it may not be most important. A skilled lumberjack with an axe will not compete with a man/woman who knows how to use a chain saw.

But a lumberjack has both already....

Fredrick Loc: Former NYC, now San Francisco Bay Area

CHG_CANON wrote:

Your attitude will go a long way toward determining your success. Or, you can buy a new camera.

photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

Like most others here, I believe it's a combination of ability and equipment. The difference between my first point and shoot and my Nikon D40 (my first DSLR) was night and day! I could do so much more (especially 11x14 prints) with my Nikon. In a lot of ways it is the equipment that makes the difference, but (uh oh!) I was in Las Vegas NV two years ago taking night photos with my little Fuji (which fit into my pocket) and a lady next to me shot with a full-frame Canon. She couldn't understand why pictures weren't showing up as she used her pop-up flash. I don't the first thing about the Canon menu system (I'm primarily a Nikon shooter but know how to change the ISO on my Fuji!) and I couldn't help her change her ISO. I suggested she find out how to do it on Youtube when she went back to her hotel. Here was a case where my $119 Fuji outshone her very expensive Canon because she didn't know how to use it -- in this case, it was the photographer and not the equipment.

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

Sometimes people just enjoy the pride of owning something they consider fine. Most people can’t get the full functionality out of a tool, be it a wood chisel or a sports car. For some people building the workshop or photography kit is the joy, not always what can be created with it.

CHG_CANON wrote:

When I was just a little boy, my parents used to t... (show quote)

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

photoman022 wrote:

Like most others here, I believe it's a combinatio... (show quote)

I don't think any full frame Canons have a pop-up flash.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

jackm1943 wrote:

I don't think any full frame Canons have a pop-up flash.

But, it made for a better story, seeming to prove several points at once.

CatMarley Loc: North Carolina

joer wrote:

Mostly what one hears from photographers, i.e., pro, enthusiast and neophytes, is that the equipment doesn't matter; its the photographer.

Then one has to ask, how many cameras, lenses, flashes, accessories, etc., do you have? Or what cameras or equipment do you lust after?

I think the evidence suggests that gear does matter, although it may not be most important. A skilled lumberjack with an axe will not compete with a man/woman who knows how to use a chain saw.

Nonsense. Most people don't know how to see things. They can go to the desert and not see anything but a wasteland. A PHOTOGRAPHER will go to the desert and bring back images of great beauty. And it won't matter what camera he has with him.

Ched49 Loc: Pittsburgh, Pa.

mwsilvers wrote:

Or maybe we just know what we're talking about and are responding to the OP's original question.

That's it mwsilvers, you know what your talking about!

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

There is a difference between shooting fairly static subjects vs shooting action that can kill you in an instant. Not everyone has the desire or ability to stand and shoot a race car passing 15 feet from you at 150mph separated by a 30” high barrier. That’s about capturing a different sort of moment.

CatMarley wrote:

Nonsense. Most people don't know how to see things. They can go to the desert and not see anything but a wasteland. A PHOTOGRAPHER will go to the desert and bring back images of great beauty. And it won't matter what camera he has with him.