Many of you who read my comments know that I'm not a gear nut. I've always believed two things:

Mind over matter — Your photographic knowledge and experience are more important than the hunk of junk in front of your face.

Use the right tool for the job — Don't drive screws with a hammer. Sometimes you do need specialty gear.

Emily at Micro Four Nerds just released a video that is worth watching, and makes my point FAR better than I can. I'll link it below.

A bit of introduction — Emily Lowrey is a professional photographer in the UK. She does a lot of event work like weddings and has a YouTube channel that covers all things Micro Four Thirds and Lumix. Emily's been at it for decades, and knows her stuff. She sells all kinds of Lightroom presets, if you're into that sort of thing.

Most importantly, she cuts through the crap to get to the heart of an issue and lay the cards on the table. So before you think you need a new Whosawhatchit D7590 with four lenses to go on your next adventure, watch the video linked in the post below. It made my day.

burkphoto posted a link where a professional photographer talked about using a point-and-shoot camera vs. a more expensive system camera. She said the most important aspect of good photography was what came from a photographer's head, not from their gear.

Here is a challenge for you: This does not require an experiment of using high-end equipment vs. basic entry-level equipment. Either will do fine for this challenge but will exercise the gray matter between the ears. This is not something I came up with, but am passing it on from a professional photographer who gave a talk to a camera club I once attended.

Here is the challenge: Take your camera and go for an all-day shoot using only a single prime lens. This photographer would a couple of times a year go into NYC (where we live in the Lehigh Valley is less than two hours from the city), and take only a single lens with him. Sometimes he chose a wide angle like a 24 or 35mm, and other times take a 50 or 75mm lens. He would challenge himself to take the best shots he could using only that lens. If you don't have a prime lens, use a zoom, but only at one focal length setting.

I think too often we get comfortable with our ability to zoom in and create using the equipment rather than using our minds. I plan to do this exercise at least twice this year, once using a 24 or 35mm prime and then using an 85 or 105mm.

Most folks will not see a dramatic difference in the quality of there images by upgrading. It is one of the major mistakes amateur's make and the main reason salesman smile. They say, of course you will see a difference. But like I said, 98% of amateur's will not notice a significant difference, because they keep doing the same things and expect different results.
I used the Nikon 200-500 for many years and won many wildlife contests with it.
I will tell you what, you win your first contest with your 200-500, then I will allow you to upgrade.

I've been reading here for yrs. but recently got my first DSLR, Nikon D3300 (used) that came with the Nik. DX-VR 18-55mm- 3.5-5.6GII lens, and an Albinar 80-200 lens. I'm still a rank beginner. My 1st few shots with the 18-55 were "ok" when I but the Albinar on, I kept getting the "no lens attached" msg. After much research I discovered this was NOT an automatic lens, (no electronic contact points) and could only be used on full manual. I never considered there were such things. I'd like to get a zoom 50-70 (or close) to 200 or preferably 300mm, for the Least cost possible, without sacrificing "much" quality. Nikon has a 55-300, and 70-300 VR lens I've seen. I can only afford a used one. I'd like suggestions for the best for a somewhat inexpensive price. I'd like suggestions on what may be the best for me. I am still a rank amateur, know the basic ideas, but still have much to learn. These shots were my first time out in Big Cypress Fl., all shot on auto.