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Will a new camera really make you a better photographer?

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bbodine9

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I guess there is something in all of us that lets us perceive that a new camera with all the latest bells and whistles will let us create much better photos than ever before. However I know that for me the E-1 renders some beautiful photos in the hands of any really good photographer, John Isaac comes to mind, and that my skills are still needing devleopment to reach this level of proficiency. Does anyone else feel like this?
 
When the body has taken over 120K pictures and occasionally starts acting up and needs to be powered down and turned back on it is time for a replacement.

If I am going to break the piggy bank it will be on a body with AF micro adjustment, better AF, better DR and hopefully a few more features that do not necessarily take better pictures, but make using the camera easier and produce a greater % of in focus image...... less blown highlights or require less work in post processing.
 
one without AF
manual focus only
where you have to set the apeture and shutter speed yourself

A camera like this will force a person (especially people these days) to learn about optimal focus, the trade-offs between shutter speed and apeture in balancing DOF vs Stopping motion.

The auto everthing most up to date cameras are the worst at improving one's photography skills. (IMO)

One of the reasons I like the E-P1 so much is how it zooms in when you manually focus. It's been a long time since I've had a digital camera that let you manually focus effectively. Especially when working with fast lenses, the AF systems of modern camera's often pick the wrong spot to focus on. (E30 not far behind but have to press the OK button to zoom in)

One step removed from manual exposure control is the way I normally shoot which is apeture priority mode always ready to dial in exposure compensation.

What is nice about modern digital cameras is the easy ability to change the ISO as needed. There was no easy analog in film days (other than rewinding the canistor and switching rolls and jotting on masking tape how many dark exposures to go back to to re-use the roll you just took out). (or, film backs on MF which was easy)

But even more important than learning how to be the master of the variables in your shot, is the composition and execution of the shot. This is where the photographic artist comes into play. The camera plays little role in this other than expanding your options on the fringes a bit. (ok, except in long exposure night photography where the sensor design makes some cameras not near as good as others)
--
John Mason - Lafayette, IN

http://www.fototime.com/inv/407B931C53A9D9D
 
Simple answer:

Nope!

Long answer

Im a photographer who also is a "Gear head"..

Im not the kind of gear-head that preaches to others that they should do what I do, or that they should use the camera that I use.

I just buy a new camera when I see something I like. Its that simple for me.

Currently I'm shooting daily with my newest (an E-620)... I'm not getting "better" photos, but I am getting more good shots than I used too, because the higher ISO range of the camera works so well.

I still use my older cameras, and Im using the E-330 almost as much as the 620 because it has the "Live view A" mode not available in the other cameras. This is another example of a camera letting me get shots I couldn't otherwise get.

--
Larry In Mystic Connecticut, USA
Equine Event shooter
Sometimes Wildlife shooter
Sometimes 'Street' Shooter
A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory..

'I can't use the cell phone in my car. I have to keep my hands free for making gestures.'.......
 
That's really the issue. Some people consider their photographs "good" based on technical appearances more than compositional/artisitc. People like that are more apt to decide that a camera with less noise, higher resolution and wider DR is going to improve their photographs automatically. Now, they may be producing outstanding photos artisitically...or they may be putting out mediocre, run of the mill shots which have excellent lab test parameters, but don't warrant a second look other than by those who want to be impressed by the IQ.

On the other hand, someone who is satisfied with these aspects of his camera probably already realizes that a new camera alone won't make for better photos unless he has really reached the practical limit of his current gear. For instance: someone who is adept at stage and theater photography has reached a point where he really feels he needs to be able to shoot at ISO 3200 with the same noise he gets at ISO 800 on his current camera. Or a landscape photographer who is starting to produce A1 or larger prints to sell probably will see an improvement in his prints by going FF or MF.

A lot of people on this site, however, strike me as people who already own cameras that outperform their actual ability because they haven't really learned photography : they have learned how to operate their cameras, and so depend on the camera to make the image far more than people with a better rounded understanding of the photographic process and artistry do.
--

Some people operate cameras. Others use them to create images. There is a difference.

http://sarob-w.deviantart.com/
 
I was going to say just about the exact same thing! I don't have an EP-1, but am envious of those that do ;)

... hang on, wouldn't getting an EP-1 be a new camera?? haha
John Mason said:
one without AF
manual focus only
where you have to set the apeture and shutter speed yourself

A camera like this will force a person (especially people these days) to learn about optimal focus, the trade-offs between shutter speed and apeture in balancing DOF vs Stopping motion.

The auto everthing most up to date cameras are the worst at improving one's photography skills. (IMO)

One of the reasons I like the E-P1 so much is how it zooms in when you manually focus. It's been a long time since I've had a digital camera that let you manually focus effectively. Especially when working with fast lenses, the AF systems of modern camera's often pick the wrong spot to focus on. (E30 not far behind but have to press the OK button to zoom in)

One step removed from manual exposure control is the way I normally shoot which is apeture priority mode always ready to dial in exposure compensation.

What is nice about modern digital cameras is the easy ability to change the ISO as needed. There was no easy analog in film days (other than rewinding the canistor and switching rolls and jotting on masking tape how many dark exposures to go back to to re-use the roll you just took out). (or, film backs on MF which was easy)

But even more important than learning how to be the master of the variables in your shot, is the composition and execution of the shot. This is where the photographic artist comes into play. The camera plays little role in this other than expanding your options on the fringes a bit. (ok, except in long exposure night photography where the sensor design makes some cameras not near as good as others)
--
John Mason - Lafayette, IN

http://www.fototime.com/inv/407B931C53A9D9D
Click to expand...
--
Veo el mundo: I see the world
http://www.veoelmundo.com
I'm funding my travels around the world with income from microstock photography.

See my website for travel tips, information about Olympus camera gear, microstock and lots of photos!
 
No, I don't believe so, but a better camera certainly can make some shot possible while other can't.

Sam H.
 
John Mason said:
one without AF
manual focus only
where you have to set the apeture and shutter speed yourself

A camera like this will force a person (especially people these days) to learn about optimal focus, the trade-offs between shutter speed and apeture in balancing DOF vs Stopping motion.

The auto everthing most up to date cameras are the worst at improving one's photography skills. (IMO)

One of the reasons I like the E-P1 so much is how it zooms in when you manually focus. It's been a long time since I've had a digital camera that let you manually focus effectively. Especially when working with fast lenses, the AF systems of modern camera's often pick the wrong spot to focus on. (E30 not far behind but have to press the OK button to zoom in)

One step removed from manual exposure control is the way I normally shoot which is apeture priority mode always ready to dial in exposure compensation.

What is nice about modern digital cameras is the easy ability to change the ISO as needed. There was no easy analog in film days (other than rewinding the canistor and switching rolls and jotting on masking tape how many dark exposures to go back to to re-use the roll you just took out). (or, film backs on MF which was easy)
Click to expand...
When I was on a serious outing, I carried two bodies, (often with both around my neck) one loaded with K64 and the other with Tri-X, or a color equivalent. Or, if I knew I could stick with a single film speed, I'd have different lenses on each body (avoided zooms because they were not nearly as sharp and contrasty as primes at that time).

People complain about weight now. Consider having a Nikon F2AS and an F3, both with motor drives, weighing down your neck! LOL
Member said:
But even more important than learning how to be the master of the variables in your shot, is the composition and execution of the shot. This is where the photographic artist comes into play. The camera plays little role in this other than expanding your options on the fringes a bit. (ok, except in long exposure night photography where the sensor design makes some cameras not near as good as others)
--
John Mason - Lafayette, IN

http://www.fototime.com/inv/407B931C53A9D9D
Click to expand...
Manual cameras do something else to help learn composition: they slow things down. They can force the user to think more about composition along with technique. Quite often, when I was using manual 35mm slrs, I found I would automatically be improving the compostion as I adjusted focus and exposure. Also the limits of film (36 to a roll unless you had a bulk film pack) further got one thinking more about whether it was worth burning a frame on a shot.

--

Some people operate cameras. Others use them to create images. There is a difference.

http://sarob-w.deviantart.com/
 
John Mason said:
one without AF
manual focus only
where you have to set the apeture and shutter speed yourself

A camera like this will force a person (especially people these days) to learn about optimal focus, the trade-offs between shutter speed and apeture in balancing DOF vs Stopping motion.
Click to expand...
...
Member said:
One step removed from manual exposure control is the way I normally shoot which is apeture priority mode always ready to dial in exposure compensation.
Click to expand...
I agree with your points above. The most I've learned recently, and also the most fun I've had, was simply playing around with an old OM 50mm f/1.4 lens that I picked up really cheap. This got me back to the basics of manual focus, manual aperture. Kind of like a refresher course.

I learned to slow down and think. The thinking was added back into my process. Did I already know about aperture, DOF, etc.? Yes, but my mistakes are usually caused by lack of thinking and rushing things, not by lack of the basic knowledge. I call this the "high impedance gap in the operator headspace".

--
http://www.peteappleby.com
 
Awesome perspective!
trooplewis said:
If it didn't help we would all be using P&S cameras...
--
Always looking for good images to display as a POTD!
potdgroup.com
Click to expand...
--



Alan

'It's not enough that I succeed -- others must fail.' - Genghis Khan
 
Nope. But the right camera will certainly give you a more marginal edge. I've noticed that peeps developed their skills according to their shooting style; and there's nothing wrong with that. If all you will ever photograph is panoramic scenery in great lighting and you can attain such captures with a disposable camera then be it. Others expand their abilities in the different realms of photography and therefore migh consider their abilities somewhat limited by their current gear/brand. Some might use two and even three different brands for different shooting situations which it's great.
 
No: for the reason of only practice and education (whether that be formal, learning from others, or reading) may make you a better photographer.

Yes: for the reason that gear can help inspire your passion and enthusiasm for usage. Anything that makes you want to shoot more certainly won't hinder the path to improvement.

In the end I only believe that I've improved from experience and taking the time to understand what photos I like, and what I need to do to be able reproduce those results. Gear allows me to improve in either new direction or at a faster rate, but I wouldn't directly say it makes me better. It is the knowledge that I've gained to help me understand what equipment I need to produce my desired results :)

--



Alan

'It's not enough that I succeed -- others must fail.' - Genghis Khan
 
Gidday Pete (& John)
Boneoh said:
John Mason said:
one without AF
manual focus only
where you have to set the apeture and shutter speed yourself

A camera like this will force a person (especially people these days) to learn about optimal focus, the trade-offs between shutter speed and apeture in balancing DOF vs Stopping motion.
Click to expand...
...
Boneoh said:
One step removed from manual exposure control is the way I normally shoot which is apeture priority mode always ready to dial in exposure compensation.
Click to expand...
I agree with your points above. The most I've learned recently, and also the most fun I've had, was simply playing around with an old OM 50mm f/1.4 lens that I picked up really cheap. This got me back to the basics of manual focus, manual aperture. Kind of like a refresher course.

I learned to slow down and think. The thinking was added back into my process. Did I already know about aperture, DOF, etc.? Yes, but my mistakes are usually caused by lack of thinking and rushing things, not by lack of the basic knowledge. I call this the "high impedance gap in the operator headspace".
Click to expand...
I really enjoy using my legacy lenses for the same reasons.

Since I only had one highly expensive MF-1 adapter until recently, I was somewhat reticent about modifying it. Now I have 3 x Fotodiox adapters and have modified one (so far ... ) by removing the aperture stop lever in the adapter.
  • MARK the two halves of the adapter so that you can put it back together in the same position! I do not know if this is important or not, but I am assuming that it is ...
  • Undo the three screws holding the two halves together;
  • remove the screw holding the aperture lever in place - put into a zip-lock bag ... );
  • screw the adapter back together.
This means that the lens is always wide open. I cradle the lens in between fingers and thumb with my left hand, with my thumb on/near the lens aperture button. When I use it, I focus and then press the LENS stop-down preview button (with my left thumb), half-press the shutter button for the exposure and shoot. This gets rid of the necessity to move one's hand from the focus ring on the lens to the aperture ring to stop the lens down, disturbing both focus and composition.

Works for me ... :D

--
Regards, john from Melbourne, Australia.
-- -- --

The Camera doth not make the Man (or Woman) ...
Perhaps being kind to cats, dogs & children does ...

Gallery: http://canopuscomputing.com.au/gallery2/main.php
Hints & Tips (temporary link, as under construction):
http://canopuscomputing.com.au/index.php?p=1_9



Bird Control Officers on active service.

Member of UK (and abroad) Photo Safari Group
 
Gidday FPF
FlyPenFly said:
New cameras can recapture that excitement in photography that sometimes wanes.
Click to expand...
I agree. Moving to digital in around 2005 has done that for me, very much so.

Besides, digital systems (computers, cameras etc ) really make sense to me, so the technical side is not any sort of barrier. LOVE editing using a computer! :D

Getting my E-30 + 14~54 II next week ... :D :D

--
Regards, john from Melbourne, Australia.
-- -- --

The Camera doth not make the Man (or Woman) ...
Perhaps being kind to cats, dogs & children does ...

Gallery: http://canopuscomputing.com.au/gallery2/main.php
Hints & Tips (temporary link, as under construction):
http://canopuscomputing.com.au/index.php?p=1_9



Bird Control Officers on active service.

Member of UK (and abroad) Photo Safari Group
 
CharlesB58 said:
Some people operate cameras. Others use them to create images. There is a difference.
Click to expand...
Yo.

Realistically, I admit to being a member of the former group, but nonetheless aspire to membership in the latter group.

Mike
 
A good analogy is a VHS camcorder vs movie mode in a modern point-n-shoot. Whoa, the technical quality is a major improvement, but the shooter still has to compose and tell a story. A short 2 minute sketch directed by a John Huston on fuzzy VHS will always beat 30 minutes of crisp and clear drivel from Uncle George.

And then you have situations where the camera really does matter, when it has to focus quickly and be ready to shoot and bag the shot when the moment is perfect.

And then there are the lenses. Why do you guys buy the good lenses otherwise?
 
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