Staying on Brand ???

ahaslett wrote:

WileEC_ID wrote:

I think we all tend to be brand loyal for convenience - most of us don't like to learn a new system once we FINALLY get one figured out.

That said, I think the fatter the wallet, the more choice.

That said, in my opinion, sometimes more choice makes us less skilled photographers - rather than really work and stretch the capabilities of a single system, we buy, buy, buy rather than solve, solve, solve.

Do notice I said we - us. All of the pros I have interacted with have less gear, not more.

Seems to me that less gear can lead to more skill. What am I going to get rid of next . . .

It should be easy for you - you have been a photographer for a long time, although maybe your needs are changing.

Some of us are still learning how to take the images we want (based on any equipment), we are maybe thinking about taking different kinds of pictures and manufacturers are producing new equipment that has more features and better performance.

I've discovered that my cycle of equipment upgrades is getting longer, from 18 months to maybe 48 months. I'm also increasingly buying used and selling as well as buying.

I understand the discipline of shooting with gear with limited capabilities but I feel that I need all the help I can get. I'm not persuaded that a phone is all I need.

Andrew

I think I hear what you are saying.

For me, The Nikon gear was getting the job done - mostly. In truth there are times when the big stuff is just the wrong system to use, for a variety of reasons. I have another camera I have used for two or three years and was wondering what option there might be to replace it with, knowing in that time frame sensors will have improved. That's when I discovered the MFT system - and it was far more capable than what I was using - and able to cover most of what I have used the Nikon system to do - so sold a lot of Nikon gear - totally covering my investment in Oly gear and now have a mix of Nikon, Oly, Sony, Panasonic (for my wife), and my iPhone.

I do know what I want and a very clear sense of what is and is not acceptable in an image that I take - that makes it easy to decide whether a given option is viable for me, or not. In truth, I've invested a lot of time, mostly in the field working out the photographic problems that come up - most of the time growth on my part is the key - but there are times when gear is the key - learning to know the difference is a part of the journey.

All that said - I think I read a lot of people wishing for more and better AI in their cameras - making getting better shots easier. I'm less about that - I wish to have the skill first, then if some parts get better, so be it. That said, the skill will always trump camera "features". An easy example - many bird photographers are drawn to the EM1X for it's Bird AI feature - when in truth many skill bird photographers have found it to be not really ready for prime time - in the real world it is inconsistent. If you use it for the conditions it seems to handle best, it's okay. I'd rather just use the same skill that has worked for me for some 15 years - and has gotten better as the S-AF systems have improved and allowed more precision. Am I against progress - no - but if I'm in a far away place and get the chance to photograph a species I've never seen, and I count on that new feature and get junk because it doesn't work as advertised, then I'll be pretty disappointed - but if I use what has worked and improved, then I get the shot.

So, better skill that gear jumping or accumulating. I think that is what I was intending to say - and still say. I've taught enough classes and done one-on-one training with people, I do understand the dynamic of still trying to figure out the kind of shots that really turns an individuals crank. In that setting, I think less specialization is better - I encourage a good bridge camera (Sony RX10 IV, for example) over an ILC. Find out what focal ranges interest you - what kinds of subjects - what kind of light and distances. Then, if you are still really wanting to go further with it - some are, some not so much, then make the investment in an ILC system that best serves those interests. I'm really glad to be aware of the MFT platform, as it is a great option for many and at a lower price point, but still high quality images - just a little less forgiving - demanding a bit more of the photog.

At the end of the day, it is great to have so many solid options - and mostly at many price points, too.