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When is enough enough?

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Stujomo

Stujomo

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We get many and ask many questions about purchasing new gear. Often the OP or we are looking for advise on new gear as a way to improve our photographs.

With the gear available today often the current gear we are using is capable of producing world class results and certainly world class results have been obtained with much less capable gear.

So whilst the new purchase may well bring a technical improvements ,do we really need to be on the constant upgrade bandwagon when what we should really be doing is asking ourselves what do we really to do to improve our photography?

Are we too eager to upgrade or recommend upgrades when we should really looking within an asking what is the real problem with our photographs.

The constant upgrades could certainly limit us with regards to really learning how to use what we already have as we don't get to learn the gear inside out before we move onto the next great thing.

How do others feel about this, how many of us are really honest with ourselves when we think of buying new gear.

Do we really consider that maybe we our the weakest link in our photography and if we really took the time to learn and master our craft then we may not need the new piece of gear.

I'm interested in others thoughts on this. I can honestly say that my gear doesn't limit me and likely won't for a long time but that sometimes doesn't stop me from wanting the next new thing.

Do we sometimes get caught up in the hype around a new product, especially when reviewer will hype about certain products being a game changer.

--
Stuart...
https://500px.com/stujomo
http://sjmphotography.carbonmade.com/
 
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osv said:
g.a.s. is hardly limited to photography.

if you want to see real money get wasted for no good reason, take a look at what guys spend on fast cars.
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osv said:
g.a.s. is hardly limited to photography.

if you want to see real money get wasted for no good reason, take a look at what guys spend on fast cars.

--
dan
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+1

just about every hobby I've ever been into, it was the same thing... from guitars to cars, to paintball markers, and obviously camera gear... And then there's the upgrading on new smartphones every other year (for some people). It is what it is... and I can honestly say, the internet has a lot to do with it.

I came home the other day after doing some shooting around town with my a7RII, when I got in the elevator, another person jumped in, and he looked at my camera... he then proceeded to tell me how he made the switch from Canon to Sony and is loving it... so I asked him which Sony body, he said the a7 (the original), and yet... he's totally fine with it... He's most likely someone that doesn't follow groups/forums like this... but he just goes on being happy with what he's got. Me? I had the a7 and for what I do, the AF was terrible, so for me... upgrading DID make a difference... but that's just me. *shrug*
 
Rol Lei Nut said:
Though I do like the idea that someday I'll only need to go out with a 20mm (or even an 18mm) and be able to crop as needed, even to a 300mm FOV, maintaining great quality... :-)
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But you would miss that gorgeous bokeh? Better to start with 300mm lens, fire away at 20 fps and stitch together later as needed :)
 
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Rol Lei Nut said:
Though I do like the idea that someday I'll only need to go out with a 20mm (or even an 18mm) and be able to crop as needed, even to a 300mm FOV, maintaining great quality... :-)
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That was kind of my idea when I got a D800, with 36mp I could carry less lenses and crop when need. It just never worked out that way. I just don't know why. :)
 
BBQue said:
Rol Lei Nut said:
Though I do like the idea that someday I'll only need to go out with a 20mm (or even an 18mm) and be able to crop as needed, even to a 300mm FOV, maintaining great quality... :-)
Click to expand...
But you would miss that gorgeous bokeh? Better to start with 300mm lens, fire away at 20 fps and stitch together later as needed :)
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Yeah that would work but then I might need that new carbon fibre tripod :)
 
I think for many of us it's as much about the gadget that produces the photo as the photo itself. We love the ever improving technology - that's why we follow this forum.
 
I definitely agree that I need to improve my skills as a photographer, taking pictures as well as post processing.

But different gear will limit image IQ and therefore will inevitably "make you a worse photographer". Wether it is a lens that is too slow or an image sensor that is too noisy at high ISO or the lack of DR that won't allow you to even learn how to post process your photos to what they could be with the new gear.

To conclude this argument only fully works if your gear is at a certain level already.
 
sidebyside said:
I think for many of us it's as much about the gadget that produces the photo as the photo itself. We love the ever improving technology - that's why we follow this forum.
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alex2016g said:
I definitely agree that I need to improve my skills as a photographer, taking pictures as well as post processing.

But different gear will limit image IQ and therefore will inevitably "make you a worse photographer". Wether it is a lens that is too slow or an image sensor that is too noisy at high ISO or the lack of DR that won't allow you to even learn how to post process your photos to what they could be with the new gear.

To conclude this argument only fully works if your gear is at a certain level already.
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I think there is quite some truth in that, sometimes though I look back and think though I have really improved anywhere near as much as the gear has :)
 
Stujomo said:
We get many and ask many questions about purchasing new gear. Often the OP or we are looking for advise on new gear as a way to improve our photographs.

With the gear available today often the current gear we are using is capable of producing world class results and certainly world class results have been obtained with much less capable gear.

So whilst the new purchase may well bring a technical improvements ,do we really need to be on the constant upgrade bandwagon when what we should really be doing is asking ourselves what do we really to do to improve our photography?

Are we too eager to upgrade or recommend upgrades when we should really looking within an asking what is the real problem with our photographs.

The constant upgrades could certainly limit us with regards to really learning how to use what we already have as we don't get to learn the gear inside out before we move onto the next great thing.

How do others feel about this, how many of us are really honest with ourselves when we think of buying new gear.

Do we really consider that maybe we our the weakest link in our photography and if we really took the time to learn and master our craft then we may not need the new piece of gear.

I'm interested in others thoughts on this. I can honestly say that my gear doesn't limit me and likely won't for a long time but that sometimes doesn't stop me from wanting the next new thing.

Do we sometimes get caught up in the hype around a new product, especially when reviewer will hype about certain products being a game changer.
Click to expand...
 
What does one mean by 'ENOUGH'? Do we always spend money to get 'NEW' and/or 'BETTER' gear?

In my case, very little of my gear can be defined as new. The Sony FE 1.8/85 and FE 1.8/50 as lenses and the A6500 for bodies. Most of my acquisitions are of pre-owned gear, often older than I am. I am looking for differences in performance and image presentation and not so involved in deciding which of my lenses will provide a better image. I know my Voightlander Nokton 1.5/50 will render a different image than my Zeiss Sonnar 1.5/50. I don't compare those images to see which is better, but to see how the images differ so as to help me choose which lens to use to produce a given mood/effect.
 
Rol Lei Nut said:
Though I do like the idea that someday I'll only need to go out with a 20mm (or even an 18mm) and be able to crop as needed, even to a 300mm FOV, maintaining great quality... :-)
Click to expand...
Unless you are happy shooting with the maximum aperture of something like f/30 @ 300mm, your desire is never going to materialize because it would be against the laws of physics.
 
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