Does Equipment Matter

The Darkroom

Hello aspiring Photographers! I want to start things off today by setting a few things into alignment in your thinking. We would all like to press the little button on top of the camera and have amazing photos every time  first to last! Going out and buying a $6,000 camera with $2,500 lenses will not magically turn you into Ansel Adams. 

Imagine the average driver getting behind the wheel of a Nascar Vehicle, the results will be horrific, most likely ending in flames and a hard wall. However, in the same example a professional driver will never win the Daytona 500 in a Toyota Prius either. So what to do?

Lets start with equipment, as I said already expensive equipment is not the answer, quality equipment can be expensive but you have to do your research and see if the type of photography you are interested in will benefit from the equipment you are about to purchase.

The average person does not need a 14-24 f2.8 lens, it costs $2,000 and has a limited use but if you work in very tight spaces and are looking for a dramatic WIDE effect then few lenses will do a better job OR you could spend $200 on a 18-200mm kit lens and have almost every effect and look you probably will ever need all in one lens.

One other thought for anyone thinking of buying a new camera is.....don't. Before you buy anything spend some time checking out places like Borrow Lens or Aperture, these are rental sites. Rent a few camera for a weekend or when you are on vacation and see how the camera feels in your hand, does it fit your needs, is it fast enough, are all the major functions easy to get to and always check for recalls and known problems.

Once you've  made your choice visit EBay and Craigslist for a good deal. Don't buy a camera from outside your country, it will not have any warranty and you will not have the ability to have it serviced by a professional.

The best advice I can give to anyone getting into the world of Photography is, Don't buy junk and never stop learning about your craft and equipment.
Below are two photos, one taken with my D810 and a $2500 lens the other taken with my D60 and a 18-55 kit lens. Can you tell the difference?

Happy Shooting!

Stephen Alexander