Often times, it’s good to be reminded that photography isn’t just about who has the best equipment. You need look no further than DaidÅ Moriyama and his original compact cameras to know that it is the photographer and not the camera that makes the real difference. So when I came across a post titled, “Most photographers don’t need better gear, they need better taste,” on r/photography Reddit, my instinct was to agree.
It is true that this is not a serious matter, it is something that has been said repeatedly over the years, but even if it is a sound advice – looking at some of the comments – I think we have a tendency to look at getting tools in a negative way.
In my experience, photography means different things to different people. Some use technology more than anything else. They like to try out new camera equipment more than taking real photos. We need people like that. My mind immediately goes to Leo Fender, the man who arguably perfected the electric guitar. He never played an instrument, but the music industry will always be indebted to his love of design and technology.
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Some people go the other way; they can’t tell you which camera they have. For them, it is a fully functional tool through which they express their creativity. And then, of course, you have everyone in between. Those who sit in the middle, who are just camera collectors, who want to get the highest image quality possible, etc.
But that said, the Reddit post doesn’t contradict any of that. As the OP says: “People jump from body to body chasing sharpness, low light, autofocus… And I can wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment. If you’re buying gear hoping that you’ll magically become a better photographer, you’re going to be disappointed.
This really works for beginners. Photography is a huge subject, you can easily overwhelm yourself with complex cameras, many different lenses and different editing software. Honestly I’m of the opinion that a camera and a kit lens or a standard prime is all you need to start with and anything else is overkill.
However, once you get used to your camera and start to make choices, camera accessories can be invaluable. This is especially true for anyone who wants to choose a brand for themselves. Low-light photography requires fast lenses, wildlife and sports photography requires long lenses, landscape photographers need good tripods and other filters, and so on. Moving from a DSLR camera to a mirrorless camera may be a good move for some photographers, as the EVF makes it much easier to keep tabs on your exposure settings.
But back to the Reddit post. I agree that if you don’t focus on photography techniques, a new camera or lens won’t make you a better person. But then again, access to resources is not inherently wrong.
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I certainly won’t judge if you just like to buy accessories. For all the camera collectors out there, check out the best mirrorless cameras and the best instant cameras. If you would like to improve your camera techniques, here is my guide to the exposure triangle.
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