Whatever the hobby or interest there will always be those that go straight for the top equipment just because they can. Now far from envying them, I think by doing that they are missing out on a sort of apprenticeship. You can learn a lot by making do on a smaller budget and working around problems, and in doing so probably have a greater understanding of your hobby in the long run. Plus you can always blame your equipment for your poor results

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I was first introduced to the wonders of digital photography about 10 years ago when my friend sold me the most basic of digital cameras for £10.00. It coincided with a trip to the lake district, and not expecting much I fired off a few shots. I was absolutely delighted with the results and became addicted to digital. Since then, (usually after a trip to my local club) I tended to go on ebay, (just to look at more advanced digital cameras.) I now have about 8, my latest being a Nikon D50 plus lenses. I buy the books, look at the forums, yet I have rarely had the pleasure I had, that I got from the first thrill of seeing the pictures off my basic camera.

In other words in my case at least, it's not the camera but the man/woman behind the shutter who usually messes up. The more advanced the camera, the more frustrated I get with the results. however I am getting there. They do say that practice makes perfect, but I have a long way to go yet

 I am to digital cameras, what Imelda Marcos was to shoes!

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John Hume:

I was first introduced to the wonders of digital photography about 10 years ago when my friend sold me the most basic of digital cameras for £10.00. It coincided with a trip to the lake district, and not expecting much I fired off a few shots. I was absolutely delighted with the results and became addicted to digital. Since then, (usually after a trip to my local club) I tended to go on ebay, (just to look at more advanced digital cameras.) I now have about 8, my latest being a Nikon D50 plus lenses. I buy the books, look at the forums, yet I have rarely had the pleasure I had, that I got from the first thrill of seeing the pictures off my basic camera.

In other words in my case at least, it's not the camera but the man/woman behind the shutter who usually messes up. The more advanced the camera, the more frustrated I get with the results. however I am getting there. They do say that practice makes perfect, but I have a long way to go yet

 I am to digital cameras, what Imelda Marcos was to shoes!

You mean you wear them on your feet!!!!

I quite agree as my first camera was a Fuji finepix A204 without zoom, but I love the colours it produced.

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SK
The Best Photographer in the world 4th November - 5th November 2006 & 17th-18 November 2007
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Kinda like a while ago when I wanted to get a gibson les paul, I stopped the idea as I realised I couldnt play guitar to a high enough standard to warrant the shiny guitar!

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TBPITW 13-14th Sept 08

John Hume:

I am to digital cameras, what Imelda Marcos was to shoes!

If you can count at least 30 cameras in your collection, then I greet a fellow "GAS" (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) sufferer.

As to the original post...
http://inbothworlds.wordpress.com/2007/09/07/rant-mode-pt-2/
... don't let me say "I told you so."

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adesw:

Kinda like a while ago when I wanted to get a gibson les paul, I stopped the idea as I realised I couldnt play guitar to a high enough standard to warrant the shiny guitar!

I miss my Gibson Voodoo flying V.
Was stolen... so I got rid of it quickly.

*disclaimer* I didnt know it was stolen when I got it.

briyeo:

Whatever the hobby or interest there will always be those that go straight for the top equipment just because they can. Now far from envying them, I think by doing that they are missing out on a sort of apprenticeship. You can learn a lot by making do on a smaller budget and working around problems, and in doing so probably have a greater understanding of your hobby in the long run. Plus you can always blame your equipment for your poor results

Exactly.
Simple as.

You miss out when you go for the top of the range stuff straight away. The amateur models have their little quirks.
Like higher IR sensetivity.
I miss the 1/500th flash sync my D70 had, which the D200 doesnt.

People automaticly think better camera = better photos.
Personally, I think once they get this *&%£ hot camera, and see the photos, they trick themselves into thinking they're great photos, and start to believe it was all worth it.

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Well If I just blew £2k On a camera without knowing how to use it I would delude myself too!

Fact is, it happens with everything as has already been said. golf, cars etc

 

It's like why do people buy massive tv's when they have tiny rooms to put them in and so can't get the advantage as theyre too close!

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TBPITW 13-14th Sept 08

adesw:

Well If I just blew £2k On a camera without knowing how to use it I would delude myself too!

Fact is, it happens with everything as has already been said. golf, cars etc

 

It's like why do people buy massive tv's when they have tiny rooms to put them in and so can't get the advantage as theyre too close!

Because they have poor eyesight!!!!

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SK
The Best Photographer in the world 4th November - 5th November 2006 & 17th-18 November 2007
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I wonder what the real argument behind this thread is? People shouldn't get above themselves, perhaps? Only those who've passed Photography 101 should buy an enthusiast DSLR and only pros can have D3s?

I am sometimes jealous when people have something I want and don't have. In photography terms that is sometimes kit but more likely to be because someone's taken a picture I'd love to have taken. But that doesn't gives me permission to try to take them down. Personally I work hard to keep my green-eyed monster in check.

Do people have difficulty seeing themselves as others see them? Of course. Some  look in the mirror and see beauty or talent that isn't there. But in my experience more peole see ugliness where there is beauty. Insecurity is more common and often more destructive than excessive pride.

By its very nature we see more of the confident people on this site than those who lack it. It takes a certain amount of nerve to post your pictures on a public forum or to ask a question which might reveal your complete lack of understanding. I wonder how many people are reading this thread or lurking around the forum and trying to get the nerve up to post, and how many may read this and decide to leave it a bit longer?

Going back to Matt's point, it is very hard to take great pictures. I love photography but like any creative endeavour it can be lonely and frustrating when you can't capture the picture you see in your head. Sometimes when confidence is low people need a boost. That could be buying a new lens or camera. Equipment can't make you a better photographer in itself (though you'd struggle to take a macro without something that allowed close focusing). But it can be the boost that encourages you to keep trying.

The point of this forum is for people at all different levels to share their work and learn from each other. I say encourage people to ask newbie questions whatever kind of kit they own. We all have a lot to learn, including the pros.

 

Eileen

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this use to really bug me, it did. working in jessops seing people buy stuff that i couldn't afford. but to be honest its more of a gealousy thing. and to be honest i have got over it. if people want to buy camera's who cares. i have a camera i no how to use it so to be honest it doesn't bother me. i am confident enough to use my camera whenever i pick it up, but there was a stime when i was shooting film at school when i had to ask questions and stuff....

the internet is just full of "photographer politics" people getitng ratty at other people for having good gear and not knowing how to use it. who cares..

surly we should just pass on our knowledge, if someone is stuck on shutter speeds on there D3 well i guess its gunna be frustrating for us to read, but we should try and help and just remember that we were at that stage once..

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Got to add my bit

A while back we had a chap come on here who had been sold a D200 and had no idea how to use it, well with help from the forum he learnt, he came and asked questions and if I remember rightly got the gist of it, would be pleased to know how he's getting on now ?  Now that is a case of buying top gear without any idea how to using, but being brave and wise enough to ask for help and hopefully has now grown into the camera.

The people I would look as this thread as referring to are those that go out and buy top range stuff because they believe that is the way to get results, and of course it looks good, but can't be bothered or won't listen to advice because they want you to think they know it all.

I have just such am acquaintance who went out and bought a top of the range Canon film camera a few years back when we were going to a motor racing event, I toddled along with my basic, fully manual SLR,  never did see his pictures. 

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Some very good points raised there Eileen and I agree with them. I brought a D200 to replace my D70 so I wasn't restricted by rain, but then found the ISO a bit limited so purchased a D3. I wouldn't claim to have mastered either the D70 or D200 let alone the D3, it's just that I needed some of the options they gave me. I was in the Bullring yesterday and was told I couldn't use my D3 as it was a professional camera. There is also the age question as you get older. What you can do today might not be possible in five years time, so it doesn't make sense to wait before buying that longer lens etcetc. It's also important to remember that for most of us it's a hobby to be enjoyed regardless of kit.

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SK
The Best Photographer in the world 4th November - 5th November 2006 & 17th-18 November 2007
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Lots of good points raised especialy about the green eyed monster, but in the end its what makes you happy and if thats the equipment you use or choose then so be it, people choose a 4X4 to never take it off road and to use primaraly to take the kids to school, after all hopefully its still a free country. I think my signature say what i think about it all as far as camera equipment goes.

PS

This never bothers me but the posts like " I  have started my own wedding photography business and have a wedding tommorow how do I use exposure compensation/ manual metering? "....this really does ... I have seen them!

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Paul
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Well I was one of the early adopters who ran out and bought a shiny new D3 in the hope it would improve my photography. It cost me a lot of money (probably £5K when you factor in the new lenses I "had" to have). Fortunately I was right - it can do things I only dreamed of and I believe I'm now taking much better pictures than I did 6 months ago.

I've been on a bit of a mission lately and in the past week have drummed up about £12K worth of new business. I was feeling pretty pleased with myself and quite justified in spending all that money on a D3.

Then I realised - all that business was gained by showing pics taken with a D2.....Either that means I didn't need a D3 in the first place (and how can you really "need" another camera when you already have so many?) or I've been a bit foolish and could have got twice the business by showing D3 pics. I guess I'll have to have another big push and see what I can do.

And yeah, I still have a LOT to learn about this camera.

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Jonathan Ryan:

Well I was one of the early adopters who ran out and bought a shiny new D3 in the hope it would improve my photography. It cost me a lot of money (probably £5K when you factor in the new lenses I "had" to have). Fortunately I was right - it can do things I only dreamed of and I believe I'm now taking much better pictures than I did 6 months ago. 

That's interesting, I'm thinking of an upgrade. When you say you're taking better pictures than you did 6 months ago, better in what way? Quality, content, composition, style. What does the new camera allow you to do that the previous one didn't? I'm finding it difficult to justify the expense, (so's the missus).

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