Let's be honest: camera gear is fun, and it can be a blast to get a new piece of equipment to play with. That being said, gear is also expensive, and it can be easy to convince ourselves we need that shiny new camera or lens when we actually do not. This great video features one filmmaker discussing some of the worst reasons he has upgraded his gear over the years.
Coming to you from YC Imaging, this excellent video discusses some of the worst reasons he has upgraded his gear. I think we have all fallen prey to gear lust at some point. After all, a lot of us are tech geeks to some degree, and modern cameras are impressive bits of equipment that can be quite a bit of fun to use. That being said, photography and videography can be difficult pursuits that require a range of technical aptitudes and creative skills to be successful in, and when things are not going as you would like, it can be easy to start to blame the gear. Certainly, there are times in which a certain shot might only be possible with specialized equipment, but the majority of the time, your time and money would be better spent investing in practice and education. Check out the video above for more.
Let’s be honest. No one who is a pro would read this article. And all those who aren’t pro shouldn’t « upgrade » to begin with. Unless the camera broke or something.
I’m just here pointing to the general low level quality we have come to expect from Photo sites. Just gear ramblings, no inspiration
Welcome to the age of influencers. Those are people that never really show their work but always know what you should buy with their affiliate links. YC Imaging I like though because he shows a lot of the music videos he does and is actually using the gear he talks about. It's not a promotional video every week. Some of the others though, it's a sponsored video with links to make them money.
Guitarist are still writing songs with their first Les Paul but with cameras, people think you need the latest one to take a simple pic.
Influencers. Exactly. The likes of Peter Mckinnon and Matti Hapooja are good examples of those whom always know what you should buy. They aren't working professionals.
A video of Peter's popped onto my recommended youtube videos entitled "Filmmaker reacts....". He is not a filmmaker as you and I would understand it. This is just bullshit influencer youtube language and people need to stop watching these videos.
Not to mention their non-disclosure about product reviews in that they do not make it clear they receive goods for free. To keep.
You can tell it is bullshit when they can review a new camera bag yearly. What working pro would ever change their camera bag that often?
I think Peter McKinnon is at the stage where he can be classed as a filmmaker these days.. you don’t have to work for nonces in Hollywood to be classed as a film maker, you just have to be proficient at making film.. and he is. His content, as far as YouTube goes, is top class.
The problem is their was one of him and now everyone is trying to be him. And each week everyone copies each other with the same damn videos. I remember when he did a video talking about how he got a zillion subscribers. After that everyone was a filmmaker with advice on how you to can be one with their recommendations for gear. If I don't see any work from them then I don't care what they are peddling.
Yeah I agree with you fully on that, it’s pretty easy to block them all out and only see content worth watching though isn’t it.
I follow DPreview on there because Chris and Jordan are good, their website however is borstal. Then after that it’s mainly UK Landscape photographers, a few street, then some gaming and good channels and that’s it. PM and Nick Page are 2 of about 5 channels from the US and Canada I watch
Philip Bloom is a favourite of mine and also Tom Antos, Crimson Engine to name a couple more. All whom I would describe as working professional filmmakers.
yeah I will say Peter crushes it
There's a youtube video where Boncolor sent two Siros 800 L strobes to an influencer and he states right off the bat "I have no idea how to use professional lighting like this...". However, there was an affiliated Amazon link for subscribers to purchase them. He then goes on set with Michael Muller to demonstrate he knows just as much about the photographer's work as he does strobes. And the bulk of the video is him voicing over an interview and Muller's methods.
I feel disappointed just remembering that nonsense.
Yeah that is a perfect example of what not to watch. In the influencer's defense Broncolor shouldn't have sent the strobes to him.
I've noticed that many self-proclaimed YouTube filmmakers only make 'films' about gear.
The comparison to guitars won't work because guitars get better with age and use. Cameras are quite the opposite.
Well, check out Mark Bone then. He's a bonafide working filmmaker, and YouTuber. I know this because he's a close personal friend of mine. In fact, I was also the photographer for his wedding, where I worked with Matti, also his friend, who filmed his wedding.
I've learned that the best investment you can do in improving your photography is time and effort. The gear is just fine most of the time and if I do buy new stuff it's first lenses, lightning, filters, tripod and last the camera body itself.
Hello voice from the sky, is it you? God? I’m sharing my work with my clients and fans. They reward me with money. Why would you be worthy of me sharing anything with you? 😂
Hello I’m embarrassed by your over assessment of my skills and levels. No where near the level of Beatles. I assume you mean someone like Gursky? Just wondering because I’m not aware of the Beatles being brilliant in our trade.
You can’t find me because Les Sucettes means Lollipops 🍭 in French. It’s a song of Serge Gainsbourg in which he wrote for a young starlet who was produced by an establishment conservative and who also happened to be her Rich dad. The dad didn’t get the double meaning of her wanting to suck lollipops. And France Gall (that was her name) became a sex symbol as a result. Serge was pretty much the first pop artist to do these sort of stunts. It became a number one hit and the dad only found out after what he has just done. It’s quite ridiculous really. Just like you asking me to reveal who I am. What for? This is a online journal full of gear advetorials. It’s no BJP that’s for sure. And by the way I have no issues with sites dedicated to gear review if they are systematic about it like DPreview so that you know what happens in a fair, lab like environment and then you can try yourself and make informed decisions. What is problematic is these fanboy opinion pieces that entice people to buy a particular brand or who just entice people to upgrade .. ok fair enough this article is at least telling you that you shouldn’t just upgrade but it really is just a disguise for clickbait advertising. Cheers
Why?
Really?
I don’t think this Cook guy cares, don’t know who he is, and if he really wants my opinion he can ask me. Who are you?
Let’s be honest no pro would read up on when they would upgrade and no amateur « should » unless their camera broke. And you seemed very excited by this comment. Why? Are you lonely in Geneva?
Ah now I get it. You’re saying that gear discussions are inspirational. Sorry can’t help you
Honestly....?
If you can afford it, there's no bad reason to upgrade your gear. IJS
Amen! The only time it's 'bad' to upgrade is if you're hurting your household budget to do so.
I have a friend/wedding photographer I work with who buys anything new nikon puts out. he definitely has some self esteem issue. it makes him feel good to buy it. his work is elite level so its not that the new gear would motivate him to be better but he wants others to judge him on how cool he is because of his new gear.
he got into wedding photography from me. I shot a bris for his family and was using 3 F5's. he said he was so wowed how I came and was with confidence and that did it for him
I thinkit depends on whos buying the gear. for me, it would give me a boost and motivate me for weddings but there are those who simply love looking and being at awe at the gear. they go to thier bags and just look in amazement at it. wipe it down care for it like a baby but arent motivated to go places and shoot. those would not benefit at all.
My reasons for wanting a new camera have always been because I didn't own the one I really wanted. THAT camera either didn't existed or was well beyond my budget. Happily, over the years, budgetary constraints have waned a bit and Canon has decided to produce offerings to my liking. Once Canon releases its latest and greatest, I'll check them out via the rental route. If they pan out in my shooting style, I'll own one influencers be damned.
Upgrade? Seriously? I am sitting at home doing nothing related to photography for over a month now. Yesterday I took my gear out and checked everything just to make sure I did not leave any batteries in them.
I was looking at my gear thinking that I could probably get rid of half of it and it would make no difference to my work. I always use about a third of it and always the same third.
Unfortunately, our gear is as good as an oil stock and very likely not worth selling now. The minute things get to normal (hopefully in 2020 :-)), I am selling a big chunk of it.
I always get B&H deals and no lie, I delete them without even looking anymore. I doubt that will change much even when things get back to normal.
I don't know who this guy is nor I'm going to watch his video on what he considers to be his bad choices. I buy what I want when I want and if this guy doesn't have two nickels to rub together it is his problem.
YEP ; so true . The old argument between new tools Vs new skills or the difference between better photography and better photographs --- buying a new camera (or any new gear) might give you "better photographs" ; but it is never a guarantee to make your actual photography better . Too many (ME TOO in the past :() get that so wrong .
Once I learnt that photography is more about light, the quality of that light , and shadows from light , I realized I didn't need the new camera . Actual photography has not really changed in 150 years even if the way we record the subject has changed (greatly) .