Can Camera Gear Inspire You?

The recurring mantra is that gear is nothing more than a tool, and it is true that even the most expensive camera and lens will not do a thing without a competent creative operating them. However, that does not mean a piece of gear cannot be fun to use or even inspire you. This excellent video essay features an experienced photographer who has used a huge range of equipment discussing how gear can inspire you and how that should factor into your purchasing decisions. 

Coming to you from Adam Gibbs, this insightful video discusses how gear can inspire a photographer. I think gear can absolutely inspire a person and lead to better images, perhaps more so than the latest and greatest technical specs. A camera or lens that is fun to use or that excites you can put you in the proper creative mindset and motivate you to go out and shoot. And let's be honest: modern cameras and lenses are remarkably capable tools that can tackle the needs of 99% of photographers with ease, so why not put some focus on what you enjoy using instead of only looking at the camera with the most megapixels or the like? Check out the video above for the full rundown from Gibbs. 

Alex Cooke's picture

Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

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i got a macro focus rail and a macro lens for my GFX camera. been shooting macros like crazy. I gotta be careful though. i stacked an image with my 100s and got 250 gigs worth of files from it lol.