The camera industry is quite the well-oiled PR machine, with short update cycles that get photographers drooling over new gear every few months and a lot of hype drummed up over the latest and greatest camera or lens — some deserved and some not so much. This great video essay discusses five things camera companies will not tell you, and it is well worth giving it a listen.
Coming to you from Mike Smith, this awesome video essay discusses five things camera companies will not tell you. Personally, I think one of the most important is that when it comes to medium- and high-level cameras, things are a lot closer than the hype machine wants you to think. In other words, yes, there are absolutely differences between current manufacturers' upper-level camera models and lenses, and for some photographers, those differences might be meaningful to their work. That being said, all modern cameras and lenses are impressively capable machines, and for the vast majority of photographers, the distinctions between comparable models are too small to meaningfully impact their work. Instead of throwing money at bouncing between brands, take that money and invest it in education or a photo trip. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Smith.
Like we said in the old says, "Save your money, and use what you have. Then take your cameras and lenses on vacation." It applied then, and it applies more so now.
It's all hype, I must have the most bells and whistles, I latest and greatest, why? For what? I stopped buying 10 years ago or more. I use what I have , and you'll never be able to see the difference. 6-15 mp is more than enough, ya it is. How many people print their work? If so how big? 16x20 20x24 ? For what? How often? For your Gallery showings?
Have fun stop buying unless your a collector.
Roger
Yep...gave away several Nikon DSLRs and lens kits and bought a used 2014 Fuji X30. Why? Because it does everything I now need, without bulk, weight, or expense.
Have had maybe 100 different cameras over many decades and not one could take a photo...it would sit there and I would yell "Up boy, go get 'em..." Never worked. People take photos, using cameras. It is that simple.
They play on the "Keep Up With The Jones" theme where you must have something better than your next door neighbour, which then means you are constantly looking at what your neighbour does and are trying to compete with them. I don't have the time or the money to do that, I sold all my Canon gear to get into the M43 system, I started with a Lumix G5 which I purchased second hand for £50.00, I didn't have any lenses for it but bought adapters that allowed me to use older manual lenses that I used with my 600D. I didn't like the results and decided on getting an M43 lens, the standard kit lens, the 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 which I paid £40.00 for as well, when it arrived my other half wondered why I would pay that much for such a tiny thing.
The results from it were very good but I just couldn't get what I wanted from my older lenses, I always liked and used Olympus cameras and then one came to my attention, the E-M5, wow, what a beautiful camera to hold and it had the ability where I could use my older lenses and take really sharp shots, IBIS, the camera was faulty though as when I got a battery grip all the buttons worked except the shutter, I got refunded and bought the E-M5 II for roughly the same price, it's now my favourite camera of all time and I'd never change it for any new version that was advertised or promoted as being the best because of the improved features. I still haven't used all the good stuff in the E-M5 II yet so pushing new stuff onto me is just a waste of time.
Companies need to sell new products to stay afloat, there are some who will buy the newest next product because they have been convinced it will improve their photographs, I have never upgraded for that reason, I've upgraded because the camera has provided me with a function I can use. Sorry for the long post, but there you go.
I'll be the contrarian. I WANT people to buy new gear....lots of it! It keeps the camera companies afloat. If all photographers decide to quit buying, what happens when the camera companies decide to fold their tents and your gear quits working? Oh yea....we have phone cameras.
Again, why does ANYONE care how others spend THEIR money? This trend defies logic. IT'S THEIR MONEY! It's like there's some sort of moral high ground if you proclaim that you're happy with your gear and won't be buying new stuff. Yes, it's your choice, the operative phrase being 'your choice'. Don't get all knotted up because someone buys a Phase One to take pictures of their cats.