The latest gear
Camera gear. We are constantly assailed by ads, Youtubers, websites, magazines, everywhere about the latest gear and why our lives will be worse off without it. A constant trickle feed of what the next camera will be capable of. A zillion megapixels. Pixelshift sensors. ISO minus 150, 30000000fps, capable of shooting back in time……..exaggerations sure but you catch my drift. Do we need the latest, greatest bit of tech? The shiniest of shiny new lenses? Tripods that can mount a .50 cal machine gun? Of course we dont, but its that media driven FOMO that gets us every time. That has us delving deep into our wallets, savings or out on the streets eyeing up the security at the local bank (obviously that last bit was a joke….who has a local bank anymore!).
I love to see the latest generation of cameras and lenses, dont get me wrong and in a couple of years I will be spending a huge amount of money upgrading my camera to the latest Nikon, whether that will be the Z8, Z6iii or some newer model I dont know about yet, along with a 100-400mm lens. But do I really think this will improve me as a photographer? Actually, and this may surprise you and go against convention but yes I think it will!
You see, I currently use a Nikon Z6. “A fine camera” I hear you say and you are absolutely correct. It is almost perfect for the kind of photography I do. Yes it has issues with focus sometimes as did its successor the Z6ii and the two Z7’s but when I am mostly photographing trees which, as a rule tend not to get about much this is never an issue for me. its also incredibly good in low light, rugged, ergonomically suitable for my massive paws and has a great sensor that combined with the latest Z lenses takes uber sharp images that can literally cut your eyeballs if you pixel peep too closely! “So why oh why do you want to upgrade?” I hear you say. Because, dear reader, having a new piece of gear is inspiring. You have just spent a huge amount of hard earned wonga on this beautiful new black object that is now cradled in your arms, with the shiniest of shiny lenses bolted onto it and you want to prove to yourself that the investment was worthwhile, your talent as a photographer warranted the expenditure, you need to prove to yourself that you are capable of wielding such a mighty weapon! Its about confidence. And its also about the lack of it. We have ingrained in our very DNA the need to improve things, to make things better than they were, to build and use tools that make us the very best at what we do. And this applies to our images as much as anything else. The gear is only a part of the package that makes a great photographer, a small piece of the puzzle required to be what we are, but it is a piece nonetheless. Talent, knowledge, enthusiasm and even luck are all key elements too, but nothing beats knowing you are applying those things with the very best gear you can get without selling a body part or two. Get the best gear you can afford is the mantra right? This is my intention but not for a couple of years yet!
Cameras are like mobile phones (cellphones if you are reading from the USA) for the most part. Every year they release a newer model and it will have a few upgrades over its predecessor but not enough to rush out and replace your current set up. Im just saying use what you have for a few years so when you do eventually upgrade there will be significantly newer tech on board that will make your venerable older tool that bit more…outdated.
I will be interested to hear you guys thoughts on this in the comments. I am off to the Photography show on Sunday so if you spot a rather large bloke in a Fedora wandering around with a shorter fella. looking for all the world like a budget version of Han Solo and Chewbacca then feel free to tap me on the shoulder and say hi! I promise I wont tear off any arms!