Camera Gear, How Much Do You Need?
This month I thought I’d talk a little about camera gear.
There is much debate about how much camera gear you need, the amount you need to spend, and if it even makes a difference. Well, as far as I am concerned there is truth on both sides of the debate. You do need the best camera gear, or at least the most appropriate for your photography style, if you want the best images. However, there is a point at which the extra cost versus benefit is negligible, and then it’s really about how much you desire a specific piece of camera gear, and how good it might look in your camera bag!
As for myself, my original camera was/is a Nikon D3300 which is several years old but it still works and produces great images. However, since I bought my Nikon Z7 Mirrorless camera the D3300 has been relegated to family vacations. Why? Well the D3300 does not have all the software features the Z7 has and that can make my life, in theory, so much easier. For example, the auto-bracketing and focus-shift software features simplify the whole process I did manually, although I still do it manually from time to time as I’ve not completely given up my creativity to the camera. Also, I totally believe the increase from 24-MP to 45-MP makes a difference, definitely in certain circumstances, more megapixels has just got to be better anyway, right? Thats another photographers debate.
Currently, I have 4-lenses for my Nikon Z7, a 12-28mm, a 24-70mm, a 24-200mm and a 70-200mm. My most used lens these days is the 24-200mm, it’s a great lens for photo hiking as it reduces the weight I have to lug around. It’s also great having the longer range in one single lens. Before that my 24-70mm would have been my go to lens but I often wished I had the longer range there in my hand. The 70-200mm is huge and weights a tonne and although I do take it with me on photo hikes it has often stayed in the bag. Why? Well it really needs the tripod and when I’m photo hiking I typically like the flexibility of hand-holding my camera so I can respond to a scene rapidly.
In addition to the lenses, there are various filters and accessories you’ll always want to add to your list of needs. For example, I love magnetic filters. However, between my current lenses I have three different lens threads, 67mm, 72mm and 77mm, so do I buy magnetic filters for each one, or would it be more sensible to use a filter step-up, or step-down, ring to be able to use one set of magnetic filters for all lenses. Although, this can have its own issues if you use a lens hood as they can be impossible to use both together and therefore switching between the lenses is not as straight forward as one would like. Simple is often better but sometimes it can be an expensive route.
I know I’ve bought more camera gear and accessories than I really need, and perhaps will ever use, but it has been a valuable part of my learning process, thats my excise and I’m sticking to it. I also realize that there will be more camera gear in my future that I will acquire to supplement and enhance what I already have. However, I will try to be a bit more selective although it’s not easy to resist the temptation. For example, I can see a 200-600 lens as a must have for my camera bag one-day, it fills a gap I currently have.
Anyway, my bottom line recommendation for anyone starting out as a photographer, and I should listen to my own advice, is before you invest in more camera gear it’s advisable to master some of the basics. Regardless of what camera gear you have if you don’t appreciate light and composition the most expensive camera gear is not going to help you. Pick the camera gear you need for your preferred style of photography and use until you can’t grow anymore, then do the research before making your next investment.
However, having said that I believe ‘n+1’ is a photographers motto, there is always room for one more piece, and you never know, that one might just make me a better photographer.
