Just read Jim Miotke's(owner and founder of BetterPhoto.com) blog and one entry seems to caught my attention. Here it is...

Good Morning!


I want to tell you that you can make great photos with any camera. And you want to hear that too. The last thing you want to hear, just after purchasing an expensive digital camera, is that you have to buy something else.


However, sometimes the truth is that you have to save your money and buy a better camera, lens, tripod, etc. While the vision and technical skill of the artist does play a huge role, equipment often plays an equally big role. Other photographers and authors will tell you that you can make great pictures with any camera. This is only half true. Sure you can, but the real question is "How difficult and unlikely will success be?" If your goal is to lessen frustration and increase "yield" – the number of photos that succeed, then purchasing and using the best tools you can afford will make your job a lot easier.


We all justifiably want to avoid spending money on a new camera, new lenses, an expensive tripod, better filters, costly software... you name it. However, as much as I endorse the effort to be economical, the honest answer is that you get what you pay for. Good equipment does makes a huge difference.


Have fun!

http://www.betterphoto.com/blogs/jim/archives/2006/04/the_need_for_ex.html

Any thoughts on this? :)

:Grin:I think both skill and gear play a major part in taking good pictures. You bought top of the line gear tapos hindi naman alam gamitin or don't khow what it is for, balik ka where you started. If you got the skills but you wanted to try something new that requires a different accessory which your current gear doesn't provide it will only lead to frustration.

You know what they say, Cheap is Cheap! :)

Orlando, the guy indeed has a solid point. :)

Ako naman, I agree with Jim Miotke's point of view. Better tools makes the job easier, lessens frustrations and increases the number of keeper photos. But always remember, expensive gears should also be put into good use by knowing how to maximize its intended use. The creativity of the person behind the lens also plays a big role.

To sum things up, better tools + technical knowledge + creativity = great photos! :) :D

Ako naman, I agree with Jim Miotke's point of view. Better tools makes the job easier, lessens frustrations and increases the number of keeper photos. But always remember, expensive gears should also be put into good use by knowing how to maximize its intended use. The creativity of the person behind the lens also plays a big role.

To sum things up, better tools + technical knowledge + creativity = great photos! :) :D

Tama ka dyan, I agree with you 100% :Grin:

Good find Orlando. Thanks for posting.

I have always believed in what he said. If you are an excellent photographer and i give you a crappy camera, I am sure that you will be able to photograph some nice images. Now imagine if I gave the same photographer the top of the line camera and lenses, imagine what he can come up with. :)

Good equipment does makes a huge difference.

I couldn't agree with him more. Was never a believer of the "all-indian" principle. IMHO, one's gear will always contribute to the output whether technical or procedural. Gear will not be the biggest factor but it does play a good role.

of course it's not all indian. then what would be the point of buying good cameras and lenses. but a good indian can work with the equipment he's given. it may be hard but he'll be able to do the job. i agree that god gears makes the work faster and sometimes takes it to the extra limit :)

enjoy!

Good quality proper gears are as important as the photographer's skills and these equipment don't come cheap. Try shooting this bird(about 50 yards away) with a P&S.

http://i.pbase.com/o5/20/655120/1/67593012.bcjiWy3y.EF500_30D.jpg

Or this Alligator
http://i.pbase.com/o4/20/655120/1/65851675.BTpjyNht.Alligator01.jpg

Kinda reminded me of my badminton training. I had far, better equipment than my trainer. All my gear was original Yonex, and his was, well, japeyks.

But he was far better at badminton than I ever will be.

So a guy could have all the top-of-the-line equipment from Nikon or Canon, but if the guy behind the camera isn't worth two cents, then all that equipment he has is worthless.

Good quality proper gears are as important as the photographer's skills and these equipment don't come cheap. Try shooting this bird(about 50 yards away) with a P&S.

Or this Alligator
http://i.pbase.com/o4/20/655120/1/65851675.BTpjyNht.Alligator01.jpg

On Pic #2, If you go in P&S Camera, Probably that alligator eat you alive:( .....(Because you need to be closer to it):Grin: :Grin:

maybe it would sound better if we say good quality equipment -- almost all of the time, good quality is indeed expensive.

:D

i notice a lot of discussions related to equipment similar to this thread's discussion, they all say the same thing, you don't need expensive (good quality) equipment to shoot great photos. true. very true. but just like the orig yonex to a japeyks one, you'll experience more breakages and less tension holding from the japeyks rackets than the original yonexes. in photography, more expensive equipment lets you take photos in rain and lets you take more photos the next day. lets you take photos after a body or lens drop (knock on wood). lets you take slow shutter photos in ultra bright sunny outdoors and also on super dark night scenes. thing is it's probably not all about great photos, there are more reasons on getting expensive and good quality equipment, right?

maybe it would sound better if we say good quality equipment -- almost all of the time, good quality is indeed expensive.

:D

i notice a lot of discussions related to equipment similar to this thread's discussion, they all say the same thing, you don't need expensive (good quality) equipment to shoot great photos. true. very true. but just like the orig yonex to a japeyks one, you'll experience more breakages and less tension holding from the japeyks rackets than the original yonexes. in photography, more expensive equipment lets you take photos in rain and lets you take more photos the next day. lets you take photos after a body or lens drop (knock on wood). lets you take slow shutter photos in ultra bright sunny outdoors and also on super dark night scenes. thing is it's probably not all about great photos, there are more reasons on getting expensive and good quality equipment, right?

Nailed that one Dexter! :Grin:

thanks earl! :D

On Pic #2, If you go in P&S Camera, Probably that alligator eat you alive:( .....(Because you need to be closer to it):Grin: :Grin:

i don't think so, you can make this shot from a comfortable distance with a powershot S3IS.

There is no denying the fact that good gear is a help to a good photographer, just in the same way that a good car is a help to a good driver (e.g. F1). However no amount of money spent on equipment will make a bad photographer a good one. However good equipment may make it easier for the bad photographer to become a better one.

Like everything in life there is a ballancing point!

Mike

i don't think so, you can make this shot from a comfortable distance with a powershot S3IS.

Mykl... Though technically it is... I'd still hardly call Canon's Flagship IS Powershot a P&S... A prosumer camera is better. :Grin: ... It's still expensive you know at $400 bucks...

Well...to give another analogy:

The Americans had far superior equipment in the Vietnam War than the Vietnamese ever did. And they did kill a lot of them and had the power to obliterate Vietnam off the map.

But in the end, the Vietnamese won.

Of course, if the protests didn't happen in the US, there might not be a North Vietnam after all this.

Hayop ba sa comparison?

Hayop ba sa comparison?

beats the badminton racket comparison! :Grin:

I think the need for expensive gear comes with the proper time and guideline when and when you don't need an expensive gear.

When do you need an expensive gear?

1. If you're a pro and properly trained to use them.
2. When you can't take chances.
3. When you only have one AND ONLY chance for that shot and it's paid.
4. When you have a large project that justifies the purchase and the ROI.
5. You belong to the press. That's going back #1.
6. When you have the capacity to acquire it(it's no longer a "need" per se)
7. When you're skill and creativity has advanced so much that you're gear can't handle it anymore.


You DON'T need an expensive gear when:

1. You're a hobbyist and you're father already warned you not to touch his camera. No pun intended to the more fortunate hobbyists.:D
2. you have all the time in your life to experiment.
3. You're a show-off and you're a takaw-bugbog.
4. you only do sidelines at Luneta on weekends. Peace!!! :Grin:
5. you don't have a car. get it first. :)
6. you're studio has a "Passport ID" sign. Peace!!! :Grin:

I think the need for expensive gear comes with the proper time and guideline when and when you don't need an expensive gear.

When do you need an expensive gear?

1. If you're a pro and properly trained to use them.
2. When you can't take chances.
3. When you only have one AND ONLY chance for that shot and it's paid.
4. When you have a large project that justifies the purchase and the ROI.
5. You belong to the press. That's going back #1.
6. When you have the capacity to acquire it(it's no longer a "need" per se)
7. When you're skill and creativity has advanced so much that you're gear can't handle it anymore.


You DON'T need an expensive gear when:

1. You're a hobbyist and you're father already warned you not to touch his camera. No pun intended to the more fortunate hobbyists.:D
2. you have all the time in your life to experiment.
3. You're a show-off and you're a takaw-bugbog.
4. you only do sidelines at Luneta on weekends. Peace!!! :Grin:
5. you don't have a car. get it first. :)
6. you're studio has a "Passport ID" sign. Peace!!! :Grin:


I like numbers 3 and 6 of "You Don't...." Nice one Jared.

When you're on a budget, expensive gear is a "want".

When you have money to burn, that "want" may just turn into a "need".

But like everything else, it's better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.

When you're on a budget, expensive gear is a "want".

When you have money to burn, that "want" may just turn into a "need".

But like everything else, it's better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.

hey, that's only valid for guns and medicines :D :D

it's all about WANTing more than the NEEDing, ladies and gents.

the extra 4MP on the 5d over an entry level 350D gives you that extra detail that nobody will ever really notice. BUT you do and it keeps you awake at night ;)

if you're into the hobby, you will want MORE. and it doesn't matter what other people say. you freakin' WANT it and that's all that matters.

a guy asked me before why i have an 85mm 1.2L, asked if i was a pro.

i just replied, "why not?" ;)