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| One of my favorite images. I made this in 2005 with a 6mp Nikon D70 and 18-70mm kit lens. This reinforces to me that I don't need the latest and greatest gear to make satisfying images. (click to enlarge) |
From Boccaccio's "The Decameron" in 1350, "Do as we say and not as we do."
Hold that thought until the end of this post...
Let me start with a question. Wouldn't you like to have a brand-new Sony A1 Mark II, Fujifilm GFX 100S II, Leica Q3, Nikon Z9, Canon R5 Mark II, or maybe the Fujifilm X100VI? If not those specifically, is there any other drool-worthy, bank-account-draining camera you don’t already own that keeps pulling at your credit card? How about that new 24-70mm f/2 lens? A 16-35mm f/2.8 lens? Or a shiny new super telephoto lens so you can become a better bird photographer?
Of course many of you would. I, too, like new gear. You all know that by reading this blog over time. But my observation is that too many of us seem a bit unhappy with the gear we now have. At least we act that way.
We photographers have an almost unnatural attraction to shiny new gear. We read the reviews, watch the YouTube unboxings and imagine how the new and improved features will “transform” our photography. We may even tell ourselves, if I just had that camera, I could capture those photos that have gotten away in the past, my images would be sharper, my colors better and my compositions more inspired.
But here’s the truth: none of that gear is a magic wand. There is no magic bullet.
And here’s the other truth: at every turn, we’re being tempted, cajoled, and sweet-talked into thinking we need something new. Camera companies and influencers tease us with “must-have” upgrades. Reviewers compare our perfectly capable cameras to the latest and greatest, highlighting every tiny shortcoming of our current camera. Ads and social media posts are masterfully designed to make us feel like the gear we already own is outdated, obsolete — maybe even holding us back. It’s subtle, but powerful. And if we’re not careful, we start to believe it. I have felt myself being swayed more than one time.
I’ve caught myself thinking, well, my camera’s autofocus is not quite as fast as compared to the new model or maybe those extra megapixels really would make a difference. Before I know it, I’m justifying a purchase I don’t actually need, convinced my current camera is somehow “less than” because the marketing told me so.
The danger is developing a severe case of GAS — Gear Acquisition Syndrome, as well all know it — that nagging itch that tells you your current gear isn’t “good enough.” GAS whispers that the missing piece in your photography is a new body or lens. But here’s the problem—that itch never goes away. Even after you buy the new toy, the thrill wears off and you start looking at the next model.
When I was in graduate school I studied leadership and organizational development. One thing we learned was that money—giving people a raise in pay—is a short term satisfier. They are very appreciative, at first. Then in about six months they have fully incorporated that extra money into their lives and spending habits and it no longer is the boost it was when they first received it. Now they are back for more. The same goes for new gear. At first it is a big boost but then it becomes just another piece of kit and you start looking for 'what's next.'
Happiness in photography doesn’t come from owning the latest gear — it comes from within you and from enjoying the gear you already have, knowing it inside and out, and pushing it to its creative limits.
When I think back over my own photography journey, my favorite images — the ones that still make me smile years later — weren’t made with the latest flagship camera. Some came from cameras that would barely register on today’s spec sheets. Like the one at the top of this post. The common denominator wasn’t megapixels or burst rate. It wasn’t the fastest autofocus or computational features. It was me, my eye, my patience, my willingness to chase the light and press the shutter at just the right moment.
If you want to be happier with your photography, start by making friends with your current camera. Learn every setting until adjusting them is second nature. Experiment with features you’ve ignored. Challenge yourself to shoot in situations you normally avoid — low light, bad weather, fast-moving subjects. You’ll be amazed at what your existing kit can do when you stop worrying about what it can’t do.
And remember: your camera doesn’t care about brand or price. It only records what you tell it to. A $500 camera in the hands of a curious, creative, and patient photographer will always produce better results than a $10,000 rig gathering dust in someone’s closet.
Let me be clear. I’m not saying don’ t buy new gear. You may need some feature you don’t already have in order to accomplish what you want to accomplish or to learn a new and different photographic genre and you can’t do it with what you have now. But if you really don’t need a new camera or lens the next time you feel tempted by the latest release, pause for a moment and ask yourself, "Do I really need this, or am I chasing a feeling that I could create without spending a dime?" If the answer is no, then pick up your camera — the one you already own — and go make some images that make you happy.
Now, to wrap this up. Remember what you read at the top of this post about doing what I say and not as I do? Well, I'm the pot calling the kettle black when it comes to buying new gear. But there is a difference as to why I buy new most of my gear. I don't buy new gear to make me a better photographer. I buy new gear out of curiosity, learn a new system, compare my experience with what I’ve read from others, exploration, education, experience and for writing about it in this blog. I buy new gear for similar reasons I buy new books. I find I have an interest, I want to learn about a topic (i.e., camera and/or lens), try it out, experience it, explore its potential then share my knowledge by writing about it here. Often times, after a year or two, I'll sell the gear. That said, there is always a core kit I don't sell but keep as that core kit is what I know especially well, fulfills my needs and brings me basic satisfaction. My core kit is my Fujifilm X-T5 and a few lenses. The other stuff I buy is to satisfy my curiosity.
In the end, the best camera isn’t the newest one. It’s the one in your hands, right now, that you actually know, like and use. So, give yourself permission to be happy with the gear you have. Let me repeat that. Give yourself permission to be happy with the gear that is already serving you well. Don't worry about what you don't have, enjoy what you do have.
P.S. As I just wrote about in my last post, sometimes you get a new camera and it unexpectedly changes everything about your photography as happened to me when my wife bought me a Fujifilm X100VI earlier this year. You can read about that here. I guess that is the other side of the proverbial coin.
Excellent advice, Dennis! Intellectually I know it's true. From an experience standpoint I've gone through it many times. But from an emotional aspect I'm going to go back giving myself reasons to trade in my perfectly fine X-H1 on an even more better and fancier X-H2!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment. Do it! As long as you are logically working your way through the process, I believe it is okay to buy something you like as much as buying something you need. ~Dennis
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