Cameras DO NOT MATTER

Are photos from a DSLR better than photos from an iPhone? Is 35mm better than large format? Does any of this matter?
Cameras don't make pictures, people do.
Lets talk about why your gear does NOT matter.
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Ted Forbes
The Art of Photography
2830 S. Hulen, Studio 133
Fort Worth, TX 76109
USA
My name is Ted Forbes and I make videos about photography. I’ve been making photographs most of my life and I have a tremendously deep passion for photography that I want to share with you on KZbin.
The Art of Photography is my channel and I produce photography videos to provide a 360 degree look into the world of making images. We all want to get better so lets do this together!
I make videos covering famous photographers, photography techniques, composition, the history of photography and much more.
I also have a strong community of photographers who watch the show and we frequently do social media challenges for photographers to submit their own work. I feature the best and most interesting on the show when we do these so come check it out and get involved!

[@theartofphotography]

More videos about important stuff… kzbin.info/www/bejne/qnXNh6J_ap6ej8U

[@NeonDarkShadow]

The Art of Photography Loved this video!

[@jeremiahwat1]

I actually looked through that book. I didn't know the story behind that photo. I've heard people quote "The best camera is the one you have on you," but never truly express they are believers of it. I think about how she said it during a late night TV interview (I think with Jimmy Fallon), I now know she is a true believer of that quote. If you've ever seen the KZbin channel DigitalRev TV, they had a series called ProTog, Cheap Camera Challenge. It's seeing images like the ones shown in the show that Inspired me to take photography on a more serious level. Seeing that Annie Leibovitz had been placed in a similar situation and responded with such a compelling piece makes me appreciate here photography that much more.

[@DaleSheltonsPage]

I enjoy the Cheap Camera Challenge too.

[@vrmaroli]

Maybe you should link this video in the description whenever you do gear review.

[@RJaneStyle]

Ted, I'm a begginner in KZbin vlogging. I don't have a DSLR camera yet. What DSLR camera should I use for long-term travel vlogging, filming and photo shoots? Thanks. - RJane Style

[@olivierroubieu]

Amateurs talk about gear, Pros talk about money, Masters talk about the light!

[@MAXLAWLESSIBIZA]

I'm light on money and half my gear is dog-eared. ;)

[@vinnievictory1186]

+ Olivierr. Absolutely. BTW no one can be a master of digital "photography" because digital is not photography but DATA acquisition. NO ONE talks about light when discussing digital for a reason.

[@TheGeorgeD13]

It’s photography vinnie. Let’s not be pretentious here. Are you taking a picture? Then it’s photography. Simple as that. Plenty of digital photographers talk about light. The great ones do no matter what camera they’re using.

[@nastynate838]

vinnie victory yawns and lots of comments ... you are absolutely wrong

[@joostgerritsen7104]

Far too simple. Masters don't talk about light, masters talk about poetry. They talk about the things you can't talk about.

[@mdouble100]

I'm a retired pro, and have shot using many different cameras and lenses over many years. My first camera was a Kodak Brownie which will suggest how old I am. I agree entirely that knowing how to shoot good shots on a variety of different types of equipment is the mark of a photographer. It requires adapting your vision to the equipment and situation. The first and most important lesson any aspiring photographer can learn is to how to see in images. This naturally differs from natural sight in that it requires a kind of mental adjustment. Seeing like a photographer requires a unique kind of artistic kind of vision which involves both an understanding of the technology in use, but also composition and the essential elements of any visual medium. It is the interplay between light, form, subject, composition and intention which create the image. The camera then is something like a canvas and paint for painters. In both cases, the vision of the image to be captured comes first. However, once has acquired a photographer's eye, certain cameras may well be needed to capture what is held in the mind's eye. The simple example I have occurred to me last winter and proves the point. Driving along in a rural area I spotted a snowy owl on a roadside fence post. Getting a picture of the owl required working from a distance. Walking up with a camera phone was not an option. The camera I had with me at that time did not have a long enough lens. The owl continued to move away making it increasingly difficult to capture any usable image. Anyone with a desire to photograph birds in the wild will relate to this point. However, even with the best camera and a long lens, I could still have muffed the shot if I had no understanding of composition, lighting, subject, and all the technical understanding needed to get the correct exposure etc. Mastering the camera, any camera requires first mastering yourself.

[@mettacitta2000]

Marvin Double This should have a million thumbs up, totally agreed

[@Ark7760]

I agree, as I stated in another comment; Buy gear you need, not gear you want.

[@thecatsman]

70 years wanting to be a better (and different) photographer leads me to agree with all you said. However I suppose phones might show lots of people that they have a desire to make images, and will move on to a camera that can produce them. Small sensors and tiny depth of focus make auto-focus a miracle - freeing creativity in a way never seen before, including in Cartier Bresson's time. Hope you are still enjoying photography Marvin.

[@Earbly]

Yeah that analogy is a good example. I've shot for 10 years and of course gear won't make you a good photographer, taking photos and growing will. Eventually I've been at different points in my work and realized that I'm steering towards shooting X, so likely I need to try X new gear and see if that can help enhance my personal vision. Gear is a tool and should be seen that way, not as pre-purchased talent.

[@lawcch]

Marvin, well said. Camera and lens are the extension of a photographer vision. Imagination and creativity do play a role in basic photography. Do we need to shot every picture in very sharp and clear image? Can I see the pattern or shapes that no one able to see or capture with your camera? etc. Knowing what you want to do and then find the camera that suit our needs is very important for photographer. Can I use long zoom lens to capture Landscape images instead of wide angle lens?

[@RussellSpencerOfficial]

Sometimes limitations can force you to be more creative.

[@thecatsman]

Absolutely right, but not if you are starting out and don't know either what you want to do or what can be done. Limitations must be imposed, shot by shot. For me the limitations imposed by DSLR with its big lenses (and price tags), are not tolerable. Nor are the limitations of short zooms, no raw capture, noise at 400iso, for instance. As someone said, composition is (almost) everything, but image quality has to be limited to the highest practicable. I wonder if you agree.

[@anassyria5176]

And other times it limits your ability and potential to produce certain images. Gear is important when needed. And it's not important when not needed. One can't simplify it more than that.

[@jamesdarnell8568]

Seve Ballesteros would play a round of golf with only a seven iron when he was young. As a result, he became a master of creative shotmaking. Amazing to watch his art.

[@Jeffwilliams845]

It seems so odd to me. I'm new to photography, but have been a musician for over 30 yrs. a pro musician can still create incredible music on a student line instrument. A student can sound slightly better on pro gear, but it does not make them professional. Art is art. It doesn't matter the format. The simple truths are the same

[@andinbriwel1092]

Jeff Williams Perfect analogy!! Exactly right.

[@tomokra]

that's lovely ... but will you trade me my Hondo or Yamaha for your Martin (or Fender or whatever) ... didn't think so ..

[@XtremeProductions570]

There's a huge sound difference between an $300 Leblanc student model clarinet and a $4000 Buffet R-13. Only a professional would be able to tell the difference. Do you think a professional will pay you good money to play on the $300 Leblanc when the sound quality of the $4000 r-13 is so much better?

[@75peterolsen]

Well... if he cannot afford the 4000$ clarinet and plays wonderfully on the "cheap" one, yes of course. To do otherwise will be snobbish. I would pay a good photographer to take great photos no matter if she/he uses a cell phone, crop senser, FF or the latest medium format monster from Hasselblad or Phase One.

[@shiftingfocusphotography3525]

Jack White, plastic guitar. Made magic. Why? He's already famous and could throw $hit on a wall and people would love it. How many documentaries showcase no names playing plastic guitars? Was Jack White the first to attempt? Nope. But, it's his niche. Right place, right time and a great contrast to Page & The Edge. lol The ARTIST knows the best the tools to move his/her craft forward.

[@roellopez7364]

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."- Theodore Roosevelt

[@AllenRReid]

I've often noticed that the people who say the gear doesn't matter are the people with really good gear lol. I do agree the camera doesn't make the photographer, but the better gear, especially the lenses, can take them to another level.

[@tinyman392]

Allen Reid five years ago I was a person who said gear didn't matter. I used am iPod Touch 5G to do my photography. Seven years ago, I said it doesn't matter, I used an iPod Touch 4G for my photography (go lookup the specs to this camera). Four years ago I got an iPhone. That same year I got a mirrorless camera Sony NEX-3. Last year I decided I needed a view finder and got an α6000 (I had invested in E-mount). Today, I still say that gear doesn't matter. Gear can make things easier and more convenient, but it is still the photographer that makes the shot. To be honest, I recently started looking for a cheap, cruddy, challenging toy camera to shoot with to remind me of the days I used my 4G iPod. Today I regret selling the thing; but I didn't back then because the 5G had a better camera (magnitudes better).

[@AllenRReid]

The premise of "gear doesn't matter" is accurate. I think it all depends on what your ultimate goal is for the photo. Where "gear doesn't matter" does not apply is for shooting most sports.

[@tinyman392]

Allen Reid this I agree with. Shooting sports with a not-so-great camera... reminds me of the one Sports Illustrated photographer did with the iPhone 7 Plus (granted it was a publicity stunt for Apple); the photos aren't the best though. But I do agree with what you're saying.

[@XtremeProductions570]

It's not only sports. Try shooting in an old church, a wedding with an Iphone or even a rebel. Good luck getting quality sharp shots in low light with one of them. Where gear doesn't matter is when the one looking can't tell the difference between a shot from a 1dx and a T5. NOBODY is going to tell me they can produce the same quality or better in the same conditions with a T5 that they can get with a 1DX. This guy is mentioning quality images left and right but never mentions shooting conditions. That's why I have a problem with these types of "gear does not matter" videos from people. They are trying to redefine quality. Um no. An iPhone and T5 isn't going to produce quality images in extreme lo light or fast action. IDC if your name is Ansel Adams or not. The quality isn't going to be there. He started off good with the whole portability thing with the large format vs 35. Portability is out the window now. A 1DX is just as portable as an iPhone. It only lacks wi-fi. Well, that can be solved by using a lesser quality 6D. I would in a heartbeat pick up a 6d, and transfer an image from that to a phone before I took one shot with an iPhone. Head to head, IDC how good of a photog you are, you are going to produce a better quality image with the 6D in ANY scenario you put yourself in. It's even worse if you have no control over your light and subject. Have control over subject and your light? Well maybe as good as the IPhone is now, you might be able to get away with that. Problem. Candid street photography (documentary) and such, you don't have control over your light and subject.

[@HenriqueSantosCosta]

I think that those who have really good gear and say that gear doesn't matter are those who talk from experience. They've been in our shoes. And now that they have the best, they realised that it didn't make too much of a difference. I believe that the best advice is the one learned from experience and mistakes.

[@michelthibodeau3474]

When you understand lighting, shadows, composition, depth of field and focus, it applies to all types of cameras. What makes me a better photographer on a DSLR also makes me take great shots with my phone.

[@Skalp28]

This reminds me of my college days where I participated in a class called History of Documentary photography. It was my first contact with the old important figures of photography. It is where I fell in love with the works of Joel Meyerowitz, Cartier-Bresso, Cindy Sherman and the likes. For our final exam we were given the names of four classical photographers and we had to shoot one image per name. No matter how the teacher (he was wonderful) explained to not copy these works, the more people did it. In the end images made from phones (and this was a while ago, so far inferior pictures to what a modern iPhone can do) made the cut more often than the ones made from top shelf DSLRs. The thing is, he was not looking for image quality or photoshop skills, he was not looking for a copy of original work. He was looking for the atmosphere, the story. You do not need a big camera for that or a vintage look to the images. It sometimes helps, but you don’t need it. :)

[@TylerYatesXYZ]

I think it all comes down to purpose, if you have the desire to tell stories and capture moments then gear doesn't matter as long as you have something,. However if your purpose is for a commercial gain, to make a product, then the gear can have a considerable impact on the quality of the work.

[@spasovski1984]

I do agree that most of the time around 80%, the gear does not matter, yet on the other hand, sometimes gear is what matters. It all depends what are you trying to produce. Around 6 years ago I needed a beauty dish but none of the shops I have in my country had one, so I built it myself from a huge plastic deep bowl.. I had used it ever since.. didn't buy BD and since it is a deep parabolic it had somehow grown on me. The client at the time was amazed with the light quality I got from a contraption that costed around 10 usd.. But on the other hand I do use professional Elinchrom strobes and many of their modifiers..

[@CalvinHicks1]

This is one of my top five videos from you. It's so darned inspirational and encouraging. I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts and passion. Thanks!

[@brandonferguson3934]

I love this content. You are making a difference, and I hope everyone that sees this video truly appreciates the depth and validity of the videos you create! Keep up the good work!

[@lilscottieme]

Yes gear does not matter if you can get the shots that speaks to you with the equipment that you have. Yes I could get good shots on my Iphone 6s but then I would be pulling my hair out when I get frustrated trying to create a long exposure shot with a wide angle perspective. Then trying to edit a jpeg file to bring out the shadows and it creates too much artefacts. Buy only the gear that you need that makes it a pleasure to use that gear and to get the shots that you want.

[@CPLTarun]

Exactly. My older d3100 doesn't have automatic exposure bracketing, so my 6s is what I used to capture HDR landscapes. Sucks, because I love the picture quality of my dslr much more, but it's just not practical to take on the fly HDR images with it

[@d3xmeister]

Aathmastralis my Nikon D40x didn't had bracketing either and I took a lot of great HDR images and all kind used all kinds of combined exposures techniques. It is more easy and less limiting with my current camera but that's actually the point

[@tinyman392]

John Stokes technically the iPhone can do RAW shots now, but you need to use an app that uses the APIs Apple provides. Apple's camera app, ironically, doesn't use this API.

[@SamiSerola]

Yes, I agree there are situations when gear still do matter. One has to have a right gear to get telephoto images, right gear to get macro shots, and right gear to get snapshots. In a certain way the gear you have affects the way on what, where and when you take pictures. If I would indeed have only large format camera, I would hardly take any snapshots.

[@lilscottieme]

tinyman392 yes the iPhone 7 can do that but not the iPhone 6s. I have a Fuji XT-1 and love the feel of that camera in my hand and composing through the view finder and having raw images. So the gear is important to me on that level. However the gear is not that important to me in that I would buy the XT-2 as I feel it would not add anything extra in the creative aspect.

[@RavalOnline]

Now watch someone make a pinhole camera out of a potato to prove a point.

[@tinyman392]

Raval Seojattan then submit the work to PhotoAssignments. That would be the ultimate troll!

[@RavalOnline]

I was looking for a Mr. Potatohead camera last night.

[@RavalOnline]

554c46 - maybe a slice of a potato as a pinhole lens.

[@sopwerdna]

I thought about this but I don't think a potato would be light-tight. I don't think I could make it work. I would love to see it happen though :D

[@Ark7760]

One of my best photos of all time was created with a pinhole camera made out of cardboard.

[@lainpenner869]

Ted! Just recently discovered your channel, and I love it. The reason I often don't like the use of cell phones for photography is, just like you covered in your "no one cares about your photography" video, their accessibility makes taking photos so easy that no thought or effort is often put into it. I suppose it kind of relates to what you said, with the specifications of your camera not mattering (i totally agree), but rather in this case, how well a smartphone sells is often reliant on how good the camera is. And let's admit it, the vast majority of pictures taken on smartphones aren't heartfelt or planned out. They're momentary. Great video.

[@TnTPhotoArt]

It is really lovely to listen to someone who speaks with passion about photography and who is honest and upfront and open about all its pitfalls, pros and cons.

[@ChispaMotivation]

loved this concept, and it's so true! :)

[@FTTPRO]

"Yes it is possible to take a good picture with a camera phone, but your extremely limited in what you can do. It's like trying to win the Indy 500 driving a golf cart. It's theoretically possible to win, but realistically you won't." - (user: THX 1138.) This is exactly the issue every time a photographer says gear doesn't matter. Ted says in the end it only matters if the picture speaks to you. I argue, the picture has to be able to speak clearly to be able to understand it. Yes, to create content it doesn't matter what you use. To create quality content, it does; And, in todays world, having 4k or high megapixels and wide apertures means everything to producing quality content. I think many photographers are getting lost in the, "Direction vs Production" conversation. Those are two very different things. To say Gear doesn't matter is saying that quality doesn't matter. As we know, THAT is an untrue statement. Now, as gear becomes better in quality, we close the gap in what gear can achieve. Much like the 35mm Camera, it wasn't an immediate go to tool until 10 years after it's release. Even then it wasn't a fad until somewhere in the late 50s early 60s. AKA The Great Boom of Photography. Cartier-Bresson captured his images in, what? The thirties? The point being, the medium had been out for sometime. The quality of the 35mm camera had to become better before it was used by the many and the greats. Cell phone photography is becoming better and better every year. In this day in age you CAN achieve great images with your phone camera, just like a golf cart can go a lap on the speed track. However, you can't win the race. A Leica MP is going to out-perform the cell phone every time. There's no way around it. With interchangeable lenses, better build quality, Manual controls. It's just going to be better. "Though, most of us can run, we probably won't be able to outperform Olympians." - Me. Take a look at what it takes to make a short movie with a cell phone, rigs, and combinations of a tun of add-on gear. Stabilizers and more. WHY? For what? The answer is, BECAUSE, GEAR MATTERS! I think a better conversation overall would be is photography a competition? This, might get the ball rolling! But overall, to take a picture requires a camera, to take a quality picture you need production, to take a quality picture that tells a story, you need direction. So, should we Learn to Direct or Produce first? And; how do you win a subjective competition? (Fellow Art of Photography lovers, It has been awesome talking with you all. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I do.)

[@_systemd]

i spent close to 2 years shooting w my smartphone and I enjoyed it a lot. I would often put dozens of takes and dozens of minutes into capturing something to my best ability at that time and gear limitations. the switch to a dslr was an immediate boost, to the quality of the photos as well as my ability to find more opportunities facing fewer limitations. Friends who didn't care much before started giving props suddenly. One can always fight the circumstances with sub-ideal gear, however that same goal won't be scored twice for your low fps burst, that bird won't be standing still untill you get the focus, that low light imagine will look like trash, that 5x digital zoom plus 2x crop postprod will be useless and no the bear won't let you get within 2m distance because your smartphone lens is fixed 4mm focal length. and no, you won't print in 100" that 24mpx photo for a gallery exhibition. 90%+ of the photography art we look up to would not exist without the proper top of the line gear, or would not be able to tell its story and touch our senses the same way.

[@PaulGJohnsonphotography]

This is the best video I have seen on you tube this year period! Absolutely brilliant advice...

[@SalwanJBinni]

You know what Ted? you are absolutely right! understanding light, expressing someone's feelings via a proper compositional technique and deciding the best moment to shoot makes the magic... the gear is important but it doesn't make a good photograph by itself.

[@jonmanjeot]

I think an experienced photographer can do more with less in terms of a beginner. However, location, timing and composition rein supreme. Any thoughts?

[@tinyman392]

Camera Crusades yes, this. You get those three things down, and you'll end up with a good photo at the end of the day, regardless of the camera you have. A cheap (or cell phone) camera will force you to learn those things, and sting you hard if you don't, if you want a good shot. A good camera won't make you work as hard.

[@briansteeves8616]

f:8 and be there.

[@csmorgan]

Totally agree! I have a 5Dmark4 but one of my favorite photos was taken with a Canon rebel. It's all about the image and what it portrays

[@jenethompsonart]

Love this video, love the channel! subscribed

[@theartofphotography]

+Photo Hacker thanks!

[@da121vid]

Ted, Your discussions are truly great. Love listening to them!

[@pretendawatch]

I came here initially for your RX100 review, and I have stayed for the amazing insights and general discussion about photography from an art point of view. I never discovered photography until recently and you've been a great companion on this journey.

Maybe not on the potato? Is that a challenge I hear? :)

[@EdwardAMG]

Next Week Photo assignment: Use a potato to take pictures, I mean the crappiest camera you could get and make good photos LOL

[@Ces1um]

potato pinhole!

[@mattpelzek3809]

I wonder if you can spread photographic emulsions onto potato starch...

[@mike_dunno]

I've had my Nikon D3100 for six years and it still serves me well

[@chrismagee5843]

Just came across this. The best video I have seen on photography. Thanks. I am a 53 yesr old real amateur. I did a short evening course to better understand my new Sony A37. Almost at once I wished I had bought I better camera like those the other students had. It took me a while to "get just the message" you pass here. I decided to learn all I could about my own camera and the three lenses I had (2 second hand because it is all I can afford ). I stopped wrapping it in cotton wool (metaphorically) and began carrying it everywhere I could. I took hundreds, if not thousands of pictures and from those I got a few that I am really proud of. The rest weren't wasted. I realised they were bad because I had failed to remember composition, light or depth (I always shoot in manual ). Each time I learned something. I had to remember that my entry level Sony is still 1000s of times more capable than the cameras that took many of the photographs that stop me dead in my tracks when I see them. Thanks for addressing this issue. Keep up the good work.

[@throughmyeyes9940]

Ted, wonderful talk, thank you. btw: maybe it's just me however, your recent videos are your best so far, less sidetracking, more focused and more patience on my part in all probability, again thanks and keep it up!

[@1979Darksoul]

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." -- Theodore Roosevelt . I think this is the quote that you are referring to. In my opinion, this few simple words are the quintessence of adaptation in every aspect of life....including photography :D. I really like your explanations. I fully agree with all of it.

[@gabrieldalcomune3044]

Gear doesn't matter. I learned a bit off of my phone and a bit about manual control, applied that to my Nikon d90 that I'm messing with. It's about composition of the photo and how you take it. I've taken some really nice shots on both my phone(oneplus 3) and my D90.

[@HowardGrill]

Just recently discovered your video series, subscribed and love it. In regards to one comment you made.......I subscribed because it ISN'T a video review series about cameras and gear (you had mentioned something along the lines of it being something that draws people in). There are plenty of places that you can go to get extremely detailed and in depth reviews and analysis of gear. But very few places to learn , discuss, and hear viewpoints on photography as art and discussions about the creative process and how to foster that. That's what I come to hear about. Love the series!!!!

[@UnixSystemV]

What you talk about in this video is so true! My personal experience is, that I just discovered photography the second time. I started with a digital compact back in 2010 and then got myself a used DSLR last year. The last year or so has been about discovering my own photographic style and finding the best gear for myself. I've been pursuing image quality so much, that sometimes I forgot about photography itself, which is kind of sad. I'm always on a budget, so expensive gear is out of the question, but I discovered vintage lenses and their magical characteristics. Then came out of the blue the need to get a split focusing screen. Which made using those lenses a breeze. Which made me realize... hey, I'm using my DSLR the way film cameras have been used and it just feels so natural. I might be able to handle a film SLR as well, perhaps... then I joined an analog photographic group on facebook, which made me fall in love with film and it's colors (or the lack of it), it's feeling... then came the need to finally have myself a film SLR... for which I already had a bunch of lens. (same mount as the DSLR) Then it happened! I just realized that it's the moment that matters, which I'm capturing. Shotting with a 70's film SLR made me realize that it's all the same as using a DSLR, except I can get magical looking images just with a small, cheap camera, which is far older than myself. Plus the thrill of waiting for it to be developed is just great! But it isn't even about analog photography, rather... the realization that no matter what kind of gear I have, the best camera's always the one with me and I have to use that one to capture the moment. That might even be a cellphone (although I like to keep photography separate from my phone), it doesn't really matter. Only the moment does.

[@anatoliebaldabac2969]

"I only have an iPhone". Well, complaining about how expensive a mirrorless camera is but owning the latest iPhone doesn't make much sense. :)

[@zipp4everyone263]

So true. You can get a lower end phone and afford a new a6000 with a sigma 30mm 2.8 prime. That camera combo will give you an astonishing picture quality and be a decent base to build on (if you want to go with sony ofc).

[@tobiasgebhardt1]

And if someone wants to get into not-point-and-shoot-photography, but only has 100$, they really should buy a film camera (fully manual one with TTL light metering) (for example an Asahi Pentax Spotmatic) and a cheap used film scanner (I got an Epson V330 for 15$). Fully manual cameras teach you how to get the shot right and how the lighting and exposure can make the image look different, and film teaches you to value every single shot you take and it keeps you from just walking arround taking stupid photos of everything. Film makes you think about every shot you're about to take twice, and that is what we lost with digital photography. Don't get me wrong, digital photography is great and changed the world of photoraphy a lot in a positive way and I even own a professional Nikon DSLR setup (D700 and a lot of lenses), but it really is a bigger pleasure not to take my D700 with me on a trip, but rather taking the Spotmatic with me. Thats why I still shoot film and why I recommend beginners who want to get to know and understand photography to start with a fully manual film camera. Hope someone reads this.

[@thecatsman]

Yes, I read it. I also did chemical photography for 50 years, but do better stuff now with a cheap super-zoom from about 2006. All wet photography can do is destroy a beginner's interest in image making. A small sensor, medium long zoom, fast auto-focus, and 4/800 iso (and photo-editing after) can open fields of creativity quite impossible with film, even if you scan negs.

[@chainsaw2046]

@@thecatsman what I've found, is that the older generations who've gotten to experience film, and the transition to digital, prefer digital. I, personally, prefer to shoot on film, because it is something which allows me, personally, to step out of my comfort zone, and challenge myself to use the camera not necessarily to create the greatest show piece, but to stretch the amount I can achieve without any digital aid. Merely because it is different, not claiming it is better. That, I believe, could be one of the reasons that new photographers are exploring old mediums. I know that's why I do.

[@navicto]

Ted, thank you so much for this commentary. You're absolutely right: 99% of the content on photography KZbin channels has to do so little with photography. Thanks for keeping it real. Side note: Hope you did as many photo-lit videos as you used to.

[@mikesch0815]

There are a lot of technical Videos and Forums, but some good channel like yours are really the jewels. Thanks!

[@jaffarbh]

Indeed. A creepy camera forces us to learn and thus become more creative

[@7oelK]

Jaffar Al Mosaed gonna make horror movies? Haha

[@milenna87]

Lol crappy...

[@elmohead]

Yes... creative with those panty shots I bet!

[@IslamSFarid]

I think all gear in the market TODAY are beyond the line of the clear and great image quality with no artifacts that affect the shot. What remains is the content, The story, The lighting and Composition..etc. A good portrait shot won't influence the audience by how sharp or visible facial Hair look but with .. you get the point :) Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can. ♥

[@XtremeProductions570]

and when you want to do more than you can with what you got, you will quickly realize gear in fact does matter and blanket statements saying it doesn't (such as this video) simply should not be made. If you think a T5 or D33300 provides "no artifacts that affect the shot" because it's just as "clear" and has "great image quality" as a 1DX or D5 for every shot you have the ability to take, you are an idiot. I'll put my 1DX up to your T5 or D3300 any day of the week in a 100 year old church doing a wedding where you are not allowed to use flash during the ceremony. Let's see how clear and artifact free your images end up being and if you think it's "beyond the line". Better hope your T5 AF system is up to the task in sever low light. Especially if you are using one of those kit lenses. SOmehow I don't think it will be and I will manage to get more clear shots than you do. Composition etc etc only takes you so far when it comes to USABLE, keyword USEABLE shots. The bride's Grandpa and his coke bottle glasses may not notice the difference, but I am sure someone paying you a few thousands of dollars will that expects REAL quality images.

[@milenna87]

so much knowledge....

[@bensslightnature]

yeah for sure.. moron.. use a 70-300, then a 300mm f4, see the difference, or dont. at f4 the 300mm is sharper and has more contrast than the shitty 70-300 at f8.

[@georgebrandon7696]

You can fool the soccer mom with your bullshit. But try fooling a corporate marketing head that's willing to pay you a hundred times more then the soccer mom. Also, you try taking an "artifact free" sharp image with a 70-300 in a high school gym. Let me know how your ISO 25,600 image looks on your Rebel camera through that "acceptable" lens. I'll put my 70-200 f/2.8 and IDX up against your Rebel kit anytime you feel your images are artifact free and "good enough". We will see who comes out with the most money for those images. $1000 and a new 1DX Mark II says my images will be MORE acceptable than yours to almost ANYONE. Especially ones willing to pay a premium.

[@sbai4319]

Yes I agree Ted. Thanks for your videos and on the importance of the process and the Artist Series.

[@RClackett]

Wow, Ted, great video/message. I have always been an avid photographer and often found myself caught up in the inadequacy of my equipment 'mindset'. Videos like this just reinforce the notion of getting out there and shooting with what i have available. Thanks!

[@Nebeldiener]

I feel that many people commenting are getting it a bit wrong. Of course a dslr produces better quality pictures than any phone around. This said, a full frame camera produces better image quality than most of the cameras people daily shoot with and still only a bunch of people are willing to take a full frame camera on a travel. For me "gear doesn't matter" means that when you only have a phone and can't afford a camera, but you still want do shoot photos, then do so. Let's assume we didn't talk about photography but about cars. You don't go off to somebody who only can afford a crappy car and tell them that they can't drive because there are faster and more efficient cars around, would you?

[@georgebrandon7696]

He specifically stated you can get the same quality with a phone as a DSLR, therefore gear does not matter. We aren't getting it wrong. You have selective hearing.

[@Nebeldiener]

George Brandon He stated that we are willing to take less sharp pictures because of convenience (If this would not be true everybody would still be shooting with full frame cameras and this is not the case). Way back when we still used film cameras we went with a camera which didn't produce the best quality pictures, but because we didn't need a tripod anymore (as he stated in his video) it gave us new ways to take pictures. So no, phones don't produce the same quality as a camera (the Lumia phones might be an exception for landscape), but we carry it everyday in our pocket. This means that now we can take pictures when we don't have our camera gear with us. This means also that we have more opportunities to be creative, but we aren't ready for this new way of photography yet. Now phones are able to shoot 4k video and raw stills. So as he says, if somebody shoots with his phone he's not less of a photographer as somebody who has 50 lenses and 5 cameras. I'm open to hear your opinion on this. Edit: When he's talking about that phones are equal to cameras, he's referring to storytelling and composition and so forth, not about sharpness and low light capabilities. As I'm concerned for a good picture storytelling is key, not 50+MP.

[@THX..1138]

I think the all I have is phone argument is BS. A new iphone cost around 800 to $1,000. If you can afford an iPhone you can afford at the very least a pretty damn good used DSLR. The two cameras I have both of which i bought last year are a T4i and (don't laugh I got it extremely cheap) a Sony A3000 along with a dozen or so lenses and a crappy speedlite to use between them. All in I got less than $700 invested. Well shy of an iPhone's asking price. Hell even if you can't afford an Iphone the Sony a3000 I have with the main 4 (old manual) lenses I use with it in total cost me less than $175. I say go to ebay hock your phone and buy some used gear.

[@sidbrun_]

You're thinking way too linearly here. So, if given the choice between an iPhone and a camera...you'd pick the camera? You'd ignore everything the iPhone can do for you and go for the camera? The camera doesn't do much more than take a photo; the iPhone takes a photo and puts a whole computer in your pocket. $700 for an iPhone goes a lot further than $700 for a camera. I can't tell if you're trying to say people shouldn't use the "I can only afford an iPhone" excuse to not shoot, or if you're saying people should sell their iPhone and buy a camera before they shoot.

[@THX..1138]

Right, that's fine if you feel you need a 1,000 dollar phone by all means have one, but that's not keeping you from having a decent starter camera. Canon t2i's sell all day long on ebay with the kit lens for under $250. I only paid 295 for my t4i with the STM18-55 kit lens. Personally I don't have an iPhone, I have a much cheaper android device. So yes I chose a camera over an expensive phone.

[@highbigpeace]

THX 1138 People pay $1000 to gain access to the internet outside, watch videos, organize info, read books, listen to music, and addition to this, take photos. You don't use a phone just to take photos do you?

[@tinyman392]

Foto4Max there's a reason you get the more expensive phone though, like there is a reason to get a more expensive camera. Realistically, you can do all of that on a flip phone. With a camera analogy, the flip phone is a toy camera. Your entry level 200-400 dollar phone is analogous to an entry level point and shoot. Your midrange 400-600 dollar phone is analogous to the entry level SLR. Your expensive 600-1000 dollar phone is analogous to the higher end SLR with more bells and whistles (maybe, just maybe, an entry level full frame). I'm not here to disagree with the point the OP is trying to make. But if a person has a choice between a phone and a camera with 400 dollars to spend (like a close friend of mine), they'll go after the phone. If done correctly, the phone can still capture stellar shots.

[@SamiSerola]

I think this way. By investing into a good phone camera, I also get mobile device to share my shots and experience pictures taken by others. The mobility can of course change the way of thinking and behaving into good and bad ways. But when not used for something like spam and trolling, a mobile phone can be a wonderful way to communicate, not only with words, but also with images. For example I just like the way how Instagram has expanded my way to use and see images. It is no longer about taking and sharing "master piece images" but about sharing the experiences and expanding the way we think about world and images in general.

[@chrono144]

Ted, honestly you hit the nail on the head. About 4 years ago I started getting serious about photography, and it was your review of the Kiev 88 that landed me on your channel. The fact is, camera review are really important to people get getting into photography, because there /IS/ this perception that the camera makes the photo. We're all marketed to that effect so much that it really takes experience to "get" it. However, it was channels like yours, that are really refreshing to get that photography is, in fact, an art. Thanks for everything that you do. And admitting that even you get "GAS" a little bit too :)

[@joejennings7709]

Thanks for discussing this topic and your insight! I always go with the advice " the best camera to have is the one you have with you at the right moment!" Love your channel!

[@codysaunders4941]

My Potato takes great photos.

[@LemtemPoktui]

Alright, but then why does pro photographers spends up to 100k on their camera gear? If it doesn't matter then they should just shoot on their iphones full time.

[@thecatsman]

Nobody is saying gear doesn't matter if you want to do photography. But if you want to point your flashy phone everywhere and see what happens, then gear is not important.

[@westonottem788]

New subscriber, audio guy that jumped into the visual side of things, no looking back, and I want to say...your audio is suuuuuperb sir. Thanks for that. Many people people overlook it.

[@clairobscure404]

This is excellent. I've been gradually improving my photography (both analog and digital) thanks to your advice and your channel. I wanted to have some advice about how to chose my gear but ended up here, with you saying how much gear is secondary to making power of photogr a powerful image. I'm here for the photography ans since I don't have the means of buying a 3000€ camera, ppl sometimes makes me feel less of a photographer. Thank you for not letting us drown into technical shenanegans, we sometimes tend to forget why we're here.

[@PedroBarrosBra]

"why gear doesnt matter" video in 4k and leica lenses

[@SHDEdits]

"why gear doesn't matter" You heard it here first folks, There isn't a difference between an arri alexa and an Iphone.

[@SHDEdits]

How stupid do you have to be to take my comment seriously?

[@transikk]

Yeah dude is full of it. Video made clearly for views.

[@3yearshardcore1]

>Has good gear >Takes good shots >Says gear doesn't matter >Gives self all the credit.

[@nishantbahuguna5461]

check a series called "cheap camera pro photographer", you will exactly understand what he is talking about.

[@ams9449]

when you say iPhone you're actually referring to the smartphones in general, I hope. If gear doesn't matter, so doesn't the brand.

[@jonfletcher147]

ArtinArt yeah I think he meant smartphone in general....

[@iandefaveri]

I've recently discovered your channel and I already like so much the type of content you offer! I think everyone can see how much you studied about photography and your will to pass the knowledge trough... keep it up! I know this video has been released almost 2 years from now, but still hope you see this coment! Good job!

[@myanez007]

another great Video!!! Thanks for these great thoughts...on photography...and Life, I think!!

[@BrianAndersonPhotography]

this is now currently the greatest episode you've ever done....until the next one ;)

[@MathieuStern]

Talent doesn't need money to express itself

[@steelcannibal]

Love so much of this video! I always pushed the limits of my little point and shoot camera's, and my cell phones. And just recently got my first DSLR and i Loooove it! And found your videos recently. Thank you for the thought, effort and passion you express in your video's! Keep up the great work!

[@sanketmanjit]

These videos you make, drags me to photography...I am a beginner, but you have convinced me to become a photographer and not a gadgetgrapher..love the way you teach.. Thank you

[@bensslightnature]

"why gear doesnt matter" yeah, you can take the same pic with a 500mm f8 mirror lens with a nikon d40, as i can with a d500 and a 500mm f4 lens, FOR SURE, COZ GEAR DOESNT MATTEr

[@njc2o]

I'm so tired of this. "Good images are good images no matter how they are made." This is obviously correct. The image-taking capability of the modern smartphone is astounding. Then go all the way back to the earliest photographic techniques. You can do so much with everything from A-Z. That's not a question. For KZbin support check out DigitalRev's series where they give top 1% photographers shitty gear, and they know how composition, light, etc. work, so they make great images. "It doesn't matter at all what you shoot on." NO NO NO NO NO. Camera tech matters. What you shoot on has limitations. Different focal lengths, different sensors, different lenses, tilts, shifts, film stocks, etc. are all limitations, and are worth considering when you're making an image. You can make good images with any camera, but you can't make every good image with every camera. It's worthwhile to study the equipment, know what it can do, and what it can't do. Use your tools for what they're designed. Don't shoot slide film at night hand-held. Don't shoot wedding portraits with a 6 MP point and shoot expecting lovely bokeh. It may seem like pedantic nit-picking, but I think it's important to make the distinction when people parrot the "gear doesn't matter" stuff. Thanks, Ted! Love the videos.

[@luispnrf]

"You can make good images with any camera, but you can't make every good image with every camera." Exactly, you said it all!!!

[@The3Natural]

This topic has been done a lot by a bunch of photography channels. This is probably the best explanation of the topic I've seen. Thanks for the vid.

[@Indreju]

I'll admit I found your channel trying to do camera research before buying my first "prosumer" camera. But I've been addicted to all of your learning and education videos.

[@StephanieFerrante_]

Love the videos

[@theartofphotography]

thanks!

[@StephanieFerrante_]

The Art of Photography no problem

[@dawgg6546]

What an trolling discussion on simple subject? 'Gear doesn't matter' is true. We are talking of esthetic or emotional content of the certain picture, photos, music, aren't we? After all photography should be fun, passion, love, hobby. Ok an job too. I do understand love for photo equipment or gear in a collector's way. But... Fancy gear, or expensive or sophisticated won't be the substitute for mere lack of talent.

[@BoredErica]

'We are talking of esthetic or emotional content of the certain picture, photos, music, aren't we?' A lot of people are, but not everyone. People look at photos differently. Some people don't focus on emotional of aesthetic content, but rather a detailed documentation of reality.

[@planetwally]

very meaningful advice! I still shoot with the X-pro1, which was released in 2012 and is ancient by digital camera standards and some of my best photos were shot with an archaic Canon 10D... jumping on the latest cameras and thinking those cameras will make one a better photographer is a fallacy that too many unfortunately go by...

[@MathieuAlepin]

Brilliant! And your passion for the pure essence of Photography is so contagious. Thank you, Ted!

[@goldwing4264]

So stop doing gear reviews

[@ralfymercedphotography1212]

Gear doesn't matter !!! I'm going to shoot a very expensive Wedding with my iphone. I know the Bride would just love it !!!

[@TrumpetsFTW123]

Pedro piragua Hope she knows you’re coming with just an iPhone lmao. I certainly wouldn’t pay for that.

[@biggoofybastard]

Some of my favorite photos from our wedding came from the disposables we left on each table.

[@MrSteamDragon]

its really refreshing to hear someone reminding us all what the fundamental purpose of photography is (or should be) all about. Thanks Ted.

[@douglawson5759]

Great commentary on gear. Back in the day I loved taking landscapes with an old Browny flash. It is good to focus on better photographs and less stuff!

[@naturephotographer6008]

This all sounds very nice but unfortunately it doesn't hold true in the real world. Try shooting wildlife with your phone. If you actually do manage to get close enough you'll probably get eaten or trampled to death... By the way, here's a question for you: If you actually do think that gear doesn't matter, why not sell all your cameras and lenses and get something cheaper? I suggest one of the cameras from DRTV's "pro tog cheap camera" series. They should be pretty cheap and save you a whole bunch of money that in that case could be much better spent elsewhere.

[@smaakjeks]

+Nature Photog 1) Watch the video first to get the whole context. 2) Gear is negatively proportional to the time you need to invest in getting a shot. More expensive gear: you can finish up a project pretty quick. Less expensive gear, prepare to spend a while. Example: Take a picture of an egret fishing. 600mm f4 lens + high pixel camera: get the shot within a day or two of finding the location. 100mm f2 lens + entry level camera: hide in a hide for several days or a week after finding the location. You can get just as good a picture with either scenario. But, to get a good picture in either of those scenarios you need other skills as a photographer. That's why "gear doesn't matter".

[@sweetdeserts]

I just found this video and YOU ARE SO AWSOME I have been watching videos about photography in hopes that I could enhance my skills but every video that I found would talk about gear and fancy lights and lenses and it feels very separated from the art form that I fell in love with. I started shooting with a point and shoot and even though I upgraded to a mid level DSLR I still love taking photos with my phone. I always believed photography is about storytelling that regardless of the gear a great story is a great story. You inspire me so much

[@eduardoserralde7910]

I really enjoy watching your videos. One of my fav channels! Great work!

[@Wrecksy]

Of course gear matters. "Gear doesn't matter" might sound great to someone with no gear, but the reality is, if it truly did not matter, nobody would have all this gear. If gear doesn't matter, get rid of yours.

[@grayisagirl]

this

[@Ark7760]

Professional photographers use better gear to gain an edge over their competitors and have a higher ratio of satisfied customers.

[@teardowndan5364]

I'm taking it more as you can get good pictures out of lower-end cameras. Better gear does improve your chances of getting the right shot exactly the way you want it though - once you know how to use it. I started doing digital photography on a 130HS and hated having almost no control over most of the camera. To get good pictures out of that point-and-shoot camera, I often had to trick the camera in focusing elsewhere and blocking/adding light to get the exposure I wanted before shooting, followed by far too much time for my taste cleaning up noise on many of those pictures. When I got fed up with it, I upgraded to a D5300. Having manual control over nearly everything and a much better sensor made my life so much easier with most of the pictures turning out good enough for my use with little more than a crop and resize, wish I had gone straight to the D5300 but when I started, I didn't know I'd be earning $2000-4000/year from photography to justify it.

[@JeremyGalloway]

He doesn't say that gear doesn't matter at all. He just says that great images can be taken with anything that takes images.

[@firesurfer]

The simple fact is that gear enables special features and purposes for images that can't be gotten any other way. This should not be confused with making better pictures. The art is with the person taking the picture. It is up to him/her to select equipment to get that image.

[@grahamhgraham]

Would Leonardo Da Vinci's drawings have been any better if he had owned a mechanical pencil? Or a biro? No. Case closed.

[@jamesm1754]

Another really good video! Thank you Ted! Really happy I have discovered your channel.

[@TheOfficialUnofficialGuide]

Mr. Forbes, I find myself BINGE WATCHING your content and I will tell you, you've opened me up to this world of photography in a way that not even classes I've taken have. I truly appreciate your contributions.

[@StuninRub]

You can be the best contractor in the world, but you aren't building anything if you only get a pair of pliers. You need the right tool for the right job, do you need the best of the best? No. But you NEED the RIGHT tool for the job. Gear matters. Stop setting the bar lower for photography, people like you make photography worst off in the long run.

[@Zanemusicworld]

fantastic advice and so true. The subject of the photograph is everything.

[@eformance]

I picked up a nice compact camera because I was tired of the mud in my phone pictures. I picked up a 5D because I wanted to take advantage of shorter focal lengths and wider apertures. I shoot mostly with the 50mm f/1.8 and really enjoy the versatility. I'm looking forward to getting a 15mm lens to further explore some of my creative ideas.

[@rominahendlin]

Great video! Love your conclusion and the examples of W Eugene Smith, Henri Cartier Bresson and Annie Leibovitz photos. I believe you always bring good examples for people to also get to know photographers they might not knew before! The Masters! I just started watching your videos recently so there are many to catch up but just wanted to say Thank you for creating them!!

[@smiff4748]

Greeting from the UK. I do watch equipment reviews but only because I love all things to do with photography. I had a long lay off from actually taking photographs but recently I bought a Lumix GX-80 and a couple of lenses. I love it to bits and all of my enthusiasm for photography is alive again. I watch reviews but as I'm completely satisfied with my equipment I don't even consider buying something new. I am content with what I have. Thank you for yet another great video Ted. Keep them coming my friend.

[@MichaelBnothere]

I've enjoyed discovering this channel and videos. I enjoy photos (both taking photos and looking at them). I totally agree. I'm just working with what I have now and making the best of it and improving as I go along.

[@krystalcliman1464]

Great points Ted!! It is interesting how the buying is easy satisfaction and the production of a photo is harder but a longer lasting satisfaction with something to show for the work. Photography (to me) is savoring the work to enjoy the fruit of the work, was the gear buzz is so fleeting.

[@JoeJacksonJr]

Very well said Ted. As a photo channel I also experience what you mentioned. Reviews get views, a video tutorial on studio lighting I worked on for over 12+ hours gets less then a 1/4th of the views.

[@KeenanNale]

I have to say that this is by far the greatest video on this subject that i have ever seen. Nicely put my friend. Alot of what you said can also be applied to our entire lives, not just photography. enjoyed that discussion. thanks!

[@michaelrimmington4981]

Thank you for such an excellent video. On the subject of gear, in the days of film, I am 82, I often used an Olympus Trip 35 and got some very good shots. On one holiday in Germany I managed to sell enough to cover the cost of the holiday. I am now using Olympus QMD 5.

[@shannoncrescent4422]

Thank you for this. It's a great point which you communicated in a wonderful way. It really helped lift me out of the photographic rut I've been in so thank you.

[@ToddWilhelm]

Grateful for your videos Ted. Your are like my personal photography professor!

[@wynotwander7075]

I'm a bit of a late comer to photography but this really spoke to me as i've been trying to learn photography on my Iphone but also dabbling we a cheap intro level dslr, thanks so much!

[@richardrossington1576]

Loved this video mate, really left me thinking about why we take photos and film stuff

[@mkc8bphotography26]

One of my favorite videos to date! Great work!

[@pushingfilm]

This episode was great Ted! Love the content!

[@JanoUrda]

One of the best talk I ever heard. Love your channel. Keep up great work!

[@bedantbarik3424]

I must say one of the few channels that's producing some damn good content regarding photography. Particularly I wanted some historical perspective of photography to improve my photography and Ted is organising things for us ! Thank you ❤️. Keep Inspiring!

[@carolebacon7769]

first time we watch good understanding about gear & use of iPhone. Will continue to view

[@DeyvsonMoutinhoCaliman]

I used a superzoom for years and years, the artifacts and limitations in the image were very important for me to learn Photoshop. Bought a DSLR, got frustrated with the lenses limitations and prices, went back to superzooms. But I get what you mean, some youtubers became famous using very basic equipment, like a cheap cellphone, just because they had something interesting to say. Some people by equipment that cost ten times what I spent and I never see then uploading anything worthy.

[@drknutz]

Thanks for addressing the question, is really good to know that is about the vision you have, not the tools you have.

[@NNENE]

I just love your channel. Not once have I watched and never felt inspired. Saying thanks again aka @Photographybynnene. You are fantastic! Thank you!

[@Stewkeithmtb]

This is so good. One of the best, most clearly explained videos on the subject I've seen. We obsess over the gear because we are powerless over the advertisers who have honed their art. We all look for the magic bullet which will set our photography apart when actually developing the eye and having the courage to take the shot is all that matters.

[@bhanub15]

what an amazing video!!! I am a beginner in photography and I really really liked the video. You have cleared a lot of my doubts. This was the first awesome video about photography without any equipment.