FINAL PROOF - The Camera Doesn't Matter

[@TinHouseStudioUK]

If you want to learn more about taking photographs from still life through to portraiture at a much more in depth level than youtube allows, head here tinhouse-studio.com/studio-access/

[@russellbaston974]

One of my favourite quotes (from a photographic "God" of mine, Edward Weston) " the simplest camera has more potential than any photographer will ever exceed."

[@peternavanac9310]

A lot of people, at one time or another, SAY your gear doesn’t matter. You PROVED gear doesn’t matter and convincingly, skilfully drove the point home. Meant something. Thanks.

[@ActualCounterfactual]

I use a 5Dii and a 1DXmk1 and I never needed anything else.... this kit rocks the boat as long as I use good glass.

[@pd1jdw630]

Reminds me of a challenge that was on KZbin years ago. Pro photographer, toy camera. Literally a toy camera. And still amazed about the photos some came up with.

[@duckyz9]

Everything you said - true. There is a difference between "nice to have/more useful/faster/fancier" and "necessity"

[@SteveBonario]

An exercise for those of us who have ever been affected by GAS (gear acquisition syndrome): find youtube videos that sing the praises of the camera/lens you have then go out and make photographs with it.

[@WhenWillILearn]

@@SteveBonario knowing me, I’d end up buying a second one 😂

[@Twobarpsi]

With the budget to buy a R5, I chose the 5D MKII. I have yet to run into a situation where the body was a limiting factor.

[@zachbenson9548]

This is absolutely true! I used to own the 5d mk2 back in the day. I primarily do street and outdoor photography but I had a close friend that started a wedding photography business. I helped her out on her first few photo shoots and the images I got with that camera were stunning! The only reason I moved off that camera was to shrink my kit to something that fits the stuff I want to do, but even my current camera is over 8 years old! If I were to start a wedding photography business today I'd almost 100% get a used 5d mk2, the 50, 85 and an 18-35 zoom and call it a day. If you can't build a business off that then maybe photography isn't for you. There's an oversaturation with cameras and everyone is chasing specs instead of getting out and creating images.

[@boredboiseboy]

💯, although I would do the 6D just just get the wider dynamic range. Put that thing on auto iso and it's set and forget, and you can make life a little easier.

[@nicktheobald1694]

Very sensible POV again. Got back into photography about 10 years ago with a 1300D and 18-55 plastic kit lens. have since worked my way through a 70D, 7D, 6D (wish I hadn't sold that!) and ended up with a 5DIII with a crop of L lenses (all this lot secondhand, so not bank busting). However, have recently acquired a D700 with a 50 and 85 1.8 - am rather surprised how much I love using it, handling it, and the output is fantastic and am now selling the 5DIII and lenses. I shoot mainly equine sports (as a hobby) and the D700 can do it easily. Its also more fun. Should have bought one years ago and saved a bucket load of pennies. Really ought to get some tutoring and buy some books too (magazines don't count)...

[@gonzphotographymusicchanne2855]

Excellent, great real world talk, i started on the 5d (classic) never felt i needed to upgrade, when i did upgrade i discovered ok the auto ISO helped a bit but that was it, and as you mention fun i ended up with a fuji xt1 and that has been my fun camera, they are all only tools just enjoy, oh maybe print some of your photos its a better buzz than any upgrade, cheers for your real world views, love your vids

[@andrefelixstudio2833]

As a professional photographer I only have equipment that I need for the job. If you are a weekend warrior then you can get what you like and just have some fun as you will also help to keep the photo inderstry in business thank U! LOL

[@th1ngo]

Spot on! As confirmed by any photographer's work prior to ~1990, say.

[@Another-Layer]

I happen to shoot a 5D II mostly with a 24-70L and a 10 megapixel Nikon D200. These cameras fit my eye. I’ve never had anyone that likes my photos say that these are crap cameras so I don’t know why there’s so much pressure for new gear. What’s funny is that I’ve been doing research for years on my next moneys-no-object modern day camera but I still haven’t decided…maybe next year.

[@Timothy_othy]

Always an inspiration to me and my 5d MKII and old lenses.

[@TimHunold]

I worked with a photographer that shot 4x5 fashion often with strong motion.

[@stewsview5164]

This reminds me of the old saying wedding photographers hear from guests, "You have an amazing expensive camera, that must be why your photos are so good." Take the same subject, lights and camera and give it to 10 different photographers and you will get 10 completely different images. The photographer makes the shot. The camera is tool the same way a light is a tool. If you camera is more important than you are then you just make yourself into a tool.

[@inlocoparentis]

I shot the 2014 Super Bowl XLVIII flyover, from inside the formation, with a Nikon D700, and Gen1 70-200 f/2.8. The things that saved me more than anything were understanding my subjects (military helicopters), knowing how the pilots would be flying the mission, and being able to read light.

[@robertsimpson1729]

excellent, thank you. I am an amateur but find your videos very thought provoking. I need a small camera otherwise I often can't be bothered to pick it up when I go out. In 1981 it was an Olympus XA, still works; today it is an Olympus EP 7. In between have been various full frame APSC 6x9 film etc. they gather dust.

[@tobybell2345]

Some solid truths there . Great video .

[@blubravery]

So true. I have a near library of books from people who came before me. Mirrorless make stuff easier, but not impossible. More photographers need to buy books

[@trombonetortoise3406]

I smiled!! Thank you :) I needed to hear this!

[@Actual_Human_Take]

Screenshots of video will be the future of modern day photography.

[@camerasutra247]

Your spot on I’ve been saying this for almost a decade and these people are absolute gear hungry which is fine, but it does not make anything better. Yes, we all loved the new gear and we all promote it, but do you need? It is a very different thing it’s more than want than the need.

[@StuBobsGhost]

100% agree with you there. I used to work for Jessops and the number of gear freaks I used to serve or work with was amazing. I saw their work quite a lot and it wasn't always great. I occasionally challenged people to take a dirt cheap SLR and a roll of film and go and take some photos of whatever they wanted. The best photographers could always handle it.

[@philliphickox4023]

My wedding setup was Fuji Film, ISO 125, Contax Quartz, Metz 45 CT5, Lens either 50 mm or 70-210 Zoom. At most 72 frames. No auto focus. Never owned a digital until 3 years ago.

[@1880.photography]

I mainly shoot Rugby, and do some PWR games..I use a pair second had Canon 1DX iii , I'm very happy with the DSLRs and don't need the latest mirrorless gear, 20 mp and 14 FPS is enough and I mainly use single focus point.... I do love my EF 400 2.8 mk2 lens though, I still feel good glass makes a difference. Having twin CF express slots to record to both is nice as a backup but I've not had an issues with CF Express card yet.

[@danielx555]

I've watched so many of your videos lately that you are literally my conscience at this point.

[@dangilmore9724]

I used to shoot horse shows on a Roleiflex. I'll still work with a Rollie when I want a certain look to the finished product. I love manual focus. In fact, I use manual focus half the time with digital cameras. Knowing your depth of field at a given aperture means you can get an action shot without worrying about your auto focus hinting for a subject. I like using cameras in their simplest modes because I'm making the decisions and not some microprocessor.

[@andymcgarty3099]

Hope you have watched the film Lee. It implies it wasn't a selfie. She styled it, but David Scherman pressed the shutter. My favourite of her photos is the girls with the fire watch masks.

[@chriskendrickphoto]

This is ace, Scott. You've saved me a ton of money previously and have just done it again, the 80D lives to see another couple of years! Lot's to think about in here, thanks for your work.

[@TinHouseStudioUK]

Glad to help!

[@philmartin5689]

I shot weddings for several years using an RB67 with a metz CL4 strapped to the side and a cheap sekonic light meter. I used the same camera for my black and white topographic landscape photography.

[@PipsClips]

knowing what your camera is capable of is the important part and play to its strengths, same with any tool of any trade, note, a photographer known for/by their camera, Horst Hamann (leica Rangefinder) shooting super verticals! his work is fantastic!

[@Murphy599]

Agree. The only time gear matters to me is for two reasons…makes my workflow better, and the joy of use.

[@chrismann5070]

Yep had this conversation with a famous photo content maker just a few weeks ago. Having any camera does not make anyone a photographer. It what you do with it.

[@frankebbert7315]

Thank you for this. Much appreciated. Substitute drum sets, golf clubs, F1 cars LOL. Last question I asked, if I ever even asked, was, what brand was that paintbrush?

[@craftandfiction]

I think it sometimes all it takes is for us to actually spend a lot of money on the kit we think we need to realise we actually don’t Despite watching many videos for many years it still took me it to do well in my career and buy a lot of kit that I thought I need to strip it back down to the bare minimum.

[@CP23798]

You just saved me a heap of money. Thanks.

[@PhotoArtBrussels]

Always love a new Scott video; always interesting, direct and presenting something to think about! Did my racetrack photography pre-focusing a manual lens at a spot on the track or curb; then wait for the cars ... no need to 1/80.000 sec. ;-)

[@TinHouseStudioUK]

Thanks a lot

[@Twcoleman1]

I liked what you said! Twenty years ago I did many weddings with a Nikon D70 and 18-70 kit lens, and regularly sold 16x20 bridal portraits. I knew my work was good in that several time I did multiple sisters in the same family. Would anybody shoot a wedding now with a 6 mp D70?

[@rockfan2787]

I'm always telling students that I mentor that before you upgrade, you need to outshoot the gear you have. Especially for sports, timing is everything, assuming you have a good grasp on exposure. As a sports and portrait photographer, I rather have a slower frame rate and a higher ISO capability then 20 to 30 frames per second any day

[@matuszewskistudio]

I see your point, but in my case upgrading from 5Ds to GFX100 was one of the biggest upgrades, period. Maybe just after switching from 17-40L to 17TS-E. Files are just amazing, after few months i still can't believe i don't need to worry about HDR artifacts because one shot with this camera is just enough. It absolutely changed the way i shoot and edit photos. But then, as you said - bad foto taken with good camera is just a bad photo.

[@tonys3112]

I went same path. The GFX has to last 10yrs min before next purchase. Still shoot with my old 1DSmk3

[@alnico68]

I agree specs don't matter. What matters however is how you feel with a camera (very same as with a musical instrument). I make my best work on a rangefinder because how it makes me see and feel. It inspires me differently than say a mirrorless, and for me that has more value than megapixels.

[@iasumusic]

Whatever camera you have now was at one point the top of the line camera tech.

[@dominiqueschenck430]

Love this. Same in tennis: the racquet does not make the player. Cannot agree more.

[@Cotictimmy]

Oh dear - what terrible timing! I'm watching this (having just ordered a new mirrorless earlier today.) On the positive side - it's a cheap & cheerful used Nikon Z5 and I'm not dumping my DSLRs.

[@MarkKidsley1989]

The LEE film is amazing if anyone here hasn’t seen it. Her work is awesome

[@AdamJonesPhoto]

I use a battered D700. It's all I need, and yes I do sell a fair bit of work.

[@Motshwane.Letsoalo]

How's that laowa tilt shift working out?

[@christianpereira3686]

Scott you’d be mad at me bruv, I just bought a Fujifilm XT5 and it was pricey 😅

[@jerrardbeasley4247]

I think there is a big difference between yes you can do it and do you want to do it. You can build yourself a house with only a handsaw and a hammer, but you would be much better off doing it with modern power tools all things being equal. I think people get caught up in thinking wants are needs. You need something when you can not readily accomplish your goals with the tools you have on hand.

[@alstuart8801]

Seen the Lee film , great stuff.

[@TinHouseStudioUK]

I’ve not seen it yet. Looking forward to it though

[@Thwakum]

The difference is between being a photographer and a bloke with a camera. I am the latter but I admire the former. It's my hobby not my living. One day I might be as good as the Z6 not the other way round.

[@sisimple7]

I need that Leica that only shoots in black and white :D

[@willjones1696]

I don’t need the cool new tech, my A7IV does wonders. But. I want the delicious 100mp beast. I want the lens that looks glorious. But I agree, camera doesn’t matter. New generally says higher mp and convenience.

[@johnmitchell6919]

I have been heavily influenced by the work of a well known photographer in my home city. I have his book of images from a 30 year career. Looking at my own work, many of my photos of similar subjects using a mirrorless with a high quality lens are technically superior. Problem is, they are sharp, low noise, great colour/ BW with perfect levels and verticals but .... soulless.

[@zackzeiler2594]

Nothing will make you a great photographer but effort, and it still might not happen.

[@michael195b]

Can't beat a canon F1 for film. Have one myself and use it all the time.

[@000CloudStrife]

But it does for retouching doesn’t it?

[@Iareawesome100]

Really want that medium sensor tho 😅💀 i know it's dumb but still

[@paulmitchell1580]

Does a real artist need the best brushes? i don't know please tell me.

[@ph5740]

Scott, this is your best video ever! And probably one of the absolutely most educational and important videos about photography on KZbin in general. May all upcoming photographers watch this before anything else…

[@estwern]

I don't know about others, but what Annie presented in that book, IS NOT sports photography just because there are portraits of athletes. For sports, yeah, you can get a shot with a manual focus camera, but can you get 20 images from a soccer game to be included in the article of "match of the day"?

[@TinHouseStudioUK]

David Burnett

[@estwern]

@@TinHouseStudioUK i am not aware of his work. but let's not confuse assignment work for some entity on special occasions, to day by day job. Sports are a different kind of photography where you need fast acquisition focus and high frame rate (not for all, ofc) and dedicated cameras will help the photographer a lot. I still shoot football from time to time with an F100, but with autofocus lenses, so yeah, you can do it without the "latest and greatest" PS: my goal camera is a D700 :)

[@philliphickox4023]

@@estwern Pre digital and auto focus, sports photographers mostly had a motor drive of about 5 frames per second, there were some cameras that had huge rolls of film and the photographers had their photographs published in sports magazines and news papers. Calenders and posters of action shots.

[@estwern]

@@philliphickox4023 yes, and in those 5 frames, with a reasonable f stop, all action happening most of the time in daylight, they get some kinda' sharp pictures that were published on the cheapest paper with a disastrous resolution. until 7 years ago, F1 cars didn't have HALO system to protect the head of the driver. Should they still drive without it just because at some point others drivers did survive without it? This is technology, it evolves, even some of us can work and deliver with older stuff.

[@bubbajones5905]

technique vs technology.

[@timwootton4649]

Just look at the images taken by National Geographic photographers before digital photography came along...............

[@patrickphotos]

You might be right from a pure business perspective that equipment must have a decent return of investment. But what if your business model is to be a brand ambassador on here? Wasn’t it a few videos ago that you said high end clients expect you to rock up with expensive kit? I don’t think there is a right answer. Only poor business plans.

[@TinHouseStudioUK]

I don’t think anyone would make enough to make a living as a brand ambassador from what I’ve seen being offered. It’s not enough to even make me consider changing brands

[@patrickphotos]

That raises the question how many “photographers” are on this platform or if they are content creators for brands. I’m not going to knock those on here who publish videos to embargo times. Bigger question is would you let a keyboard warrior be part of your creative team? You are lucky in that you can decide who is on set

[@TinHouseStudioUK]

Releases on embargo times rely on ad revenue, the brands rarely pay them for these things bar maybe the one large KZbinr in the genre. Channels like that have nothing to do with photography, just cameras

[@johnyoung1606]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@TinHouseStudioUK]

Thanks

[@louielondonmedia4819]

Man sitting of sofa talking about photo books the viewer cannot see

[@BaldurJohansson]

Our North Star. Thank you.

[@alancrossley509]

It's the subject matter not the camera that counts.

[@geraldfitzgut]

@@alancrossley509 Not even the subject. It’s how you photograph the subject, whatever that might be.

[@aristoioannidis7490]

Sanity check. Love your work.