Gear Doesn’t Matter. Or Does It?

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In this video we answer the age old statement, gear doesn't matter. But, does it? Does gear matter? Or does it not? Well, the answer to that, like all good answers, requires nuance and a little bit of explaining. So in this video, we'll be covering all the possible reasons for and against.
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Beginners guide series:
Ep.1 - 80% Of Photography Basics In Just 10 Minutes - • 80% Of Photography Bas...
Ep. 2 - 80% Of Videography Basics In Less Than 10 minutes - • 80% Of Videography Bas...
Ep. 3 - The Best Beginner Camera - How To Choose - • The Best Beginner Came...
Ep. 4 - Zoom Lenses VS Prime Lenses - How To Choose - • Zoom Lenses VS Prime L...
Ep. 5 - The Most Important Composition Rule (People Often Forget About) - • The Most Important Com...
Ep. 6 - How To Choose The Right Lens For Street Photography - • How To Choose The Righ...
Ep. 7 - The Easy Way To Shoot In Manual Mode (Stop Using AUTO!) - • The Easy Way To Shoot ...
Ep. 8 - Gear Doesn’t Matter. Or Does It? - • Gear Doesn’t Matter. O...
Ep. 9 - How To Choose The Right Lens For Landscape Photography - • How To Choose The Righ...
Ep. 10 - Photography Was Hard Until I Learned These 3 Concepts - • Photography Was Hard U...
Ep. 11 - How To Choose The Right Lens For Portrait Photography - • How To Choose The Righ...
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[@StoicJason]

You can make kitchen cabinets with a hand saw and a tape measure. But it sure is easier with a table saw, mitre saw, and a nail gun. Having better tools makes work easier and gives a more refined end result.

[@patkay]

Absolutely.

[@proksalevente]

I've told many people, that they should buy gear for the need. An a6700 + 18-50 is my most recommended kit of all time, since it was released. Now I myself am in a dilemma. I have a 24-70, 85 1.4, 200-600. I'm thinking of getting a prime, maybe a 14mm 1.8, or a 35mm 1.4 for a lighter and brighter walk around alternative to the 24-70, because while that lens is great, I sometimes appreciate the constraints of a prime.

[@patkay]

I'd lean towards the 35, unless you're specifically into Architecture or Astro photography, that of which that particular 14 woud shine! Good luck.

[@proksalevente]

@@patkay I personally really enjoy a 14mm, so I'll have to get both eventually. The sensible choice would be to get the 14mm to expand the coverage of my kit, while the 35mm is more of a nice to have while I own the 24-70. Maybe I'll toss a coin, or whichever comes up used cheaper first.

[@elifredocabrera]

Funny story. In Annie Leibovitz's master class trailer video she talks about her not being a technical photographer and that if that's what you're focusing on you're not taking good pictures. 10 seconds later you see her taking photos with a Hasselblad. One of if not the most expensive cameras you can get. I'm not downplaying her work or class but the irony is hilarious.

[@kiathaolee5040]

Its like what the guys from randomonium have mentioned before, "gear does matter, but gear isn't the point"

[@patkay]

Absolutely.

[@RustyBrownPhotography]

This is spot-on, Pat. Gear does -- and doesn't matter. Knowing what the goal is -- the intention, behind our shots will almost always dictate the gear necessary to crush that shot. A full-on full frame DSLR with multiple high-end lenses is wonderful -- and to your point, with some of those lenses (the 1.2s, 1.4s, 1.8s etc) you'll be able to get shots that a 4.5 simply can't achieve. But with a simple Sony A6400 and an 18-135mm Zoom, you can get a ton of great images -- depending on the goal; the intention. A carpenter uses specific tools for specific purposes. I see no difference with photographers. Having said that, if you're just starting out I believe the important thing is to use whatever you have - and to do so often. It can be an entry-level mirrorless with a kit lens. By using that (and only that) you'll become really good at composition; visual literacy; and camera functionality under all types of circumstances. When you reach a point where this little kit can't capture what you're trying to get -- you'll know it -- but more importantly, you'll know why. Over the years I've seen far too many new photographers spend far too much money on kits they never mastered; understood; comprehended. You said it well "a bad image is a bad image" and that isn't gear specific. If we continue to grow as photographes, I believe the gear we each choose for our respective journeys will align properly to help us achieve our goals. Great video, as always -- thanks.

[@KellySedinger]

Still working with my Lumix FZ1000ii, a bridge camera, and I'm not even close to feeling "held back" by my gear yet. I'm still in the process of learning how it all fits together and how the various settings work and all that, and I haven't even STARTED using this camera's video capabilities yet. I bought this camera in 2023, after doing quite a bit of research and thinking about my novice status and my budget at that time, and I am now hoping to get to at least next summer or the summer after that before I start thinking I may need to start thinking body-and-lenses. My goal is to get something good every time I go out, and if that means "Wow, I took 120 shots and I'm only finding 6 in the batch that I really want to work on in Lightroom while some of the others can go on the daily blog or social media", I'm fine with that!

[@patkay]

As a beginner photographer, especially on a bridge camera, owning something THAT flexible will carry you many years into that hobby for sure. Perhaps one day when you get more "serious" or start to progress more, should you find a requirement for new gear, but until then, enjoy having the liberty of only needing to own 1 camera! It's amazing.

[@gregpantelides1355]

Pat, your visual pattern series completely changed the game. :-) I will be picking up your Lightroom class. Thank you so much for creating these wonderful guides for us.

[@patkay]

Absolutely my pleasure! I'm glad you found it so useful!

[@MidnightStormRider-w8z]

This was such a well-explained and informative video, I’m very grateful.

[@michaelmacmorran8787]

Excellent video Pat. I completely agree that the best gear is not going to make you a better photographer, but it can help you produce better photographs. Another great example of this is with sports and wildlife photography were autofocus, FPS and blackout free shooting absolutely can make or break an image. I'm looking forward to your upcoming videos. Cheers, Mike

[@patkay]

100%. There are SO many examples of where gear allows the user to capture images they otherwise would not have been able to.

[@LucaPetraliaPhotography]

This is probably the best video I've seen on this specific topic. Well done, I couldn't agree more with everything you said

[@donl7737]

👏🏻Well said Pat. Was getting bored on my a7Rv, decided to get an x100vi and daily carry it to re-ignite my passion. It worked! I started paying attention to small things in life more rather than only looking for opportunity for "banger shot". 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻 thanks for your inspiration!

[@squall6789]

I'm planning a trip to Japan in a few years and want to do general travel documenting with a single 24-120mm f4 lens but I also want to do some more creative street photography at night and landscapes too. The f4 lens isn't bad, but I'm going to be introducing more grain than I'd like in the two types of photos I actually want to look their best.

[@wanneske1969]

When I started out with my Canon 500D (rebel) and I did concerts etc, I was in a lot of trouble as for me the maximum Iso was 800. Now I have the R6 and Iso 8000 isn't a problem. That's 10x as much !

[@petermcginty3636]

Thanks Pat, great video. I recently bought a 12-year old camera for B&W street photography. The first thing I learned was, "Gee my 2-year old camera is feature rich." The 12 year old camera does a great job for its assigned role and has taught me that I don't need to upgrade for a while yet. Right now, I just need to get out there and take more photos. 🎉🎉🎉

[@patkay]

That's amazing that camera makes you feel that way! I have a thing for disposable cameras at the moment which is absolutely stripped for features, but I'm having a great time with it!

[@racingmaniacgt1]

The more you shoot the more you can find out where the holes might be in your collection of tools. Not all are necessary but sometimes it helps making things easier, more fun, less frustrating, or all of the above. And when that happens, you want to shoot more! Which is ultimately what actually matters. Moving to mirrorless in the last year and seeing how much of a jump in terms of tech it affords me made me shoot a lot more, and by shooting a lot more I know more of what I want out of my setup for either travel, sports or walkaround street photos. And that doesn't just apply to glass, it goes with tripod, bag(s), tripod heads, software....etc

[@patkay]

Yep. A lot of beginners will think they need all the gear all at once, but actually, the more they get out, the more they realise they have requirements for one thing vs another, and that's when the upgrades should occur!

[@michaelajoseph6856]

Thank you for an excellent content! The Sony 7c with Sony/Zeiss 35 2.8 made me to rediscover street photography and enjoying again being out with the camera.

[@hansconley]

I recently switched back to Nikon from Fujifilm. I had an X-T1 loved the camera, but full frame and battery life was calling me back. So, I traded for a D800E and fell back in love with DSLR photography. It's heavy, it's the best digital camera I have ever owned.

[@yobel_i]

I got a used a7ii last year and I've bought about 3 lenses, a 70-200, 20mm f1.8G, and the 50mm 1.8. But at the beginning if this year I decided to sell all of those and instead bought a 35mm GM and use only that for at least a year or two. That was probably the best decision I ever made and I can see the results of my efforts much clearer. The only thing I have to complain is probably the A7ii's autofocus so at least now I know that upgrading the body is my priority instead of wasting more money on lenses.

[@patkay]

I'm a big advocate of buying one lens at a time, and then maxing out its capability before moving on to a different focal length. There's something about spending significant time "seeing" with that focal length that is absolutely crucial to the development of your photography vision!

[@dalloiselle7274]

If I’m FEELING FRUSTRATED that I can’t get certain shots then buying specific gear, that overcomes those situations, is invaluable. On the other hand if I’m FEELING DISAPPOINTED when certain shots don’t capture the vision of my photographic eye then I need more knowledge and more experience to solve those problems. When I was frustrated because I couldn’t get the “close up” detailed shots I wanted with my 50- 205mm kit lens purchasing my 200- 600 Sony lens made an immediate improvement. Only more knowledge and experience with this lens has allowed me to create better images capturing more interesting angles, behavior and backgrounds which provide context or blurred out to isolate and showcase the subject.

[@TheLightArtisan]

Thanks a lot for such wise words! I've been doing photography for 5 years now and for the 4 first years, I have only used a Canon 2000D with the kit lens and a nifty fifty after the 2 first years. I believe that limitation made me learn a lot about photography but since last year, I started to purchase new gears. It was thanks to some money I started to make from web dev 😜 but mostly because I was constantly hitting some walls to create some things I dreamed of for a long time. And I'm grateful I did even though I hesitated, because even though I liked the level I got thanks to my old camera, I quickly realised the sea of new things I still have to learn. I also started videography, making it worse 😂 But I love this learning process! Thanks Pat for providing such knowledge! I'll be forever grateful to you! Right now, I'm broke from all the gears I have been purchasing 😂 But I promise, as soon as I can allow it to myself, I will register to you masterclass ❤‍🔥

[@patkay]

Haha, once you throw video into the mix, the game changes quite a bit, doesn't it? 😂. Enjoy the gear you have! And I hope to see you in class, but definitely no pressure!

[@TheLightArtisan]

@@patkay It does for sure 😂 Thanks 💯

[@simonmaney3438]

There are certain shots that you just can't get with gear that isn't up to it - especially lenses. For my own landscape work, improved sensor performance and resolution easily trumps my older generation gear, and stabilization is a game changer.

[@martin32694]

In my opinion, gear might not matter but it does make a difference. I have been using rx100vii for 5years and recently upgraded to the a7c2. Maybe I am wrong.I found rx100 quite limited and a lot of settings sometimes might not be as good/ fast as auto because the sensor is so small. It doesn’t do well under strong light and low light. Ended up only using P to counter overexposure and auto for quick snap. No wide lens also limits you from doing dramatic shot. It’s a great lightweight gear, but surely limited.

[@patkay]

Absolutely.

[@cedricreed8327]

Pat you are the best teacher. Thanks for keeping it real! “Gear is Good!”

[@patkay]

Thanks for watching!

[@ryanrootphoto]

Currently loving the one(s) I am with while crushing on that 16-35 GM2

[@patkay]

An absolute belter of a lens that one.

[@ofthenearfuture]

I recently moved to Fuji after almost two decades shooting Nikon DSLR's, and I sold almost all my gear to make that switch... But I just broke out the two things I didn't sell (cause they were honestly not worth anything haha), my first kit lens the 18-55 f3.5-5.6 that came with my OG D40, and my first good body the D200 with it's 10MP CCD sensor. And you know what, it still takes great images, and without pixel peeping you really couldn't tell I was using gear from 2005. Sure, it's so bulky and plasticity and old lol, but it renders images just fine and has amazing colors. So all that is to say no, ultimately gear does not matter. However, if you have a specialized need or niche you like to photograph, then yes gear can be incredibly important or a deal breaker. Just depends on what you do. But now that I've moved to Fuji I am slowly building a kit again... I got an X-S10 with 16-80mm f4 on clearance for a really good savings, and they're both are awesome in their own right, and it's a perfect general setup for the photography I like to do. I have since added a TTArtisan 27mm f2.8 for travel and everyday shooting, a TTArtisan 56mm f1.8 for portraits etc. (and it's maybe my favorite focal length), and finally adapting a Canon FD 80-200 f4 L because I primarily shoot landscapes in the mountains and really love a telephoto. But after shooting the aurora this year at 16mm f4 lol I really want a fast ultra wide, so that's what I'm planning to add next. As you can see it's a pretty budget setup, and I didn't spend more than $140USD on each of those additional lenses. And it still hold's true, (unless you are a professional working photographer*) then you don't need to spend huge amounts on the fastest and best most expensive primes and zooms, you can do just as well with budget or older gear if you know how to use it and make it work within it's limitations.

[@AnotherOtherMan]

A key note to remember is that any and all creative tools are that: Tools first, not all tools are good for all situations.

[@patkay]

Like I finish off the video with, yes, absolutely!

[@ScratThunder]

I have spent much on gear for photographing my small children - the pictures are priceless to me. No regret here.

[@SilatShooter]

I've really started to adopt lighter, smaller set-ups. I have FF body and GM glass but often have reached for my Ricoh GRIII. And while nice and compact, the AF is spray and prey for focus often, and there's a sense of guilt that I'm not using the more advanced, higher IQ Sony set-up. So have gradually been switching my gear out for the A7CII and compact lenses. Time will tell but noticeably nicer to handle and pack for a trip.

[@Relaxingsounds_pro]

Thank you brother for sharing. I like your idea ❤

[@DanijelTurina973]

Gear matters a lot, in a sense that if I use that 50mm f/1.2 that's technically perfect, I will end up taking my pictures with the iPhone because the camera will be too heavy to take out with me. However, if I take the light 50mm f/1.8, it will actually get used. Also, if a camera keeps frustrating you, it's actually possible to start hating photography because of that; just get the one that works for you. So, of course gear matters. It's photography, gear is what makes picture-taking possible. But "gear doesn't matter" means photography isn't a pay-to-win sport.

[@cedrikfoisy9783]

Hi, I discovered you just yesterday, thanks the YT algoritm. And I must say it is nice to have an expertience content creator that bring a new knowledge and perspective on subject. By the way I just got an new Laowa 15mm lense, the cause is a workshop that I went to and saw the creative ideas I could try with this new gear. I allways turn arount 24-70mm. Can't wait to receive it!

[@patkay]

Praise be to the algorithm for finding me! Enjoy the 15! It's a really fun one.

[@BigFlexy007]

I know I may be in the minority, but I'm loving my Pentax K70 with my 35mm/2.4, 50mm/1.8, 16-85mm, and a 55-300mm. Great span and great images. And there is something about the Pentax color science that is different but good. Love your videos Pat. I'm subscribed and will always like. 👊

[@TheAtmousphere]

I have a Nikon F3 and it’s a tank, heavy in the right way. Honestly I can’t really go back to digital because they’re too lightweight and I like the feel it has to it. Honestly my favorite film camera ever and I don’t get tired of carrying it for hours on. Bro if anyone is too tired of carrying the camera because they’re too heavy, I think you might be lazy or weak handed. Carry the boats! lol sorry didn’t mean to offend anyone just saying ❤

[@PhotoTrekr]

Many years ago when I first started doing photography gear mattered more than it does today. Back then zoom lenses were so bad that you almost had to buy prime lenses if you wanted a decent shot. And that was the big name brands. Other brands like Tokina, Sigma, and Tamron were even worse. Today you can buy third party lenses maybe as good as OEM lenses. So, it's not so much the gear that matters. It's how that gear is used by the photographer.

[@bdvisuals_]

I told myself gear don't matter.. started off with ZVE10 and it was NOT enough lmao. Now I have A7RV and A7IV and my ZVE10 are barely used now

[@coardtech]

It does

[@Moments.by.jurgens]

Hi! Thanks for the Videos!… oke question, what are those red caps on the Shutter Buttons here 4:06 and the use? Thanks for the answers 🙏🏽

[@LouisLuzuka]

I feel attacked when u talked about the same tree in front of my house 😂

[@patkay]

😂 Don't worry, I did the same thing to my cityscape in my apartment when I first started haha.

[@MeAMuse]

Gear doesn't matter, until it matters. Gear is definitely not the most important thing. Gear is not going to make a difference if you have a crap subject, and no clue about composition. However, if you do - better gear often makes it easier and quicker to get a good shot, or might make the difference in getting the perfect moment. In terms of film... I think it does have consequences. Each shot costs a lot, you can't spray and pray, it is less flexible due to fixed ISO/ASA, color science, and the ultimate effect is that people take more time to think about the shots they are taking.

[@xsleepypanda]

I used to have Sony A7RIII and 24mm + 85mm combo. Sold it after 5 years. These days though I'm walking around with a Fuji XT-5 + 16-55mm (24-70) F2.8. Although I will miss my days of full frame and doing night photography. My lifestyle has changed a bit where I'm generally a more daytime photographer so carrying a lighter load with a zoom makes more sense to me. Since I'm conscious of gear acquisition, it's kind of helped me reduce the load on my wallet and do my best to make do with what I can with my one and only lens. Truly a versatile jack of trades, and despite that it can't do full blown bokeh, I've come to learn that F2.8 is "good enough" for me for most situations/scenarios to my personal standards.

[@kaismohammed1903]

It's just that you need to have decent gear ...... it doesn't have to be the absolute high end Believe me, i use a phone to take photos, and some photos turn out well. but i always wish to get an actual camera because, more often than not, i miss amazing photos just because i don't have "decent gear"

[@joeXjoeX]

Ugh, i don't like pushing back but i gotta. Insinuating that low aperture is the only thing that matters in getting a shallow depth of field is a photography folly. If the focal lengths are similar, then yes it is all that matters, but to say focal length and distance don't matter? Ummm, that's just not good information. A 105mm f4 will most certainly get a more blurred background than a 35 or maybe even 50 at f1.4. Yes, the shot needs to be completely recomposed, but to say focal length and distance don't factor is a dangerous thing to push to beginners, of which i do consider myself. Sorry, no doubt you know your stuff but maybe it just needs to be reworded.

[@TheLightArtisan]

I get your point but, in my opinion, it would truly matter if the kind of lenses you compared were at the same price range. Considering that a telephoto lens is quite expensive no matter the aperture, a beginner would be better of getting a 35 or 50 at f1.4 unless their protography goals lean more towards the telephoto side. And when you get out of the telephoto side, you might get close to those wide aperture but hardly and probably with something more expensive. I guess he directed that part more to the beginners in consideration of the budget and the possible desired outcome.

[@joeXjoeX]

@@TheLightArtisan 35's and 85's aren't too different in price honestly. But my problem is that he mentions the f/1.4 vs f/4.0 in regard to portraiture, and specifically states focal length and distance from the subject does not matter for getting a shallow depth of field. The way he words it would make one think a 35mm 1.4 is more suitable for portraits than an 85mm 1.8. Once again, the wording may be the issue but if he is teaching, he should be more clear and leave less room for misunderstanding.

[@TheLightArtisan]

@TheMillennialJoe I do own something around those ranges, and I think that 35mm f1.4 still better than 85mm f4.0 😂 But that's up to debate. Nonetheless, I get what you say, and I agree with you at some point. Some people can easily misinterpret (especially nowadays 😅), so one needs to be careful with their wording. But to be honest, to think that 35mm f1.4 is better than 85mm f1.8 for portraits out of what he said would be putting words in his mouth. But again, you've got a fair point 😊

[@patkay]

While I understand where you're coming from, know that there's a particular way I decide to speak to *beginner photographers* that allows them to understand a concept more simply. At its core, aperture to aperture is what I'm talking about, but if I was to consider all the other things that also affect DOF, then my entire segment on that would have had to include *not only* focal length, like you're explaining, but also how sensor sizes play a big role in DOF, the relation to hyperfocal distances, the relation to physical distance to the subject, on and on. Before you know it, more *beginners* are confused more than helped and the whole point is out the window because the information doesn't stick. Simple concepts, one at a time. That's how I prefer to teach. Although I do understand where you're coming from! And I do appreciate the feedback.

[@didierdelobel8663]

For me Sony A7CR + Sony G 50mm f/2.5. Nobody Does it Better (James Bond!) lol

[@nevvanclarke9225]

Yes and no There are too many variables If the camera doesn't make you want to to take pics then for you oys a dud I'm a fuji user Why ...because they feel great in my hands ✋️ Plus I love the colours. It matters to.me....it won't matter to someone else

[@patkay]

Exactly like I'm saying in the video.

[@nevvanclarke9225]

@@patkay yup ha ha

[@asafoadjei1]

Gear matters, but it not everything in photography.

[@masterkent1]

i just like having good gear because i wanna take good pics of women i will never be able to date-er i mean im really into portraits

[@LouisLuzuka]

😮😊

[@patkay]

🎉

[@RasikaFernando]

Obviously, Gear does matter…!

[@UnconventionalReasoning]

The gear, photographer's abilities, and image goals should align. If one is much weaker, it drags down the other two. If one is much stronger, the situation is inefficient.

[@patkay]

I mostly agree to this! It's a great line of thinking.

[@animegeek6118]

It’s true gear won’t make you a better photographer. But a nice lens sure helps 😂

[@goldeneggduck]

Ask yourself this very same question for every shot, before and after taking it.

[@vladimirtalijan]

It's like saying color science doesn't matter, I can make anything I want in post. No you don't :) How do I know that? I can spot a Sony camera in every video on youtube, including this one :)

[@scarz2468]

We always have to be carefull because we know how the capitalism society works. Every brands want you to buy the very last gear only for one reason, to make money. When you say that gears matter talking about focal lengh, max aperture ... that's very true, but we can still make greats photos with a Sony a5000 and appropriate lens. Gear should not be an excuse to say "This photo is bad because of my old DSLR, I have to buy this new camera" we should buy a new camera or a new lens because we know exactly what we are going to do with it. But we all are like kids sometime, we just want to get a new toy :) But once the magic moment has gone, the toy is like the others, not exciting anymore and photos won't be better.

[@max_larum]

First!

[@patkay]

You got it!

[@max_larum]

@@patkay I always do brother

[@MarkAnthonyLabonete]

In my opinion Gears matter when it comes to business. Gears doesn’t matter if you’re an hobbyist or starting in photography or videography.