Why "GEAR DOESN'T MATTER" is BULLS**T

Why Gear Doesn't Matter Is Misleading
This might divide the room I think.... however it is a thought I wanted to share for a while. Very keen to read your comments on this one.
PRESETS, BOOKS, PRINTS, WORKSHOPS & MORE:
www.snapsbyfox.com/shop
FIND ME ON:
Instagram: / snapsbyfox
Twitter: / snapsbyfox
WHAT CAMERA GEAR I USE:
Main Camera: geni.us/F3NVbd
POV / Vlog Camera: geni.us/AiaFVsh
My Go To Do Everything Lens: geni.us/8dL3z
Street Photography Prime 1: geni.us/bI25
Street Photography Prime 2: geni.us/wWEa7
Street Photography Prime 3: geni.us/WYQJt6F
Telephoto Zoom: geni.us/jnDL0oe
Ultra Wide Zoom: geni.us/ohXtZ
My Go To Do Everything Bag: geni.us/XKZT
Street Photography Bag: geni.us/uKDyJk2
Full list of camera, hiking & travel gear: www.snapsbyfox.com/blog#/my-g...
*Affiliate links - doesn’t cost you any extra & I get a small % to support me*
WHERE I GET MUSIC & SOUND EFFECTS:
share.epidemicsound.com/NbcpZ
*Epidemic Sound affiliate link - you get a free trial & I get a small % to support me*
BLOG (street photography, travel, gear & more):
www.snapsbyfox.com/blog
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER:
www.snapsbyfox.com/newsletter
SUPPORT ME BY BECOMING A MEMBER:
/ @snapsbyfox
CONTACT ME ON:
Email: [e-mail]
Web: www.snapsbyfox.com

[@geniej2378]

"Gear isn't a replacement for skill " should be the saying. I think that's what "Gear doesn't matter" is trying to get at

[@JakeFosmire]

Yes yes yes, this 100%.

[@MeAMuse]

I like the sentiment - but it sounds a little pretentious... It sounds a bit like "I have the skill - no matter what you buy - you will never be as good". The whole point of gear doesn't matter is about encouraging people to get out and shoot regardless of what they have (rather than sitting on youtube looking at what gear they should buy to make better photos)... It is the act of taking more photos that helps you learn to take better photos. I would like to see the last word replaced with practice, learning, experimentation, or something like that.

[@JakeFosmire]

@@MeAMuse I don’t think it sounded pretentious, telling a beginner gear isn’t a replacement for skill means one thing: to create better photographs acquire skill not gear

[@joesegala1856]

Both Equally Matter

[@mattthedirector4670]

Based

[@javiergarde7194]

With all the languages he could speak, he chose to speak facts

[@differentgamer7885]

What in the tiktok...

[@Lykzabet]

Well said

[@unbroken1010]

Are not facts. equates to a working professional and those working professionals are getting taken advantage of. Remember when we used to be responsible for a few pictures and got paid well now you're responsible for ridiculous amounts of overshooting plus video sometimes post processing in editing. Meanwhile the photographer has incurred the cost of what used to be the dev. And processing. The day rates are lower than they were 15 years ago. Those are the facts

[@orion7741]

meh, not really facts, but just his own opinions shown as "facts".....

[@unbroken1010]

@@oakleywaylon7953 you know you keep trying to State this but all you're doing is showing what kind of a unethical person you are thanks for the warning

[@imlock]

"Gear doesn't matter" (usually said while holding an expensive Leica). Great and spot on video!

[@victorcarmelo8606]

or "Gear Doesn't matter" (usually said when green with envy)!!!!!

[@jojak8066]

Leica bodys aren't that great in my opinion.. But the lenses are pretty good.. I mean you can get the same sensor size and Megapixels with a a7c for 2000 bucks less... The jpeg processing of leica is better but who the f.. shoots jpeg? Do I look like a rich dentist 😂

[@victorcarmelo8606]

@@jojak8066 People spend their money on what they like, they earned it and have a right to spend how they wish. Others burn it in ciggies or booze or both, cars etc. Each to their own!!

[@rafsnchz]

@@victorcarmelo8606 exactly, I agree with you my friend. I'd rather invest money into a cool camera, than an expensive luxury car and then complain about why cameras are so expensive. You don't need to justify any of your purchases if it makes you feel better and makes you do more job and get more experience.

[@joelek110699]

@@jojak8066 they aren't that great on paper, but they are amazing to use. I changed cameras and got a Leica M10 instead of a Sony camera that I had before, and honestly it's a night and day difference. I don't get worried when I bang it on a wall, It's much quicker to use (because zone focusing is considerably faster than autofocus), and most of all: every time I see it, I want to go out and shoot! For me, specs do not matter. It's all about the experience (not to mention the customer service and the relationship a Leica Store builds with it's clients)

[@checkmybadself]

“After a while we realise our photos are actually quite shit” 😂 I remember that moment so well, and it returns quite often!

[@Ruylopez778]

All part of the Dunning-Kruger

[@Ali.lensman]

Shit comparing to what?! all photographers aren't satisfied with their work sometimes, Self-criticism is normal feeling for humans who usually have ambition and wants to be better in everything they do. Just keep going

[@mrangles3402]

@@Ruylopez778 bruh even when you know this the feeling sucks badly

[@conannass1148]

Love this!

[@celeritasc9207]

I would add one more category, “enthusiast”. There are non-professionals for which photography is a hobby but they are really into it and enjoy using professional level gear. This category would fit just under your professional category since enthusiasts wouldn’t need all the redundancies that you described and perhaps would likely make some equipment compromises that a pro wouldn’t. A cellphone or small compact camera wouldn’t cut for such enthusiasts. I know because I am one. If one can afford it they should do what they enjoy.

[@mikejankowski6321]

For this point, the lowest tier in the graphic could simply have been stretched out to the right ($$$$) and labeled as such. Nothing prevents spending big bucks on a hobby, except budget. No NEED to do so, just the satisfaction if appropriate. The nested colored blocks could perhaps have been better expressed as a line or pair of slightly diverging curves tracking the relationship of investment to level.

[@drachenfliger1368]

Hey there

[@sixthdutch]

Yes. He’s gatekeeping enthusiasts. I would never have gotten into photography if I listened to him and stuck with a smartphone. Their image quality is terrible and I don’t think it’s s acceptable for anything artistic.

[@-szega]

@Mandie Shumway I recently upgraded from a D7100 to a Z6. As far as being a camera goes, the Z6 is way better (much better AF, much better image quality, much, much better noise, real video support, much faster etc.). But it is quite weird in some aspects. The D7100 has _more_ buttons, and the D7100 has a real F mount, with support for AIs lenses and AF/AF-D lenses. The Z doesn't. On the other hand, AIs support doesn't really matter - stop-down metering with a mirrorless works very well for most things. No support for AF/AF-D kinda stinks tho. Don't care about the single card slot thing. Don't regret it though, very much worth it and a huge step up for what I'm doing.

[@-szega]

Not to mention how much easier using old fast glass is on a mirrorless. MUCH easier.

[@barclayjb]

I am a photo enthusiast. I like photography for three (3) main reasons: 1) I enjoy the process of taking the photo, concentrating on the subject, and being in the moment. 2) I enjoy sharing the photo and hopefully receiving praise and acknowledgement for my skill from the viewer. 3) I like playing with the equipment. I like the gagits. I enjoy equipping myself with the tools to possible get the photo. And that is okay.

[@rumporridge1]

Couldn’t say it better myself.

[@mikejankowski6321]

Reasons 1 and 3 apply to me. I don't share my photos very much, and if nobody liked them it would not matter. For a time, long ago, I did weddings and portraits - I appreciate the comments on event photography as spot on.

[@Turkeyrolls]

If gear didn't matter, more expensive gear wouldn't exist. Gear absolutely matters, it just requires skill to use.

[@alexblaze8878]

Eh...I’m no so sure expensive gear wouldn’t exist if it didn’t matter. After all, a master carpenter isn’t going to be better if he has a more expensive hammer/saw/etc. It might make him faster and more efficient but that’s about it. Ditto for cars and many other things...we want them for amenities that usually don’t matter much in the final product. Everyone chases better gear when what most of us should be doing is improving our compositional techniques and understanding of lighting, etc...none of which is improved with better cameras. Everyone gets so hung up on sharpness and resolution when real art has little need for those qualities. More expensive gear exists because companies want to sell more stuff. It’s the same reason makers of kitchen cutlery and other utensils are constantly coming out with new products. It’s NOT because they are needed to improve one’s talent in the kitchen...it’s to sell more stuff that amateurs think will aid them in being a better chef. About 95% of people who own cameras aren’t professionals wherein a better camera might make a difference but rather most are people who are unsatisfied with their images and think a newer camera will make a difference. A sharp, high resolution boring picture is still a boring picture.

[@426Studios]

@@alexblaze8878 gear does matter. The problem is that when talking about gears, most people automatically think that it's all about camera gears (body and lenses) but it's more than that. For videography, you also need to consider the lights, the rigs, the audio, etc. Let's start first with a better camera. A better camera for filmmaking means better dynamic range, a wide color gamut, etc. With that, a colorist can grade your film (or you yourself if you know how to grade your footage) so much better, thus having a footage looking so much better. Of course all that will become meaningless without proper lighting, so you need to have proper lighting setup depending on your scene so you will also need to invest with the proper lights to properly shape your subjects. Then the film you are making have dialogues, so to let your audience properly hear the dialogues, you need to invest with the proper audio gears. I could go on and on with this, but I think you already get the gist of it

[@jemsstories3792]

Expensive gear won’t matter when someone infront of you with an ipad is trying to steal your shot 😂

[@SMGJohn]

@@426Studios The viewer, does not give a flying shit about colour grade in a video, its far more important to get the audio right and even in the audio world, you can get away with a 30 dollar China mic has the same bloody build quality and components as a 3000 dollar mic. The amount of Hollywood movies out there made on Soviet produced 16mm film cameras back in the day would surprise you, this is super cheap film camera back in the day, and even today big blockbuster movies are using 500 dollar DSLR's as B-cameras and you the audience cannot even tell the difference, in fact there entire sections in movies shot on ancient 5DM3 LOL without the magiclantern, and yet you still cannot tell the difference between that and a Alexa Arri medium format camera. Dynamic range, colours, all that only matters to people who run and gun and have no patience for getting correct lighting. Its hard, it requires training and skill no doubt but buying lots of expensive stuff, does not equate world winning award.

[@law32O8]

This is the truth. I wouldn’t hire a wedding photographer that only uses a phone.

[@ronaldojoe3011]

It's the portfolio that counts, not the gear. I produced better photos with a canon 550d/rebel t2i than the "professional" photographer at my cousin's wedding. And the bride said so herself.

[@AudioArcturia]

@@ronaldojoe3011 Yeah, but the point isn't that it's impossible - just that if you showed up to my wedding and didn't have a killer portfolio to back it up, I'd send you packing. Gear matters. But skill matters, too. That's the point.

[@donridgway7269]

@@AudioArcturia Right, and you have to know for a fact that you can count on the gear and produce excellent results time after time.

[@ronaldojoe3011]

@@AudioArcturia I was referring to this comment alone, not the whole video. In reference to this comment, I'd rather hire a photographer with a good portfolio and shit gear than a photographer with good gear and a shit portfolio. But I will say that I do think that as a photographer you need the right equipment to suit your skill level and use case. Edit: I just saw a comment on here where the guy says, "gear shouldn't be a replacement for skill" and I think that sums it up nicely.

[@AudioArcturia]

@@ronaldojoe3011 that's also what I was contending. It's balance. I'd not send a photographer with a rebel and good skill if I was aware of it.

[@aforabiishk]

reddit photographers hate this guy

[@codedfotography]

😂😂😂

[@jojak8066]

Literally every big photography KZbinr hates him😂

[@PunchNugget]

Everyone on Reddit can suck it

[@ichbrauchmehrkaffee5785]

"Gear doesn't matter" "Is the EOS R still worth it in 2021?"

[@snapsbyfox]

10 reasons on why YOU MUST Upgrade to the R5

[@AudioArcturia]

I have been using a canon rebel t5 up until last week and I still swear by it. This video is accurate. But it's right because the latter is also true: my old ass camera is still great in the right hands. But I'm an enthusiast taking pictures of literally everything. I spent more cash to have better resolution and flexibility, but only because I've made a portfolio already worth being proud of.

[@valentemartinez8935]

@@AudioArcturia same with the T6 but with my personal photography I went with film and is satisfying an itch in my own photography.

[@valentemartinez8935]

I had to take a photojournalism class for me AA in photography. Our professor is the editor for our city paper and he mentioned how he had 3 camera bodies for a sporting event(which is normal for a professional). Throughout the game, 1 by 1 those cameras starting shutting down on him. From a DX to a 70D to a Rebel he doesn’t usually use to because the other cameras have him all the range he needed. By the end of the game he ended up having to use his phone for the ending of the game. When I heard that I was terrified of getting into that position. I also try to be supporting and understanding to why my sport photographer friend considers new equipment all the time. A little anecdote on acquiring Reliable Gear for your photography.

[@xmlthegreat]

@@valentemartinez8935 not sports photography but related note... I had three MicroSD cards fail one after the other a few weeks apart in my audio recorder. It's a bit scary since flash memory is still terrifyingly unreliable sometimes. These were 6-7 year old cards so I guess they had reached their end of usage life but I didn't know that beforehand and it was pure luck that they didn't fail during a shoot.

[@nkuete]

My dad dabbled in wedding photography when he was in college and worked at a camera shop. He was a photography student and had all the technical skill he needed to get the job done, but had relatively humble gear (Nikkormat 35mm as opposed to a Nikon F camera or medium format). After being hassled by a few Uncle So-and-so's about having the same camera as him, he upgraded to a Mamiya TLR (which no one other than pros shot with) the hassling stopped and he could shoot in relative peace. The pictures were close to the same, but people perceived him as a pro and left him alone about it. sometimes gear exactly matters.

[@REMY.C.]

This is so true, I met so many clients who knew nothing about the process but they thought that the guy hired having expensive gear means that the job will be done perfectly It's not 100%. The same clients on the other side look for cheap students to take care of graphic identity then they cry because the job is awful. Overall they lose money.

[@joshuameadows4165]

Reminds me of several years ago, a person seen me out shooting with my D610 and Sigma 85mm art (together worth a little north of $2400 at the time), didn't bat any eye. Later that week I had a D3200 and a used Sigma 150-500 (worth about $600 together at the time) and they remarked that that the camera I had must be really expensive and asked if I was a professional. I just politely thanked them and said I was studying photography.

[@xmlthegreat]

@@REMY.C. yeah, the agency I work at hired some guy to take drone shots of popular spots. I had to edit the footage into a video and let me tell you that was the first time I became genuinely angry at someone for how absurdly terrible their overall camera work was and because I had to endure that footage to piece it together. He didn't expose properly and he used some colour profile that was poorly suited to correcting his mistakes. He did not hold shots longer than a couple of seconds. He did not frame the subjects properly and instead focused on the road next to the park/statue/building like an utter maniac. His favourite shot was to nauseatingly spin the camera on the drone 360° while hovering in one spot. The footage is so incredibly bad that I want to visit violence upon him. Yet because we had no other option but to use his footage, the bastard will probably wrangle some more jobs using this credit.

[@REMY.C.]

@@xmlthegreat you cracked me at "violence". I get your pain. I had to redo so many times graphic design or photography works because they were awfully done by guys who managed to sell their ugly and noskills services because no one had the idea to check their portfolio and basically thought they were geniuses because of their expensive gear.

[@xmlthegreat]

@@REMY.C. ikr. That guy in my case was hired by H. R. people who didn't check his Portfolio or check any samples of his work. Heck he didn't even take still photos that were needed, we had to grab screenshots from the videos themselves. We made a good fuss about it, until the management finally listened. After that debacle the creative lead was given more authority in selection of even contractors.

[@mahir7256]

'gear doesn't matter' says the guy with 50k of gear behind him, who started with gear bought by his parents and became famous presenting gear

[@mroblige1018]

I say this all the time

[@nightmarekali3522]

It really depends of the quality of their work. If it's great then it doesn't matter if they're using flagship cameras and equipment... "Pro"+ pro camera =Amazing results. "Pro" + "ok" camera =great results "Noob"+ pro camera= bad results "Noob"+ "ok" camera= bad results ... Sometimes if you have "bad" gear you are kinda forced to produce great photos no matter the image quality, but when you have better camera you take everything for granted and you don't focus on the composition,story....etc

[@mcmoose64]

Leave the Northrups out of this !

[@komanguy]

🤣🤣🤣

[@nikolaidante3571]

@@nightmarekali3522 it does matter though because they refuse to acknowledge the initial advantage and shortcut to progression gear affords.

[@Hazard4Tactical]

Photographers often want only talent to matter, but clients want to feel they are paying for exotic equipment too- otherwise they feel like you don't bear financial risk and $5000 for their wedding photos sounds very steep. For video gigs, just adding a $50 cage and $200 matte box is easier then explaining why you shoot with "just a little dslr" or just the "small RED" when you're changing them $10000 - they see you making $1000/hour for labor alone otherwise.

[@homejuju7293]

“iS tHe a7s3 sTiLl w0rTh iT aFtEr 3 dayz oF uSe?”

[@RJ-ir9pj]

This was gold bought an a7 I found it very hard to get good photos with the kit lens bought zeiss 55 1.8mm - improvement friend buys a7 3 - my photos looks terrible compared to his Now debating whether to buy a73 Interestingly enough after 2 years I tried the kit lens again - my photos were significantly better, because i had got better in the time... it wasnt the lens, i had just got better.

[@ColleenVR]

Wow yes! And getting to know the gear is another thing, people sometimes do not spend enough time getting most out of what they have.

[@martinpickard5818]

I shoot the British motocross championship and GP’s,the gear is sooo important. I carry 2x Nikon D4s with a 70-200 f2.8 on one body and a 300mm f2.8 on the other.Them things are built to last and take a beating.

[@robmcd]

And the D4 isn't worth upgrading to a D5 or D6?

[@martinpickard5818]

@@robmcd I have 2 D4s’s and what I use them for personally I won’t be upgrading,so to me no.

[@Ruylopez778]

And yet we still have photos of motorsport for the last 70+ years, but I get your point.

[@mikkelstormhansen9733]

@@Ruylopez778 But wouldn't you agree that the quality has improved massively over the years

[@45crisess]

Jealous that you get to watch the GP’s and shoot them with that kinda gear. Bravo

[@RamonCommare]

Gear doesn’t automatically equate to quality. You could give someone a $5000 DSLR but if they don’t know how to use it to it’s potential, it’s worthless. Reason all the successful photographers have expensive gear is because they already have expert skill/knowledge & now they want the top gear to complement that

[@kamikamieu]

Gear does matter but not a replacement of how shit you're. Try your best with the gear you already have, find what It can and can't do then upgrade approriately to your needs for gears. I learned photography with an APS-C camera It's been years since. I recommended a pretty nice full frame camera to beginner photographer, and I'm shocked by how fast he learned it

[@Escorducarla]

Yeah, I think the general idea of "Gear doesn't matter" in most videos is that it's advice directed toward beginners. It's a bit nuanced, but in the end, when you're first starting out, learning fundamentals, composition, lighting, etc, gear really doesn't matter all that much (and in fact, may make the learning process more complicated if you're spending more time fighting to learn your camera than you are taking pictures. You don't give a five-year-old who can barely play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star a Stradivarius, and you don't give a beginner photographer an A9.) If you're at the point where you're thinking about specializing your photography, you are kind of automatically beyond the "gear doesn't matter" phase of your work, because you have a sense of where your gear DOES matter.

[@rmpll]

when I went from my Canon 250d to the 6D it was actually a pretty big Jump, most importantly I can now shoot at ISO 8000 instead of maxing out at 1600 without the image looking like dogshit, so Fullframe actually mattered to me

[@8BitEpidemic]

Same, except I went to the EOS R. Being able to use higher ISO and not hate the quality was my biggest motivation for switching.

[@PaweBanczak]

6d is great 😀 Enjoy the camera

[@vaultdweller966]

Same for me. Went from Canon 550d to 6DII, and finally I could shoot at more than ISO 800. Getting better gear quite literally changed my life.

[@ReeceVisuals]

I’m actually crying of laughter the way you said it so casually 🤣

[@ReeceVisuals]

@@snapsbyfox honestly I agree

[@slupkins]

If I was a professional whose cleints happiness would depend on my results - my images... Then my approach to photography would be very different. But I chose ptohography as my hobby so yes, the result, the final photo is important to me, but so is the act of taking that photo. Thats why I chose Fuji. Its simply pleasure to use. So I kinda disagree with thesis "phone is more than enough for hobby" because you may loose some of the joy from the process of photography.

[@MichaelLesher]

You've put into words so many thoughts that I've had on this topic over the years. Cheers mate.

[@iandickerman365]

At the end of the day it really does always come back to having the right tools for the job. Sure you could use a fisherprice toy hammer to build a house, but a nice steel workman's hammer would definitely make the job WAY easier haha

[@iandickerman365]

@@snapsbyfox not my first time having to explain it haha.

[@georgedavall9449]

Titanium Ian, Titanium

[@xmlthegreat]

This statement should be reframed as "Skill matters more than gear." With the clarification that skill doesn't mean knowing what all the buttons do, it is understanding what makes a good image.

[@ChasingChinster]

"You need to know the rules in order to break the rules." And part of those rules are using the right gear/tools for the job, so gear does matter.

[@Delts_The_Photographer]

Nearly 2 years ago I took a couple of photos of a friend while he was performing at an event with my phone. He liked them so it became a regular thing. 6 months later I irresponsibly maxed out a credit card on an a7iii & kit lens. More camera than I knew what to do with. Having a f3.5 - 6.3 was hard work in a night clubs but I was really enjoying it and started pulling in a little bit of money from it. Then the desire for a 1.8 prime kicked in so six months later I picked one up. Mind blown by the difference I got sucked into the need for more. Borrowed more money, picked up another 3 started doing a bit of street photography and loved it then COVID happens. Now I’m broke but the pleasure I’m getting from the journey of learning and discovery of my creative side is priceless to me and has kept me in a positive place. Not the smartest way of doing things but I’m happy and I know the kit I’ve built will be great once night clubs are open again. I think if you’re buying with a purpose and investing in yourself then who can tell you what’s the right way to do it

[@Delts_The_Photographer]

@@snapsbyfox I believe you! I was lucky enough to have started photography with a direction. Some of the gear reviews I’ve seen are amazing and make you feel like it’s something you need. Especially when a company has given multiple youtubers a new product and they all publish the video at the exact same time. It’s great marketing. What I get from your video is that you’ve got to really ask yourself what do you want to get out of photography. I feel like once you get into it, it’s a life long journey so if you’ve got the money to spend enjoy it. If you don’t you’ve got something exciting to work towards

[@ElReySupr3me]

Damn bro sounds like you went full throttle there haha.

[@filipponascone4634]

I made the mistake to spend a lot of money on a camera and then I couldn’t afford a laptop to process the new files properly. I spent this time learning new things and finding the right feeling with the new camera but I’m still using the old gears most of the time because I find it easy to edit. Can’t wait to be able to purchase a new laptop. Good content.

[@joelek110699]

I think the last point is the most important one: get something that makes you want to go out and shoot! For me it is a Leica, for some it is a Rolleiflex film camera and for some it is a Fuji: just find what you like and go out and shoot! Stop worrying about specs and autofocus modes and get whatever suits you best.

[@jemsstories3792]

Yes... master the manual lens and you’ll never need eye detect or any sort

[@1901Steini]

@@jemsstories3792 That also depends heavily on what you are doing. Good Luck shooting a wedding or a sports event with a manual lens..

[@jemsstories3792]

@@1901Steini actually i have done a wedding with a manual lens, the first time i went safe with f8..i still got some very minor out of focus shots but overall it went really well...i haven’t tried using a big aperture but with some practice i think i could get the hang of it...its a mix of learning timing,prefocusing, mastering the distance meter on the lens and practicing some estimation...you really don’t need to fiddle with the focus ring alot on the viewfinder, ....but hey whatever is convenient for you

[@WayneBretsky86]

“Everyone wanks over full frame cameras” 😂😂🤣🤣 that just earned you a new subscriber, mate. Amazing!

[@trevorproctor7310]

I couldn't agree with this video more. Unfortunately, I find myself in the realm of client work mostly, so I fall under the most expensive category. However I DO appreciate the call-out in saying you should basically only have what you can comfortably afford, since it's useless if you can't get around with it. I found myself in heaps of credit card debt trying to dig my way out due to my trigger finger when it came to buying gear. I ended up buying: 25, 35, (2) 50's, and 85 prime lenses. All of which being almost exclusively Zeiss glass on an A7 III Body. I've now found myself downsizing to the X-T2, the 56mm f/1.2, and the 16 - 55 f/2.8. Cutting down to the bare essentials helped me gain the clarity and peace of mind to get back into the swing of things and also deliver kick ass images to clients. Definitely only buy what you can comfortably afford or you'll regret it, and don't just buy certain gear because it's cool to have. Figure out what YOUR exact needs are and pull the trigger from there!

[@lensman5762]

"There is nothing worse than a sharp photograph of a fuzzy concept". Ansel Adams.

[@crisarias2551]

When I went to buy my first camera a couple of years ago, I asked the guy of the shop what were the differences between a 300€ camera body and a 700 or 1000€ one. He said that: "there isn't really that big of a difference. You can take the same amazing/ shitty photos with both of them, but the expensive one has some features that would make that a little bit easier or faster" I think that's just the case: you can take amazing photos with the cheapest gear in the world, but in some cases you need your gear to perform perfectly no matter what happens or how are the circumstances. Then, gear really does matter. Loved the video! Such a sensible opinion

[@sexysilversurfer]

Wow a honest salesperson, now that is shocking!

[@crisarias2551]

@@sexysilversurfer yeah totally! But because of that, now I usually go there when I need to buy something or I have some doubts 🤣

[@MrAyybee2cold]

@@crisarias2551 that’s how you get a customer for life. Anyone could’ve sold you something you simply didn’t need, but he kept it honest with you.

[@crisarias2551]

@@MrAyybee2cold absolutely!

[@e3nnsar]

it's been long since I've seen someone speak so clearly and seriously about stuff i rly live for ! . Thank you for making this video , stay safe and I wish you all the best. peace !

[@urbananjar]

Gear does matter, but sometimes in the opposite way. I’ve got two full frame cameras but for a long time I have almost only been shooting with a used Fujifilm X100 (the first model).

[@ChrisSchieritz]

I'd say it's a super broad subject that most people compress down to the price point in order to make their decision which in turn removes all the other factors from the table and it seems like most people push that on others, like the pocket 6K for instance amazing quality with an equally amazing price there's no question about it but if you want to shoot a feature and pitch it to Netflix it's a write off because it's not a Netflix approved camera, another factor is that flashy gear has the potential to draw in clients, when I was starting out I got the canon L-Series 70-200 right off the bat and it got me work because the clients were naive to think this guys got nice looking gear so he must be a pro when in reality I was just beginning so I landed some jobs that I was unqualified for at the time but I miraculously pulled them off and grew so much from those experiences somewhat cutting the learning curve and having a nice jump start to my career! In a business sense the gear pays for itself I never think "screw that it's too expensive therefore it's not good" but instead I think "that could be an asset to my cinematography so I'll do a few camera jobs and use that income to get it" then time will tell it just depends whether or not it was a good investment! Storytelling is king but that doesn't make gear any less important everything should collectively compliment one another without having to sacrifice one of them! I'm totally opinionated on this subject so excuse the massive paragraph but my closing statement would be based on the science behind cameras, people see 4K and lots of megapixels and think that's all they need to know which is a major misconception, a 50 megapixel phone camera with a puny sensor that shoots 4K will absolutely crumble in the editing room because it lacks so many more fundamentals, if that wasn't the case then sure they can say their iphone with more megapixels is better than an $80.000 Arri with an 8 megapixel sensor, there's the pixel pitch as well, dynamic range of course, low light capabilities etc so for sure when people start asking if gear matters too many of them let the price point cloud their judgment opposed to thinking of the bigger picture! We've barely even scratched the surface on the topic but overall i'd say we need to be more open minded on the subject because it seems to have got to a point where people are afraid to say gear matters, it just depends on how much it matters to the individual!

[@FlowCat]

This entire video is so well thought out. Not gonna lie, you're my new favorite photography KZbinr. The authentic style, impressive content without the showboating lol. Appreciate the work you do! It motivates me to really get my channel off the ground

[@MartinRMcGowan]

I like the approach with this. You’re not contradicting the narrative just to be contradicting, you’re adding that context that makes it so important. The phrase is meant to, I think, comfort newer photographers and filmmakers because yeah, if the subject/story is shit it doesn’t matter if you shot it on an iPhone or a Hasselblad. But if you turn up to a clients wedding with that same iPhone and say “I swear that $2000-$10,000 you paid me is going to good use” you’re at best not going to be working there again, and at worst might get kicked out. Great video, great explanation.

[@JanneRanta]

Untill the day we can beam images from our mind directly into computers gear matters. Gear is what sets our limits. There's a reason why noone is doing sports photography with a pinhole camera. Also the more fun / easy to use gear is the more you can focus purely on being creative.

[@ShantanuKumar]

On point. Great Video.

[@barrymedlin6587]

Best video of the year Roman!! I hate it when my grandmother calls me in the middle of a shot🤣. Great stuff!!

[@binmo650]

This is really eye opening! I was just thinking about this the other day and I’m glad someone is talking about it!

[@HonJazzz]

Gear only matters to an extent. It’s important to have high quality tools as a professional. However, once you actually buy that Leica camera you’ll realize that you can no longer make excuses.

[@gorgon352]

What it really comes down to is blowing the images up, that’s where professional cameras are necessary the chips in cheap cameras just don’t capture fine detail

[@mediocreman6323]

The problem with KZbin-photographers is, that their endless gear-reviews … are simply irrelevant to 99% of even their subscribers. How many “of us” are professional photographers? For most people, a humble µ¾ or APS-C digital camera would suffice, an eco-system, where a lot of good and cheap lenses are available, and what I always point people to is to _get a remote flash, dammit!,_ because lighting is the most important aspect of the whole endeavor. In an ideal world, people would talk 80% of the time about lighting and composition. We do not live in an ideal world.

[@garyrobinson3]

Great video! My favorite video from your channel so far. I love the diagram! Keep up the great work.

[@bykennyk]

Yes! I'm glad you mentioned your last point about gear inspiring you to go out and take photos being a reason. We seem to always get caught up in the technical reasons to upgrade gear, but there is also something important about investing in gear that inspires you to go out and take photos otherwise it just sits on your shelf!

[@jonatascd_]

super insightful video. I wish this kind of discussion was around years ago when I first adventured to photography. I remember the frustration about not having THE 70-200 2.8 for my Canon. with a grain of salt, you are spot on on the 'full frame fashion' - just look how Fujifilm deals with it on their product line for digital

[@Stewdill51]

The meaning behind "gear doesn't matter" is two fold. 1) You can capture great photos with nothing more than your phone. There are professionals that make a living doing just that. 2) Anyone can get into photography. The only barrier of entry is having something to capture an image no matter what that is. Having gear you are comfortable with is more important than having the latest and greatest. Sensor size doesn't matter as you can capture great images with m43 as well as FF. (There are small use cases where you NEED a full frame). IMHO, nothing helped my photography more than moving to film for awhile. I used older gear like my OM-1 with no internal meter or program modes. It forced me to slow down, learn the exposure triangle, and develop an understanding of my focus points. Plus working with limited frames is a great way to get you thinking about the key elements of a shot.

[@skach-v]

Thanks for the video! Your words about gear for travelling is a 100% hit for my situation. Photography is a hobby for me. I was taking photos on my entry level Canon DSLR for about 10 years. I was travelling a lot with it. When I started to miss dynamic range of my camera, January 2020 I've purchased X-T3 with 16-80mm WR lense having travelling in mind. I was happy not to have any full frame lenses for my cropped-sensor camera in my travelling bag any more. But 2020 changed things. Now I use the 16-80mm zoom extremely rear. Here where I live I always have only two lenses with me (23 and 35 both 1.4). I also haven't purchased any other zooms for travelling, as I planned. It's a pity to understand that I could have Z5 with 35 and 50 mm lens almost whole the summer for the same price and with almost the same weight but full frame. Still hope to travel with Fuji. Hope borders will be opened soon.

[@Tiznado]

this was awesome to watch in the beginning how you showed us the slow progress of better video quality with lighting etc while breaking down the information. well done!

[@luckyloop7503]

Definitely gear matters at least for me buying me first prime changed everything since I could finally get the results I had in mind.. I would say that whenever you feel your gear is limiting you, you should definitely consider upgrading, but before that you should find out what you really need. For me as a m4/3 user I regret not having bought a APS-C sensor body as the lenses are just ridiculously expensive for the value IMO. For me the most important factors would be -weather sealing (at first I thought I wouldn't need it, but lets face it..we all do) -cost of lenses for the camera

[@NigelSwan]

exactly this. I sold my Panasonic G9, kit lens, and my beloved 100-300 (I shoot sports) and purchased a second hand Fujifilm X-H1 and a new XF50-140 - only because I managed to borrow this combo from a friend and was blown away but the AF improvement, and lens sharpness. Will get the 100-400 or 150-600 at some point as I need the reach, but the deciding factor was that the good m4/3 gear was the same price as Fujifilm APS-C, especially lenses. So I decided to not get more good glass and cut my losses and change before I invested too heavily. Don't regret it. I know the full frame stuff is better, but this quality fits my budget.

[@robmcd]

great video, the day I brought my R5 home I wasn't even in a rush to "try it out" I still use my Fuji XT4 10 times more.

[@johncox5939]

A really well put together piece of info for the novice to take on board. I bought a Fuji X100 9yrs ago fell in love with it ! 2 years ago I upgraded to the X100f and as the young man says with 24 mp I can crop the ( f**k ) out of it if I want to, I just got worn down by carrying around bags of gear of which I didn’t use most of the time. This camera goes in my pocket or a pouch on my belt and 90% of the time I can get the shot by altering position or cropping. I bought my 1st camera with paper round money in 1956 a Kodak Brownie 127 it was a good way to learn composition.

[@sabrinaperry6121]

This was such a great video! I love how in the beginning you were setting up a better shot throughout your intro until you started talking about composition and lighting. Well done

[@snappic2867]

Finally someone said this - I think gears matters. I always wanted a camera which is weather sealed. So I am not so afraid to go out. Gear is stronger than you think - but that feeling about weather sealing is great. .....Greetz from 🇩🇪

[@professionalpotato4764]

The one thing that makes me want to buy an Olympus one day. I just want to shoot some moody shots in the rain.

[@isseym8592]

I rly think “Gear doesn’t matter” applies for KZbin videos, not for photography and professional video making.

[@MikaelPersson]

Finally someone that decides to say what I have been thinking the whole time! It´s actually insane how many people (hobbyists) seem to think that a full frame camera will solve everything & make them good instantly as soon as they spend more than 5000$ on camera gear instead of actually practicing with a cheap camera from the get go to understand the whole process of photography. In my opinion one of the most important parts to learn is post processing after you know how to use you camera, that will boost your work more than getting a new camera & take the same photo without any specific touch or feeling of post processing work. Good video man!

[@andrewdoeshair]

I love it. My primary work is portraits (of haircuts) and I do a lot of coaching, I guess you could say, for barbers and stylists who want to improve their Instagram portfolios, so I’ve flip flopped between “gear doesn’t matter, you can use your phone” and “but if you want some compression and a shallow DOF or to use a proper fill flash you’ll want to get a real camera.” This breakdown with the little graph thing was such a huge lightbulb. Thanks for the video. Subscribed 🤘

[@Kratoskp]

This lad knows what's up 🔥🔥🔥

[@uncle0eric]

All I can think about is, "How can he have so little crap in that room?"

[@rogerauclair1670]

Maybe he tidied up for the video and all his stuff is piled into another room.

[@srijonmondal8842]

Very well said . . .and beautiful explained. And also Popular KZbinrs forget that not all of the people watching them are rich. Many stay in under-developed countries where a pro camera is a 10 year old DSLR.

[@jaywhitebk]

Very well put. Appreciate your honesty.

[@marguskiis7711]

Gear matters massively when you try to sell yourself like a pro. People LOVE to see expensive gear.

[@woreyel133]

And people think expensive is a rebel t7i! LOL

[@JonathanAkosah]

@@woreyel133 This is true, I was shooting with my rebel t6 as my first camera and once was getting dropped of at school by my client (their daughter goes to school with me, highschool) and they were asking if I knew how to use this "expensive" camera. In reality it was my camera when she showed me it.

[@turgayak2047]

I have these questions all the time in my head, because since 10 years I’m doing this Hobby thing. Even if you buy the priciest full frame camera the biggest problem is that you haven’t got so much time for the hobby and the patient to do it all the time. At the end image Quality is so hyped that everyone gets blind

[@ffenoelfa8053]

I shoot for my family to capture the moments I can look back on. I’ve only been if shooting for 3 yr and the amount of time and money you can invest in this form of art is infinite. I want to make money into my hobby but just cause you have a good camera set up doesn’t mean 1) have the ability to make good photos 2) have connections to make good photos (weeding or portraits) 3) how you sell your self to make it in anything 4) just make images that you like, be your own creator I don’t have to drive to but myself out there so I just ended up shooting for myself and of my family moments. Sometimes you just need to hear what your heart is telling you and don’t consume media that deals with your interest. I love what I do regardless of what other people think, it’s your images your passion.

[@ryevdee6064]

I have everything I want at this point, my photos are still shit. XD

[@samlowry123]

Bravo that’s why I so like your channel : straight to the main things. I do make photography, more these days than videography now to learn in a different way’ the right way how to relearn composition, light story telling with images so I sold my gimbal my dji pro drone and many things just to go to the main and bought recently an xt3 ( not the xt4 on purpose) a 35 mm f2 and the 16-80 f4 with a Ricoh GR 3 to concentrate to what I really need right now and perhaps come back with videography, sound and my so love Final Cut Pro . To make it short comeback to the source to become better with the right tools in the right moment and the right place. Thanks again for your inspirating video. Thumb up from france .

[@Metalfreakz17]

You are so right! Especially on the one lens while traveling part lol even if you only have primes, try to take just one. Its such a relief🙏

[@Dunoria]

Very good and interesting video. Gonna share it every time someone is asking about gear. Your last point is usually the one I give but I often miss the point about what gear you should have according to your activity. I would add: before buying a new camera that includes a big change (like moving from APS-C to FF) or changing from one system to another: rent one to give it a try.

[@FabrizioZago]

I think the sentence "Gear Doesn't Matter" is both true and false at the same time. You may have the skills but let's say that comes out a camera that has a function which improves your workflow. You have the same skills, but that other camera for you makes a difference, so in this case gear does matter becase this function will improve your workflow, so the sentence "Gear Doesn't Matter" is false. I was on holiday and I had with me a full frame digital camera and an old folding medium format 6x6. I've taken a photo on a beach with the old folding 6x6 that became one of my most appreciated images on several exhibitions, so finally in this case the sentence "Gear Doesn't Matter" is really true.

[@jimjimgl3]

"gear" is a tool and if you don't know how to use it effectively or creatively it def doesn't matter. In a way it is a similar argument about presentation...or what was presentation back in the day. Before I became a full time photographer (back in 2000) I was a director of photography at magazines. We would see a ton of portfolios. Some would be in super expensive, leather, embossed portfolios and some would be prints inside a film paper box. In the end we'd see great things in completely simple and humble presentations and sh*t work in expensive presentations (or vice-versa too). Gear matters depending on your purpose. If you are shooting in a studio, with an ad agency crew and client behind you sometimes gear is part of the show. The client often has no idea what the lights or camera or Digital tech is doing but they feel more confident with all those things humming and purring on the set. If you are out on the street shooting for yourself, a simple and inexpensive camera might just do the job.

[@rileyphotos]

Saw the title on this vid and thought, oh, not my thing but I’ll watch it anyway. Really enjoyed it dude. Like your presentation and you put over a good argument. Gear doesn’t matter when you’re just firing up your interest, then it matters when you start taking pics and need to learn, then it doesn’t when you’ve become more competent and can rely on technique and then it does again when you turn pro and need top quality. Yeah, I’ll go with that. Nice one.

[@theodoreharville6085]

Good Vid man, informative and helps me focus on what's important to me.

[@qanittakmeel]

"Everyone wanks over a full frame" "Your lens is rolling down the hill" LOLOL I think you can pull off street photography with a phone with something like an Adonit Photogrip Qi. Other than that, spot on.

[@maxpower8460]

"Gear doesn't matter" said the new photographer about to shoot a grizzly with his 35mm prime.

[@iamrichlol]

😂😂😂

[@OliverEngele]

This video is FANTASTIC!! You litterally just described the process I've been going through. I just had the lightbulb moment 2 months ago looool More people need to see this video 🔥👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@steelcannibal]

You sir just earned my subscription! Clean delivery, and spittin nothing but fact! Keep up the good work!

[@VishwasRavindran92]

"Gear doesn't matter" says those who are well equipped with lastest gears / or able to afford any new gears

[@enbokpahsyntiew2187]

Shoot on film and you'll be more conscious on the composition and everything else.

[@richardcarlson112]

I grew up with negative and slide film and then dabbled with processing & printing black and white at home for a hobby. I don’t miss it a bit and it’s also terrible for the environment not to mention really expensive. I don’t begrudge those who would like to try it as you learn to be more careful on composition and exposure with all the expense and lack of forgiveness, but when you are free to shoot hundreds of shots digital in an outing, I think you actually progress far more quickly with digital. I would never go back though ... especially because of all the chemicals and waste.

[@jcbarker1]

@@richardcarlson112 Strictly film photographers are the vinyl “audiophiles” of photography. I understand the ritual, nostalgia, and contemplation of film but it’s definitely not the best way for everybody anymore.

[@jonfletcher147]

Absolutely bang on mate! Sharing this to my Facebook as I always get comments saying “I wish I had a good camera to get pics like yours!” Such an insult to us long time experienced photographers lol....people think of you stick a 10 grand combo in their hands their pictures automatically come out ‘pro’ looking!!! Quite the opposite as it’s the also editing skills that bring them to where they are.....for snapshooters you cannot beat today’s phones.....

[@AnnalisaJ]

Hello Roman, I came across your channel after switching to Fujifilm last summer. I wanted to learn about the lenses as this was a new setup for me! After watching a few of your videos and reviews I had to subscribe to your channel! I love your candor and straight forwardness. I stopped following many KZbinrs that were just pushing the latest and greatest gear even though that is not what they themselves use! I appreciate your honest and real life reviews and you approach to photo|video and life topics. I ended up with the 23mm f2 and the 35mm f2 and I just sold the 56mm f1.2 (as it didn’t really impress me for what I shoot, great lens but not for my use). Thank you for producing informative and beautifully delivered content! ✨

[@horaciomillan4181]

I agree with you, you've done a very rational and well exposed analisis of the point. I would add that you have to have a good gear when you begin, not the most basic or simple of all, because if it is of poor quality and too low level, the gear won't allow you to improve. It's like starting to play an instrument : you don't need a concert grand Steinway, but a good one so when (if) you begin to play better you won't feel frustrated.

[@_parkphoto]

Seriously thank you for making this video because it reallyyy puts into reality what the truth is behind "gear doesn't matter". I've said it thousands of times too but I appreciate you describing the times in which it really does matter at the end of the day. Also I feel like every photographer is going to end up overbuying anyways, regardless of how many videos we watch on "gear doesn't matter." Which like, so what? Haha we all figure out our needs in different ways. So yeah I agree with you and good video explaining it.

[@treadoutoftime8054]

Great video. Really nuanced. Thanks for this!

[@kalengankonge6763]

Honestly, this is the most balanced and honest advice I have heard and seen on KZbin when it comes to photography and gear.

[@josupadro4889]

Amazing video! And great explanation of everything!! Thank you 🙏🏻

[@MaxTheSensei]

So on point. Very well explained and such relatable pro and contra arguments.

[@francisgarofalo5476]

Great vid Roman, I appreciate your insights. Thanks

[@StevePikePhoto]

Quality my friend 👍 Great to see someone talk sense & more than that, explain clearly why. Well done 👏 Please keep em coming..

[@JaydenEricBeaudoin]

Speaking the truth. Anytime people tell me that gear doesn't matter my response is, "I shoot concerts. It definitely does matter." upgrading to f2.8 glass and getting a Canon R6 was such a game changer it wasn't even funny. With that said, I definitely spent a lot of time struggling on a crop sensor with some less-than-stellar lenses, but that was okay. It forced me to focus on the other things like composition and lighting, but the amount of shots I missed with my old setup was through the roof.

[@ffjim]

Great presentation, no gimmics....all killer, no filler!

[@tommasopassante3676]

Hi Roman, that's a perfect point. Completely agree. In the non-professional area I would add: -a camera let's you focus more on photos and forget about calls/text/social (relax) .. That's impossible when you're holding your phone in your hands all the time. -a camera gives you the confidence to do something that you wouldn't do with your phone (like laying on the ground next to a muddy puddle to catch a reflection haha).. Because you feel like you look more professional to people(hope this makes sense?! ). Of course it doesn't have to be necessarily a sony alpha 999 with a 12-500 f1.

[@espressodepresso8294]

Very nice and instructive video! I just bought the Sony a6000 with the standard kit lens plus an entry level 55-210mm zoom lens. I'm just starting out, and I would definitely put myself in the "street photography/travel photography" category in terms of my aspirations. So hearing that this particular "cheap" setup is perfect for that really reassured me and I'm looking forward to learning photography on my journey!

[@renatosousa3939]

Man, you made me laugh. Thanks for that. You're spot on. I'm a mediocre photographer and my slow improvement came from practice, the gear didn't do shit for me. The more i spend time looking and experiment with gear the worst i was, them i settle in and just spend more time taking pictures and that's it, the photos start to look better. Not good yet, but better

[@RCwithAdam1]

I was skeptical at first, but you've made a well thought out, compelling argument. Nicely done. 👍

[@halsinden]

VERY glad someone's said this finally.

[@bruno_mcd]

Real talk. I appreciate this!

[@tecmow4399]

Great video. Hilarious little moments too. Very well thought out and a well told story!

[@hannahbrown9585]

I was just thinking of this the other day! I hear so many people say that gear doesn’t matter.... but it sure helps! To say the least. And I agree that it’s definitely more enjoyable too for the creative process!

[@mikejankowski6321]

Very well said. I have seen it expressed as "gear doesn't matter until it does". Here, you rightly point out that gear does not impact your skill/knowledge, but the operation in which you can effectively apply it. Gear does not make one better, study and practice do. Gear enables you to do some things that you were not previously able to do. To wit, fast primes for bokeh and T/S lenses for advanced optical control. But the basics of image-making can be handled by an entry-level camera and kit lens. And you final point about loving to just operate the camera to get images is a very good one.

[@focuscr1]

The evolution is spot on. Very good video. Well done!

[@RuggeroCarrara]

Finally an in depth talk about this overwhelming sentence! Everything is relative. Great video!