Can I judge a photographer by his equipment?

[jwbryson1]

Consider that it's also likely the photographer is a friend of someone on the HOA committee.

Absolutely no doubt about that. In fact, that's a fact.

 

[Destin]

A 60d is canons equivalent to the d7000. It is more than adequate to use for most professional work. I'm not saying its ideal, or best for the job, but it will work just fine for most things.

 

[jwbryson1]

a 60d paired with 'L' glass is capable of producing "pro" pictures.

just sayin..

Thanks. Understood. I'm just not liking the results.

 

[MLeeK]

Knee jerk reaction is more often than not right, however the real answer is NO. I know an AMAZING wedding photographer that shot weddings with a rebel XT up until 2010 when she upgraded to a T2i. She JUST bought a 5d2 within the last few months. She's wildly busy and NOT cheap in any way shape or form. Her work is stunning.
I know yet another that shot with a Rebel XTi until the T3i came out. Still shooting with the T3i. Beautiful work, price matches the work, not the camera equipment.
However... I do instantly start to have the questions go off in my head when I see someone walking in with a low end piece of gear. I have a low end piece of gear in my box of crap somewhere and I know I can't do with it what I can do with the good gear I have. COULD I shoot an event with it? ABSOLUTELY and I could do a great job with it. SHOULD I? WOULD I? No. I can give the client more if I am using my better/best gear.
I am discovering right now I am better with my 7D than my 1D3 because of the crop factor. I paid a grand for it. I'd absolutely do a wedding with it and not think twice about whether I should have used my full frame cameras or not.

 

[Derrel]

"Big feet, big ****," right???

I myself have never seen a good photographer using entry-level gear. Never.Not once.

Usually, it's the same old pro-level stuff everybody else gravitates to. It has been the same way for over 100 years. Look at press scrums from the 1900's, the 1920's, the 1940's, the 50's,60's,70's,90's, 2010's...very narrow, limited range of pro gear in each era...

 

[StringThing]

"Big feet, big ****," right???

Shoes?

 

[kundalini]

Can I judge a photographer by his equipment?

My gut reaction is to say NO! And that stems from personal experience. I have mostly really nice gear (read expensive) and am still quite capable of taking crappy shots. :blushing:

 

[ghache]

I agree that photographers shouldnt be judged by the gear they use but by the final product they delivers

HOWEVER, if i go to a wedding and see the wedding photographer using a d40 with some kit lens, i KNOW the photos are going to be horrible just because i know the limitation of the gear used.

Now if he shooting lets say a couple of d7000/d90/d300 with some fast lens. I will probably be 50% more confident that he knows what he does just the fact that he got the gears capable of shooting that type of event.

If you shoot as a professional, you need at least more than entry level gear. Some newer mid grade advance amateur semi pro body (call it whatever you want) paired with some fast lens is more than capable of producing great photos in all shooting situation. That where knowledge of photography comes into play .

Look at Derrels photography. He probably knows everything about photography, had every ****in canon and nikon camera/lens made. worked 30 years for differnt camera resalers and companies, ran 10 photography businesses, know all the lighting tricks, give all these amazing tips and gets about 100 likes a day on the internet, shoots 5ds with 24-70s and still produce crappy portraits.

It all comes down to the final product, how you apply your knowledge in the real world with the gear you have to work with. /kbyethx.

 

[jwbryson1]

and still produce crappy portraits.

/kbyethx.

I'm assuming you 2 know each other and that was a joke?

 

[EIngerson]

Gear is irrelevant. If you can get the quality required to please the client that hired you, what does it matter?

 

[ghache]

and still produce crappy portraits.

/kbyethx.

I'm assuming you 2 know each other and that was a joke?

Not a joke. Just a proof that having all the experience, knowledge and gear you can have is not making you a great photographer.
I used derrel as an example but there are many out there.

 

[Futurelight]

Where I live right now I see a lot of people (tourists) walking around with thousands of euros of equipment. A week ago I went out on my freinds boat with him to photograph whales and dolphins. I am currently using an old canon 300D with the basic lens and a 55-200mm. One of the tourists on the trip had a Nikon D3000 with telephoto, ?-400mm and the basic lens. He was switching lenses more than I could count and getting annoyed when he kept missing the shots. I wound off about 200 shots and had nearly 70 good results with 7 exceptional results (my first ever time shooting these beautiful creatures). After about an hour of listening to this guy kicking himself, I advised him to switch settings to "sport" for a faster response time. He soon started to get the results he was after.

My point is, it doesn't matter what the camera is really (within reason) it is about the eye behind the lens and the mind which creates the image.

If it's all about ego (lens size) treat it like this:-

"Look mate, just because you ARE a big dick, doesn't mean you HAVE a big dick!"

You get what I mean?

Some of the best shots I have EVER had have been on my old Olympus OM10 and I have also had VERY good results using just a disposable. The equipment isn't the important factor (unless it's for a specific shot). It's all about the eye and mind behind the lens.

Take a look at the fine art portfolio on my website and see what can be done using film. It's all about the eye and the mind. (NO photoshop was used for these shots!)

I hope all this helps and good luck to you

 

[dots]

I know what you mean Futurelight and agree but in business, it is helpful to project competence. Pro gear helps project competence and gives confidence to the buyer that quality product will be there.

 

[jwbryson1]

and still produce crappy portraits.

/kbyethx.

I'm assuming you 2 know each other and that was a joke?

Not a joke. Just a proof that having all the experience, knowledge and gear you can have is not making you a great photographer.
I used derrel as an example but there are many out there.

I'm sure he'll appreciate the comments.

 

[mangtarn]

If you go to China, every Chinese tourist you see carries cameras bigger than yours, with pro lens and tripods and big flash.

i live in vancouver, which has a large chinese population. Everywhere i go i see middle aged chinese men with full frames (i saw one guy with two 1D's) and extremely nice telephoto lens taking photos of their middle aged wives in front of a tree or at the food court at the mall. one time there was this guy walking down the street with his camera hanging behind him on a shoulder strap. I'm guessing it's the chinese mid-age crisis? who knows maybe they are famous in china...

they make my 60D look like a little toy hahahaa