I thought about switching to Canon...

[nerwin]

Do what you need to do, man. Whatever makes you happy. But do remain open to learning new things, and learning more about the system you have. For example, have some FUN, and try out the 9-point AF sometime, just to see what it can do, or how it works. Using one focal length of lens will teach you about how perspective works: perspective is based on camera to subject distance, not on lens length, and a singlke focal length lens makes you move the camera, changing perspective, all the time.

I follow you on Instagram. You ARE getting better, and are exploring things more and more! keep shooting, keep having fun!

Thanks Derrel, but those photos you often see on Instagram are old photos I took years ago because I have nothing new to share haha.

 

[nerwin]

The white-light AF assist system can take $30 and $40 second-hand zooms, like say the Tamron 28-80 f/3.5~5.6, or the $35 Nikkor 35-70mm f/3.3~4.5, and make them SNAP to focus indoors in dismal lighting, as if they were $1,999 f/2.8 lenses like the old AF-S 28-70, or the new $2,400 f/ 24-70mm. All of this on ANCIENT camera bodies, like the Fuji S2 pro or the S5 Pro/D200.

Why don't the higher end Nikon bodies like the D500 and D5 have a AF assist lamp if it really helps that much? Or do those bodies have such superior AF systems that they don't need it?

I think you can safely assume the Pro bodies don't have an AF-assist light because they don't have a pop up flash. If you are in a situation where you would need a flash, the flash itself would have the built in AF assist..

That is true, didn't think about that!

 

[robbins.photo]

The question is what are you needs?
What is holding you back with your existing equipment?
Have you done everything to learn and understand all the features of your camera/gear, learned the workarounds and techniques, etc before getting itchy to change/add cameras?

A new camera won't fix technical or education/knowledge issues.

The camera won't do it on it's own. In AUTO mode it will make it's own decisions (and I've found the wrong settings to what I would use). So *you* either have to do everything in your capacity to get the shot right or just get whatever you get. Education & practicing is key.

I don't know what my needs are to be honest. Everyone says to focus on one thing, but I don't know what the one thing is because I like everything and I just don't have the opportunities that every photographer online seems to have.

You really want to why I buy and sell camera gear often? It's because I've been battling depression for years and if buying and selling camera gear and discussing it makes me feel better and is a distraction from doing something stupid to myself, it's a price I am willing to pay.

With that being said, I NEVER intended for this conversation to get to this point. The previous night I simply was just talking to a friend of mine about camera gear and what we could see in 2017 for a video he was making and he mentioned that he was close to switching to Canon which in return made me think about it and if there was any benefits of actually switching from Nikon to Canon in 2017 and there isn't really any benefits as discussed here and that's all I wanted, was simple discussion about if it was worth switching at this point in time and never intended for it to be specifically about me. I never said I was actually going to switch. But apparently I was wrong, I'm stupid and I apologize for the confusion.

Yes, I do have a problem. I don't know where I want to take my photography. I look at all this amazing photos that are shared here at TPF, on Flickr, Instagram, Facebook and wherever and it makes me incredibly jealous because I know, I'll never be that good and makes me want to sell everything and give up. But I don't want to give up, I'm trying my best man. I always feel like I NEED to shoot everyday, but do I really need to? Some say yes and some say no so I don't know.

I honestly don't know what to do. @Gary A. mentioned I think the X100T because it has a fixed prime that coulden't be removed which forced you to shoot with that no matter what and I had the orginal X100, it really did make me think about composition and what not so maybe I should just stick with one single prime for a while..like a month or two and just force myself to shoot everything with that instead.

I overthink things a lot, I know. I give up on life... (the holidays certainly are not helping my case either...)

Well one thing to keep in mind, when folks like myself or Astro or many of the others respond and encourage you to focus on the photography rather than the gear we do so out of a genuine desire to help you.

There are a lot of folks here who care about you, myself included - and that's why we respond in that manner. We are trying to look out for you. So yes, we may be a pain about it sometimes but just think about it a bit, if we didn't care we wouldn't bother.

 

[astroNikon]

I shoot about everything. I don't limit myself.

The concept of focusing on one thing is to improve one's technique on a particular subject. As if you concentrate on that one thing you are more likely to be less distracted and learn more, more quickly.

 

[nerwin]

Thanks guys, I really do appreciate the help and advice.

But I am lost, so lost. I just don't have a direction to aim for.

I think I need to go back when I was just shooting primes, I had the most fun then. Haha. I had the D7000 and 35 1.8 and I brought that everywhere and had fun. I need to have fun with photography again.

 

[astroNikon]

Thanks guys, I really do appreciate the help and advice.

But I am lost, so lost. I just don't have a direction to aim for.

I think I need to go back when I was just shooting primes, I had the most fun then. Haha. I had the D7000 and 35 1.8 and I brought that everywhere and had fun. I need to have fun with photography again.

Put a 50mm on your D610 then.

Look back at the subjects you were shooting back then too.

 

[nerwin]

Thanks guys, I really do appreciate the help and advice.

But I am lost, so lost. I just don't have a direction to aim for.

I think I need to go back when I was just shooting primes, I had the most fun then. Haha. I had the D7000 and 35 1.8 and I brought that everywhere and had fun. I need to have fun with photography again.

Put a 50mm on your D610 then.

Look back at the subjects you were shooting back then too.

I never cared for the 50mm because it doesn't focus close enough for me. That's why I've been thinking about getting the 28 1.8g which I think I'll really enjoy. I haven't bought anything for my birthday yet, so I'm going to buy one!

 

[Gary A.]

Good for you! (and Happy Birthday)

 

[DarkShadow]

I thought about switching to Hasselblad 50MP,but I am still saving,I have $44,395 dollars to go.

 

[astroNikon]

I never cared for the 50mm because it doesn't focus close enough for me. That's why I've been thinking about getting the 28 1.8g which I think I'll really enjoy. I haven't bought anything for my birthday yet, so I'm going to buy one!

That's why I have the Nikon Closeup attachments.
My 24-85/2.8-4.0 can go into macro mode too and get literally an inch away from the subject.

 

[astroNikon]

and with you d610 you should consider the 105/2.8 AF-D to save a bit $$ over the AF-S G version for closeup photography without getting perspective distortion like you would with a closeup with the 28mm.

 

[nerwin]

and with you d610 you should consider the 105/2.8 AF-D to save a bit $$ over the AF-S G version for closeup photography without getting perspective distortion like you would with a closeup with the 28mm.

I don't plan on doing macro with a 28mm though lol. I had the 105 2.8g macro which I loved and sold because I'm dumb, big mistake. Used prices are decent though. I'm tempted to buy one again some point.

 

[Peeb]

Thanks guys, I really do appreciate the help and advice.

But I am lost, so lost. I just don't have a direction to aim for.

I think I need to go back when I was just shooting primes, I had the most fun then. Haha. I had the D7000 and 35 1.8 and I brought that everywhere and had fun. I need to have fun with photography again.

I've had writer's block before and it's terrible. You seem to have the photographer's equivalent to that.

I'm sure I'm telling you things you already know, but focus (figuratively) on light. Photography is all about light. That, and travel when you can. Seeing new things is always inspirational.

You're right- it's gotta be fun or else it's just work- right? That's not to say that a great image doesn't take a lot of work- but it should be work that is a labor of love- and .... fun. Hope you find your 'fun' again soon!

PS- I get a bit nostalgic when I look at old images I took and I wonder how in the heck I was able to capture that all those years ago. Truth be told- some of my best images were surprises even to me! I recall sending off rolls of film, SO excited to see a particular image, and to my surprise it was often a 'throw-away' shot at the end of the day that I liked better. The take-away: just keep shootin' bro!

Be well, and good luck.

 

[nerwin]

Does everyone here shoot everyday or only when they feel like it or have jobs?

I wish I could travel, it's a big goal of mine. But its just not possible right now.

 

[astroNikon]

Only when I have time.