Your camera is better than Ansel Adams'

[Peeb]

Just bought a new camera- replacing a perfectly good camera that made outstanding images. It made me happy and I do not regret it at all, BUT, then there is this....

 

[PJM]

Great perspective. I'm still using an entry level DSLR I bought about a year and a half ago. And so far I've never blamed the camera for any of the images I've rejected. What I'm saving up for is a super-tele or faster lens to get the shots I want.

 

[ac12]

I totally agree.
It is the photographer that makes the photo.
The camera and lens are just the photographers tools, just like a carpenter or mechanic has a tool box of tools.

This was put into my face in high school, when we with the SLRs were outclassed by a couple students with "Instamatics" (Kodak's box camera of the day). It was the eye and skill of the photographer, not the equipment that made the prize winning images. We just did not have the "eye" that those two students did.

Even today, there are those with a great eye, who can look at a scene and in 15 seconds, get a great shot.
Whereas I have to look and study the scene for a LONG time "trying" to figure out how to get a good shot. I freely admit that I do not have that eye. So while I can do it, it takes me much longer and a lot more work to do. And I likely am still be behind the person with the good eye.

However, as he said, like a carpenter, you need the right tools to do the tasks. So it is with camera gear.

• Adams did not shoot football with a 11 x 14 view camera, like I do with a dSLR. The big view camera is just the wrong tool.
  
• You can't use a 18-55 and crop DEEP, when you really need a 300mm lens, and still have to crop.
• When I shoot volleyball in the gym. The autofocus update of a 1970s technology 50/1.8 prime work just as well today as a 50/1.8 did back then. And it beats the pants off a slow 18-55/3.5-5.6 that you have to shoot at ISO 25600. The old saying of the past, is just as true today as it was back then, "in low light FAST glass wins."

Pick the right tool for the job, and the job is easier to do.

 

[Derrel]

After having seen this video, there is a rumor that Ford plans to compete in Formula 1 racing with a highly modified Ford Pinto, a 1975 version with a normally-aspirated 4-banger. The equipment doesn't matter, right? A PhaseOne 101 megapixel camera is equal to a pinhole camera ! I love Hyperbole and b******t!

As soon as Vegas opens a line on it, I plan to bet $2,000 on Ford and the pinto in the upcoming Formula 1 series.

 

[Grandpa Ron]

I believe the point is, an Ansel Adams photo of a football game, shot with an 11 x 14 view camera, would still be a great photo.

It may not be a typical "football" shot; but it would capture the moment of whatever football game image he envisioned.

 

[Original katomi]

I tend agree with post 3
in clubs and sadly mostly men is the mine is bigger/better than yours.
Yes sometimes a canon l series on a hi end camera will give better results, but as said it’s having that eye for the image.
As I have said here in the past my images are out of the box and or marmite pics. To me the worst Cc is
It’s technically perfect......
I much rather a person look at my image and feel that they could almost be there at that moment.
Yes if you are doing detailed tech work /imaging then be technically perfect but for me a pic has to have...I want to be there, I can almost taste the sail of that sea scape! Oh the sailing pic makes me feel I am out there miles from land
But as said I am doing this as a hobby, long ago!my teen years, I decided not to photograph to please the comp judge or other people I photograph for me if people like what I do that good if not oh well I don’t like rum. That’s why my I have a rep for Marmite photography love or hate it lol

 

[Braineack]

Imagine if @DanOstergren upgraded to a mark iv....

 

[RVT1K]

We all hope to achieve different things with our photography and take different paths to get there.

And photography, like all art forms, speak differently to each of us. I was given a book of Adams' photos. Some take my breath away and some make me go "meh".

 

[Derrel]

I have a simple question. What is marmite photography?

 

[vintagesnaps]

C'mon Derrel, didn't ya know it means photos taken by marmites that have been trained to push buttons on cameras??

I think what was actually meant was having something that you love, taking photos enough to get in lots of practice and getting good at it, etc. and specializing in it.

Ron that was done the last winter Olympics, a photographer used some big wooden view camera to take pictures.

edit - We are talking about these furry critters...



... not this brown goo, right?

 

[jcdeboever]

I don't get all this stuff... Use what you want.

 

[Original katomi]

I have a simple question. What is marmite photography?

In my case,
Marmite photography either you love the photo or you hate it.

 

[Derrel]

Marmite.... is it like Australia's Vegemite?

 

[BillM]

Bottom line is, and yes I didn't bother to watch the video, is if you give Kris in CT one of those cardboard Kodak disposable cameras they sell at CVS he still going to take better bird photos than me with any of my fancy cameras and lenses. But I'm ok with that

 

[Grandpa Ron]

Again, I think the point of the video was. Do not spend your time worrying about what you cannot do with your camera, until you understand all that it can do.

It helps develop your photography skills and keeps you from endlessly pursuing yet another magic bullet camera.