My Gear – And Why You Don’t Really Need It
So, when people see my photos, the number one question that seems to come up is, “Hey, what kind of camera do you use?”
Now, I’m going to spill the beans here pretty quick, but first…
Keep in mind that it’s not the gear; it’s what’s sitting four inches behind it that really matters.
Think of it this way – when you see a fancy new house go up, do you ask what kind of hammer the carpenter used? When you have an incredible meal at a fancy restaurant, do you think, “Wow, that cook must be using a pretty nice pot!”
Part of the perception that “it’s the camera that makes the difference” stems from people with $30 cameras noticing that when they spend $100 they get better photos – and the same thing happens at $200. So, it almost DOES seem that the nicer the camera, the better the photos.
However, gear only gets you so far.
In fact…
For the most part, ANY DSLR style camera can get the kind of shots you see here on the site (and quite a few point & shoot cameras can too).
How do I know? Well, when I’m out with people sporting so-called “lesser gear” shooting the same scene, their pictures look similar to mine if they’re taking the same care and using the same techniques.
I’ve also suffered some pretty tough competition in contests from people shooting cameras that are a fraction of the cost of mine.
80% of the quality of any shot is the person behind the viewfinder, not the camera.
The biggest trick is setting yourself in the right place at the right time – and using the best techniques with the gear you have. Those things are FAR more important than the name on the front of your camera or how much your lenses cost.
Yeah, I can pretty much guess what you’re thinking – then why buy expensive gear at all?
Simply put, you eventually reach a place in your “photographic development” where basic gear is holding you back. When you find yourself missing shots due to autofocus that’s too slow, glass that’s not up to par, or gear that’s not rugged enough, it’s time to upgrade.
Better gear – ONLY if you know how to use it – tends to work WITH you to get the shot. It’s more responsive, it’s faster, and it generally gives you more creative options and settings.
It’s important to note that, in and of itself, better gear will NOT automatically get you better photos if that’s the only change to your arsenal. YOU have to be able to use the new gear in a way you weren’t able to use your old gear.
If you want to test this, just get yourself a pro and an amateur and have them shoot for a week. Give the amateur $10K in pro gear, the pro a $200 point and shoot camera. Guess who’ll consistently get the best photos…
I suppose my point here is that, although gear DOES matter, it’s not nearly as important as people make it out to be.
So, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don’t feel like you need to go out and go broke buying the items you see below. I’ve collected them over dozens of years, done lots of trading up, and well, can justify the cost since I do this professionally.
OK, enough already huh? Here’s my basic kit (as of Aug 2012)
Cameras:
Primary Landscape Camera: Nikon D800e
Primary Wildlife Camera: Nikon D4
Backup: Nikon D800
Primary Lenses (this isn’t a complete list, just my most used):
Zeiss 21mm
Nikon 14-24
Nikon 24-70
Nikon 70-200
Nikon 300mm 2.8
Nikon 500mm F4
I also have a few specialty lenses that I pull out from time to time, but that’s the main kit – for now!
Again, keep in mind that I have shot a LOT of photos I’m pretty proud of with MUCH lesser gear.
Remember – YOU make the photos amazing, not the camera!
PS – Also, please note, the photos above are stock images. My gear sort of looks like that, just WAY more beat up 
This tip is filed under: Gear Talk
17 Responses to My Gear – And Why You Don’t Really Need It
Thank you, Steve, for your candid honesty, certainly, in any endeavour, you get out what you put into it. A point & shoot photographer (like me) will on occasion get an amazing shot because they were in the right place at the right time, however, one like you, who loves what they do and spends time at it, will consistantly do better, no matter what gear, because they put their heart and years of experience into it. Bravo to you. As well, I want to thank you for sharing your photo’s with us amatures out here in “cyberspace”.
Great tip! To me, the right equipment will give you a better chance to capture a great photo and could very well improve the image quality but nothing can mess it up as much as the person behind it. No one really wants to see you photo of the back of your hand or the back of the lens cap.
I’ve really been looking forward to you getting everything on the site going… just a quick “suggestion” – can you provide a “printer-friendly” view as well?
Thanks!
That would be great! I really need the teaching you have available but I can’t be running to the site to re-read a tip that would be helpful at the time of shooting.
Add to carry bag a regular old fashion magnifying lens. A little Larger than your camera lens. I have taken a few pics just putting a magnifying lens in front of my camera. You will have to experiment, but it does help in some cases getting those close up shots. You can also make a home made tripod out of string, and you use your foot to keep it from moving. The string attaches to your foot and use a regular screw (fits the tripod attachment of your camera) Pull the string tight, keep it tight, and take pictures. The one thing i would spend money on is sd-cards. I have three for my camera. A total of about 12gb space. I plan to purchase another soon. I do this because you have to take many pictures in order to get some good ones. I take a ton. Literally. So Steve is right you don’t need to spend a lot of money on your equipment.
It’s always been a dream to owen a Nikon of any kind but couldn’t afford it so had to settal on a manalta slr. it took good pictures, but being on the low totam pole,finally had to give it up and gave it to my son, he’s done faie with it. keep up the beautiful pictures.
Edw
Dear Sir, I have A Canon Ae-1 with a 50mm f1/4 lens an i have a 28 to 80 lens also a Kalimar 500 f8.o with tripod mount, but haven”t used it for some time as i now use a digital camera that is 5 pixels an takes very good pictures.I would imagine that my ae-1 is obsolete now with the digital camera’s out .I used to take a lot of pictures but now just take pictures at reunions an family gatherings. Sometimes take pitures of birds on my feeders. I should get into this more as i enjoy it .I just would like to have a better digital camera to capture far away scenes. I love your pictures. BOB
How many pictures should a camera take before it is worn out?
I have a point and shoot Cannon Power Shot S5IS, 8 Mega Pixels with the Cannon Zoom lens 12 x Is, 6.0-72.0 mm. I have shot about 14,000 pics. Does it need to be replaced?
I use a Nikon D80 at work and have a little digital Olympus at home. I have been reading about this new camera called Lytro’s light-field camera, what are your thoughts on this camera. I am a just beginner in photography.
I have been a Nikon Camera user for over 50 years. Yes i remember the times of the Nikon reflex and the usual 3 to 4 lenses, plus extras, and the heavy Gadget bag to carry all. Young and fit in those times. This was a relaxed a bit with the advent of zoom lenses. Now with the Digital age, I have 3 x Nikons, a P5000 for my handy pocket camera. (A brilliant little camera and results) Have P80, but now retired it as though good in concept, not able to use filters, and of course the serious work camera a D80 with various zoom lenses, however prefer the Nikon 1.8 50mm lens. Really superior. I have superceded the P80 wit a Lumix FZ100, which I find a brilliant camera to use, nice and light, easily transportable, fulll versatility, 24 x zoom Leica lens, able to use any and all types of filters etc. Able to photo in RAW. Eyel level viewfinder, most important for us older generation. In all able to do all what a heavy cumbersome Reflex. So it is a matter of your situation, and suitability, physique, age, dexterity etc.
I kept getting rejected with the character inputing in the box when voting, so I was never able to finish. I was using AOL’s Desktop 9.6 browser, and I haven’t had this kind of problem before with it. I even tried it with Mozilla Firefox with the same kind of luck and including spaces didn’t make any difference either. Looks like something is not right at their voting site. Lots of nice photos to see, and yours are definately among the very best of them.
Wayne Jacobs request of a “Print Friendly” option on the tips is great. I really need the teaching you have available but I can’t be running to the site to
re-read a tip that would be helpful at the time of shooting. Your pics are great, I really enjoy seeting them and would love to learn what you know. Thanks!I bought a Nikon D7000 and also a nice 18-70 lens, but I don’t have photoshop, lightroom or any touch up. I take everything in manual mode, but just can’t seem to bring out the vivid colors I see in your photographs. i.e. I hiked Hocking Hills and shot most of the falls, but they don’t compare to your photos (with my Nikon D50).
To David Toralez: There are several things that you can do to make your colors pop!! 1) Set your camera to the vivid setting. 2) See how your photos look with a minus .3 or .7 exposure comp. 3) Use a polarizing or warming filter. 4) Instead of AWB, manually set the WB according to the conditions your shooting in. Any or all of these may help. I shoot with Nikons D300 & D700 in auto mode (shutter priority) most of the time & and my photos pop with color without much if any extra saturation in Windows. Good luck!!
I agree that a lot of gear is not needed. I use to carry two cameras, a point and shoot and a Nikon with wide angel lens, and a telephoto lens. It seems that I always had the wrong lens on the camera for what I wanted to shoot. By the time I changed the lens my best shot was gone.
I also found the Nikon was too large to carry with me when attending a get together. I got a small point and shoot to carry with me to gathering etc.