About gear..

Do you feel limited by your gear? Do you purchase something, only to start to look at other gear and forgot about what you own?

Hedonic adaptation: is the observed tendency of humans to quickly return to a relatively stable level of happiness despite major positive or negative events or life changes.(wikipedia)

Scenario 1: we buy a camera, a lens and felt all excited to go out to shoot with the gear we have. We do end up going out for a shoot, and thoroughly enjoyed the gear. At one point in the outing, we saw an opportunity for an amazing shot, only to realise that the gear required is not currently in our possession. we wave that thought off, because at that time we feel that the gear is not necessary. The same day, we go home, only to come across reviews on that particular lens having great performance, value for money, etc. We start to think if we really need this gear, or that it is worth owning and keeping.

The next day, we spend some time researching on this gear, and started to check prices on it. We realised it’s too expensive. We decided not to buy it.

At this point in time, from the day after the shoot, we actually did not spend time on ur current gear. In fact, all the time is spent on researching on gear we don't already have. Let’s continue with the scenario.

We also start to think if perhaps we can sell the gear that we already own, since its new and under warranty, we can lose lesser cash. We now go to shops selling that lens to try it out. In fact, we might even rent it to see if it’s suitable. After doing all this, we start to really feel that lens is for us. The next day, that lens is under heavy discount. We tell ourselves, we will buy it, and sell the one we have away.

So let’s think about this for a while. We buy gear to go out to shoot. But we end up spending more time on gear researching that actual shooting. In fact, we become gear experts, not photography experts. the same scenario can be replayed in many many different variants, such as, rather than selling the gear.

If the scenario is familiar to you, its actually what been happening to me pretty often in the past. I am guilty of it. In fact just yesterday I went for a shoot with a focal length I don't already own, and did enjoy it. And the gear which I used yesterday, was very limiting. So should i set myself free?

I feel there is only so much gear you need. no matter how much gear you own, you can never bring everything out with you. If you are very very strong, you can only sling a certain amount of gear, or hire a limited amount of helpers to assist you. If you use a zoom, you can only shoot at one focal length at one time. We, photographers, are bound to miss opportunities. We cannot cover everything. Personally, that is one reason why i enjoy primes, and cameras with slower focus: it forces you to think, to slow down, to weigh the shot before capturing it.

Scenario 2: I buy a camera and lens. I decide to use it for a year, and not get anything else regardless the price. When i head out to shoot, I don’t need to decide what gear to use, as I only have one combination. I just take this gear, and head out. When i am out, I only need to think about the type of shots I am able to cover.

I find it’s easier to head out knowing the types of shots I would like to shoot, rather than wait for interesting events to happen before capturing it. For example, i really would like to capture that sunset later. I consider the gear I have, decide on a location, and set off. Or i decide to bring my camera out to take photos of my kids, and i focus on just that. I mean, it’s really simple right? But, no! Everywhere there are ads telling you what to buy, what to use. There is so many options we have right now that we have no time to take photos.

Ironically, the people who ought to be gear experts, (the salesmen), are not, because, guess what, thats not even important. In fact, they are more focused on earning money instead! They are researching on marketing, on how to present themselves, on how to set up a business.

We live in a world now that every camera is a good camera. (just like every school is a good school, right?) I mean, you can take a 10 year old camera and it will be perfectly fine for a professional shoot today. You don’t need 50 megapixels. Unlike a PC, cameras last. Replace them when they are broken. A chef doesn’t keep buying the latest knives because they can cut better. A chef can produce quality food 10 years ago, and can still product quality food today with the same equipment. You might argue that with greater technology you have more room for error, but why do you need this options in the first place?

Take my advice. Stop researching on gear. Do research for a day, decide on what is suitable for you based on sensor size, body ergonomics (its sad how so many people buy gear without using it in the first place) and buy it. We will talk about sensor size and ergonomics in subsequent posts.

Buy it and stop researching.

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