Hardcore G.A.S.

So my wife went to a shoot the other day. Shes been to a couple, mostly hobbyists. Most guys have had gear Ive been a little envious of, though I still love my Elinchroms more than there Paul C Buffs (not saying Paul Cs arent great lights). But we went to one with a photographer that was president of some boat repair/sales place. I mean top end boats, 6 and 7 figure boats. This guy was tricked out for a hobbyist, 3 Profoto Bs and an AcuteB head with the box. Canon 5d mark iii with a 24-70. Plus I saw to open bags of lenses at least half of them were L glass.

So remember kids stay in school so you one day to can trick out your hobby.

I used to know this guy (VERY German) who always had the latest equipment, but always showed me the SAME needle-sharp Panatomic-X prints! I liked him a lot 'cause I'd buy his "obsolete" stuff at an excellent price when the new models came out. I could always sell his old stuff I already had for more than I'd paid for the new. Wish he was still around!!!

gmm213 wrote in post #17874437
So my wife went to a shoot the other day. Shes been to a couple, mostly hobbyists. Most guys have had gear Ive been a little envious of, though I still love my Elinchroms more than there Paul C Buffs (not saying Paul Cs arent great lights). But we went to one with a photographer that was president of some boat repair/sales place. I mean top end boats, 6 and 7 figure boats. This guy was tricked out for a hobbyist, 3 Profoto Bs and an AcuteB head with the box. Canon 5d mark iii with a 24-70. Plus I saw to open bags of lenses at least half of them were L glass.

So remember kids stay in school so you one day to can trick out your hobby.

So how did his photos turn out?

Very best,

Were waiting on his edits. This was sunday and he has a retoucher come in once a week and do all his editing. His other work I saw was gorgeous though. He has a running theme with these beautiful Mardi Gras masks. I cant wait to see those

She / he who dies with the most toys wins.

Bearsummer

Some of the greatest photos I've seen have come from people with just sort of middle of the road hardware.

By the same token, I've seen many shooters with the very latest and greatest, multi thousand dollar hardware collections that turn out very mediocre pictures.

If I go out and buy the newer, bigger, better, faster then my pictures will be all that much better.

Right?

saea501 wrote in post #17890064
If I go out and buy the newer, bigger, better, faster then my pictures will be all that much better.

Right?

For sure!!!

.

BearSummer wrote in post #17889576
She / he who dies with the most toys wins.

Bearsummer

I have a different take on that.........
He who dies with the best body of work wins!

.

I didn't think I needed to put the humour quotes around my comment but I guess some people missed them as it got kinda serious after.

Great pictures can be made with whatever equipment you have. It is easier and less of a struggle if you have better equipment to choose from. Having the best equipment available doesn't mean you will take great shots but it does mean that you have no excuse for being limited by your equipment and equipment failures are less likely.

Bearsummer

saea501 wrote in post #17890064
Some of the greatest photos I've seen have come from people with just sort of middle of the road hardware.

By the same token, I've seen many shooters with the very latest and greatest, multi thousand dollar hardware collections that turn out very mediocre pictures.

If I go out and buy the newer, bigger, better, faster then my pictures will be all that much better.

Right?

Agreed. A good photographer can turn in good work with less than stellar equipment.

I am your second statement. The fact that I can afford good equipment has very little bearing on what I produce with it.

I gave up on your third statement years ago. I know new stuff won't improve my output. I just like new toys.

Anecdotally, I just bought a 15 year old 1Dc. It didn't hurt my skills a bit. Just like the 6D didn't help.

BearSummer wrote in post #17890651
you have no excuse for being limited by your equipment

........and this is the crux of most equipment upgrades by beginning and less experienced shooters. There are certainly instances where your equipment can and does place limits on what you can do in given situations but I would bet the majority of equipment upgrades by relative beginners results in disappointment. I know I have seen numerous posts containing the line that always throws a red flag......'I'm ready to take my photography to the next level'.

One of my friends, her father is a doctor and a hobbyist... He just ordered a 1DXmkII whilst off loading his 1DX to his daughter... He has like a £40,000 lens collection too full of duplicates, just incase she needs to use a lens he does... LOL. She is also a hobbyist... But doesn't want to sell anything!!

To be fair though, I'm greatful for the opportunities given to me from being a hobby photographer turning into a very occasional paid thing. (lately a lot hence adding a 1DmkIII, 580ex II, Yongnuo 568ex, 70-200mm f/2.8 and a couple of bits and bobs). But there's always more hardcore GAS for... 24-70II, 35L, 50L, 85L, 135L... Not even starting on the lights ߘ

I really need a 24-70 as my partner seems to use my 24-105 all the time... I really hope I don't see a good deal pop up °ߘ

ZchDnn wrote in post #17919892
One of my friends, her father is a doctor and a hobbyist... He just ordered a 1DXmkII whilst off loading his 1DX to his daughter... He has like a £40,000 lens collection too full of duplicates, just incase she needs to use a lens he does... LOL. She is also a hobbyist... But doesn't want to sell anything!!

This guy has more dollars than sense.

IDK about the UK or what kind of doctor but I was amazed at what they can make. My wifes getting her bachelors right now in hopes of Med School to be a ob/gyn. I figured maybe 150k-250k. Nope conservatively its around 500k. If the women makes 500k a year Ill be rolling around with a D5 with a D810 as a backup and throw in something like a black magic ursa in case I want to shoot video. Why not? With my skills I could do the same work with my d5200 and a good lens but why not (suffice to say I love photography and would use the hell out of those cameras)

You might be forgetting the old adage... "What's his is hers and what's hers is hers"