When it is about photography, not the camera.

nicksan wrote in post #5384445
You sure you don't agree or disagree?
It sounds to me you already have a pretty strong opinion on this matter.

Frankly, I don't see anything wrong with listing something like a rocket blower in a gear list. There are going to be people who have never heard or used such a thing and to that person it might be very relevant that the person responding does own one, is using it often, and knows whe he or she is talking about.

To me, that is the importance of a gear list.

You want to talk about SanDisk Extreme III CF cards? Bam. I've got them. what do you want to know.

Very relevant and useful to me...but again, I am a gearhead...and I am not offended by your comments.

First of all I'm glad you weren't offended. That's right, I neither agree nor disagree about someone having their gearlist. Again, it is not that serious! I have my opinion on listing a rocket blower, sure, that's right. I think it is silly and frivolous. As much I as respect your opinion and others for having a gearlist, respect mine to think that it is silly to list a rocketblower.

Using your example, if I wanted to learn about the Extreme III, well to be frank, I would ask my engineer friends at Sandisk. (Which btw, I'm getting another 8GB Extreme III for $60 bux shipped woohoo!). But yes I see your point however, I don't function that way, I won't browse people's gearlist to ask them about an item I am interested in. At the very most I would look at the gear list if I see something like a wide angle shot with a lens that I have in the archives and check to see if they shot it with a larger sensor. But that's rare.

mantra_sone wrote in post #5385286
www.larajade.com

She uses a Rebel and a couple of lenses (60mm and 18-55 if I remember correctly).

She definitely has an eye that can overpower any gear any day of the week.

Wow -- There's some talent.

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #5381987
Vicodin or Percaset? <j/k>

You're absolutely right. The Measurbators, Pixel Peepers and Gear Freaks will do what they always do but three truths still hold up:

Shut up and shoot...
Enjoy the time spent shooting...
If you like it, it's a good photo...

The rest is noise.

Hi Flyingphotog.

Couple of things.

a) Nice site. Followed the links and had a look.
b)I agree with your last comments 'Shut up and shoot' etc
c) Impressive set of gear. L Glass etc. Not exactly budget gear. If you live by your reasoning then why L Glass and not standard/budget.

Just thought I would ask

Gear List - an ego booster or something practical?

Sometimes there is a question asked that I can answer, or at least help with somewhat, and often the answer will be based on an equipment solution.

For example, it would be pointless (and rather ignorant) to suggest that the OP buy a good tripod when they have a better one in their gear list than the one I have.

majkid wrote in post #5387530
Hi Flyingphotog.

Couple of things.

a) Nice site. Followed the links and had a look.
b)I agree with your last comments 'Shut up and shoot' etc
c) Impressive set of gear. L Glass etc. Not exactly budget gear. If you live by your reasoning then why L Glass and not standard/budget.

Just thought I would ask

Probably for the same reason I got an L glass..after using some of the "budget gear" and being really dissapointed in the shot quality on most shots (i.e. soft, vignetting, etc.) I did my research, and got one..now if the picture quality sucks its not the equipment, its me..its what I did or did not do..... Thats not to say all budget gear is bad...but I guess the old saying goes at least as it pertains to glass....you get what you pay for..having used both I agree with the saying.

digirebelva wrote in post #5387754
Probably for the same reason I got an L glass..after using some of the "budget gear" and being really dissapointed in the shot quality on most shots (i.e. soft, vignetting, etc.) I did my research, and got one..now if the picture quality sucks its not the equipment, its me..its what I did or did not do..... Thats not to say all budget gear is bad...but I guess the old saying goes at least as it pertains to glass....you get what you pay for..having used both I agree with the saying.

Thanks for the reply.
Someone who understands that the gear you use does have an effect of the quality of image produced everything else being equal.

Mike

See, it's this type of thing that gets to me.

OK, so you have a hookup at Sandisk. Most of us don't. By your standards, isn't that kind of similar to listing gear out on a gear list? To point out hookups you have at Sandisk, etc?

My point was even something mundane as a rocket blower or a sandisk card listed in a gearlist can potentially be useful to someone else and that's the spirit of the gear forums. To share information, to help each other out. Even talk about lenses, cameras just for the fun of it. Call it what you like. Being a "gearhead". For me, I enjoy photography and I enjoy talking about the gear used to take photos. I really fail to see what the big deal is.

All that talk about how "I never visit the gear thread" is completely elitist thinking. So you want a new lens. What do you do then? You want a 300mm f2.8L IS. It costs almost $4000. Do you just go out and buy it because "it's not the gear that counts" or do you talk to people who own the lens and see if you feel comfortable with the $4000 you are about to spend?

Gearlists make it easy to locate folks who have the lens, ask them questions or check out their galleries.

Seems pretty logical to me.

BTW, I'm still not offended.

00silvergt wrote in post #5385945
Using your example, if I wanted to learn about the Extreme III, well to be frank, I would ask my engineer friends at Sandisk. (Which btw, I'm getting another 8GB Extreme III for $60 bux shipped woohoo!). But yes I see your point however, I don't function that way, I won't browse people's gearlist to ask them about an item I am interested in. At the very most I would look at the gear list if I see something like a wide angle shot with a lens that I have in the archives and check to see if they shot it with a larger sensor. But that's rare.

00silvergt wrote in post #5385945
First of all I'm glad you weren't offended. That's right, I neither agree nor disagree about someone having their gearlist. Again, it is not that serious! I have my opinion on listing a rocket blower, sure, that's right. I think it is silly and frivolous. As much I as respect your opinion and others for having a gearlist, respect mine to think that it is silly to list a rocketblower.

Using your example, if I wanted to learn about the Extreme III, well to be frank, I would ask my engineer friends at Sandisk. (Which btw, I'm getting another 8GB Extreme III for $60 bux shipped woohoo!). But yes I see your point however, I don't function that way, I won't browse people's gearlist to ask them about an item I am interested in. At the very most I would look at the gear list if I see something like a wide angle shot with a lens that I have in the archives and check to see if they shot it with a larger sensor. But that's rare.

Have to agree with nicksan.... also, it isn't polite to call ppl silly and firvolous just because you don't agree with their choices... that kinda makes you elitist.

nicksan wrote in post #5388014
See, it's this type of thing that gets to me.

OK, so you have a hookup at Sandisk. Most of us don't. By your standards, isn't that kind of similar to listing gear out on a gear list? To point out hookups you have at Sandisk, etc?

My point was even something mundane as a rocket blower or a sandisk card listed in a gearlist can potentially be useful to someone else and that's the spirit of the gear forums. To share information, to help each other out. Even talk about lenses, cameras just for the fun of it. Call it what you like. Being a "gearhead". For me, I enjoy photography and I enjoy talking about the gear used to take photos. I really fail to see what the big deal is.

All that talk about how "I never visit the gear thread" is completely elitist thinking. So you want a new lens. What do you do then? You want a 300mm f2.8L IS. It costs almost $4000. Do you just go out and buy it or do you talk to people who own the lens and see if you feel comfortable with the $4000 you are about to spend?

Gearlists make it easy to locate folks who have the lens, ask them questions or check out their galleries.

Seems pretty logical to me.

BTW, I'm still not offended.

LOL, great, I really don't want to offend you or anyone else. Two adults can get into a heated argument without hurting people.

Wait, so your are saying it would be prudent for me to indicate I know engineers at Sandisk? Why don't I list all my contacts and maybe you guys can hit me up? Dude, that's just downright silly! (no offense,:p).

If someone needs to know something about Sandisk Extreme III cards, then they simply need to post in the Gear Forum and say, "I need information on the Sandisk 8GB Extreme III." Then, folks like myself, will chime in and say, "What do you want to know? I know a guy who knows a guy who works at Sandisk." LOL Right?

Come on, Elitist? I never said I never visit the gear column, I even admitted in many of my posts that I'm somewhat technical and gear oriented.

Okay, I see I need to redirect this thread. Like the other thread about a similar issue, people are now going off in different tangents. I am guilty of this and to a certain extent deserve some of the flame for my quick statement about my observation regarding gearlists. I will reiterate what I said, it is your prerogative, it doesn't bug me or even if it does, that's my problem. Notice I personally don't have one. I never will. I want to be remembered for my photographs not my equipment.

Of course, I will talk to people before dropping $4000, heck I will talk to people before dropping $40. Again, Nicksan, I DO visit the gear section and even participate in the discussions.

But my point when I started this thread was that I (a technical person; gear head- pseudo or maybe former) came to a realization while pursuing my goals of becoming the best photographer I can be, that many of the great photographers online- here and outside do not post their gear. I started to figure out that maybe, just maybe the camera (all inclusive equipment, lenses, bodies, 8GB Extreme III's) may not be as important
as I originally thought. I, probably like many photographer gear head would almost always initiate a conversation with the many photographers I've met in person about equipment and never really figured out, until now why many of them were really not all that interested. They would rather speak of such things as composition, lighting and contrast etc. Which before I thought, was not as important as using the best camera I can buy. Well, not anymore.

The more I learn about this hobby, the more I learn that it is really about Photography and not the myriads of features or the next great camera Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sony, or Olympus would be releasing. I'm not an elitist by any definition of the word, just enlightened. Buds?

liquidhands wrote in post #5388084
Have to agree with nicksan.... also, it isn't polite to call ppl silly and firvolous just because you don't agree with their choices... that kinda makes you elitist.

So wait, I never called people silly, just the idea of posting a rocket blower in the gear list. Do you think that posting a rocket blower is silly? I do. But that's my opinion.

00silvergt wrote in post #5388171
Wait, so your are saying it would be prudent for me to indicate I know engineers at Sandisk? Why don't I list all my contacts and maybe you guys can hit me up? Dude, that's just downright silly! (no offense,:p). If someone needs to know something about Sandisk Extreme III cards, then they simply need to post in the Gear Forum and say, "I need information on the Sandisk 8GB Extreme III." Then, folks like myself, will chime in and say, "What do you want to know? I know a guy who knows a guy who works at Sandisk." LOL Right?

The whole point is that if someone has questions about Sandisk cards then the best place to get help is from people who use them within a photography context...in this case in the gear forums here. Nothing silly about that. Perhaps YOU don't need such advice from here b/c of your hookup at Sandisk but I think it's pretty safe to say most people, including myself, don't have such hookups. I just find it interesting that you chose to disclose that particular hookup in response to my example.

00silvergt wrote in post #5388171
Come on, Elitist? I never said I never visit the gear column, I even admitted in many of my posts that I'm somewhat technical and gear oriented.

Okay, I see I need to redirect this thread. Like the other thread about a similar issue, people are now going off in different tangents. I am guilty of this and to a certain extent deserve some of the flame for my quick statement about my observation regarding gearlists. I will reiterate what I said, it is your prerogative, it doesn't bug me or even if it does, that's my problem. Notice I personally don't have one. I never will. I want to be remembered for my photographs not my equipment.

Yes, another elitist-like comment. That's a given. The end result of all of the gear we own is to produce a photo. No need to drive that through...

00silvergt wrote in post #5388171
Of course, I will talk to people before dropping $4000, heck I will talk to people before dropping $40. Again, Nicksan, I DO visit the gear section and even participate in the discussions.

But my point when I started this thread was that I (a technical person; gear head- pseudo or maybe former) came to a realization while pursuing my goals of becoming the best photographer I can be, that many of the great photographers online- here and outside do not post their gear. I started to figure out that maybe, just maybe the camera (all inclusive equipment, lenses, bodies, 8GB Extreme III's) may not be as important
as I originally thought. I, probably like many photographer gear head would almost always initiate a conversation with the many photographers I've met in person about equipment and never really figured out, until now why many of them were really not all that interested. They would rather speak of such things as composition, lighting and contrast etc. Which before I thought, was not as important as using the best camera I can buy. Well, not anymore.

The more I learn about this hobby, the more I learn that it is really about Photography and not the myriads of features or the next great camera Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sony, or Olympus would be releasing. I'm not an elitist by any definition of the word, just enlightened. Buds?

I apologize if I sounded like I was singling you out. I wasn't Some of my response was targeted to the general audience, particularly those who dismiss people who talk about gear as mere gearheads.

Contrary to what you wrote, I have met many photographers who are actually very interested and excited about talking about gear they have, talk about what aperture was used and for what reason, etc. I make absolutely no judgments on their abilities based on that. Yes, I am sure there are those who care not to discuss about gear. I feel strongly that those who dismiss gear as mere gearhead talk are elitists.

I completely agree that it is the person behind the camera that is ultimately responsible for the end result. However we live in the world where the contribution of technology and gear is undeniable. Certainly there's a balance between the 2. Dismissing either would indeed be silly...

This is the same reasoning as "with all due respect, I think you are an A-hole and I hate everything you stand for"...just because you qualify things with "with all due respect" doesn't mean it's OK.
(And yes, I took that idea from Talladega Nights:lol

00silvergt wrote in post #5388178
So wait, I never called people silly, just the idea of posting a rocket blower in the gear list. Do you think that posting a rocket blower is silly? I do. But that's my opinion.

nicksan wrote in post #5388707
This is the same reasoning as "with all due respect, I think you are an A-hole and I hate everything you stand for"...just because you qualify things with "with all due respect" doesn't mean it's OK.
(And yes, I took that idea from Talladega Nights:lol

That's taking it way out of context and it is way too far. All that was said was, I think listing a Rocket Blower is silly...nothing more, not I hate anything or what someone stands for...that's too sensitive. I didn't mean that way, Maybe some people are just that much "thinner" (offended easily) but...

You think my statement about wanting to be remembered for my photographs instead of my gear is an elitist statement? Wow, we must speak different languages. Dude, this is a photography forum, how is it elitist to think that one should be remembered for their photos vs their gear?

Ok, well if that is the criteria of which an elitist is(by your definition), then I must say I fit, because I do emphasize and stand by my opinion that the most important aspect of photography is me and the pictures I produce, not my camera. I'm not dismissing it's fit in the scheme of things. A camera is a tool. It is important in regards to any tool, like a power driver, a rotohammer, Fluke Lan Analyzer, but it is most definitely not the dominant factor on what makes a photograph.

So you are also saying that I should post all my contacts so that you guys can see what and who I know to hit me up? You think there is nothing silly about that? Really? You're serious?

nicksan wrote in post #5388699
I completely agree that it is the person behind the camera that is ultimately responsible for the end result. However we live in the world where the contribution of technology and gear is undeniable. Certainly there's a balance between the 2. Dismissing either would indeed be silly...

So what are we really arguing about?
I never said that Tools are not important, but just it is not dominant. Yes, it would be silly.

00silvergt wrote in post #5388896
That's taking it way out of context and it is way too far. All that was said was, I think listing a Rocket Blower is silly...nothing more, not I hate anything or what someone stands for...that's too sensitive. I didn't mean that way, Maybe some people are just that much "thinner" (offended easily) but...

You think my statement about wanting to be remembered for my photographs instead of my gear is an elitist statement? Wow, we must speak different languages. Dude, this is a photography forum, how is it elitist to think that one should be remembered for their photos vs their gear?

Ok, well if that is the criteria of which an elitist is(by your definition), then I must say I fit, because I do emphasize and stand by my opinion that the most important aspect of photography is me and the pictures I produce, not my camera. I'm not dismissing it's fit in the scheme of things. A camera is a tool. It is important in regards to any tool, like a power driver, a rotohammer, Fluke Lan Analyzer, but it is most definitely not the dominant factor on what makes a photograph.

So you are also saying that I should post all my contacts so that you guys can see what and who I know to hit me up? You think there is nothing silly about that? Really? You're serious?

bleh, it wasn't out of context. You're basically saying ppl are stupid for putting blowers in their gear list... then you say you're not judging. I'm not agreeing or disagreeing with your assessment, just disagreeing with your delivery.

not everyone has a contact at sandisk, so those ppl that don't might find it informative and helpful to see that nicksan has some. (same with the blower by the way).

The tool is very important in any hobby, or occupation.

Don't think you should put anything in your sig... looks fine.

the elitist attitide that I saw was...paraphrasing.... its silly to put gear in your sigs.... you're not sill, just the things you do and your need to show everyone your stuff.
have a nice day.