Does equipment matter?

R

Roger Hicks

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Yes and no... The real question is what matters to YOU, and what YOU are happy with. If you're not happy, maybe you need a different camera -- or maybe you need to rethink what (if anything) would make you happier. Those interested in a more detailed argument might care to look at the most recent addition to my site, at http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/does equipment matter.html.

Cheers,

R.
 
Not if it gets the pictures you want to take. I could've used a Leica but I used a digital point-n-shoot cause for me it's faster. I don't care that it's a little less quality, I got the shot.
 
There are times when equipment absolutely matters.
I'll use an extreme example here, but you aren't going to be a successful sports photographer if you arm yourself with an M8 and 28mm lens. The world's top sports photographer might very well bring back some awesome images with that combo - but not with enough frequency to keep his job.

But of course the equipment does not make the photographer. If you give some average Joe $30k worth of DSLRs and telephoto lenses, that's not going to make him a great sports photographer. But he would have the right tools for the job.
 
It matters. In some cases it matters a lot (like if you need a fast lens to shoot in very poor light) or not at all.

Most of all you have to be happy with what you are using to be at your best. For some people that will mean the very finest optical perfection and for others, a comfortable grip and light weight. Either way, it matters.

Some will fixate and produce awful photos from Alpas and Leicas. Despite this, they will still think it matters. Others will produce wonders from Holgas and Seaguls and would actively shun the perfection of a Linhof.

If you think it matters, it matters. If you think it doesn't it doesn't. Generally equipment matters to me less the more shooting I do, but every now and again it is the other way round. Thats when I really listen to myself... and the last time that happened I bought a 24 summilux asph. And I was right to do so, because I have the negs that I had not been able to take previously.
 
If it's equipment you're into, I guess it matters. If you're into photographs, your gear is a means to an end. I think HCB said, you should know your camera like you know your car. It's automatic, you get in and drive. You shouldn't have to look at the settings, you know where the shutter speed was set and you change it properly, without taking the camera away from your eye.
 
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I never wanted to collect cameras but somehow i have. my current count is 10, which scared me earlier this week when i counted them. the truth is that most of my equipment is worth very little, and in as much the cameras are worth more to me than the little money i could get by selling them, maybe if they were worth more i would sell them and put the money towards expanding my lens collection for my 2 favourite systems.

I do, of course, have some expensive pieces (comparatively) in my collection which i wouldn't sell to keep the cheaper ones but i have sold cameras for cameras in the past.

I have a Zorki-4k! i love it and trust it enough to take it out with me during those occasions where i don't want to spend the evening worrying about the safety of my camera. it cost me £30 with a Jupiter 8 attached. it's not the smoothest camera in the world but it does everything that my M2 does except produce those unmistakably 'Leica' photos.

in a way yes it matters, just as much as everything else does. does it have to be expensive? no 🙂 only as expensive as you want it to be!

Bowling, booze, fun, Zorki-4k, Jupiter 12, HP5+
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PKR said:
If it's equipment you're into, I guess it matters.
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Sure, but it's not just a black and white debate. There are many times in the world of photography where not having the right equipment means producing a less-than-optimal result.
Part of knowing your equipment inside and out is understanding when you have the right tool for the job and when you need a different tool.
 
I Agree

I Agree

tbarker13 said:
Sure, but it's not just a black and white debate. There are many times in the world of photography where not having the right equipment means producing a less-than-optimal result.
Part of knowing your equipment inside and out is understanding when you have the right tool for the job and when you need a different tool.
Click to expand...

I agree that ones' equipment does play an important role in the final outcome, but only if we use them correctly. Knowing what ones equipment is capable of is the beginning. It separates the novice from the experienced amateur from the expert. Only knowing how to use it to the fullest limits of its limitations (and beyond), will produce outstanding results.

My Grandfather's wisdom did and still amazes me. He had a favorite saying, "A craftsman does not blame his tools for shoddy work, but even a craftsman can only do so so work with shoddy tools." A Kodak Brownie camera could be used to take pictures of a high profile wedding, but would it be a professional wedding photographer's first choice?
 
Reading this thread reminds me of a job I was sent on from the studio I was working at, after I told the owner I could undertake anything with my leica outfit:

Sent out to photograph a collection of small objects with my Leica, visoflex 1, bellows and 135mm tele-elmar. Turned out it was 1000+ button badges!

I still need a stiff drink when I see a visoflex .....


John
 
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Does Equipment Matter ?

Does Equipment Matter ?

I used a hasselblad SWC for almost all of my photography for many years ! (there are lots of 35mm neg areas on a 6X6 neg) a while ago I started using a Zorki 4K and a jupiter 12 . Scanned using a Epson V300 the pictures are excellent . I do not think it matters what camera you use , a Bronica RF645 rangefinder will be better than a Leica at 8X10 !, I printed for a living in the 1980's and looked at many photographers images , taken with lots of cameras , I feel certain its the photograph that matters not the equipment used , and I do not feel that one should "aspire" to own any type of camera , use what you can afford and use lots of film .Ian
 
As much as I like medium format, for low-light shooting, there's no lens/camera combo in that format that matches my Canon 50/0.95 lens on my MP. Conversely, no matter what film I use in my Leica, I can't quite match the texture and tonality I can get with my Rollei 6006. So in that sense, yes, gear does matter.

Jim B.
 
Roger, I liked ALL of the pictures shown in that short "essay."

Now regarding Sebben's comment, does an opinion matter? Yes, it does. If you are incapable of creating an opinion, you will wonder aimlessly not developing any kind of photographic style. It's important to have an idea of what you are trying to do before you just go out snapping.

Thanks for the essay, Roger!
 
Norman Rockwell worked from photographs. I never heard what kind of a camera he used. Nor did I ever hear what brand of sable hair paint brushes he preferred. Not a mention of paint brand or who manufactured the paper surfaces he worked on. Come to think of it, he missed out on a lot of lucrative endorsements.

Equipment might matter, however mistakenly, to the image maker, but not at all to the image viewer.

The Trash Heap has spoken.
 
Sebben said:
Does having an opinion on everything matter?
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Interesting question.

For the masses: opinions are like... ; everyone has one.

For folks like Roger: profesional "opinionists" should have a well-defined opinion on everything they write about...whether critics deem that opinion right or wrong.

Whether anyone cares about anyone else's opinion is a matter of personal opinion. 😉

I'd offer my opinion on Roger's opinion-piece, but nobody would care anyway. So let me summarize and say that Roger is certainly entitled to have his opinion.
 
I very much agree with the conclusion (this is my opinion):

"Third, and most importantly, unless your livelihood depends upon it, you can simply enjoy yourself with whatever you have."
 
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