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You don’t need to spend money on these things for great landscape photography

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I often think that photographers are a lot like drummers, at least when it comes to Gear Acquisition Syndrome (GAS). You never replace your equipment, you merely add to it. A new lens here, another camera body there, filters, tripods, light stands oh my! It’s all getting a bit out of hand. And with the rising cost of living and higher inflation, most of us have less disposable income for wasting I mean carefully purchasing new camera equipment.

In this video, landscape photographer Mads Peter Iversen goes against the grain and tells us the things he thinks that we shouldn’t be wasting our money on. It’s so tempting to rush out and buy that newer gazillion megapixel camera thinking that with it our photographs will shine brighter, but sadly as well all know, that is seldom the case.

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Don’t believe the hype – camera companies aren’t telling you the whole truth

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This was a curious video to see pop up on my feed last night from Mike Smith. In it, he talks about the marketing hype surrounding most new camera releases and what the camera companies aren’t telling you – basically, that the gear you already own is probably already more than good enough or at least 90% of you. And, well, I think he’s right. I’ve thought it for a while.

Every time a new camera is announced, there’s a massive marketing campaign, with countless YouTubers and yes, websites like this one extolling its virtues and talking about how awesome this or that new feature is (or potentially is). But the truth is, you have to consider context and you can’t rely on just one source of information for whether or not you should buy that shiny new piece of kit.

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Stop lusting after new gear – Your camera is probably better than you are

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You’ll have to forgive this post coming just a couple of hours before Panasonic is set to announce the shiny new GH6 but with the gear lust I’ve seen in Micro Four Thirds groups lately, it actually seems like some pretty fortuitous timing. Photographer Mitchell Kanashkevich just posted a video about gear and how it doesn’t matter. And, yes, we’ve all heard that before, “the best camera is the one that’s with you”, etc. But this one actually comes with some pretty compelling backup.

I’ve had people over the years swearing to me that they could tell the difference between images shot on APS-C cameras vs full-frame cameras for years. Usually, I challenge them by throwing down a stack of 18×12 prints and make them pick which is which. They always get it wrong. This video kind of aims to do the same thing but with a bit more of an explanation than I usually have the patience to give.

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How to overcome camera gear addiction

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From curated Instagram accounts to the digital aisles of online stores, the temptation of shiny new tech is everpresent. There’s always something new and improved that I ‘need’ to be a better photographer. A filter for this, an adapter for that, an extra few megapixels here, a pinch of dynamic range there… and don’t get me started on lenses, tripods, and backpacks.

Truth be told, practice — not purchase — makes perfect. Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia, said it best: The more you know, the less you need.

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Is “Does gear matter?” the most pointless argument in photography?

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The question “Does gear matter?” probably ever since photography became more widely available. Some swear that it does, some that it doesn’t, we’ve heard it all before. But photographer Robert Hall takes a different approach to the topic. In his latest video, he discusses the argument itself, wondering if it’s the most pointless argument photographers keep having.

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New photographers, here are five things you should never buy

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Ah, buying new camera gear. The most exciting moment in every photographer’s life. When you’re just starting, you sure need a bunch of stuff – but don’t rush! There are some things that you should never buy, no matter how tempting they seem, and in this video, Miguel Quiles gives you five of them. Let’s see if you agree.

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Stop buying stuff! Having the latest gear won’t make you a better photographer

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We can argue forever if gear matters or not, and we won’t get anywhere. Sure, in some cases it does, but you don’t need the latest gear to take some epic photos. If you’re feeling frustrated because you can’t afford to upgrade, this video from Taylor Jackson could boost your confidence and inspire you to go out and shoot regardless of the gear that you have.

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Photographer regrets buying this gear; what are your regrets?

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Even if you don’t suffer from the so-called Gear Acquisition Syndrome, I’m sure that you’ve bought some gear that turned out to be a bad investment. Evan Ranft sure has. In this fun video, he lists all the gear that was a totally bad choice and that he now regrets buying. Are any of these items on your list as well?

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Three reasons why minimalistic approach to camera gear is good for your photography

Some people see minimal gear as a limitation, while others rather see it as a challenge and possibility. Buying less gear will save you lots of cash, that’s for sure. But Joris Hermans believes that a minimalistic approach to gear is also good for your photography and creativity. Let’s see how it improves them.

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