Why I swapped my “professional” DSLR camera for the cheapest option available

July 3, 2017 by Ion Paciu 22 Comments

As anyone who follows me on Facebook will know, I recently purchased a new photographic photography camera system – camera body and lenses. This wasn’t an “upgrade”, however, and was, in fact, a “downgrade”.

I got myself a Canon 100D, which is the smallest, cheapest, lightest entry-level DSLR on the market today (Canon call it: “for beginners”, well, we will see). Along with the body, I picked up a an entry level 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens, as well as a 55-250mm f/4-5.6 kit entry level telephoto lens.

Image taken during one of my one to one photography workshops outdoor natural light + ice-light with Canon 100D + 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens

Now, you may be wondering why I would make the change from a 5D Mark III DSLR to such a “cheap” and “beginners camera” option.

Well, the reason is that lately a lot of people had been complimenting my images and leaving comments like “wow, your camera is so cool, so professional”, “what camera do you use”, etc.?

This bothered me somewhat because as a teacher I know that, even with the best tools in the world, you won’t take good photographs unless you are competent and skilled and you understand what exactly makes a good photograph.

Image taken outdoor natural light with Canon 100D + 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens

When teaching my photography courses and workshops in London, I always tell students to focus on the things I am saying, on the topics of the course and not worry about the equipment I’m using, and to make the most of their equipment.

Photography is not about the camera. Having a more expensive camera does not make you a better photographer. To take the best images, you need the skills and knowledge of light, composition, and knowing what to capture and when. Yes, the tool will make a difference (a more expensive camera with higher ISO and a more expensive lens with a larger aperture) in some situations, but again, that is a technical limitation that might be only needed from time to time.

Close-up natural light portrait with Canon 100D + 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens – observe the level of details!

If you want to take great photographs you need to train your eye to see like the camera so that you can compose an image entirely in your mind (eye) before you ever point the camera at the subject.

Below are some images I have taken with my new, “cheap entry level beginner” camera. I hope they inspire you to get past the idea that the camera is the most important thing in photography and start viewing yourself and your skills and knowledge as the key element!

Image taken outdoor natural light with Canon 100D + 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens

Having the right photographic equipment may be a prerequisite and paramount sometimes, but it’s not necessarily the end of the world, and it’s not what defines a great photograph, but the skills, and the knowledge of light, composition, and having a great trained “eye” and mind! It is the next 15 cm behind a camera that allows one to “make” to be a good photographer!

Stop pixel peeping and start learning what makes a good photograph!

Image taken outdoor natural light with Canon 100D + a cheap telephoto Sigma lens

Image taken outdoor natural light with Canon 100D + 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens

Image taken outdoor using speedlites and natural light with Canon 100D + 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens

Image taken outdoor natural light with Canon 100D + 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens

About the author

Ion Paciu is a proactive London based freelance professional photographer and a member of The Royal Photographic Society. He specialises in architecture/cityscape and people / portrait photography. You can find out more about Ion, his work and workshops on his website. This article was also published here and shared with permission.

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Ian Brace

By use I have a Nikon D5100 and the most I’ve spent is £320 on a Sigma 10-18mm, even zoom lens no more than £150.
Jim the Photographer

I only buy entry level Nikon gear (it’s what I can afford) with Tamron lenses. It’s not the camera!
Marcia Fasy

I have two of these cameras. One is converted to IR, the other is because I missed having the unconverted version in my car. I have been happy with this little camera for a long time. It is my go to when I don’t have my full frame camera or when I want to travel light.
Rachael M-Smith

It doesn’t matter what brand of camera u use it all down to experience and knowledge on the settings
Patte McCarthy

Thank you for this article. Gain the knowledge and then practice, practice, practice. This has been my motto which has served me well no matter what equipment I’m using to take photos. I’ve gotten much better with knowledge and practice.
Will Dwinnell

Only photographers look at cameras; Everyone else looks at pictures.

I have been using the Nikon “low end” DSLR bodies since I switched from film. I do wish I had some features of more costly bodies (automatic bracketing and better sensor quality, for instance), but those cameras are heavier, larger and (most importantly for me) much more expensive. I’d rather spend my photography budget on other things, like an array of lenses. Besides, features and sensor quality tend to “trickle down” each generation.
Bryan Brown

I have a Nikon D5200 with kit lens and I love them except the 55-300 I like the shots it takes but hate that its manual focus
Tracy Harman

As a fellow Photography teacher I wholeheartedly agree! This is exactly what I tell my students – it’s not the kit, it’s how you use it. Given that my favourite type of photography is macro, little compact cameras usually outperform bridge cameras and big expensive DSLRs by miles.
- Rachael M-Smith
  
  😊
Frank Nazario

Im your fan brother… Nikon D3200 18-55 kit lens 55-200 kit lens and only now 5 years later have i adopted a Sigma 18-35 1.8 because i find myself covering events where flash is not allowed. anyway here is a sample of the kit lens with 2 speedlights.

https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/cf3642ff89026b9869f899a6ae7081b015bb973cef4350e16cf9e0096e7b7f09.jpg
Clement RENAUT

The gear doesn’t make the photo indeed, but as a wedding photographer I need thing like a double slot for the memory cards. Can’t find one of these on a 100d.
Despite that, 2017 cheap dslr are indeed better than 2005 high end’s ones. There are no reason you could not do great images with them.
Vincent Lai

Very Inspiring, even more so if the same applies to an OLDER entry-level camera (like, uhhhhh, the Nikon D60?)
Henry Rodgers

Not an option for reliable sports or concert shooting but I get the overall idea. Expensive equipment doesn’t really make anyone’s work better. Just makes it easier.
Jamison Donoho

Great article
Dave

Good advertising for Canon.
- Renlish
  
  Go away Dave. Doesn’t matter what he would have said, you would think it’s an ad. Use a Nikon, Sony, Olympus or Leica, if it pleases you.
Luc Andre Paquette

It’s the photographer that makes the photos, the camera is just the tool to do so.

When You serve a guest for dinner, they never don’t say… “Wow, you must have a great stove”, the same should be said about photography.
Feroz Khan

“wow, your camera is so cool, so professional”

With this gear switch, all that’s going to change in the comments of viewers, is the word IS to MUST
bartom

Buy the camera that suits what you want to do. You my not need extreme low light ability or a machine guy shutter or the reliability of a dust shielded body or high speed flash sync and so on. In the film days Terry Richardson used to shoot his models with disposable cameras. He did not need allot more for sunny days 🙂
Dcd Sales Dave Albrecht

Beginning photographers look for cameras, experienced photographers look for lenses, master photographers look for the light!

Know how to see and use the light and it doesn’t matter much what camera you use!
Oved Ortiz

The way I see it once my photos are printed and viewed by clients, friends or family, no one cares what camera you used they just see a good photo. It’s lighting and composition that matter most.
DarrenMWinter

I swapped my 60D for a 100D. I don’t see any noticeable difference in quality and I’m more inclined to pick it up and use it because it’s so much lighter.