Why you shouldn’t buy new camera gear

The truth is never easy to swallow. Take for example to answer for the oh-so-popular question, what camera should I buy? Most will suffix this questions with something like “I heard that the new Canon 5dmk4 is awesome” or “I am considering starting with the Sony A7III” to add some background.  This is a weird thing to ask, considering that gear does not make your photography better. Sure, some gear makes some types of photography possible, but it rarely makes it better. The right answer to this question will probably save you quite a lot of money, but also force you to take responsibility for your final photos.

In this short video, Pye Jirsa of SLR Lounge explains why the best investment in gear is never buying new gear. (ok, there is a point when that latest model does make sense, but it is usually far, far down the road).

The truth is that cameras that were “incredible” just three or four years ago are in the market for incredibly low prices compared to getting that shiny new gear. This is not your usual “Ansel Adams shot all his photos on film cameras” kind of rant. This is to say that you can get the top-of-the-line camera of four years ago for hundreds of dollars vs. thousands of dollars for today’s top-of-the-line cameras. And you know what, those cameras are taking great photos when it comes to technical aspects. (I just learned the Gilmar Smith, for example,  uses a Canon 5DmkII, a $400 camera, which was announced 10 years ago, are her photos bad? I don’t think so!).

Where should you spend your money then? I would say mostly in learning and practice. Only get more gear when you feel that the gear you have is used to its max and you you are seeking out that extra five or ten percent which your gear just won’t let you. Then go ahead and spend money on gear. Not one second before.

[via SLR Lounge]