Do you agree with this saying ? Because most of the time great ideas don't come up the way we imagined because of our camera or lens. But sometimes all you need is creativity and to show the meaning of the picture, doesn't matter the quality and maybe because it's entirely an artist's eye, patience and skill that makes an image and not his tools.
A professional photographer friend of mine told me once that you can get great pictures out of the worst of cameras, it's just a matter of knowing what they can and can't do and playing to the strengths of your tools at hand. And of course never discount the photographer's eye.
I think that sometimes the equipment used can make or break SOME shots. I'm sorry but an ipod is just never going to give as good of a shot as a nicer camera would. And there are some shots that I would have definitely gotten had I had a faster lens. So in some cases, yes the equipment matters.
But I have seen some awesome shots come from people using old 4.1mp point and shoot cameras and then people with $1000 camera set ups coming up with awful pictures. It sometimes depends on how well you know the equipment you are using and knowing it's faults and working around them and emphasizing what you can do well with that equipment and your subject (s)
I have a family friend who has spent thousands of dollars on cameras, lenses, and equipment, and who is the single worst photographer I have ever met. I follow people here and on Flickr who have taken some of the most amazing images I've ever seen...with their phones.
I won't say equipment doesn't matter - because, depending on the situation, it does. But, all the fancy equipment in the world isn't going to automatically make you a better photographer. My $.02. :)
@amorton You are right that poor equipment will limit some of the shots that you can get, just because it is not physically capable of getting the shot.
If the photographer does not understand how the settings impact the photographs, then no camera will give them better pictures, ever. If you understand your camera and it cannot give you what you want, then the camera isn't the best for your situation. Only the person behind the lens can bring life and creativity to a photograph and there is no camera in the world that will change that fact.
Blerina i think its both!
But still.. you have to have creativity if you want to be the best! because owning a good camera doesn't make you a creative person.But if you have the creativity and the camera does not capture it as you want it or as you want to show your work than in this case..yeah the equipments matters!
To agree with you I included some pictures that had really great responses and I always try to encourage people who say "I can't take good photos because I do not have a dslr." It is more about the subject, composition and connection other people have to your photo instead of what camera you have.
I think the equipment is somewhat important. A DSLR will take much faster shots than a P&S. I don't think I could ever go back to a P&S and take photos at the same rate. As for cellphones, they are compact but don't have as good MP. Each have their own times that they are best for.
But I also agree that the person behind the camera also factors a lot into the quality of the shot. No camera will help with crooked motion blurred shots in dark conditions.
In my opinion the camera doesn't matter, its the photographer. I've seen fantastic photos, such as what @brumbe posted, taken on phones. Having a good quality camera helps but its nothing if you don't know how to use it or lack creativity :)
Equipment can make a difference but it cannot replace a photographer's eye. I can compose a shot just as well with an iPhone as I can with my Nikon. They are completely different pieces of equipment but I know what they can do (well, at least mostly...) and use them to the best of my abilities. There are people here doing entire projects with their camera phones/iPhones and there are pros here using thousands of dollars in equipment. One is not better than the other, it is all in the eye of the beholders. =)
You might enjoy watching the world famous photographer, Chase Jarvis, use a Lego camera. He wants to prove that it's not the camera that matters, it's the person behind the camera
I agree that the camera doesn't matter. Each Camera has its own unique attributes, strengths and weakness. The photographer has to know the limits of the equipment and what it can do.
Sure equipment will help..but a lot of equipment and little knowledge of it can be detrimental to photos too. I shoot on a dslr and I also shoot with an iPod Touch 4.
I wish I could remember where I first heard this story. It's the one about a photographer visiting an old friend for dinner. The friend saw one of the photographer's recent images and said "That's beautiful, you must have a very good camera!" After supper the photographer said to the host: "That was delicious, you must have a very good stove!"
knowing your equipment in photography is just like knowing your limits as a human being. a photographer should not say they're a pro and shoot a wedding with an iPhone camera...that's just idiotic. I also wouldn't expect a casual attendee at a party to have a DSLR to capture snapshot memories...although it could happen. A DSLR doesn't equate to making money, and an iPhone camera or app doesn't equate to being an amateur. Know the limits of the equipment and use it appropriately. :)
For me it does, but my situation only reinforces what most are saying ... I have a Canon P&S and the photos are pretty ordinary ... I almost always use my Canon 400D and am happy with them .... why? I know what I'm doing with with DSLR ;)
I have plenty of friends who have purchased far superior models of Canon than I yet my photos are better quality ...
@sunnygreenwood - This is spot on and the comment my husband often uses ...
@beautifulthing I could not agree more. I have seen the same thing. People with better (or shall I say more expensive) equipment taking the worst photos ever and making the equipment look bad. It again comes down to situation and skill level and knowing the limits of your equipment.
You need the right tool for the right job, but if you don't know how to use the tool it's all pointless.
You want to dig a hole. Get a shovel. You need a deep hole. Get an auger. You need a hole for a skyscraper. Get a backhoe. All these tools does the same thing, they just do it with different degrees of ease and with different options. That is the difference between mobile device, P&S, bridge, DSLR, and film cameras.
in my opinion you just need to know how to use your camera. i don't have a DSLR and it would be easier to shot some of my ideas with it, but i improvise or just try even if it's impossible for me to do it (i still need to improve a lot), if i fail it doesn't matter, i always think of something else to point my camera at
I think if you know what you are doing, a better camera is just a more useful tool. You still have to put together a good shot and that is a talent some have more of than others.
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But I have seen some awesome shots come from people using old 4.1mp point and shoot cameras and then people with $1000 camera set ups coming up with awful pictures. It sometimes depends on how well you know the equipment you are using and knowing it's faults and working around them and emphasizing what you can do well with that equipment and your subject (s)
I think this all makes sense :P
I won't say equipment doesn't matter - because, depending on the situation, it does. But, all the fancy equipment in the world isn't going to automatically make you a better photographer. My $.02. :)
But still.. you have to have creativity if you want to be the best! because owning a good camera doesn't make you a creative person.But if you have the creativity and the camera does not capture it as you want it or as you want to show your work than in this case..yeah the equipments matters!
Iphone
Point and Shoot
But I also agree that the person behind the camera also factors a lot into the quality of the shot. No camera will help with crooked motion blurred shots in dark conditions.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wX76k-chflo&feature=share
Sure equipment will help..but a lot of equipment and little knowledge of it can be detrimental to photos too. I shoot on a dslr and I also shoot with an iPod Touch 4.
@brumbe I agree, and btw great photos you posted!
I have plenty of friends who have purchased far superior models of Canon than I yet my photos are better quality ...
@sunnygreenwood - This is spot on and the comment my husband often uses ...
You want to dig a hole. Get a shovel. You need a deep hole. Get an auger. You need a hole for a skyscraper. Get a backhoe. All these tools does the same thing, they just do it with different degrees of ease and with different options. That is the difference between mobile device, P&S, bridge, DSLR, and film cameras.