Just pre ordered mine , I can't wait to forget and then be greeted by a surprise email later in the year with the shipping information! Cheers for all the videos and your artwork James , I've personally found your thoughts down to earth and insightful along with having great artwork that personally appeals to me. All the best !
Please elaborate on the difference between the two versions of the book! I want to get one but they seem the same to me: please elaborate with detail! ❤
@@RedSapTree423 One is a copy of the limited edition book The other is A copy of the limited edition book that has been Signed & numbered Plus a Personal handwritten message and a print.
@@nickguzman1734 Well, yea, but if pleasing consumers hurts your bottom line, you rather don't please them. Canon is very competitively priced with their bodies, they have fantastic value for money, they clearly make their money selling lenses. If people don't buy their lenses but third party, they would have to charge more for their cameras to make up for this loss.
@@Eikenhorst you realize everyone is saying their cameras are overpriced, right? Especially the new R5ii and R1. 400 bucks for a grip with a fan in it...
I don’t really get the argument that there is a lack of 3rd party or budget lenses for the RF Canon cameras…they have their fairly inexpensive EF-RF adapter and a huge selection of EF lenses that include 3rd party so why not buy those? Yes I understand that it’s not their new lenses but the main argument is “budget” and they work amazingly well. I continue to use a couple of my EF lenses on my R6 camera and I’m extremely happy with the results. I know this isn’t a popular opinion and I’m going to get some hate but…. 🤫…😂
Just an FYI. I watch photographers based on personality not the gear they use. I'm always interested in how they think and create, the gear is always secondary.
Personally, i like a healthy mix. Although there are enough photography youtubers that i can watch 100% only ones i like the personality of. But having some share gearcentricness is also good to get some opinions on relevant lenses and/or bodies. But i have absolutely no worries sticking to a channel using different brands if the person seems nice and the content is interesting. Especially since each brand will have some bias to their users, such as having more or less hybrid shooters or wildlife shooters etc.
A recent workshop I went on a couple of people asked me ‘what do you shoot?’ to which I answered, mainly landscapes, but also night scenes, architecture, whatever interests me really …. it only later dawned on me that that wasn’t what they meant Which is fine - it just never occurred to me though
I don't dare put all my cameras and lenses together in one place. The realisation of how much money I have needlessly shelled out in my camera and lens collection hobby when I only use about 5% of it might be a bit overwhelming.
I’m the same.. I have an R5 and a couple of lenses for it.. Then there’s my other stuff.. ! I must have about 20 other cameras that I collect because they’re nice things to have.. I’ve just got on to point and shoot cameras.. It’s another strand of camera obsession and CCD sensors…aahhhh!!
I shoot Canon. I have for many years and own multiple bodies. I know that you don’t shoot Canon but that’s not why I watch your channel. I watch your channel because of your knowledge. I can apply just about anything from your channel to my own photography. The reason is, you cover a lot of topics including picture composition, which I love. Oh, and you’re funny and tell compelling stories haha.
18:54 Yay I made it in a James Popsys video! - This was an interesting video seeing what others have. Some of it was surprising! Glad to see other film photographers watch James too :)
I watched your channel while i had fuji only, Leica only and yet Sony only....so I don't think gear is important to enjoy your channel. I like your channel because your shots are gorgeous, your video themes are interesting and you are a pretty cool guy. I don't care what gear you use for creating your work. 👌
This may have been the best photography based video I've seen on UA-cam in years. I'm an absolute weirdo for data, and I found both the data and the analysis of the data to be fascinating. Top shelf.
Great video. I wish I had submitted my camera kit now. I think you are correct that we follow channels that use our primary brand... having said that, I use Nikon primarily. I love your approach to photography, how we as humans interact with nature, I find it quite inspiring. Keep up the good work, will look soon to order the book.
You almost hit the nail on the head with why there aren't as many drones. There are so many places you're not allowed to fly them in the US. Not in national parks. In the state I live in (Missouri) you can't use them in any state park or wildlife area. The county I live in has banned them except for commercial use. You need to be licensed....The list goes on.
got all the old Pentax lenses from my dad so now I got the K1 markII. its fun to shoot with the same lenses I borrowed from my dad 40 years ago. It's nice to be so familiar with them dad you know exactly what they. do. And wit modern editing they only got better.
What this research tells me is that I REALLY need to sell of a lot of gear. In almost five decades of using and collecting proper cameras for photography, my data entry would be off the charts. Interesting results.
Here professional photographer: -Canon R6 -Canon 85mm 1.8 -Canon 35mm 1.4 As a second camera a normally rent a r6, then I am always shooting with 2 prime lenses simultaneously. Thinking to get the r5, but price difference for some MP don’t seem to be so worth at the current camera price. Some people make fun of my really minimalist set, but so far I have 5 stars out of 50 reviews in google and 99% good reviews from private and corporate customers.
I'd love to see this an an annual video where once a year, a series of polls are put out to see what the camera market looks like. It would be so interesting to see how things change over the years
Working in data analytics myself (aka dork), I enjoyed this video. I think keeping it about simple, visual, pie charts of descriptive stats - tells a clear story. In the future you could ask subeqent questions in your survey that'll clarify your assumptions, and give you opportunities to cross-reference different variables. .....like I said, dork. Never knew about the confirmation bias in how people subscribe to photography channels - though not surprising. Wonder which is more prominent - people follow channels with the same kit, or people are influenced by those they follow to learn and purchase the same kit? Longtime Nikon user here, on a Lumix/Sony channel, so I wonder if there are other factors too. Love your channel, and all the different, meaningful, ways you talk about photography! A real breathe of fresh air on photography UA-cam.
Just ordered the book James. Been following this channel since 2018 and so glad you're finally releasing one. Can't wait to see it. Keep up the amazing work 💪🏼💪🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Admittedly, I started watching your videos because you were shooting with the Panasonic G9. I owned one, too, so I found your take on the camera insightful. I still own my Panasonic G9. There's something about that camera that just makes me want to use it. I absolutely love taking that camera out with me.
Been following your journey for a while now. Thank you for being a role model and an online mentor in the photography world. Your work is making a difference, and it has earned you a loyal follower. I look forward to flipping through the pages of the book when it comes out 😊
I saw my kit! 😃 Admittingly i put in wayy too much effort into typing up why i use what for, why i have canon and fuji and why what bag… and trying to make the best out of my inability to make a neat kit shot as others did 🙈. I just hope my ramblings where worth something! At least 0.25s of a video 😇
I shoot Sony but didn’t take photos of my kit/ sent a vote on. For me it’s a tool for a job and it does it beautifully. I’m not particularly proud though. My A7IV is just a camera. I’m not too surprised by the film vote though. Your photos have a film ish look which I love. I’m definitely pre-ordering the book. You’re probably my biggest inspiration. “Take photos about things, not of things” is seriously the best advice I’ve ever heard.
Well, you have helped me realize I have a serious gear addiction! I am constantly reminding myself that I need to really shed some gear. Maybe it's because I am an Engineer, but I found your data interesting regardless of whether you can call it "real" research or not. It is still data, and provides at least a modicum of insight into the photography landscape.
This was a really interesting video which made me think about my own usage. I used to lug heavy Nikon film cameras with a backpack of primes over the hills (often with a mono Pentax) but as age catches up my preferred set up is an Olympus EM5 with just two lenses in a holster with spare battery & SD card. I still enjoy my picture taking and by discovering Lightroom processing in the last 5 years I am happy as ever. Thanks for the video.
Just ordered the book and can’t be more excited, your channel is a huge reason for my journey in photography so having that will mean a lot more than just some photos in a book so excited is an understatement
Nice James...very interesting. Something to consider regarding the data of purchases from MPB...I don't think the data showing a decline in Canon and Nikon is necessarily a reflection of anything to do with those brands' technology or capability and photographers attitudes toward those cameras. Instead, something to consider is - if people are not selling their cameras, those might not be as readily available on resale sites. For instance, if a person is looking for a full frame mirrorless, the Canon R5 might not be as available for used purchase if people tend to hold on to them - therefore, their sales would likely decrease relative to the other available full frame mirrorless. Also, if someone is simply looking for a mirrorless camera, regardless of brand - they might go with a second or third choice because their first was either not available or out of their price range. Thus, purchase trends on resale sites might not be a reflection of what people are "using" - instead it might be a reflection of what photographers are not selling or what is affordable for people buying cameras from resale sites.
Exactly. Looking at used items sales tells us what brands are going out of fashion. You'll find loads of Sony mirrorless because they were the first. Nikon and Canon were late comers to the game, so people are now buying them and selling their early purchases of Sony. After all, with adapters you can use most lenses on most cameras
Very excited for Human Nature! Your photography style has really influenced my work recently and I do not have nearly enough photo books. So you better believe I jumped straight on that pre-order!
Would love to see a video where you pick out some of the most interesting kits that you saw... Maybe looking at people who had the most surprising kit or very specialized kit?
Next time, instead of a photo and a list, you can create a Google Form with a photo upload as an option to get much better and easier statistics and showcase the cool kits in the video too.
This is such a fun video for data nerds like me! 🤓 I completely agree about how good zooms have gotten. I seem to shoot nearly everything on the 24-70 GM ii and get phenomenal results.
Great video (as always) and my preorder for Hunan Nature is in. So happy you’re at the publishing stage with this project and I hope it’s a roaring success!
I hate the uneven load with shoulder bags. I'd choose a lightweight backpack kit everyday over a shoulder bag / sling / messenger bag. It doesn't matter how light it is, it's not good for your back.
Cross-body bags are way better than one-side shoulder bags, and backpacks have a huge disadvantage: you have to take a backpack off to get the camera out. A lot of us would miss pictures or simply not shoot in a lot of situations if the bag had to be removed for the camera to get used. A cross-body bag allows the camera to come out, get used, and get put away without the bag position being changed.
Interesting stuff James. I agree that drones may have peaked. I sold mine after ~2 years of ownership because it was so difficult to find a desirable location that wasn't discouraged or prohibited by the scourge of liberty throughout human history - government. I am impressed by how many of your countrymen seem to fly their's in National Parks. Without going through the Bee Ess of getting waivers, that is prohibited stateside. Love your movies, keep'em comin'.
On the subject of drones: I would strongly argue they haven't had their day. Mine (DJI Mini 4 Pro) I basically use as a huge tripod. When I can't hover myself 30ft above a waterfall to get the shot I want, I deploy the drone. And it does a great job. I shoot mainly landscape and wildlife. I use Fuji medium format (gfx100s) for most landscape and Nikon (Z8) for wildlife. I have 2 lenses for each and they cover everything i will ever need. I use a backpack as I hike and walk a lot and it works better for me than a shoulder bag plus they manage the weight better. The limitations I've worked around over the years are NOT taking all that kit with me everywhere. If I'm out to shoot wildlife in the Highlands I'll take the Z8 with the 180-600. Very versatile wildlife set up but as anyone who has carried that will tell you, it's hard to take that AND the Fuji for a casual landscape shot as it wouldn't be a bag I need, it would be a wheelbarrow. So it's not about carrying everything with you all the time, its about planning your mission and equipping accordingly.
I use a 4K 60 10-Bit Camcorder with a 1/2.3" sensor, but I works for everything I really use it for. As long as I'm not shooting after sunset (or lights after sunset), the camera performs well. I still get to use built-in ND filters, full manual controls, and I have a 25-600mm equivalent lens with an f/1.8 - f/4.0 aperture. Now about the "low light" part, I typically don't turn up my gain at all. If it turn up my gain to 6, the image is usually bright enough with little noise. While I may not have even have an APS-C size sensor, much less medium format, I think it is plenty acceptable for home videos and trips with my family. Also, I'm only 16, so buying a $5,999 camera isn't really an option right now. 😅
Ordering out of the UK is such a pain for me with strange shipping fees and delays, really would love to get my hands on your book though because i appreciate your work deeply. I can confirm this choice of photographers on youtube based on gear is a thing i'm prone to myself. I think it's natural since you might gather insights on gear you might want to pick up yourself or in the opposite learn about gear you want to skip. I'm often curious what talented people achieve with lenses i own, it can spark creativity and motivation for me.
I think with canon and Nikon are doing just fine. The Z8 , ZF and Z9 are doing great. Your channel is about street photography and Nikon and Canon cameras are not as popular for street photography. Their cameras are fairly big. Full frame DSLR type of size.
Hi James, I suspect there is a bit of a selection bias in terms of people following your current movement towards a small FF body and a preferred focal length prime. A mate of mine who for years lugged a Canon DSLR up hills recently switched to a Sony A7something plus a wide angle F1.4 prime lens. I'm still happy playing around with my GX8, a standard zoom, and maybe a couple of other lenses when I go for a wander.
Superb video, it was so interesting, you gotta love some stats! Maybe next time you could share the results of the study so that we're able to give it a look ourselves? Maybe also include exactly how many people responded to the poll and associate the numbers with the percentages so that we have an idea of the size of the sample? Thanks a lot the really good work
Speaking for me, I'd totally watch photographers using Canon, Sony or other brands rather than Fuji. But the algorithm mainly suggests me Fuji content. Don't know what came first, the egg or chicken. But I think you are right, most photographers are kept in their bubble.
There are definitely a few channels I watch just because they heavily feature Sony (which I use at work) and Lumix (which I use at home). Mostly to keep up on lenses etc. Don't really watch yours for the gear, but I suspect that I did initially find your channel because of the Lumix connection.
I have 5 cameras. 2 point and shoot, Sony ZV1 and Canon SX730. 2 mirrorless, Canon M50 & Sony ZVE-10. And 1 micro 4/3, Olympus Pen E-PL8. And my favourite is the Sony ZVE-10 with the 24mm G lens. Perfect combo.
What a very interesting set of data! Thank you so much for doing this it was a cool overview to also understand more about the community that we've got here! Like film cameras! My film camera is an OM-1 from the 70s gifted to me by my parents. It still works impeccably. But like you've said on your channel we can basically edit any digital photo to look the same, so honestly it probably doesn't even matter anymore as the lines blur between what is real film and what's been edited
The problem that I have with shoulder bags is that they don't stay put on your body the way a backpack does. If I bend over, it slides around and hangs if front of me. If I want it behind me, it slides to my side. I'm a hiker and for this reason shoulder bags are troublesome when climbing. Shoulder bags also generally don't have a place to store a water bottle or a tripod. A good backpack with chest and waist straps stays in place. It is a lot more of a pain to swap lenses or grab filters with a backpack though. I guess it depends on the activity.
Hey James! Have you heard of frank lloyd wright? He’s an American architect that specialized in building mainly houses that are tied into nature. I think your style of photography would be perfect for a shoot at some of his sites
Do a colab version of this same video concept with youtubers primarily using cameras from the most popular (or talked about) camera brands: Sony, Canon, Nikon, Fujifilm, and Lumix (maybe also Hasselblad).
This is great and super interesting. A few of the results are 100% skewed by film shooters. I shoot both and have a single digital (not including my phone) but have 7 film cameras all for a different purpose or format. Also, i think your comment on the Nifty 50 is spot on. get the kit lens and then the first logical upgrade is a 50 1.8.
Ironically I started watching just about the time you switched to a G9. Needless to say, I still use a G9. But it seriously did have all the features and erganomics I wanted which others lacked. It may actually have been that I started watching you because at the time I wanted a G9. haha. :P
I found your channel years ago watching a G85 review and just enjoyed your content regardless of what brand you used. Went from Panasonic micro43 to Fuji to Panasonic S5. Just saying. Thanks for the content.
I have been a long-time subscriber to Nigel and Mads (before I even knew you all knew each other) and found your channel because of your Lumix ambassador work. I, independently shifted to Sony when the budget allowed, but I keep the subscription here for the faff and laughs.
This was really interesting! Just as a matter of curiosity, I did find your channel based on camera, but tangentially - I shoot Fuji which is how I came across Roman Fox’ channel, and he in turn put me on to yours. Then stayed due to personality/presentation and general interest!
That was an interesting study. The reason I wanted to comment was that you said that most of your followers also use the same camera brand as you. I don't, but I follow you on this platform because I enjoy your wry humour and the humble way you present yourself. And also because I love your images.
Definitely enjoyed this video, I’d like to see more. Maybe you can do a crossover with other UA-camrs with slightly different audiences in an attempt to broaden the dataset. Would be interesting to see similar charts on metadata trends as well.
I have a blog where I've done a year in review every year since at least 2017. Maybe earlier, but I broke things back in 2016 and I just now noticed issues. I like to break down my personal lens, camera, and lens+camera usage every year and see what it looks like. I will use some of this to decide what equipment to sell, but that was paused in 2020 for obvious reasons. All of my old stuff has so low value that it is now just worth keeping for just in case. Now to the fun part - in the last 4 years I've managed to acquire 2 old Soviet cameras. They are film cameras, one from ~1962 the other from ~1982. They are so much fun, so different, and just something 'new'. I was also given the last camera my grandfather purchased, a Minolta film camera from 1988. This camera has basically been sitting in a closet since 1989, and is in perfect condition. But I still use a Nikon D850/D750 combo for most things. The D850 is 6 years old and the D750 is 9 years old. I haven't felt a need/desire to buy the new thing as I have all of the lenses I could need. So as long as they keep working, along with my 11 year old D800 and 15 year old D300, why change?
I'm following fewer and fewer photography you tube channels now, but have always loved your style and subject matter right up there, as it really resinates with my own interest. I have to say I much prefer your location and technique videos than anything gear related. Just my opinion, I'm probably in the minority. Book looks fab too, some of your great images I can see in there!
Oh, man...I sit on the edge of every single one of these graphs. Didn't know about this survey, but I've been collecting all sorts of old lenses/cameras to play with for cheap. I've got all sorts of normal stuff and weird stuff at this point, so every bit of those "outlier" categories on the charts I would fit squarely into. Finding stuff for dirt cheap has been so much fun, that I've got all sorts of weird kits. I went out the other day with a Canon 30D that had an adapted Mamiya-Sekor C (medium format) 55mm f/2.8 lens on it...all of which cost me probably $15 total to get. Have been finding so many wild deals that my collection is growing like crazy.
I think the high volume of film shooters in your audience might be due to the fact that your photography has a look that is pretty 'filmic'. It's why I've watched a lot of your content, as someone who has over a dozen film cameras from 35mm up to 4x5 but barely uses them due to the increasing costs of development and printing. Your work seems to catch that 'something special' that I see in film photography. Hard to explain, but there is something soulful that I see in my film shots that is purged out of the camera by digital, but your post work manages to put that feel back in, so I've really enjoyed watching your vids on post processing. (also from my perspective nothing to do with Sony vs whatever, but more about the 'look' of your work and your views on composition and post-processing which are always interesting/useful)
Cheers James, it’s Sean in Atlanta! This was an excellent idea for a video and really enlightening! I have switched from using my zoom on my Nikon to almost exclusively using my 40 mm or 50 mm prime lens. On my Olympus, I only have prime lenses! I have purchased one backpack in my eight year career in photography and about 16 Messenger bags! Hmm, I might have a problem in that area… What I found most interesting were the camera brands that were the most popular and Sony being number one did not surprise me at all. And it’s the only brand, besides Canon, that I have never tried. Saturday, at KEH, there is a Fujifilm presentation. I am interested in the XT5 and I also want to look at that XT50. Who knows, maybe GAS will get the better of me once again… Thanks, James! Really excellent video! Sean
I wish I’d caught this survey! My UA-cam feed has been dominated by only one minor interest lately instead of the rest. I love this channel. lol So chill and great shots! I have a Nikon Z50, and enjoy it well enough, but I’m still learning and don’t really have any downtime from work to go hiking or anything. I’m planning a cross-country trip next year that I’ll be taking my gear on. Maybe something cool will come along!
Well it's obvious why people have one zoom or several primes, isn't it? 🤣 I have film cameras because my brother wasn't using them and I was interested in the lenses. He tidied up the whole lot and I can't dispose of them. One of them is a sixties Pentax and just operating the mechanics is soooo satisfying. It's what my grandfather bought when he became unable to work and needed to get out more. All family photos up to the nineties were made with it. And don't worry. You have your reasons for wandering off, but someone who buys a GX1 and calls it his favourite camera in almost every video is still a Lumix fan.
Oh, I have a GX1, a GX80, a G80 and a G9ii, and an Olympus omd-em5ii. Zooms: 14-140mm, 100-300mm, 12-32mm, 14-42 powerzoom, Olympus 9-18mm. Primes: 20mm f/1.7, and a few cheap Chinese fast primes, to see if I would like to have more expensive primes. Still not sure. Important: body cap lenses: Olympus 9mm, 15mm, 7artisans 18mm f/5.6 Mark i and mark ii. I love body cap lenses. Just focus on composition and nothing else. If the idea was good, the photo is good. Even if it's sharpish at best.
Started to watch your content for the gear (and you're in part responsible for what I have now!), kept watching for the charm and skill. A bit gutted I missed the call for gear as I'm an outlier in just about everything tracked in your scientific data analysis, but I'd have to leave a few dozens of kids to starve for a day to send my gear. Well maybe I should have.
Intriguing video James, thanks! Curious how the R5ii might impact those trajectories in a few months. I wasn't actually sure if you were still shooting Sony... I found you way back with M43 when i was trying to decide on a Lumix G85. Ended up with an RP that quickly changed to a Z6ii, to an A7IV, and finally the A7RV is everything I really wanted all of them to be! Have loved watching your journey, excited for your book! Well Done Brother! Edit: I'm not sure I've ever seen a tech video of your Sony setup before, would love to see one or maybe a redux.
I didn't subscribe to your channel because of your gear. I did subscribe because I like your attitude to how you go about taking pictures. your philosophy, if you will. your self deprecating, slightly distracted, sense of humour and style also helps. all I ask of a camera (3 by the way [unless you count my old film gear, in which case 5], and a lens for each, plus a spare all zooms) is that, it sees what I see, and lets me take those pictures with minimal fuss and tinkering. or as little as possible under the circumstances. keep on doing that thing that you do, as the old song goes.
I don't know if I'm typical or not, but I've been an amateur photographer for ages. Earlier in the analog days I always sold/traded in when I upgraded, but with digital old gear loose value so fast (maybe changed somewhat the last years) that it's little point in selling and I keep them as backup or camera I can lend someone without it being too valuable. That mean I have quite a few cameras but "only" three (very different ones) that I consider current. Interesting thought that people watch channels where that use the same brand as themselves. I'm pretty interested in gear, but what the photographer on the channel use is not important. If anything it's more interesting to get info about gear I don't use than gear I use, know and can test myself.
As to the primes, home editing and higher resolution may make cropping easier to explore. Take a wider base photo and correct the composition in the edit. Yes you still need a quality starting point but the rusted fire plug is less critical.
Yes a more indepth into gear and maybe into EXIF data and editing software also ! I use flickr a lot and I think it is nice to see what gear, what settings and software photographers use.
I did a kit slim down when I last upgraded my main body. I went from 5 primes and a zoom down to 2 primes and one zoom. As a breakdown of what I use most, 40mm - 40%, 85mm - 40%, 28-200mm - 18% and 14mm - 2%. The only change I would consider is swapping the zoom for something with more reach (perhaps 100-400mm) but I do really like the flexibility that the 28-200 gives me. I'm very tempted to dump the 14mm as I've barely used it. I do also have 2 film kits that I use very rarely for special occasions (processing costs), both of which have a nifty fifty (OM10 and Nikon F80). I used to have a Fuji X70 and wholeheartedly regret selling that as it was an amazing pocketable EDC camera.
I didn't submit a photo of my kit. But if I would, it would only include my main camera. I do own a drone, but it wouldn't cross my mind to include this. I also have an Olympus TG6 that I only use for underwater photography that also wouldn't be on the picture as I don't consider it part of my photography kit. I also have a lens that I never ever use and is such poor quality I am ashamed of owning it that also wouldn't have made it onto such a picture as it never goes in my bag. Basically, there is a selection bias that can greatly skew the results.
James, mostly I follow your channel because of your interesting composition and your ability to turn manmade objects into photographic art. I really don’t care what brand of camera that you use. I don’t think the camera brand has a whole lot to to with artistic vision.
The Book: www.jamespopsys.com/human-nature-book
🙂
Ordered! Really looking forward to it. Well done!
Just pre ordered mine , I can't wait to forget and then be greeted by a surprise email later in the year with the shipping information!
Cheers for all the videos and your artwork James , I've personally found your thoughts down to earth and insightful along with having great artwork that personally appeals to me.
All the best !
Please elaborate on the difference between the two versions of the book! I want to get one but they seem the same to me: please elaborate with detail! ❤
Can't wait to get the book! cheers!
@@RedSapTree423
One is a copy of the limited edition book
The other is
A copy of the limited edition book that has been Signed & numbered
Plus a Personal handwritten message and a print.
And i have studied your cameras. Checkmate!
😂
Check, mate! /s
The /s here stands for surrealism
🫡
What do you want us to check, mate?
Literally the only channel on UA-cam that can get me to watch an entire 18 minutes of pie charts.
Mmmmmm pie.
😂😂
Canon messed up by banning 3rd party lenses for a while. We like choice, if you don't give us choice then we walk!
Yeah, dude! And they're still effectively banned for full frame. Such an anti-consumer move.
It's amazing how consumers are so utterly simple to please, and companies can't resist destroying their reputations to test these simple boundaries
@@nickguzman1734 Well, yea, but if pleasing consumers hurts your bottom line, you rather don't please them. Canon is very competitively priced with their bodies, they have fantastic value for money, they clearly make their money selling lenses. If people don't buy their lenses but third party, they would have to charge more for their cameras to make up for this loss.
@@Eikenhorst you realize everyone is saying their cameras are overpriced, right? Especially the new R5ii and R1. 400 bucks for a grip with a fan in it...
I don’t really get the argument that there is a lack of 3rd party or budget lenses for the RF Canon cameras…they have their fairly inexpensive EF-RF adapter and a huge selection of EF lenses that include 3rd party so why not buy those? Yes I understand that it’s not their new lenses but the main argument is “budget” and they work amazingly well. I continue to use a couple of my EF lenses on my R6 camera and I’m extremely happy with the results. I know this isn’t a popular opinion and I’m going to get some hate but…. 🤫…😂
Just an FYI. I watch photographers based on personality not the gear they use. I'm always interested in how they think and create, the gear is always secondary.
+1
I watch for the gear. I think and create my own.
Personally, i like a healthy mix. Although there are enough photography youtubers that i can watch 100% only ones i like the personality of. But having some share gearcentricness is also good to get some opinions on relevant lenses and/or bodies. But i have absolutely no worries sticking to a channel using different brands if the person seems nice and the content is interesting. Especially since each brand will have some bias to their users, such as having more or less hybrid shooters or wildlife shooters etc.
Good point😅many people get crazy about the camera , the most important thing after all , its the picture
A recent workshop I went on a couple of people asked me ‘what do you shoot?’ to which I answered, mainly landscapes, but also night scenes, architecture, whatever interests me really …. it only later dawned on me that that wasn’t what they meant
Which is fine - it just never occurred to me though
Now I feel like we need to ask my audience and compare !
As someone who watches your channel as well. I'd watch that video for sure.
On l'attend celle là !
That 3.5% Minolta contingent are true people of culture.
100%. If you know, you know.
Shh, don't mention it
oooh, yeah!!! It's my favorite, and I didn't even contribute to the survey.
Minolta x700 here
I love my Minolta SRT-201. 😀
I don't dare put all my cameras and lenses together in one place. The realisation of how much money I have needlessly shelled out in my camera and lens collection hobby when I only use about 5% of it might be a bit overwhelming.
I’m the same.. I have an R5 and a couple of lenses for it.. Then there’s my other stuff.. ! I must have about 20 other cameras that I collect because they’re nice things to have.. I’ve just got on to point and shoot cameras.. It’s another strand of camera obsession and CCD sensors…aahhhh!!
@@johnstaples1606 i feel like i could open my own MPB branch🤣😅🥲
I hear you.🙁
Boy oh boy the last time I gathered it all up I had a panic attack
Why dont you sell some stuff
As a gear nerd and data-addict, I loved this. Good work, James, and thank you.
I shoot Canon. I have for many years and own multiple bodies. I know that you don’t shoot Canon but that’s not why I watch your channel. I watch your channel because of your knowledge. I can apply just about anything from your channel to my own photography. The reason is, you cover a lot of topics including picture composition, which I love. Oh, and you’re funny and tell compelling stories haha.
18:54 Yay I made it in a James Popsys video! - This was an interesting video seeing what others have. Some of it was surprising! Glad to see other film photographers watch James too :)
I watched your channel while i had fuji only, Leica only and yet Sony only....so I don't think gear is important to enjoy your channel. I like your channel because your shots are gorgeous, your video themes are interesting and you are a pretty cool guy. I don't care what gear you use for creating your work. 👌
This may have been the best photography based video I've seen on UA-cam in years.
I'm an absolute weirdo for data, and I found both the data and the analysis of the data to be fascinating. Top shelf.
Great video. I wish I had submitted my camera kit now. I think you are correct that we follow channels that use our primary brand... having said that, I use Nikon primarily. I love your approach to photography, how we as humans interact with nature, I find it quite inspiring. Keep up the good work, will look soon to order the book.
You almost hit the nail on the head with why there aren't as many drones. There are so many places you're not allowed to fly them in the US. Not in national parks. In the state I live in (Missouri) you can't use them in any state park or wildlife area. The county I live in has banned them except for commercial use. You need to be licensed....The list goes on.
got all the old Pentax lenses from my dad so now I got the K1 markII. its fun to shoot with the same lenses I borrowed from my dad 40 years ago. It's nice to be so familiar with them dad you know exactly what they. do. And wit modern editing they only got better.
What this research tells me is that I REALLY need to sell of a lot of gear. In almost five decades of using and collecting proper cameras for photography, my data entry would be off the charts. Interesting results.
Here professional photographer:
-Canon R6
-Canon 85mm 1.8
-Canon 35mm 1.4
As a second camera a normally rent a r6, then I am always shooting with 2 prime lenses simultaneously.
Thinking to get the r5, but price difference for some MP don’t seem to be so worth at the current camera price.
Some people make fun of my really minimalist set, but so far I have 5 stars out of 50 reviews in google and 99% good reviews from private and corporate customers.
I'd love to see this an an annual video where once a year, a series of polls are put out to see what the camera market looks like. It would be so interesting to see how things change over the years
Congrats on getting the book out. Stoked to see it.
Working in data analytics myself (aka dork), I enjoyed this video. I think keeping it about simple, visual, pie charts of descriptive stats - tells a clear story. In the future you could ask subeqent questions in your survey that'll clarify your assumptions, and give you opportunities to cross-reference different variables. .....like I said, dork.
Never knew about the confirmation bias in how people subscribe to photography channels - though not surprising. Wonder which is more prominent - people follow channels with the same kit, or people are influenced by those they follow to learn and purchase the same kit? Longtime Nikon user here, on a Lumix/Sony channel, so I wonder if there are other factors too.
Love your channel, and all the different, meaningful, ways you talk about photography! A real breathe of fresh air on photography UA-cam.
Just ordered the book James. Been following this channel since 2018 and so glad you're finally releasing one. Can't wait to see it. Keep up the amazing work 💪🏼💪🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Admittedly, I started watching your videos because you were shooting with the Panasonic G9. I owned one, too, so I found your take on the camera insightful. I still own my Panasonic G9. There's something about that camera that just makes me want to use it. I absolutely love taking that camera out with me.
Your images are very nice, love your UA-cam content, and you have a very good skeletal framework for future data on this project!
Been following your journey for a while now. Thank you for being a role model and an online mentor in the photography world. Your work is making a difference, and it has earned you a loyal follower. I look forward to flipping through the pages of the book when it comes out 😊
I saw my kit! 😃
Admittingly i put in wayy too much effort into typing up why i use what for, why i have canon and fuji and why what bag… and trying to make the best out of my inability to make a neat kit shot as others did 🙈. I just hope my ramblings where worth something! At least 0.25s of a video 😇
I shoot Sony but didn’t take photos of my kit/ sent a vote on.
For me it’s a tool for a job and it does it beautifully. I’m not particularly proud though. My A7IV is just a camera.
I’m not too surprised by the film vote though. Your photos have a film ish look which I love.
I’m definitely pre-ordering the book. You’re probably my biggest inspiration.
“Take photos about things, not of things” is seriously the best advice I’ve ever heard.
Well, you have helped me realize I have a serious gear addiction! I am constantly reminding myself that I need to really shed some gear. Maybe it's because I am an Engineer, but I found your data interesting regardless of whether you can call it "real" research or not. It is still data, and provides at least a modicum of insight into the photography landscape.
This was a really interesting video which made me think about my own usage. I used to lug heavy Nikon film cameras with a backpack of primes over the hills (often with a mono Pentax) but as age catches up my preferred set up is an Olympus EM5 with just two lenses in a holster with spare battery & SD card. I still enjoy my picture taking and by discovering Lightroom processing in the last 5 years I am happy as ever. Thanks for the video.
Just ordered the book and can’t be more excited, your channel is a huge reason for my journey in photography so having that will mean a lot more than just some photos in a book so excited is an understatement
Nice James...very interesting. Something to consider regarding the data of purchases from MPB...I don't think the data showing a decline in Canon and Nikon is necessarily a reflection of anything to do with those brands' technology or capability and photographers attitudes toward those cameras. Instead, something to consider is - if people are not selling their cameras, those might not be as readily available on resale sites. For instance, if a person is looking for a full frame mirrorless, the Canon R5 might not be as available for used purchase if people tend to hold on to them - therefore, their sales would likely decrease relative to the other available full frame mirrorless. Also, if someone is simply looking for a mirrorless camera, regardless of brand - they might go with a second or third choice because their first was either not available or out of their price range. Thus, purchase trends on resale sites might not be a reflection of what people are "using" - instead it might be a reflection of what photographers are not selling or what is affordable for people buying cameras from resale sites.
Exactly. Looking at used items sales tells us what brands are going out of fashion. You'll find loads of Sony mirrorless because they were the first. Nikon and Canon were late comers to the game, so people are now buying them and selling their early purchases of Sony. After all, with adapters you can use most lenses on most cameras
Also 2nd hand gear is a way to try another brand or specific model different to your kit without breaking the bank
Very excited for Human Nature! Your photography style has really influenced my work recently and I do not have nearly enough photo books. So you better believe I jumped straight on that pre-order!
I truly found it interesting. I'm not alone slimming down my kit. Thx!
Would love to see a video where you pick out some of the most interesting kits that you saw... Maybe looking at people who had the most surprising kit or very specialized kit?
Very cool video I didn’t know I needed! Fascinating mate!
Next time, instead of a photo and a list, you can create a Google Form with a photo upload as an option to get much better and easier statistics and showcase the cool kits in the video too.
Thank you James, those are really interesting observations and data points. I enjoyed the analysis and summary
I bought my first camera (Lumix g9 ) after watching your videos as a newbie photographer. I love it ☺️
This is such a fun video for data nerds like me! 🤓 I completely agree about how good zooms have gotten. I seem to shoot nearly everything on the 24-70 GM ii and get phenomenal results.
Great video (as always) and my preorder for Hunan Nature is in. So happy you’re at the publishing stage with this project and I hope it’s a roaring success!
I hate the uneven load with shoulder bags. I'd choose a lightweight backpack kit everyday over a shoulder bag / sling / messenger bag. It doesn't matter how light it is, it's not good for your back.
Cross-body bags are way better than one-side shoulder bags, and backpacks have a huge disadvantage: you have to take a backpack off to get the camera out.
A lot of us would miss pictures or simply not shoot in a lot of situations if the bag had to be removed for the camera to get used. A cross-body bag allows the camera to come out, get used, and get put away without the bag position being changed.
Great video James! Really appreciate the effort you put into the breakdown and the data analysis, even if the dataset has its biases and limitations.
Interesting stuff James. I agree that drones may have peaked. I sold mine after ~2 years of ownership because it was so difficult to find a desirable location that wasn't discouraged or prohibited by the scourge of liberty throughout human history - government. I am impressed by how many of your countrymen seem to fly their's in National Parks. Without going through the Bee Ess of getting waivers, that is prohibited stateside. Love your movies, keep'em comin'.
Cheers James, it was interesting to see the breakdown, hope it didn’t give you a headache, all that number crunching! Good luck with the book too.
On the subject of drones: I would strongly argue they haven't had their day. Mine (DJI Mini 4 Pro) I basically use as a huge tripod. When I can't hover myself 30ft above a waterfall to get the shot I want, I deploy the drone. And it does a great job.
I shoot mainly landscape and wildlife. I use Fuji medium format (gfx100s) for most landscape and Nikon (Z8) for wildlife. I have 2 lenses for each and they cover everything i will ever need. I use a backpack as I hike and walk a lot and it works better for me than a shoulder bag plus they manage the weight better.
The limitations I've worked around over the years are NOT taking all that kit with me everywhere. If I'm out to shoot wildlife in the Highlands I'll take the Z8 with the 180-600. Very versatile wildlife set up but as anyone who has carried that will tell you, it's hard to take that AND the Fuji for a casual landscape shot as it wouldn't be a bag I need, it would be a wheelbarrow. So it's not about carrying everything with you all the time, its about planning your mission and equipping accordingly.
I use a 4K 60 10-Bit Camcorder with a 1/2.3" sensor, but I works for everything I really use it for. As long as I'm not shooting after sunset (or lights after sunset), the camera performs well. I still get to use built-in ND filters, full manual controls, and I have a 25-600mm equivalent lens with an f/1.8 - f/4.0 aperture. Now about the "low light" part, I typically don't turn up my gain at all. If it turn up my gain to 6, the image is usually bright enough with little noise. While I may not have even have an APS-C size sensor, much less medium format, I think it is plenty acceptable for home videos and trips with my family. Also, I'm only 16, so buying a $5,999 camera isn't really an option right now. 😅
Very interesting video! I found myself pausing on all the kit photos. So cool to see what other people have and enjoy!
Such interesting data, thank you for making this brilliant video!
Ordering out of the UK is such a pain for me with strange shipping fees and delays, really would love to get my hands on your book though because i appreciate your work deeply. I can confirm this choice of photographers on youtube based on gear is a thing i'm prone to myself. I think it's natural since you might gather insights on gear you might want to pick up yourself or in the opposite learn about gear you want to skip. I'm often curious what talented people achieve with lenses i own, it can spark creativity and motivation for me.
I think with canon and Nikon are doing just fine. The Z8 , ZF and Z9 are doing great. Your channel is about street photography and Nikon and Canon cameras are not as popular for street photography. Their cameras are fairly big. Full frame DSLR type of size.
Yep, ive a D3s a D4s and two D5 😀
Not sure I'd characterize this as a street photography channel.
Hi James, I suspect there is a bit of a selection bias in terms of people following your current movement towards a small FF body and a preferred focal length prime. A mate of mine who for years lugged a Canon DSLR up hills recently switched to a Sony A7something plus a wide angle F1.4 prime lens. I'm still happy playing around with my GX8, a standard zoom, and maybe a couple of other lenses when I go for a wander.
I suspect that second hand data is related to declining sales of DSLR, also second hand sales are heavily influenced by what is available for sale.
Street photography?
Superb video, it was so interesting, you gotta love some stats! Maybe next time you could share the results of the study so that we're able to give it a look ourselves? Maybe also include exactly how many people responded to the poll and associate the numbers with the percentages so that we have an idea of the size of the sample? Thanks a lot the really good work
Speaking for me, I'd totally watch photographers using Canon, Sony or other brands rather than Fuji. But the algorithm mainly suggests me Fuji content. Don't know what came first, the egg or chicken. But I think you are right, most photographers are kept in their bubble.
There are definitely a few channels I watch just because they heavily feature Sony (which I use at work) and Lumix (which I use at home). Mostly to keep up on lenses etc. Don't really watch yours for the gear, but I suspect that I did initially find your channel because of the Lumix connection.
I have 5 cameras. 2 point and shoot, Sony ZV1 and Canon SX730. 2 mirrorless, Canon M50 & Sony ZVE-10. And 1 micro 4/3, Olympus Pen E-PL8.
And my favourite is the Sony ZVE-10 with the 24mm G lens. Perfect combo.
This video was actually way more insightful than I thought it was going to be
What a very interesting set of data! Thank you so much for doing this it was a cool overview to also understand more about the community that we've got here! Like film cameras! My film camera is an OM-1 from the 70s gifted to me by my parents. It still works impeccably. But like you've said on your channel we can basically edit any digital photo to look the same, so honestly it probably doesn't even matter anymore as the lines blur between what is real film and what's been edited
The problem that I have with shoulder bags is that they don't stay put on your body the way a backpack does. If I bend over, it slides around and hangs if front of me. If I want it behind me, it slides to my side. I'm a hiker and for this reason shoulder bags are troublesome when climbing. Shoulder bags also generally don't have a place to store a water bottle or a tripod.
A good backpack with chest and waist straps stays in place. It is a lot more of a pain to swap lenses or grab filters with a backpack though. I guess it depends on the activity.
Hey James! Have you heard of frank lloyd wright? He’s an American architect that specialized in building mainly houses that are tied into nature. I think your style of photography would be perfect for a shoot at some of his sites
Do a colab version of this same video concept with youtubers primarily using cameras from the most popular (or talked about) camera brands: Sony, Canon, Nikon, Fujifilm, and Lumix (maybe also Hasselblad).
This is great and super interesting. A few of the results are 100% skewed by film shooters. I shoot both and have a single digital (not including my phone) but have 7 film cameras all for a different purpose or format. Also, i think your comment on the Nifty 50 is spot on. get the kit lens and then the first logical upgrade is a 50 1.8.
I did start watching your channel when you used Olympus as that’s my preference. But I’m still here because I enjoy your photography style. 😁
crazy knowing I witnessed you take one of the shots for this book in Zermatt (hopefully)
Ironically I started watching just about the time you switched to a G9. Needless to say, I still use a G9. But it seriously did have all the features and erganomics I wanted which others lacked. It may actually have been that I started watching you because at the time I wanted a G9. haha. :P
I found your channel years ago watching a G85 review and just enjoyed your content regardless of what brand you used. Went from Panasonic micro43 to Fuji to Panasonic S5. Just saying. Thanks for the content.
I have been a long-time subscriber to Nigel and Mads (before I even knew you all knew each other) and found your channel because of your Lumix ambassador work. I, independently shifted to Sony when the budget allowed, but I keep the subscription here for the faff and laughs.
Most informative video.. Thank you James. I follow your channel consistently.
Agree with drones, can’t remember when I last used mine. I look forward to hearing whether or not the fire pit is indeed smokeless…
This was really interesting!
Just as a matter of curiosity, I did find your channel based on camera, but tangentially - I shoot Fuji which is how I came across Roman Fox’ channel, and he in turn put me on to yours. Then stayed due to personality/presentation and general interest!
Finally the book is here! I really can't wait to get my hands on a copy. Order placed. Get in quick folks, this one is going to fly out of the door.
Very interesting to see this sort of thing. Thank you. From someone struggling to find what he wants to replace his one and only broken camera with
Appreciate the time that must have gone into this analysis 👍
That was an interesting study. The reason I wanted to comment was that you said that most of your followers also use the same camera brand as you. I don't, but I follow you on this platform because I enjoy your wry humour and the humble way you present yourself. And also because I love your images.
Same here. I use Fuji now but enjoy James’ humour and love his images too
Definitely enjoyed this video, I’d like to see more. Maybe you can do a crossover with other UA-camrs with slightly different audiences in an attempt to broaden the dataset. Would be interesting to see similar charts on metadata trends as well.
I have a blog where I've done a year in review every year since at least 2017. Maybe earlier, but I broke things back in 2016 and I just now noticed issues.
I like to break down my personal lens, camera, and lens+camera usage every year and see what it looks like. I will use some of this to decide what equipment to sell, but that was paused in 2020 for obvious reasons. All of my old stuff has so low value that it is now just worth keeping for just in case.
Now to the fun part - in the last 4 years I've managed to acquire 2 old Soviet cameras. They are film cameras, one from ~1962 the other from ~1982. They are so much fun, so different, and just something 'new'. I was also given the last camera my grandfather purchased, a Minolta film camera from 1988. This camera has basically been sitting in a closet since 1989, and is in perfect condition.
But I still use a Nikon D850/D750 combo for most things. The D850 is 6 years old and the D750 is 9 years old. I haven't felt a need/desire to buy the new thing as I have all of the lenses I could need. So as long as they keep working, along with my 11 year old D800 and 15 year old D300, why change?
Came for the Lumix, stayed for the photos and the rambling! Book ordered.😊
I'm following fewer and fewer photography you tube channels now, but have always loved your style and subject matter right up there, as it really resinates with my own interest. I have to say I much prefer your location and technique videos than anything gear related. Just my opinion, I'm probably in the minority. Book looks fab too, some of your great images I can see in there!
Oh, man...I sit on the edge of every single one of these graphs. Didn't know about this survey, but I've been collecting all sorts of old lenses/cameras to play with for cheap. I've got all sorts of normal stuff and weird stuff at this point, so every bit of those "outlier" categories on the charts I would fit squarely into. Finding stuff for dirt cheap has been so much fun, that I've got all sorts of weird kits. I went out the other day with a Canon 30D that had an adapted Mamiya-Sekor C (medium format) 55mm f/2.8 lens on it...all of which cost me probably $15 total to get. Have been finding so many wild deals that my collection is growing like crazy.
Ok, I’ll buy the book. Can you show us the watch? Gear doesn’t matter, but watches do!
I feel like a camera glutton!
This was actually very interesting. A lot of hard work went into this video. 👍
Book ordered. Can't wait!
I think the high volume of film shooters in your audience might be due to the fact that your photography has a look that is pretty 'filmic'. It's why I've watched a lot of your content, as someone who has over a dozen film cameras from 35mm up to 4x5 but barely uses them due to the increasing costs of development and printing. Your work seems to catch that 'something special' that I see in film photography. Hard to explain, but there is something soulful that I see in my film shots that is purged out of the camera by digital, but your post work manages to put that feel back in, so I've really enjoyed watching your vids on post processing. (also from my perspective nothing to do with Sony vs whatever, but more about the 'look' of your work and your views on composition and post-processing which are always interesting/useful)
Really love the examples you presented from your book. Something to look forwards to :)
Cheers James, it’s Sean in Atlanta! This was an excellent idea for a video and really enlightening! I have switched from using my zoom on my Nikon to almost exclusively using my 40 mm or 50 mm prime lens. On my Olympus, I only have prime lenses! I have purchased one backpack in my eight year career in photography and about 16 Messenger bags! Hmm, I might have a problem in that area…
What I found most interesting were the camera brands that were the most popular and Sony being number one did not surprise me at all. And it’s the only brand, besides Canon, that I have never tried. Saturday, at KEH, there is a Fujifilm presentation. I am interested in the XT5 and I also want to look at that XT50. Who knows, maybe GAS will get the better of me once again…
Thanks, James! Really excellent video!
Sean
I wish I’d caught this survey! My UA-cam feed has been dominated by only one minor interest lately instead of the rest. I love this channel. lol So chill and great shots!
I have a Nikon Z50, and enjoy it well enough, but I’m still learning and don’t really have any downtime from work to go hiking or anything.
I’m planning a cross-country trip next year that I’ll be taking my gear on. Maybe something cool will come along!
Nice to see my kit in there! (If only for a second or two😉 Interesting video James
Well it's obvious why people have one zoom or several primes, isn't it? 🤣 I have film cameras because my brother wasn't using them and I was interested in the lenses. He tidied up the whole lot and I can't dispose of them. One of them is a sixties Pentax and just operating the mechanics is soooo satisfying. It's what my grandfather bought when he became unable to work and needed to get out more. All family photos up to the nineties were made with it. And don't worry. You have your reasons for wandering off, but someone who buys a GX1 and calls it his favourite camera in almost every video is still a Lumix fan.
Oh, I have a GX1, a GX80, a G80 and a G9ii, and an Olympus omd-em5ii. Zooms: 14-140mm, 100-300mm, 12-32mm, 14-42 powerzoom, Olympus 9-18mm. Primes: 20mm f/1.7, and a few cheap Chinese fast primes, to see if I would like to have more expensive primes. Still not sure. Important: body cap lenses: Olympus 9mm, 15mm, 7artisans 18mm f/5.6 Mark i and mark ii. I love body cap lenses. Just focus on composition and nothing else. If the idea was good, the photo is good. Even if it's sharpish at best.
Yep! My go to is Fuji 27mm APS-c and Voigtlander 40mm full frame, ie 40 for both. It just works out to be the best in general for so many jobs.
Started to watch your content for the gear (and you're in part responsible for what I have now!), kept watching for the charm and skill. A bit gutted I missed the call for gear as I'm an outlier in just about everything tracked in your scientific data analysis, but I'd have to leave a few dozens of kids to starve for a day to send my gear. Well maybe I should have.
Great idea for the video; it's always a good idea to know who your audience is anyway.
Had to leave the video to order the book. Looking forwards to it
Intriguing video James, thanks! Curious how the R5ii might impact those trajectories in a few months. I wasn't actually sure if you were still shooting Sony... I found you way back with M43 when i was trying to decide on a Lumix G85. Ended up with an RP that quickly changed to a Z6ii, to an A7IV, and finally the A7RV is everything I really wanted all of them to be! Have loved watching your journey, excited for your book! Well Done Brother! Edit: I'm not sure I've ever seen a tech video of your Sony setup before, would love to see one or maybe a redux.
Another great video. Where do you get your t shirts from? They’re impeccable! 😅
I didn't subscribe to your channel because of your gear.
I did subscribe because I like your attitude to how you go about taking pictures.
your philosophy, if you will.
your self deprecating, slightly distracted, sense of humour and style also helps.
all I ask of a camera (3 by the way [unless you count my old film gear, in which case 5],
and a lens for each, plus a spare all zooms)
is that, it sees what I see, and lets me take those pictures with minimal fuss and tinkering.
or as little as possible under the circumstances.
keep on doing that thing that you do, as the old song goes.
Fascinating! I loved it James 👍
I don't know if I'm typical or not, but I've been an amateur photographer for ages. Earlier in the analog days I always sold/traded in when I upgraded, but with digital old gear loose value so fast (maybe changed somewhat the last years) that it's little point in selling and I keep them as backup or camera I can lend someone without it being too valuable. That mean I have quite a few cameras but "only" three (very different ones) that I consider current.
Interesting thought that people watch channels where that use the same brand as themselves. I'm pretty interested in gear, but what the photographer on the channel use is not important. If anything it's more interesting to get info about gear I don't use than gear I use, know and can test myself.
As to the primes, home editing and higher resolution may make cropping easier to explore. Take a wider base photo and correct the composition in the edit. Yes you still need a quality starting point but the rusted fire plug is less critical.
Yes a more indepth into gear and maybe into EXIF data and editing software also ! I use flickr a lot and I think it is nice to see what gear, what settings and software photographers use.
I did a kit slim down when I last upgraded my main body. I went from 5 primes and a zoom down to 2 primes and one zoom. As a breakdown of what I use most, 40mm - 40%, 85mm - 40%, 28-200mm - 18% and 14mm - 2%. The only change I would consider is swapping the zoom for something with more reach (perhaps 100-400mm) but I do really like the flexibility that the 28-200 gives me. I'm very tempted to dump the 14mm as I've barely used it.
I do also have 2 film kits that I use very rarely for special occasions (processing costs), both of which have a nifty fifty (OM10 and Nikon F80). I used to have a Fuji X70 and wholeheartedly regret selling that as it was an amazing pocketable EDC camera.
I didn't submit a photo of my kit. But if I would, it would only include my main camera. I do own a drone, but it wouldn't cross my mind to include this. I also have an Olympus TG6 that I only use for underwater photography that also wouldn't be on the picture as I don't consider it part of my photography kit. I also have a lens that I never ever use and is such poor quality I am ashamed of owning it that also wouldn't have made it onto such a picture as it never goes in my bag.
Basically, there is a selection bias that can greatly skew the results.
James, mostly I follow your channel because of your interesting composition and your ability to turn manmade objects into photographic art. I really don’t care what brand of camera that you use. I don’t think the camera brand has a whole lot to to with artistic vision.