I have GAS, but only to the extent that I know my goals and my limitations. I don't acquire gear to be better; I acquire it to have more options and thus more fun. Almost every piece of camera gear I've bought since returning to the hobby has been used or refurbished.
People always assume everyone’s goal is to become a better photographer. What if we just want to enjoy photography with gear we enjoy using and don’t care about subjective interpretations of the meaning of the word “better”?
Most of us wouldn't shun improvement, surely? But, yes, I take your point. My mantra is always to enjoy the camera and the process, but the end result is also part of the process and if we're rarely liking the outcome, the desire to keep going can wain.
@ indeed. It’s a personal choice for each of us to decide what’s important and in what ratios. For me it’s enjoyment first, and gear affects that. Over time, if the enjoyment is there, the improvement will probably follow. *caveat: agree that simply buying more and more and more gear does not promote enjoyment. :)
I always equate photography to cookery: you don’t go to a restaurant, have a great meal and then ask the chef what kind of oven they used, or what saucepans and knives they own, so why get caught up with what gear was used to make an image? If you enjoy cooking though, owning decent knives and saucepans will make the job easier and more enjoyable. Photography is the same in that the right gear of good quality will make it more enjoyable and therefore you will do more of it and doing more of it will make you a better photographer. BTW, I am debating the purchase of a Pocket 3 and lots of reviews say it overexposes a little and this video does look a bit bright. Perhaps try -0.3EV?
I could tell immediately you changed your rig, the image is much cleaner. Most cell phones do okay but only under very controlled circumstances. I am interested to see how you use it. As for inverting and different planar compositions, I use an arc plate on the bottom of a short extender attached to the inverted center column and ball head, it does the exact same thing for a fraction of the cost of another head.
I approach photography differently then most since I use a 4x5 Field Camera. There is no reason to keep buying more gear or gadgets. All I need is an outing with my camera which I will have next week and am heading into Northern Calif to visit and photograph some Calif Missions and Lighthouses. Also going to visit Point Reyes and Bodega Bay and take some photos.
Sounds like a great photo adventure awaits you. I would love to have some time with a large format camera one day. I simply can't justify the expense though. Enjoy your trip.
Kind of, I used to be a camera dealer so I have a collection of lenses and shoot Nikon, Sony and M4/3. That's because the second hand value of lenses fluctuates so much it's often cheaper to buy the lens you want and a body several generations old with 4000 shutter actuations to put on it. The thing is, that camera is still just as good as it was when it was getting gold awards and 10/10, a new version does not suddenly negate that. My other huge gripe is that so many people are just going to process the ever living love out of everything they shoot anyway, so the reality is you just need to bare minimum that will allow you to use lightroom to it's fullest which in my experience is a 2012 camera. Saying that the only camera that can take pictures in my sewing room with it's 2700k bulbs without all the colours going funky (even with a grey card) is the 2007 Nikon D300 which does raise many questions.
Hi Andrew. I watch all your videos with great pleasure. Sometimes you are philosophical and other times technical. A nice mix, served in a very natural and honest way. For me, whose main language is not English, you are a pleasure to listen to. Clear and distinct speech, without too much slang. Thanks again for your motivating videos. Best regards, Jørgen Witved, Denmark. (Google translate)
The best thing about m43 is that both cameras and lenses are cheaper than other sensor formats so the GAS acount doesn't get that big as if you shoot whith APS-c, fullframe or even bigger. If you then buy your gear second hand if possible you save some money that way and don't loose as much if you don't like it and sell it to another photoghrapher.
Micro 4/3 is often maligned and most by people who don't understand (or want to understand) its benefits. Cost isn't necessarily the best one for me. Size is. Cost makes not odds any more as I have no plan to upgrade until my gear fails - I know that the image quality from my photography won't improve sufficiently to make the expense worth while. I can carry 4 lenses, a drone, one body (or even 2) plus filters and other paraphernalia in a 20L backpack and still have it comfortable on a walk.
Getting new gear won’t make you a better photographer. But it might well make your photos better, which isn’t necessarily the same thing. Whether gear acquisition is worth it or not therefore depends to some extent on how proportional your enjoyment (or profit) is to the quality of your photos (or the increase in quality that can be achieved with a certain piece of gear). Example: I have a digital camera and a couple of film cameras. The film cameras offer a much more enjoyable shooting experience, when actually out there shooting, but the digital produces better photos in most situations. Therefore when you factor in the enjoyment of viewing the photos as part of the overall photography process, the digital gives a more enjoyable overall experience because the enjoyment gained by the better quality photos outweighs the enjoyment of the film shooting experience.
tripod bags? a story. many years ago, when I was fit and able, I'd been photographing a waterfall in the Brecon Beacons and was resting and having a cuppa while on my way back to the car. I was at the top of a long, steep hill before descending back down when a chap bounds over to me and exclaims he's off to photograph the same fall. I was intrigued as he had no camera on him and figured he must just be using his phone, when along comes his (clearly long-suffering) partner laden with a massive camera bag and carrying a tripod in a tripod bag. Poor woman looked absolutely exhausted and as soon as she got to us and stopped, off goes the chap calling "come on then" to his partner. The look and gesture she gave me was priceless. I still wonder if he did get out of there with both test!cles?
GAS is a marketing strategy created by camera manufacturers to keep you buying and buying and buying. One only has to remember that the manufacturer tries to get you to buy that 'state of the art' piece of equipment by telling whatever you have now (and which they told you was state of the art last year) is now obsolete.
@AndyBanner Exactly! I've always been very gear minimalist. If I am note intending to use something once and then shelf it, I don't buy it. If I have no repeated use for something, I don't buy it.
I like your new video camera. It creates much better video than your smartphone. In fact, I'm so impressed by the imagery captured by your Pocket 3, I might buy one myself.
After years of faithful service and still operational I decided updrade my DJI action to the latest model DJI action 5 pro what a huge mistake and wish I had bought a new pocket 3 instead but my original pocket still works well I try to limit my camera gear and recently just gone using my old iphone 11 for content. Cannot wait to loose the action 5 pro on my travels
Yeah, I only upgraded by Omso Pocket cameras when they broke or were lost. The 3 is an incredibly good camera though and a worthy upgrade for sure. I have an insta 360x2 which I rarely use these days as the editing of 360 footage is painful to say the least. A regrettable buy for me
@AndyBanner yes I have the insta 360x3. Another terrible purchase as it was an over priced pocket hand warmer tried to love it but gathered more dust till I dug it out to give it one more chance and it froze once more with the blue screen of death and became useless and came up with a fault code return to service supplier thankfully it was still in it's warranty and sent it back for repair and was deemed faulty from factory new so got a replacement .... Still don't trust it so in it's box gathering dust . I have more fun buying a camera from a charity shop for under a tenner digital film or camcorder and gets me out in the fresh air .
Hi, mate. The image is indeed a lot better. How you determine your subject, I can't do that. I use my phone or I look through the viewfinder. Still, I'm going to try working with the screen again. And put the adjustable head on this tripod, because that's really convenient. I have a Vanguard tripod, and I can adjust the center column in degrees. It really doesn't blow over in wind force 8, but it also weighs almost a ton, I think. I use this for flat-lay work and macro work. As for your photos, I like the mushroom. But the rest hmmmmmmmmm. Until the next video, mate.
So you don’t actually consider it a purchase if it’s second hand? Excellent way of looking at it. Similar to the way chips nicked off somebody else’s plate don’t contain any calories.
Nice tripod. Better than mine. If anybody says "Don't pull out the center column!" they might as well say "Don't pull out the legs!" Too. 😊 "Visual blinkers." These I use quite often.
If it weren't for the articulating arrangement, I wouldn't have given this tripod a second look. For the money, it's incredible. Of course, it's not a patch on a more solid tripod, but what it does, it does very well and I have never seen another one do this. The others from Vanguard for instance, pivot off the tripod body which is less flexible.
People are entitled to their opinions. I think the other point I was pulled up on was leaving the neck strap to flap about in the wind - fair play to that point.
I have GAS, but only to the extent that I know my goals and my limitations. I don't acquire gear to be better; I acquire it to have more options and thus more fun. Almost every piece of camera gear I've bought since returning to the hobby has been used or refurbished.
Often that's the best way to buy lots of things.
People always assume everyone’s goal is to become a better photographer. What if we just want to enjoy photography with gear we enjoy using and don’t care about subjective interpretations of the meaning of the word “better”?
Most of us wouldn't shun improvement, surely? But, yes, I take your point. My mantra is always to enjoy the camera and the process, but the end result is also part of the process and if we're rarely liking the outcome, the desire to keep going can wain.
@ indeed. It’s a personal choice for each of us to decide what’s important and in what ratios. For me it’s enjoyment first, and gear affects that. Over time, if the enjoyment is there, the improvement will probably follow. *caveat: agree that simply buying more and more and more gear does not promote enjoyment. :)
I always equate photography to cookery: you don’t go to a restaurant, have a great meal and then ask the chef what kind of oven they used, or what saucepans and knives they own, so why get caught up with what gear was used to make an image? If you enjoy cooking though, owning decent knives and saucepans will make the job easier and more enjoyable. Photography is the same in that the right gear of good quality will make it more enjoyable and therefore you will do more of it and doing more of it will make you a better photographer.
BTW, I am debating the purchase of a Pocket 3 and lots of reviews say it overexposes a little and this video does look a bit bright. Perhaps try -0.3EV?
Oh, that was a lovely meal, I bet you have really hot gas... :-)
I could tell immediately you changed your rig, the image is much cleaner. Most cell phones do okay but only under very controlled circumstances. I am interested to see how you use it. As for inverting and different planar compositions, I use an arc plate on the bottom of a short extender attached to the inverted center column and ball head, it does the exact same thing for a fraction of the cost of another head.
I approach photography differently then most since I use a 4x5 Field Camera. There is no reason to keep buying more gear or gadgets. All I need is an outing with my camera which I will have next week and am heading into Northern Calif to visit and photograph some Calif Missions and Lighthouses. Also going to visit Point Reyes and Bodega Bay and take some photos.
Sounds like a great photo adventure awaits you. I would love to have some time with a large format camera one day. I simply can't justify the expense though.
Enjoy your trip.
Kind of, I used to be a camera dealer so I have a collection of lenses and shoot Nikon, Sony and M4/3. That's because the second hand value of lenses fluctuates so much it's often cheaper to buy the lens you want and a body several generations old with 4000 shutter actuations to put on it. The thing is, that camera is still just as good as it was when it was getting gold awards and 10/10, a new version does not suddenly negate that. My other huge gripe is that so many people are just going to process the ever living love out of everything they shoot anyway, so the reality is you just need to bare minimum that will allow you to use lightroom to it's fullest which in my experience is a 2012 camera. Saying that the only camera that can take pictures in my sewing room with it's 2700k bulbs without all the colours going funky (even with a grey card) is the 2007 Nikon D300 which does raise many questions.
lol
Hi Andrew. I watch all your videos with great pleasure. Sometimes you are philosophical and other times technical. A nice mix, served in a very natural and honest way. For me, whose main language is not English, you are a pleasure to listen to. Clear and distinct speech, without too much slang. Thanks again for your motivating videos. Best regards, Jørgen Witved, Denmark. (Google translate)
Very kind, Jørgen, thank you.
Great video, thanks for your enthusiasm
Thanks for watching!
The best thing about m43 is that both cameras and lenses are cheaper than other sensor formats so the GAS acount doesn't get that big as if you shoot whith APS-c, fullframe or even bigger. If you then buy your gear second hand if possible you save some money that way and don't loose as much if you don't like it and sell it to another photoghrapher.
Micro 4/3 is often maligned and most by people who don't understand (or want to understand) its benefits. Cost isn't necessarily the best one for me. Size is. Cost makes not odds any more as I have no plan to upgrade until my gear fails - I know that the image quality from my photography won't improve sufficiently to make the expense worth while. I can carry 4 lenses, a drone, one body (or even 2) plus filters and other paraphernalia in a 20L backpack and still have it comfortable on a walk.
Getting new gear won’t make you a better photographer. But it might well make your photos better, which isn’t necessarily the same thing. Whether gear acquisition is worth it or not therefore depends to some extent on how proportional your enjoyment (or profit) is to the quality of your photos (or the increase in quality that can be achieved with a certain piece of gear).
Example: I have a digital camera and a couple of film cameras. The film cameras offer a much more enjoyable shooting experience, when actually out there shooting, but the digital produces better photos in most situations. Therefore when you factor in the enjoyment of viewing the photos as part of the overall photography process, the digital gives a more enjoyable overall experience because the enjoyment gained by the better quality photos outweighs the enjoyment of the film shooting experience.
I guess we're all different in all these respects. I haven't shot film for some time, but I really want to again, just because.
tripod bags? a story.
many years ago, when I was fit and able, I'd been photographing a waterfall in the Brecon Beacons and was resting and having a cuppa while on my way back to the car. I was at the top of a long, steep hill before descending back down when a chap bounds over to me and exclaims he's off to photograph the same fall. I was intrigued as he had no camera on him and figured he must just be using his phone, when along comes his (clearly long-suffering) partner laden with a massive camera bag and carrying a tripod in a tripod bag.
Poor woman looked absolutely exhausted and as soon as she got to us and stopped, off goes the chap calling "come on then" to his partner. The look and gesture she gave me was priceless. I still wonder if he did get out of there with both test!cles?
Very funny. Hope he doesn't play golf too...
GAS is a marketing strategy created by camera manufacturers to keep you buying and buying and buying. One only has to remember that the manufacturer tries to get you to buy that 'state of the art' piece of equipment by telling whatever you have now (and which they told you was state of the art last year) is now obsolete.
Gas extends to gadgets too. I mean, who NEEDS a battery powered blower, for instance?
@AndyBanner Exactly! I've always been very gear minimalist. If I am note intending to use something once and then shelf it, I don't buy it. If I have no repeated use for something, I don't buy it.
This is wonderful Andrew. I get to wake up and enjoy a cup of coffee with your chat.
Greetings from Washington State U.S.A.
Morning! Enjoy your caffeine
I like your new video camera. It creates much better video than your smartphone. In fact, I'm so impressed by the imagery captured by your Pocket 3, I might buy one myself.
It's incredibly good. Way better than its size suggests it should be. I wish I had an affiliate link for you :-)
Haha, you have more patience than me on the messy stuff and persisted to PP. Cropping in can help, but not always.
I wouldn't have bothered with either of these images in post if I didn't need them for the video.
@AndyBanner fair enough
After years of faithful service and still operational I decided updrade my DJI action to the latest model DJI action 5 pro what a huge mistake and wish I had bought a new pocket 3 instead but my original pocket still works well I try to limit my camera gear and recently just gone using my old iphone 11 for content.
Cannot wait to loose the action 5 pro on my travels
Yeah, I only upgraded by Omso Pocket cameras when they broke or were lost. The 3 is an incredibly good camera though and a worthy upgrade for sure. I have an insta 360x2 which I rarely use these days as the editing of 360 footage is painful to say the least. A regrettable buy for me
@AndyBanner yes I have the insta 360x3. Another terrible purchase as it was an over priced pocket hand warmer tried to love it but gathered more dust till I dug it out to give it one more chance and it froze once more with the blue screen of death and became useless and came up with a fault code return to service supplier thankfully it was still in it's warranty and sent it back for repair and was deemed faulty from factory new so got a replacement .... Still don't trust it so in it's box gathering dust . I have more fun buying a camera from a charity shop for under a tenner digital film or camcorder and gets me out in the fresh air .
Good advice, thanks Andrew!
Any time!
Hi, mate.
The image is indeed a lot better.
How you determine your subject, I can't do that.
I use my phone or I look through the viewfinder.
Still, I'm going to try working with the screen again.
And put the adjustable head on this tripod, because that's really convenient.
I have a Vanguard tripod, and I can adjust the center column in degrees. It really doesn't blow over in wind force 8, but it also weighs almost a ton, I think. I use this for flat-lay work and macro work.
As for your photos, I like the mushroom.
But the rest hmmmmmmmmm.
Until the next video, mate.
Yeah, the pile of logs was not my finest moment. I think Rob Trek's edits were much better than mine too.
I would say 85% of my gear is second hand, I only buy gear if I really need it.
So you don’t actually consider it a purchase if it’s second hand?
Excellent way of looking at it. Similar to the way chips nicked off somebody else’s plate don’t contain any calories.
Not just me, the video image is better with the new rig!😀
Oh for sure. The quality from the Osmo Pocket 3 is phenomenal for such a small camera.
Nice tripod. Better than mine. If anybody says "Don't pull out the center column!" they might as well say "Don't pull out the legs!" Too. 😊
"Visual blinkers." These I use quite often.
If it weren't for the articulating arrangement, I wouldn't have given this tripod a second look. For the money, it's incredible. Of course, it's not a patch on a more solid tripod, but what it does, it does very well and I have never seen another one do this. The others from Vanguard for instance, pivot off the tripod body which is less flexible.
Yes! Shame on him or her! But you know, karma will hit back hard... 😉🪷
People are entitled to their opinions. I think the other point I was pulled up on was leaving the neck strap to flap about in the wind - fair play to that point.