Be careful of ANY scams in the comments. Sadly they're becoming more and more aggressive! Some even try to impersonate me. The real "me" has a grayed out name! I DO NOT run ANY competitions or give-aways and I will NEVER EVER ask you to contact me! If you see a comment like that please click the three dots on the right of the comment and report it as spam / scam / misinformation.
Thanks for the common sense Mads. You can do quite well with just a newer model iPhone in my opinion. Saves a lot of money and a lot of hassle. Great video.
Excellent advice. One additional item that’s crucial to my setup: a good multi-pocket fishing vest. I keep extra cards, batteries, filters, lens cloths, gloves, etc, etc. in mine. Thus, I rarely have to dig into my pack and often can leave to pack in my car.
The best landscape photography channel and landscape photographer on UA-cam. When I watch your video, Mads , I only see art and education! So, thank you wholeheartedly for these remarkable videos.
I have such a small budget when it comes to photography and much less than you mentioned. I managed to get a replacement camera (Nikon D780) when my D7200 was damaged beyond repair. I still use my old DX lenses and have recently bought some Gobe ND filters. I have a reasonably cheap tripod, but it’s fine and quite sturdy. I like landscape photography too, so I hope I am set up for now!! Thanks for your honesty. So many photographers here have the best equipment and I’ve stopped watching them because there’s so much ‘b roll’ and so little help. And when they set up their extremely expensive equipment I’m just turned off.
Not everywhere there is a used market, especially with quality gear so in my case... I can't find absolutely anything that I want and not to mention I will never buy a used camera :D It's not only about money but most people don't really respect their property so I prefer to get it clean and untouched :)
Thanks for all the good advice, Mads. I suffer from GAS(gear acquisition syndrome) like most amateur photographers. My real love is landscape, but also do some bird photography and macro work. So that adds to the complexity of decision making. One good investment for me was to upgrade my home computer to handle some of the newer software.
One item I never see anyone recommend is a good glass screen protector. I have one fitted to both my cameras. They cost under £10 for 3 from Amazon and are well worth the money. I dropped my A7R4 on some rocks while photographing an old water mill and the screen protector took the full impact. It cracked around the impact point but on removing the protector I found the screen was still perfect. I would not like to think how much a new screen would have cost + the hassle of sending away / waiting for the repair! Even if you don't drop the camera, the protector will keep the original screen free of marks and scratches + make it worth more when you come to trade in / sell. They have no impact on how the screen works (touch etc) and you won't even know it is on there if you fit it well (they are easy to fit). They are one of the cheapest items for photography but so valuable and hardly ever mentioned.
@@Tugela60 Just sold my 5 year old Sony A7R3 to MPB as "excellent" condition - used it as my main camera for 4 years and backup to the A7R4 after that. The A7R4 is also in excellent condition after a couple of years of use. Only ever had that one accident mentioned above but for a few quid I am really glad I had the screen protector on. I am sure that the screen on the A7R3 would have had some marks on it from just general use without the screen protector. You do as you wish mate - I will continue to save some money :D
I use the UV filters on lenses where the tubus is open to air behind the filter threads. This is where many lenses suck in outside air that eventually leaves dust behind the front lens element. With a filter you have a fixed column of relatively dust free air instead.
Another tip is to be patient and plan to buy new at the right time. For instance the Sony 200-600 is typically around £1699 at main dealers in the UK. At the beginning of Black Friday week a main dealer discounted it by 10% then a further 10% on Black Friday weekend. Combining it with both the Sony lens cashback and the welcome to Sony cashback brought the price down to £1059.
Great reminder, Mads. This topic feels like it's rehashed frequently, but honestly I don't think it is possible to state some of these things too often! The idea of not focusing on the specific gear as the path to improvement is SO SO SOOOOO important. And as a newcomer to landscape photography, it's easy to go gear crazy, but the money spent on education and getting out there has been so much more impactful to the quality of my work. The one thing I'd point out is the bit about Lightroom presets. Getting a bunch of them from photographers I enjoy actually has helped me a LOT, as far as learning what makes a photo edit look the way it does. Instead of just using them and leaving them alone, I can apply one, then go digging around to find what was done in the various menus to reverse engineer the preset. I've learned a lot about getting various looks through this approach. It can definitely be a really inexpensive way to learn more about the editing process! Thanks as always!
As a victim of buying "stuff" expecting it to improve my photos, I completely agree. Without doubt you will be much better off getting training courses/workshops and learn what to do. When you are good enough then maybe treat yourself to some equipment. Buying a better oven, doesn't make you a better chef.
Great advice. You said almost everything I've been thinking on the subject of how to save money on camera gear. I would add 1) consider third party accessories. I saved more than $300 on a battery pack for my Sony by buying a no-name brand 2) if you have a mirrorless Sony consider 35mm manual focus primes, with a cheap adaptor. I've saved thousands by using my old Canon FD lenses rather than buy new autofocus lenses. If you're a landscape photographer you don't really need autofocus.
Correction: I meant I saved money on a no-name battery grip rather than a battery pack. So you can choose which brand batteries you want to use in the battery grip.
Something that I can recommend is that you use camera cubes instead of buying deidcated camera bags. These cubes usually aren't too expensive and you get the flexibility of using them in all the backbacks you already own (EDC, Travel etc.) Another benefit is that when you are traveling it is alot more discrete than having a well known camera bag
Thank you for this. Those are wise advice. I shoot for a long time with used gear, telling myself I’m not pro, so I won’t spend €€€€ for brand new model. Thank you for a hint with ND magnet ring. Need to check this one. I’m not sure if I miss it, but one more crucial investment are/is spare camera battery :)
Now while I have to admit that I do use a filter attached to the front of my lenses, not so much as protection for the lens should it be dropped but as a means to protect the front element from airborne contaminants especially when operating on the coast or at sea, where depending on conditions I find I regularly have to clean the front of the lens. Yes I appreciate that extra layer of glass may degrade the image by a minute amount but not enough to worry about.
Your Videos about shooting Denmark showed how simple it is to get really cool images in the area close to you, really eye opening in regard to all dream destinations around the World. Just keep practiting in your surroundings and forget all the crazy new stuff other channels are promoting. Raise your skills to be execellent. And buy used, saves lots of money.
well the surrounding landscape is pretty good for photography. there are of course better areas, but it is also much much worse. so the tip "shoot locally" is very vague. personally, i have to drive 2 hours to get to moderately good areas. nevertheless a very good video, as always.
Totally agree Mads, great advice. I have very little money to spend on camera gear, I have too many horses and animals to feed lol. So I have 2nd hand gear, tried to buy good quality. Occasionally I will buy a new lens and I need to buy a monopod or new tripod, preferably both as mine is a hand me down and its not strong enough for some of my gear. I'm glad you think filters and presets are overly pushed, you almost feel pressured sometimes to purchase these items. I can only afford the basics so I have a set of ND filters and a polariser, but must get the step down rings and re hash my filter size as I have bought a much bigger lens and my filters are too small. Presets, well I've always thought like you, your work is unique to you and thats what makes you a photographer, I feel presets are the same as copying not something I'm comfortable with. And I cant afford to go very far from home so its made me look at things here and make them work for me. I'm very lucky I live on a property in the Flinders Ranges so I'm not too disadvantaged. So agree wholeheartedly Mads. You dont have to be rich to shoot good images. I've invested in a Certificate in Photography course and its the best thing I could have done, I agree that is where your money is best spent. Well said Mads, look forward to the next video.
Excellent video again, Mads. Especially the “photograph close to home” advice. At 84 my travelling is quite restricted even though I’m in pretty good shape. While I’d love to do more globetrotting, there is lots for me to photograph less than a day’s distance from my house. And no, I do not live in the Rocky Mountains but in relatively boring Ontario. It depends on how you look at things.
I loved your comments on presets! I feel the same way - they are MY images, and I get pleasure in learning how to make them look the way I want them to look.
2 things I've done to save money. I've worked out my most used focal ranges and whenever I've upgraded to a new system for example only bought the lenses I needed. 2nd one is purchasing affinity photo editing software for £38! One off payment with free lifetime updates, Fantastic program. Rather not pay a monthly subscription.
Can recommend Affinity Photo too - superb software with very similar UI to Adobe and certain features which are better. I've saved over £300 since switching.
For two decades, I was a filter for protection kind of guy. Then I became the "why put cheap glass over great glass" kind of guy and did away with protective filters. Now since I'm doing more landscape, specifically shooting in the Pacific coastal forests of Vancouver Island, BC (translation: lots of rain sometimes), I'm thinking of going back to a plain glass protective filter so that in the rain I'm wiping it down and not the front element, repeatedly. The situation and genres' of photography determine front filter need or not, studio shooting not so much, war corresponded maybe better off with a filter. UV filters are scams as they were developed in the film error, film was more sensitive to UV light, modern sensors aren't sensitive to UV lighting.
I agree, I came from a full frame Canon DSLR, i was hit with a rogue wave and needed a new camera body and switched to a used Fuji XT-3 again you don't need the biggest badest camera , the XT-3 is a beast for an apsc body and the lens prices beat Canon ,, buy used and buy a few year older body and save money
Loved this video and your perspectives. Thank you for being realistic. Wanted to applaud when you talked about finding shots/perspectives in your home environment. I started graduate school three years shortly after getting into photography and have had to be very frugal with my trips/gear because I haven’t been able to work during school.
I would like to add what I think could save you quite a lot of money when considering what lenses to buy, especially when buying new. First and foremost, think of what focal lengths you really use and enjoy using. The best way to find that out is to take various zoom lenses into the field first and then check the focal length of images you took. When you are just beginning, there are lots of rental services that have a wide selection of lenses to pick from. It's way better to rent a lens or two for a few days and then buy that one lens that you enjoyed using, rather than buying one lens only to sell it later with a loss and buying another one. Let me give you an example - the common combination is 24-70 and 70-200. However, most of my pictures are usually somewhere in the range 35-70, then around 135mm and after that all the way to 400mm. So I'm currently shooting with Tamron 28-75 G2 (mostly because of the size+weight) and Sigma 100-400mm. Sure, there is a slight gap, but I rarely need that focal length, and then I will make do with cropping instead. If I got 70-200 because everyone has it, I would be annoyed of not having the reach of 400mm and I would probably soon sell it. Another thing - if you don't need to, don't buy the cheapest gear. I did that mistake with a lens. While I really enjoyed the lenses focal length, I was constantly annoyed by the lack of sharpness. Replacing it with a better lens means losing some money in the long run. And finally I would like to emphasise on what Mads already said - you don't have buy the best. Let me use the Sigma as an example again. It's maybe 5% less sharp than the Sony 100-400 lens, but it's 2.5 times cheaper. Sure, Sony has faster AF, but most of the time Sigma is OK and more than sufficient for landscape. You will find examples like this everywhere. Looking at the youtube videos it may look like you like you need the best of the best, but most of us don't. In fact I would say whenever you don't know for sure that you need the best X because of Y that Z doesn't have, then you don't need the best and can go with Z. Usually the difference between the best and second best is way bigger and 2nd and 3rd...
Very interesting vid. I think this is directed to hobby photographers. My advice is to perfect your photography composition with what you have first then think about equipment. When I took photography in journalism college, we started with Kodak Brownie cameras. If you can't compose with a Brownie, then a Nikon or Sony won't do you any good! If you're a hobby photographer, put money into used quality lenses and build from there. Also view photography vids every week! Also remember that post processing is very forgiving of mistakes you make in the field, so seek to improve your post processing software.
I'm 1,92m and got the big benro a while ago and it is a blast. But for demanding hikes and climbs I got a small Sirui with only about 1kg. Good combination for me, but the benro with a good head is quit a lot to carry.
Love your photography, just watched the video of the lighthouse. Stunning photos, breathtaking light on the grasses. Very informative video. I will watch more.
Good advice Mads. I have bought almost all of my lenses from reputable used gear vendors. I saved a lot of money and have never had a problem with the physical quality of the lens or the image quality. Solid advice.
Nice one mads, 1 little tip that could save you money is if you a looking to buy the latest/greatest camera /lens then why not hire one and try it out (even if you are using it for a once in a lifetime trip, safari etc.)
To save I've allways purchased all my equipment used including a NISI filter system. this has saved $$$$$$. Simularily I'm now looking to get my pack smaller and lighter. I carry a 5dsr, 16-35, 24-70, 70-200 all f4 Nisi, lens cleaners, batteries etc. - what can i do without - that depends what I'm after that day. still not sure . anyway thanks for the video.
so validating that after 3-4 hours of research (6 mos ago) i decided to buy step up rings and a 3 stop ND filter and bypassed the variable ND filter or the graduated filter. Ticked me off that it came AFTER my trip to the USA Florida Keys. so mad that shipping is slow these days from Amazon. Great video.
All great advice. I have finally seen the light and upgraded to the Kase circular magnetic system. I am hoping and praying that is the last time I invest in a filter system!
I bought uv filters for all my lens, but I agree with you ,That the lens hood is very capable of protecting your lens. I’ve a number of tripods bought new but the best tripod I’ve bought was second hand. 👍
A lens hood is not a good protection for wideangle lenses, because it is so cut out. And it won't help if the ground is not even or if something stands out. That also matters if you are in a narrow environment (not so much for landscape, but when you are inside some object). I have several filters here with scratches and one broken. I also have a better feeling with a filter, if I constantly have to wipe raindrops from the lens. If you are hiking with a very small bag the big lens hoods are cumbersome to pack and to always remove them before changing the lens.
Great video Mads, I like your conversative approach to landscape photography. I have it heard said, gear doesn't necessarily make you a better photographer. I am heavily vested in the Canon system. I am smart enough not to switch systems because my images are awful. I see professionals switch systems a good bit. But this their living ,so I think it would unwise to change systems. As far as gear goes ,it is like golf clubs ,you can a bag full of clubs you never use ! I know the context of your video was landscape , but I know people who want to shoot everything ,which to me is maddening. I am primarily a landscape photographer, I also do some macro ,car shows, Architecture, static subjects. I have the EOS R and this camera works great for that. The idea of E-books is a great investment. The best way to learn is a good foundation and practice.
Good advice Mads, I print to iPad, so max I need is 3MP. I shoot Oly bought a used serviced M1 mk 1 from a pro photographer friend. Pretty much all my equipment apart from filters and tripod used. I use filters because Mads, I enjoy doing it in-camera, for me, this is a hobby, it's about enjoyment & satisfaction. I'd rather spend the money buying time to indulge in my hobby, doing trips and workshops...
Hi Mads, I totally agree with you from the point of view of a landscape photographer. But most of the amateurs like me are shooting much more than landscapes: family, pets, holidays… In my opinion the biggest problem for amateurs is time! Time to learn and try, time to wait for the right moment, the right light… I‘m mostly on my way with our two sighthounds. I can‘t wait for the right moment, I have to shoot when I reach a interesting location and sometimes the light is fine😁 Best regards Wolfgang
Buying used has always worked well for me, both cameras and lenses, so I recommend that to every starter as well as people wanting to upgrade. I either seek out local offers or, when further away, have a telephone call. Or use one of the used tech shops.
Mads, nice video on some common sense. Most people use UV filters to protect the coatings on the lens when cleaning, not to protect from impact, a common fallacy. Much better to rub a cloth on a filter vs. on the expensive coatings of a lens. One can see this issue when continuously cleaning a pair of expensive sun glasses and the coatings begin to wear off. A small piece of grit can easily scratch your expensive Sony lens and better to scratch a filter instead.
Great tips for all photographers. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the what’s new and fancy. I must admit I still do. I just got my first drone in January, a Dji mini 3 pro and when the Dji Mavic 3 pro just came out I had to get it. Now the first drone does limit me to the single camera it still takes great pictures. The new drone camera is crazy. So I must say it was well worth it.
I completely agree with you on the A7R3. The good thing for landscape is that you dont need the best autofocus, the fastest camera,….. To be honest, I manually focus for most of my pictures using focus peaking. I could very well only use non AF lenses.
Bit behind on your vids mads so apologies! I would say one saving you can make if you are starting out is to not automatically sign up to the Adobe Lightroom/Photoshop subscription model. There are other software choices out there that let you chose between subscription and one off purchasing. I for instance use ON1 Photo Raw and I decide each year whether I want to stay with my current version or get the new one. Another way to save money is if you have Amazon Prime you can take advantage of the free full resolution photo storage that comes included. One of the best bits of photography kit I bought was an L-Bracket so would definitely recommend that.
A really great video from a professional. I had the feeling that my used bought Sony a6000, my screw in nd filters, my Rollei tripod and my lenses don't limit my work for real, but sometines there are doubts because of the behaviour of many other photographers. I do this on a budget, one reason why I choosed Affinity Photo instead of Photoshop, but I spend the time to learn these things. By the way, I have bought your first ebook, it's great.
For new photographers, I also recommend a good camera in a "kit" that includes some basics....saves money and gives them a hand up for supplies. I bought a photography Kit with my new Sony A7R3 last year. I was very pleased with the items it came with. The Tripod is epic and its only around $80 in the US. to buy it alone, very heavy duty. I am sure as a person becomes a pro they might change up as they go but we are very happy with the savings we got. IIts very windy where I am and that tripod is doing so well. I am glad you are making suggestions to save money.....its important as times are not great up ahead... I was given a travel tripod and its very flimsy. so it truly matters... Many photographers do sell great gear on their journey to upgrade! They are dumping used Sony A7R3 cameras really cheap! They often sell amazing lenses like new etc.... I was given 4 lenses by my daughter who is a top ten photographer in Hawaii to help me get started. She has 7 of these cameras...... I reconditioned my late twins Nikon D5300 and it is taking great pics! We have compared it to the Sony and it is holding its own if you use it correctly.
Good advice Mads. Been invested in Benro for a couple of years now and recently bought a new tripod as I stupidly broke a leg on my Benro travel tripod and currently awaiting replacement parts. In terms of gear, I bought my current camera body second hand and also all my Canon L lenses were bought second hand. My last purchase 24mm tilt shift saved me around $850 buying from the used market so it worth looking to maximise your purchasing power. Definitely one of my best purchases was your processing tutorial as that along with some other tutorials I have invested in have elevated my processing skills to a higher level
As a beginner I was a bit overwhelmed by options and opinions in regards to what to invest in next, after haven gotten a tripod, camera and bag, so this was very helpful. Thank you
Great advice Mads! I'd add a few things if anyone sees this: Variable ND filters used to be awful as you say! I've recently had great success with a 2-5 stop one from Urth, though. It has hard stops so you can't turn it too far and get the cross vignetting, and doesn't seem to affect sharpness at all. It's also pretty cheap, around £30 here in the UK. UV filters, basically just transparent glass, do still serve a purpose for protection: against fingerprints, grit when wiping the lens front with a cloth, thorns or sticks which might come at the lens from different angles... And combined with a lens hood it's even better. Mine only cost £20 ish, and for me as insurance that's worthwhile. I think your points about buying used and buying older kit are the most important things, which the people who look at the hobby and think 'that's too expensive' don't consider. I was using a second-hand a7rii for a couple of years, and if you're only manually-focusing and you don't mind carrying around a few more batteries it's still highly recommended!
Agree about the filters although they area a bit ‘marmite’ but being a wildlife shooter my 200-600 won’t fit in my bag with the lens hood on in the extended way, so have a filter as can take a quick shot with it on and it doesn’t fall off like the lens cap does….
Great video, and what a coincidence.. I just bought a secondhand tripod, from the benro angel serie! :) Love your content, and it made me book a trip to the faroe islands this august. Can't wait to see all the beauty in real life.
If you want to save some money on a camera, you can still go with a FF camera but get something that's sort of on the lower-end of resolution, so say 24MP (so you could get a Canon R6, NIkon Z6 series, or a Sony A7C or A7 III -- something around $2000 or less) and spend more on the lenses, which is the more important part. Most cameras these days (regardless of format) will take great landscape photos and should have enough DR for most people's needs but it's the lenses that will make the most difference, so if you're on a limited budget, bias your money a bit more towards lenses and other accessories you likely will need like a sturdy tripod and perhaps a few filters (like a CPL and ND filter). For on-screen use or social media, you are not likely to see any major difference (or any difference) between a 24MP and a 45-50MP image, usually the differences are only really visible when you go to print or if you shoot at really high ISOs which you probably won't if you're doing landscapes (and are on a tripod). if you already have a decent camera (APSC or FF) and decent lenses, then start focusing on experiences and education. I'm at the point where I've built my landscape kit (over the past 3 years) and now will allocate money to things like more trips, rather than more gear or newer gear. And I think this is an important thing, that people don't always factor into their overall photography budget. New gear is cool and fun, but if you don't have the money to really use the gear in the way you wanted (ie. take trips, do photo shoots, etc) then it's sort of a "waste" because you spent all this money, but you've now limited yourself somewhat with what you can do or your photographic opportunities we'll say. So maybe instead of buying that $3000 camera body, you settle for a $2000 camera body and spend the extra $1000 on a trip to some place to do landscape photography.
All great advice, but I still see a need for clear protection filters. Wiping sea spray or wind-blown dust from the front element of that expensive lens will make tiny scratches. They mostly cause flare against the light and reduce contrast. A clear or uv filter is cheap to replace.
Thanks for the wise advice. Having more time now for photography post retirement I am only just realising that the 3 pillars for good results; knowledge about the techniques in general / knowing how to get the best out of your equipment / & artistic vision, are actually 4 pillars- including post production. Which seems much more important than when I was doing film photography in my youth.
Hey Mads. Great video and advice. I always buy second hand used gear. Don’t see the point in spending more for new stuff. Also, I’m still using the Sony A7Rii which is a 7 year old camera. It works great. Just cause there’s a new camera on the market doesn’t mean you have to have it😅
I just bought a used Tamron wide angle lens, vs the new Lenses, saved $850 on doing so, and people don't realize that a lens like these will satisfy most pixel peepers. But what I'll do is keep an eye out, sometimes, not often, B&H will have huge deals. I bought my first semi pro, carbon fiber tripod on a 35% sale, shaved off $130, and that I do not regret!! I know I'll have that for a long time!
This is just such a useful video, many photographers say you have to have a full bag of gear, always the newest sh*t and so on. But you made the point in this video of what is really needed. So great Mads! Thank you
I have to pipe up, Mads, and say that there are other benefits to UV/Skylight filters. The principal one is protecting your filter thread which is incredibly vulnerable to damage from knocks. AND, not all VND filters produce the crosshatch pattern either. Not that I would generally use one for stills, but I have one for video work. You can't over simplify the lack of need for a grad either. Exposure blending is not suitable for every occasion. However, I would concede that the cost of a half-decent grad is prohibitive if you're trying to save money. WIth you 100% on presets.....
Before buying step up rings it’d help to consider if a smaller diameter/wider angle lens will be limited by the rings. My 15mm lens with a 52mm filter will see the rings at the edge of the frame when using a 77mm filter. For me the step up rings were a waste of money at least in the short term.
I can't understate how much benefit there is to doing a proper workshop with a good teacher (or teachers) like Mads or Nick Page (or both! Can vouch!). You get so much useful and valuable information, tips, in person help, and not to mention, you're surrounded by fellow photographers who are just as passionate about it as you are and thus the ideas about composition just flow and you get to bounce ideas off of one another in ways that really makes a big difference with how much you learn.
Great advice as always, Mads. I have my own Holy Trinity: a 16mm Sigma, Tamron 28-75mm, and a Tamron 70-300mm. On top of that, I am still using the Sony a6000. I am considering buying a used A7RII, or a used A7RIII. I'm not in a big hurry to spend more money on a full-frame system that might not make that much difference in the end results. I did recently purchase a new Artcise carbon fiber tripod, because I'm 6' tall and got tired of bending over all the time. Being OUT in nature is the most important part of landscape photography. At this time, I'm not interested or willing to spend a small fortune with the so-called "latest and greatest" gear. Great vlog, as always.
I’ve always bought used or nearly new / refurbished gear, only once have I purchased a brand new camera and even then there was decent money back offer at the time. I’ve recently purchased an open boxed Leofoto tripod for a couple of hundred pounds, new it would’ve cost more than double, it’s like new! Another option is to hire gear, I recently hired the Fuji 50-140 F2.8 direct from Fuji for a long weekend and it only cost me £45, including delivery & collection, you have to pay a security deposit of course but was refunded within a week after it was returned, plus I got voucher from Fuji which, If i do buy the lens, they’ll refund the cost of hire (valid for 6 months).
great advice, ive been shooting landscape for 17 years, and have only upgraded bodies twice, and only ever owned 1 lens per body, started with canon 40d w/sigma 17-55, then a 5d w/ 35mm 1.4, and now ive had a sony a7iii with tamron 28-75. Never feel shorted. and im still rocking my first tripod ever, a 17 year old aluminum Manfrotto with manny ball head, still working just fine (albeit the legs are getting a little tough to extend). but ive not found any significant reason to replace, they do the job fantastically and have yeilding alot of my work in corporate and doctors offices across my state :)
Love my Manfrotto 055clb with a quick release head. I have a Vanguad Veo carbon fibre tripod if I know I’m going to hike up a mountain but my old Manfrotto from 2005 is my main tripod and still works as well as the day I bought it.
Thank you for sharing your experiences and thinking. It's nice to remember thinking minimalist about gear, and investing more in our inspiration and creativity ! All the best ! 🌞
When it comes to filters, I just use a CPOL (for color and cutting reflections), an ND3 (if I need a small 3-stop slowdown), and an ND9-10 (if it's daytime and I need a very slow shot). And thank you for the notification about magnetic filters. I didn't know those existed. Looking now! :P
Thank you for great advice sometimes when you watch a lot of photography videos you feel like you have to have the latest gear to matter this video is giving me hope thank you 🙏🏼
Thank you for all your great videos. I am just getting back into photography as a hobby and your videos have been so helpful especially in picking out the right equipment. I picked up a used Sony A7RIV, a Sigma 20mm Art lens, Sony 24-106 G lens and a Sigma 100-400 lens. With the exception of the Sony 24-105 everything I picked up used which made it more affordable to get into some great gear. I am looking forward to reading your E-books and learning more. I also picked up a used Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS Alpha E-Mount Retractable Zoom Lens for a family vacation, and while an APC lens it worked great being so compact for a vacation and an Orland Theme Park.
Hi Mads. So many times I hear someone teaching that there is no need for graduated ND filters because of bracketing… I do a lot of long exposure work and therefore just bought an Kasefilter Armour set in addition to my Kasefilter magnetic roundfilters. If you do 3-15 Min exposures with moving clouds bracketing is no opportunity. I enjoy using this filters instead of pushing shaddows up to 6 EV.
I agree completely with your statement about travel tripods. Many people would say that they are way to flimsy for serious landscape photography but really the one I have, the PrimaPhoto Big Travel Kit aluminum with a ball head at around $100 is more than adequate for most situations, especially backpacking photo trips!!!
Good suggestions. I am satisfied with an even cheaper approach. Years ago I was told I needed to spent $1000 for a tripod. Instead I use a Slik 340 tripod with ballhead. It cost me barely over $100 and has lasted for 14 years of use. It is light weight at about 3# and has been trouble free. I also continue to use an APS-C camera, a Canon 32.5 mp 90D. APS-C cameras and lenses cost about 1/3 of the FF price and provide almost identical performance and image quality.
Thank you for all the inspiration sir. I have been following you for about more than a year now. Had been considering to invest in VND at the moment but you broke it down nicely..
Great advice !! People dont NEED the latest greates gear in order to be a good photographer, you cannot buy SKILL !! Buy an older used system , build your kit for what you shoot and then use the money you save on photography trips
Thank you for all your helpful tips. I have found "less is definitely more " . I have purchased photography gear that now I never use. And I have found I enjoy my love for photography even more.
Good advice! I've come to buy second hand quite a bit. Although I bought the 2 camera's I use now as new, ball heads and most lenses were bought second hand and still perform just fine. 2 second hand lenses broke down on me too soon though, a Canon 24-105 which I replaced with a 24-70 f4 and a Canon 100-400 I which I replaced with a 100-400 II. Both lenses are probably used the most of all. Although I get a lot of use from my Canon 100 macro II as well. That one I bought new as it has stabilization and the previous one did not.
I'm glad you have mentioned crop sensor cameras here. I shoot micro four thirds and there are a number of reasons for that decision. I'm very well aware of the pros and cons of crop sensor vs full frame vs medium format. I agree with you that it's better to improve your skills as a photographer and that way, you will be able to maximize whatever system you are using. In addition, you could even consider looking at manual lenses to save money. These would be primes for the most part but could be worth looking at.
Bought 2 yrs ago 1.1kg 160sm 50$ tripod from China as a backup And now it's my only main tripod for over 1,5 years... 2/2 working on estate reality, taking it everywhere in a trips and attaching it to my motorcycle when going on a landscape photo hunting. Still alive and still working fine Have that expensive brand tripod and it's covering with dust on a shelf
I like that you discussed step-up rings for your filters, I did that in order to keep costs down and, while there are down sides, it has worked great for me overall. Your discussion of classes vs investing in expensive gear is also key IMHO. Look at great pictures (landscape/wildlife/portrait) from more than 20 years ago, they were using solid cameras, minimal gear, quality film and took outstanding photos because they knew how to select/frame their photos. I would also propose discussing non-Adobe editing software like Corel's offerings. Adobe software can be extremely expensive, yes it's the unofficial standard, but it's not the only option. I would also propose that folks do a "Photo a day" challenge (which I haven't been good at keeping up with for more than a week or so) forcing you to 'see' the world and your local environment differently. I LOVE it that you mentioned a First Aid Kit!!!
Agree you do not need to buy the best tripod but you need to make sure it’s stable. Investing in the right filter system is also important many of the cheaper versions have horrible color issues.
Such valuable, easy to understand advice - and it applies to just about every pursuit: I've seen beginner archers try to _buy_ good scores with increasingly expensive gear. One thing I've learnt is that (at least in Australia) the market for used camera backpacks is almost nil, so this might be an avenue for savings albeit a minor one. I also think that purchasing a quality item is always a better course: for example, a cheap ND filter that adds a colour cast to the image. Quality doesn't cost - it pays. One thing: I don't work in Apple OS or Windows, so I do my post-processing in Darktable and the GIMP, both of which are free, and available for other operating systems, though they lack the integration of Adobe products.
Be careful of ANY scams in the comments. Sadly they're becoming more and more aggressive! Some even try to impersonate me. The real "me" has a grayed out name! I DO NOT run ANY competitions or give-aways and I will NEVER EVER ask you to contact me! If you see a comment like that please click the three dots on the right of the comment and report it as spam / scam / misinformation.
The scamming has gotten so bad the scammers are even posting videos on your channel!!
Thanks for the common sense Mads. You can do quite well with just a newer model iPhone in my opinion. Saves a lot of money and a lot of hassle. Great video.
Excellent advice. One additional item that’s crucial to my setup: a good multi-pocket fishing vest. I keep extra cards, batteries, filters, lens cloths, gloves, etc, etc. in mine. Thus, I rarely have to dig into my pack and often can leave to pack in my car.
The best landscape photography channel and landscape photographer on UA-cam. When I watch your video, Mads , I only see art and education! So, thank you wholeheartedly for these remarkable videos.
I have such a small budget when it comes to photography and much less than you mentioned. I managed to get a replacement camera (Nikon D780) when my D7200 was damaged beyond repair. I still use my old DX lenses and have recently bought some Gobe ND filters. I have a reasonably cheap tripod, but it’s fine and quite sturdy. I like landscape photography too, so I hope I am set up for now!! Thanks for your honesty. So many photographers here have the best equipment and I’ve stopped watching them because there’s so much ‘b roll’ and so little help. And when they set up their extremely expensive equipment I’m just turned off.
One of the biggest ways to save money is definitely buying used. Most of my gear is “professional” and bought used. I saved a lot of money!
Not everywhere there is a used market, especially with quality gear so in my case... I can't find absolutely anything that I want and not to mention I will never buy a used camera :D It's not only about money but most people don't really respect their property so I prefer to get it clean and untouched :)
@@dicekolev5360 With experience, you learn how to select the cream puffs from the duds, but I fully understand your point
Thanks for all the good advice, Mads. I suffer from GAS(gear acquisition syndrome) like most amateur photographers. My real love is landscape, but also do some bird photography and macro work. So that adds to the complexity of decision making. One good investment for me was to upgrade my home computer to handle some of the newer software.
One item I never see anyone recommend is a good glass screen protector. I have one fitted to both my cameras. They cost under £10 for 3 from Amazon and are well worth the money. I dropped my A7R4 on some rocks while photographing an old water mill and the screen protector took the full impact. It cracked around the impact point but on removing the protector I found the screen was still perfect. I would not like to think how much a new screen would have cost + the hassle of sending away / waiting for the repair! Even if you don't drop the camera, the protector will keep the original screen free of marks and scratches + make it worth more when you come to trade in / sell. They have no impact on how the screen works (touch etc) and you won't even know it is on there if you fit it well (they are easy to fit). They are one of the cheapest items for photography but so valuable and hardly ever mentioned.
If you need a screen protector your camera is probably being smacked around pretty badly anyway, so you are not "saving" the resale value 😂
@@Tugela60 Just sold my 5 year old Sony A7R3 to MPB as "excellent" condition - used it as my main camera for 4 years and backup to the A7R4 after that. The A7R4 is also in excellent condition after a couple of years of use. Only ever had that one accident mentioned above but for a few quid I am really glad I had the screen protector on. I am sure that the screen on the A7R3 would have had some marks on it from just general use without the screen protector. You do as you wish mate - I will continue to save some money :D
@@davesemmens9496 Not if you continue to smash them against rocks.
@Tugela60 let's both do what we think is best - you go your way and I will go mine ;)
@@davesemmens9496 knock yourself out attaching useless knicknacks on to your camera 😀
I use the UV filters on lenses where the tubus is open to air behind the filter threads. This is where many lenses suck in outside air that eventually leaves dust behind the front lens element. With a filter you have a fixed column of relatively dust free air instead.
Mads, great advice and common sense. Your photoshop course is excellent and helped me a great deal. Please keep the great work!
On the topic of saving money by buying used, all I'm going to say is you can get a Full frame 36mp nikon D800 for 400 usd if you look around a bit
Another tip is to be patient and plan to buy new at the right time. For instance the Sony 200-600 is typically around £1699 at main dealers in the UK. At the beginning of Black Friday week a main dealer discounted it by 10% then a further 10% on Black Friday weekend. Combining it with both the Sony lens cashback and the welcome to Sony cashback brought the price down to £1059.
Great reminder, Mads. This topic feels like it's rehashed frequently, but honestly I don't think it is possible to state some of these things too often! The idea of not focusing on the specific gear as the path to improvement is SO SO SOOOOO important. And as a newcomer to landscape photography, it's easy to go gear crazy, but the money spent on education and getting out there has been so much more impactful to the quality of my work.
The one thing I'd point out is the bit about Lightroom presets. Getting a bunch of them from photographers I enjoy actually has helped me a LOT, as far as learning what makes a photo edit look the way it does. Instead of just using them and leaving them alone, I can apply one, then go digging around to find what was done in the various menus to reverse engineer the preset. I've learned a lot about getting various looks through this approach. It can definitely be a really inexpensive way to learn more about the editing process!
Thanks as always!
This is true. Sometimes reverse engineering from the solution is the best way to learn how to solve things yourself
As a victim of buying "stuff" expecting it to improve my photos, I completely agree. Without doubt you will be much better off getting training courses/workshops and learn what to do. When you are good enough then maybe treat yourself to some equipment. Buying a better oven, doesn't make you a better chef.
Great advice. You said almost everything I've been thinking on the subject of how to save money on camera gear. I would add 1) consider third party accessories. I saved more than $300 on a battery pack for my Sony by buying a no-name brand 2) if you have a mirrorless Sony consider 35mm manual focus primes, with a cheap adaptor. I've saved thousands by using my old Canon FD lenses rather than buy new autofocus lenses. If you're a landscape photographer you don't really need autofocus.
Correction: I meant I saved money on a no-name battery grip rather than a battery pack. So you can choose which brand batteries you want to use in the battery grip.
Something that I can recommend is that you use camera cubes instead of buying deidcated camera bags.
These cubes usually aren't too expensive and you get the flexibility of using them in all the backbacks you already own (EDC, Travel etc.)
Another benefit is that when you are traveling it is alot more discrete than having a well known camera bag
Thank you for this.
Those are wise advice. I shoot for a long time with used gear, telling myself I’m not pro, so I won’t spend €€€€ for brand new model.
Thank you for a hint with ND magnet ring. Need to check this one. I’m not sure if I miss it, but one more crucial investment are/is spare camera battery :)
Great video. I have been and shall ever be in the lens hood (vs UV filter) camp.
Thank you, Mads. We amateurs need constant reminders that simple, used and cost effective equipment will satisfy most of our needs.
It will indeed!
@@MadsPeterIversen Thanks, Mads. Keep posting those winners!!
Most cameras are bought as male jewelry, so buying simple used equipment will NOT satisfy most users needs.
Now while I have to admit that I do use a filter attached to the front of my lenses, not so much as protection for the lens should it be dropped but as a means to protect the front element from airborne contaminants especially when operating on the coast or at sea, where depending on conditions I find I regularly have to clean the front of the lens. Yes I appreciate that extra layer of glass may degrade the image by a minute amount but not enough to worry about.
I have R III and R V .The Sony A 7 R III is a beast!The image quality is fantastic!
Your Videos about shooting Denmark showed how simple it is to get really cool images in the area close to you, really eye opening in regard to all dream destinations around the World. Just keep practiting in your surroundings and forget all the crazy new stuff other channels are promoting. Raise your skills to be execellent. And buy used, saves lots of money.
well the surrounding landscape is pretty good for photography. there are of course better areas, but it is also much much worse. so the tip "shoot locally" is very vague.
personally, i have to drive 2 hours to get to moderately good areas.
nevertheless a very good video, as always.
Your practical advice is extremely valuable. Very much appreciated. Three thumbs up.
Totally agree Mads, great advice. I have very little money to spend on camera gear, I have too many horses and animals to feed lol. So I have 2nd hand gear, tried to buy good quality. Occasionally I will buy a new lens and I need to buy a monopod or new tripod, preferably both as mine is a hand me down and its not strong enough for some of my gear. I'm glad you think filters and presets are overly pushed, you almost feel pressured sometimes to purchase these items. I can only afford the basics so I have a set of ND filters and a polariser, but must get the step down rings and re hash my filter size as I have bought a much bigger lens and my filters are too small. Presets, well I've always thought like you, your work is unique to you and thats what makes you a photographer, I feel presets are the same as copying not something I'm comfortable with. And I cant afford to go very far from home so its made me look at things here and make them work for me. I'm very lucky I live on a property in the Flinders Ranges so I'm not too disadvantaged. So agree wholeheartedly Mads. You dont have to be rich to shoot good images. I've invested in a Certificate in Photography course and its the best thing I could have done, I agree that is where your money is best spent. Well said Mads, look forward to the next video.
Excellent video again, Mads. Especially the “photograph close to home” advice. At 84 my travelling is quite restricted even though I’m in pretty good shape. While I’d love to do more globetrotting, there is lots for me to photograph less than a day’s distance from my house. And no, I do not live in the Rocky Mountains but in relatively boring Ontario. It depends on how you look at things.
I loved your comments on presets! I feel the same way - they are MY images, and I get pleasure in learning how to make them look the way I want them to look.
Mads, you always make such thoughtful and informative videos. I always come away with some nugget of wisdom after viewing!
Amen! I feel the same way about presets.
2 things I've done to save money. I've worked out my most used focal ranges and whenever I've upgraded to a new system for example only bought the lenses I needed. 2nd one is purchasing affinity photo editing software for £38! One off payment with free lifetime updates, Fantastic program. Rather not pay a monthly subscription.
Can recommend Affinity Photo too - superb software with very similar UI to Adobe and certain features which are better. I've saved over £300 since switching.
For two decades, I was a filter for protection kind of guy. Then I became the "why put cheap glass over great glass" kind of guy and did away with protective filters. Now since I'm doing more landscape, specifically shooting in the Pacific coastal forests of Vancouver Island, BC (translation: lots of rain sometimes), I'm thinking of going back to a plain glass protective filter so that in the rain I'm wiping it down and not the front element, repeatedly. The situation and genres' of photography determine front filter need or not, studio shooting not so much, war corresponded maybe better off with a filter. UV filters are scams as they were developed in the film error, film was more sensitive to UV light, modern sensors aren't sensitive to UV lighting.
The Fuji X mount cameras are quite amazing in size, price, quality, and lens selection. Well worth it for anyone who want quality in an APS-C body.
I agree, I came from a full frame Canon DSLR, i was hit with a rogue wave and needed a new camera body and switched to a used Fuji XT-3 again you don't need the biggest badest camera , the XT-3 is a beast for an apsc body and the lens prices beat Canon ,, buy used and buy a few year older body and save money
Loved this video and your perspectives. Thank you for being realistic. Wanted to applaud when you talked about finding shots/perspectives in your home environment. I started graduate school three years shortly after getting into photography and have had to be very frugal with my trips/gear because I haven’t been able to work during school.
I would like to add what I think could save you quite a lot of money when considering what lenses to buy, especially when buying new. First and foremost, think of what focal lengths you really use and enjoy using. The best way to find that out is to take various zoom lenses into the field first and then check the focal length of images you took. When you are just beginning, there are lots of rental services that have a wide selection of lenses to pick from. It's way better to rent a lens or two for a few days and then buy that one lens that you enjoyed using, rather than buying one lens only to sell it later with a loss and buying another one.
Let me give you an example - the common combination is 24-70 and 70-200. However, most of my pictures are usually somewhere in the range 35-70, then around 135mm and after that all the way to 400mm. So I'm currently shooting with Tamron 28-75 G2 (mostly because of the size+weight) and Sigma 100-400mm. Sure, there is a slight gap, but I rarely need that focal length, and then I will make do with cropping instead. If I got 70-200 because everyone has it, I would be annoyed of not having the reach of 400mm and I would probably soon sell it.
Another thing - if you don't need to, don't buy the cheapest gear. I did that mistake with a lens. While I really enjoyed the lenses focal length, I was constantly annoyed by the lack of sharpness. Replacing it with a better lens means losing some money in the long run.
And finally I would like to emphasise on what Mads already said - you don't have buy the best. Let me use the Sigma as an example again. It's maybe 5% less sharp than the Sony 100-400 lens, but it's 2.5 times cheaper. Sure, Sony has faster AF, but most of the time Sigma is OK and more than sufficient for landscape. You will find examples like this everywhere. Looking at the youtube videos it may look like you like you need the best of the best, but most of us don't. In fact I would say whenever you don't know for sure that you need the best X because of Y that Z doesn't have, then you don't need the best and can go with Z. Usually the difference between the best and second best is way bigger and 2nd and 3rd...
Very interesting vid. I think this is directed to hobby photographers. My advice is to perfect your photography composition with what you have first then think about equipment. When I took photography in journalism college, we started with Kodak Brownie cameras. If you can't compose with a Brownie, then a Nikon or Sony won't do you any good! If you're a hobby photographer, put money into used quality lenses and build from there. Also view photography vids every week! Also remember that post processing is very forgiving of mistakes you make in the field, so seek to improve your post processing software.
I'm 1,92m and got the big benro a while ago and it is a blast. But for demanding hikes and climbs I got a small Sirui with only about 1kg. Good combination for me, but the benro with a good head is quit a lot to carry.
Siru is good and light. Love mine.
Love your photography, just watched the video of the lighthouse. Stunning photos, breathtaking light on the grasses. Very informative video. I will watch more.
Good advice Mads. I have bought almost all of my lenses from reputable used gear vendors. I saved a lot of money and have never had a problem with the physical quality of the lens or the image quality. Solid advice.
What was the best landscape lens you referred to near the end?
I still use my old Canon 5D MKII, fantastic piece of kit, Glass wise, I only ever use a Canon 35mm prime and the F4 70-200mmL...Job Done.
Nice one mads, 1 little tip that could save you money is if you a looking to buy the latest/greatest camera /lens then why not hire one and try it out (even if you are using it for a once in a lifetime trip, safari etc.)
To save I've allways purchased all my equipment used including a NISI filter system. this has saved $$$$$$.
Simularily I'm now looking to get my pack smaller and lighter. I carry a 5dsr, 16-35, 24-70, 70-200 all f4 Nisi, lens cleaners, batteries etc. - what can i do without - that depends what I'm after that day. still not sure .
anyway thanks for the video.
so validating that after 3-4 hours of research (6 mos ago) i decided to buy step up rings and a 3 stop ND filter and bypassed the variable ND filter or the graduated filter. Ticked me off that it came AFTER my trip to the USA Florida Keys. so mad that shipping is slow these days from Amazon. Great video.
All great advice. I have finally seen the light and upgraded to the Kase circular magnetic system. I am hoping and praying that is the last time I invest in a filter system!
I bought uv filters for all my lens, but I agree with you ,That the lens hood is very capable of protecting your lens. I’ve a number of tripods bought new but the best tripod I’ve bought was second hand. 👍
A lens hood is not a good protection for wideangle lenses, because it is so cut out. And it won't help if the ground is not even or if something stands out. That also matters if you are in a narrow environment (not so much for landscape, but when you are inside some object). I have several filters here with scratches and one broken.
I also have a better feeling with a filter, if I constantly have to wipe raindrops from the lens.
If you are hiking with a very small bag the big lens hoods are cumbersome to pack and to always remove them before changing the lens.
Thanks Made. Great & useful advice especially the part about filters for landscape photography.
Great video Mads, I like your conversative approach to landscape photography. I have it heard said, gear doesn't necessarily make you a better photographer. I am heavily vested in the Canon system. I am smart enough not to switch systems because my images are awful. I see professionals switch systems a good bit. But this their living ,so I think it would unwise to change systems. As far as gear goes ,it is like golf clubs ,you can a bag full of clubs you never use ! I know the context of your video was landscape , but I know people who want to shoot everything ,which to me is maddening. I am primarily a landscape photographer, I also do some macro ,car shows, Architecture, static subjects. I have the EOS R and this camera works great for that. The idea of E-books is a great investment. The best way to learn is a good foundation and practice.
Good advice Mads, I print to iPad, so max I need is 3MP. I shoot Oly bought a used serviced M1 mk 1 from a pro photographer friend. Pretty much all my equipment apart from filters and tripod used. I use filters because Mads, I enjoy doing it in-camera, for me, this is a hobby, it's about enjoyment & satisfaction. I'd rather spend the money buying time to indulge in my hobby, doing trips and workshops...
I agree with everything, you said! I’m using the Sony alpha 6400 and never missed anything.
Hi Mads, I totally agree with you from the point of view of a landscape photographer. But most of the amateurs like me are shooting much more than landscapes: family, pets, holidays…
In my opinion the biggest problem for amateurs is time! Time to learn and try, time to wait for the right moment, the right light…
I‘m mostly on my way with our two sighthounds. I can‘t wait for the right moment, I have to shoot when I reach a interesting location and sometimes the light is fine😁 Best regards Wolfgang
Buying used has always worked well for me, both cameras and lenses, so I recommend that to every starter as well as people wanting to upgrade. I either seek out local offers or, when further away, have a telephone call. Or use one of the used tech shops.
Mads, nice video on some common sense. Most people use UV filters to protect the coatings on the lens when cleaning, not to protect from impact, a common fallacy. Much better to rub a cloth on a filter vs. on the expensive coatings of a lens. One can see this issue when continuously cleaning a pair of expensive sun glasses and the coatings begin to wear off. A small piece of grit can easily scratch your expensive Sony lens and better to scratch a filter instead.
Good advice, agree with UV filter I had one on my best lens and found I got flare photographing around sunset at the beach took it off all good!
Great tips for all photographers. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the what’s new and fancy. I must admit I still do. I just got my first drone in January, a Dji mini 3 pro and when the Dji Mavic 3 pro just came out I had to get it. Now the first drone does limit me to the single camera it still takes great pictures. The new drone camera is crazy. So I must say it was well worth it.
I completely agree with you on the A7R3. The good thing for landscape is that you dont need the best autofocus, the fastest camera,….. To be honest, I manually focus for most of my pictures using focus peaking. I could very well only use non AF lenses.
Bit behind on your vids mads so apologies! I would say one saving you can make if you are starting out is to not automatically sign up to the Adobe Lightroom/Photoshop subscription model. There are other software choices out there that let you chose between subscription and one off purchasing. I for instance use ON1 Photo Raw and I decide each year whether I want to stay with my current version or get the new one. Another way to save money is if you have Amazon Prime you can take advantage of the free full resolution photo storage that comes included. One of the best bits of photography kit I bought was an L-Bracket so would definitely recommend that.
A really great video from a professional. I had the feeling that my used bought Sony a6000, my screw in nd filters, my Rollei tripod and my lenses don't limit my work for real, but sometines there are doubts because of the behaviour of many other photographers. I do this on a budget, one reason why I choosed Affinity Photo instead of Photoshop, but I spend the time to learn these things. By the way, I have bought your first ebook, it's great.
The irony of a man showing us his three tripods costing over $1200 combined preaching the message of not wasting money!
For new photographers, I also recommend a good camera in a "kit" that includes some basics....saves money and gives them a hand up for supplies. I bought a photography Kit with my new Sony A7R3 last year. I was very pleased with the items it came with. The Tripod is epic and its only around $80 in the US. to buy it alone, very heavy duty. I am sure as a person becomes a pro they might change up as they go but we are very happy with the savings we got. IIts very windy where I am and that tripod is doing so well. I am glad you are making suggestions to save money.....its important as times are not great up ahead... I was given a travel tripod and its very flimsy. so it truly matters... Many photographers do sell great gear on their journey to upgrade! They are dumping used Sony A7R3 cameras really cheap! They often sell amazing lenses like new etc.... I was given 4 lenses by my daughter who is a top ten photographer in Hawaii to help me get started. She has 7 of these cameras...... I reconditioned my late twins Nikon D5300 and it is taking great pics! We have compared it to the Sony and it is holding its own if you use it correctly.
Good advice Mads. Been invested in Benro for a couple of years now and recently bought a new tripod as I stupidly broke a leg on my Benro travel tripod and currently awaiting replacement parts. In terms of gear, I bought my current camera body second hand and also all my Canon L lenses were bought second hand. My last purchase 24mm tilt shift saved me around $850 buying from the used market so it worth looking to maximise your purchasing power. Definitely one of my best purchases was your processing tutorial as that along with some other tutorials I have invested in have elevated my processing skills to a higher level
Thank you, Jim! I am actually happy to hear how many of you buy 2nd hand! :D
As a beginner I was a bit overwhelmed by options and opinions in regards to what to invest in next, after haven gotten a tripod, camera and bag, so this was very helpful. Thank you
Great advice Mads! I'd add a few things if anyone sees this:
Variable ND filters used to be awful as you say! I've recently had great success with a 2-5 stop one from Urth, though. It has hard stops so you can't turn it too far and get the cross vignetting, and doesn't seem to affect sharpness at all. It's also pretty cheap, around £30 here in the UK.
UV filters, basically just transparent glass, do still serve a purpose for protection: against fingerprints, grit when wiping the lens front with a cloth, thorns or sticks which might come at the lens from different angles... And combined with a lens hood it's even better. Mine only cost £20 ish, and for me as insurance that's worthwhile.
I think your points about buying used and buying older kit are the most important things, which the people who look at the hobby and think 'that's too expensive' don't consider. I was using a second-hand a7rii for a couple of years, and if you're only manually-focusing and you don't mind carrying around a few more batteries it's still highly recommended!
Agree about the filters although they area a bit ‘marmite’ but being a wildlife shooter my 200-600 won’t fit in my bag with the lens hood on in the extended way, so have a filter as can take a quick shot with it on and it doesn’t fall off like the lens cap does….
Great video, and what a coincidence.. I just bought a secondhand tripod, from the benro angel serie! :) Love your content, and it made me book a trip to the faroe islands this august. Can't wait to see all the beauty in real life.
If you want to save some money on a camera, you can still go with a FF camera but get something that's sort of on the lower-end of resolution, so say 24MP (so you could get a Canon R6, NIkon Z6 series, or a Sony A7C or A7 III -- something around $2000 or less) and spend more on the lenses, which is the more important part. Most cameras these days (regardless of format) will take great landscape photos and should have enough DR for most people's needs but it's the lenses that will make the most difference, so if you're on a limited budget, bias your money a bit more towards lenses and other accessories you likely will need like a sturdy tripod and perhaps a few filters (like a CPL and ND filter). For on-screen use or social media, you are not likely to see any major difference (or any difference) between a 24MP and a 45-50MP image, usually the differences are only really visible when you go to print or if you shoot at really high ISOs which you probably won't if you're doing landscapes (and are on a tripod).
if you already have a decent camera (APSC or FF) and decent lenses, then start focusing on experiences and education. I'm at the point where I've built my landscape kit (over the past 3 years) and now will allocate money to things like more trips, rather than more gear or newer gear. And I think this is an important thing, that people don't always factor into their overall photography budget. New gear is cool and fun, but if you don't have the money to really use the gear in the way you wanted (ie. take trips, do photo shoots, etc) then it's sort of a "waste" because you spent all this money, but you've now limited yourself somewhat with what you can do or your photographic opportunities we'll say. So maybe instead of buying that $3000 camera body, you settle for a $2000 camera body and spend the extra $1000 on a trip to some place to do landscape photography.
All great advice, but I still see a need for clear protection filters. Wiping sea spray or wind-blown dust from the front element of that expensive lens will make tiny scratches. They mostly cause flare against the light and reduce contrast. A clear or uv filter is cheap to replace.
wise words Mads, I learnt the hard way by buying gear (filter system) etc only for it to collect dust. I do like my big Benro though :)
Thanks for the wise advice. Having more time now for photography post retirement I am only just realising that the 3 pillars for good results; knowledge about the techniques in general / knowing how to get the best out of your equipment / & artistic vision, are actually 4 pillars- including post production. Which seems much more important than when I was doing film photography in my youth.
Hey Mads. Great video and advice. I always buy second hand used gear. Don’t see the point in spending more for new stuff. Also, I’m still using the Sony A7Rii which is a 7 year old camera. It works great. Just cause there’s a new camera on the market doesn’t mean you have to have it😅
I just bought a used Tamron wide angle lens, vs the new Lenses, saved $850 on doing so, and people don't realize that a lens like these will satisfy most pixel peepers.
But what I'll do is keep an eye out, sometimes, not often, B&H will have huge deals.
I bought my first semi pro, carbon fiber tripod on a 35% sale, shaved off $130, and that I do not regret!! I know I'll have that for a long time!
The a7r2 is a great camera for all I know. Basically the only downside I know off relative to the r3 is the old batteries.
@@MadsPeterIversen not just that. AF under magnification only with A7riii, bether EVF, Joystick, i had the rii for 6 years. Love it but...
@@MadsPeterIversen I picked up 11 Sony batteries used for $90.00. Score !
I love my a7r2 but my a6500 is so much fun to use.
This is just such a useful video, many photographers say you have to have a full bag of gear, always the newest sh*t and so on. But you made the point in this video of what is really needed. So great Mads! Thank you
I have to pipe up, Mads, and say that there are other benefits to UV/Skylight filters. The principal one is protecting your filter thread which is incredibly vulnerable to damage from knocks. AND, not all VND filters produce the crosshatch pattern either. Not that I would generally use one for stills, but I have one for video work. You can't over simplify the lack of need for a grad either. Exposure blending is not suitable for every occasion. However, I would concede that the cost of a half-decent grad is prohibitive if you're trying to save money. WIth you 100% on presets.....
I love what you said about presets. Editing is for sure part of the process, and it helps you understand the image so much.
Before buying step up rings it’d help to consider if a smaller diameter/wider angle lens will be limited by the rings. My 15mm lens with a 52mm filter will see the rings at the edge of the frame when using a 77mm filter. For me the step up rings were a waste of money at least in the short term.
I can't understate how much benefit there is to doing a proper workshop with a good teacher (or teachers) like Mads or Nick Page (or both! Can vouch!). You get so much useful and valuable information, tips, in person help, and not to mention, you're surrounded by fellow photographers who are just as passionate about it as you are and thus the ideas about composition just flow and you get to bounce ideas off of one another in ways that really makes a big difference with how much you learn.
Great advice as always, Mads. I have my own Holy Trinity: a 16mm Sigma, Tamron 28-75mm, and a Tamron 70-300mm. On top of that, I am still using the Sony a6000. I am considering buying a used A7RII, or a used A7RIII. I'm not in a big hurry to spend more money on a full-frame system that might not make that much difference in the end results. I did recently purchase a new Artcise carbon fiber tripod, because I'm 6' tall and got tired of bending over all the time. Being OUT in nature is the most important part of landscape photography. At this time, I'm not interested or willing to spend a small fortune with the so-called "latest and greatest" gear. Great vlog, as always.
Thanks for the tips! 👍
I’ve always bought used or nearly new / refurbished gear, only once have I purchased a brand new camera and even then there was decent money back offer at the time. I’ve recently purchased an open boxed Leofoto tripod for a couple of hundred pounds, new it would’ve cost more than double, it’s like new!
Another option is to hire gear, I recently hired the Fuji 50-140 F2.8 direct from Fuji for a long weekend and it only cost me £45, including delivery & collection, you have to pay a security deposit of course but was refunded within a week after it was returned, plus I got voucher from Fuji which, If i do buy the lens, they’ll refund the cost of hire (valid for 6 months).
great advice, ive been shooting landscape for 17 years, and have only upgraded bodies twice, and only ever owned 1 lens per body, started with canon 40d w/sigma 17-55, then a 5d w/ 35mm 1.4, and now ive had a sony a7iii with tamron 28-75. Never feel shorted. and im still rocking my first tripod ever, a 17 year old aluminum Manfrotto with manny ball head, still working just fine (albeit the legs are getting a little tough to extend). but ive not found any significant reason to replace, they do the job fantastically and have yeilding alot of my work in corporate and doctors offices across my state :)
Love my Manfrotto 055clb with a quick release head. I have a Vanguad Veo carbon fibre tripod if I know I’m going to hike up a mountain but my old Manfrotto from 2005 is my main tripod and still works as well as the day I bought it.
Thank you for sharing your experiences and thinking. It's nice to remember thinking minimalist about gear, and investing more in our inspiration and creativity ! All the best ! 🌞
When it comes to filters, I just use a CPOL (for color and cutting reflections), an ND3 (if I need a small 3-stop slowdown), and an ND9-10 (if it's daytime and I need a very slow shot).
And thank you for the notification about magnetic filters. I didn't know those existed. Looking now! :P
Something else to consider is grey imports for bodies and lenses as now they come with a warranty.. einfinity and pananmos are both reliable 🙂
Thank you for great advice sometimes when you watch a lot of photography videos you feel like you have to have the latest gear to matter this video is giving me hope thank you 🙏🏼
Thank you for all your great videos. I am just getting back into photography as a hobby and your videos have been so helpful especially in picking out the right equipment. I picked up a used Sony A7RIV, a Sigma 20mm Art lens, Sony 24-106 G lens and a Sigma 100-400 lens. With the exception of the Sony 24-105 everything I picked up used which made it more affordable to get into some great gear. I am looking forward to reading your E-books and learning more. I also picked up a used Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS Alpha E-Mount Retractable Zoom Lens for a family vacation, and while an APC lens it worked great being so compact for a vacation and an Orland Theme Park.
Hi Mads. So many times I hear someone teaching that there is no need for graduated ND filters because of bracketing… I do a lot of long exposure work and therefore just bought an Kasefilter Armour set in addition to my Kasefilter magnetic roundfilters. If you do 3-15 Min exposures with moving clouds bracketing is no opportunity. I enjoy using this filters instead of pushing shaddows up to 6 EV.
True, there will be very specific times where it makes sense ;)
I agree completely with your statement about travel tripods. Many people would say that they are way to flimsy for serious landscape photography but really the one I have, the PrimaPhoto Big Travel Kit aluminum with a ball head at around $100 is more than adequate for most situations, especially backpacking photo trips!!!
Good suggestions. I am satisfied with an even cheaper approach. Years ago I was told I needed to spent $1000 for a tripod. Instead I use a Slik 340 tripod with ballhead. It cost me barely over $100 and has lasted for 14 years of use. It is light weight at about 3# and has been trouble free. I also continue to use an APS-C camera, a Canon 32.5 mp 90D. APS-C cameras and lenses cost about 1/3 of the FF price and provide almost identical performance and image quality.
Thank you for all the inspiration sir. I have been following you for about more than a year now. Had been considering to invest in VND at the moment but you broke it down nicely..
I love this video. There is so much wisdom advice, and does not advertise to sell sponsored gears like some does.
Good advice I went from full frame down to crop and happy
Says the man with more gear than Wex….😂😂
Well said particularly your comments re filters and LR presets!
Good video clear explanation especially on the presets
Great advice !! People dont NEED the latest greates gear in order to be a good photographer, you cannot buy SKILL !! Buy an older used system , build your kit for what you shoot and then use the money you save on photography trips
Love your videos! Just getting back into photography my father-in-law gave me his fuji X-T20. Thankyou for your videos!
Excellent video!
Thanks Mads, appreciate the advice.Helpful to know the pitfalls of Landscaper Photography.
Thank you for all your helpful tips. I have found "less is definitely more " . I have purchased photography gear that now I never use. And I have found I enjoy my love for photography even more.
Good advice! I've come to buy second hand quite a bit. Although I bought the 2 camera's I use now as new, ball heads and most lenses were bought second hand and still perform just fine. 2 second hand lenses broke down on me too soon though, a Canon 24-105 which I replaced with a 24-70 f4 and a Canon 100-400 I which I replaced with a 100-400 II. Both lenses are probably used the most of all. Although I get a lot of use from my Canon 100 macro II as well. That one I bought new as it has stabilization and the previous one did not.
I'm glad you have mentioned crop sensor cameras here. I shoot micro four thirds and there are a number of reasons for that decision. I'm very well aware of the pros and cons of crop sensor vs full frame vs medium format. I agree with you that it's better to improve your skills as a photographer and that way, you will be able to maximize whatever system you are using. In addition, you could even consider looking at manual lenses to save money. These would be primes for the most part but could be worth looking at.
Bought 2 yrs ago 1.1kg 160sm 50$ tripod from China as a backup
And now it's my only main tripod for over 1,5 years...
2/2 working on estate reality, taking it everywhere in a trips and attaching it to my motorcycle when going on a landscape photo hunting. Still alive and still working fine
Have that expensive brand tripod and it's covering with dust on a shelf
I like that you discussed step-up rings for your filters, I did that in order to keep costs down and, while there are down sides, it has worked great for me overall. Your discussion of classes vs investing in expensive gear is also key IMHO. Look at great pictures (landscape/wildlife/portrait) from more than 20 years ago, they were using solid cameras, minimal gear, quality film and took outstanding photos because they knew how to select/frame their photos.
I would also propose discussing non-Adobe editing software like Corel's offerings. Adobe software can be extremely expensive, yes it's the unofficial standard, but it's not the only option.
I would also propose that folks do a "Photo a day" challenge (which I haven't been good at keeping up with for more than a week or so) forcing you to 'see' the world and your local environment differently.
I LOVE it that you mentioned a First Aid Kit!!!
Agree you do not need to buy the best tripod but you need to make sure it’s stable. Investing in the right filter system is also important many of the cheaper versions have horrible color issues.
Thank you this is a refreshing look when compared with other material.
Such valuable, easy to understand advice - and it applies to just about every pursuit: I've seen beginner archers try to _buy_ good scores with increasingly expensive gear. One thing I've learnt is that (at least in Australia) the market for used camera backpacks is almost nil, so this might be an avenue for savings albeit a minor one. I also think that purchasing a quality item is always a better course: for example, a cheap ND filter that adds a colour cast to the image. Quality doesn't cost - it pays. One thing: I don't work in Apple OS or Windows, so I do my post-processing in Darktable and the GIMP, both of which are free, and available for other operating systems, though they lack the integration of Adobe products.