Good points, mmphoto12 and Steve.


It is absolutely not true that you *need* expensive equipment to take good pictures. I was in Zhutien (Taiwan) last summer, and by the train station out there they have a little museum dedicated to works of a famous local photographer (I forget his name). I walked around the museum in awe of his work (all black and white and about 50 years old) until my wife and kids got tired of waiting for me and made me go.


Before leaving, I looked at a small exhibit that displayed the equipment he used. Nothing but a tripod, a 35mm camera (film, of course) and a slow 50mm prime lens.


Don't misunderstand me: I love expensive camera stuff And some pictures and certain effects are best achieved (or can only be achieved) with costly gear. But great pictures are possible with very modest equipment.