use it or loose it

[musickna]

I think you raise an interesting point. I, myself, feel an initial reluctance after, having spent a lot of money on some camera or lens, to actually take it out into the real world where it gets bumped, scratched, dusty and in general messed up.


That said, a piece of well-built photography equipment is designed precisely to cope with such conditions and provided you aren't actually stupid with it, it'll last and last. So my reluctance lasts about 5 minutes, and then I am out with it to take photographs. That's why I have it.

[Sheiky]

Yes well thinking about it: I think this is the exact same discusion about cars. Why do people buy a big Range Rover when all they use it for is shopping and driving to work and never even come close to an offroad situation. Why do you buy a big pickup when you could do it with a tiny Mini as well? The answer: Because you CAN! Why would you go for something cheap and simple if you could buy something big and beautiful? People just want something special.


Yes he's got a point about the use, but it's not really worth the discussion I think. People got their own personal reasons for buying such equipment.Everybody's got their own way to express themselves.Respect that and just focus on your own. Don't get jealous and angry at people who don't use their gear as your idea of usage of it. If canon says you can shoot video with your 500D or whatever, it doesn't mean you HAVE to....it's just an option..


And a lot of the pictures you'll probably make with your 50D could have been made with a 1000D or even a 350D...again the user makes the pictures...not the camera, it's just a tool.


And yes I agree that if you are proud on your camera and shoot and use it with love...every penny was worth it! No matter what budget you were on or what reasons you had buying it...

[mpphoto12]

could agree ore honestly... took the words out of my mouth.... PPL nned to buy point and shoots if they dont ever plan on getting better or using it for what its meant for... im a highschool student who has no money, a crappy rebel xt and i have been shooting for five years now.... I DEAL...... i would kill for a good camera like a 50D.... but ppl who dont know what their doin buy them and i have potential to use one but its in the wrong hands. The pictures that could be made with such a camera is a dream for me but i just dont have the money but i have the skills to use professional 1D series cameras and L glass ........just a thought

[clemmb]

but because I get out there some of the pic's I have gotten have made it all worth it.
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Let us see some of those pic's

[mpphoto12]

no need for that clemmb ... he doesnt have to show his work if he doesnt want to....a photographer presents his work when he wants to OR feels comfortable.... it would be more polite to ASK him maybe... i totally AGREE with him.... Always ends up worth it in the end and NOT because of money or benefits...

[Aaron K]

In general, I like the OP's first paragraph, but the second paragraph is off in the weeds. Yes, our gear (especially depending on our income level &amp; the cost of gear) should be taken care of, but not babied to the point of defeating its purpose in supporting whatever work we want to do. Yes, people always have and always will purchase and acquire items designed for one purpose, but use them for something else, or not use them at all.


The basic issue with "those people should buy point &amp; shoots!" is that: Cameras are not a limited resource!! If there were only 2500 5DIIs produced per year, and half were sold to chuckleheads like me who can only used them on the weekend, then there would be a problem. But DSLRs are EVERYWHERE. Dovetailing with Daniel's point, it's the volume from the supposed riff-raff that keeps prices down for everybody. Plus, who knows--somebody who buys a DSLR on a whim might end up falling in love with photography. It would be a shame to keep that from happening.

[Aaron K]

As a slightly more general aside, for those who think that their DSLR is 'crappy,' I would suggest taking a look at Flickr's Camera Finder. When I feel like it's my equipment that is lacking, I head over there and look at the absolutely stunning work that others are doing with my equipment, and also with equipment that is 'inferior.' Flickr is but a small sampling of what's out there, and there can be technical limitations depending on the precise work you want to do, but I dare say that the Rebel XT, for instance, is a damn fine camera.

[mpphoto12]

thats a cool link on flickr there are some really nice shots on them for the XT. It is a good camera but i will have to argue that in alot of situations it hold me back personally. I think ppl who are gonna buy a really nice dslr should think again and buy one similar to the XT if they dont plan on getting into photography and like said before, buy a better one if they get more into it. I am greatly hindered by my gear but not always ... sometimes the colors on such a camera are just "washed out" even in daytime and are not what i am looking for. All cameras are good cameras in my opinion if they work. If it takes pictures then no camera is a "bad one". but sometimes a better one can increase skills and produce better results as new things are accomplished with the new technology thats rapidly increasing.