Before I delve in to my story, I should clarify something.
I am a firm, firm believer that the photographer has much, much more to do with the quality of photographs (from an aesthetic point of view, if not a technical one) than the gear which they use.
A crap photographer will take equally bad pictures with a point and shoot or with a top-of-the-line Nikon D3x (or the upcoming Canon 1Ds Mk. IV). Likewise, a good photographer will be able to take beautiful photos with an iPhone (if there’s any doubt, check out Chase Jarvis’ recent work).
The camera doesn’t matter. Let me say that again. The camera. Doesn’t. Matter.
At least that’s the conventional wisdom.
But, sometimes the camera does matter.
Does it matter for fine art? Of course not.
Does it matter for family snapshots, informal portraits, or the way you document your life? No, of course not.
Does it matter for professional wedding photography, or professional concert photography (among others)? Yes. Yes, it most certainly does.
While wedding and concert photography are very different styles of photography, one thing is the same – the need for good quality images taken, often, in low light. For this you need fast glass and a body with good high-ISO capabilities.
Out of these two, the glass is definitely more important. No professional wedding photographer (and note I say “professional”, not your friend with a cheap point and shoot), at least in my limited experience, will deliberately shoot a wedding without at least an f2.8 zoom or f1.4 / f1.8 / f2 prime lenses (which have the advantage of being cheaper, smaller and often sharper, but lack, obviously, the ability to zoom).
Every photographer WANTS to upgrade. We all want the latest camera, or the high-end glass, or the flashes, or the studio lights. Hell, there’s no END to the gear lust. Even if we all had full frame systems, we’d be lusting after Hasselblad studio gear, Leica field gear, and everything in between. We also all need justification for our purposes, whether from our business partners, our wives, or even ourselves.
So, seeing as I’m trying very hard to break into wedding photography, I had to justify my own recent purchase.
First, a bit of background.
When I started out in photography I used an old, small point and shoot camera. I didn’t really know what I was doing, but I tried. I learnt enough to want to upgrade to something more advanced where I would have some control over shutter speed, focus, etc.
I bought a ‘bridge camera’ by Sony – essentially a point and shoot in an SLR form factor with some additional controls. That camera served me surprisingly well. I traveled throughout Canada and the Caribbean with it, and it helped me make one of my all-time favourite photographs.
When I graduated from university I got my first dSLR, the Nikon D40x. It was the high-res version of Nikon’s low-end dSLR and, while it lacked a number of features like wireless flash control, no support for a vertical grip or legacy lenses, it did everything I needed it to do at the time. And I loved it. It’s been knocked, bumped and even dropped, with no problem. It’s traveled with me throughout nine countries and has changed the way I see the world.
But now I need something new. I’ve finally reached the point where I’m ready to upgrade. Not because I want to, or because there’s something better on the market, but because I’ve done all I can do with that technology.
I need a higher-res body. I need support for older lenses. I need a vertical grip. I need better high ISO performance. I need a second body.
So, I ordered myself a Nikon D90. And a vertical grip. And a Sigma 24-70 f2.8. And a Nikkor 50mm f1.8. And various extra batteries and memory cards.
So, in terms of equipment, I think I’m prepared. Now I just have to use the new equipment to produce some excellent results, which will hopefully validate the (exorbitant) money I spent. Slightly stressful? Sure.
When I receive my exciting new goodies next week I’ll be sure to post some reviews (not that any reviews I write will influence anybody in any meaningful way, but hey, it makes me feel better!).
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