Why "Gear Doesn't Matter" Is Misleading
The phrase gear doesn’t matter is thrown around quite a lot and although I am sure it is coming from a good place, I can’t help but feel that it is a little misleading and actually in some cases completely false.... let me explain.
Let’s first understand where this statement is coming from, who it is coming from and the intentions behind it. This statement is typically made by other established photographers on YouTube and in many cases by the very same people that tend to have all the best gear already because they are established. This can sometimes feel contradictory because the “gear doesn’t matter” statement is being filmed on a £10,000 camera rig in a private studio surrounded by the best lights. However where this statement is coming from has nothing to do with the gear that the photographer currently uses.
You see when we first start taking photos, we go through the following cycle:
We usually just use our phones
We then see everyone online taking better photos than us… so we buy an entry level camera (something like a Sony A6000)
Good news! We see a significant jump in image quality. Not photo quality but image quality… and we are happy.
After a while we realise that our photos are still shIt and the cool kids on instagram all have these out of focus backgrounds.
So we then get a fast prime.
We see a huge difference between the old f5.6 kit lens and the f1.8 prime and we are happy.
Until we again realise our photos are sh*t compared to everyone else.
If we have the money we might then upgrade to a full frame camera. Everyone w**ks over full frame so it must be good. But here’s the real catch…. we see no difference in the quality of photos and negligible difference in image quality.
This is where we realise that maybe it is not the gear but maybe it is our choice of subjects, compositions, the lighting, the mood, the feeling within the images which is what we need to work on.
We start working on these things and guess what, we make huge leaps and before we know it we can take good photos on our phones again.
And this is where the penny drops that there is more to it than just how good the camera is… and the message “gear doesn’t matter” is born.
So now if we come back to why these established photographers are shouting “gear doesn’t matter” it’s because they have been through this process and learned the hard way. They are just trying to help and stop you from dropping a few grand on a camera you don’t need. However I still don’t agree with the blanket statement because depending on what you want to do with photography you can find yourself in a situation where gear will properly matter.
General / Family / Friends / Holidays
This is pretty much everyone from your 10 year old cousin to your parents. We all like to take photos of our family days out, friends holidays and our very healthy breakfasts.
For this a fairly modern phone is more than enough. Matter of fact it is ideal because you can edit and share in minutes and there is no friction. If you want to take better photos of your kids, buying a 45 mp full frame camera will not do it. Working on your compositions, story and lighting will. So in this example gear doesn’t matter
Enthusiast
This is someone who still falls within the initial category but really enjoys taking photos however has no interest in pursuing a genre or anything like that. You can still use your phone but a small point and shoot or mirrorless camera like the Sony A6000 or Fuji XT-30 will be great because they will give you more enjoyment and a better image quality. So gear still doesn’t matter but a small investment can make a nice improvement to the overall experience.
Street Photography
Out of all genres of photography this is definitely the most accessible one. You can use your phone for it, and in fact many people do very successfully. However you will soon run into ergonomics and speed issues. Many street photography moments happen so quickly that you will simply not keep up with a touch screen interface….. and that’s before your nan calls you to tell you tea is ready as you’re about to take that award winning photo. Also try using your touchscreen in the winter with gloves on….. yeah good luck. This is where upgrading to a compact mirrorless camera such as a Sony A6000 / Fuji XT-30 / Canon M6 will 100% help you to make progress and ultimately will make you a better photographer. However upgrading to anything bigger, more expensive with more megapixels will actually hold you back here. So in this example gear does matter a little bit but still not a huge amount
Travel Photography
At this stage I would not recommend phones because your phone is one of the most important devices when on the road so I would rather not risk losing it, breaking it or having it stolen. If I was going on a once in a lifetime type trip and didn’t know what to expect, I would bring a medium level mirrorless camera, and I will get a good quality zoom lens with a wide focal range. Something like a 24-105. This will give you that extra reach when you need it without having to swap lenses and ultimately miss shots when on the move.
Also at 24mm you will get a really wide field of view perfect for selfies and more touristy pictures. These lenses can cost a fair bit but they will make your life so much easier when on the road and in my opinion are 100% worth it. As for the camera body I might look at something that has weather sealing and 2 memory card slots. The last thing you want on a once in a life time trip is lost photos due to a corrupt card or water damage from getting caught in the rain.
You can easily pick up any medium level mirrorless like a Fuji XT2 that’s a few years old, has all these features and will produce amazing photos at a fraction of the cost of something from 2020 or even 2019. And the images will look identical. So in this case the gear matters a little more but ultimately one body and one lens that are a few years old and are reasonably priced is all you need. Any more than that will not give you any real benefits and can actually hold you back.
Weddings / Events
If you however tell me that you want to shoot weddings, events or any kind of client work well I’m sorry this is where gear does matter now. Not only do you need to have a semi decent camera that is dependable and can perform but now you also need:
At least 1 wide prime and 1 slightly tighter prime…. Lets say a 35 and an 85mm
You will need 2 bodies and ideally a back up lens that can cover the 35 and 85….
Plenty of spare batteries
Spare memory cards
A protective bag
Is it a dark reception? Well you need some lights then
And the list can go on depending on specifics of what you’re doing. Why do you need all this stuff you ask? Well good luck explaining to the client that you can’t shoot their wedding or event any more because your camera or lens is broken. At best you will never get booked again and some clients can even take people to court. Obviously you do need to apply a degree of common sense and realise that upgrading from a 2019 camera to a 2020 camera will not change the quality of your photos. So in this case, gear really matters.
What we can conclude here is that the phrase “gear doesn’t matter” is way too generic as everyone’s needs are different. If you genuinely need something to help you do your job or to take a certain image, then go ahead… just don’t expect it to elevate your photos. Sit on the decision for a couple weeks, and if you still have that desire then just go for it. Worst case scenario is you don’t use it, you sell it on, make a small loss and learn from it… it’s part of the process. Also there is something to be said about having a camera you love using vs one that just feels like a tool.
However, if there is one last bit of advice and its from personal experience….. don’t buy sh*t you can’t afford.