Your dream piece of photographic equipment

[Diamond Lil]

What photography equipment would you simply just love to get your hands on?

I'll start

The Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS USM Super Telephoto Lens (Photo Links To Canon Website)
..............................http://www.moviephotoforums.com/photopost/data/532/Canon_EF_600mm_f4L_IS_USM.jpg
(http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=154&modelid=7320)
It is closely followed up by the Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM Super Telephoto Lens. This is second only because it is slower than the 600 and around here, cloudy land, speed works for you.

[Diamond Lil]

You all are not dreaming? :D

[pegdragger]

There are so many items that I dream about Lil. Hard to narrow it down to one. I guess I would want a new camera. Perhaps a Nikon D3s.

[J. R. Weems]

LIL, I lust after the Nikon Version. :D

[Diamond Lil]

It is painful, isn't it J. R.!

[J. R. Weems]

It is painful, isn't it J. R.!

SURE IS but I'm working on it. :D

[Diamond Lil]

I saw a 1200mm today for only $120,000. :laugh

[Kodatech]

While I do have some equipment I wouldn't mind having, I really would like to completely master the equipment I DO have. That is what I really want to get my hands on. ;)

[Diamond Lil]

While I do have some equipment I wouldn't mind having, I really would like to completely master the equipment I DO have. That is what I really want to get my hands on. ;)

You are just to darn rationale! ;)

[Kodatech]

It is really just that, many times people get caught up in this scenario:

"If I only had 'x' lens my pictures would be sharper."

"If I could just afford a 'x' full frame DSLR then my prints would be better at 24x36 inches."

"If I had the newest editing program from 'x' then my pictures would really pop."

-Just insert your favorite name brand where the 'x' appears-


See what I mean....Its always that ONE more piece of gear, and my photos would be "professional" looking. I go through the same thing every now and then, but really, lets face it. I don't most people know how to fully utilize the equipment they DO own. Including myself.

While Ansel Adams and Steve McCurry may have used top-of-the line equipment in their day, it probably pales in comparison to the most IN-expensive DSLR sold today.



I don't think in 1950 there were 24.7mp digital sensors and image stabilization lenses....But Ansel Adams took this shot:
http://72.5.117.144/fif=fpx/sc1/SC134002.fpx&obj=iip,1.0&wid=400&cvt=jpeg

Using a camera like this:
http://www.nps.gov/yose/historyculture/images/Ansel.Adams-web.jpg

In 1984 when Steve McCurry took the famous "afghan girl" photo here:

http://www.rolleiflex.co.kr/zboard/data2/photographer/SteveMcCurryAfghanGirl.jpg

He used a roll of Kodachrome.

http://michaelmanning.tv/blog/uploaded_images/Kodachrome_New-780361.jpg


Here is a shot by Michael Melford

http://www.uphere.ca/files/Melford.jpg

Another by David Hill:

http://www.radcliffeinvitational.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/davehill.jpg


Here is a Jill Greenberg shot:

http://artisena.com/files/image/news/2008/09/16/1221582477gwen_stefani_jill_greenberg.jpg

I don't know what type of camera was used in making all of these shots, but I hope you are beginning to see that it doesnt matter the camera or the film or the lens used, or the post processing technique.

Every one of these photographers knows their equipment inside and out. They know EXACTLY what the aperture does, the shutter speed does, the ISO or film speed, how the flash will be "seen" by the camera, and what makes an interesting shot.


The point is this, it does not matter what equipment you acquire if you never learn how to use the equipment to its fullest....and to quote Michael Melford:

"A great instrument does not play itself. You have to develop the skills and practice a lot in order to make beautiful music. Even the world's most expensive violin will sound like crap if you don't know how to play it."

Lets be honest with ourselves, in the first 2 shots in this post, most low to mid-level DSLR cameras and lenses available to us today, FAR outclass what was being used to get those 2 great shots. Even the most humble glass we own has better optical properties than anything Ansel Adams was using in the 1950s.



Sorry for the thread jacking...if it makes you feel any better I would like to have a Sony A-900 full frame DSLR and a half-dozen HVL-F58AM flashes. :)

[Diamond Lil]

No Mike, there is no dissatisfaction or disappointment with your contribution. Your post is so good for all of us to read. It speaks volumes of truth.

To pick up on your line of thinking, one of the challenges with the Canon 50D is that it is not forgiving. Reading the criticisms of it, folks complain that you must have it just right to get truly satisfying results. They also say it needs good glass to show its best.

Well, last Friday morning while sitting on the grass at the pond working on gosling photos my mind was racing with all that this camera has taught me. I am much more mindful than I was with the Rebel at this time last year. This is a good thing and hopefully the proof will be in the results. Learning from the failures is much more fulfilling now.

[Kodatech]

Well you are doing a fine job. I am always impressed by the sharpness of your photos, and in your case, I think some expensive glass could be put to good use. ;)

[Diamond Lil]

You are a kind soul. Thank you for your encouragement.