Should you spend more on lenses than camera bodies?
Asked 12/24/2011
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People often say it’s better to invest more in lenses and less in the camera body. Is that generally true? How do lenses and camera bodies each affect image quality and photographic results, and why is lens investment so often recommended?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
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It's not the lens that makes the picture, nor is it the camera body, nor is it I'm afraid the photographer. It's a system of integrated parts that work together that produce an image, no one part can claim all of the credit.
The popular viewpoint that it's the photographer that matters not the gear, doesn't tell the whole story. I agree with the sentiment that with enough imagination you can make up for the shortcomings of your equipment, something which is often demonstrated hold up examples of amazing images shot with cameraphones. However no mention is made of how many conditions had to be just right for the image, how much skill (or luck) went into nailing the focus, likewise no mention is made of the type of photography attempted, it's much easier to use your imagination to create a funky portrait with a simple camera than it is to get a good wildlife shot with the same camera.
The same applies to the camera vs. lens debate. In the broadest possible terms, a good lens will make your images look better, but a good camera body will increase your chances of getting the image in the first place (with the right exposure/framing/focus). Both is preferable to get results consistently. You can of course overcome shortcomings in either but again it's heavily dependant on what you shoot. If you shoot in low light a good prime lens can really help, if you shoot sports you might appreciate a faster shooting speed and better AF.
Upgrading to a full frame body often means you can get better results (in terms of depth of field / sharpness) from cheaper prime lenses. For example if you're not limited by light shooting a 50 f/1.4 stopped down to f/2.2 (a stop and a bit) on full frame will give you the same framing and depth of field as shooting a 35 f/1.4 wide open on a crop but with more sharpness and contrast from a cheaper lens.
If you are birding then you really should have a telephoto lens. I can't say the word need because I once photographed a bird in flight with an ultrawide 10mm lens but it was a few inches from my face. Again you can do without the gear but in this field you wont get the results nearly as often.
Originally by user1375. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1375
14y ago
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Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Generally, yes — but it’s an oversimplification. A photograph comes from the whole system: photographer, lens, camera body, lighting, and technique.
The reason people often recommend spending more on lenses is that the lens determines the optical input the camera receives. A better lens can give you sharper images, better contrast, wider apertures, less distortion, and the right focal length for the job. If a lens is optically poor, even a great camera body can’t fully fix that.
Camera bodies still matter. They affect handling, autofocus, features, and performance in different conditions. But for many photographers, even lower-cost bodies are already good enough, while lens quality differences are easier to see in the final image.
So the advice is not “lenses matter and bodies don’t.” It’s that bodies are often sufficient sooner, while lenses tend to have a bigger impact on image character and are useful for longer. The best approach is to identify what is actually limiting your photography and spend there — which might be a lens, body, flash, or lighting tools.
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