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User Error: Expensive Cameras Are Not Magical

Jan 23, 2012

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You can’t calculate perfection...unless you’re dealing with math problems.[/caption] Although there are many magical things about photography, the idea that an expensive camera will give you the perfect image is as close to modern mythology as we can get. This is kind of treading on the “money can’t buy you happiness” cliche, but seriously you can’t throw money at things and expect perfection. Ask the people in Northern New Jersey about the eyesore that is Xanadu. A reoccurring question I hear is “Which camera will help me take the best pictures?” I think “Which one will do the work for me?” is the underlying tone of this common question. The response is often a hair pulling one. Yes, technology has come a long way from fully manual cameras and programmed settings do have their benefits, but there’s a point when photographing on automatic becomes mindless and produces lackluster results. A computer isn’t going to know what you consider to be a satisfying image.

Mythos:

n. pl. my·thoi 1. Myth. 2. Mythology. 3. The pattern of basic values and attitudes of a people, characteristically transmitted through myths and the arts.

Knowing the basicsWhat are you taking a picture of? Let’s just say it’s your cat in subdued lighting? Your subject and your setting is your main problem here. Your cat can be a squirmy little cuddle monster, but certainly isn’t ot the best subject for practicing portraiture. Trying to get a crisp image in lighting that’s probably provided by a 24” television is going to prove even more difficult. Right off the bat you can tell that your main problem isn’t the camera. Having an understanding of the basic principles of the photography will help you gain better images, because you’ll know how to gauge which situations work better than others and how to correct a problem, should it arise. Knowing this will help you to properly operate any camera, not just your specific model. It would be nice to be able to just pick up a camera and immediately get the images you want, but even seasoned photographers can’t figure out how to use some of these inane interfaces. So time well spent with your personal camera will obviously yield better images. With anything, you need to put time and effort in order to get the results you want.

Get Schooled

Take a photography class. Let’s face it, no one likes to read those gosh darn manuals. Although the poor translations can be funny, they’re often very confusing and not helpful to your photography. Here’s another Greek word that we should explore:

Hubris.

— n
1.pride or arrogance
2.(in Greek tragedy) an excess of ambition, pride, etc,ultimately causing the transgressor's ruin

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Confused senior man reading assembly instructions

Instruction manuals can be helpful, but you'll often find yourself using them as a crutch instead of actually knowing what you are doing[/caption] Being too proud to admit you have no idea how to use an expensive piece of equipment will lead to your ruin. Ok...maybe not that tragic. But seriously, it is your money. Don’t feel afraid to ask questions, they only aid to your progress. There’s no such thing as a stupid question...unless it’s “Which camera will take the best pictures?” If you’re too cool for school, there’s always the internet for specific problems. It seems like everyone is an expert on there, so take everything with a grain of salt... Ignore the snide comments on gear and instead seek out tips on technique. There are a lot of legitimate opinions and tips out there, but the best way to learn is by doing. Practice makes perfect. Assess Your Needs

Another important factor is to determine when you’re going overboard. Just because you can afford the top of the line DSLR doesn’t mean you should buy it. A less expensive camera with BETTER LENSES will be far more useful than a high-end DSLR with a kit lens. If you refuse to learning how to set your camera manually and you plan on allowing the camera to make most of your exposure decisions, you’d be surprised at how smart some of the entry-level cameras are. When thinking in terms of practicality, you might not need a camera that can be set to ISO 999,999, has 1,000 Megapixels, and 687 cross type focus points. You can save a lot of time and money, if you do a little research. Customer reviews can be a bit misleading...sure some might be from people who have used the product, but there’s often a lot of spiteful fanboys and trolls who occupy the comments sections of perfectly useful photography posts/articles. It’s good to have comparisons, but it’s always good to try things out for yourself. That’s why places like the Unique Photo Showroom and Rental Program exist. The people working here are true professionally trained photographers and/or students of photography. Our goal is to help you pick out the best camera for your needs, not the most expensive one. We want you to return to our store to buy another lens or take a class, not to make a return on a purchase you ended up being unhappy with! [caption id="attachment_7338" align="alignright" width="290"]

The internet is full of good photography information, but is also home to many trolls[/caption] I think I am no longer at the risk of ranting. If there’s a take home message somewhere in this it’s that money won’t make you a better photographer. It might seem a little benign and not something you would typically read on a camera STORE blog, but this is one of major questions we get. We are going to try to dispel a few misconceptions in the future. Think of it as a “photo mythbusters”... we probably can’t call it that for legal reasons, but you get the picture. It’s not a bunch of smoke and mirrors (maybe some mirrors), but we’ll show you through the magic tricks that will truly help you MAKE (not take) better pictures.