Something I teach anyone that starts out, as I was taught when I first started, is to master the gear that you have. When you notice a limitation of the gear that you're using then your upgrade will be more thoughtful and meaningful.
Yes! Definitely agree. Being able to max out your equipment (and skills) is the best thing to do instead of making a thousand excuses on why the photos are not good. Rocking the a6000 and kit lens for about 1 year now. Loving it!
I'm in a handful of photography Facebook groups, and there's constantly people asking about which new, expensive camera they need to get next. My response is always "if you don't know why you need the new gear, and what feature you specifically need, then you don't need the new gear."
Great tips! I'm with ya on the F stop thing. I have an a6000 and use my Sony 50mm 1.8 quite a bit though I don't shoot at 1.8 a lot of times. I don't always need that soft look and often when I do want it, it looks a bit too soft then I'm left wondering was it the focus or F stop. I appreciate you not pushing all of the high cost gear someone like me can't afford. And you test less expensive gear. Awesome!
Great video and honestly this validated me a lot. I really needed to hear that but about lighting to get that into my mindset. But it’s literally my first month of photography and I’ve already realized I want to get a bunch of good budget lenses to explore different focal lengths and zooms rather than buy one 600-1000 dollar lens or try to find a “do it all lens”. I’m actually super proud that I realized you don’t have to shoot at your lowest aperture physically possible on my own. Was shooting with a 1.7 manual Meike 35mm and was like maybe it’s okay to not use 1.7 for every situation
Just here dropping a like for my boy! As someone who knows nothing about photography or cameras.. your videos always do an excellent job of putting your tips in easy to understand plain english. Keep up the good work
Great video and I completely agree on all three points. I'm just a hobbyist photographer (Sony a6000 & A7II), and I have come to the same conclusions as you have. 1). Lighting is everything. A camera is a box that captures light. Get the lighting right and everything else is secondary. I bought a speed-light which was a great investment. 2). Stopping down. I came to the same realization. I yearned for shallow DOF and was soon disappointed when I found my portraits were not fully in focus. The person's nose was in focus and their ears were already blurry at f1.8. I now stop down to f2.2 - f2.8 and I get the best results when not fully wide open. Which leads into point 3. 3). Lenses. If you are stopping down anyway, then what value is there in super fast lenses that are super expensive? Spend the money on several cheaper ones that give you more focal range and experiment with them. This idea that more expensive lenses are sharper when viewed at 200% is just snobbery. Who looks at photos at 200%?
Hi Kyle, I haven't posted in a while. Life got too sad (Dad passed away from cancer). Trying to get myself back into using my Sony a6000 camera. Been a bit lazy and took some pictures with my iPhone 12 Pro Max. So any suggestions how to get back into the fun groove of photography? BTW: I Totally agree with your tips - Light is everything. Thanks Rick from Deptford
Rick! First off, so sorry to hear about your father. A suggestion, maybe photograph some things or places that remind you of him. Or - totally escape and go somewhere new and capture the day/trip! During quarantine I did some challenges I saw other creators do. I did a clone photo - taking a photo in the same spot multiple times and using a brush technique to have 5 of me in the photo. I also tried a double exposure for the first time - layering photos on top of each other and messing with the opacity. Both of these photos were back in 2020 and are on my IG. Hope no tornado damage happened to your spot in deptford. A few friends of mine had some damage to fences and what not but not their houses. To go back to the groove of photography thing, for me it’s new places. Anytime I go somewhere I haven’t been - I instantly want to bring my camera. I think that’s a way to force myself to take some photos and then before I know it, I have a whole slew of them to remember a new place I’ve never been to. 👍🏻 (edit- I apologize but I forget if we spoke before. I used to live behind the deptford police station in Cooper village 😊)
@@kyletaggart Many thanks for the quick reply. I truly appreciate it. We were lucky no damaged. I'm going to save your thoughts (keep them with me as inspiration) on going places that reminds me of dad (Bay side of Wildwood, Cape May - Fishing boats). I also really like your other ideas. Yes we have chatted before about you growing up in this area, no need to apologize. Take care, be safe and Thank You!!
I have something of a problem when people pay serious money for a fast lens and then feel They have to shoot at f4/5.6 to obtain the best IQ. Surely you should be able to shoot wide open to obtain the bokeh, or blurred background effect people such as myself seek in a faster lens. The fabulous Sigma 56 1.4 is a excellent example of what I am talking about.
@@robertcudlipp3426 well in my particular situation my options were the tamron 17-28mm f/2.8 for $800 or the Sony 16-35mm f/4 for $1100. So I’m taking the lower price all day long and when I wanna shoot in lower light I’m gonna want that f/2.8 I didn’t deliberately buy a fast lens to shoot f/4 or 5.6
@@GaryCantrell As is so often the case with Sony native glass, that lens is just way overpriced. The Tamron lens has received universally rave reviews. When I have the funds, it will probably be purchased. However, main my point was that I am often surprised when lens reviewers have to stop down, say a 1.4 lens, to 2.8 in order to achieve optimal results. Defeats the purpose of purchasing the faster lens.
It doesn’t defeat the purpose - my point in the video was that “everything” doesn’t need to be shot at the fastest aperture. The point is to obtain the wider f stop range, but sometimes ppl fall into the trap of f1.2 for every. Single. Shot.
I have found that I tend to go with feeling when choosing a lens for my camera. This happened after I got my first prime and fell in love with it. Kind of stole the thunder from my previous favourite (the sony 18-135mm), which I practically never use anymore. The kicker is that the prime in question is the massive Sigma 135mm, not the most practical lens in the world... I still lug it around everywhere. 😅
agree.. but if u have much money buy a Fullframe then use budget or third party lenses... fullframe is best in overall than Crop sensor... it depend what photography u are shooting if it is Night Photography, Or Indoor i Suggest Fullframe or In Wedding.. and if is Ugly Location all the time Fullframe is Better to blurry the ugly background there are apordable lenses can give enough ur needs to ur photography shooting... even me its hard to choose Fullframe or Crop Sensor... sometimes is in you.. but its better u have a Fullframe camera even ur not the best photographer out there in ur place u still can get awesome image quality... and photos... even not the best composition... but the feeling is there when u take a shot a Fullframe.. there is something to say Wow its Magical... with Fullframe u can do more professional quality... there are more advantages of Fullframe... than crop even u budget setup RP + 50mm 1.8 or a third party lenses u will using vs a Crop it hard to compete with a Fullframe camera... i think for me as amateur photographer entry level fullframe camera is a best option for future or good starting for a budget photography... u can give to the client for the best image quality or wonderful photos.. and now days Fullframe is more getting apordable... as my experience...
Good comment Ryzen, lots of good points here. Full frame is definitely a step up. I’m happy Nikon, canon, and Sony have been doing cheaper full frames / entry points to full frame
I think that the ‘cheap’ photo needs to be your new profile picture, it’s a great one. I have 3 zooms all f 2.8 and I try to shoot at f3.5 or better, if the light allows. After all, photography is painting with light. I completely agree about the budget lenses and as soon as my cataracts fixed, I’ll be getting a couple.
I don’t shoot RAW all the time no. Sometimes I’m just out in a coffee / day trip with my fiancé and I know I’m gonna wanna post photos and lightly edit DAY OF, so I might not shoot raw just because I’m going to transfer the photos vis wifi anyway. If im second shooting at a wedding or I’m taking photos for s project I shoot RAW. I wouldn’t overthink it. If you need the data, shoot RAW. If it’s a casual day, jpeg ain’t gonna kill ya. Remember - wifi transfer converts the raw anyways. I do being an SD card adapter with me for my phone when I wanna shoot raw and upload / edit photos on the go (I do that on road trips).
@@kyletaggart awesome! Thanks so much :). Could you also make a video about your workflow and show how you transfer photos via WiFi vs SD card to phone vs computer/tablet?
I really tire of the photography snobs who basically say unless you shoot in both Manual and Raw, you aren't a Real shooter! At least you have a camera in your hands !. Fwiw, I shoot capturing images as both jpeg and RAW. Don't own any post software ( expensive) yet, but may do. Have no real desire to create surreal images which bear little resemblance to the scene or subject shot. Only looking for basic software that was basically bundled with most cameras. Prefer to concentrate on light and composition. Amazing the quality images you can achieve with "basic" equipment, but have to admit primes such as the magnificent Sigma 56 1.4 really can assist with getting great images.
I got back into photography a couple of years ago when I bought a Sony DSC400HX. A great point and shoot Camera with an amazing zoom. I have had a Canon T70 tucked away in a cupboard for over 30 years with loads of lenses. I did some research and found out with an FD - E mount adapter, if I bought a Sony a6000 I could get to use all those old vintage lenses. Now, I am like a kid in a sweet shop, trying out my 24 mm, 50 mm, 28-70 mm, 80-200 mm, Fisheye, Macro and 2 x Converter. When I bought the a6000 I found the automatic lenses underwhelming to say the least. But trying out all my old vintage lenses on manual with it have given my love for photography a new lease of life ...just deciding on which 35 mm 1.4 to get now. Watching your videos has really got me back on track, cheers man.
