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Great review and wonderful pictures. I have the lens but have not yet taken it on travel. In your opinion will it be satisfying enough indoors, such as churches and museums? Or would you recommend an additional lens for indoor shots? Then there is the question of changing lenses every time you enter a building....

So sorry to hear your news Stuart, sending thoughts to you all at this difficult time,

Hi thanks for the great review and your perspective. I own both (24 - 70 F/2.8 + 70 - 200 F/2.8) combination along with the 24 - 200 F/4 - F/6.3) lenses. What I find is that is all depends on whether I will be backpacking and hiking to the location or will be able to drive. Naturally I would prefer the F/2.8 option but sometimes I ditch that if I am going to backpack or hike with the camera. I think a good photographer needs to have BOTH and use the one that suites the use case

Disgraceful, no excuses. It's not as bad as the British Wildlife Photography Awards of 2011. I won a category in 2010 with, by my standard, a snap. A year later, I entered some of my best and did not get past the first round. Strange! So I politely contacted the organiser, and her reply was, “The standard was far higher than the previous year” Two days later, I received a phone call informing me that an administrative error had occurred. None of my images had been presented for judging. What happened next was unbelievable; the competition organiser suggested I choose three pictures, and she would place them in the final round of judging without the judge's knowledge. Incredible as this sounds, it is factually what happened 🤨

Enjoyed this Stuart, Gallery is looking fantastic

Makes a lot of sense, stopped looking at influenzas ages ago, real photographers hold my interest. Love that scene at the lake, the 24-200 has given me some stunning images. Love your work

Top Drawer

Hi Stuart What a great analysis and set of observations you made. Thank you. We might learn from ignoring the thoughtless personal affront of remarks like 'It is just a photo.' . We could consider what prompts that person to say that in the gallery. What do they get out of saying that? Does the setting make them uncomfortable? Is part of the problem that 'having refined tastes in art' is thought to distinguish the right people from 'the great unwashed'? You rightly touched on knowing your market. Experience, flexibility and commitment are great helps. For those who visit a successful gallery in an attractive setting, don't assume you can duplicate it elsewhere. There are limits on demand. We were early into the culinary herb market, producing a lot of herbs from a small farm. We were lucky for many years because of our relationship with our merchant. We got lots of calls from people wanting to get into the market. My advice was always the same - find a market opportunity before any other investment. I knew that the market was small and few opportunities existed. Possibly none. I surmise that the market for images is the same. Cheers, David

Thought this was excellent. Great to look at and listen to and process with "the six inches between my ears" - my new phrase of the day! Subscribed! My Z6iii is arriving tomorrow and can't wait to get back into photography and videography after finally selling my D750 after years of declining use. (For me, for what I was doing with it, my iPhone provided comparable if not superior results when you factor in the convenience features. But it's time to again get more intentional about photography and shoot more video ... which I've been doing bcause while it's actually a decent solution in certain situations, for me, getting longform 4K video off my iPhone 14 Pro and IPhone 12 Pro is just so difficult and tedious to really not be worth it if you're shooting every day. And then your phone is pretty much out of commission while any work is going on. Of course, the newer iPhones come with USB-C, but I don't even want to think about upgrading my iPhone for camera reasons until Apple is shipping a 10x optical zoom. For a 512 or 1TB iPhone 16 Pro Max, it would cost $1,400 or $1,600. You're almost already at the price of the Ziii body. That's a hard sell for me ... ) I know I'm talking about gear here lol ... but when researching cameras you really have to run through the gamut of styles and models and manufacturers ... it's a lot and I'm glad I've settled on Z6 iii and can now NOT focus on gear ... :)

i really enjoyed your points, and I agree. As a professional artist many people ask me about what software I use or what tablet or what god beware even what paper. And the answer is always... the greatest difference you will notice in the quality of your artwork will be experience and mileage. And same with photography I'm pretty sure. Some of the greatest photos taken in the 20th century have been on analog cameras with a lot less capabilities than what we have today. Buy one that feels good and then... shoot!!! And lovely accent haha Greetings from Germany

Good points, I was totally lost what to buy because my D7500 broke down. But you're right, it doesn't matter, they're all good nowadays! Buy what suits your budget and needs

U’re absolutely right! In the end the pictures that stand out are taken by people that have an eye for the moment/scene/situation. I just bought my Nikon Z6III being advised by a very experienced Nikon employee, who took the time to ask me out on my purposes. And as I was considering the Z8 or even Z9 he advised me the Z6III together with the 24-70 lens (but took your 24-200;-), 180-600 and TC2x. That should do supporting me to execute the further development of having an eye for the right shot. THX a TON!

Good points. Carry on. 👍🥂

Enjoyed your video thanks for posting 👍

Very insightful. Thanks! Seems like pros are the ones that least change the equipment. My neighbor is a portrait and wedding shooter and he still work with DSLRs, the same ones he was using before the pandemics. I, as a hobbyist, only want an smaller kit. I was a bit overwhelmed with the number of options. I have Canon DSLRs but I want something smaller. That's it, an small overall kit. Seems like Fuji and Sony make small lenses and bodies and that's it. Thanks to your video I cleared my mind a lot about which system to buy. Thanks!

Great rant. I agree with everything you say.

Curious why you didn't go with the cheaper Z6II?

The only reason I am tempted to change from my Nikon 'Holy Grail' of three zoom lenses and my Nikon D810 to a the Z series is the weight factor when on long hikes. I don't think the Z series is ever going to get me better images than my D810! Well, not for me anyway. Good honest vid Stuart. Cheers, Ray.

thanks for making a video about a camera that not many people talk about and giving some real advice but my advice would be to use that beautiful landscape in your background while talking so its less boring and talk a little bit faster i watched it on 2x and it looked like you are talking in a normal speed.

The main concern for all these videos is to land the shot. If it's raining and you don't have the water resistant camera and lens, welp maybe tomorrow. And making videos such as this is misinforming for people that want to join photography. And typically, people who gatekeep are afraid of competition. You miss the earlier shot 1 cause you haven't trained yourself enough, not because in trying to make a video. It takes fractions of a second to change a few settings on the fly. Why not buy the highest end Nikon and then have 1 camera instead of 2? And then some other lenses without a loss in economic opportunity

The best well articulated comments about TH-cam influencers anyone has ever said. And it needs to be said. Guys talking about gear on TH-cam are not professional photographers, they're basically salesmen. What they have to say is pretty much worthless. May as well read a spec sheet on the camera brand's website. 👍

When it comes to reviews . I wish they had more balls to be honest instead of Major league brown nosing brands and the online sites they are promoting . They never slate the pricing . None of them ever mention the Cost of living .. Costs have increased ie bills , food etc . Yet reviewers live in a bubble oblivious to it . They auto assume folks who take pics have a never ending supply of money lol . There is a golf club mentality where some have to seen with the latest thing .

Top Drawer

watching this via The pub cast. (missed it when it came out) I agreed with everything you say, I only take photos for a hobby.Done weddings years ago. love the 6'" takes the photo .ive been saying that for years. keep up the great work.

@StuartMcGlennon your work is amazing. You are so right about skill over gear. Photographers can’t really use the excuse that they really need the next new camera to get the best results. Any modern (or even not so modern) camera can deliver superb quality. I think there’s a big gap between talking gear and talking photography. Moving to taking about the art of photography and not mentioning the gear is a goal I think all photographers should aspire to. I’m sure it’s a sign of growth. If you really do just like buying the latest camera and all the research that goes into that then that’s also fine. Just be careful you’re not buying it to make your photography better; only you can do that with practice and passion 😊

I am so pleased to hear that people like you can make a living from photography!

Used a nikon d90 for many years with nothing but a 50mm prime and a terrible 18-55. Some of the most enjoyable times I've had with images that you would never guess what kit was used!

I uprated from a crop Canon 7D, to a FF R6 and was disappointed with the IQ. The bodies were 12 years apart, the 7D was known for its noise at higher ( ISO 800+ ) ISO, and the R6 was supposed to be super clean. At base ISO I struggled to see a difference. I used to get involved in the 7D v 5D2 arguments, the FF users upgraded and would wax lyrical about the mega IQ jump, but when pushed for images to show the difference the excuses would start. When the Sony A3 was released, the 37mp body was the only one that clearly displayed a huge IQ jump, I mean it was obvious. If you can’t get a great image with any modern camera you’re doing something wrong, and photography isn’t for you.

Best YT video I've viewed in 2024! Kudos Stuart! 👊💥🙏

Bedankt

Thanks for this. I get very tired of gear review and channels that constantly push those reviews. I keep whittling down the channels I subscribe to. I am interested in the art of making photos not gear.

Seeing an artist just get £4.9m for duct-taping a banana to a wall, it looks like some artists don’t need skill either. 🤦‍♂️

No. that's not true. if you don't have the last gear (if possible, very expansive) you are not a photograph anymore. it's finish. all my 6 old months stuff go to charity .it keeps me on the front page of quality for facebook and my grandmother. BTW, i am selling my z9 with 2800 shots done with its poor designed f2.8 14-24 lens. why? i think canon camera has better battery. because of that, i miss some pictures of my nephew. thank you nikon ( you are the best, i don't give a f*** about any old fake filter, my concern is light, only light)

I quickly stopped caring about gear and started caring about Holy Crap This Guy Has A Brick And Mortar Gallery. Extremely impressive. (looks at website) Well then, I can see why! Great light, gorgeous locations, high zoot post work. Really beautiful stuff!

I searched for this video, it had a message directly for me. I am shooting on a Nikon D600, and with the Nikon 85mm F1.8 I create superb images with crisp quality and bokeh and color and everything. But I often find myself mooning over new gear, window shopping online, and watching new gear reviews. This video realigned my perspective to what's really important. Just shoot and enjoy shooting.

Stuart, I haven't replied to this video, but my take on the video is immaterial. What I find disrespectul is "TH-camrs" asking for comments, and then when they freely give them they are given this response.. To the 0.1% of mouth-breathing idiots making comments like “but you’re using expensive gear…” Surely you are man enough to understand there may be differing views to your own.

Stuart, I enjoyed your perspective. However, I am going to be culling a lot of gear in the near future to simplify for landscape photography specifically. My bent has been travel photography for years, and I have enjoyed getting to all my bucket list spots. But now I want simplicity with one good body and a couple of zooms for the landscape. Cheers! Great video....

Great to find someone of like mind, so.. liked and subscribed. I run photography workshops in France and I've found that the latest cameras that guests bring are actually hindering their ability to learn and advance their photography. These 'state of the art' cameras have way too many unnecessary features and the most incredibly convoluted and confusing menu systems. In a video about composition that I uploaded in September, I said that the fundamentals of photography haven't changed one jot since photography became an art form almost 170 years ago, and I stand by that. The image simply needs to be properly exposed, correctly focused, and beautifully composed. Those are the fundamentals that I want to my photography students to learn and concentrate on rather than waste time trying to figure out a myriad electronic gimmicks. A phrase I now use regularly when talking to my students is, "Ignore that. Ansel Adams didn't need it, Don McCullin didn't need it - and neither do you."

Shouldn't this be called "STOP caring about GEAR! - I bought the latest Nikon"....

Thanks so much for reminding us - so true. The internet is a dark deep hole one can be easily trapped in and get confused and „urged“ to buy the latest greatest, which is often not needed. I went from Nikon to Fuji, just because the tactile Fuji makes - for me - more fun to go out taking pictures. But that‘s only me. As you said, any DSLR or mirrorless from the last 10 years gets the ( landscape) job done.

LOL! Had the D810 too with some top quality glass but then TH-cam and certain individuals (ahem) had me hoodwinked. My skillset has improved but image quality is about the same. But I’ve got a really cool flip out screen for an extra £2k 🤦🏻‍♂️ It’s all a bloody racket

I am not a professional photographer and I don't play one on TH-cam. Switched to the Fuji X system several years ago. Are they the best cameras? Probably not. Is it something I enjoy making images with? Yes it is. Keep doing what you do Stuart, with whatever equipment suits your needs. I certainly don't watch your content to see what kit you have.

Well said! I have a Nikon D750 and Z6II besides myself I don't think most people would be able to tell the difference in image quality between the two. I also have a Nikon F2 just to remind myself that you can get great images even with a mechanical camera from over 40 years ago.

Hilarious “pain the arse reaction”… 😂😂👍

Big thanks to everyone that’s watched and engaged with this - for 99.9% of those you’ve clearly understood the message I was trying to get across. To the 0.1% of mouth-breathing idiots making comments like “but you’re using expensive gear…” this is my job, I use appropriate gear (not the most expensive by any means) just engage your brains a little.

Excellent video. In a world almost completely without common sense, this was absolutely a shining example of truth. I think it’s such a shame that so many content creators pass themselves off as expert photographers yet seldom ever show their work. I feel sorry for the new generation of photographers who are just getting started. Way too much jaded information. Well done man!

Wow, a photography channel that’s actually about photography. Subscribed

I wouldn't put myself on any sort of pedestal, however, I shoot with a Z5 and various Z lenses. I mainly shoot Macro but I enjoy some landscape in the colder months. I love my Z5 and it was big step up from my D5600 crop sensor but at first as always felt inferior to the big boys rocking their Z7s and Z6s and more recently the Z8 and 9s but I've since seen people with these cameras who couldn't frame up a comp if you physically put them in your tripod holes so I no longer worry about it. I know that I am competent and that's all I care about. Its all subjective of course but you know when your at a reasonable level and I know I am. They can keep their Z8 and 9s or whatever the equivalent brand is. I love my camera, it does everything I need it to.

How much? 3k????

Spot on. Love your videos and pictures.