Quick note: I re-uploaded this video with a small edit as I sounded like a spoilt brat when talking about kit lenses. My new edit does a better job at explaining my thoughts on using kit lenses :)
Alright I have to ask. Did you actually refilm the entire video, edit, and upload it or did you just refilm the part about kit lenses? And whilst we're on the topic of kit lenses, are you going to upgrade your fuji kit lenses?
My most stressful photography excursions have been when I’ve had several lenses in my bag. By the time I got to a location I was already exhausted and I began to fumble around frantically searching for the “perfect” lens for that scene so I could get a shot before I lost the light. My most relaxing excursions have been when I only had one camera and one prime lens. Then I just casually tried to find a composition to suit what I had. For me, photography is about stress relief so I now choose to go out with less options not more. Great video!
Molybdan42 That’s true. I used to have a 24-120 which stayed on the front of my camera for a long time. It meant I seldom had a situation where I thought I could have gotten a better shot if I had a different lens. I just think that for me less is more. The more relaxed I am the more creative I can be. The less gear I have the more “in the moment” I can be. I’ve been down the track of thinking I needed to have every focal length covered only to find that I didn’t enjoy what I was doing anymore. I’m not a pro and I don’t have to make a living with my camera and I’m not winning any major competitions with my photos so take what I say with a grain of salt. 😊
I do really enjoy the less is more approach too. Spend a few years with just a 23mm (on Fuji) and it's been great, I added a 70-200 (well 50-140 on Fuji) for some specific event work / portraits but it only comes with me if I know I need it, and since I have been missing the longer reach when on casual trips / traveling with just the 23mm. So adding a 16-80 which hopefully will be the single lens I take with me for travel / weekends. So I have added more to my kit, but still only taking one lens out at a time
I'm watching an older video during the slack season... But I find I'm agreeing with you - "This is what I have - I must make the most of it" - is just so relaxing. No gear choices to distract - Just do it! The real challenge is finding a subject, not taking a photo!
The best lens is undoubtedly the one you left at home and you only discover this logistical error when you have just hiked up a mountain in Scotland in Winter.
@@newenglandlight8724 I went to Iceland and had the wrong charger and batteries for my camera body. Luckily I was able to use a charger from an AirBnB host throughout the trip for the only battery I had was the one in the camera.
First thought: In my opinion the 24-70 is a very good lens to start. First, with actual cameras (at least 24mp) you can crop to get a more tighter composition. And if you like a wider shot you can do a 24mm pano. Second thought: Don't buy F2.8 lenses for landscapes, it will save money and weight to invest into the f4 ones! Thanks for the video, love that kind of videos :) Regards Stefan
Hi Stefan: Agree with your comments about f2.8 lens. I have bought them in the past and while I primarily shoot landscapes/travel, I really didn't need an f2.8 lens. Money wasted....experience learned. Keep safe, Keith
Good comment, Stefan. The "one you have on your camera" - brigade poses as the receptacle of some sort of smart-alec wisdom while offering nothing of a practical nature. Nor would I try to "master" a 600mm telephoto to shoot a scenic mountain range (ok, no panoramas).
Yup, Photography in the end is about creativity and if you splash the money and buy the trinity of lenses at once without previous experiences in those focal lengths, you will need more time getting used to those lenses and hence affect your creativity.
Yes having to think through the problem of what to do when you don't have the lens you want helps your problem solving and creative skills. Still I'm always planning which lens or other gear I'm going to get next. 😆
Cold comfort for a photographer who is fighting chromatic aberration, poor resolution and rotten contrast. Thank goodness lens manufacturers have not been satisfied with second best and strive to produce better products.
@@alexandermenzies9954 I don't think there is ever a time when we "master" anything in this life. The word implies that there is no more to be learned. While in reality there is always more to learn and greater skill to strive for.
"Is tought (when you can't get the shot you want) and it takes time (to get used to take the pictures that you can with what you have). But it's liberating and its fantastic. You really start to enjoy the true meaning of photography. Which isn't to be the biggest/best person in Instagram. It's to be out there, connect with the outdoor and to have a nice momento to yourself." So good to hear that. That is what keep us photographers going on and on with what we have and taking pictures of what we can.
I really enjoyed this video but may be for reasons you wouldn't have expected. Firstly, let me say that I'm an amateur photographer on a very tight (kit lens) budget. I've been viewing your vids during lockdown and I'm now venturing into landscape photography, mainly due to you. The reason this video spoke to me so deeply is that, prior to lockdown I used to give talks to cancer patients and their family / carers for a cancer charity, to help them with the psychological and emotional issues related having cancer. The courses were based on a process called ACT: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. The first part of this is, Acceptance and we try to encourage people to apply Acceptance, not only to cancer but to all parts of their life. I don't know if you've previously experienced ACT but you're non-rant was was an excellent demonstration of how to apply it to any part of your life. Thank you for this and all the other videos. I will be sharing this one with people who will make use of it in a way I don't think you expected. Wayne John
Thomas - thank you. This is probably one of my favourite videos of yours. It’s honest and cuts through the crap that others sometimes put out about “MUST HAVES”. There’s a shot for every focal length, and I believe that learning how to shoot with what you’ve got is the key to producing better photos. Was really considering buying your book before, and I think this has pushed me over the edge. Thanks again.
Thomas! I can’t tell you how much I appreciated this video. As a hobbyist, and still relatively new photographer this was probably some of the best advice I’ve received. I’m always appreciative of your perspective and suggestions. Keep them coming!
And...in the size from a pancake lens, lol! Together with the fist size featherweight mini tripod, which turns into a 10 pounds king size tripod monster, if you extend the legs from it.
Really like the idea of going out with just one lens with a specific idea in mind of how you want to apply that lens in a given situation. So much more liberating and also less to carry on a long hike.
Thanks Tom, I always appreciate your honesty. We have the same issues with wildlife photography, we see the lenses the pros use and think we need those to get the best shots, when you can get very nice shots with much more affordable gear. I agree with your comments re social media, it can be very overwhelming when starting out seeing all these epic shots when your own shots don't look anything like them. Over time I have learnt to enjoy the process more than the result, that way you still have a good time regardless of the final shot. Cheers, Duade
'Be ok not having it, but master the les you do have'... This is so true! I used my 30mm 1.4 lens for years before I saved enough for some good glass. I learned so much by using only one lens. Thanks again Thomas for another great video!
No, it's not. It's patronising nonsense, there is a huge range of lenses and some will have characteristics much more suited to outdoor landscapes than the rubbish with which some poor sod is plumbered.
I’m a beginner photographer. I travel and love landscape photography. So I ended up buying the nikon 18-300. While it might only be a step up from kit lens it is perfect for me or someone you who can’t or doesn’t want to carry so many lenses. For now it works for me. While I might not be the advanced photographer that follows you but I love your videos and look forward each week to them. Thanks for your hard work to producing great content each week.
It’s so easy to fall into “if I buy this lens then I’ll get the shots I want” but honestly that’s an endless cycle. I’ve found I’ll carry multiple lenses “just in case” but I usually only use one of them. I also have found that I don’t like zoom lenses. Having every focal length between A to Z is just another thing I’m focusing on instead of the scene, and moving around to frame the shot is one of the fun experiences of photography for me. I like the last part of this video. Maybe the answer to “which lens do I need for this shot” should be “the one you have”
Let's see if I can remember what I wrote first time round. Many years ago when I first started in photography, I could only afford a camera and one lens. If I was starting out today I would choose an a73 and a 24-105mm G lens. Of course one lens will not cover all situations. But, the 24-105mm will cover most. Oddly enough though, if I had to choose 2 lenses it would be the 16-35mm and 70-200mm. And for 3, I'd either add a 50mm prime or keep the 24-105mm which is what I chose. I used to put a lot of pressure on myself to get a great shot whenever I traveled. But, these days I still try to get the best shots I can, but I don't worry if I don't get a great shot. I just try to enjoy the beauty of nature wherever I am first and if I get a great shot that's even better.
The importance of lenses is the reason why I am baffled by the obsession with larger sensor sizes these days. You can get lenses that each cover a wider range of focal lengths while maintaining the same level of quality and size/weight for APS-C and m4/3 and at a lower price. Nikon 24-70 F2.8 costs almost twice as much as 17-55mm F2.8 for example. In the long term, high quality lenses are the smartest investment for a photographer but the focus is almost entirely on camera bodies now. When I bought my first interchangeable lens camera last year, it was the lens that dictated it. I researched and I chose one lens, THE one lens that I must have, and I based my choice of camera body on that. Even if this video is about gear, it is still kinda refreshing, bring the discussion back to lenses. I also think maybe photographers now think too much about how their equipment is limiting them and holding them back. I'm not sure that is really the right mentality to have. Of course, that mentality is good for the camera companies, but for actual photography? I'm not so sure. Personally, I'd rather think about my own limitations and the ways in which I could improve. When I look at my photos, I usually don't think it is my camera that is holding my photography back. That's why I like to like to buy photography books and visit Instagram and Flickr and watch TH-cam channels like this. I try to immerse myself and experience other photographers work and hopefully learn from them and grow as a photographer. I think that will help me more than any new lens, even if I didn't already have a pro-grade lens.
@@zenphotojourney The lens was Olympus 12-100mm F4 IS Pro. Before COVID, I was planning to visit relatives overseas this year so I wanted a single travel lens with constant aperture. Optical IS would help me keep weight down for the trip as well (less need to bring a tripod), and I needed weather-sealing for a rainy, tropical environment. With that decided, it was easy to choose a body with matching weather-sealing and sensor IS (Olympus E-M1 II). I won't say that they're weren't any features of the camera body or the system that attracted me, but I think maybe people focus too much on that stuff now and neglect the lenses in comparison. After using a fixed-lens camera for 15 years, I will choose the lenses very carefully. I don't want to sacrifice the lens quality or "miss the shot" just because of affordability, otherwise why move on from fixed-lens cameras in the first place? I got pro-grade quality covering 24-200mm EFL for $1450 CAD. Lots of pro-grade lenses for Fuji X system as well. I am not sure it is a sacrifice people actually need to make so much, not even non-pros like me, especially if we avoid thinking about upgrading bodies so much.
Lol I think you did nail it though, “WA for seascapes, 24-70 for forests and telephoto for mountains.” Pick one of those and master that and be ok with not getting every shot. Solid advice.
I went to my local woodland last weekend. I normally go out with my 80D, 3 lenses, a tripod, filters, batteries... etc. This time though, I went with just an X100F with its fixed 35mm eqiv, shot nothing but jpg and loved every minute. No bag, no fussing around with a tripod, no swapping lenses.. it was so much fun!
Best video on this topic, and I have watched a fair few trying to decide which lens to purchase. Thanks Thomas, you were entertaining as well as being realistic. It helped me to know what to do.
This is why I like your channel, it's about the really important things: photography, nature, hiking, mastering difficult circumstances, failure, rules and braking rules (in photography), hopes, luck and disappointments... just honest. This is pretty rare nowadays on TH-cam. Thank you for the great content since years! (sounding like a fanboy..)
I think this is really one of the best videos about this topic on TH-cam. One thing I would recommend to new photographers is buying cheap old manual lenses in the focal length they're 'missing'. Nowadays almost everyone shoots mirrorless and you can get old Minolta lenses with adapters from eBay for less than 50$ each. They're primes, and a bit limited, but perfect to start and get great results. Just get a 135mm and 200mm and you're good to go next to your kit lens and a potential extra wide angle!
As someone who has worried too much about what lens to bring and use, what should I upgrade to, etc. it really does boil down to what do I have on me. Lately, I've just been having fun keeping my 50mm on for landscapes. I have a wide angle lens and a telephoto, but the fixed focal length has been forcing me to readjust my thinking on composition. Granted 50 can still cover a wide area, but having options sometimes causes me to 'miss shots'. After I get more comfortable with this, I'm aiming to swap for my tele, keep it on my camera for a good while, and challenge myself to readjust again. I think you hit the nail on the head bringing up social media. Everyone is different, but I think most of us are in photography for the joy it brings. And when you produce a shot, one that you are proud of, after a challenging day or what have you, it's a wonderful feeling. Keep it up, your videos are great
Very thoughtful comments... “master the lens that you have” ...and the camera! So true. I have to admit I have too many Fuji lenses... and the ones I use most are the light and underrated 18-55 and the nearly-do-it-all 18-135 which is surprisingly good at its f8 sweet spot. As another person said, if you want a stress free day, just take one camera and one lens. If you have a particular shot/location in mind then work out exactly what you need and take only that.
I keep coming back to this video, much like body dismorphia you see the online content and often smite down your own because all of theirs are bright and beautiful. For someone like myself with very little financial backing this gives me much comfort. Cheers Tom
If it is just a hobby and not your main source of income, then as soon as you start stressing out about your photography then it is time to look for a different hobby. I have made do with ‘kit lenses’ for a number of years and I am satisfied with the results I get. Thank you Thomas for a realistic viewpoint on this...
Happiness is wanting what you have..... Struggled with that in the past...one just has to get it or you'll never be happy. Now onto your site to look at the book and such. Keep the videos coming - frankly, the telephoto is a good option video you did meant a lot to me. Jeff
Probably the best video you have made with regards to gear. I am so sick of all these click bait videos and people just throwing money out. Also manufacturers are now turning out cameras like cell phone companies are turning out cell phones. I find it very idiotic and personally avoid all gear related videos.
Great video...agree with the importance of lens quality. That's why I stayed with Canon when going mirrorless. My high quality EF L lenses adapted easily when I upgraded to the mirrorless system. I slowly accumulated a few RF L lenses ( pricey, but worth every penny). Their quality surpasses any other. My favorite is the RF70-200 2.8 L- very compact and outstanding! If I have to travel with only one lens, it would be the RF 24-105 f4 L.
I liked the video, bought one of your books, and now I'm commenting. Mad support for you, Thomas. I enjoy your photos, your channel, and your pleasant tones (even when you're ranting). Thanks for doing what you do and bringing us along for the ride. :)
Hi Thomas. I've been an avid watcher of your vids for ages. Always educational and inspirational. I particularly liked this rare rant though about fake shots on Instagram and social media in general. V refreshing!
As it happens, you gave some great advice. The options are: aim to cover all your needs with good lenses and if you can't afford them all at once; as many people can't, build the collection one at a time. Sorting through your images to check which types of shot you have preferred could be a good starting point. We must remember though that in choosing those shots in the past may have been limited by the lack of lens choice at the time.
5D Mark IV still one of the best Cameras out there at the moment imo EF glass rules 🤗😂😂😂
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Wise. Definitely wasn't expecting that turn of thought. But that´s enormously true. Dont stress on needing new lenses, get to know the gear you already have and search for compositions that you are able to create with the gear you already have.
Hey Tom, great message. I’ve always been happy, and avoided all ‘gear anxiety’, by just shooting with a single prime. That’s it. Nothing else. It’s all you need to make images, and you can spend all the rest of your money on travel, trips and experiences... You win, hands down, in the end. Love the channel.👊🏻
Option #4: Rent gear that you are interested in buying. Sometimes you're on the right track and fall in love. Sometimes, you find out that, while the new thing is great, you can do just as well with what you have. Sometimes, you find out that it doesn't work for you at all. Renting gear for a week costs ~10% of the retail price -- it is really a great value when trying the gear you don't ultimately purchase. Acceptance is also really awesome. A lot of us already have gear that, "if only we had X, we could make great images". If so, go do it! Also: f/8 and be there.
This is the hardest thing I had to learn over the years : to not be frightened by not getting a shot. I now take the time to look at the scene with the two best lenses I always have with me, my eyes.
Tons of thanks for a Wonderful video on photography. This is a liberating experience for me to listening to you. You literally saved my time and energy for watching countless videos on TH-cam. Subscribed.
Good to see the thought processes are felt by others! I personally think that this issue of 'getting the shot' is compounded when you are a hobbyist and have a social media account....I myself suffer with this. I find that i can slip out of the moment by pressurising myself to have some kind of 'result' for the effort. I therefore went for the many lenses option that put a hole in the wallet. Looking back i think you are right by focusing more effort on asking yourself 'why' you are taking the photo.
Well done, one of the features that keeps so many people engaged with your content is that you genuinely understand that many of us mere mortals do not or will ever have all singing all dancing kit. Don't be too hard on yourself about your opinion of kit lenses, speaking as one of your fans operating on a zero budget level, Kit Lenses SUCK! I hope the manufacturers feel mightily embarrassed to sell these items. best wishes Del
Very interesting video Thomas! When I recently upgraded my camera to the canon eso r, I got the 24-105 kit lens with it, and I’ve been planning on getting the other f4 wide and telephoto when the come out, but I found that as of right now, with the photography I’ve been shooting, I haven’t even need those focal lengths. Sorry that was probably unnecessary, great video though! Keep it up man!
Thank you for using "close-up" cuts when editing. I find it so much more comfortable than that horrible thing people do with second cameras off to one side (I always feel I'm being ignored and the presenter is talking to someone else when that gets used). I'd even be OK with jump cuts, to be honest!
Ahh those beautiful Canon lens...they're the best. Also, I wanted to share this quote from Galen Rowell: “You only get one sunrise and one sunset a day, and you only get so many days on the planet. A good photographer does the math and doesn't waste either.”
Have to say, i mostly agree with all you said, specially the part 'No Best lens' and 'Only 2 prime in the bag'. I'am a digital old school B&W Nikon photographer, mostly urban, and only shoot with manual prime lenses. The focal are 18, 24, 28, 50, 85 and 105mm and are all 20+ years old, so full metal and zero AF and i never (unless on a extensive trip) carry more than 2 lenses. Shooting primes and getting to perfectly know your lens it's the Very secret, will push you toward creative and will force you to compose your frame without any compromise. I also found my old primes to be often more sharper (maximum aperture) and flares resistant than many new Zoom lenses, even tho clarity and 'digital HD' effect is way superior on the new electronic one. If you are really wondering about the best landscape lens, try old pro-quality primes, like a 24mm and a 50mm ( depend on location, wide field/mountain reflection 24, long scenery 50), but just go prime :)
Alright broseph, whatever you were sipping on before shooting this video has been deemed a new prerequisite for all future videos. For it is with this attitude that you will help the most people. And yes, not getting the shot is absolutely the correct way to look at photography. Hell, that's the correct way to look at life itself. Bruh, so deep. (also, "buy all the lenses" is a perfectly valid answer as well, mainly because I sleep better with that justification after having gone that route myself)
thank you. I just switched to the Mirrorless R6 and had to pick which images I needed. Finally settled on the ones that work for me and my photography.
Thank you for this video. I am currently switching from DSLR to mirrorless and am currently facing this dilemma. Happy to know that I’m not the only one. Purchased book & calendar and waiting for delivery. Keep up the great job.
I can live with the fact of taking all my lenses everywhere (great pain for my back but no regrets!) and coming back with no shot. But I can't live with the idea of coming home with no shot because of that lens I didn't take with me :D
Thomas, It is so good to get your reality check on which lens to use. I choose the lens based on the framing of the picture and composition. Sometimes a long lens and sometimes an 18-36mm
I'm okay (at the moment) using kit lenses because they serve the purposes of my photography. But I also appreciate understanding other options and love those AHA moments when you pros articulate something I was thinking. It makes me feel better about where I'm at in my photography journey (and budget!). Love the new calendar that arrived this week!
My first "professional" lens was second hand 70-200 f4 L. I instantly fell in love with it and I still use it till this day even on mirrorless system. As hobbyist I don't need nothing more fancy.
I appreciate your comments on feeling the visceral pain of missing a shot, which has happened to me numerous times over the years. I'm glad you have come to terms with it. I'm not there yet, but maybe your thoughts can help.
Thought I had lost it when suddenly the video disappeared... glad its back :-) Great advice, I would also suggest its better to buy a good quality secondhand (L type) lens than a similar priced new kit type lens. That's what I had to do and I am very happy I did, the glass makes all the difference as you say :-)
Agree, before going to Lofoten in Feb 2020 I purchased a 16-35 f2.8 SECOND HAND. It was half the price of the lates version but a brilliant lens, well worth paying 1/2 price LOL :)
@@PMCN53 I own a Sony a7r2 and cannot afford the Sony glass other than the Ziess 24-70 (kit) that came with it. So have the cheaper 17-40mm L f4 and the older 70-200mm L f4 non IS. Love them both as they are very sharp and my body as IS if needed. To be honest when out in the Peak District I use the 70-200mm most of the time.
I don't know why TH-cam was suggesting this to me today, but nice to go down memory lane. I do have 2 things relevant to this conversation. 1. It does not matter which lens you get (in terms of focal length). Hear me out here... If you asking the question you are fairly new to photography. Creativity is inspired by the limitations we impose upon ourselves. Just pick one and use it to death. Learn it inside out. Your images are more likely to be affected by the time you get up in the morning, the weather, the research you do on your locations. So just don't sweat it.. regardless of what lens you buy... you are going to look back and think most your old images are not great anyway (because it is the practise and experience that gets you compelling images). Point 2 - One of my favorite lenses is my 24-240mm travel zoom. It is freeing to just hike with and I have printed images with it that are 20x30" with 'good enough' quality (if people a pixel peeping... you don't have a compelling image). But here is the real thing... why does no-one make a good quality travel zoom? They all have like 68mm or 72mm filter thread and generally are compromised for people who want to spend $700-$1000. I wonder what would happen if a lens manufacturer decided to make a good superzoom that actually lets in enough light, has better lens coatings, and optical design? Ok it would be a bit heavier... but it would be lighter than carrying 2 lenses. I guess that's what Tamron did with the 35-150mm F2-F2.8 but its not wide enough. I would love to see a 24-200 F2.8-F4 with a 82mm filter thread and a $2K-$2.5K price point... I think it would be doable... and I bet it could actually replace 2 lenses.
What most of us probably do at some point in our photography (esp for those with perfectionist traits) is try to carry all our kit everywhere. Then we get annoyed at lugging the bag around then we reduce to our favourite lenses and what we’re comfortable with for the scenes. I’ve come to the point where if I’m on holiday and may not return to that place I’ll take my wide angle and telephoto or just the wide one as that’s my favourite lens. If I’m on trips out more locally then I may just pick one lens and often the kit lens. I had this experience this weekend where I couldn’t be bothered to bring all the gear so went with only wide angle and no tripod and accepted it. The only other option is to go travel lens where the compromise is likely to be of less quality. Again, it’s down to what suits you and what you are content to accept. Where you intend to go and the likely type of shots you desire will answer the lens choice too.
Adam Gibbs has done some fantastic work with his 24-120 ‘kit’ lens on the D850, so it certainly can be done. Of course he is now shooting the Fuji GFX, so you may want to check with him if interested in trying that route.
Acceptance of not always getting the shot is such a golden advice. Sometimes I feel a prisoner of that 'get everything' approach. That being said I got tamron 28-200 f2.8-5.6 for Sony e, to cover as much as possible, with surprisingly good optic quality. Cheers!
Hi Thomas, enjoyed your little rant. I have been shooting with one lens for about a year now the Fujifilm 32-64mm, it is a superb lens and the only one I own for that camera. A couple of advantages with only having 1 lens, my bag is a lot lighter now and it makes you focus more on composition and you become more attuned to your surroundings.
Great points! This is one of the best answers to this question that I’ve heard. It’s easy to feel restricted by your gear, but I look at it as a challenge to exercise my creativity.
Age old debate indeed ! Life is about compromise ... Accept you won't get all the shots and master the lens you have with you; or accept the lesser quality and take a superzoom (e.g. 18-200mm); or accept the dent in your bank balance and weight in your bag, and take the holy trinity !! Keep posting Tom ... it's always good to hear what you have to say !
Brilliant explanation again 👏! Nailed it and I really like the part when it comes to social media and the pressure it is putting on people. I go out with the same lenses for many many years right now (16-35 and 70-200) and really love them. They are totally different. 70-200 more clean, silent in picture look, more true with all the lines (if you know what I mean). The 16-35 is good for more dramatic pictures with very strong foreground, it's less heavy and very good to handle in combination with a dslr. Maybe it's a little bit a question of what kind of picture look do you like more. Are you more the "strong foreground" person or more more the "what I've seen is what you get and detail" person.
I feel the best minimalistic option is the duo of 16-36 f4 and 70-200 f4 zooms. The main thing you need is a sturdy tripod that is light enough that you'll actually carry it with you.
Great video! I have that struggle. I have both primes and zooms but my newest upgrade has been a life saver as it covers pretty much anything. I upgraded from 24-85 to the 24-120 and that extra length has been such a bonus. I now only really go out with that lens and my wide angle.
Great video, great shot anxiety had really got its hook into me and I hadn't realised. Also totally agree with the pro lense comment, I am currently regretting a couple of purchases where I went quantity rather than quality. Love the channel
This comment was based off of your first edit of the video. First of all let me start off by saying I haven't come over here just to have a dig at your video or what you're saying, I am a big fan of yours, I thank you a lot and you really helped me push my photography and I cannot thank you enough for that, I have bought the last three calendars that you have released as well as your book which are all fantastic and I'm so glad ordered and will continue to do so. But Yes I agree with you that there is no best lens for landscape photography but this is where the but comes in about kit lenses. Believe it or not I still shoot with the cheap Holy Trinity set and only recently got my hands on canon 70-200 L lens, with a crop sensor body and I think if you find the sweet spot and really know how far you can push a kit lens to its capability then you can get still fantastic images from them. My favourite lens is the 10-18mm and where some people have said that it's not very good lens most of my images for the last 2 years have been shot on it. But do agree with you that kit lenes are nowhere near as sharp as a L lens at all or the more expensive lenses. Hope it's ok leaving this comment All the best Richard My Instagram handle is if anyone's interested on the images @rdfrench_photography
I'd say, analyze what you like and want from your photography and get the lens that makes it possible. If you're new look at others work and see what is most inspiring to you, then get the focal lengths makes it possible. If you have experience then be honest with yourself and introspect your feelings about your work to see what actually matters to you. For instance I enjoy hiking and I'm really melding that with photography, which means that I want lightweight lenses (which often means kit lenses). I find lots of different scenes on my adventures but I have a preference to frame my compositions a little wider to include a little more. Therefore I'm currently using two lenses from 16-85mm, that covers most of my needs unless I'm in the mountains. Then I want something longer as well. So I'm currently looking at getting a 24-200 to cover that need while still only carrying two lenses. It's not really that hard figuring out what lens YOU need if you first figure out what you want and like to photograph. If you like everything then you're not focused enough... 😇
I read this with a grin when I think of the thousands of images I made with a Nikkor 50mm 1.4 lens. Master the lens you own before you waste money on a lens that you think might make you a better photographer. Buy a good bowl head tripod with a leveling base, a decent mid range zoom, and go master them. It will be fun and enlightening. Thomas is giving you solid practical advice.
The old saying is "f/8 and be there". The best lens is the one you have with you when it is time to create an image. Working the subject to tell a story, and communicate your vision is the goal. I have owned various camera systems with primes and zooms from kit lenses to top end glass. When I look at my images and prints the last thing I notice is which camera or lens I used, and only another photographer would even think of asking. I make images that (I think) are beautiful, which makes me happy and that is why I do it.
I think there is a useful analogy in painting and drawing. Most artists specialize in one or two particular media. Not because there is only one medium that rules them all. Not because you can't afford to buy pencils, chalk, water paints, and acrylics. It's because you will create at least subtly different images in each medium. It's also because you won't have the time in your life to become a true master of all the different media. Still, if you are going to do acrylics for a few years, you should buy good materials. Thomas makes some excellent points that support this. Get good equipment. If you have wads of cash, buy all of the top-line lenses at once. Hire a Sherpa to carry your gear. For most people, get a decent camera body plus one really good lens. When you go out to shoot, look for opportunities that fit the lens. Understand that you may see many other shots that you could have taken with different lenses. Make a mental note to come back in a few years and take some of those "missed" pictures once you can afford more kit.
I'm really glad you're thinking about moving onto mirrorless soon. For those of us who have to buy secondhand, if people at your level are going to be selling their gear then the camera and lenses I want should drop in price a bit 👍
You're just a truthful young man who doesn't like all the commercial crap, which I totally respect. However, no need to be embarrassed about good glass. Yes the best camera is the one you have with you but the fact is that good lenses can give you the most amazing files and detail to print if you know what you're doing. I was recently re-processing some old raw files of the Isle of Skye taken with a good camera for the time but with a not so cheap but "handy" but lower quality 18-200 zoom. Well the files were still fairly difficult to bring stuff out of giving mediocre results at best. I also had a few raws shot with a good and cheap 50mm prime from the same shoot which came out much better. So beginners are better to get some decent older used and cheap primes of a few different lengths , do some research on which ones are good, Nikon is quite good as there are so many f mount primes on the market at great prices. Learning that way you will learn composition and light more comprehensively too. Not a bad thing. The high quality zooms are expensive. Save up for some slowly, buy once, by quality and shoot with good old primes in the meantime. I often take my camera out with just one prime to challenge myself.. It's fun.
Yep, liked, bought your book, bought your calendar, and now... Great video and honest message. Social media can definitely be the devil. But sometimes necessary. What I did was start with used gear. I was lucky to buy from friends who were upgrading their own kits. A nikon 17-35 f2.8, sigma 70-200 f2.8, tamron 100-400 f5.6, and then a nikon 24-70 f2.8. Most lenses were less than half the price new. They werent the latest models but to me they were gold. And everyone needs to learn, photography is not cheap. Lol. GAS will get you eventually. 😅 Thanks Tom!
What I did to get better lenses and not pay the new price was to purchase factory refurbished lenses from a reputable camera store. I have saved a lot of money that way and the lenses all work great. Thanks for another entertaining video!
Once I was on holiday in Chamonix, and visited the Émosson Dam on the border between France and Switzerland. I went there for landscapes, had what I thought was everything I could possible need; tripod, wide angle, some primes, filters etc, everything! I'd just taken an image that I was super proud of, and I remember being smug about how well the day was going. At that exact moment, a Lammergeier (Bearded Vulture) came slowly soaring over the lake, spiralling beautifully against the alpine backdrop. These birds look incredible, and are very rare! It was a dream nature encounter for me. I frantically rummaged through my camera bag looking for the zoomiest of zooms, only to realise the longest thing I had was 70mm. All I could do was accept that this was a once in a lifetime encounter, and I couldn't make the shot. I remember being super angry for about 30 seconds, feeling helpless, and then suddenly acceptance arrived! As soon as I accepted it, I just stood there and chuckled to myself, and instead focused on enjoying the moment. It felt amazing, and like you say it was a huge turning point in my photography. Sometimes for the sake of your own sanity, its better to just enjoy the moment instead of beating yourself up over the lens you don't have...
I kinda did your challenge, I took only two lenses on a two and a half week trip through Central America. Quick thing said, I call my self a travel photographer so basically a mix bag of everything. Back on track, in my bag was my Olympus E-M5 II, 75mm 1.8 and 17mm 1.8. I loved it. For the most part my 75mm lives on my camera but having that wide lens for those shots you want to capture a bit more was perfect. Truthfully I love working with in limits.
One of the best gear videos I've ever seen. Been debating whether to sell my Nikon gear to buy new lenses for my Sony a7. The Sony glass is more expensive so I'm not able to buy a trinity set but deciding between the 24-70 and 70-200 has been difficult. I love the lens I have but I almost wish I didn't already have the 16-35 so I could justify getting the new 12-24. My Nikon 14-24 is my current favorite so without a comparable lens in my Sony kit it's difficult to make the jump! I'm deadlocked.
Being ok not getting the image is ok if you all ready have them or you get the time to pick the days. Like you did say some dont get the time and to not get the image week in week out. But it was a great lesson to be ok not to get the shot. And least with the mis range lens to start with you can crop in to get closer or you can shoot pano to go wider so I recommendations is the 24-70 or 24-105 or equivalent haha
Quick note: I re-uploaded this video with a small edit as I sounded like a spoilt brat when talking about kit lenses. My new edit does a better job at explaining my thoughts on using kit lenses :)
Definitely sounds better...
Alright I have to ask. Did you actually refilm the entire video, edit, and upload it or did you just refilm the part about kit lenses? And whilst we're on the topic of kit lenses, are you going to upgrade your fuji kit lenses?
I wondered haha
Saw this pop up then disappear.
I appreciate your willingness to edit and refine 🙌🏻
My most stressful photography excursions have been when I’ve had several lenses in my bag. By the time I got to a location I was already exhausted and I began to fumble around frantically searching for the “perfect” lens for that scene so I could get a shot before I lost the light. My most relaxing excursions have been when I only had one camera and one prime lens. Then I just casually tried to find a composition to suit what I had. For me, photography is about stress relief so I now choose to go out with less options not more. Great video!
I would switch the prime against my 24-80 because I know I can shoot almost everything with it. Thats pretty relaxing too ;)
Molybdan42 That’s true. I used to have a 24-120 which stayed on the front of my camera for a long time. It meant I seldom had a situation where I thought I could have gotten a better shot if I had a different lens. I just think that for me less is more. The more relaxed I am the more creative I can be. The less gear I have the more “in the moment” I can be. I’ve been down the track of thinking I needed to have every focal length covered only to find that I didn’t enjoy what I was doing anymore. I’m not a pro and I don’t have to make a living with my camera and I’m not winning any major competitions with my photos so take what I say with a grain of salt. 😊
I do really enjoy the less is more approach too. Spend a few years with just a 23mm (on Fuji) and it's been great, I added a 70-200 (well 50-140 on Fuji) for some specific event work / portraits but it only comes with me if I know I need it, and since I have been missing the longer reach when on casual trips / traveling with just the 23mm. So adding a 16-80 which hopefully will be the single lens I take with me for travel / weekends. So I have added more to my kit, but still only taking one lens out at a time
I really like that thought!
I'm watching an older video during the slack season... But I find I'm agreeing with you - "This is what I have - I must make the most of it" - is just so relaxing. No gear choices to distract - Just do it! The real challenge is finding a subject, not taking a photo!
The best lens is undoubtedly the one you left at home and you only discover this logistical error when you have just hiked up a mountain in Scotland in Winter.
I arrived at my shooting spot a few days ago to discover I had my lens in the bag, but not the camera body. Arrrgh!
@@newenglandlight8724 I went to Iceland and had the wrong charger and batteries for my camera body. Luckily I was
able to use a charger from an AirBnB host throughout the trip for the only battery I had was the one in the camera.
🙋🏼♀️ tried my hand at some wild camping and only took 35mm to keep the weight down. Really wish I had that 24mm when I decided to do some astro 😑
I once drove two hours to get to a friend's property to do some photography only to realize I'd forgotten the key to the gate.
Naaah! The best lens is the one on the camera when IT happens!
First thought: In my opinion the 24-70 is a very good lens to start. First, with actual cameras (at least 24mp) you can crop to get a more tighter composition. And if you like a wider shot you can do a 24mm pano.
Second thought: Don't buy F2.8 lenses for landscapes, it will save money and weight to invest into the f4 ones!
Thanks for the video, love that kind of videos :)
Regards
Stefan
Hi Stefan: Agree with your comments about f2.8 lens. I have bought them in the past and while I primarily shoot landscapes/travel, I really didn't need an f2.8 lens. Money wasted....experience learned. Keep safe, Keith
Good comment, Stefan. The "one you have on your camera" - brigade poses as the receptacle of some sort of smart-alec wisdom while offering nothing of a practical nature. Nor would I try to "master" a 600mm telephoto to shoot a scenic mountain range (ok, no panoramas).
“Master the lens you have” - I reckon that would definitely improve your photography
Yup, Photography in the end is about creativity and if you splash the money and buy the trinity of lenses at once without previous experiences in those focal lengths, you will need more time getting used to those lenses and hence affect your creativity.
Yes having to think through the problem of what to do when you don't have the lens you want helps your problem solving and creative skills. Still I'm always planning which lens or other gear I'm going to get next. 😆
Cold comfort for a photographer who is fighting chromatic aberration, poor resolution and rotten contrast.
Thank goodness lens manufacturers have not been satisfied with second best and strive to produce better products.
And, how will he/she know when they have finally "mastered" their lens?
@@alexandermenzies9954 I don't think there is ever a time when we "master" anything in this life. The word implies that there is no more to be learned. While in reality there is always more to learn and greater skill to strive for.
"Is tought (when you can't get the shot you want) and it takes time (to get used to take the pictures that you can with what you have). But it's liberating and its fantastic. You really start to enjoy the true meaning of photography. Which isn't to be the biggest/best person in Instagram. It's to be out there, connect with the outdoor and to have a nice momento to yourself."
So good to hear that.
That is what keep us photographers going on and on with what we have and taking pictures of what we can.
I really enjoyed this video but may be for reasons you wouldn't have expected. Firstly, let me say that I'm an amateur photographer on a very tight (kit lens) budget. I've been viewing your vids during lockdown and I'm now venturing into landscape photography, mainly due to you. The reason this video spoke to me so deeply is that, prior to lockdown I used to give talks to cancer patients and their family / carers for a cancer charity, to help them with the psychological and emotional issues related having cancer. The courses were based on a process called ACT: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. The first part of this is, Acceptance and we try to encourage people to apply Acceptance, not only to cancer but to all parts of their life. I don't know if you've previously experienced ACT but you're non-rant was was an excellent demonstration of how to apply it to any part of your life.
Thank you for this and all the other videos. I will be sharing this one with people who will make use of it in a way I don't think you expected.
Wayne John
"Twelve significant photographs in any one year is a good crop" - Ansel Adams. So perhaps we should expect the same.
"Most photographers don't get an epic shot every time they go out." Too true, just get out and enjoy the moment. If you get an image, it's a bonus.
Thomas - thank you. This is probably one of my favourite videos of yours. It’s honest and cuts through the crap that others sometimes put out about “MUST HAVES”.
There’s a shot for every focal length, and I believe that learning how to shoot with what you’ve got is the key to producing better photos. Was really considering buying your book before, and I think this has pushed me over the edge. Thanks again.
Thomas! I can’t tell you how much I appreciated this video. As a hobbyist, and still relatively new photographer this was probably some of the best advice I’ve received. I’m always appreciative of your perspective and suggestions. Keep them coming!
“Master the lens you do have” genius !! Thanks for all you do
10 - 200mm f1.4 is obviously the answer. We just need a manufacturer to bend the laws of physics and build one.
Oh, under 500 grams please too :-)
And...in the size from a pancake lens, lol! Together with the fist size featherweight mini tripod, which turns into a 10 pounds king size tripod monster, if you extend the legs from it.
maybe neil deasse tyson can do it, or anyone who is a spinning ball beLIEver, they reject physics every day :)
And priced at around £150 please. 😎
Sony’s 18-105 is as close you can get sadly
Panasonic has a 28-280 ff equivalent, and it's small + light
Really like the idea of going out with just one lens with a specific idea in mind of how you want to apply that lens in a given situation. So much more liberating and also less to carry on a long hike.
Thanks Tom, I always appreciate your honesty. We have the same issues with wildlife photography, we see the lenses the pros use and think we need those to get the best shots, when you can get very nice shots with much more affordable gear. I agree with your comments re social media, it can be very overwhelming when starting out seeing all these epic shots when your own shots don't look anything like them. Over time I have learnt to enjoy the process more than the result, that way you still have a good time regardless of the final shot. Cheers, Duade
'Be ok not having it, but master the les you do have'...
This is so true! I used my 30mm 1.4 lens for years before I saved enough for some good glass. I learned so much by using only one lens.
Thanks again Thomas for another great video!
“Master the lens you do have” best advice ever!!!
No, it's not. It's patronising nonsense, there is a huge range of lenses and some will have characteristics much more suited to outdoor landscapes than the rubbish with which some poor sod is plumbered.
I’m a beginner photographer. I travel and love landscape photography. So I ended up buying the nikon 18-300. While it might only be a step up from kit lens it is perfect for me or someone you who can’t or doesn’t want to carry so many lenses. For now it works for me. While I might not be the advanced photographer that follows you but I love your videos and look forward each week to them. Thanks for your hard work to producing great content each week.
It’s so easy to fall into “if I buy this lens then I’ll get the shots I want” but honestly that’s an endless cycle. I’ve found I’ll carry multiple lenses “just in case” but I usually only use one of them. I also have found that I don’t like zoom lenses. Having every focal length between A to Z is just another thing I’m focusing on instead of the scene, and moving around to frame the shot is one of the fun experiences of photography for me. I like the last part of this video. Maybe the answer to “which lens do I need for this shot” should be “the one you have”
I don't think I will ever be bored of your videos. I really enjoy your content Thomas! It is so broad and very genuine.
Let's see if I can remember what I wrote first time round. Many years ago when I first started in photography, I could only afford a camera and one lens. If I was starting out today I would choose an a73 and a 24-105mm G lens. Of course one lens will not cover all situations. But, the 24-105mm will cover most. Oddly enough though, if I had to choose 2 lenses it would be the 16-35mm and 70-200mm. And for 3, I'd either add a 50mm prime or keep the 24-105mm which is what I chose. I used to put a lot of pressure on myself to get a great shot whenever I traveled. But, these days I still try to get the best shots I can, but I don't worry if I don't get a great shot. I just try to enjoy the beauty of nature wherever I am first and if I get a great shot that's even better.
The importance of lenses is the reason why I am baffled by the obsession with larger sensor sizes these days. You can get lenses that each cover a wider range of focal lengths while maintaining the same level of quality and size/weight for APS-C and m4/3 and at a lower price. Nikon 24-70 F2.8 costs almost twice as much as 17-55mm F2.8 for example. In the long term, high quality lenses are the smartest investment for a photographer but the focus is almost entirely on camera bodies now. When I bought my first interchangeable lens camera last year, it was the lens that dictated it. I researched and I chose one lens, THE one lens that I must have, and I based my choice of camera body on that. Even if this video is about gear, it is still kinda refreshing, bring the discussion back to lenses.
I also think maybe photographers now think too much about how their equipment is limiting them and holding them back. I'm not sure that is really the right mentality to have. Of course, that mentality is good for the camera companies, but for actual photography? I'm not so sure. Personally, I'd rather think about my own limitations and the ways in which I could improve. When I look at my photos, I usually don't think it is my camera that is holding my photography back. That's why I like to like to buy photography books and visit Instagram and Flickr and watch TH-cam channels like this. I try to immerse myself and experience other photographers work and hopefully learn from them and grow as a photographer. I think that will help me more than any new lens, even if I didn't already have a pro-grade lens.
Which lens dictated your choice out of interest?
Yeah, this is why I love Fuji. Lenses are awesome. But more importantly, camera is small so I can take it everywhere.
I'm also interested in knowing which lens you got.
@@zenphotojourney The lens was Olympus 12-100mm F4 IS Pro. Before COVID, I was planning to visit relatives overseas this year so I wanted a single travel lens with constant aperture. Optical IS would help me keep weight down for the trip as well (less need to bring a tripod), and I needed weather-sealing for a rainy, tropical environment. With that decided, it was easy to choose a body with matching weather-sealing and sensor IS (Olympus E-M1 II).
I won't say that they're weren't any features of the camera body or the system that attracted me, but I think maybe people focus too much on that stuff now and neglect the lenses in comparison. After using a fixed-lens camera for 15 years, I will choose the lenses very carefully. I don't want to sacrifice the lens quality or "miss the shot" just because of affordability, otherwise why move on from fixed-lens cameras in the first place? I got pro-grade quality covering 24-200mm EFL for $1450 CAD. Lots of pro-grade lenses for Fuji X system as well. I am not sure it is a sacrifice people actually need to make so much, not even non-pros like me, especially if we avoid thinking about upgrading bodies so much.
Lol I think you did nail it though, “WA for seascapes, 24-70 for forests and telephoto for mountains.” Pick one of those and master that and be ok with not getting every shot. Solid advice.
I went to my local woodland last weekend. I normally go out with my 80D, 3 lenses, a tripod, filters, batteries... etc.
This time though, I went with just an X100F with its fixed 35mm eqiv, shot nothing but jpg and loved every minute. No bag, no fussing around with a tripod, no swapping lenses.. it was so much fun!
Best video on this topic, and I have watched a fair few trying to decide which lens to purchase. Thanks Thomas, you were entertaining as well as being realistic. It helped me to know what to do.
This is why I like your channel, it's about the really important things: photography, nature, hiking, mastering difficult circumstances, failure, rules and braking rules (in photography), hopes, luck and disappointments... just honest. This is pretty rare nowadays on TH-cam. Thank you for the great content since years! (sounding like a fanboy..)
I think this is really one of the best videos about this topic on TH-cam. One thing I would recommend to new photographers is buying cheap old manual lenses in the focal length they're 'missing'. Nowadays almost everyone shoots mirrorless and you can get old Minolta lenses with adapters from eBay for less than 50$ each. They're primes, and a bit limited, but perfect to start and get great results. Just get a 135mm and 200mm and you're good to go next to your kit lens and a potential extra wide angle!
As someone who has worried too much about what lens to bring and use, what should I upgrade to, etc. it really does boil down to what do I have on me. Lately, I've just been having fun keeping my 50mm on for landscapes. I have a wide angle lens and a telephoto, but the fixed focal length has been forcing me to readjust my thinking on composition. Granted 50 can still cover a wide area, but having options sometimes causes me to 'miss shots'. After I get more comfortable with this, I'm aiming to swap for my tele, keep it on my camera for a good while, and challenge myself to readjust again. I think you hit the nail on the head bringing up social media. Everyone is different, but I think most of us are in photography for the joy it brings. And when you produce a shot, one that you are proud of, after a challenging day or what have you, it's a wonderful feeling.
Keep it up, your videos are great
That is such a positive mind-set to be in. Its also nice sometimes to just enjoy what's happening and not focus on taking images
I now realize that I'm totally liberated! I never get the shot...
I realized that I now know more about how not to get the shot then the other way around.
learning from mistakes in nature’s way of self improvement!
Very thoughtful comments... “master the lens that you have” ...and the camera! So true. I have to admit I have too many Fuji lenses... and the ones I use most are the light and underrated 18-55 and the nearly-do-it-all 18-135 which is surprisingly good at its f8 sweet spot. As another person said, if you want a stress free day, just take one camera and one lens. If you have a particular shot/location in mind then work out exactly what you need and take only that.
I keep coming back to this video, much like body dismorphia you see the online content and often smite down your own because all of theirs are bright and beautiful. For someone like myself with very little financial backing this gives me much comfort.
Cheers Tom
If it is just a hobby and not your main source of income, then as soon as you start stressing out about your photography then it is time to look for a different hobby.
I have made do with ‘kit lenses’ for a number of years and I am satisfied with the results I get.
Thank you Thomas for a realistic viewpoint on this...
Happiness is wanting what you have..... Struggled with that in the past...one just has to get it or you'll never be happy. Now onto your site to look at the book and such.
Keep the videos coming - frankly, the telephoto is a good option video you did meant a lot to me.
Jeff
Probably the best video you have made with regards to gear. I am so sick of all these click bait videos and people just throwing money out. Also manufacturers are now turning out cameras like cell phone companies are turning out cell phones.
I find it very idiotic and personally avoid all gear related videos.
Great video...agree with the importance of lens quality. That's why I stayed with Canon when going mirrorless. My high quality EF L lenses adapted easily when I upgraded to the mirrorless system. I slowly accumulated a few RF L lenses ( pricey, but worth every penny). Their quality surpasses any other. My favorite is the RF70-200 2.8 L- very compact and outstanding! If I have to travel with only one lens, it would be the RF 24-105 f4 L.
I liked the video, bought one of your books, and now I'm commenting. Mad support for you, Thomas. I enjoy your photos, your channel, and your pleasant tones (even when you're ranting). Thanks for doing what you do and bringing us along for the ride. :)
Quick tip: if you’re a landscape photographer, do not ignore quality older lenses, especially manual focus or adapted glass.
Hi Thomas. I've been an avid watcher of your vids for ages. Always educational and inspirational. I particularly liked this rare rant though about fake shots on Instagram and social media in general. V refreshing!
As it happens, you gave some great advice. The options are: aim to cover all your needs with good lenses and if you can't afford them all at once; as many people can't, build the collection one at a time.
Sorting through your images to check which types of shot you have preferred could be a good starting point. We must remember though that in choosing those shots in the past may have been limited by the lack of lens choice at the time.
5D Mark IV still one of the best Cameras out there at the moment imo EF glass rules 🤗😂😂😂
Wise. Definitely wasn't expecting that turn of thought. But that´s enormously true. Dont stress on needing new lenses, get to know the gear you already have and search for compositions that you are able to create with the gear you already have.
Hey Tom, great message. I’ve always been happy, and avoided all ‘gear anxiety’, by just shooting with a single prime. That’s it. Nothing else. It’s all you need to make images, and you can spend all the rest of your money on travel, trips and experiences... You win, hands down, in the end. Love the channel.👊🏻
Same here, and so true.
Option #4: Rent gear that you are interested in buying. Sometimes you're on the right track and fall in love. Sometimes, you find out that, while the new thing is great, you can do just as well with what you have. Sometimes, you find out that it doesn't work for you at all. Renting gear for a week costs ~10% of the retail price -- it is really a great value when trying the gear you don't ultimately purchase.
Acceptance is also really awesome. A lot of us already have gear that, "if only we had X, we could make great images". If so, go do it!
Also: f/8 and be there.
This is the hardest thing I had to learn over the years : to not be frightened by not getting a shot. I now take the time to look at the scene with the two best lenses I always have with me, my eyes.
Tons of thanks for a Wonderful video on photography. This is a liberating experience for me to listening to you. You literally saved my time and energy for watching countless videos on TH-cam. Subscribed.
Great advice that - to be ok with not getting the shot. Being outdoors is the best part of it anyway and gives you a reason to go out again.
Good to see the thought processes are felt by others! I personally think that this issue of 'getting the shot' is compounded when you are a hobbyist and have a social media account....I myself suffer with this. I find that i can slip out of the moment by pressurising myself to have some kind of 'result' for the effort. I therefore went for the many lenses option that put a hole in the wallet. Looking back i think you are right by focusing more effort on asking yourself 'why' you are taking the photo.
Well done, one of the features that keeps so many people engaged with your content is that you genuinely understand that many of us mere mortals do not or will ever have all singing all dancing kit. Don't be too hard on yourself about your opinion of kit lenses, speaking as one of your fans operating on a zero budget level, Kit Lenses SUCK! I hope the manufacturers feel mightily embarrassed to sell these items. best wishes Del
Very interesting video Thomas! When I recently upgraded my camera to the canon eso r, I got the 24-105 kit lens with it, and I’ve been planning on getting the other f4 wide and telephoto when the come out, but I found that as of right now, with the photography I’ve been shooting, I haven’t even need those focal lengths. Sorry that was probably unnecessary, great video though! Keep it up man!
Thank you for using "close-up" cuts when editing. I find it so much more comfortable than that horrible thing people do with second cameras off to one side (I always feel I'm being ignored and the presenter is talking to someone else when that gets used). I'd even be OK with jump cuts, to be honest!
Love your work Thomas, really interesting, sincere and inspiring.
Ahh those beautiful Canon lens...they're the best. Also, I wanted to share this quote from Galen Rowell: “You only get one sunrise and one sunset a day, and you only get so many days on the planet. A good photographer does the math and doesn't waste either.”
Have to say, i mostly agree with all you said, specially the part 'No Best lens' and 'Only 2 prime in the bag'.
I'am a digital old school B&W Nikon photographer, mostly urban, and only shoot with manual prime lenses.
The focal are 18, 24, 28, 50, 85 and 105mm and are all 20+ years old, so full metal and zero AF and i never (unless on a extensive trip) carry more than 2 lenses.
Shooting primes and getting to perfectly know your lens it's the Very secret, will push you toward creative and will force you
to compose your frame without any compromise.
I also found my old primes to be often more sharper (maximum aperture) and flares resistant than many new Zoom lenses, even tho clarity and 'digital HD' effect is way superior
on the new electronic one.
If you are really wondering about the best landscape lens, try old pro-quality primes, like a 24mm and a 50mm ( depend on location, wide field/mountain reflection 24, long scenery 50),
but just go prime :)
"Master the lens you have" Well said and that about sums it up. Be it camera, lens, guitar, or whatever.
Alright broseph, whatever you were sipping on before shooting this video has been deemed a new prerequisite for all future videos. For it is with this attitude that you will help the most people. And yes, not getting the shot is absolutely the correct way to look at photography. Hell, that's the correct way to look at life itself. Bruh, so deep.
(also, "buy all the lenses" is a perfectly valid answer as well, mainly because I sleep better with that justification after having gone that route myself)
thank you. I just switched to the Mirrorless R6 and had to pick which images I needed. Finally settled on the ones that work for me and my photography.
Thank you for this video. I am currently switching from DSLR to mirrorless and am currently facing this dilemma. Happy to know that I’m not the only one. Purchased book & calendar and waiting for delivery. Keep up the great job.
I can live with the fact of taking all my lenses everywhere (great pain for my back but no regrets!) and coming back with no shot.
But I can't live with the idea of coming home with no shot because of that lens I didn't take with me :D
Thomas, It is so good to get your reality check on which lens to use. I choose the lens based on the framing of the picture and composition. Sometimes a long lens and sometimes an 18-36mm
I'm okay (at the moment) using kit lenses because they serve the purposes of my photography. But I also appreciate understanding other options and love those AHA moments when you pros articulate something I was thinking. It makes me feel better about where I'm at in my photography journey (and budget!). Love the new calendar that arrived this week!
My first "professional" lens was second hand 70-200 f4 L. I instantly fell in love with it and I still use it till this day even on mirrorless system. As hobbyist I don't need nothing more fancy.
Too true. I've had a bad back for a while now just taking the camera and 24-105 has made me more selective about images. Love the vid.
I appreciate your comments on feeling the visceral pain of missing a shot, which has happened to me numerous times over the years. I'm glad you have come to terms with it. I'm not there yet, but maybe your thoughts can help.
Thought I had lost it when suddenly the video disappeared... glad its back :-) Great advice, I would also suggest its better to buy a good quality secondhand (L type) lens than a similar priced new kit type lens. That's what I had to do and I am very happy I did, the glass makes all the difference as you say :-)
Agree, before going to Lofoten in Feb 2020 I purchased a 16-35 f2.8 SECOND HAND. It was half the price of the lates version but a brilliant lens, well worth paying 1/2 price LOL :)
@@PMCN53 I own a Sony a7r2 and cannot afford the Sony glass other than the Ziess 24-70 (kit) that came with it. So have the cheaper 17-40mm L f4 and the older 70-200mm L f4 non IS. Love them both as they are very sharp and my body as IS if needed. To be honest when out in the Peak District I use the 70-200mm most of the time.
Solid advice and appreciate your honesty...I've been struggling and feel a lot better...thanks for a sane commentary.
Thank you for such sound advice from someone who really does know their craft.
I don't know why TH-cam was suggesting this to me today, but nice to go down memory lane. I do have 2 things relevant to this conversation. 1. It does not matter which lens you get (in terms of focal length). Hear me out here... If you asking the question you are fairly new to photography. Creativity is inspired by the limitations we impose upon ourselves. Just pick one and use it to death. Learn it inside out. Your images are more likely to be affected by the time you get up in the morning, the weather, the research you do on your locations. So just don't sweat it.. regardless of what lens you buy... you are going to look back and think most your old images are not great anyway (because it is the practise and experience that gets you compelling images). Point 2 - One of my favorite lenses is my 24-240mm travel zoom. It is freeing to just hike with and I have printed images with it that are 20x30" with 'good enough' quality (if people a pixel peeping... you don't have a compelling image). But here is the real thing... why does no-one make a good quality travel zoom? They all have like 68mm or 72mm filter thread and generally are compromised for people who want to spend $700-$1000. I wonder what would happen if a lens manufacturer decided to make a good superzoom that actually lets in enough light, has better lens coatings, and optical design? Ok it would be a bit heavier... but it would be lighter than carrying 2 lenses. I guess that's what Tamron did with the 35-150mm F2-F2.8 but its not wide enough. I would love to see a 24-200 F2.8-F4 with a 82mm filter thread and a $2K-$2.5K price point... I think it would be doable... and I bet it could actually replace 2 lenses.
What most of us probably do at some point in our photography (esp for those with perfectionist traits) is try to carry all our kit everywhere. Then we get annoyed at lugging the bag around then we reduce to our favourite lenses and what we’re comfortable with for the scenes. I’ve come to the point where if I’m on holiday and may not return to that place I’ll take my wide angle and telephoto or just the wide one as that’s my favourite lens. If I’m on trips out more locally then I may just pick one lens and often the kit lens. I had this experience this weekend where I couldn’t be bothered to bring all the gear so went with only wide angle and no tripod and accepted it. The only other option is to go travel lens where the compromise is likely to be of less quality. Again, it’s down to what suits you and what you are content to accept. Where you intend to go and the likely type of shots you desire will answer the lens choice too.
Adam Gibbs has done some fantastic work with his 24-120 ‘kit’ lens on the D850, so it certainly can be done. Of course he is now shooting the Fuji GFX, so you may want to check with him if interested in trying that route.
Acceptance of not always getting the shot is such a golden advice. Sometimes I feel a prisoner of that 'get everything' approach.
That being said I got tamron 28-200 f2.8-5.6 for Sony e, to cover as much as possible, with surprisingly good optic quality. Cheers!
As I have learned with many other hobbies using 'tools', brush, pencil, lens, etc., it's not always the tool,, but the person behind the the tool.
Hi Thomas, enjoyed your little rant. I have been shooting with one lens for about a year now the Fujifilm 32-64mm, it is a superb lens and the only one I own for that camera. A couple of advantages with only having 1 lens, my bag is a lot lighter now and it makes you focus more on composition and you become more attuned to your surroundings.
Great points! This is one of the best answers to this question that I’ve heard. It’s easy to feel restricted by your gear, but I look at it as a challenge to exercise my creativity.
Great video Thomas, your 16-35 also makes a great mid-range option adapted to your Fuji. It's a pretty sweet combo!
Next week's video why s 40mm prime is what you really need 😂
Yes . well thats what I use , and a 12 - 24 and a 28 - 74 and a............... and primes too
Age old debate indeed ! Life is about compromise ... Accept you won't get all the shots and master the lens you have with you; or accept the lesser quality and take a superzoom (e.g. 18-200mm); or accept the dent in your bank balance and weight in your bag, and take the holy trinity !! Keep posting Tom ... it's always good to hear what you have to say !
Brilliant explanation again 👏! Nailed it and I really like the part when it comes to social media and the pressure it is putting on people. I go out with the same lenses for many many years right now (16-35 and 70-200) and really love them. They are totally different. 70-200 more clean, silent in picture look, more true with all the lines (if you know what I mean). The 16-35 is good for more dramatic pictures with very strong foreground, it's less heavy and very good to handle in combination with a dslr. Maybe it's a little bit a question of what kind of picture look do you like more. Are you more the "strong foreground" person or more more the "what I've seen is what you get and detail" person.
I feel the best minimalistic option is the duo of 16-36 f4 and 70-200 f4 zooms. The main thing you need is a sturdy tripod that is light enough that you'll actually carry it with you.
Great video!
I have that struggle. I have both primes and zooms but my newest upgrade has been a life saver as it covers pretty much anything. I upgraded from 24-85 to the 24-120 and that extra length has been such a bonus. I now only really go out with that lens and my wide angle.
Great video, great shot anxiety had really got its hook into me and I hadn't realised. Also totally agree with the pro lense comment, I am currently regretting a couple of purchases where I went quantity rather than quality. Love the channel
This comment was based off of your first edit of the video.
First of all let me start off by saying I haven't come over here just to have a dig at your video or what you're saying, I am a big fan of yours, I thank you a lot and you really helped me push my photography and I cannot thank you enough for that, I have bought the last three calendars that you have released as well as your book which are all fantastic and I'm so glad ordered and will continue to do so. But
Yes I agree with you that there is no best lens for landscape photography but this is where the but comes in about kit lenses.
Believe it or not I still shoot with the cheap Holy Trinity set and only recently got my hands on canon 70-200 L lens, with a crop sensor body and I think if you find the sweet spot and really know how far you can push a kit lens to its capability then you can get still fantastic images from them.
My favourite lens is the 10-18mm and where some people have said that it's not very good lens most of my images for the last 2 years have been shot on it.
But do agree with you that kit lenes are nowhere near as sharp as a L lens at all or the more expensive lenses.
Hope it's ok leaving this comment
All the best
Richard
My Instagram handle is if anyone's interested on the images @rdfrench_photography
I'd say, analyze what you like and want from your photography and get the lens that makes it possible. If you're new look at others work and see what is most inspiring to you, then get the focal lengths makes it possible. If you have experience then be honest with yourself and introspect your feelings about your work to see what actually matters to you.
For instance I enjoy hiking and I'm really melding that with photography, which means that I want lightweight lenses (which often means kit lenses). I find lots of different scenes on my adventures but I have a preference to frame my compositions a little wider to include a little more. Therefore I'm currently using two lenses from 16-85mm, that covers most of my needs unless I'm in the mountains. Then I want something longer as well. So I'm currently looking at getting a 24-200 to cover that need while still only carrying two lenses.
It's not really that hard figuring out what lens YOU need if you first figure out what you want and like to photograph. If you like everything then you're not focused enough... 😇
I read this with a grin when I think of the thousands of images I made with a Nikkor 50mm 1.4 lens. Master the lens you own before you waste money on a lens that you think might make you a better photographer. Buy a good bowl head tripod with a leveling base, a decent mid range zoom, and go master them. It will be fun and enlightening. Thomas is giving you solid practical advice.
The old saying is "f/8 and be there". The best lens is the one you have with you when it is time to create an image. Working the subject to tell a story, and communicate your vision is the goal. I have owned various camera systems with primes and zooms from kit lenses to top end glass. When I look at my images and prints the last thing I notice is which camera or lens I used, and only another photographer would even think of asking. I make images that (I think) are beautiful, which makes me happy and that is why I do it.
I think there is a useful analogy in painting and drawing. Most artists specialize in one or two particular media. Not because there is only one medium that rules them all. Not because you can't afford to buy pencils, chalk, water paints, and acrylics. It's because you will create at least subtly different images in each medium. It's also because you won't have the time in your life to become a true master of all the different media. Still, if you are going to do acrylics for a few years, you should buy good materials.
Thomas makes some excellent points that support this. Get good equipment. If you have wads of cash, buy all of the top-line lenses at once. Hire a Sherpa to carry your gear. For most people, get a decent camera body plus one really good lens. When you go out to shoot, look for opportunities that fit the lens. Understand that you may see many other shots that you could have taken with different lenses. Make a mental note to come back in a few years and take some of those "missed" pictures once you can afford more kit.
I'm really glad you're thinking about moving onto mirrorless soon. For those of us who have to buy secondhand, if people at your level are going to be selling their gear then the camera and lenses I want should drop in price a bit 👍
Ranty, philosophical, gear video ! Bills must be due !
Brutal truth of social media. Thanks for sharing
You're just a truthful young man who doesn't like all the commercial crap, which I totally respect. However, no need to be embarrassed about good glass. Yes the best camera is the one you have with you but the fact is that good lenses can give you the most amazing files and detail to print if you know what you're doing. I was recently re-processing some old raw files of the Isle of Skye taken with a good camera for the time but with a not so cheap but "handy" but lower quality 18-200 zoom. Well the files were still fairly difficult to bring stuff out of giving mediocre results at best. I also had a few raws shot with a good and cheap 50mm prime from the same shoot which came out much better. So beginners are better to get some decent older used and cheap primes of a few different lengths , do some research on which ones are good, Nikon is quite good as there are so many f mount primes on the market at great prices. Learning that way you will learn composition and light more comprehensively too. Not a bad thing. The high quality zooms are expensive. Save up for some slowly, buy once, by quality and shoot with good old primes in the meantime. I often take my camera out with just one prime to challenge myself.. It's fun.
Great perspective here. There’s something to be said for being OK working within the constraints of the kit you have.
Once again a great and informative video. Cheers!
The master of photography speaks ...
Yep, liked, bought your book, bought your calendar, and now...
Great video and honest message. Social media can definitely be the devil. But sometimes necessary.
What I did was start with used gear. I was lucky to buy from friends who were upgrading their own kits. A nikon 17-35 f2.8, sigma 70-200 f2.8, tamron 100-400 f5.6, and then a nikon 24-70 f2.8. Most lenses were less than half the price new. They werent the latest models but to me they were gold.
And everyone needs to learn, photography is not cheap. Lol. GAS will get you eventually. 😅
Thanks Tom!
My son recommended your videos to me. Really excellent. Well done.
What I did to get better lenses and not pay the new price was to purchase factory refurbished lenses from a reputable camera store. I have saved a lot of money that way and the lenses all work great. Thanks for another entertaining video!
Once I was on holiday in Chamonix, and visited the Émosson Dam on the border between France and Switzerland. I went there for landscapes, had what I thought was everything I could possible need; tripod, wide angle, some primes, filters etc, everything!
I'd just taken an image that I was super proud of, and I remember being smug about how well the day was going. At that exact moment, a Lammergeier (Bearded Vulture) came slowly soaring over the lake, spiralling beautifully against the alpine backdrop. These birds look incredible, and are very rare! It was a dream nature encounter for me.
I frantically rummaged through my camera bag looking for the zoomiest of zooms, only to realise the longest thing I had was 70mm. All I could do was accept that this was a once in a lifetime encounter, and I couldn't make the shot.
I remember being super angry for about 30 seconds, feeling helpless, and then suddenly acceptance arrived!
As soon as I accepted it, I just stood there and chuckled to myself, and instead focused on enjoying the moment. It felt amazing, and like you say it was a huge turning point in my photography. Sometimes for the sake of your own sanity, its better to just enjoy the moment instead of beating yourself up over the lens you don't have...
I think I saw you there the year after, struggling with a suitcase full of glass, calling, "come on down you b*****d !".
I kinda did your challenge, I took only two lenses on a two and a half week trip through Central America. Quick thing said, I call my self a travel photographer so basically a mix bag of everything. Back on track, in my bag was my Olympus E-M5 II, 75mm 1.8 and 17mm 1.8. I loved it. For the most part my 75mm lives on my camera but having that wide lens for those shots you want to capture a bit more was perfect. Truthfully I love working with in limits.
One of the best gear videos I've ever seen. Been debating whether to sell my Nikon gear to buy new lenses for my Sony a7. The Sony glass is more expensive so I'm not able to buy a trinity set but deciding between the 24-70 and 70-200 has been difficult. I love the lens I have but I almost wish I didn't already have the 16-35 so I could justify getting the new 12-24. My Nikon 14-24 is my current favorite so without a comparable lens in my Sony kit it's difficult to make the jump! I'm deadlocked.
Being ok not getting the image is ok if you all ready have them or you get the time to pick the days. Like you did say some dont get the time and to not get the image week in week out. But it was a great lesson to be ok not to get the shot. And least with the mis range lens to start with you can crop in to get closer or you can shoot pano to go wider so I recommendations is the 24-70 or 24-105 or equivalent haha