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Spending money on gear you don't need or will never use is the worst... Today we're chatting about overhyped photography and filmmaking/videography gear: a couple of pieces of gear that I think are overrated because they're terrible (plus what to get instead), and we'll also explore some camera gear that gets a lot of hype, but that aren't great purchases at the beginning of your photo or video journey - items that aren't terrible, but that beginners should avoid until they have a bit more experience and know what direction they want to go.
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Table of Contents:
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0:00 - Let's talk (overhyped) gear
0:44 - I've made this mistake, too
1:54 - Does this make me a real TH-camr? ;)
4:30 - Stop buying pointless lens filters
5:28 - A few reasons UV filters are pointless
8:31 - A favorite of landscape photographers
9:46 - The problem with "getting it right" in camera
11:15 - But does that camera fly?
14:34 - A good piece of kit, but wait
16:01 - Thoughts on camera bodies
16:57 - When is it time to upgrade?
17:53 - My planned approach to gear advice on this channel
19:13 - ಠ_ಠ
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What kind of gear have you found to be overhyped? Sound off below! 👇
I've purchased a bunch of stuff I've had to grow into for sure, but I don't regret most of the purchases (except that gorilla pod - definitely a bad rookie purchase). Wish I had run into this video earlier for sure. 🙏🏽
It seems so useful on paper! 😓🤪
Buying an expensive Sony
It’s worth it. However when I was a rookie that price slapped me really hard and fast.
Should have bought an a6000 or something with full frame lenses
lmao where do we start.... Prism? Janky Shoulder Rig? Gimbal... not the electronic one, those old school manual balanced sliders! the list goes on....
Worst gimmick you can find is the lens ball.
5 years landscape photographer here. Met so many fellow photographers overequiped on the field, with so much unecessary stuff, two tripods, two camera bodies, all the filters that exists, two huge bags to carry all this stuff. The worse is that they explained me how their way of doing is better than mine, while they haven't finished setting up when i finished shooting. They should watch this video. Couldn't agree more with eveything that you said. Man is speaking truth !
True, I have a friend that uses his phone for about 70% of his shots. Being quick can be key to getting a good shot especially in a dynamic world like this. There's still a use for the slow and quality shot but for most of my photography I need to be able to just pull out a cam and snap.
Paul one needs to use Prim lenses .
When I go out to shoot I have a purpose and only carry 2 lenses max
The above photographer you describe is "young." I was that way as well but after lugging substantial weight around for some time, I decided like a good backpacker, to eliminate the unnecessary and unused. When I went out shooting in an area called "Cathedral Grove" here on Vancouver Island yesterday, I brought one camera, one lens and small flash. Today I will take another camera and one zoom (16 to 35), small flash and a tripod (it's dark in there).
@@Male_Parent that'll work if you're taking pictures of your daughter being goody around the house, not if you're actually making a living taking pictures. Phone pictures look like shit when you look at them on anything else but a phone screen.
Excellent points! As a 67-year-old photographer for over five decades, I agree with ALL of your points!
On your last point, people need to remember that photographers looooved the 5 y/o tech when it first came out. So if they loved it then and made great photos and videos on it back then, then it must be capable of being used to making great photos and videos still. I recently upgraded from an X-E2 to an X-T3. The X-T3 is 5 years old, but I loooove the upgrade from my 9 y/o X-E2 because there were specific features I needed in my work that the X-E2 doesn't have. Also the X-T3 just feels better built. But anyway, if you stay in the past, you'll be happy to upgrade to something that's not quite so far in the past.
A great presentation. Thankyou! Somebody talking sense at last. I especially agreed with and enjoyed your comment at 16:30 "marketing departments seem to have competitions creating non existing problems your will need to fix". At 80 + years I've been active in photography since a 10 yr old and I keep all the junk gear I've bought to remind me DON'T DO IT AGAIN, but that doesn't work..... When you go into camera store leave your wallet and cards in the car! A further thank-you for keeping the background music at a sensible level, many presenters have it so loud one cannot hear the dialogue.
Very good points regarding drones and gimbals.
A few years ago I bought a drone. After a year not really using it, I sold to to by a gimbal. Same story, very rarely used it and subsequently sold it before it lost too much value. Now I’m investing that money in a high quality tripod which will most likely serve me well for the rest of my life.
Hey Dan, good video. After 15 years of photography, I finally gave up on UV filters. Suddenly, I no longer have sun or light flares in my images. I held onto the practice for years, based on my photojournalism experience where I was put into horrible environmental conditions where I was afraid for the front element of my lenses. But, standing on the sidelines, shooting a football game, I don't have to worry much about environmental conditions.
Oh yeah, and my drone never gets used. You're right, all the regulations and restrictions were too much of a pain in the ass.
I put UV filters on all my lenses to protect them and when I went to Nepal I instantly removed them because they trapped fog in between because of the cold.
@@TLK22 wouldn't the fog be inside the lens element had they're not trapped first by the filter glass (unless the lens is weather sealed perhaps)?
I wouldn't know but it sounds like it did it's job in this case.
@@shira_yone I use only weather sealed gears when hiking and the fog was trapped between the lens and UV filter so I stopped using them.
sometimes buying gears ended up holding back your creativity. I have bought many camera gears as an intermediate (I make content on other platforms), but sometimes to let creativity flow, I have to strip down all the gear to force myself be creative (except for audio, never compromise). buying better gears doesn't make you a better visual storyteller. it is more important knowing what needs to be in the frame and what needs to be left out, than buying new gears to enhance picture quality, smooth movements, etc.
Gear can definitely become a crutch if you let it!
I Love your comment about better gear. I recall being told many years ago "Nikon make good gear, but buying a Nikon will not make you abetter photographer, it will simple make you a Nikon owner"
I've been taking this hobby seriously for about 4 years now. And I'm actually working as a photographer these days. But you really helped give me the peace of mind that I don't really need the latest and greatest to take some great photos. Cheers!
I find cleaning a UV filter is easier in the field than cleaning a lens element, where I don’t have to be quite so precious about how I clean it. Also I tend to buy upper range Hoya glass
I really like a gimbal for moon pictures with a big lens
The filter comments are spot on. I used to carry multiple sizes of UV, circular polarizers and a set of graduated ND filters. Today I have a set of lenses with the same filter size and I only carry a circular polarizer and a multistop ND filter. Just 2 filters instead of over a dozen. I would never go back.
Great video Dan. Love how you got the message acrss in an informed way and how you used logical reasoning. The section about filters was particularly good and backed up with impirical evidence. At least now, if people still want to use unnecessary filters or any of the other things you menitoned, they will be doing so out of choice and not out of fear of missing out!!!
What a great video. So glad I ran into your channel. Thanks for all the hard work and I look forward to watching you grow.
Appreciate it! Glad you're here!
Nice Video. Very good points to think about. Thanks👍👍👍
Great advice and very important for those starting out. I've noticed a lot of TH-camrs started making videos with similar topics.
Such a great video Dan! Definitely a valuable journey. Thank you 🙏🏽
Sure thing. Hope it helped!
One thing that I found VERY helpful was a mono-pod. I use it all the time when I'm blogging and the extended leg helps to steady the camera. Plus, the mono-pod gives me something to hold onto with a good grip. That plus the IBIS in the camera works wonders.
I have a gymbol.
I have not used it since I began using a simple neck strap and a lengthy lens. Neither lens nor camera have stabilisation but the results are still smooth due to the size of the triangle of support I make.
It is so much easier to control the direction. Hands are on the lens for focus. I limit my shooting to 10 second bursts to describe the scene.
It’s a joy.
Thank you!! Fantastic video - can't wait to watch more of your content! So helpful and informative.
Thanks, Michelle! Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for this video! Being able to hear this from someone else truly helps. It also makes me feel a lot better about my self as a novice and my recent new purchase.
You're welcome!
Well thought out and delivered. Everything you say makes sense!
Fun video! Love the outtakes at the end. :) Glad I stumbled upon your channel just now.
Glad you enjoyed!
Bit late to the party but I would say that I agree with you on the UV filter thing with one qualifying point. The expensive Nikon 16-35mm VR full frame lens has internal focusing, but the zoom action on it causes the front element to dissapear slightly into the body of the lens, allowing dust to settle in the gap before the lens is re-zoomed into the original positon. In several reviews it was specifically mentioned that a UV filter permanently attached would act as a dust filter to prevent most of the dust in the atmosphere from encroaching into the lens itself and end up visible on the internal elements. I have to say, the cost of the lens made me think the small cost of a good filter was worth it. I agree that the UV filters appear to make no difference to the images at all, and the chances are, if the lens or camera is dropped hard enough to break the filter, the lens front element is going to get clobbered too - so for that purpose, its pointless, as you say. As a dust cover though - I think I'll leave mine on that particular lens as insurance. The reviewers could be spot on, so why take the chance.
Yeah, there were some dust issues with Sigma lenses for a while, too where the front elements weren't properly weather sealed. It seems that had a lot to do with this resurgence in "protection" filters because you're never getting that dust out short of taking it to a repair shop. If your lens is afflicted with that, then a screw on filter can certainly make sense - but then you'd need to go with something really high quality like polarpro's quartz glass to make sure the filter doesn't degrade image quality.
@@DanFox I bought it used and to be fair to the original owner, it was in supreme condition, and had a UV filter pre fitted, a Hoya Pro MultiCoated, also in supreme condition. I shone a powerful torch through the lens and found no sign of dust which, I hope, remains the case. UV filters are a bit of a unique one - we all know that they don't really do anything for digital so that gives people the thought that they should buy a cheap one! It is wrong, obviously as, if you paid hundreds for a good lens, why stick a cheap not too good filter on there? I have never used UV filters before this lens, and have always kept the lens hood on. It seems the new lens I got requires a filter and I'd rather not risk it - landscape is outdoors and lots of dust in the air so why would I not?
Great set of videos you have, I only found you a few days back so I'm working through your back catalogue. Thanks.
Cool Stuff. Appreciate the honesty.
Great video man, thanks for the tips
Great advice, thanks much. Please do more
Great video Dan... I couldn't agree more with your points.
I really appreciate this video. A lot of logical points and positions 👍.
As a hobby photographer/videographer myself, I cannot agree more. I own gimbals when I shoot with my phone and I was very impressed by its functionality. Naturally, I grabbed a gimbal when I switched to Sony body. However, I ignored two aspects: camera gimbals are way heavier and bigger; balancing took way longer. I found myself never talking the gimbal out while on a trip even I had it in my bag. Smooth video is nice, but it sort of takes the realistic part out when I tried to vlog. I was a big fan of drones and even built couple of ones before my first purchase of the mavic pro gen 1. Now after 3 upgrades (or maybe downgrades), I own a mavic mini 2. I had it in my camera backpack all the time due to its small size and weight. It doesn’t give me the best quality, but I realized that flying movement is a lot more important to get usable footage than having a great sensor (I.e. practice). For me, getting the convenient gear that I will actually gonna use is way more important than getting the best gear. Now I own an a7c body, super light 16-35 G pz for landscape and video, a super compact 55mm f1.8 for portrait, a 90mm macro and a flash for macro and distant shot, a mavic mini 2 for aero, and a light weight tripod (carbon fiber) for stills and Timelapse. Are these the best in its class? Not really. But these are the gears that I am WILLING to carry every time when I am out shooting. That’s all it matters.
This is such a valuable thing to remember. If gear never gets used, it doesn't matter how good it is.
I needed this comment, badly. I have an A7C, 16-35 PZ G, 50 1.8, 24 2.8, (getting a 30 3.5 macro), and a tripod. I have the appropriate filters, and even the non used UV one. Real Estate photography is really what I wanna do; that, and food. Sold all my original equipment when I moved back to Jersey, and for cheaper than the actual value.
I have an RGB light, but know I need a kit... Do u recommend a 2 light kit with soft boxes and bouncers (white, black, gold, silver)? I don't need them for the real estate stuff that I just learned requires me to have an actual website, but for food; I'm not sure that this strong ass little light I have will cut it
Always good to hear a review that explains 'why' not just 'because'. Nice one :)
Your videos are great, Dan. Sensible, real, comprehensive. Thanks a lot, man.
Appreciate it, Dan! And you're welcome!
Dan, you make a lot of sense. You hit me right on the head. Subscribed and LIKED! Thanks! Will watch the rest of your videos. Keep 'em coming!
Thanks for providing an overall beneficial perspective. I have a lot of hobbies and I tend to be the "what if" or "be prepared" guy. And there's so much cool gear! Then as you suggest, I'm spending to solve problems I never have and things can sometimes become decor in my office. I'm not horrible, but I could use some tuning. Buy things to solve actual problems and aren't a crutch, could free up some space on my shelves.
You are spot on about the drone subject. This fit me to a tee. Thanks!
Thanks Dan! Great tips and advice!👍
You bet!
I had a UV filter on my lens for a little while because in my mind it made sense in an environment with lots of atomized paint particles floating around in the air. However I started to notice my footage was looking very hazy, turns out the damn thing would fog up!
I could actually see that being a useful scenario for using one, especially if it's a type of paint that doesn't come off easily. But the fogging up thing sucks for sure lol
@@DanFox You rub hand soap on the UV filter, let it sit for a minute or so - then wash the soap off with water. This stops the filter from fogging up.
@@tdunster2011 Yup, so another thing you don't need is fancy anti fog solutions.
very cogent, calm. agree with a whole bunch of your points... thanks a lot!
Sure thing!
Drones are absolutely insanely difficult to learn. You are very correct to point out that the skill and practice is very time consuming and can result in burnout. Unless all you care about is action cams. Don't get a drone early on
FPV drones yes totally agree, insanely difficult. But something like a Mavic or Air2s practically flies itself.
Some very sound advice indeed! It's so easy to get carried away by shiny gear and it often just makes things more complicated and you are likely to miss the shot.
Grad ND's have their place where the sky/land contrast is in danger of blowing stuff out or getting noisy when pulling up shadows, but most of the time learning to read the histo gets round that. If the info ain't there, you can't edit it. Stacking works fine for tripod work of static subjects and is a powerful tool, but it's not for every situation for sure.
It's also easy to get sucked into thinking you need a set of primes or the high-end fast stuff. Like you said, if it solves a problem, then cool. If you are trying to find your style, then dare I say it, a superzoom can be a very useful tool. Swapping lenses frequently is a sure fire way to miss any fleeting event! If you have an assistant and multiple bodies, then hey, lucky you. Yes, your lenses will no doubt dwarf the spend on your camera, but find out what focal lengths work best for you before remortgaging to buy the whole L series catalogue...
I'm so happy I found this video. I recently bought all my gear as I finally decided to get into photography properly (I say "all my gear", but I mean a camera and a DJI pocket). This video is basically a summary of everything I considered buying and ended up not buying because well, because I did my research! I'm so glad someone more experienced than me got to the same conclusions as I did!
Such a honest and insightful video for Nubs... really appreciated!
Sure thing!
I have seen my fair share of scratched front lens elements and I have also seen a fair bit of lenses saved because they had a filter on it. Even if the front lens element is replaceable, the time it takes to send it away to be fixed is time you don't have use of the lens. The filter is worth it imo. Just get a good one so that has the least amount of negative impact on image quality. Although I suppose the dehaze slider in Photoshop could compensate for that.
The gorillapod is a bit of a mixed bag. I use it when I travel and it has been extremely convenient to be able to attach it to railings and branches. It so far can hold my 5d4. My only gripe is the rubber rings on the segments are starting to get soft and is leaving black rubber marks on everything I attach the tripod to.
Graduated filters are also a mixed bag. Sometimes you don't have the option to bracket the shot (moving elements like crashing waves) and the range of exposure exceeds the dynamic range of the sensor. Sometimes, gear is to help with workflow because for professionals, time is money. Wasting too much time editing is money lost.
I mainly do macro and nature photography and whack the front of the lens on stuff all the time. I'd feel uncomfortable with the lens just being naked.
Thank you for this. I am a new photographer, and I am glad that I found this video. I'm still learning the basics, but I did fall for the UV filter recommendation from the shop where I purchased the camera. I also got a bag, a decent tripod, and a light. That's enough for me. Thanks for the gimbal info- you saved me some money that I'll use to get a lens hood and backup battery.
Yeah, an electronic gimbal has more utility for video, but even then, it's not worth it until you know you're actually going to need it and use it. Once you need it, then it's a great purchase, but not something you buy just because it sounds cool.
Great, man. Thanks. Sensible, real, detailed.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I actually love all this advice. I just graduated from a iPhone 13 Pro with a cage and moment lenses to Sony APSC, and I’m always tempted to get a gimbal bc we don’t grace ibis. But as I’ve gotten better at handheld footage especially with s camera strap, I’ve felt like I need the gimbal less.
Yeah, gimbals are great - when you need them lol. Otherwise, they're just a pain to carry around.
I have the 14 Pro. I did get an electronic gimbal. At least with the 14 pro, the stabilization is so good that the gimbal just makes things more complicated. I'm more of a stills person and I have to say that I hate the phone for stills. I hadn't purchased a new phone for quite a few years and thought I'd get one of the better phones, with a decent camera. I have a little bit of buyers remorse on the iPhone. So for me, you could add that to the mix as expensive equipment that I really don't need. I do like it for video though and I did need a new phone. I definitely could have gotten by with a much cheaper phone.
@@PennyCarlson-cy1iq everything from the 12 onward doesn’t need an upgrade until like the iPhone 20
@@CartyCantDance Yeah but I was coming from a Galaxy S7, so I hadn't upgraded in quite a few years. I couldn't run Waze and stream music at the same time. I'm sure a $500 phone would have done that fine.
I like the content of your video. Thank you for sharing your experience and tips. I beleived in you. Big helps for me as begginer vlogger. Keep it up. I subscribed you already.
Great video and great advice. When starting out I over purchased photo gear due to the photography influencers. Lesson learned.
Assuming you place padding between elements, a diaper bag makes a great "non assuming" camera bag. Most are waterproof as well. Like camera bags, however, you'll find diaper bags can get really expensive as well.
Well done! Totally agree with these, ESPECIALLY the filters!
🤘 This was the one I probably felt silliest about after learning the hard way lol. Frees up more space in the camera bag, though. Thanks for watching, Ryan!
i am glad i didn't buy any filter either he gave awesome review and honest opinion, not trying to sell junks to newbiesss like me..
Love the realistic, engaging and down-to-earth video and I'm now gonna browse your other vids. Here's a sub!
Thanks!
Great video... I gotta say i'm loving your channel since I recently discovered it, well done!
If you're either a hobbyist or beginner, you can't necessarily afford to replace a lens. It's this line of thinking that makes it easy to think that a $80 filter is easier to replace than a $1000 lens, even when talking about some small scratch or imperfection so I think that's where the peace of mind comes in.
There are niche uses though; there are times where i don't use my lens hood for a variety of reasons... I want to get some flare in my shot, or in the case of the Sigma 85 DG DN i prefer having a less intimidating looking lens in certain scenarios where I want to maximize my chances of getting candid reactions. In these admittedly very niche cases, the protection argument in the context of being in a crowded/busy place and risking people knocking the lens element becomes more understandable.
But again, niche uses. The way I approach it is it's great to have one clear (not necessarily UV or haze) filter if needed because even the good ones are fairly inexpensive. In the grand scheme of things it takes up no space, no weight and is nice to have if and when you need it.
Yeah, I certainly don't fault people who want some peace of mind - I just wanted to speak out a little bit against the never ending stream of social media advice telling new folks that it was necessary just to get them to buy stuff. My general perspective on gear is that if you have a use case, then whatever gear it may be isn't a bad purchase, but know what your use case is instead of buying all the things, you know? 🤣
Glad you're enjoying my channel so far!
The drone thing was my biggest problem, I wanna get into real estate shooting more and I purchase a drone with the intention of all the outside shooting but in the densely populated area I’m in near many airports it’s hard to find time to go somewhere with the right environment for practice. I’ve had a drone for like 6 months and only now got a camera, used the drone about twice when I coulda been practicing shooting anything and everything, editing all that stuff this entire time, and now just had to learn to fly. But u live and learn right? I got time lol
I think it may be worth it for folks who really want to focus on aerial stuff, even pursue a part 107 license, but it's tough to feel like it's worth it otherwise. Btw, your user name cracked me up!
Dear Dan I so agree on everything you said. Especially about the gimbal that I bought but only used a couple times.
Listen to this man. With the exception of the filters, I am guilty of everyone of these purchase mistakes. Great video with solid advice. There is no substitute for experience! Anyone want to buy my unused drone?
OKAY! You've convinced me to remove the "protective" filter from my 40-150 f/2.8 Olympus lens, but I know I will have to use a lens hood to help me deal with clumsiness as I walk through a doorway and bang the lens against the door jamb. You didn't save me from a Gorillapod purchase, but I will only be using that with my phone! Skipped the drone because I realized all the negatives about it...would never want a gimbal. Through I years I've learned to hold a camera steady and also move slowly, especially when panning.
To get back to the filter, most of my bird shots are shot through the double paned glass in my windows and sliding doors, so my expensive lenses are degraded not only by two panes of often dirty glass, but also internal reflections between the panes and reflections from the room in which I'm shooting.
Despite the negatives of shooting through glass my editing skills acquired first from Paint Shop Pro, that Photoshop Elements and then Photoshop, up to CS6 because there's no way I will invest in the Creative Cloud, have helped me overcome negatives of that process (lack of contrast, reflections, etc.) I agree with you that good photographs depend upon good editing. I shoot in RAW because its the most editable, and also enjoy editing way more than the capturing of images.
Thank you for this very realistic discussion.
Great candid video. I have spent on a drone and I honestly don’t think I was ready for it.
As a tech TH-camr covering phones for the last 10 years... Everything you said after 17:00 applies perfectly to smartphones too
Excellent video btw 😁
Appreciate it, Ashwin! And yeah... I can't even imagine trying to keep up with the phone market professionally. So much unnecessary hype multiple times per year for features that don't really matter or that are only incrementally better than the previous version.
Thanks for this; helpful advice! Did you ever do that "smoother handheld footage" video you mentioned as a possibility in your commentary on gimbals? I searched for it but couldn't find it.
I never ended up making it because it didn't seem like anyone was interested in it. But you're the second person to ask just today!
Very instructive about what to have and not to have, thank you.
crazy underrated channel btw :) everything well explained and well argumented for your points
Much appreciated, Keydan!
A superb video, that fully expands on my favourite mantra as a self-confessed gear-head: when searching for youtube info, forum feedback, or general online research about the latest and greatest gear, or the most expensive 'pro' equipment compared to the more budget options, the one simple thing to remember is 'if you have to ask about it, you don't need it!'
Generally speaking, I think that's pretty accurate; however, it could also potentially be a signal that you're ready to dive deeper and learn more about a specific niche - that you're actually being limited by your gear. It takes a lot of self-discipline and awareness, though, to tell the difference.
Thanks Dan for the down to Earth video. We definitely need more channels bringing people away from the gear fetish.
I am a professional, working photographer and I do use UV filters on all my lenses above say ~$1500AUD.
It is for protection not so much UV. I've only ever noticed a UV filter noticeably cut down on glare once in my entire life on hazy mountains.
I have had lenses break...a lot, from bangs and falls but something inside the lens breaks before the filter. I've had the filter bend or dint but not crack. The filter did save my front element from a big footprint once when i dropped a 24-70 f.2.8 in the mosh pit. What I would argue is it does help with small scrathes allowing me to resell the lens later or replace the filter for a mint condition. I am a event and music photographer who is often literally running around and it's nice to put the lens cap on without looking and know I can't scratch the lens. I use high end Hoya filters only (~$200AUD each for 82mm, no coatings just UV glass I believe) and have had the rare scratch but a scratch none the less.
I stopped using lens hoods as I use lens pouches on my hip and lens hoods just don't work in a speed sense, and speed can be everything in capturing events.
It might make it is easier to clean but eh, not part of the decision for me.
So call me stupid but it gives me peace of mind.
All comments are right ON! I started my photo journey many years ago with small film cameras. I learned to make photos, was the JS Newspaper and Yearbook photog, later went to college classes as a hobbyist. Ya ODN'T usually NEED IT!!! Whatever it is. EXCEPT for a good tripod/head suited for your style. Thanks for the JOBO tip, it seemed sort of obvious to me, so I avoided that one.
When I when Digital in 2014, my first choice was a used Canon 50D. WHY? I was an EOS film shooter, had lenses and the 50D was of the "current generation" using features and functions common across the entire line like video, and other stuff I forget. BUT, definitely still in the mainstream--aka last year's model. The first thing I shot was a panorama using multiple exposures for each panel. Because getting a sunset photo with dynamic range with my variable density ($200) filter was so damned hard. And "stitching" a pano???? Please... learning Color darkroom work, even retired ME didn't have the time to develop and build the skills to produce acceptable results. Oh, yeah, ya don't think after 60 years of shooting, I was going to be happy with crappy stuff?!?!?
My favorite over-spend was on an angle viewfinder attachment on the old film cameras and worked on the 50D. I got seasick looking thru it. Flippy screen became a must-have on a new camera. I still need a lighter tripod ball head combo. My waist pack carry bag no longer works, because as an old man, I don't have the BUTT I used to have, and the damn thing keeps slipping down. Now I have a great sling pack, THINK TANK, similar in function, but even more convenient to carry and use.
HAD to have a 100 mm Macro! I rented one for a Santa Fe Workshop. Loved it, but bought the Tamron 90mm instead for $300 less. I still use it. And I found it was the best Jr High (poorly lit Gyms) basketball lens because it is f2.8, and 90mm on APS-C is perfect bot the grandstand seating. So, there are good outcomes, too.
Great Channel. Subscribing.
Great assessment as to when to buy and what to buy. "if your current gear holds you back, that might be the signal to upgrade" Maybe the next video is what holds you back, some folks would think that maybe a new sensor would make them look better or sharper, but how do they make sure it's not a skill issue?? Maybe if the same thing has held you back for over a year. IDK.
I've had a few Gorillapod's and have had the same issues with them not being able to hold any weight after a bit of time -- but I think that part of the issue is that they're not really intended to be a handheld device for vlogging -- they're meant to be flexible so they can grab onto things (like a Gorilla) such as poles, bricks, etc.. to attach a camera or light somewhere that you might otherwise not be able to. Attaching it to a ceiling by wrapping it around a pipe or only a handrail of a staircase. I'm not sure why they got picked up and used so much for Vlogging when it was never really a purpose of them. They're meant to flex and bend, so holding it out with the weight of a camera at an angle, it's going to end up bending. I do agree that it loses support over time (and starts to droop even as a tripod), but the alternative offered doesn't really cover the same use-cases unless it's being used as a vlogging camera or tripod
Joby explicitly markets them as handheld vlogging tripods on their website, though.
I have used my Gorillapod with my GH3 for handheld video for years. One leg bends against my shoulder and the the other two legs serve as handles. Granted, I’m filming other things than myself.
Dude, this was such an informative video. You definitely made great points & honestly discussed concerns I’ve had in the past about certain products, and now I’m super glad I didn’t buy these things. Thanks a ton!
Great advise Dan....
Great stuff! We are all guilty of purchases like that. I waited with the drone till this year and as you say, I've had my photo/video knowledge in place so the only thing I had to learn was fyling. Much easier than doing it all at once. With the gimbal though I learned the hard way that it is not that easy to operate and not at all convenient. Fortunately I bought a used one for a fraction of a price.
There is so much good stuff on the used market. I think beginners are afraid of getting scammed - not that those concerns are unjustified - but a little research can go a long way. I STILL scour the used market for stuff.
Great video. Thank you.
Sure thing!
Spot on! I'm guilty of purchasing all of these + and agree with you 100%. Well presented and well said.
Your videos truly stand out in content quality and coherence.
As I was purchasing a Sony 24-105mm recently, the storeowner tried to sell me on a UV filter. I've always been "camp no filter", and none of the usual arguments about UV blocking, break and scratch protection make sense to me. However, he did raise one argument that came very close to convincing me.
He said that customers who don't buy UV filters return to his lab more often to remove dust particles from inside their lenses, claiming that dust is much less likely to penetrate both the filter and the front element - which actually makes sense. He said that a high-quality filter doesn't affect image quality, and costs half the price of dust cleaning - so it can be thought of as "dust insurance".
To be honest, I would probably be persuaded if filters didn't simply annoy me. I hate handling them like precious gems while trying not to touch the glass, and I *know* if I bought a filter I would be screwing it on and off every 5 minutes for cleaning. So I ended up not buying a filter... but have now developed dust phobia. FML.
This is a strange argument to me, too, as a good lens is going to be weather sealed. That said, I suppose cheaper lenses without weather sealing or if the weather sealing is bungled (think about that problem that Sigma had in a batch of their Art lenses for a while)... maybe it could be an argument? Or an argument to spend your money on lens quality and not stuff to compensate for a lack of lens quality lol
I have scratched filters on my lenses. If the filter was not there, the lens itself would be scratched. I'm going to keep using protective filters on my lenses. Much less expensive to replace a filter than a lens.
an you can always take it off when conditions are good (no wind, rain, dust).
You have very good on camera presence, already a finished product at just 1.23k subscribers. I was actually shocked when I glanced at sub count. You are very knowledgeable without air of superiority. Binge watching your content, are you from Vancouver, Canada?
Appreciate it! I just started posting videos in earnest last year so it's early days yet, you know? And nope, not Vancouver, though close. I live in the U.S. about 15 minutes north of Seattle.
I was interested in your comments regarding the Joby Gorilla, I video a music event ever week from a static position in a Pub (bar). I'm actually playing in the band so I can't physically hold the camera or mount the camera on a tripod as it would be obtrusive and impracticable in a crowded bar. So I invested in the Gorilla Pod and I mount it on a metal column and then attach the camera a Zoom Q8 N with a battery backup so the camera mount and camera are slightly overhead it's unobtrusive. In this situation the Gorilla Pod works very well, as I can set my audio level on the camera and just let it record continueously until the end of the evening. I've had no issues with the Gorilla Pod falling apart and I've been recording this open -mic event apart from lockdown since 2019. But I must admit the Gorilla Pod is pricy and the the head mounting screw can loosen. Apart from that it works well for me.
This is a great video. 6the information about filters was especially helpful. I use canon rebel xs and t7. They serve me well. I've been doing photography for over 50 years and there is still lots to learn. My main lens is a 75 300 from a film camera. It works well . Its the glass that makes the pictures in hardware and what you know. Thanks for the new information
Sure thing!
This video is such a fresh breath of air. Everything is so true!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I had a very similar discussion with my brother about drones. I love them and will always have a passion for them…but they are in a weird space right now and it just seems like a pain to utilize one as much as I would want on various trips! Great video
In regards to graduated ND filters, you mentioned a great option to make those adjustments in your editor. Just to add another, Adobe Lightroom now will use AI to identify and auto-select the sky for you at the press of a button. It's super helpful.
I use my gorilla pod quite a lot, but with a GoPro, so it’s not bearing anything like the load of a normal camera. It’s very useful for filming myself in the gym, etc.
solid vid.. had no idea the joby was that bad, but it makes sense being its just maleable metal, keep bending a wire coat hanger, it will break eventually lol.
I agree about the use of cheap uv filters as "protection" for the front element.. but certain lenses like a couple of my canon L lenses require a filter to complete the weather seal when taking photo's in the elements. I would also 100% put one on at the beach if its a windy day, it would just limit or make me take more care in shot composure, so as not to get massive glare. if it not windy, i'd be okay with not using a filter. But, if its windy or not, the sand, and sea air can do much more damage than just scratching the front element so there is that i suppose.
I've been shooting pics as a hobby since the film days, and i dont think i've ever heard anyone be snobbish about ND Filters, so thats a first for me too lol.
again, solid vid, some great points.
cheers
If I had one minor disagreement with this video capturing 80% is capture and 20% is editing. I come from a photojournalism, sports, and portrait background.
Good stuff… I remember the first time I saw the gorillapod and thought it looked pretty cool…but wouldn’t support the weight I needed, so I passed. After watching them fail, I’m glad I did. Instead, I carry a PlatyPod & a small ball head. Better and takes less space.
+1 on the filters, especially the UV types. I’m always amazed to see someone with a thousand dollar+ lens & a $30 filter. I have a quality UV filter that hasn’t seen the light of day for years. Regular ND & CP filters can be very handy.
Drones ARE a PITA. And since I shoot commercially, even more hoops need to be jumped through. More often than not it’s simply not worth the headache.
I love my gimbals…but you’re correct, good technique must come first. They certainly won’t fix everything.
All of my gear upgrades/add-ons MUST be able to pay for themselves within 1-3 months. Fortunately, I’ve pretty much have always had that attitude. My latest camera is a couple years old. I really like some of the new features on the latest gear…but I haven’t been limited by the bodies I use…so they can wait. Besides, more money that people spend on the latest body could mean less available for lenses. And lenses are where people should put their efforts IMO.
And finally, never buy a cheap tripod. I was given a cheap tripod when I was starting out. It was craptastic. It wasn’t all that stable so I never bothered using it. Instead, I saved my pennies and picked up a sturdy Bogen/Manfrotto…I still have it some 20-odd years later. My go-to these days is a carbon Gitzo. Good tripods can be spendy, but at least I can trust them to support thousands of dollars worth of gear and not topple in a light breeze.
I use a UV filter as a sacrificial element for some of my work. Mainly, when around firearms during live fire where there's a chance for bullet fragments coming back. Chances are the lens' front element won't sustain any real damage, but it's helped out a couple times. For everything else... lens hood is far more useful for protecting the front element. That's literally one of the few times where I think it's useful. On a side note, always wear eye and ear protection on the range. You can replace a camera lens, but good luck with replacing eyesight or hearing.
Also, good on you for pointing out that upgrading can be necessary, but it takes some work to get to the point of it being necessary. Gear can help, but it doesn't negate the skill requirement to maximize the gear.
For sure, hearing and eye protection permanently live in the little tackle box I take to the range. First time I heard how loud a firearm actually was that was my very next purchase lol
And yeah, I'm definitely not a "gear doesn't matter" guy but one needs to be able to leverage it.
@@DanFox It took a while to confidently say that I needed to upgrade from my Nikon D3500 to the Sony A74. That's a pretty substantial jump, but it became evident as I started to do more lowlight work and needing the better autofocus with some of the guys I'd shadow at the range. It would've been a waste of resources until I hit that wall though.
That being said, it's not a bad idea to get better gear if it's within budget, and you know you're going to be doing work that requires it. Just don't be surprised if the results aren't as polished until you actually know how to use the better gear in those conditions.
The first few night shoots I took photos at were better than when I had the Nikon, but they didn't actually turn out good until I had a couple months with the new gear. Harsh truth that needs to be preached.
I use UV filters in all my lenses but remove it only when shooting into the sun- I often shoot very close to "messy"subjects ... paint splash , sea spray etc ... and when changing lenses quickly I find I'm liable to just drop my lens front down into my crowded bag in the dark - onto clips, camera caps or other bits . When shooting next to a lot of sea spray I may need to swap the UV filters 3 times to stop sea mist clouding and drying on the front of the lens so I keep changing the UV filter and just keep shooting(I can also wash the UV filters at the nearest tap ) . I also shoot dogs and they are fond of licking the lens. My Bag is stupid heavy and bulky and adding lens hoods is a waste of a huge amount of space on my longer lenses and for my 12-24 , 16-35, 24-70 ... useless protection-wise as the hoods are barely a cm past the front element anyway
Definitely gave me a good chuckle thinking back years when I first started.
BTW, where is the background audio track from?
The music track is from Artlist. I have a referral link to them in the description that will get you two free months if you want to try it out.
Excellent video! Only complaint: I needed it 27 years ago!
I used a lot of filters back in the film era. Colour correction filters were essential, as one example, but digital cameras made them obsolete.
However, digital cameras did not make UV filters obsolete. Because they were already obsolete before the digital cameras came. Film was no longer sensitive to UV light when I started out in 1996, and hadn't been for a long time.
I've never wasted money on drones, gorilla pods or gimbals.
But something I DID waste money on was a screen calibration device. I heard so many TH-camrs tell me I couldn't live without one, and so I stupidly bought one. And I even bought the "elite" version which was the most expensive. Only to find out that despite many attempts, it always made my screen colours much worse instead of better. Never did I waste money more badly.
At least I never fell for the hype of buying a lens calibration tool. I've calibrated some lenses, but it was simple enough to do without the tool, as I knew it would be. Canon's website has a good guide, but I didn't even need that. Now, I wouldn't call the lens calibration tool useless, absolutely not, as i'm sure it IS usable for the intended purpose. I only say it's completely unnecessary. But if you think it looks cool, and if you love to buy cool stuff, then it might not be a waste of YOUR money.
I own a display calibrator and do find it useful, though to your point it is a niche product - more for those who need to be able to determine how their stuff is going to be viewed across multiple devices and in print. My personal take is not that the calibration tools are useless, but the software that comes bundled with them is total trash. Use DisplayCAL instead. It's a learning curve, and takes way longer to calibrate, but it is so good. Also, screen brightness is usually a problem that people don't realize affects calibration indirectly because of our perception. Manufacturers set their screen brightness way too bright. DisplayCAL also helps you set the ideal brightness - somewhere between 90 and 120 cd/m². For context, on my monitors, that works out to only 43% brightness.
About filters: I use UV filters for protection and because I live in a very sunny country, I find GND filters essential. I actually got a free CPL with my square filter kit, and I find it useless....
A great video and wish I had seen this a couple thousand $$ before. Subscribed and love your presentation style
Appreciate that, Jim!
1: Joby Tripods - You can ocassionally thrift these at Goodwills for $3-$7. They do not come in handy often but for so little it's worth having in a pinch.
2: UV Filters - Mine is primarily to protect the lens. Not so much from breaking as much as smudges/scratches.
3: These are WAY overpriced I think. I got a Variable ND, and the Cineblooms at 77mm threading and a step-up ring set so I can use it on every lens.
4: Drones: Yea I need that 107.
5: GIMBALS!: Yes, practice handheld. Sometimes you do not have time to balance and as AWESOME as gimbals are, the intent of your shot in the right environment is so much clearer with it in your hands. I love my Ronin tho. I love it dearly.
Good vid!
I wish I had seen your video a long time ago. I would have saved lots of money. (1) Spot on about the Joby gorilla pod! If one of those little joints gets the tiniest crack -- useless. I ended up gluing the joint together. I never used it as much as I thought I would in the first place. (2) UV filters to protect the lens: I bought them, but I use the lens hood anyway. First thing I noticed was glare, flare and ghosting, so I don't use them anymore. (3) My gimbal hasn't been out of its case for about a year because I tend to do a mix of stills and video, and it's just a pain to have to set up the gimbal and end up shooting mostly stills. Plus, Panasonic's double stabilization and slo-mo pretty much obviate the need for a gimbal.
I wish I had seen this video years ago, too! 🤣
Dan, i used to own a gorrila pod and after just 3 months it's already starting to loosen up. So i switched to a regular tripod and it's a lot better because it's a one solid piece of legs instead of flexible legs, and it's a lot more stable
totally agree with some of your comments...especially lens over body!
Thanks dan, there are also overhyped YT content creators who hype everything that is new. The reason why i switched to your channel. You are practical, unbiased, and you keep it real. Thanks
For me a overhyped gear is the PM vnd filter. It has a green color cast but people are still willing to pay for it. Another are low aperture lenses (f1.2, 1.4) for video. They create a lot of aperture snobs who hate F4 lenses
One of my favorite lenses is the 24-105 f/4 G. Can't bring myself to part with it.
I rocked the polarpro vnd for a long time. Any vnd is going to have color casting, just by the nature of it being two cross polarized polarizers. The thing I will say for polarpro's is that the color casting is consistent. So it's easy to batch fix stuff in post. There's nothing worse than having a 2-5 stop lean green, and then the 6-9 stop lean magenta. That said I've been rocking the Maven magnetic filters for a bit now and REALLY like them- I barely use VNDs anymore. I was thinking about doing a video about them, but you should check them out in the meantime.
Thanks a lot for this video! Third time this week somebody tells me Gorillapods will break. Mine is just about to after less than two years of light usage!
I wanted to like your video multiple times, due to the multiple good points you raised.
Good video. Thanks.
Sure thing!
At the beginning I worked out what I needed, then I spent my time looking at the options and I was not side tracked
Hey disclaimer for any beginners entering this world and have just stumbled across it: YOU DO NOT NEED A GIMBAL. I've been making films for three years now and I'm still terrified of them. Master the necessity of handheld and once you understand every reason to use that technique, do it 100 times more and repurpose those ideas until you know it back to front. Only then, once you've developed a fierce understanding of the consideration of framing, visual narrative and narration, lighting, blocking, and acting, you can even begin to try out a gimbal. I personally don't like them too much anyway, they feel far too streamlined and studio-driven for my taste. I prefer raw, unfiltered, undiluted handheld as it allows the audience to develop a direct connection and relationship with the characters and environment they are getting to know.
And if you don't like either, just stick to tripod/still shooting.
Nice video 👌 Thanks
Sure thing!
As a TH-camr and a musician, I use a variation of the Gorilla Pod at shows to wrap around stuff so I can shoot. What I'm getting to is that Wal Mart has a "vlogging pod" or something like that, for like 23 dollars. It won't hold much more than a cell phone or gopro, but it's way cheaper than a Gorilla Pod, it's also basically desposable. Just a thought
Yeah if that fits your use case at least you're not spending over a hundred bucks on it!
Spot on about UV filters, although I would point out that they're not generally necessary for film photography either - normal glass lens elements absorb an awful lot of UV anyway. When everyone used 3 or 4 element lenses, yes, they were useful - especially with orthochromatic black and white film, which was oversensitive to the blue end of the spectrum. So if you're using an old camera with a Tessar-style or even achromat lens, you might need one. Otherwise, no. I used to use a 1a or 1b filter instead, which gave slight warming, back in the day. I do find a "protection" filter useful if by the sea, where there might be wind-driven salt spray or sand, but otherwise, no. In fact I recommend taking them off before changing lenses, as filter glass is more brittle than lens elements, and thus more likely to shatter.
As to graduated filters for landscapes, I stopped using them when I went digital, and I realised after a while my pictures had deteriorated. Not because ND grads are necessary - as you've pointed out, they're not. But I was rather rushing the process without considering grads, and by reintroducing them, my shots improved due to the extra care in the process.