I was told "buy what you can easily replace twice" So true. Things happen in the field. Last thing I want is to break a camera I cannot afford to replace for a long time.
I'm always impressed by the person that can do the most with a little. When I was a boy, one Christmas I got a really cool bike. A stingray. I rode the hell out of it. After a couple of years, it started having issues with several aspects of it. Chain. Handlebar. Even the grips were gone. I wanted a new bike so badly. I begged my mom, but to no avail. We didn't have the money. A kid offered me $5 dollars for my broken down bike. That was a lot of money back then to me. I took it. I was so happy. I walked down to the store to buy some treats. Candy, soda etc. By the time I got back home, the kid that bought my bike had it running like a top. Had polished it up, new handlebar grips with tassels streaming at the end of it. He was zooming up and down the street on my now perfectly good bike. I wanted my bike back. I even asked for it back. I was standing there humiliated with my stupid snacks. I never took for granted that which I was blessed to have in the first place again. Take what you have and make the most out of it. I hate to hear people talk about what equipment is good for a beginner. A real artist doesn't understand those limits until they reach it.
My Rule has always been, shoot on the cheapest you can for the work you do. Only upgrade the body when you know that it is the limitations body that's holding you back. The only limitations I've upgraded on were better iso (I shoot a lot in the dark) and silent shutter for shooting back stage in theatres and quiet classical performances that are live streamed. Very niche reasons.😀
I upgraded from a Pentax k10d to a 6D for these reasons and yet sometimes I still reach for the older one, or the Nikon D1 I was just given because it's so ancient. I can send the photos from the 1999, 2.7 megapixel Nikon D1 in a photography group without saying anything - and nobody can tell.
You right, it is never about the camera. I spent over forty years as a dp and gaffer working on films, tv showsand commercials etc.. The lights we always used color correction gel so color was never a problem. As for camera bodies they all did the same job. Not much has changed over the years even though we have moved to digital. Good work with your videos!
I purchased a 5D MkII in 2008 the moment they came out. It has been my main camera since. A few years later I got a 1D MkIV. They are 21 MP and 18MP, and both have produced great photos. I just got a Fujifilm GFX 100S. But the other cameras have lasted me 16 years. You have great advice. I have purchased good equipment and use it for many years instead of buying a new one all the time. These cameras have been very good and made me money. Thanks for the great information.
As far as photography is concerned, I completely agree with you. I still use two Canon 6d cameras myself, and they produce fantastic results. However, when it comes to video shooting, the old technology just can't keep up. Video footage from the 6d, 5d mk ii, or Canon 70d simply doesn't look as beautiful as that from a modern camera. Additionally, built-in image stabilizers in the video area are fantastic, especially when they are located within the camera body itself.
Since he talked about Photographers ... and as far as I have seen his work is mostly / only photography ... But you are right. Video is different. Still you could argue that the difference between an R6 and R6 II are marginal. 100% of clients won't notice.
"It's just a box". The Canon 5d MK II was good enough to be used in about 80 'Hollywood' productions and of course they knew what they were doing. Dynamic range was good enough for a movie. This is the camera that started it all in the DSLR format when Vincent Laforet demonstrated how good it was. To this day it can run RAW 1080p footage when used with Magic Lantern. But no, it's not ideal for TH-camrs to run-and-gun their girlfriends down the jetty into the lake.
Your videos are becoming extremely helpful to my frame of mind and frame of reference as my business becomes more profitable. I have always found it difficult to manage my photography business as a business and yet when I watch your videos, it all seems feasible. Thank you.
You're absolutely right. Digital surpassed film back in 2007ish, and has not gotten any better since. Only things like high iso, video and resolution have improved. The 5d mkii is nearly future proof, especially when it came out. I use a mark iii and mkii as backup with tilt shift lenses. No issues here.
In case no one else has said it, dynamic range is not a big deal in the studio but may be elsewhere. I'm guessing whatever it is you are filming with has more capability - at least on stats - than your studio DSLRs, and that's just for TH-cam. It's an odd world where social media demands more tech than high end studio advertising. Otherwise, I agree with everything you said.
While I 100% agree that you don't need the latest and greatest camera bodies by any means, sometimes depending what you're starting with it can make sense/help a lot to remove some restrictions it can place on you. Been getting back into photography and treated myself to a used 6D to replace my Rebel T3 I got when I first got into photography and it has genuinely felt like it unlocked so much for me and given me so much space to grow into. Don't get me wrong, the T3 still can take great photos but everything from a better/clearer viewfinder, significantly better screen to review things on, insanely better noise/lowlight capabilities, etc has really allowed me to stop feel like I'm fighting my camera at times and allowed me to focus more on my skills and think a bit less about my hardware limitations. That said, I think the 6D has all I could need and more for a long time to come and coupled with a few lenses from MPB (I recently found them and have been loving them as well) I added to my bag, I feel like I've got so much to explore/experiment/grow with now
Honestly, I think consumer bodies just push a lot of people away from photography. In my experience, you're better off buying a used, outdated, pro body that's 10+ years old. It might be a bit much in a beginner's hands, but realistically (at least in my opinion) it doesn't take that much for a beginning photographer to outgrow a consumer body.
I still use my Canon 40D. I also use my 5D MKII. Just updated to the R5 because of the VR lens jobs im doing for real estate commercial video and insurance claims
"If you can't focus your camera, then work on your skills." I've been saying this for years! And loads of sports photogs still use the old D850 or D4, 1DXMII or 1DXMIII. They still great amazing photos on those "old" cameras.
@@TinHouseStudioUK Knowing your camera and how it works is what every photographer should know inside and out. When you know that, then the camera doesn't matter. I sometimes shoot astro stuff (I have a couple of timelapses on my page) and I don't use my headlamp. I just walk over to my camera, and adjust whatever settings need to be adjusted or setup. I know where infinity focus is on those lenses. I know where my settings are. I can shoot concert stuff in manual because I know how to anticipate the photo. People are predictable.
I enjoyed how Scott seemed to be about to use a different ending to that sentence and then thought better of it and went for the more constructive "work on your skills". :D
Still shooting 2-page spreads for oversized magazines with 2 Nikon D810's. My Z6 rarely goes out. I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around ditching those for the still-rumored Z8 (which would cause me to buy all new Z-mount glass and dump all of my Nikon glass). For what I shoot, the 810's are brilliant.
If you buy a Z8 or a Nikon mirrorless camera PLEASE DO NOT dump your F mount glass unless you want to sell it to me for cheap. You should at least TRY the official Nikon FTZ adaptor that lets you connect F mount lenses to a mirrorless body. I think any cpu lens will give you a metering connection but obviously not auto focus for the "screwdriver" lens that need a motor in the body. Manual focus on D lenses works fine on my ZFC. All my AFS G lenses work fine with auto focus. My old E series lenses work fine using focus peaking. I have to say that the new z mount lenses are brilliant but I only have two of them. My old lenses work fine and are good enough for me. Not a pro.
My D810 holds up to my A7R IV any day of The week. Is the autofocus on the sony better? by a light year. is the image stabilization better? Obviously. Is the image quality any better? Meh, but there's something to be said for the ability to crop the hell out of a 61MP sensor XD
@@josephwright1986 Equally, if you frame it right, there's a lot to be said about a 6 or 12 megapixel image on my D70 or D2X. They please me but won't win any awards. Crop? Maybe ? - just a bit. My ZFC is a lot sharper but I love cheap, old gear.
@@gordonhill8164 I took some great shots on my old d60 when i was starting, but thats just my opinion. I just found that I can buy used high MP pro bodies and use that to save some $$ on glass and have a lot more flexibility overall. I run my D810 professionally side by side with my A7R IV. I also abuse the hell out of being able to crop for days on both of them.
@@gordonhill8164 I've taken pictures on my inherited 1999 Nikon D1 with its full 2.7 megapixels and put the images online and in photography group chats - and with the compression and resolution limits, you can't even tell. 1920x1080 is only 2 megapixels and 4K is 8 megapixels. Do most people use at least a 4K monitor to view your photos? Then get a 12 megapixel camera and you're covered.
First of all YES please do the shoot and share the video! I started “officially” as a photographer using an M50 I had then added a sigma EF-M lens and a used EF 85 1.8 with viltrox speed boost/adapter. Enjoyed it but the adapted 85 was constantly missing focus and I also wanted a second card slot so I could learn how to work with RAW but not lose the jpegs from my shoots. Bought the R6 which I love with an RF nifty fifty and EF-RF adapter for my 85 (which works WAY better now). I know that people who know tech things can talk about processors and IBIS and pixels and AF…I just know that the R6 feels great in my hand and I love to use it, plus I bought it with special 0% financing for 12 months so basically I am renting it for $200 a month and own it outright in a year!
This is great advice. Totally get that it has to be a business decision if you want to be successful in doing the job full time. But there must be some gear you have which is a hobby purchase in which your heart ruled over your head?
Excellent, sensible advice, thank you so much. I have bought good glass wi th dead autofocus and have had quite a few 5d iis and D1s iiis (which I've hocked in lean times and replaced when rolling again) and now have two s/h 5d iis, one only shoots to computer but because or that I got it rilllla cheap and in mint nick and is fine for studio, the other is in good nick and flawless. I have a 1ds mkii which just needs the preview button 'un sticking' an was silkybcheap and I love the feel of it. I work purely on a dated macbook too so it was an absolute treat to hear my choice of kit is plausible for pro work to another pro. I have no wish for anything higher end as this set up with my decent make of strobe lighting serves me well for my beauty and product work.I'd love a medium format digital system if is was nescessary but I'm enjoying re-finding good examples of film cameras I used to use earlier in my life. Brilliant vids....thank you, look forward to seeing more.
I’m so glad someone said it. I have two new highly recommended APSC cameras Canon M50ii and a Sony a6600. I recently bought a used Canon 5Dii and I don’t think I truly worked on skill until my later purchase. No EVF or high resolution screen just setting proper exposure.
So true about, don’t waste your money on cameras. Buy what you need to get the job done for less. I still have my 5D Mark II and use it for paying clients. I also use X-T4 Fujifilm for stills and video. Loving both companies.
Yes, I got a 5dii and I shoot weddings with this one... love the body/colors and no regrets buying it (got it second hand some time back) I also got very good experiences with MPB.... I once had a body that broke down and they did not question how, they simply swapped over straight away. So anything I will buy in the future will be from MPB.
I very recently started shooting and submitting for stock and have gone down the Sony route. I recently scored a media pass for a ticketed event and I am learning heaps on the run. There have been a few images that have sold, and I only started last year, with the concept of building my portfolio first.
Absolutely agree with your list of important and unimportant items. Feed good light through a good lens into any body made in the last decade or a bit more, you're golden! In Nikon land, I do own a D850 but also a D3s, D700 and D300. I will absolutely shoot commercial work on these older bodies, just feed them good light!
Not that I'm super far into my career yet, but 90% of the money I've made so far through photography has been shot either on a Rebel T7 when I was just starting, and then the M50 about half a year past that. But my first major purchase was a 24-70 2.8. No one has ever asked me about what camera or lens I was using. No one cared. I recently got an R6MII for Christmas, and I've been enjoying it, but aside from for sports shooting (which isn't even what I do for work) and being full frame, it has no real advantage over my M50. In fact, right now, it still can't tether because the software isn't out yet, so I still do my studio headshots with my M50.
Canon 7D mark 1 owner, going to keep it of course...great camera, but looking to add a FF 5D mark iv. There are some really, really offers on the mark iv's with so many moving over to mirrorless. I shoot a lot of ice hockey and having this two body set up would be great. I move around a lot from bench to various spots around the glass and being able to have the reach on the 7d and 70-200 and close up action on the FF with a 35 or 50.....yeah...that's going to be a great setup. Love your channel and solid, down to earth advice. Thanks for taking the time and sharing it with us.
After getting into photography on a new Canon 30D in 2007, I stepped up to full frame with a Nikon D700 in 2012. 2 years later I bought a backup D700 used..sold it a year later for more than I bought it for. Invested in a D800 used at a steal of a deal sold it for $100 less than I paid for it.. then went to a D810 used, again for a steal of a deal. Just this past December I bought a Z6ii new. While the Z has new features.. I've pulled out the old D700 on a few shoots, and people can't tell the difference between the two cameras. I've also toyed w the idea of grabbing a 5D2 and an 85. I've always loved the files from that camera. Also, as far as lighting kit, that's a good investment for beginners? I always suggest scoping out used Elinchrom D-Lites as they come in a kit of 2 heads, and can be found for about $500
I bought my first 5DII new, as a kit with a 24-105, at the end of 2012 when the Mark 3's were launched and I got a great deal on the outgoing line, $2500 CDN. I was starting a two year photography program and used it pretty extensively. Sold it with about 50K shutter count for 1200 (Mark 4 was out). I just bought another Mark 2 six months ago, with just over 9K shutter count and mint, for $600 CDN. To that I added a 100mm 2.8 for $500 and a 70-200 f4 (Everything I do is strobe and f4 does the job just fine) for $450. I liken all of this to musicians and their gear. I know many from pros to novices. Some just have to have the $2000 American Strat, even though they're still learning chords and scales. A pro can take a cheaper $300 Squire Strat and make it sing, because they know how. A pro Photographer with a Canon Rebel will outshoot any novice with the highest end mirrorless kits. It's not about the tools, it's about your skills and that only comes when you spend the time and apply them.
I'm a Nikon owner but have huge respect for Csnon. How about you doing a video on...tripods? Tripods are often overlooked but a cost-effective tripod is essential and your professional opinion on this topic I think would be a great help for many of your viewers.
I’m a hobbyist photographer, and I totally agree with your points. I still use my old canon 50D and it’s still fine. That time in 2009 I bought the most expensive camera that I could afford and now it worth nothing. Last year when I decided that I, be due to whatever reason, I need a full frame mirror less camera, I bought a new Canon RP with a good discount. This time around I could afford the R5 but I don’t see any reasons why would I buy such an expensive camera.
Hi Scott, spot on. I completed last year a commercial job, business portraits, with my good old trusted Nikon D800E. On location, had my second hand bought Elinchrom lights and modifiers. As the camera got pushed off the table during that shot (a few scratches more, nothing else), it was good reminder to get an equivalent body. As Black Friday was around the corner, I got an Z7II with 50% off list price, which was about the same as for a second hand D850. Would I turn up with my D800E again - I do :)
Awesome twist! Didn’t expect this. Yes I have noticed the image quality of today’s cameras and they haven’t changed much. Sharpness has become overrated. Would really makes a great artist is developing an artistic eye. Some cameras can be overkill for most jobs. So it’s always important to know what genre of photography you’re going for. Once I established it, it made life so much easier. From that said, I still shoot with two Canon 6D DSLRs. It’s given me great results. I’ve learned to work around its imperfections.
I would say that, sure you don't NEED a mirrorless to get fantastic shots. But if you are working in situations were e.g., eye tracking would help you miss fewer shots, then opt for that feature if it is in your budget. I think there is a fine line between KISS your kit and being silly about saving money. Of course I agree that it might not be the most important thing to get the results you need, however, I would say have eye tracking is helping me out as a novice a TON, so I am still happy about having my RP over an older used model. This is for the simple reason that I can focus on so much more when I am out and about. Anything that gets you out to shoot more I think is also worth the investment (to an extent of course). Thank you for the insightful video however, I am sure to keep this one in mind in the future. Cheers!
LoL My first Canon digital was a 10D I paid $1,400 for it and now you can't sell it for 50 bucks. The funny thing is. I traded a Mamaya 645 pro tl and two lenses and 400 in cash to get it. The Mamaya nowadays is still selling for $1,000 used......... Irony
funny you mentioned that shooting on a Canon 5d mk2. Back in 2010, we shot a tvc on an iPhone and a MK2. Mind you we had an Epic standing-by if it clouded over. We were meant to be using that, but the agency wanted to see what the iPhone was capable of, lol. It was then that I realized my days as a commercial director were coming to an end. People just didn't know or care anymore. Horses for courses.
I don’t photograph commercial work but I still have my canon 5D mark 3 (mark 2 and original 5D as well) as a back up but the R6 was such a welcomed upgrade due to the eye detect working with kids/families. But I love your points here.
I would except there isn't a level and the screen doesn't tilt, but I'm not in a studio. Yes, we don't usually get to see your commercial work, sometimes I see ads and think, "That looks like Scott's work"
I'm about to upgrade to R5's after years of owning 5DMKII's from new; Because for video production it does very much make a difference. Yes it will absolutely make life easier with newer technology, the image quality does look nicer with more information to work with. Double the Dynamic range with absolutely help on random jobs with unfavorable light, much higher bit rates and options for 1080, 4K video, 8K if I'm suicidal enough with my storage. And the 5DMKIIs..They will be next to the R5s in the camera case while on location shoots as secondary/backup cams. I will run those into the ground until they stop working..and then they will find a spot on a shelf next to other things I remember fondly. Buy what you can afford as well as your skill level allows you to use. I have upgraded all my gear over carrier as I hit skill levels that the equipment couldn't give. Sure some of that gear has then sat in boxes or collection dust,.. because "I might need it". There are always people that can make use of stuff I don't need anymore, so sell, give it to them.
I shoot for my clients with my main workhorse Canon EOS R and some used L lenses (100mm macro and TSE 45mm). I charge extra to pull out my "new" 5DSR when clients tell me they want to print giant posters. I am considering a Canon EOS R6 MK II because 2 of my regular clients want more video, but at the moment I decided to invest in an Aputure light and just learn to shoot and edit better video on the EOS R. To supplement my EOS R for video I invested in a tiny Insta360 Go 2 that can do 1080p 120fps that I can match to the Canon.
Did invest in a gaming PC (800 €) with sufficient RAM and nice graphic card plus refurbished 4K Monitor for 200 €. It's such a huge huge difference when it comes to speed compared to my old laptop. Got a used EOS 5D Mk iii with only 10.000 on the shutter count for 600 € and a used 24-105 F4 lens for another 450 € in superb condition. Beforehand I have spent some months for collecting budget, doing online research, comparison of price ranges and waited for the right moment and right time to buy. I'm super happy with my gear and started to save budget for a spare camera body
So yes, I would shoot my next commercial shoot with a 5d2 because that’s what I shoot with now. Picked one up last year used for $300 and it’s been one of my favorite purchases ever! That and my Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 (also used for $130) have already paid for themselves and I don’t shoot that much.
Eye Auto Focus Is a game changer. I always had an issue manual focussing DSLR's. Def not faulty on my part I focus fine via film SLR's and waist level view finders. I feel like if I invested in Sony earlier I would have grown faster. Having your camera not fight against you is so important and helps you get more shots which = more willingness to shoot. Also always important to note the new cam's have hybrid video+photo capability which is super necessary when just starting to freelance. I hope one day I can get paid a good bit to only shoot photos. I def gotta lock down on a niche and practice more lighting in studio.
I have an overkill camera, the Sony A7RV which i use for landscapes and bird photography and i really wouldn't exchange that for any other body, but if i shoot portraits i use my 5D classic. This camera is the holy grail of cameras if you ask me. Superb image quality, color science and sharpness and with the rise of AI enhancement programs like topaz photo ai i can bring up the resolution to 30 or 40 megapixels easily if i want to. it may not have live view but that's rarely been a problem for me as i know how the metering works and i nail the exposure 95% of the time. The thing about the 5Dc is that the files either raws or jpegs come ready straight out of the camera and need the least amount of post processing, also the files are small in size and helps with the workflow tremendously. Also live view when working with speedlights is irrelevant cause neither my A7RV or my 5Dc can show the end result until you take the shot and review it in the back of your screen. That being said the flippy screen and the greater dynamic range of the A7RV make my life a lot easier with landscapes and get me the results i need way faster and far more conveniently. One shot with the Sony equals a 3 bracket exposure with older Canons and the need to merge to HDR file. Newer bodies have their place vs older ones for the perfectionist. The end result I agree is almost the same(if you exclude the 61mpx) but how easy and faster you get there is where a newer full frame body excels at. The analogy of new body vs older body or full frame vs crop would be going like this: imagine you need to make pasta but you have an oven with only one hot plate to cook your food. You first need to boil your pasta on that one hot plate and after you're finished you cook the sauce on a pan and then you get the finished result. A full frame camera or a newer body vs older body is like having an oven with two hot plates. On one you boil the pasta and on the other you prepare your sauce simultaneously. The end result on both ovens(camera systems) is the same but how fast and conveniently you get to the end result is dependent on the tech of the newer full frame body.
Hands up I’ve only got a 5d mk11 for my portraiture shoots. I love it and it does the job. I’ve been looking to buy the Eos R But I think you’ve literally changed my mind lol. Should I go buy another one and if so what lens should I buy with the multitude of change I’ve got left ?
Yes, if you shoot in studio, then dynamic range does not matter. I have been beating my X-T2 for several years now, like it, but I often manage to get into such situations where no amount of RAW massage helps to get out what I wanted.... I am not professional photographer, however.
My brother just graciously bought and installed an extra hard drive in my laptop, so I shouldn't have to worry about my photos slowing down my computer and it will take a while to fill it, too. Unfortunately my display is not great, so it's hard to see how sharp or unsharp my photos are.
Hey Scott, it's been a while since I commented on one of your videos, I always love them. My only stance on the camera body debate is that if you're shooting without tethering (which I assume you do most of the time, as I do the same in architecture), depending on your connected into a laptop with something like Tether Tools or wireless on Camranger might change your approach to bodies. I know that tethering with a Sony body wasn't possible with a Camranger a few years ago, and using a non flippy screen when you've backed yourself up into a corner to get as much of the space (or compress a shot as much as possible) makes life sort of a pain in the ass. The 5DMII is a great camera, but for timelapse photography the dynamic range does play a huge factor when light isn't optimal. I guess I say all this because sometimes there are reasons to upgrade, but most of the time people suffer from GAS and just piss money down the drain. Anyhow, keep the videos coming and hope you can find that passion for "work" again!
I agree that image quality has barely improved since the 5Dii, a camera I still have and still use, as long as I am shooting tethered, that single card slot does make me a little nervous, but I also have the 5DSR if shooting tethered is not a practical option. What people forget is that whilst camera technology has improved the way in which we consume media has not really. Everyone bangs on about dynamic range, print media can only reproduce around 6 stops, electronic screens around 8 stops. I know Canon are not top of the pile when it comes to usable dynamic range but it is still way more than is required by the publishers/printers. Give me bit depth over dynamic range any day of the week! It does surprise me a little that the likes of Canon and Nikon have not moved to 16bit output. Far more useful than an extra focusing point over the 500 you already have! And whilst I do have a Hasselblad, it will be a long time before I stop using the 5Dii, the files out of that are just magic.
This hit home. I have invested in Sony bodies and lenses (A7RIII, A9) but recently bought a used 5D Mark I and a 5D Mark II both for 180 and 230 euros respectively. Coupled with my old 70-200 USM II Canon lens I had since forever I've been enjoying these and they cost just a fraction of my Sony bodies. Thinking of selling the Sony bodies and lenses since they still hold value. For what I do (street photography, events) I could probably do everything with the 5D Mark II.
@@philliphickox4023 Nothing beats Sony when it comes to autofocus and fast action stuff. But unless I am photographing my son - 4 years old - that moves at the speed of light, I can shoot everything more or less with old Canon bodies. One thing I can't stand with Sony bodies is the grip. On another note, my RX100 III and RX100 VII are my most used cameras. I take them almost everywhere with me.
@@lucasliaskos I hadn't intended to go down the Sony route, I was actually looking at Nikon or Canon, but a barely used Sony A6000 came up, she had dropped the initial asking price by quite a lot, so I thought I'd give it ago.
I build my own desktop PCs, they last on average 5 years plus, they're never at the cutting edge when I build them. I buy secondhand camera bodies and mostly secondhand glass. I never made a purchase before I've researched if I could sell it on with out making much, if there was any loss. Now all I need is to develop some skills, that's the big ask, can I?
My studio work camera is a 5Ds. But I still shoot a lot of the wedding portraits with a 5Dc, it hurts that they still prefer those images from the classic. I would love to see you go back in time and shoot a bridal studio potrait with a 5Dc and ONE 500w BRX and a white shoot tru brolly
I aim to have gear that is about 5% better than I am. It's not holding me back, and I'm not spending extra on features I can't use. I've got a lot of practice to do reach that target for my current gear.
I bought a Canon 50D back when it first came out. My only regret was buying the kit with the 18-200mm lens. I stopped using that when I purchased a 24-105 and 10-22. I've been using that camera since it came out in 2008, the longest I had ever used a camera body. As I'm more of a backcountry photographer, that camera has been through a lot and is starting to have some issues with one dial and some dents that might be compromising the weather sealing. I love that camera, but I think it's time for something new and my goal was to buy a recent generation mirrorless so it will last me another 15 years or so. I'm also getting into video and it would be nice to have the video features that current cameras have regarding resolutions and framerates as well as the AI autofocus systems and IBIS. Now maybe I'm just buying into the hype, but I've noticed the limitations of shooting video on older cameras. But I'm with you here. I've struggled with the decision on whether to get a mirrorless body or buy a used 5D mk 4 or mk 3, but with mirrorless as the future, I think that will be the way to go. Since I'm not shooting professionally, I'm not in need of a second identical body. Instead, I may get a second cheaper body that I won't feel so bad abusing when I'm out backpacking but can still deliver adequate performance in a compact and lightweight kit. Again, I'm not doing this professionally, but I have been approached and sold photographs for commercial use.
I've shot campaigns and have been using a canon 6D since 2019 - and maybe stubbornly feel like I'd rather invest in lenses than upgrade to a 5d M4 or 5dsr at this moment. Still, a 6D with sigma 35mm and sigma 24-70 has served me well. I've shot fashion campaigns for print and online to no drawbacks - if anything I'm considering buying a backup like you suggested
The 6D original is quite a unicorn of features in a camera and I quite like it. I spent 400 for mine with the battery grip and 4 batteries and with 3 batteries in that thing, I barely need to charge it every other week of good shooting. I've mostly got the older usm zooms and a 50 STM and 40stm but I know that the lenses are the most important part, so the 24-105 f4L is probably in my future, as well as the 85 f1.8
Yeah, I have a nikon D300 and a nikon D5300, mostly I do macro, landscape and learning fine art. I recently bought a Nikon D850.... It's a beast of a camera and I am starting to regret it, simply because I can't use it as it was intended to be used ( I have good lenses for it and lighting as well) . I don't make any money of photography, I tried doing stock.... but I don't think it is worth it. I have a full job ( living in Romania it really gives you almost no money but I'm not here to complain). The idea is that you should invest in lenses more than camera bodies. It keeps value over many years. 👌
I kinda wasted my money on my Hasselblad, but it did show me what I could do with just one lens. And that I should definitely sell off my unused Nikon glass. I can't quite bring myself to get rid of my Nikon kit entirely though, I still have some shoots where a hassy is not the right tool for the job. And in a pinch I can massage Nikon files and clients would never notice.
New camera bodies will always depreciate fast. I agree with your conclusions for stills use in the studio - there really has been no worthwhile improvement for many years. However, for other types of work, there is some advantage in later bodies. If you shoot a lot of available light indoors or night shots, the better high ISO performance of more recent sensors can help, especially if you do not have access to fast primes on some shoots. For those needing video or hybrid capabilities, newer cameras have significantly better video capabilities, though a great deal of commercial work is still delivered in 1080p25 or 1080p30 and does not need some of the advanced autofocus capabilities of the latest bodies. Those shooting fast-moving action (wildlife, sports, aircraft) might get more keepers with the latest autofocus systems, but there are still plenty of working pros using older bodies and getting excellent results. As you said in the video: your skills matter most of all. Given a decent lens, decent light and a working body, someone with good skills will get the shot. An extreme example of amateurs putting a vast amount of money into bodies was a couple I met on holiday in November last year. They had a Sony A1 body each, were waiting for a Sony A7RV to be delivered when they got home, and only had one lens each with them (can't remember whether it was a 24-105mm f/4 or a 24-70mm f/2.8). They said they had more lenses at home but had chosen to travel light, which is understandable for a holiday. As they can afford those bodies, good luck to them - though it isn't where I'd spend the money if I was going to spend all that money on gear. Though I do shoot modern Sony mirrorless gear, the new value of the items in my entire bag was the same as one new Sony A1 body - and much of that value was in the lenses, flash and microphones that I will probably be using for the next ten years. Bodies are a tool and nothing more - they depreciate badly, especially the latest models. The best strategy is as you recommend - buy a body or, if shooting commercially, a pair of bodies that are sufficient for your needs but no more.
Do you mean eye controlled autofocus (it picks points based on where you are looking) or eye-tracking autofocus? The former was at its best in the EOS 3, and its reintroduction has been spotty. But eye tracking is unbelievable for those using these cameras to shoot moving subjects or video.
I dont think any serious photographers will disagree... but there's a problem. At least here in the US, some of the people running these companies that freelancers shoot for want you to give them a kit list, and they actively discriminate based on your kit, probably by looking at amazon listings or something. The "no crop bodies" line always gets me too. Fuji called and would like to have a word with you XD
100% I would shoot a job with my 5D Mark II. Its AF is fast and accurate - like, kind of unnervingly good for its age. And with the 135mm f/2 or the 200mm f/2.8 it looks every bit as good as mirrorless cameras today. Oh, and the battery life with the grip is 5x better than mirrorless cameras. If someone needed a bit more megapixels or just wanted newer kit for peace of mind, I've started seeing Craigslist ads for the Mark IV, with a lens, for $600-800. Sell the lens for $400 and suddenly you've got a modern-featured camera for only a couple hundred. Lots of people are selling off these amazing DSLRs to get an R5 or R6 and so the market is flooded with them.
Recently I threw money at a fancy tripod. Hey, look at me … I can now focus, compose and adjust the thing whilst holding a convo, all without losing my tiny mind 🤗
I have a question on how you feel about vintage lenses , I have found great quality in vintage lenses (mind you i am no professional but learning to be one)
@Sonybo100 The newest glass can be highly corrected to create near-perfect images if you like that look. Vintage glass allows you to create meaningful departures from reality. Both are worth owning if you can afford them. Because I like view cameras, I would love to own mid-range vintage glass like the Kodak Commercial Ektar or the Gorez Dagor. In mint condition, these lenses are very expensive.
@@chesslover8829 I absolutely agree, I shoot with only vintage lenses because I can not afford a new one, recently bought my first new glass ,a samyang 75 and honestly, my vintage Zeiss 105mm creates sharper images. The only reason I see for some modern glass is being able to use it natively with my camera to use autofocus for videowork since sometimes with a gimbal it's really hard to search for focus and move at the same time.
@@chesslover8829 Also the colors are just beautiful out of vintage glass, but lense flares can be annoying with vintage glass sometimes. Overall I am very pleased with the learning experience I get with completely manual lenses. I now understand what modern glass makes easier
YES! Shut with 5DmarkII half of a day and 5Ds second half! Let's see who can spot the difference... I did it with 5D Mark I and 5Ds and colors out of 5D were always better and easier and faster to work with. Let's see if somebody can recognize that earthy look (tonality wise) of Mark II files... I guess nobody because you will be using high power flash and your poparty way of color correction 🎉
Absolutely buy old cameras and buy a generation old pro glass. Still rocking a Nikon D2X, old pro bodies are absolute tanks and still look sweet in decent light 👍
Having watched my precious Sony Mirrorless body bleed value (even though I bought it 2nd hand) at a rate of approximately €100 per month, I can’t agree more & have learned my lesson. I also haven’t been putting in the work to get the jobs to justify it. So had to sell it & move on. Won’t make that mistake again.
I know it's a different branch of photography, but most of the Cinematographers I work with don't own a camera. They rent whatever is required for a film/TV production & if they want to do personal work, they have such good business relationships with the rental companies, they will get the gear for free, or they will agree to help the company with their marketing/endorsements etc.
0:00 introduction 0:10 buy #1: a good computer 1:07 buy #2: your portfolio 2:17 buy #3: lenses - the best you can afford 3:07 buy #4: lights 3:45 waste: camera bodies
My “best” lens, or I should say, my most artistically creative lens was $30 and came from a security camera. It’s milky, soft, flares like the surface of the sun; the bokeh is swirly and unintelligible and it tends to unscrew itself over the course of a session. But it makes f*ckn beautiful portraits if I can nail my focus.
There’s no problem having several camera bodies. Just make sure you don’t buy them new. I’m an amateur, but have several great camera bodies. Something like 10 or 11. None of them has costed me more than £400. Most of them costed between £100 and £200. The same with lenses. I have nice lenses, mostly L glass. Most of them bought at half the sales price. Same with speed lights. Would I like to have the latest and greatest? Sure, but even surer is that I don’t want to pay for it. For still photography there’s no problem using 10 or even 20 year old cameras. My favourite ones at the moment are the 1Ds Mk.II and the 5D. Great cameras. The 1Ds Mk II costed something like £7-8000 new. It still takes as good pictures as it did then. I paid less than £200 for it. People tend to forget that great photographers took great pictures 15 years ago as well. There’s really no need for 20fps, ISO 104k, 50mpixel, instant eye detect, 6K-ready mirrorless cameras for the majority of us. And yes, having a good computer helps. I have a 2009 Mac Pro that I paid £250 for. And that was 3 years ago. Updated it as far as I could, and it is a beast today. 2x 3,46Ghz 6-core CPU’s, 96Gb of RAM and 2 Tb of SSD hard drives. Total cost after the upgrade was something like £550. Buy everything used. Buy things that was top of the line in the past, and it will work great with other top of the line stuff from the same generation.
Come and join our friendly facebook group facebook.com/groups/1893064874281393
I was told "buy what you can easily replace twice"
So true. Things happen in the field. Last thing I want is to break a camera I cannot afford to replace for a long time.
yes when I raced bikes this was the mantra too
Definitely would love to see the 5d mark2 shoot. Not because I don't believe it can done, but because I did it recently and loved the results!
I'm always impressed by the person that can do the most with a little. When I was a boy, one Christmas I got a really cool bike. A stingray. I rode the hell out of it. After a couple of years, it started having issues with several aspects of it. Chain. Handlebar. Even the grips were gone. I wanted a new bike so badly. I begged my mom, but to no avail. We didn't have the money. A kid offered me $5 dollars for my broken down bike. That was a lot of money back then to me. I took it. I was so happy. I walked down to the store to buy some treats. Candy, soda etc. By the time I got back home, the kid that bought my bike had it running like a top. Had polished it up, new handlebar grips with tassels streaming at the end of it. He was zooming up and down the street on my now perfectly good bike. I wanted my bike back. I even asked for it back. I was standing there humiliated with my stupid snacks. I never took for granted that which I was blessed to have in the first place again. Take what you have and make the most out of it. I hate to hear people talk about what equipment is good for a beginner. A real artist doesn't understand those limits until they reach it.
My Rule has always been, shoot on the cheapest you can for the work you do. Only upgrade the body when you know that it is the limitations body that's holding you back. The only limitations I've upgraded on were better iso (I shoot a lot in the dark) and silent shutter for shooting back stage in theatres and quiet classical performances that are live streamed. Very niche reasons.😀
I upgraded from a Pentax k10d to a 6D for these reasons and yet sometimes I still reach for the older one, or the Nikon D1 I was just given because it's so ancient. I can send the photos from the 1999, 2.7 megapixel Nikon D1 in a photography group without saying anything - and nobody can tell.
You don't have to go into the debate but, goodness a PC with a graphics card can be so cheap and do a great job.
What’s a graphics card? My MacBook Air might be able to get an external one. 👹
You right, it is never about the camera. I spent over forty years as a dp and gaffer working on films, tv showsand commercials etc.. The lights we always used color correction gel so color was never a problem. As for camera bodies they all did the same job. Not much has changed over the years even though we have moved to digital. Good work with your videos!
I purchased a 5D MkII in 2008 the moment they came out. It has been my main camera since. A few years later I got a 1D MkIV. They are 21 MP and 18MP, and both have produced great photos. I just got a Fujifilm GFX 100S. But the other cameras have lasted me 16 years. You have great advice. I have purchased good equipment and use it for many years instead of buying a new one all the time. These cameras have been very good and made me money. Thanks for the great information.
As far as photography is concerned, I completely agree with you. I still use two Canon 6d cameras myself, and they produce fantastic results. However, when it comes to video shooting, the old technology just can't keep up. Video footage from the 6d, 5d mk ii, or Canon 70d simply doesn't look as beautiful as that from a modern camera. Additionally, built-in image stabilizers in the video area are fantastic, especially when they are located within the camera body itself.
Since he talked about Photographers ... and as far as I have seen his work is mostly / only photography ...
But you are right. Video is different.
Still you could argue that the difference between an R6 and R6 II are marginal. 100% of clients won't notice.
"It's just a box". The Canon 5d MK II was good enough to be used in about 80 'Hollywood' productions and of course they knew what they were doing. Dynamic range was good enough for a movie. This is the camera that started it all in the DSLR format when Vincent Laforet demonstrated how good it was. To this day it can run RAW 1080p footage when used with Magic Lantern. But no, it's not ideal for TH-camrs to run-and-gun their girlfriends down the jetty into the lake.
Your videos are becoming extremely helpful to my frame of mind and frame of reference as my business becomes more profitable. I have always found it difficult to manage my photography business as a business and yet when I watch your videos, it all seems feasible. Thank you.
You're absolutely right. Digital surpassed film back in 2007ish, and has not gotten any better since. Only things like high iso, video and resolution have improved. The 5d mkii is nearly future proof, especially when it came out.
I use a mark iii and mkii as backup with tilt shift lenses. No issues here.
Same thinking here, 5d mkii is an iconic workhorse.
In case no one else has said it, dynamic range is not a big deal in the studio but may be elsewhere. I'm guessing whatever it is you are filming with has more capability - at least on stats - than your studio DSLRs, and that's just for TH-cam. It's an odd world where social media demands more tech than high end studio advertising. Otherwise, I agree with everything you said.
While I 100% agree that you don't need the latest and greatest camera bodies by any means, sometimes depending what you're starting with it can make sense/help a lot to remove some restrictions it can place on you.
Been getting back into photography and treated myself to a used 6D to replace my Rebel T3 I got when I first got into photography and it has genuinely felt like it unlocked so much for me and given me so much space to grow into. Don't get me wrong, the T3 still can take great photos but everything from a better/clearer viewfinder, significantly better screen to review things on, insanely better noise/lowlight capabilities, etc has really allowed me to stop feel like I'm fighting my camera at times and allowed me to focus more on my skills and think a bit less about my hardware limitations.
That said, I think the 6D has all I could need and more for a long time to come and coupled with a few lenses from MPB (I recently found them and have been loving them as well) I added to my bag, I feel like I've got so much to explore/experiment/grow with now
Honestly, I think consumer bodies just push a lot of people away from photography. In my experience, you're better off buying a used, outdated, pro body that's 10+ years old. It might be a bit much in a beginner's hands, but realistically (at least in my opinion) it doesn't take that much for a beginning photographer to outgrow a consumer body.
I still use my Canon 40D. I also use my 5D MKII. Just updated to the R5 because of the VR lens jobs im doing for real estate commercial video and insurance claims
"If you can't focus your camera, then work on your skills." I've been saying this for years! And loads of sports photogs still use the old D850 or D4, 1DXMII or 1DXMIII. They still great amazing photos on those "old" cameras.
Absolutely, you should look at the shots taken with the Canon F1.
@@TinHouseStudioUK Knowing your camera and how it works is what every photographer should know inside and out. When you know that, then the camera doesn't matter.
I sometimes shoot astro stuff (I have a couple of timelapses on my page) and I don't use my headlamp. I just walk over to my camera, and adjust whatever settings need to be adjusted or setup. I know where infinity focus is on those lenses. I know where my settings are. I can shoot concert stuff in manual because I know how to anticipate the photo. People are predictable.
D850 is an absolute beast of a camera.
I enjoyed how Scott seemed to be about to use a different ending to that sentence and then thought better of it and went for the more constructive "work on your skills". :D
PLEASE do the video using the 5d mark ii on a campaign or work. I just bought upgrading from apsc and would love to have some reference. Great video!
Still shooting 2-page spreads for oversized magazines with 2 Nikon D810's. My Z6 rarely goes out. I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around ditching those for the still-rumored Z8 (which would cause me to buy all new Z-mount glass and dump all of my Nikon glass). For what I shoot, the 810's are brilliant.
If you buy a Z8 or a Nikon mirrorless camera PLEASE DO NOT dump your F mount glass unless you want to sell it to me for cheap. You should at least TRY the official Nikon FTZ adaptor that lets you connect F mount lenses to a mirrorless body. I think any cpu lens will give you a metering connection but obviously not auto focus for the "screwdriver" lens that need a motor in the body.
Manual focus on D lenses works fine on my ZFC. All my AFS G lenses work fine with auto focus. My old E series lenses work fine using focus peaking.
I have to say that the new z mount lenses are brilliant but I only have two of them. My old lenses work fine and are good enough for me. Not a pro.
My D810 holds up to my A7R IV any day of The week. Is the autofocus on the sony better? by a light year. is the image stabilization better? Obviously. Is the image quality any better? Meh, but there's something to be said for the ability to crop the hell out of a 61MP sensor XD
@@josephwright1986 Equally, if you frame it right, there's a lot to be said about a 6 or 12 megapixel image on my D70 or D2X. They please me but won't win any awards. Crop? Maybe ? - just a bit.
My ZFC is a lot sharper but I love cheap, old gear.
@@gordonhill8164 I took some great shots on my old d60 when i was starting, but thats just my opinion. I just found that I can buy used high MP pro bodies and use that to save some $$ on glass and have a lot more flexibility overall. I run my D810 professionally side by side with my A7R IV. I also abuse the hell out of being able to crop for days on both of them.
@@gordonhill8164 I've taken pictures on my inherited 1999 Nikon D1 with its full 2.7 megapixels and put the images online and in photography group chats - and with the compression and resolution limits, you can't even tell. 1920x1080 is only 2 megapixels and 4K is 8 megapixels. Do most people use at least a 4K monitor to view your photos? Then get a 12 megapixel camera and you're covered.
First of all YES please do the shoot and share the video! I started “officially” as a photographer using an M50 I had then added a sigma EF-M lens and a used EF 85 1.8 with viltrox speed boost/adapter. Enjoyed it but the adapted 85 was constantly missing focus and I also wanted a second card slot so I could learn how to work with RAW but not lose the jpegs from my shoots. Bought the R6 which I love with an RF nifty fifty and EF-RF adapter for my 85 (which works WAY better now). I know that people who know tech things can talk about processors and IBIS and pixels and AF…I just know that the R6 feels great in my hand and I love to use it, plus I bought it with special 0% financing for 12 months so basically I am renting it for $200 a month and own it outright in a year!
This is great advice. Totally get that it has to be a business decision if you want to be successful in doing the job full time. But there must be some gear you have which is a hobby purchase in which your heart ruled over your head?
Scared to admit it, but I can’t buy a camera newer than a 5Div because I’m still using Lightroom 6…
Excellent, sensible advice, thank you so much. I have bought good glass wi th dead autofocus and have had quite a few 5d iis and D1s iiis (which I've hocked in lean times and replaced when rolling again) and now have two s/h 5d iis, one only shoots to computer but because or that I got it rilllla cheap and in mint nick and is fine for studio, the other is in good nick and flawless. I have a 1ds mkii which just needs the preview button 'un sticking' an was silkybcheap and I love the feel of it. I work purely on a dated macbook too so it was an absolute treat to hear my choice of kit is plausible for pro work to another pro. I have no wish for anything higher end as this set up with my decent make of strobe lighting serves me well for my beauty and product work.I'd love a medium format digital system if is was nescessary but I'm enjoying re-finding good examples of film cameras I used to use earlier in my life.
Brilliant vids....thank you, look forward to seeing more.
I’m so glad someone said it. I have two new highly recommended APSC cameras Canon M50ii and a Sony a6600. I recently bought a used Canon 5Dii and I don’t think I truly worked on skill until my later purchase. No EVF or high resolution screen just setting proper exposure.
So true about, don’t waste your money on cameras. Buy what you need to get the job done for less. I still have my 5D Mark II and use it for paying clients. I also use X-T4 Fujifilm for stills and video. Loving both companies.
Yes, I got a 5dii and I shoot weddings with this one... love the body/colors and no regrets buying it (got it second hand some time back)
I also got very good experiences with MPB.... I once had a body that broke down and they did not question how, they simply swapped over straight away.
So anything I will buy in the future will be from MPB.
I very recently started shooting and submitting for stock and have gone down the Sony route. I recently scored a media pass for a ticketed event and I am learning heaps on the run. There have been a few images that have sold, and I only started last year, with the concept of building my portfolio first.
I WANNA SEE YOU DO EVEERYTHING!! PLEASE SHOW US YOUR PROCESS YOU MADMAN!
Absolutely agree with your list of important and unimportant items. Feed good light through a good lens into any body made in the last decade or a bit more, you're golden! In Nikon land, I do own a D850 but also a D3s, D700 and D300. I will absolutely shoot commercial work on these older bodies, just feed them good light!
Yes! Would love to see you shoot a job on the 5D.
Me Too 😀
Great advice. They only time I’ve bought a different camera is for slow motion capabilities.
Not that I'm super far into my career yet, but 90% of the money I've made so far through photography has been shot either on a Rebel T7 when I was just starting, and then the M50 about half a year past that. But my first major purchase was a 24-70 2.8. No one has ever asked me about what camera or lens I was using. No one cared. I recently got an R6MII for Christmas, and I've been enjoying it, but aside from for sports shooting (which isn't even what I do for work) and being full frame, it has no real advantage over my M50. In fact, right now, it still can't tether because the software isn't out yet, so I still do my studio headshots with my M50.
Yeah, no one asks their mechanic what brand tools they use and if they are the latest or not.
Canon 7D mark 1 owner, going to keep it of course...great camera, but looking to add a FF 5D mark iv. There are some really, really offers on the mark iv's with so many moving over to mirrorless. I shoot a lot of ice hockey and having this two body set up would be great. I move around a lot from bench to various spots around the glass and being able to have the reach on the 7d and 70-200 and close up action on the FF with a 35 or 50.....yeah...that's going to be a great setup. Love your channel and solid, down to earth advice. Thanks for taking the time and sharing it with us.
After getting into photography on a new Canon 30D in 2007, I stepped up to full frame with a Nikon D700 in 2012. 2 years later I bought a backup D700 used..sold it a year later for more than I bought it for. Invested in a D800 used at a steal of a deal sold it for $100 less than I paid for it.. then went to a D810 used, again for a steal of a deal. Just this past December I bought a Z6ii new.
While the Z has new features.. I've pulled out the old D700 on a few shoots, and people can't tell the difference between the two cameras.
I've also toyed w the idea of grabbing a 5D2 and an 85. I've always loved the files from that camera.
Also, as far as lighting kit, that's a good investment for beginners? I always suggest scoping out used Elinchrom D-Lites as they come in a kit of 2 heads, and can be found for about $500
I bought my first 5DII new, as a kit with a 24-105, at the end of 2012 when the Mark 3's were launched and I got a great deal on the outgoing line, $2500 CDN. I was starting a two year photography program and used it pretty extensively. Sold it with about 50K shutter count for 1200 (Mark 4 was out). I just bought another Mark 2 six months ago, with just over 9K shutter count and mint, for $600 CDN. To that I added a 100mm 2.8 for $500 and a 70-200 f4 (Everything I do is strobe and f4 does the job just fine) for $450. I liken all of this to musicians and their gear. I know many from pros to novices. Some just have to have the $2000 American Strat, even though they're still learning chords and scales. A pro can take a cheaper $300 Squire Strat and make it sing, because they know how. A pro Photographer with a Canon Rebel will outshoot any novice with the highest end mirrorless kits. It's not about the tools, it's about your skills and that only comes when you spend the time and apply them.
The answer to your question is...absolutely, yes.
I'm a Nikon owner but have huge respect for Csnon. How about you doing a video on...tripods? Tripods are often overlooked but a cost-effective tripod is essential and your professional opinion on this topic I think would be a great help for many of your viewers.
I’m a hobbyist photographer, and I totally agree with your points. I still use my old canon 50D and it’s still fine.
That time in 2009 I bought the most expensive camera that I could afford and now it worth nothing. Last year when I decided that I, be due to whatever reason, I need a full frame mirror less camera, I bought a new Canon RP with a good discount. This time around I could afford the R5 but I don’t see any reasons why would I buy such an expensive camera.
Hi Scott, spot on. I completed last year a commercial job, business portraits, with my good old trusted Nikon D800E. On location, had my second hand bought Elinchrom lights and modifiers. As the camera got pushed off the table during that shot (a few scratches more, nothing else), it was good reminder to get an equivalent body. As Black Friday was around the corner, I got an Z7II with 50% off list price, which was about the same as for a second hand D850. Would I turn up with my D800E again - I do :)
Awesome twist! Didn’t expect this. Yes I have noticed the image quality of today’s cameras and they haven’t changed much. Sharpness has become overrated. Would really makes a great artist is developing an artistic eye. Some cameras can be overkill for most jobs. So it’s always important to know what genre of photography you’re going for. Once I established it, it made life so much easier. From that said, I still shoot with two Canon 6D DSLRs. It’s given me great results. I’ve learned to work around its imperfections.
I would say that, sure you don't NEED a mirrorless to get fantastic shots. But if you are working in situations were e.g., eye tracking would help you miss fewer shots, then opt for that feature if it is in your budget. I think there is a fine line between KISS your kit and being silly about saving money. Of course I agree that it might not be the most important thing to get the results you need, however, I would say have eye tracking is helping me out as a novice a TON, so I am still happy about having my RP over an older used model. This is for the simple reason that I can focus on so much more when I am out and about. Anything that gets you out to shoot more I think is also worth the investment (to an extent of course).
Thank you for the insightful video however, I am sure to keep this one in mind in the future. Cheers!
Absolutely, I would love to see it!
I for sure what love you to shoot a campaign with the 5DmarkII, all the way to brief, what lens and the post done on it
LoL My first Canon digital was a 10D I paid $1,400 for it and now you can't sell it for 50 bucks. The funny thing is. I traded a Mamaya 645 pro tl and two lenses and 400 in cash to get it. The Mamaya nowadays is still selling for $1,000 used......... Irony
Love me old pro level Mamiya bodies. Film sure got popular again, because it doesn’t suck!
funny you mentioned that shooting on a Canon 5d mk2. Back in 2010, we shot a tvc on an iPhone and a MK2. Mind you we had an Epic standing-by if it clouded over. We were meant to be using that, but the agency wanted to see what the iPhone was capable of, lol. It was then that I realized my days as a commercial director were coming to an end. People just didn't know or care anymore. Horses for courses.
I don’t photograph commercial work but I still have my canon 5D mark 3 (mark 2 and original 5D as well) as a back up but the R6 was such a welcomed upgrade due to the eye detect working with kids/families. But I love your points here.
Indeed, I will like to see you make use of the mark2 for paid project!
I would except there isn't a level and the screen doesn't tilt, but I'm not in a studio. Yes, we don't usually get to see your commercial work, sometimes I see ads and think, "That looks like Scott's work"
I'm about to upgrade to R5's after years of owning 5DMKII's from new; Because for video production it does very much make a difference.
Yes it will absolutely make life easier with newer technology, the image quality does look nicer with more information to work with.
Double the Dynamic range with absolutely help on random jobs with unfavorable light, much higher bit rates and options for 1080, 4K video, 8K if I'm suicidal enough with my storage.
And the 5DMKIIs..They will be next to the R5s in the camera case while on location shoots as secondary/backup cams. I will run those into the ground until they stop working..and then they will find a spot on a shelf next to other things I remember fondly.
Buy what you can afford as well as your skill level allows you to use. I have upgraded all my gear over carrier as I hit skill levels that the equipment couldn't give.
Sure some of that gear has then sat in boxes or collection dust,.. because "I might need it". There are always people that can make use of stuff I don't need anymore, so sell, give it to them.
I shoot for my clients with my main workhorse Canon EOS R and some used L lenses (100mm macro and TSE 45mm). I charge extra to pull out my "new" 5DSR when clients tell me they want to print giant posters. I am considering a Canon EOS R6 MK II because 2 of my regular clients want more video, but at the moment I decided to invest in an Aputure light and just learn to shoot and edit better video on the EOS R. To supplement my EOS R for video I invested in a tiny Insta360 Go 2 that can do 1080p 120fps that I can match to the Canon.
Did invest in a gaming PC (800 €) with sufficient RAM and nice graphic card plus refurbished 4K Monitor for 200 €. It's such a huge huge difference when it comes to speed compared to my old laptop. Got a used EOS 5D Mk iii with only 10.000 on the shutter count for 600 € and a used 24-105 F4 lens for another 450 € in superb condition. Beforehand I have spent some months for collecting budget, doing online research, comparison of price ranges and waited for the right moment and right time to buy. I'm super happy with my gear and started to save budget for a spare camera body
So yes, I would shoot my next commercial shoot with a 5d2 because that’s what I shoot with now. Picked one up last year used for $300 and it’s been one of my favorite purchases ever! That and my Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 (also used for $130) have already paid for themselves and I don’t shoot that much.
Eye Auto Focus Is a game changer. I always had an issue manual focussing DSLR's. Def not faulty on my part I focus fine via film SLR's and waist level view finders. I feel like if I invested in Sony earlier I would have grown faster. Having your camera not fight against you is so important and helps you get more shots which = more willingness to shoot. Also always important to note the new cam's have hybrid video+photo capability which is super necessary when just starting to freelance. I hope one day I can get paid a good bit to only shoot photos. I def gotta lock down on a niche and practice more lighting in studio.
I have an overkill camera, the Sony A7RV which i use for landscapes and bird photography and i really wouldn't exchange that for any other body, but if i shoot portraits i use my 5D classic. This camera is the holy grail of cameras if you ask me. Superb image quality, color science and sharpness and with the rise of AI enhancement programs like topaz photo ai i can bring up the resolution to 30 or 40 megapixels easily if i want to. it may not have live view but that's rarely been a problem for me as i know how the metering works and i nail the exposure 95% of the time. The thing about the 5Dc is that the files either raws or jpegs come ready straight out of the camera and need the least amount of post processing, also the files are small in size and helps with the workflow tremendously. Also live view when working with speedlights is irrelevant cause neither my A7RV or my 5Dc can show the end result until you take the shot and review it in the back of your screen. That being said the flippy screen and the greater dynamic range of the A7RV make my life a lot easier with landscapes and get me the results i need way faster and far more conveniently. One shot with the Sony equals a 3 bracket exposure with older Canons and the need to merge to HDR file. Newer bodies have their place vs older ones for the perfectionist. The end result I agree is almost the same(if you exclude the 61mpx) but how easy and faster you get there is where a newer full frame body excels at. The analogy of new body vs older body or full frame vs crop would be going like this: imagine you need to make pasta but you have an oven with only one hot plate to cook your food. You first need to boil your pasta on that one hot plate and after you're finished you cook the sauce on a pan and then you get the finished result. A full frame camera or a newer body vs older body is like having an oven with two hot plates. On one you boil the pasta and on the other you prepare your sauce simultaneously. The end result on both ovens(camera systems) is the same but how fast and conveniently you get to the end result is dependent on the tech of the newer full frame body.
I buy all my cameras and lenses (Nikon) used and you are absolutely correct about saving money.
Hands up
I’ve only got a 5d mk11 for my portraiture shoots. I love it and it does the job. I’ve been looking to buy the Eos R
But I think you’ve literally changed my mind lol. Should I go buy another one and if so what lens should I buy with the multitude of change I’ve got left ?
Yes, if you shoot in studio, then dynamic range does not matter. I have been beating my X-T2 for several years now, like it, but I often manage to get into such situations where no amount of RAW massage helps to get out what I wanted.... I am not professional photographer, however.
My brother just graciously bought and installed an extra hard drive in my laptop, so I shouldn't have to worry about my photos slowing down my computer and it will take a while to fill it, too. Unfortunately my display is not great, so it's hard to see how sharp or unsharp my photos are.
Scott, love the videos. Would definitely like to see a pro shoot on the 5D Mark 2!
Do you think the Nikon Zf is an exception as it is so beautiful? I
Asking for a friend who has a D610 just as me:)
I'd like to see you use a Rebel t6, for a lesser shoot. Will it work?
Hey Scott, it's been a while since I commented on one of your videos, I always love them. My only stance on the camera body debate is that if you're shooting without tethering (which I assume you do most of the time, as I do the same in architecture), depending on your connected into a laptop with something like Tether Tools or wireless on Camranger might change your approach to bodies. I know that tethering with a Sony body wasn't possible with a Camranger a few years ago, and using a non flippy screen when you've backed yourself up into a corner to get as much of the space (or compress a shot as much as possible) makes life sort of a pain in the ass. The 5DMII is a great camera, but for timelapse photography the dynamic range does play a huge factor when light isn't optimal. I guess I say all this because sometimes there are reasons to upgrade, but most of the time people suffer from GAS and just piss money down the drain.
Anyhow, keep the videos coming and hope you can find that passion for "work" again!
I agree that image quality has barely improved since the 5Dii, a camera I still have and still use, as long as I am shooting tethered, that single card slot does make me a little nervous, but I also have the 5DSR if shooting tethered is not a practical option.
What people forget is that whilst camera technology has improved the way in which we consume media has not really. Everyone bangs on about dynamic range, print media can only reproduce around 6 stops, electronic screens around 8 stops. I know Canon are not top of the pile when it comes to usable dynamic range but it is still way more than is required by the publishers/printers.
Give me bit depth over dynamic range any day of the week! It does surprise me a little that the likes of Canon and Nikon have not moved to 16bit output. Far more useful than an extra focusing point over the 500 you already have!
And whilst I do have a Hasselblad, it will be a long time before I stop using the 5Dii, the files out of that are just magic.
This hit home. I have invested in Sony bodies and lenses (A7RIII, A9) but recently bought a used 5D Mark I and a 5D Mark II both for 180 and 230 euros respectively. Coupled with my old 70-200 USM II Canon lens I had since forever I've been enjoying these and they cost just a fraction of my Sony bodies. Thinking of selling the Sony bodies and lenses since they still hold value. For what I do (street photography, events) I could probably do everything with the 5D Mark II.
I have Sony and so far they are suitable for what I am doing
@@philliphickox4023 Nothing beats Sony when it comes to autofocus and fast action stuff. But unless I am photographing my son - 4 years old - that moves at the speed of light, I can shoot everything more or less with old Canon bodies. One thing I can't stand with Sony bodies is the grip.
On another note, my RX100 III and RX100 VII are my most used cameras. I take them almost everywhere with me.
@@lucasliaskos I hadn't intended to go down the Sony route, I was actually looking at Nikon or Canon, but a barely used Sony A6000 came up, she had dropped the initial asking price by quite a lot, so I thought I'd give it ago.
Absolutely, would love to see you shoot professionally on a 5D MkII and see the results!
I build my own desktop PCs, they last on average 5 years plus, they're never at the cutting edge when I build them. I buy secondhand camera bodies and mostly secondhand glass. I never made a purchase before I've researched if I could sell it on with out making much, if there was any loss.
Now all I need is to develop some skills, that's the big ask, can I?
My studio work camera is a 5Ds. But I still shoot a lot of the wedding portraits with a 5Dc, it hurts that they still prefer those images from the classic. I would love to see you go back in time and shoot a bridal studio potrait with a 5Dc and ONE 500w BRX and a white shoot tru brolly
I aim to have gear that is about 5% better than I am.
It's not holding me back, and I'm not spending extra on features I can't use.
I've got a lot of practice to do reach that target for my current gear.
I bought a Canon 50D back when it first came out. My only regret was buying the kit with the 18-200mm lens. I stopped using that when I purchased a 24-105 and 10-22. I've been using that camera since it came out in 2008, the longest I had ever used a camera body. As I'm more of a backcountry photographer, that camera has been through a lot and is starting to have some issues with one dial and some dents that might be compromising the weather sealing. I love that camera, but I think it's time for something new and my goal was to buy a recent generation mirrorless so it will last me another 15 years or so.
I'm also getting into video and it would be nice to have the video features that current cameras have regarding resolutions and framerates as well as the AI autofocus systems and IBIS. Now maybe I'm just buying into the hype, but I've noticed the limitations of shooting video on older cameras. But I'm with you here. I've struggled with the decision on whether to get a mirrorless body or buy a used 5D mk 4 or mk 3, but with mirrorless as the future, I think that will be the way to go. Since I'm not shooting professionally, I'm not in need of a second identical body. Instead, I may get a second cheaper body that I won't feel so bad abusing when I'm out backpacking but can still deliver adequate performance in a compact and lightweight kit. Again, I'm not doing this professionally, but I have been approached and sold photographs for commercial use.
I bought 2 hassy h1s 20ys ago with film and digi backs to go pro ill health stopped this unfortunately ones still in its boxes
I've shot campaigns and have been using a canon 6D since 2019 - and maybe stubbornly feel like I'd rather invest in lenses than upgrade to a 5d M4 or 5dsr at this moment. Still, a 6D with sigma 35mm and sigma 24-70 has served me well. I've shot fashion campaigns for print and online to no drawbacks - if anything I'm considering buying a backup like you suggested
yeah you are making the right choices there
The 6D original is quite a unicorn of features in a camera and I quite like it. I spent 400 for mine with the battery grip and 4 batteries and with 3 batteries in that thing, I barely need to charge it every other week of good shooting. I've mostly got the older usm zooms and a 50 STM and 40stm but I know that the lenses are the most important part, so the 24-105 f4L is probably in my future, as well as the 85 f1.8
Yeah, I have a nikon D300 and a nikon D5300, mostly I do macro, landscape and learning fine art. I recently bought a Nikon D850.... It's a beast of a camera and I am starting to regret it, simply because I can't use it as it was intended to be used ( I have good lenses for it and lighting as well) . I don't make any money of photography, I tried doing stock.... but I don't think it is worth it. I have a full job ( living in Romania it really gives you almost no money but I'm not here to complain). The idea is that you should invest in lenses more than camera bodies. It keeps value over many years. 👌
Wow! you are so right, mirrorless, mirrorless, mirrorless, Stop!
still got and use my d2x i buy in 2008 used . and still use the lents i buy since 99
@7:50 Fary tail... 1.2 fast moving subject on 5D2...
Great video. Thanks
Glad you liked it!
I kinda wasted my money on my Hasselblad, but it did show me what I could do with just one lens. And that I should definitely sell off my unused Nikon glass. I can't quite bring myself to get rid of my Nikon kit entirely though, I still have some shoots where a hassy is not the right tool for the job. And in a pinch I can massage Nikon files and clients would never notice.
Yes please to see you shoot on an old camera 🎉
That test shoot bit reminds me of dating
Your videos are life-skill 101. Love em
New camera bodies will always depreciate fast. I agree with your conclusions for stills use in the studio - there really has been no worthwhile improvement for many years. However, for other types of work, there is some advantage in later bodies. If you shoot a lot of available light indoors or night shots, the better high ISO performance of more recent sensors can help, especially if you do not have access to fast primes on some shoots. For those needing video or hybrid capabilities, newer cameras have significantly better video capabilities, though a great deal of commercial work is still delivered in 1080p25 or 1080p30 and does not need some of the advanced autofocus capabilities of the latest bodies. Those shooting fast-moving action (wildlife, sports, aircraft) might get more keepers with the latest autofocus systems, but there are still plenty of working pros using older bodies and getting excellent results.
As you said in the video: your skills matter most of all. Given a decent lens, decent light and a working body, someone with good skills will get the shot.
An extreme example of amateurs putting a vast amount of money into bodies was a couple I met on holiday in November last year. They had a Sony A1 body each, were waiting for a Sony A7RV to be delivered when they got home, and only had one lens each with them (can't remember whether it was a 24-105mm f/4 or a 24-70mm f/2.8). They said they had more lenses at home but had chosen to travel light, which is understandable for a holiday. As they can afford those bodies, good luck to them - though it isn't where I'd spend the money if I was going to spend all that money on gear. Though I do shoot modern Sony mirrorless gear, the new value of the items in my entire bag was the same as one new Sony A1 body - and much of that value was in the lenses, flash and microphones that I will probably be using for the next ten years. Bodies are a tool and nothing more - they depreciate badly, especially the latest models. The best strategy is as you recommend - buy a body or, if shooting commercially, a pair of bodies that are sufficient for your needs but no more.
Also, cameras have improved massively since the 5dII. Eye autofocus alone makes mirrorless cameras worth it
Do you mean eye controlled autofocus (it picks points based on where you are looking) or eye-tracking autofocus? The former was at its best in the EOS 3, and its reintroduction has been spotty. But eye tracking is unbelievable for those using these cameras to shoot moving subjects or video.
You may have missed the part in this video where he said he has no problem focusing with his 5DII with an f1.2 lens.
I've worked with the 5DmkII professionally. When I was done with it, it looked far worse than your copy. 😁
Wise words indeed!
I dont think any serious photographers will disagree... but there's a problem. At least here in the US, some of the people running these companies that freelancers shoot for want you to give them a kit list, and they actively discriminate based on your kit, probably by looking at amazon listings or something. The "no crop bodies" line always gets me too. Fuji called and would like to have a word with you XD
100% I would shoot a job with my 5D Mark II. Its AF is fast and accurate - like, kind of unnervingly good for its age. And with the 135mm f/2 or the 200mm f/2.8 it looks every bit as good as mirrorless cameras today. Oh, and the battery life with the grip is 5x better than mirrorless cameras. If someone needed a bit more megapixels or just wanted newer kit for peace of mind, I've started seeing Craigslist ads for the Mark IV, with a lens, for $600-800. Sell the lens for $400 and suddenly you've got a modern-featured camera for only a couple hundred. Lots of people are selling off these amazing DSLRs to get an R5 or R6 and so the market is flooded with them.
I still arrive with my 5d2, and customers looks wtf. But its cheap and it does the work as good as a gfx or a7rv.
Tried to subscribe to your channel, but an error message keeps popping up. ?
Recently I threw money at a fancy tripod. Hey, look at me … I can now focus, compose and adjust the thing whilst holding a convo, all without losing my tiny mind 🤗
I have a question on how you feel about vintage lenses , I have found great quality in vintage lenses (mind you i am no professional but learning to be one)
Yeah the lenses I use are Mamiya RZ which are probably classed as vintage today.
@@TinHouseStudioUK I am very pleased with a vintage carl zeiss 135 mm, happy to hear you aren't against vintage 😅
@Sonybo100 The newest glass can be highly corrected to create near-perfect images if you like that look. Vintage glass allows you to create meaningful departures from reality. Both are worth owning if you can afford them. Because I like view cameras, I would love to own mid-range vintage glass like the Kodak Commercial Ektar or the Gorez Dagor. In mint condition, these lenses are very expensive.
@@chesslover8829 I absolutely agree, I shoot with only vintage lenses because I can not afford a new one, recently bought my first new glass ,a samyang 75 and honestly, my vintage Zeiss 105mm creates sharper images. The only reason I see for some modern glass is being able to use it natively with my camera to use autofocus for videowork since sometimes with a gimbal it's really hard to search for focus and move at the same time.
@@chesslover8829 Also the colors are just beautiful out of vintage glass, but lense flares can be annoying with vintage glass sometimes. Overall I am very pleased with the learning experience I get with completely manual lenses. I now understand what modern glass makes easier
totally agree i am more in film world but still getting red etc only to hype doesnt make sense
YES! Shut with 5DmarkII half of a day and 5Ds second half! Let's see who can spot the difference... I did it with 5D Mark I and 5Ds and colors out of 5D were always better and easier and faster to work with. Let's see if somebody can recognize that earthy look (tonality wise) of Mark II files... I guess nobody because you will be using high power flash and your poparty way of color correction 🎉
I loved the colours with the mk1. Was it a CCD?
No . The only canon dslr with CCD sensor was very first EOS 1D 4Mpix as far as I know.
hey, maybe try to do something worthy on a really junk camera like G9. Seems like they have hot shoe and they've been battered by smartphones lately.
Oooh I’ll look into them. I might even have one at a family members house
Absolutely buy old cameras and buy a generation old pro glass. Still rocking a Nikon D2X, old pro bodies are absolute tanks and still look sweet in decent light 👍
Aye, make the video please Scott
Having watched my precious Sony Mirrorless body bleed value (even though I bought it 2nd hand) at a rate of approximately €100 per month, I can’t agree more & have learned my lesson. I also haven’t been putting in the work to get the jobs to justify it. So had to sell it & move on. Won’t make that mistake again.
I know it's a different branch of photography, but most of the Cinematographers I work with don't own a camera. They rent whatever is required for a film/TV production & if they want to do personal work, they have such good business relationships with the rental companies, they will get the gear for free, or they will agree to help the company with their marketing/endorsements etc.
... i will shoot it with a canon 6d :) waiting for your new video ☘
0:00 introduction
0:10 buy #1: a good computer
1:07 buy #2: your portfolio
2:17 buy #3: lenses - the best you can afford
3:07 buy #4: lights
3:45 waste: camera bodies
I agree 100%. Great video!
My “best” lens, or I should say, my most artistically creative lens was $30 and came from a security camera. It’s milky, soft, flares like the surface of the sun; the bokeh is swirly and unintelligible and it tends to unscrew itself over the course of a session. But it makes f*ckn beautiful portraits if I can nail my focus.
I know absolutely f-all about cameras gear haha. As long as it takes photos, good for me. So yeah go for it! :D
There’s no problem having several camera bodies. Just make sure you don’t buy them new. I’m an amateur, but have several great camera bodies. Something like 10 or 11. None of them has costed me more than £400. Most of them costed between £100 and £200. The same with lenses. I have nice lenses, mostly L glass. Most of them bought at half the sales price. Same with speed lights.
Would I like to have the latest and greatest? Sure, but even surer is that I don’t want to pay for it.
For still photography there’s no problem using 10 or even 20 year old cameras. My favourite ones at the moment are the 1Ds Mk.II and the 5D. Great cameras. The 1Ds Mk II costed something like £7-8000 new. It still takes as good pictures as it did then. I paid less than £200 for it. People tend to forget that great photographers took great pictures 15 years ago as well. There’s really no need for 20fps, ISO 104k, 50mpixel, instant eye detect, 6K-ready mirrorless cameras for the majority of us.
And yes, having a good computer helps. I have a 2009 Mac Pro that I paid £250 for. And that was 3 years ago. Updated it as far as I could, and it is a beast today. 2x 3,46Ghz 6-core CPU’s, 96Gb of RAM and 2 Tb of SSD hard drives. Total cost after the upgrade was something like £550. Buy everything used. Buy things that was top of the line in the past, and it will work great with other top of the line stuff from the same generation.
thanks