Seriously... Is Gear THAT Essential?
The answer to that question is subjective. Just like the answer to "Whats makes a great image?" is subjective. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder right?
So, do you need the very best of the best to get great images? NO.
Can it help? Yes... if you know what you're doing.
So what is the big deal then? Why do Nikon, Canon, Sony and all of the others sell camera bodies that cost over $5,000 and lenses that cost twice that (or more)? The reason is that in order to get certain types of shots, you do need specialized pieces of equipment. However, gear alone isn't the solution. Gear is a tool to use towards obtaining a solution. With the solution being getting the very best image possible. Keep in mind though that all of the fancy equipment in the world can't help you if you don't know how to use it.
The picture on the left is one of my favorites. I took that at the end of a bridge in 2006. I noticed the beautiful colors of the sunset and at the time I was new to digital photography (outside of using a point and shoot).
During this time of my life I kept my Nikon D70s and the 18-70 kit lens it came with on me at all times. I loved that camera. I worked hard to afford that camera. I carried it everywhere. It was my constant companion, and in my opinion I got some really great images with it. Every now and then I'll see a D70s pop up for sale for around $100 or so and I'm tempted, purely for nostalgia sake, to buy it. I don't of course, but when I see one it reminds me of the fun I had and the experiences.
Now, you may not love that image like I do. I don't care. It will always be a favorite of mine. I do regret one thing about it, and the others I took that night. I shot this image in JPG. Looking back I wish I had known then, what I know now. Shooting in RAW is always going to give you more options in post processing, but I LEARNED A LOT using that D70s, including how to shoot RAW and more.
I digress... back to the question at hand. The simple answer is no. You don't need the absolute best of the best to obtain great images. Partly because with skill, luck, patience and determination you can get great images without spending a ton of money, which coincidentally is the whole point of this "Broke Photographer" endeavor of mine.
However, it is important to remember and keep in mind that there are limitations you will face
So, what am I not going to be able to replicate without having specialized equipment? What are the other limitations I might face?
One of the main things you'll miss out on is bokeh - the out of focus area behind your subject. Fast lenses make it easier to separate your subject from the background. Bokeh is that blurry, creamy etherial background behind your subject that doesn't distract from the image. Can you get good bokeh at larger apertures? Yes, photographers do it all the time, but you need long lenses and a lot of distance between your subject and the background for this to work. Prime lenses make this easier, a 50mm f/1.8 or f/1.4 prime lens allows you to use the benefit of a shallow depth of field to eliminate the background from a portrait.
When you see a "pro" photographer you'll notice they have certain lenses in their kit. You'll fast primes (fixed focal distance and fixed aperture), fast constant aperture zooms and sometimes fixed focal length telephoto lenses with fixed "fast" apertures as well. Kit lenses on the other hand aren't "fast", typically they have variable apertures and are built to lower standards than the "pro lenses".
So, can you get "good bokeh" from a kit lens or a lens without a super fast aperture like f/1.8, f/2.8 or f/4? Sometimes yes, the conditions have to be right and like I stated previously, your hit rate will be lower.
You can't get this circular effect without a fisheye.
So, what else is there that I should consider?
There are certain artistic limitations you'll face. Normal lenses can't replicate the distortion or ability to represent circular images like a fisheye can. A kit lens zoom isn't going to give you the reach and ability to shoot from a distance like a large telephoto will. Consumer grade bodies don't give you the FPS and autofocus capabilities that come with more expensive bodies. Does that mean you can't get an amazing picture of a bird in flight? No. Does it mean you'll have to work harder for it? Absolutely.
Like so many things in life the answer to this whole thing is so much more gray than it is black and white. People get great images from their cell phones these days. People get amazing images using 50 year old adapted lenses mounted to camera bodies they were never meant for. This hobby should be about the challenge of getting that end result. How hard did you work for that image? Doesn't it always feel better to earn something, to work for it? I know I loved that D70s almost twenty years ago. I wouldn't go back and trade that experience for anything, especially the thrill of getting a couple of amazing sunset photos on my way into work one evening.
Certain situations and shooting environments do benefit from specialized equipment. Is it impossible to get an amazing shot with a camera body or lens that isn't as fast or doesn't have the same frame rate? No, but you're going to miss more than you hit, and that is ok. It should be ok. This about the journey more than it is the destination. Great photos are like Lays potato chips, you can't have just one.
We have become trained to want the next big thing. More megapixels, faster glass, more FPS. To what end? If it truly benefits the type of shooting you do, and it will truly help you take your photography to the next level, then maybe those things are a worthy investment.
Do you simply enjoy taking photos and like a challenge, or want to see what you can do with what you have then stick with me as we explore this together.