Why are cameras so expensive– and why spend so much money on cameras, and photography equipment?
Illustrations by ANNETTE KIM x HAPTICPRESS.
Here are some truths about cameras in photography:
- No digital camera will get better with age. At best, a digital camera (like a phone) will only be good for around 3-4 years (if you take really good care of it). Even iPhone, most people only own it for 2 years (part of the “upgrade cycleâ€). With digital cameras, it seems that models get outdated every 1-2 years. Solution: Film cameras are much more robust, especially the pure mechanical cameras (film Leica, Hasselblad). Buy FILM NOTES.
- No matter how innovative, exciting, new, expensive the camera you buy, you will get “used to it.†This is called “hedonic treadmillâ€â€” hedonism (pleasure) treadmill (you have to keep running to stay in place). This is why whenever you buy a new fancy car, you get “used to it†only after a month, until you buy the next new car. Solution: Anticipate the “hedonic treadmill†effect, and don’t expect a new camera to bring you pleasure forever.
- Buy cheap digital cameras, anticipating them to soon get outdated. Buy a RICOH GR II.
- Just shoot with your phone. Preferably iPhone (has better software to process your photos).
- Buy an old full-frame Canon5D (Mark II) if you want “bokeh†or if you shoot weddings or commercial work.
- Don’t get excited to buy a new camera. Just treat it like an emotionless, necessity. This will prevent you from getting drunk off the Kool Aid of new hyped up digital cameras.
- Read old reviews of the digital camera you ALREADY own, to find more gratitude for it.
- Buy 6 month old “new†digital cameras on the used market. You’ll get a much better deal on the camera…up to 30% discount. Apparently for cars, just buy a 3-year old Japanese car, for maximum “bang for the buck.â€
- Rent new digital cameras for a weekend, for fun. Or test a new digital camera for a month for fun, then return it on Amazon (if it has a 30day return policy). Just get the hype out of your system.
- Just go out and shoot it. The best panacea (solution) to any distress in photography.
CONQUER GAS
GAS: (Gear Acquisition Syndrome): wanting to buy new cameras, because you feel like your photos aren’t good enough, because your camera isn’t good enough:
- Why Do We Buy Cameras?
- Why Camera Companies Want You to Be Perpetually Dissatisfied With Your Gear
- DSLR CAMERAS ARE LAME.
- Why You Shouldn’t Go Into Debt For Your Photography
- PHOTOGRAPHY SLAVES
- How to Conquer GAS
- How to Stop Pixel-Peeping
- Why I Shoot With One Camera and One Lens
- 30 Tips to Conquer G.A.S. (Gear Acquisition Syndrome)
- Gear Allergy Syndrome
- Disregard Differences, Notice Similarities
- More Megapixels, More Problems
- Sensor Envy
- If Your Camera Isn’t Good Enough, Your Camera isn’t Expensive Enough
- How to Be Grateful For What You Have
- Having No Choices is the Ultimate Freedom
- Technology Won’t Fix Your Problems
- Why is Image Quality Important?
- Why Sharpness is Overrated in Street Photography