Ask any experienced photographer whether to buy a new camera or buy a new lens and the answer will usually be “the lens.” That will be followed by “it’s all about the glass,” or, “a good lens is more important than a good camera.” They might also say that a bad lens on a good camera will still make poor images, but a good lens on a poor or average camera will still give the photographer good results.
I have written about this topic before and always discussed lenses when I taught photography.
This past week I had a visit from a photographer who was planning on starting a business that would include photographing products, and wondered about getting a new camera.
The lure of new photo equipment is almost overwhelming. Most photographers are willing to add new photo paraphernalia to their camera bag as soon as there’s a bit of extra cash in their pockets. Hmm … sometimes that might be more emotional and impulsive than sensible.
Each season, camera manufacturers come out with new cameras. There is lots of advertising, many reviews to read and there are hours of YouTube programs by previously unknown experts talking about how each new camera made them better photographers.
I’ll admit that I read and watch as many programs as I can about the new cameras. However, as exciting and tantalizing as each manufacturer’s camera offering is, my belief is still that “a good lens is more important than a good camera.”
So when I talked to that soon-to-be product photographer, my suggestion was not to change her camera, but to keep it and start researching the kind of lenses that would work best with the kind of photography she would be doing.
My advice was to buy the best lens she could afford. I know the lens that came with the camera seems to do a great job when viewed on her small laptop monitor. But what if her client wanted to publish or print that image?
Of course it’s fun to drool over that expensive new camera, but for now begin with putting the best lens you can on the camera you presently own. I read an article by Thephotoacadamy.com that says choose the camera for resolution, image noise and colour depth. The camera mostly just records the image created by the lens and because of the ever-increasing number of megapixels in today’s digital cameras, lens quality is has become more important than ever.
It is all about the glass and there is an exciting diversity of lenses out there waiting for each photographer to choose, discard, and choose again as they explore and create within this stimulating medium.
Stay safe and be creative. These are my thoughts for this week. Contact me at www.enmanscamera.com or emcam@telus.net.
