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So main wedding season is nearly on us and the camera war has once again begun, as with most pro wedding togs our buying decisions are based on business practice and whether we will gain more customers or better quality vs the amount of investment. The other part of the industry ( the weekenders ) just buys whatever whenever without the need to worry too much about that , often without the experience to actually use anywhere near the feature list of the top spec cameras anyway.
So we use the Canon 5D2s which until last month were really the best bang for buck on the market for the job , beating easily the Nikon D700 and trumping the Canon 1Dmk3 in some respects, now we have new top end cameras from Nikon and Canon and a new 2nd in line from Nikon. However the Nikon field has been split between a massively high megapixel with no improvement and a lower megapixel than the 5d2 with ISO improvement. Now we are happy at the 21mp mark and shooting iso3200 is no problem at all - combined with 1.2 lenses we can easily cope with low light situations ... so what on earth can canon now do - they need to entice us to purchase new equipment but can they really provide better or are they just going to do what nikon appear to have done and move the goal posts ??...
Obviously without real world ISO examples the press and media hype is all to well known at the launch of new cameras, so is it yet again going to be a case of waiting it out till something interesting comes out and then give it some time to get really tested before investing ? I cant see any massive need right now apart from the love of having new stuff. I could quite easily invest that money elsewhere more sensibly and make more money from the investment too ...
What are other canon wedding togs thinking at the moment ?
I have no idea what other photographers are thinking, But look at it this way, If whatever brand and model of camera you where using 2 weeks ago, Was good enough then, What has changed because a few new toys have been made available two weeks later.
Quote: beating easily the Nikon D700 and trumping the Canon 1Dmk3
LOL, I had no idea there was a competition, Or that the 1D MkIII was good or bad at playing cards, For some strange reason I thought a camera was a camera, But only as good as the person using it......
I seriously doubt than any photographer with full books is worrying about camera gear, More likely wondering if any of the bookings will go wrong, Or the venues burn down on the day.
Just my take mind.....
We have pretty full books , and when bookings go wrong or venues go bust thats just something you deal with.
The camera is as good as the person using it - However if you have two equally good photographers and ones camera is better then ......
Its always been the case especially with weddings due to the low light fast nature of some parts that ISO capability has been paramount and without a shadow of a doubt for me has made a difference in my photography having a much more capable iso camera so as not to rely on flash and still get a good sharp shot, if you think otherwise then you havent shot weddings with a variety of SLRs.
Quote: So main wedding season is nearly on us and the camera war has once again begun, as with most pro wedding togs our buying decisions are based on business practice and whether we will gain more customers or better quality vs the amount of investment. The other part of the industry ( the weekenders ) just buys whatever whenever without the need to worry too much about that , often without the experience to actually use anywhere near the feature list of the top spec cameras anyway.
I find this extremely offensive and demeaning. You may have taken the time to look around this site and will have seen some photographs taken by Weekenders who despite not having the funds to buy 1D's 5D's D700's or any of the other high end cameras, still manage to produce some stunning images.
"just buys whatever and whenever" Everybody buys within their means. This statement also puts down photographers who are lucky enough to be able to afford high end cameras. Maybe they are not "professionals", but they take pride in the fact that they can afford and use such technology
"often without the experience to actually use anywhere near the feature list of the top spec cameras anyway"
How dare you assume that "weekenders" do not have the ability, experience and knowledge to understand their camera.
You may well be a pro wedding tog but your attitude towards others is far from professional.
I am so annoyed by this that I am going to stop now before I go into a complete rant.
I think, Willpower, that Pulsar69 was referring to "Weekender" semi-pro wedding photographers, rather than to genuine amateurs like you and me.
We know that many keen amateurs take better photographs than some full-time professionals and we all know the reasons for that. We also know that all generalisations are dangerous.
I have just had a look at your portfolio and that of Pulsar69 and yes, in my opinion and purely on the basis of the images you have displayed, yours are far more skillfully executed. But, again, I would hesitate to generalise from a fairly small selection of images, especially when viewed on a computer monitor. We also know that no-one in their right mind displays their best photographs on here or on any other website.
So, assuming that I am right that Pulsar69 was not suggesting that professionals are better than amateurs, I don't think you need too rant to vehemously.
.
Yeah 69, very strange times at the moment and am considering upgrades like you.
For me, the high iso Nikons have been a revelation and coupled with the 12Mp they really give great bang for the buck. Do I want 14Mp and video for £2300?...not sure. Do I want a D4?...probably!
I'm personally holding back here because the 2013 bookings are coming in very slowly, there is interest but brides are being very cautious and we are being squeezed on price continually.
Re weekenders - shoot with what you like...just pay your taxes like everyone else...
Thank you very much for your comments LeftForum. But far from being a discussion on comparisons between my meagre attempts and the professional images in Pulsar's portfolio, my whole point was to argue against the apparent disdain that Pulsar holds for other photographers.
In my opinion it is unacceptable that a member of EPZ, especially one purporting to be a Professional, should be making such sweeping statements that can only have detrimental effects on less experienced but enthusiastic members.
It would be great if everyone had the abilities to handle the capabilities of their cameras, actually that comes from having the time and having sufficient interest to progress. However according to Pulsar, that is supposedly the difference professional and amateur. This is blatantly not the case.
Amateurs rely upon constructive criticism and encouragement to progress, not being put down. To suggest that some amateurs (or should that be "weekenders" ) are not at all capable of handling high end cameras is wrong on so many levels and to make that suggestion is wholly unprofessional.
Lets use a possible analogy. My 5.5 year old Honda CRV is in my view ready for exchange because it is getting well used - nd I need a reliable vehicle.
I do some off road and the choice is between a new CRV and Freelander. Have been on Land Rover off road test tracks and worked very hard to get the deal I wanted - a Freelander is ordered.
Honda have some very "add on" deals right now - and a Land Rover dealer went some way to competing.
I know a new CRV is due at the year end - but "now" is the right time for me to get a new vehicle.
I do not do weddings, but if I did unless my clients could regularly afford top quality prints bigger than 20 inches wide, 10-12 MP bodies produce good enough results relative to the amount most brides want to pay.
If I did not do some off road I would be unlikely to consider a 4x4.
Going back to the less controversial element of what Pulsar said, I think that it is perfectly understandable that professionals will "hold back" on any new product.
As I have said umpteen times on this Forum, one of the huge advantages that amateurs have over professionals is that they do not have to justify their purchases in commercial terms and can indulge their whims within the limits of their budget. That is one reason why I believe that in photography, as in many other pursuits, it is amateurs who spearhead technological and artistic development. Let's not forget, either, that as the ratio of amateurs to professionals must be many hundreds (thousands?) to one, clearly the manufacturers are going to pay much more attention to the demands/wishes/fantasies of amateur photographers than to the needs of hard-headed professionals.
Sorry Willpower you have completely mis-read what i have said , talking about weekend wedding photographers and the term weekender in our business means just that , not having a go at amateur semi pros or any levels simply stating that the part time wedding photographer who earns extra cash on their day job can afford to buy ' whatever ' and this is simple fact.
Here we go again, "weekend warrior" as some here refer to people such as myself. Or at will do very soon as currently I'm getting quotes for pro insurance and seeking advice on setting up as a business and paying tax for any money I am to be paid.
So no we are not all tax dodgers, people who do dodge paying for tax and or insurance are just crooks plain and simple and come in many forms
I wonder if other part time workers get called tax dodgers by their full time equals.
Seems there are a lot of full time photographers who can't deal with competition and try and sling mud instead.
Edit
This is aimed at scottishphototours comment
Quote: stating that the part time wedding photographer who earns extra cash on their day job can afford to buy ' whatever ' and this is simple fact.
No it's not, it's conjecture on your part with absolutely no supporting evidence.
Quote: yawn - obviously no sensible behaviour coming from here tonight ...
Great rebuttal, that told us.
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