Every time a new, awesome camera is released, I start thinking of all the reasons I need it.
Canon 5Ds? Check.
Blackmagic URSA Mini? Check.
Sony A7R II? Double check.
I mean, the A7R II does about everything I could possibility want in a camera today. But it has one major limiting factor… Me.
I see amazeballs photos captured with the A7R II or insane 4K video and I’m like, “boom, that’s what I need.” And yet, this is really all about GAS (gear acquisition syndrome).
I love cameras, lenses and accessories. Heck, I’ve got a whole blog where I write pretty much about nothing but camera gear. And, fortunately, I get to use a whole lot of cool camera gear because a few people read this blog.
But when it comes down to it, I’m the biggest limitation in my own photography.
Years ago, I was into cycling pretty heavily. And cycling is oddly like photography in a lot of ways . It can be a very expensive hobby and comes complete with GAS. You can buy a $500 entry-level bike or a $10,000 high-end pro-level bike.
The big difference is the weight of the bikes – with the $5k+ bikes being ridiculously lightweight. You can seriously pick these high end bikes up with one finger. An entry-level bike might be in the low to mid 20lbs range, while a high-end $10k bike might be in the 15lbs range.
So that can be $9k-ish difference to save five or six pounds. And amateur cyclists addicted to this hobby buy in hook, line and sinker. No one stops to tell us (and we never realize on our own) that the biggest difference in a bike’s weight is made up by adjusting the weight of the schmuck sitting on top of it.
Unless you are racing in the Tour de France, the weight of your bike is probably the least of your concerns. Perhaps avoiding the doughnuts and cupcakes would be a better budget plan.
The same is true with photography and camera gear.
Even though I lust for the next great camera, I have somehow stuck with my Canon 5D Mark II for the past 7 years. I bought it the week that it was released back in Fall 2008 (definitely a GAS-related purchase) and it hasn’t left my side since.
I have come up with plenty of good reasons to replace it over the years. The 5D Mark III was especially tempting. But I keep talking myself out of it because it is good enough for me and I remain the biggest limiting factor in the photos I produce on my 5D Mark II.
I can probably count on one hand the number of times the 5D Mark II has caused me to miss “the” shot over the past seven years. And I have completely lost count of the number of times my own brain has caused me to miss “the” shot over the past seven years. Again, I am the biggest limitation of this camera.
Sure, I would like a little better AF performance in low light. Maybe some better noise control beyond ISO 1600. But seriously, there are very few times when I’m like “I can’t do anything with this shot because of my camera.” It’s plenty good enough for me.
So, back to the Sony A7R II…
It’s pretty ridiculous. Canon lens AF adapters for the A7R II give it solid AF with Canon lenses? Come on. Tempt me more why don’t you. I’ve got a whole bag full of Canon lenses just waiting to sit on the end of the A7R II.
I can shoot 4K video onto an SD card in S-Log2 with the A7R II. Every lens gets image stabilization with Sony’s sick new 5-axis SteadyShot. It has the best sensor ever rated on DxO Mark. I’ve almost talked myself into buying this camera again…
So, why haven’t I ordered the A7R II yet?
Because I don’t need a 15-pound road bike. I need to stop eating doughnuts.
My 5D Mark II still works fine. One of these days I’ll pull the trigger on something new. It may be something from Sony or it may be something from Canon. Or, it may be something else entirely.
By all reports, Sony has delivered an incredible camera with the A7R II and if you’re in the market for a new camera, it certainly deserves a look.
But before you order the A7R II or any new camera with dreams and expectations that all your photography woes will fall to the wayside, take a long hard look in the mirror and ask yourself if that camera in your bag today is your biggest limitation. It may be that the person looking back at you in the mirror is what’s holding you back.
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