 BetterPhoto Member |
Wondering What Equipment To Buy To Go Professional I have recently stepped over into the "semi professional" realm and am looking to buy new equipment. Currently have the Canon EOS Elan II and am looking into the Canon Elan 7 or 7E. Is this a good choice? (My camera has the eye controlled focus function and I never use it, so don't really need it in my next camera.) I'm just doing freelance work, mostly portraits... nothing too fancy. And what about the Canon EOS 1V or EOS 3? Such a huge jump in price... but is it worth it? By the way, I really don't want to go digital yet! Am just really confused at this point and wanting to make a quality purchase! Thanks for your help!
|
|
|
|
||
|
x |
I'm doing the same thing and just invested in Canon EOS 1V's. I have been using the Canon EOS system for 12 years and used to drool over the EOS 1. So, my dream is coming true :) You should get a varied response. I used to be a muscian (well, technically, I still am). When I taught guitar, my students used to ask me questions like what kind of guitar they should get. I used to say Pete Twonsend uses one kind, Jimmy Page another, Jimi Hendrix used a Strat, and many other great musicians use other brands too. It always depended on what you were trying to accomplish; and the sound you wanted, as well as what you can afford. My students also use to look at my guitar and say, "boy, if I could only have one like yours". So, I used to ask them if I could play theirs for a minute. They would always oblige, and I would play what they were unable to play on their own instrument; and it would sound like it did when I was playing it on my guitar. The point is, it ain't the equipment. And, as far as anyone telling you what to get, you'll get opinions until you are so confused you don't know what to do. The best advice I hear is to just shoot and let the art lead you. When you get to a point where your photos are not up to par with your ability, then maybe your equipment is lacking. So, you start looking for something new. Eventually though, I do believe, you will find that new equipment will not make your pictures any better. One really spectaular shot I took once was from a little plastic camera I bought in Mexico. I would show it here, but I'd have to scan it and it's framed and all and haging on our wall. I'd have to contend with my wife about why I'm taking the picture apart, and I'd rather not. In my search for why I wanted to upgrade my equipment I had to screen out all the noise. In something like what you are going through, there is a period of noise. That's where you learn about everything that is available to you. Then, you should have a period of quiet reflection, where you cut out the noise and deeply evaluate your needs. It is unnecessary to spend money if it will not make a difference for you. I agonized this way about Medium format equipment. But, once I cut the noise, I realized that I didn't need it. The reason is that I am not familiar with it, and right now is not the time to learn a new format. I need to perfect my current 35mm shooting. That's where I want to concentrate. My wife gave me a great idea, and that is to rent medium format equipment every once in a while just to get my feet wet and learn how to use it! Great idea. It saves me money and time. And I will get to use many different cameras (Hasselblad, Contax, Pentax, Mamyia) and decide which I like better; which feels better. Anyway, I hope I've helped a little. I do not think there is a straight forward answer to your question, but I do understand the torment.
|
|
|
|
||
|
Jon Close |
There isn't enough functional difference between the Elan II and 7 to justify a replacing one for the other. But it's a good choice if you are adding a 2nd body as the controls are the same. The extra cost of the 3 and 1v is as much due to the more rugged/weather-proofed build as to the extended feature set. For your stated use (freelance/portrait) I think you'd get more return from $1000+ spent on lighting/stands/umbrellas/reflectors/backdrops and/or pro-level lenses than on another body.
|
|
|
|
||
|
Ronal Jeffries |
I have sold many picture with the equipment that I already have. Every opinion written on each camera I have people state this camera is a good starter. Well I have made some good money with all these starter cameras. No one has ever stated that a photo that I have taken would have looked better if I had shot it with a new expensve camera. Your ability will dictate what equipment you need. I get bored with studio work so all I do is Family on holidays and they don't spend money, I have some fun, the photo hangs on the wall. If you want to see starter cameras go to my galleri and check it out. Good luck
|
|
|
|
||
|
Carey Yazeed |
It is not the camera that makes you a professional, but the person holding the camera. You have what I call the new camera itch! I agree with everyone else, rent or borrow equipment that you are interested in purchasing and see if it is what you really need. Personally, I went through the same dilemma that you are having, purchased a bunch of "professional stuff" and in the end went back to my starter camera and doing environmental portraits and sold everything else. I still get the new camera itch sometimes. Good luck!
|
|
|
|
||
|
howard kolus |
Jerry Frazier's response is one of the clearist and most helpful I've read here. He is so right. U can spend a lot of money and end up buying the wrong stuff if don't know where ure going. As others have said, and Jerry illustrated with his guitar example, it's the player not the instrument that creates the art.
|
|
|
|
||
|
Ray |
I just did the same thing. I bought a used 1N in like new condition with the Power Booster and a new flash unit for about $300 more than the 7E body. It shoots like a dream, is as rugged as a 1V and can do almost everthing the 1V does. Face it, when your are just getting started having equipment that just screams professional can get you the gig.
|
|
|
|
||
|
Mark Kononczuk |
I am in exactly the same place. I have always only used slide, however this is becoming increasingly difficult to sell. So, I need to go digital and was afraid of buying gear that will be too low in MP in a year or two. I was tempted by medium format some years ago but quickly went to large format which I found incredible but utterly useless for documentary/travel photography which is what I do.Still, some of the best stuff I have ever done is in large format, so in a sense, for me, different equipment really made the difference.
|
|
|
|
||
|
This old forum is now archived. Use improved Forum here
Report this Thread |
||