Avoid Buyer's Remorse, Learn From My Mistakes!
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- čas přidán 27. 06. 2024
- I share my biggest purchase regrets after buying thousands of dollars worth of camera gear. I hope you can learn from my mistakes and I would love to hear your own purchase regrets and why. Cheers, Duade
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Chapters
00:00 Biggest Regrets
00:17 #1 Flash
02:23 #2 UV Filter
03:34 #3 Camera Upgrade
06:21 #4 2x Extender
08:07 #5 Second Hand Gear
10:02 #6 Paying Retail
11:10 #7 Cheap Memory Cards
12:30 #8 Buying Cheap
13:58 #9 Not taking more photos
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Here's my two cents. Stay off of Amazon or B&H if you've been drinking. In fact, even if it's late at night and you're sober, wait until the next morning and look at it again.
Yeah, your last regret is my biggest. I love taking photos of wildlife, primarily birds. But the pictures that will really matter to me 10 years down the road are of my friends and family - especially pictures of those who won’t be there any more to share them. I have a hundred thousand pictures of wildlife in my Lightroom catalog, but only 10s of pictures of my wife of 44 years who passed away unexpectedly earlier in the year. Thankfully, there are more photos of her in my phone (backed up, of course!) There are even fewer photos of my close friends who share my love of wildlife photography and, frankly, make my outings infinitely more enjoyable. Great video, Duade. Thank you for your insights. On my next outing, you can bet I will be taking more pics of my photography buddies!
Such incredible advice!
That`s so true!!!!
Just a suggestion, But some times photos just stay locked up on our digital media hard drives. Go get then printed now.
Yeah. I was at a vacation last month, of around 5,000 clicks hardly any was family ! So last Wednesday when we went out, I made sure we clicked a lot of human ! Was happy to see them later ! Lot more than a perfect bird click.
Thanks for the wonderful comment and it makes me happy to hear you will be sure to take shots of your friends. So sorry to hear about the loss of your wife, you must have shared many wonderful memories in 44 years. Take care, Duade
Amazing how the those diabolical UV/Clear filters destroy an image
whereas a polarizer, ND, graduated ND filter, even stacked, magically do no harm.
Tiz always nice to hear that others regret spending on “STUFF” not needed because then I can tell my wife I’m not the only one…
Over the last 40 years I’ve probably wasted $5K - $10K U.S. on “buyer’s regret”. Here's the list of a few items.
1. Monopod with head - I don’t need it as I rarely use it. Image stabilization works great and lenses are small enough for the hand.
2. Memory Cards - Same here. Upgraded to the R5 and had to toss lots of CFast cards, painful.
3. UV Filters - Yep.
4. Lens - too many. Expensive paperweights so I sold (at a loss) the two I never used.
5. Ball heads - bought several of the cheap units which slipped continuously. Bought a high end ball head and now I’m happy.
6. Bought a 80L dry cabinet, should have bought the 125L
7. Regret Selling - Fujifilm X100V - loved it for street and travel
Another supremely helpful video. Candid. Concise. Correct. You’re doing lots of folks a great service, Duade, and I’ll continue to sing your praises.
Hey Duade. Great video, especially the heartfelt advice on taking more photos of friends. More of us need to bring back the photo album sitting on the coffee table.
So true!
Thanks for being so candid and open. Having buyer’s remorse is natural but keeper’s remorse can be worse. That is, holding onto gear which you no longer use or just reminds you of buyer’s remorse!
The last one taking photos of yourself and friends is GOLD. Thank you, Duade.
Duade’s advice on used gear is golden. In my experience (in Canada) in the last few years, people started being totally dishonest about the condition of their gear.
Absolutely, I won't buy anything if I don't get the opportunity to fully test it. Canadian as well, found plenty of bodies that don't match shutter count stated or have major damage/malfunctions and lenses that have evidence of fungus or of a few occasions visible fungus or condensation in them, or evidence of being dropped, etc. Half the time they have card slots that don't work.
I've had probably one bad experience out of the dozen or so times I bought used gear in MTL personally. And I could've avoided it. Always in person on Facebook.
Prices are usually very good compared to other used markets I see elsewhere, and I've had a few ridiculously good deals so far. Prices on EF L are so good these days here!
I'm extremely careful though, as a rule of thumb, anything over 200-300$ for me is almost always at least a 2 meeting transaction. One meeting to thoroughly test the gear, check the results at home on the computer, then set up the transaction.
@simonthibodeau7082 That is a good way to do it with several meetings, I personally always test whatever I'm considering buying and check it thoroughly. I've never bought a bad body or lens but have come across a lot when checking them out.
@@michaelmorris1865 I've also walked out of a few bad deals out of the dozen or so that went well.
When buying used it's important to be knowledgeable not only on the gear itself you're after (price and whatnot), but also, simply put, how not to get scammed in general when buying used camera gear. And, if you're extra, what specifically to look out for on what is it you're buying. Common issues and whatnot.
Many many times I've posted an exact listing to FB groups or forums asking for advice on the exact deal about to go down. People online can be so very helpful when it comes to avoiding bad experiences!
I will add, after some experience on the used market, you kinda also learn to get a flair on the seller by their profile, or who/how they are when you meet them in person.
And it's also why 2 meeting transactions are ideal. Scam artists are just that, artists, and in heat of the moment you don't always have time to process everything. Just going home and thinking it through can save you a lot of trouble down the line.
Even just recently I found a mint 70-200 2.8 ii for 1000 cad (an almost too good to be true price). Asked about it online, one very friendly user sent me an entire essay on what to look out for. I followed it to a T and it was such a smooth transaction. But if that guy had tried to scam me, I doubt there is much I couldn't have spotted, it was literally a 12 step program 😅
The world really has gone to crap if we can't even trust Canadians.
Dear Duade, thank you for this reminder, especially with the RF 200-800 coming up😀
I think we also must never forget that, while any new gear probably will be slightly better than your old gear, there is so much more to gain from getting closer to your subject, or better light etc. No new lens or camera body will make up for that difference.
Cheers!
Thanks and I totally agree, the best way to improve your photos is get close and shoot in nice light. Cheers, Duade
It's also easy to get the misconception that gear will overcome lack of knowledge. I think we've all made this mistake, being disappointed in our results and thinking "if I just had better gear." Yet learning to truly get better is the best thing you can do. At first, you feel overwhelmed because there's just so much to know. Gear is a much easier solution than wrapping your head around everything. Especially when "everyone" is getting this camera, or lens, or accessory. That's what you need! There's also a feeling of missing out on new and better equipment. What if you could get those few extra MP, or that bit more reach with that longer lens, or better dynamic range with that sensor. It's incredibly appealing to upgrade. While it can make up for some lack of skill, an obsolete setup will do far better with the right skills than a brand new one without them. I speak from experience of course. I think people underestimate how complicated photography can be. I've found it's best to take it one step at a time. Don't try to learn and do everything at once. Just choose one new skill to focus and work on. Test it out. Experiment. See how it works for you. Don't ignore your instincts. Sometimes I notice that early photos I took some years ago were good in ways I've almost lost, simply because I was following instinct. Now, it's almost like I have too much information in my head battling to frame, excuse the pun, photo. So t here's a balance of information, knowledge, experience, skill, and instinct. Perhaps skill is the mix of the former three with instinct. However, blind instinct doesn't often work well either. That's where we come back to feeling inadequate and looking to gear to resolve this. Because instinct without understanding what you're doing can take you down the wrong road. Then, sometimes things are plain counterintuitive to what we think should work best. Thus knowledge and experience come into play. I ramble now. Apologies.
@@jonathanscherer8567 it’s because people forget that photography is an Art form. Learning the technical side will get the picture. Learning composition and how to capture an emotion will make you a photographer. Like most art there are few universally accepted greats.
@@jonathanscherer8567I totally agree with you! I still strive to match the images l captured forty years ago with my faithful FM2 and kodachrome!
I just love to watch your videos! Waiting for your review on the canon RF 200-800mm 🤩
As always Duade, excellent commentary and points made. You are always so grounded in your approach - and it works. Personally, one of the biggest upgrades I've ever done (camera body wise) was a move from the D500/D850 to Z9. I prepared a list I held onto for 4 years of features I wanted including blackout free shooting, good battery life, fast frame rates, silent shooting, and the like. So, when the Z9 came out, I knew it was a move I had been waiting for. The question is: Did it change or help my photography? Yes AND No. There were immediate MASSIVE improvements in AF speed, subject detection (humans), now birds, and AE mistakes were immediately a thing, mostly, of the past. Silent shooting allowed me to capture images I would never have gotten before and the same with frame rates that made the work easier. I had less photographer fatigue and more FOCUS on my subject and backgrounds. If you factor in the time you spend in the field, traveling to these places, and the cost in fuel, and then ask the question: "Was it worth the upgrade?" Absolutely. Was it a "need" or a "want"? Answer: Want since I don't shoot professionally, but my time is worth something as well, and it increased my enjoyment of photography (with my friends). These improvements have now led me to focus on improving perhaps the most important aspect of my photography. Making an emotional connection of the images to the viewer. That's up to me, and between my ears! Thanks for the retro look into mistakes many of us make thinking it will help us make better images.
I'm waiting for some RF 200-800 talk also :) Will be nice to see how it compares to RF 100-500, Z 180-600 and Sonys 200-600. Love your videos!
Yep, also waiting for some RF 200-800 talk and reviews. Kinda having buyers remorse on the RF 100-400 I just purchased mid Sept. I heard about the 200-800 about 20 minutes after the 100-400 arrived ! Dang !
The only regret I have is not getting an R5. Instead, I purchased the R6, which is still a great camera. I now have R5 and it's just a much better camera for wildlife especially for small birds, that 45 megapixels makes a huge difference. I still use the R6 but with an RF 28-70mm for astro, landscapes and portrait photo and it's a great combo with that lens.
Thanks for sharing, I am exactly the same as you, I probably need to sell my R6 now as I rarely use it. Cheers, Duade
@Duade I've been thinking about doing the same thing, but then I think that I should keep the R6 incase something goes wrong with my R5.
Yes, good idea to have a backup, I have the R6II now so no real need for the original R6 for me. Cheers, DUade@@mjchayphotography
Remember the other rule of thirds. The final image is a combination of equipment, technique and post processing skills. Items 2 and 3 are cheaper than 1, so work on them also.
Not Learning about lenses and if they run well for the camera's software was my biggest mistake so far. And it's one thing I study the hell out of now.
Thanks to you and a few other CZcamsrs, I have very little buyers remorse. Thank you so much Duade for all your help, research and years of experience. It has helped me to become a much better wildlife photographer than I would be without you. Cheers mate!
Fantastic tutorial, Duade. I hope many photographers see it. The last point really hit hard. I don't like my photo being taken. I need to get over that and take photos with my friends while out shooting. Tomorrow is never promised. On further thought, for me, those photos are more important than the birds. Thank you, Duade.
The big plus of not having money and basic gears is that buyer remorse is easy to avoid.
(it's replaced by gear frustration)
Nice video, Duade. I appreciate that you’re one of the very few humble photographers here on CZcams willing to share mistakes. It benefits us all. I agree about UV filters. Never use them and restrict filters to rare instances of polarizers for slow exposures. I also relate to the idea of high expectations upon upgrading bodies. We are all guilty of that, I think. As always, thank you for your videos! 😊
Awesome video. Yes I had already observed most of what you recommend, but it's never a bad idea to have the checklist at hand when buying, or to go through it like watching this, so not to forget the important things in the future deals. I've been buying second hand now for 15 years or so. One rule that emerged: if the seller is reluctant or rude in the communication about any aspect, impatient or grumpy about any question you have, abort the process immediately and look elsewhere.
I've learned another rule from a woman so much younger that she could easily be my (grand)daughter. I was considering a second hand G9 close by, cheap, but the seller had behaved strangely. So I casually put my dilemma on the table that sunny summer Sunday afternoon next to a glass of white wine. She said: "When buying second hand, if there's even a single one cloudy aspect of the whole situation, I give up, don't consider it buying any more!" Indeed, there is so much stuff to buy out there, and your finances are limited and impeccable, unlike the gear that's being sold.
That said, I have had so many nice experiences with second hand bought even without seeing it first. It could be a local treat, having to do with the mentality and culture in the Netherlands.
Guess you are right for the UV filters, but a good polarizer makes so much difference, especially for the landscape photography.
It's a good idea when you are out there shooting to always have several extra SD-cards lying in your bag, even if the cheapest old ones. I have had at least three times on a climb or a small trip - all heavy gear with me, batteries and spares fully loaded, and then the shocking discovery that the SD slot is empty - the card I had left in the laptop. Those cards are the smallest essentials without which you can't do anything at all, and they weigh literally nothing.
One more helper that I recently use has to make with the 3, 7, and 8 points on your "Consider before you buy" list. There was a nice deal for the Olympus E-M1 Mark III which I so much craved for years (€800 with under the 1000 shutter count, battery grip included, reliable known seller). But then I thought, this camera can't be better than the G9 Mark II which is much newer, and most of my lenses are Panasonic. If I got now by some stroke of magic an offer €400 off the new price of the G9M2, I'd go and buy it. So why not save those €800 and use it for the G9M2 soon with the next price fall, instead of buying a much older Olympus?
One important point about regrets. So often you have to push a little to photograph something when the people _seem_ reluctant, or you yourself are. If you don't, within seconds it can be too late. If you do, and not succeed, nothing is lost anyway. When people clearly let me know they don't want to be photographed, that's end of story, OK. But if not, go ahead. I have only had regrets for the snapshots I have missed, never for those I have got. My "best snapshots" actually are those that I have missed, due to the lack of speed, readiness, assertiveness or due to laziness.
My biggest regret is after 4 and a half years not knowing the exposure triangle till i saw duade do a fantastic video that explained the subject very well
Yep, key question: "What is your current camera not doing that you are wanting to solve with the new camera."
Shooting high school sports in gynasiums, I realized my crop-sensor 60D was giving me unrecognizeable, fuzzy faces and had been for a while. DXOmark stats showed me my kit lens wasn't resolving to the capacity of my sensor. Rented and later purchased a Canon 70-200 2.8L. Better. Hmmm. Recognizable but fuzzy. Really need higher ISO, better resolution. A year later went full frame with a gently used Canon 5D-MkIV. Changed my life. Whereas Duade here didn't have to have the higher ISO for birds, it was killing me on the gym floor. Later: Uh-oh - now, shooting volleyball - the action point is lurching all over that under-lit gym. I can not keep up with the focus. Tooo many good shots lost. ... and it really needs faster shutter, therefore ISO, than basket ball. Bought a refurb R3 on sale. Watched about 50 videos in four days, researched the actual ISO from examples provided by others including Ken Rockwell (as well as some fake examples by others), studied the loss of 6mpix, etc. Test lab reports from DXO. Then bought the R3 for 33% under list. Two days later that price dissappeared. It still felt like a leap of faith at the time, but I can tell it was the right decision.
I like pixel peeping and know some optical engineers, but had never had a genuine problem that justified the "new" of mirrorless ... and I owe it to my family not to waste money. It's probably because I didn't chase the R5 & R6, that I could later afford and justify coming over to mirrorless with the R3. And R3 was the first to solve the problem of "shutter roll" in mirrorless, which is probably why so many sports professionals have stayed with 1DX-III's DSLR's and resisted the shiny or the "new."
The amount of research required a) verify you do an unsolvable problem and b) to truely determine if X hardware solves Y problem, is an exhausting irrational use of time, but that's really what you need to do. And if you do buy the "new" you're going to need that level of commitment to follow through and actually learn how to strap on the mental harness and fly around inside one of these beasts.
All of that being said, there is such a thing as "the-tool-you-didn't-know-you-needed." There is a certain amount of faith needed to stumble across that. In my life, I've never gotten there from buying the next "new" -- in any arena. When you set out to solve a problem, however, it's sometimes worthwhile to take a leap of faith. Despite all the good "waiting" logic above, I lost a lot of good shots along the way. Back then, however, I wouldn't have had the skills, and have put in the time, to make today's gear work. Everything in life has a pace of it's own.
Thanks for taking the time to comment and share your story, it appears your did a lot of research and solved a real problem you had. No doubt the R3 is performing very well for you know, I love the feel of that body and hope the R1 is similar. Cheers, Duade
Your transparency and your integrity are greatly appreciated. Thank you for all you do. You are appreciate it.
Superb! I purchased exactly the same tripod and monopod and they are utter crap. So y'all readers pay heed to Duade. Do your homework 1st before you hit that fire button on the chopping cart. Cheers mate! Good job.
Great video, Duade! You had me laughing so hard watching this video - not laughing at you but at myself because nearly everything you spoke about, I've done too - and regretted nearly all of the same purchases - even the 5D Mark 4! One piece of advice that I might suggest is actually going to a physical camera store and checking out gear before buying. It can be a little more expensive, but in the long run it can save money because you might think you want something but once you hold it in hand and maybe even try it out in the store, you might discover little things about the item that change your mind about the purchase. I still buy a few things online but I've started going to my local camera store more often than I used to. Again - great video and glad to see that you're feeling better. :)
Great advice Mark and I totally agree, holding the gear, especially the weight of some of these kits is very important to do. Yes, finally feeling a bit better, Cheers, Duade
Concerning Canon 2X teleconverters: In about 2000 I purchased the EF600 f/4L IS (v.1). I tried using the EF2X TC with it. TERRIBLE! The forums suggested it must be a bad one. Really? The "bad copy" routine?
So I bought another EF2X. Same terrible results. Sold 'em both. After that fiasco, I've made a promise to myself . . . I'll NEVER buy another 2X TC! Not for any lens!
Thank you so much for these infos. You’re so right about it and confirmed what I really believed.
Thanks Duade. I am such a novice that I don't know what my camera can't do yet. But I will check back later as I progress through my learning curve.
Can't tell you enough how much I appreciate your channel. Your advice on the memory cards really helped me from wasting money. When I got my R5 I didn't go cheap on the CF Express Type B thanks to your advice. Although in the past on my 70D I did buy a cheap few SD cards before learning about how they effect the buffer. Your genuine passion really comes through. I watch your channel and Jan's channel now as well. I found him through you, ironically, as he encouraged you to get involved on CZcams. Keep up the great content!
Can relate to so much of that equipment you discussed Duane. Thanks for an informative and enjoy video and yes I agree take photos of friends in the field as they do provide cherish memories and what photography is great at doing.
Well done, Duade. When possible, I will rent an item and try it out before I commit to the purchase. For me, there is less "buyers remorse" that way.
Ngl I make good use of my local shop's lenient 30 days return policy at times, renting can get expensive.
I always buy their gold protection and never buy on Amazon so I figure we're even 😅 and if I do like it I keep it, win win.
I got the R6 for birding, firstly with the F11 600mm and then, when I found that limiting, the f11 800mm. I tend to crop heavily and the R6 is just not that camera. It's mostly in the cabinet now whilst I'm out with my ancient 5Dsr and Tamron 150-600, a combination that works for me. I think that the 5Dsr is one of the best bodies Canon made. I still have my Ef 400 f4.5 - still sharp as a tack!
Brilliant final point there Duade - great wildlife photos are to be prized, but photos of our friends and loved ones are the real treasure.
My buyers regret in my is my canon eos r7 (AK-47). This time I’ll wait for your review on the canon rf 200-800. Thank you for your helpful videos.
A lot of great points. I don't have too many regrets except I have too many tripods. I've bought a lot of used gear and haven't got burnt yet but have come close a few times. In the long run I've found purchasing from a reputable used business with a good return policy and warrantee is the bet way to go. The little amount more I pay from rebutable businesses is worth more that all the time it takes to to find to great deals from ebay or individuals. I still shoot a DSLR so I'm not buying any new lenses since I know one day I'll switch to mirrorless.
Duade, fortunately, I never had the money to upgrade every generation. Nor did I have the desire, nor would my wife and kids let me thank God!
My first foray into digital photography was from the Canon AE-1 to the Canon Rebel XTi. At that point, I was a film guy and not completely sold on digital cameras. That changed very quickly. The ability to shoot (for all practical purposes) an almost unlimited number of shots as well as the ability to organize and process my images (without a darkroom) converted me.
My second camera purchase was the Canon 5D Mark II. Needless to say, I was sold all over again. What an incredible improvement (relatively speaking) over the XTi. My next upgrade was to the 5D Mark IV.
The upgrade experience in this case was nowhere near the experience I had going from the XTi. However, I had two awesome Canon cameras! One primary and one backup. This allowed me to (permanently) mount my two "primary" zoom lens one on each camera body. A Canon 28mm-300mm L and the Sigma 150mm-600mm S.
I have not and will not upgrade to the Canon R5 for a couple of reasons. The primary reason is that the Sigma EF 150mm-600mm lens does not seamlessly work on the R5 body. This is something you pointed out in several of your videos. Thanks for the heads-up!
As a result, I am saving my money to purchase the R5 Mark II. If necessary, I will replace my lenses with new Canon RF glass. By then, I am hoping Canon will license other lens makers to produce RF mount lenses.
I will then have an R5 Mark II and a 5D Mark IV as a backup camera in my bag.
And who knows, one day, one last camera, an R5 Mark IV.
Being middle class and lacking gobs of cash helps keep the upgrade bug under control, a little!
Enjoy life! Good shooting!
Thanks for the this incredible share on "Avoiding Buyer's Remorse " with purchased camera gear. Amazing... Several of the products you mentioned here have been previously hyped to the max on the internet..
Second hand gear has saved me a TON over the years. If its your first purchase, new is better, but as soon as you are familiar with you system, you should test and be solid. Having bought 5+ nikon bodies and 10+ lenses second hand, I always made sure to handle hte items and test them with a body to make sure there is focus and no issues.
Love the humility! Glad it's not just me that has made mistakes with gear etc! Interestingly Eric Hosking who wrote an Eye for a Bird (he famously lost an eye photographing an owl) used really unwieldly flash systems, and carted them all over the place. However, your images are up with the very best, Dude - with or without flash.
Guilty on the flash, cheap tripods, and UV filters. UV filters are still on my lenses. I will take them off for my next outing. Thank you!
Thanks for sharing your experience and thoughts, well done.
Buying second-hand gear? Get it from KEH, MPB or another commercial seller with actual per-item info, photos, quality rating and a return policy / guarantee. I've bought from KEH and MPB without regret, but I wouldn't be comfortable buying from too many individuals. Also, KEH and MPB both will buy your old gear.
Excellent advice!
My buyers remorse? Well, I'm on a different (i.e. lower) "gear level" than you and many others, but for one thing I regret buying square / rectangular filters. I don't use GND filters, so there's zero advantage to the rectangular form factor -- only disadvantages messing with the holder, light leaks, etc.
However, my main regret is I almost always end up talking myself down (cheaper) when buying gear. I start out looking at X level gear, but by the time I actually buy I get something that's X-n thinking, "I can get by with something cheaper - I don't need / deserve the better gear." Then of course later, I regret cheaping-out.
UV Filter - #1 - I have never noticed the effects you showed on your photos using a UV filter. I use NiSi on my Nikon cameras & lenses. Maybe it's just Canon cameras & lenses. #2 - the only time I went the way of "don't use a UV filter" I had a speck of fine sand on my front element. When I cleaned the lens, I made a small, but noticeable scratch of the lens coating. Yes, my mistake, I used a lens pen after a blower & brushing. P.S. I haven't purchased 2nd hand gear since 1972! A crappy 135mm lens that had light flare on all photos.
Brilliant advice, thank you!
I regret buying the Sony 200-600mm 5.6-6.3 G, it is big and heavy and it have stabilizer issues when used with Sony R Cameras. I also regret buying the ThinkTank Vison 15 shoulder bag, the does not cover proper and it is awkward to get into the bag when carrying it and it does not feel like a quality product. I never use flash for nature photography. I agree with you, I never use filters, but I always hav Lens Hoods on my Lenses.
Really great questions Duade for when we go looking at gear - second hand or new. And for that last piece of a regret - yeah, well worth taking photos of those we share time with - however we share time with them.
The concept of your comment about if your current kit doing everything you want it to then why upgrade, has saved me a ton of money. I currently use an R10 paired with the EF 24-70 F4 L😅 macro, and even though I want to upgrade to the R6/6MKii, at the end of the day I just don’t have a reason to upgrade my current camera body and lens because my current setup does everything I want it to do
This man is correct, i can't stand my 2x converter (nikon) and only keep it for moon images. However the 1.4 converter has worked well for me.
His comments about UV/protection filters vary on who you ask. I've never had image problems while using high end protection filters. I'm not so worried about scratches from use, but getting something nasty on my lens and then scratching it while cleaning is my concern. I've had this happen with eyeglasses.
For SD cards I think it's also really important to know what speeds your camera can handle, some cameras can utilize a UHS-II V90 card, but my Nikon D750's continuous shutter speed maxes out 6.5 fps, and the buffer can only really handle twice that, and even with a UHS-I V30 card I still only have to wait maybe half a second to a second shooting compressed raw after maxing the buffer. That's assuming that I am shooting continuous High to begin with which I almost never do. All that's to say, good SD cards are useful, but understanding your cameras limitations and what you shoot is equally important. Do some people who shoot sports or wildlife need that 300 dollar UHS-II V90 SD card? Absolutely, but if you're shooting candids, portraits, events, or longer exposure shots, or your camera can only shoot so fast, a 30 dollar SD card is comparable to a 300 dollar one
Fair call, one other consideration is will you likely upgrade that camera in the future, if yes, then you could future proof yourself by getting the good card first. But I take your point. Cheers, Duade
Great points. I identify with the anecdotes you share. They remind me of so many year in law enforcement. Always chasing after the next greatest piece of safety equipment or technology. The reality is, this speaks to life in general.
If the grass is greener on the other side, it probably needs mowing
Duade, I really appreciate that you are taking a different path than most and not saying that every new gear is a must for everyone. That is a great exception and very commendable. Looking back, I myself have improved my skills in many very small steps. This includes better equipment, but that is only one factor of many and not the most important.
What I can't quite understand is your opinion of the 5D IV. When I had the Mark IV, I hardly touched the Mark III because I thought the new one was so much better. In retrospect, I even regret that in some once-in-a-lifetime moments, I only had the Mark III, although the result with the Mark IV might not have been so much better after all... ;-) And I've already made mistakes with my current R5 that perhaps wouldn't have happened to me with the Mark IV.
Hi Duade, I have enjoyed all your honest and heartfelt reviews. Thank you for the reminder of taking photos of our friends, I too have lost friends and fortunately I have images to reflect on our times together. Regarding gear, well my friend and I know some may have a tight budget but you get what you pay for. For example, I have tripods that are 40+ years old that I'm still using, the only issue is weight as at that time there were no carbon fiber tripods being made but these were not cheap tripods and they were built like tanks, they will probably last another 100 years. My first tripod was a Gitzo, that tripod has gone to the Amazon three times, has been totally submerged in salt and fresh water numerous times, and it took a plunge of a 20' cliff, it only scratched. My second tripod and two more after were Really Right Stuff, their gear though expensive is rock solid, light, and their customer service is far none. Gimbals, also RRS and it's been to hell and back with only scratches to show for wear. UV filters, my God, I've often asked, would you put re-thread tire on a Ferrari? Why would you put a $50 glass in front of a $2000 plus lens. I have never cracked a lens from a fall, my only lens crack was my fault when I (stupid me) took a compressed air can and tried blowing dirt of a 300mm 2.8; the can shot a burst of Freon and it made a hairline fracture on the lens, my total fault and I was in a hurry, so lesson learnt, NEVER use compressed air cans and NEVER do anything in a hurry. I guess I'm old school, I've shot 4x5 film, medium format and I didn't jump on the digital bandwagon when it came on, but I will share this, what converted me, and the only two things that converted me was the ability to change ISO on the fly without having any issues on your processing and 500+ images on a flash card instead of the dreaded 36. Remember, I go back to the film days when E-6 and C-41 were the norm and in those days, if you wanted to change ISO you had to pull your roll of film or sacrifice what you had taken and either "pushed or pulled" the film one stop, maybe two stops when the conditions were right. My God, digital would have been a game changer in the Amazon when in the canopy you are 2-4 stops darker than on the river, anyway, that changed my opinion on digital. Today, my choice is the R5 and R3, my GOD, the game changer is the "eye tracking" and that is what sold me. Boy, I never thought I would ramble on, but the biggest take away, when purchasing lenses and camera bodies, PLEASE rent them a few times, this will tell you 100% of the time if this is right for what you photograph. If you love it, not like it, then it's the camera for you. Other gear like tripods etc..., remember, you will go through 4 camera bodies to 1 lens and you will go a lifetime with a good top of the line tripod. Thank you again.
Very informative and useful advice!!! greatly appreciated!
Great way to end it on that note. I needed to hear that.
Good points! My last upgrades has been succesful as I actually asked my self the important questions before choosing the models. Inspecting the used camera well enough; nah. I was so eager! Well - the things at fault can be fixed and the functionality is there, so I love it!
Well done and very brave of you to admit your remorse. Thanks for the great tips!
Hi Duade, I upgraded from the 6D II to 5D IV and I just loved it. I still own it and love it so much. I find the metering so good and the sensor is so good. Now I use mirrorless but the 5D IV is still a trusty reliable camera. When I take a picture with the 5D IV I am never never disappointed with the shot I take with it. I have no plan to sell it. Have a great day !
Two thumbs up to Prograde as well! Since I started using their V90 SD cards, I no longer had to worry about buffer limits on my R7!
Oh man. been there done that on almost every example you addressed. I changed systems to have the faster and more resolution newer ML camera. I soon discovered with my style of shooting my older Nikon DSLR and the many lenses I had were more than good enough. I have rebought some of the Nikon cameras and lenses all used now. I am shooting with two different systems and gosh what a pain....Your last point is so true. Not many in my circle of family or friends are into photography. However when someone passes I am comforted knowing I have some memories I can hold in my hand to view and remember.
Hopefully you can test the new 200-800 and save me some buyers remorse👍 also If you get a chance can you put a 1.4 x on your 100-500 and test it against that - cheers Duade
Yes! R8/6ii on 200-800 vs R7 on 100-500 will be very interesting at the same FOV. I wonder just how much better the former is against the latter in low light.
Optical theory says 2/3 stops when you consider all the crop factors involved, but it might be more due to the bigger pixels.
Certainly lots to test with it, I just know Duade's review will be amazing.
Pro Grade is one of my favorite investments, thanks to your suggestions in previous videos. I will admit I've had buyer's remorse more often than I'd like to admit. I've learned to keep it simple and only purchase what is truly needed.
photos of your friends is a very good advice!!!
Thanks Duade. This is a great video. Very frank and useful. Love the reflection on taking more photos of friends. So true!
Glad you enjoyed it!
very helpfull video information, thank you :) once again.
i can relate my self in lot of things you said in your video, but the best way is too learn from our mistakes
RF 200-800 would be your next video, right? :-)
Everyone's excited for it !
Great video! You touch on subjects that we should know about. I don’t buy new gear until it is out for awhile. I read reviews and actually read the negative reviews looking for a common thread. I think the positive reviews are nice but they just reflect the marketing hype. My regret is I bought 4 speed lights thinking I can illuminate better. ( I had come into some money so it wasn’t a problem to do so.) it turns out I can do everything with 2. Maybe if I applied myself more I can use them for some extensive night illumination.
Nice to hear more about you and your journey as a photographer on the Photowalk Podcast, released on November 10, 2023!
You are right that photographers are bombarded with information on new gear, both cameras and lenses. While I understand the value of a mirrorless camera, I am not there yet. My Nikon D500 and assorted FX lenses are giving me everything I need at the moment. I know I will make the change in the future, but not yet.
I have been shooting with a 5d Mk3 now for 11 years, and it has been an amazing camera and taken an absolute beating. After nearly 12 years I was due for an upgrade and nearly took the plunge on an R5. However, for the past 5-6 years, I have primarily been shooting macro and DOF has often been an issue along with weight. I kept hearing a lot about M4/3 and seeing great results, I also wanted to finally get serious about birding. So yesterday, I took the plunge and ordered an OM-1, 60mm 2.8 macro, 90mm 3.5 and the 100-400 6.5 which I got for not a lot more than what I would have paid just for the body of the R5. I am really nervous about switching systems, but also super excited, especially after seeing your video at Winton Wetlands with the OM-1 and the 100-400, which is how I discovered your channel. Great content! Oh and my biggest regret is also a 2x teleconverter for my Sigma 70-200, absolutely terrible!
All excellent advice! I’ve been lusting over a new mirrorless camera but my current DSLR keeps exceeding my expectations. I’ve almost saved the cash from photography jobs, but now I’m fearing buyer’s remorse because they are so expensive. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Great advice, thanks Duade!
G'day Duade, thanks for this honest reflection ! Especially your last remorse is something I have to be more aware of !! The few of such images I have indeed give me a warm feeling, but some dear friends are still missing..
Regarding second hand, I strongly appreciate my local camera store who takes a 15% commission but he takes over the sales process and provides confidence to both the buyer and seller. When I sold my second had EF 2x iii, after subtracting the commission I got my money back so no regrets in that corner.
Your guidelines of things to reflect upon are very true .. but even though I tried to follow them when upgrading from the 70D to the R6, I do have some remorse because I lost significant money when the same reflections convinced me a year later to swap the R6 for the R5, weeks before Jan was the first to predict the arrival of the R6ii which plummeted the R6 resale value.
By itself the R6 was huge upgrade and in all areas much better than my DSLR .. except for the reach and it made my 100-400Lii feel way too short. But many other aspects like eye-AF and even the EVF (which I used to fear while still using OVF, oh boy) of the R6 did fire up my passion for birding, so I made the stretch for the R5 and 100-500.
I have no remorse at all over this second upgrade, but it would have saved me money when I'd had skipped the first upgrade.
However that was impossible, because at that point I just couldn't justify the big investment because I had to learn and experience from this intermediate phase. In that sense I should better consider the money lost on the R6 as "learning money" instead of true remorse.
And based upon this, I'll do my best to soldier on with my R5 for several years instead of following the hype and jump for the R5ii next year.
Most interesting and useful topic. Congratulations on being the first or one of the first to record a candid video on the subject. Interesting on how one mans regret can be another mans most pleasing purchase. I.E. my regret on a camera body was the 1D MKlV. I loved my 5D’s I owned the 2 - 3 and 4 . I learned bird photography in the tropical rain forest and without a flash, Better Beamer and appropriate bracket I would have very few images from those 3 years in Suriname. I also regret all of my UV filters and would dearly love to have all those $ back. The lens I regret was the 100-400 L pump I sold it and purchased the 400 L f5.6. To much rambling on my part. I found your tips to be spot on, thanks for a most excellent video.
When we are starting out it is very easy to make these mistakes . Thanks to people like you I learned to avoid some of these impulse purchases . Thank you 😊
Glad to help
An extremely helpful video. So many good points made and solid advice.
Thanks for sharing!
Nice Video, Duade, I can really empathise. Your last comment really hit home! I was up at Winton Wetlands in June with the Hobsons Bay Men's Shed Photo group and we bumped in to you. We were all thinking later, why didn't we get a group photo with you! Perhaps some other time. One of our members , Allan, his cousin is a friend of your mate Brian who was kind enough to give us a tour of the wetlands and showed us where the Antechinus were.
What flash adds to bird shots most isn’t the added light but specular highlights. Hair, fur and feathers viewed under magnification all have tiny flat facets which act like tiny mirrors to create specular reflections from the light source which the brain uses in addition to the shadow clues to perceive 3D shape, and are very valuable when trying to render 3D objects with 2D rendering.
The same is true for flat vs cross and black lighting. Direct sun is bad for human portraits because it makes subjects squint and specular highlight on skin become unflattering distractions but I find it the best strategy for lighting birds, dogs and cats when I want the feathers and fur to sparkle and look fluffy. If shooting them in the shade or back light adding flash will create that same effect.
Very helpful Duade. We recently lost a dear friend in our small photogroup and I am grateful I had taken lots of photos of him.I have made lots of poor photography purchase decisions as much as with printers and scanners as with cameras. cheers geoff
Thanks for this!
Galen Rowell went from an F5 back to an F4. So what you can learn from this is that pros and legends have a preffered camera. Also just to be safe, travel around in your truck and dont fly a private plane around to travel.
This is a good and worthwhile video, Duade. It addresses some real issues we all need to consider. Thank you.
My pleasure mate, I think we can all relate, Cheers, Duade
Excellent. Solid un- biased information as usual.
i've been really lucky with my many lens buys, nearly all of them i still use, in my later years i've been using mpb for used gear and i've been able to send a couple back without a problem, one was not as sharp as i expected the second one i go was spot on and one didn;t work well with my body, so when it comes to an older lens or one thats not highly documented as being compatable then a good returns is worth alot.
its also great to know alot of the points you mention when buying gear i already do, like asking if its going to solve the issue or if the upgrade in price is worth the money
Thank you for the information. My condolences about Matt. Would you be able to say more about Matt? Any links to his work? Thanks
Our main retailers in Ontario Canada give 30 day price guarantees. If price drops in that time they automatically credit your credit card
Great video, thanks for sharing!
very useful advises ! thanks a lot Duade.
Solid video Duade, and I can relate...big time.:) I agree with your thoughtful and important advice to capture images of your buddies. You will find you have a higher percentage of keepers of your buddies. Even the soft images can put a smile on your face as time goes by.
Thanks, very true indeed, Cheers, Duade
Nice Stilt shot Duade!
I applaud you for your honesty, Duade. Like you, I do have buyer's remorse and it is usually because I got sold on the hype on CZcams or marketing hype. I have a couple of zooms that I have used no more than 3 or 4 times for the past 5 years, and a Nikkor macro that I used once. I realised that I far prefer using prime lenses.
Now, I wonder how many people are going to ditch all their gear and buy the new Sony a9 III !
One thing that I would add to the topic of the teleconverter. If something is to far away teleconverter will not help with that, teleconverter will help with the subject that is right distance but you want the head shot or something like that because even 800mm 5,6 L lens with 2x tele will not help with the heat waves from the ground and stuff like that :) what is to far is to far cant go around it :)
I'm with you on the flash unit Duade thankfully bought a much cheaper set up than yourself don't think I've ever taken it out into the field ! Never had a problem with any uv filters though. As always another very clear and informative vid. Cheers 👍
Thanks for sharing this wonderful video with lots of useful tips. I have made many of those mistakes myself. To bring costs down, I have acquired gear that only elevated the IQ a tad compared to the setup I was using. End of the story, I ended up with more or less redundant lenses and bodies. I also made the mistake of coupling teleconverters with entry-level slow lenses. I have mostly positive experience buying second-hand gear but then I buy from retailers with a solid reputation, or from people I know or trust.
Wonderful video and suggestions. Thanks Duade.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great video… I totally fell for the UV filter myth and tried putting a cheap one on my RF 100-500mm. I nearly went crazy trying to figure out how to take good photos until I finally took it off.
Good day Duade! I would say my number one regret was buying a heavy tripod. I wasn't getting sharp handheld shots, so I began doing research on getting better results. I started to see a common theme in a lot of videos where one of the main recommendations was to use a tripod. Now that tripod sits in a closet because it's too heavy and bulky to carry around. To make it worse, I also bought a gimbal head for it that's collecting dust as well. I also have a flash that sits doing nothing because it's nearly twice the size of the camera itself and I hate using it.
Great video on a topic seldom covered!
Another excellent video Duade. Thanks for sharing this candid view.
My pleasure mate, Cheers, Duade