It Ain’t The Gear

Capturing Great Images with Modest Gear

Don’t be discouraged if you can’t afford the latest and greatest gear out there. You may be surprised what you can do with modest gear. Check out the recent wildlife shoot I did with an APS-C (smaller sensor than “full frame” cameras) mirrorless body: my Fujifilm X-T body and a Fujifilm XF 70-300mm ($800 brand new; full frame equivalent 105-450mm), a weather sealed and image stabilized zoom lens.

I boarded a mini bus at a California state park guided by a park ranger for special access to elephant seals during mating season. Of the seven participants that boarded, I was the only one without a gargantuan expensive telephoto in the $5K-$13K price range weighing in at ten pounds with a camera body. Amidst the parade of exotic gear there was but one person who had rented a much more modest Sony 200-600mm, ($2000 if you were to buy it.)

The Advantage of Smaller (and often less expensive) Gear

With an APS-C sensor I was at an advantage with more inherent reach/magnification than a full frame camera. In fact 50% for 1.5 times more magnification, in full frame terms (full frame equivalent is the de facto standard for comparing focal lengths of lenses) for a given focal length. And Micro four-thirds cameras are two times the magnification. So if you like to shoot wildlife, a crop sensor camera like APS-C or Micro 4/3 has benefits over more expensive full frame cameras.

I have been a full time photographer for 30+ years but if you based the scenario that morning solely on gear and budget, I must have looked like the “amateur” in the group. Now, admittedly wildlife photography is not what I usually sell to patrons. If I sold mostly wildlife images I might also own a more exotic super telephoto or zoom because I could probably justify my ROI (return on investment.) I’ve never hesitated to spend money on gear if it makes good business sense. But if it’s not your profession and you don’t have multiple thousands to spend on lenses, consider what you can do on a more limited budget. And don’t underrate the additional advantage of traveling lighter and the extra reach of smaller sensor cameras like APS-C and Micro four thirds.

A Lighter Kit can Provide More Photo Ops

I certainly don’t begrudge serious hobbyists buying expensive gear but I never felt like I was lacking anything necessary during my shoot of these wonderful animals. In fact I felt a freedom the others may not have because it was so easy for me to move around and find shots quickly. I was scrambling up hills, and changing positions and able to get a nice variety of shots. It seemed that bogged down with heavy gear on tripods, the other shooters weren’t seeking ideal vantage points or variety. Nor did I feel a need for a tripod or monopod. There was plenty of great light. However if I was using a 600mm f4 on a top-of-the-line full frame body, I would definitely have wanted a tripod/monopod just to keep from getting sore limbs and muscles and have a stable platform for maneuvering such a monster.

I realize before dawn, one might feel the need for a tripod for the necessarily slow shutter speeds. But then you are only stabilizing yourself, not the seals who are moving around and will often be blurred from their movement. With IBIS (In-Body Image Stabilization) I can easily shoot at 1/4 or 1/8 sec if I wanted to capture a landscape of the beautiful surroundings that weren’t moving (except the ocean waves of course but slow speeds for that can look nice) As it turns out my best landscapes were after sunrise with direct warm light on the breaking waves.

It All Worked Out

I definitely had the least expensive kit, by a lot. But I actually felt a huge advantage with my lighter, more mobile, yet modest, gear. I thoroughly enjoyed the shoot and finished it without a single sore muscle. 

Happy Shooting,

Joel

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Joel Wolfson is an internationally published photographer that loves teaching as much as shooting. He shares his 35+ years of experience as a working pro with other photographers by way of his custom workshops, 1 on 1 training, articles, blog and speaking engagements. His goal is to make learning and improving one’s photography easy, fun and rewarding. His articles have been translated for use in more than 30 countries yet he is best known for his artistic images of fleeting moments and unexpected views of everyday places around the globe.

 He is one of the pioneers of digital photography. Joel has presented at national conferences, written articles for global publication, and conducted digital photography seminars for Apple and other corporations starting in the early 90s. His roster of notable clients has included Newsweek, Elle, Seventeen, Houghton Mifflin, Arizona Highways, and corporate clients such as AT&T, 3M, United Airlines, Chase and Pillsbury.

Disclosure about product links and affiliations: Many of the links I provide are affiliate links which means I get a small commission, with no additional cost to you, if you click it and end up buying something. It helps keep the lights on as well as supporting this blog and my other free educational resources and articles. So if you use them, thanks! It is always my goal to report my results in a straighforward manner whether or not it favors a particular product.