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When I got into photography, I used to baby my camera equipment a lot. After all, I spent a lot of money I wanted to take care of it. Later on the topic came

by duxup 6mo ago

When I got into photography, I used to baby my camera equipment a lot. After all, I spent a lot of money I wanted to take care of it. Later on the topic came up online and someone noted something to the effective of: “If I saw a group of photographers taking pictures, I bet I could pick out the best photographer just based on how beat up their equipment is.” I realized based on my own experience, that was probably true. The idea being use your tools and worry about the output, not how they look.

LiquidPolymer 6mo ago
I’ve made my living as a pro photographer for over 30 years. These days I consider most cameras to be disposable. I also keep any older bodies as hazardous duty remote cameras. Once you get into the mindset it opens a certain amount of creativity.
- flkiwi 6mo ago
  The number of times I find myself saying to beginning photographers that babying their camera is the surest way to hate photography, whether as a hobby or a profession… I get particularly testy about handwringing about weather sealing or protecting the finish on their kit. Just take the camera places and use it. It’s probably going to be fine. It’s going to get scars. That’s just stories.
makeitdouble 6mo ago
There's a curve. Beginners with pristine gears are babying it, but veterans just don't bump their camera everywhere nor drop them, they have the bags that fit what they do, use straps (or not) that fit them and there's little to hurt their camera. Event photographers are another kind, camera throwing is part of the job. I wonder if you feel the same about cars, expecting expert chauffeurs to have bumps all over their car ?
- duxup 6mo ago
  I don’t think there’s a connection at all with chauffeurs.
  - makeitdouble 6mo ago
    I made a car analogy because I didn't get the sense that you were in groups of photographers yourself, looking at other people's gear. I spent a decent amount of time with birders, being out in the field for day in day out, climbing, crawling, hiding, and their gear was far from beaten up. I mean, it takes some effort to dent our current magnesium alloy bodies, you won't get scratches by laying it a bit fast on a counter table or hitting your bag's zipper.
- traceroute66 6mo ago
  > but veterans just don't bump their camera everywhere nor drop them, they have the bags that fit what they do Most veterans I know would not be seen dead with one of those bags that shout LOOK AT ME I AM A CAMERA BAG .... The theft risk is just too great these days. Most of the time they will take a standard bag, with their other stuff in it (e.g. change of clothes etc.) and just dump their camera and a couple of lenses in there. Either padded by their spare clothes or with a velcro-neoprene camera wrap cloth. That solution also enables them to move fast instead of having to make sure everything goes into the right stupid slot in a camera bag. So for example if it starts raining heavily (or if they have to get through airport security) it can be done quickly and efficiently.

by duxup 6mo ago

LiquidPolymer 6mo ago

I’ve made my living as a pro photographer for over 30 years. These days I consider most cameras to be disposable. I also keep any older bodies as hazardous duty remote cameras. Once you get into the mindset it opens a certain amount of creativity.

flkiwi 6mo ago
The number of times I find myself saying to beginning photographers that babying their camera is the surest way to hate photography, whether as a hobby or a profession… I get particularly testy about handwringing about weather sealing or protecting the finish on their kit. Just take the camera places and use it. It’s probably going to be fine. It’s going to get scars. That’s just stories.

makeitdouble 6mo ago

There's a curve. Beginners with pristine gears are babying it, but veterans just don't bump their camera everywhere nor drop them, they have the bags that fit what they do, use straps (or not) that fit them and there's little to hurt their camera. Event photographers are another kind, camera throwing is part of the job. I wonder if you feel the same about cars, expecting expert chauffeurs to have bumps all over their car ?

duxup 6mo ago
I don’t think there’s a connection at all with chauffeurs.
- makeitdouble 6mo ago
  I made a car analogy because I didn't get the sense that you were in groups of photographers yourself, looking at other people's gear. I spent a decent amount of time with birders, being out in the field for day in day out, climbing, crawling, hiding, and their gear was far from beaten up. I mean, it takes some effort to dent our current magnesium alloy bodies, you won't get scratches by laying it a bit fast on a counter table or hitting your bag's zipper.
traceroute66 6mo ago
> but veterans just don't bump their camera everywhere nor drop them, they have the bags that fit what they do Most veterans I know would not be seen dead with one of those bags that shout LOOK AT ME I AM A CAMERA BAG .... The theft risk is just too great these days. Most of the time they will take a standard bag, with their other stuff in it (e.g. change of clothes etc.) and just dump their camera and a couple of lenses in there. Either padded by their spare clothes or with a velcro-neoprene camera wrap cloth. That solution also enables them to move fast instead of having to make sure everything goes into the right stupid slot in a camera bag. So for example if it starts raining heavily (or if they have to get through airport security) it can be done quickly and efficiently.