I don’t usually pay much attention to the “Memories” that Facebook alerts me to every day, but one I received last week has me feeling nostalgic: I have now had my camera for six years!
6 Years Ago…
In my original post, I predicted that, “this is going to be a long, beautiful friendship…” Little did I know just what that friendship would entail, and how big of an investment I was making!
When I bought my trusty Canon EOS 550D Rebel T2i, toy photography wasn’t even on my radar. I had seen some LEGO photos on Instagram, but I had yet to discover our community, which would have just been taking shape. I wasn’t even a photographer, save for a few heavily-filtered Instagram photos that still exist on my original account.
I purchased the camera for video work, upgrading from a Canon FS100 camcorder I’d been using since 2008. I was just starting out in freelance videography and needed something that would shoot in higher resolution and offer me the availability to swap out lenses. I knew nothing about DSLRs at the time, and chose the T2i because I’ve always liked Canon and it fit into my budget.
It was love at first sight! Along with a “Nifty Fifty” 50mm lens, I was finally playing with shallow depth of field and taking more professional looking video. A year and a half later, I took my first toy photo.
Better Gear = Better Photos, Right?
I started getting serious about toy photography about two years ago, around the time of the Seattle Toy Photo Safari. I’d been shooting steadily for three years, but wanted to become more active in the community and take better quality photos. Naively, I thought I had the answer: I would just upgrade my camera! Having better equipment surely meant that I’d take better photos, right? After all, the photographers I looked up to all seemed to have more expensive gear. To do what they were doing, I’d have to spend money on something with more bells and whistles.
I spent hours on Google, trying to figure out what the “best” camera was. I watched countless video reviews on Youtube, and found websites that would give me comparison charts for various camera specs. Despite my intensive research, I never did upgrade. Instead, I decided to make the best of what I had, and realized that it wasn’t my gear that needed upgrading – it was my own photography skills.
Technical Knowledge is Power
Instead of purchasing new equipment, I dedicated myself to understanding how my own camera worked. What did the buttons actually do? What did I have to do to capture the photos I wanted? Since confessing that technical jargon was my greatest photography blindspot a little over a year ago, I’ve managed to harness the capabilities of my little Rebel T2i. I’m now shooting in full manual, and know exactly what dial I need to turn or what setting I need to adjust to capture the shots I envision. I’ve never been more proud of my photos, and I’m using the same exact camera that I was six years ago. I even still use that Nifty Fifty lens!
Both Brett and Shelly have written about how photography has less to do with the camera you use, and more to do with how you use it. I don’t think I believed it until witnessing it myself. I’m not saying I’ll never upgrade my camera – but for now, I’m happy to have my Rebel by my side.
-James
How long have you had your camera? Have you ever had the urge to upgrade? I’d love to hear your experience in the comments below!
I’d also like to take this opportunity to remind you about the Downtown Diner giveaway! You still have two weeks to enter for the chance to win.
My first DSLR was also a Canon T2i and I also bought it for video. And like you, Toy Photography was not on my radar. Now I Have a Canon 80D also was bought for video (mostly for the continual focus and flip out screen. But I use it more for toys and not for video. You are totally correct that it’s all about technic, lighting etc and not the camera. Although I know this I still crave a full frame camera. 🙂
The camera I initially considered updating to was the 80D. Continual focus would be amazing, and I’m often frustrated by the T2i’s single auto-focus point. A full frame would definitely be nice! Someday.
It’s actually not even my camera. I’ve been “borrowing” my parents one for over 5 years. It’s also a Canon and if I hadn’t taken classes I’d still be shooting in auto mode. I would love an upgrade, so I could have a faster camera, with more light and more focus points, but it doesn’t fit the budget. I’ve also only used my camera once last month. I need to get back into the groove.
Pesky budgets! They can be very limiting. Great job making due with a borrowed camera, hopefully you get your groove back soon!
This was also my first DSLR. It served me well for about 6 years, when the shutter jammed, the day that I had a number of time critical photos to take for an event. I found the Canon 60D body that day with an exceptionally reasonable price tag. (Little did I know it was a clearance sale as the 70D with built in WiFi was only 2 months away…) I have ultimately added to 70D to my collection: the Wifi adds a fantastic level of convenience when out on the road.
I’m surprised by how many others started out with a T2i. That’s a bummer that yours jammed during the event. Isn’t it crazy how life works??
I don’t shoot “on the road” often enough to justify the Wifi feature probably, but I have been intrigued by it.
I wish I could say the same, but the Nikon Coolpix L820 is sorely lacking in many features necessary to take good photos. It was a great beginners camera, but I think I’m gonna need to upgrade very soon.
I can definitely understand that. That’s why I initially upgraded from my old Canon FS100. It was a fun starter camera, but sorely lacked in the features I needed. Hope you’re able to upgrade soon!
I love the notion of upgrading photography skills, not your gear!
I thought you would!
Such a fantastic post, and so very true about the camera vs the knowledge! Thanks for the inspiration!