JTWeber Photographer

According to Greek Mythology, humans were originally created with 4 arms, 4 legs and a head and 2 faces. Fearing their power, the gods split them into two separate parts, condemning them to spend their lives in search of their other halves.

I have been getting a lot of questions on upgrading camera bodies with the new canon and Nikon offerings. You need to ask yourself is it a NEED or a WANT? What do you NEED? Do you have all of the glass you need or are you going to be putting a cheap $150 dollar lens on your top of the line $3000 dollar body? The lens you buy today you will still be using 10-20+ years from now… can you say the same thing about the camera? Do you have a lighting system with all of the modification that you need? And again this is an investment that will last you decades. Do you have good quality filters for your lenses? Lens filtration is mandatory for many situations and effects and just can’t be done in post. Things like polarizing filters and ND filters can be expensive but needed. Good high quality filters can be pricey but the cheap filters will degrade the quality of the lens you put it on. And yet again a filter will last well into your career. Yes a camera is needed and if you don’t have a good camera that would be the first purchase I would make but if you already have a high end body Nikon D300 or better or Canon 7d or better don’t waste the money on a small upgrade until you have your other NEEDS; keep the camera on the wish list. If you really need a camera think if you need the top of the line? Remember the odds are by the time you graduate the body you buy today will be outdated. Sad but true. A camera is a tool that is only as good as the operator. You may even want to hold off on any gear purchase and have that money in the bank to fund shooting for your portfolio! Every shoot you do there will be expenses attached to it… hire that professional styles or make-up artist. Buy that prop that will put the finishing touch on the image. Fill your tank with gas so you can get to that location you want… these expenditures go on and on spending your money on the shoots will give you a better portfolio than a Canon/Nikon whatever will.

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