It’s been over five years since I bought a new piece of camera gear. As I grew as a photographer, I kept upgrading my camera body and lenses so my gear could grow along with my ability. When I’ve taught photography workshops over the years, I would discourage fledgling photographers from going out and buying a bunch of new gear. Use and get to know what you have, even if it’s just the camera on a smartphone, and you’ll know when they are ready for an upgrade. When I thoroughly knew a camera, had an understanding of its capabilities and deficiencies, then I knew I was ready to look into an upgrade. I’ve ended up with two DSLR camera bodies (Nikon D800 and D810) and a range of lenses geared towards shooting products and interiors. The lenses I use most are a 50mm Sigma, followed by a 35mm Nikon. I use these for shooting my paintings, close-ups, and rooms. I have a 24mm wide-angle Nikon for very tight spaces, a 60mm micro Nikon for close-up product shots, and a 24-85mm for travel (since it’s light and versatile). And now, I have added a 70-200mm Sigma telephoto lens primarily for shooting wildlife but also for getting distant shots.
I found I wanted to get a little closer to subjects to take better reference photos for my own paintings and for Artist Reference Photos. My iPhone camera (on a 15 Max) is pretty good, but the photos are still grainy if I have to zoom in too much. (Plus, at the beach, I was having issues with one of the lenses and had to get the phone replaced. This is the second time I’ve had that happen on vacation, so I’ve learned it’s worth taking my more reliable DSLR camera along.)
Other than taking some test shots of Sebastian and Jeff before our trip, my time at the beach was really the first time I had to experiment with the Sigma 70-200mm lens, and I’m so happy I got it! Here are some of the photos I captured with it…
I had a lot of blurry photos of shore birds as I was trying to get used to shooting a moving target! Most of my photography career has involved shooting things that don’t move, so I’m used to working on a tripod with a shutter remote and having time to set up my shots. When it comes to people and animals, it’s a totally different skill, but I’m working on it!
Every day, these ibis birds (Ibises? Ibi?) would pick through the grass at our beach house, giving me some great practice with my new lens.
The downside to the lens is it’s heavy and huge, but that’s true of most quality telephoto lenses. As much as I would want to take this with me on a trip to Europe, it will likely stay home because it’s just too much to lug around. It will be great for shooting birds and other critters in the garden, though, and I look forward to taking it out on more road trips.
As another tip about camera gear and lenses specifically, I’ve bought almost all of my lenses used. I felt like that wasn’t smart before I learned that it is how most professional photographers upgrade their gear. It’s more economical, and sometimes older models of lenses are better or more sought after than newer ones. I always buy from reputable marketplaces with buyer protection, like Amazon, eBay, and B&H Photo. I’ve only had an issue with one used lens I purchased, and it was replaced immediately.
You can find a list of all of my camera gear HERE and other posts about photography HERE.
5 Responses
There are single-leg camera lens holders out there for the weight, so you don’t have to bring a clumsy tripod. Like a bird, a moving target is just like a clay pigeon shooting. You move the camera faster and click when the bird enters the view. Your pictures and camera are splendid. Since the digital camera entered the scene, photography has become different. One in those thousands of clicks must be a good one, eh? The artist’s way of looking almost disappeared, almost.
Those are magnificent!
WOW. GREAT pictures. You always amaze me, Marian.
Your pictures are beautiful, especially the birds in flight!
This is such a thoughtful and inspiring reflection on growing as a photographer. It’s refreshing to hear a seasoned creative emphasize mastering what you have before upgrading. Your journey shows how intentional choices in gear really pay off—and your new 70-200mm lens sounds like it’s opening up a whole new world. Excited to see the wildlife and reference shots it helps you capture!