Is my camera good enough???

[mweingartz]

In early spring I finally purchased my first dslr camera. It is an Olympus e420. I purchased it purely on price do to the fact it was only going to be a hobby. Now the more I learn the more I love photography. I would like to pursue it as a living eventually. I want more lenses, and other camera specific equipment, but don't want to invest if the camera is not good enough to at least start earning something. I guess the basic question is.....Do I invest in more lenses or a better camera?

[OsmosisStudios]

Any camera body is good enough: it comes down to technique and skill.

[wsu_danielle]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

Any camera body is good enough: it comes down to technique and skill.

True, although I can see where having a better camera will your enhance technique and skill.

Personally I don't have a super awesome camera (Nikon D60) but I'm finding that, as Osmosis said, it mostly comes down to those two factors. Learn then ins and outs of your camera and gain some photoshop skills (or other photo processing software) and you should be on your way. It's a long journey though!

[BCampbell]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

Any camera body is good enough: it comes down to technique and skill.

No.

I wouldn't bring my 300D to shoot an NFL game for Sports Illustrated, no matter what lens you put on it.

mweingartz, what do you plan on making your business? Are you just going to sell fine art prints, do you want to do weddings and events, portraits, commercial work, stock photography?

What you plan to do will have a pretty big impact on what tools you'll need.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by BCampbell

No.

I wouldn't bring my 300D to shoot an NFL game for Sports Illustrated, no matter what lens you put on it.

And why not? If you're gonna make blanket statements at least provide a few examples.

[peeperita]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

Any camera body is good enough: it comes down to technique and skill.

amen...

peeper

[BCampbell]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

And why not? If you're gonna make blanket statements at least provide a few examples.

That's not a blanket statement. That's actually a very specific statement, including a specific camera body, a specific type of event, and a specific client.

If you really want to know, 2.5FPS shooting and a four-frame buffer just doesn't cut it. I'd say 6MP doesn't either, really.

"Any camera body is good enough" is a blanket statement. provide a few examples of how a Canon D30 would be good enough for the original poster. Hey, why not provide some examples of how the camera she has is good enough, considering we don't even know what she wants to shoot.

[kuvahmagh]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

And why not? If you're gonna make blanket statements at least provide a few examples.

Technically you are the one giving a blanket statement where as he is giving a particular situation where he would not use a particular body.

I agree that ultimately it comes down to the person operating the camera more often then the camera but there are certain cameras that are better are certain things than others, they are tools just like anything else and no one is best at everything.

[Kretch]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

Any camera body is good enough: it comes down to technique and skill.

This is CLEARLY a blanket statement.

Originally Posted by BCampbell

No.

I wouldn't bring my 300D to shoot an NFL game for Sports Illustrated, no matter what lens you put on it.

mweingartz, what do you plan on making your business? Are you just going to sell fine art prints, do you want to do weddings and events, portraits, commercial work, stock photography?

What you plan to do will have a pretty big impact on what tools you'll need.

So true. Here's an example.
A few months ago, I went to my son's basketball game, but somehow he didn't get my camera (D700) into the trunk and we got there without it... OUCH!.
My wife had her Canon xTi. Now, I didn't want to brave using it since I'm not that experienced. I asked the school photographer (whose been shooting for 35 years) to get a few good shots for me with it. Although they are better than I could have done, they are clearly no match for my D700.
So, here it is..... I can take better photos with my D700 than a pro can with the Canon xTi.
Those are the facts.

[Daisho]

I don't get how people always ask if their equip is good enough or blame it on the equip when the result is not what it should be.
Sure, some cams are made for different traits and working with high-end tools made for your subject is easier and fun but if you know how to handle your equip you can cope with pretty much every situation.

Your cam doesn't have 10 fps, how about thinking about your shot and not firing away?
You can't use high ISO (what are you using the pics for in the first place? 100% view ain't normal, I printed 40x60 cm out of my 350D at ISO 1600, B&W, noise is neglect-able! 1200x800 on the internet even more so!) then use a flash to freeze the motion,
you can't do that either, use the motion blur in a creative way or take shots when people are in the right spot (there is always enough light around!)
Your AF doesn't focus, go MF or learn how it works and feed it with a good contrast and crop later...
People are expecting the camera to take pictures for them, it is just a tool and you have to use it in the best way possible.

Like I read yesterday, Capa's pictures are blured, out of focus, grainy and what not but he is still considered one of the best and he shot about half a century ago, while being shot at

Or Senna (famous F1 race car driver) would still outclass you in his 1992 old model you running the latest 2010 model, because he is just the better driver!

@TO how about you invest in a photography book or course and use your cam to the limit?