Don't want the "Newbie" tag

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rick.osgood

rick.osgood

Senior Member
I read a statement somewhere from a pro photographer that they can spot a newbie a mile away because he/she has all or most of his camera gear with them. A real pro only takes what is needed. Well, as a newbie, I am not sure what I will need at any time so I bring it all in a backpack. Case in point, I will be going to Costa Rica in November and want to shoot people, birds, landscape and macro. I believe I need to carry everything but don't want the "Newbie" label. How do you pro's decide what to bring when in a diverse location?

Thanks
 
D

Don Kuykendall_RIP

RIP :(
Locally when I shoot I generally know what I need and only carry that. Going out on a more serious shoot away from home I have my Pelican hard case that has everything in it but I also carry a small backpack with me that is empty. For shooting that one location that day I have the camera body and the lenses I think I might need to that one location. The car is normally not that far away so if I do need something else I can go back and get it. I am way to old to carry a 30 pound backpack for hours. In the winter time and for trips like the Meet and Greet in Lakeland, FL I will mainly need just my camera and 150-600 but will wear my vest of many pockets to carry an additional wide angle lens for the landscape shots and other small odds and ends.
 
K

Kevin H

Senior Member
Don Kuykendall said:
Locally when I shoot I generally know what I need and only carry that. Going out on a more serious shoot away from home I have my Pelican hard case that has everything in it but I also carry a small backpack with me that is empty. For shooting that one location that day I have the camera body and the lenses I think I might need to that one location. The car is normally not that far away so if I do need something else I can go back and get it. I am way to old to carry a 30 pound backpack for hours. In the winter time and for trips like the Meet and Greet in Lakeland, FL I will mainly need just my camera and 150-600 but will wear my vest of many pockets to carry an additional wide angle lens for the landscape shots and other small odds and ends.
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Need the pic of Pete here from the last M&G with 2 camera's and no straps LOL
 
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hrstrat57

Senior Member
A lot of so called "pros" would thumb their nose at the Nikkor 55-200 VR and 18-55 VR.....

i walk all around with my "newbie " junk kit glass all the time when I wanna travel fast and light and plan to shoot in daylight only. In fact if I was going on a distant trip with a lot of walking planned I would pack the D300, my two bits of newbie glass and the 50 1.4. I think a lot of vacations become not so fun lugging around heavy pro gear.

In other words any body with the attitude you describe can buzz off....

btw I ain't a newbie been shooting pics since "66!

My kit glass takes great pics with few limitations.
 
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Bikerbrent_RIP

Senior Member
Rick,

Are you going to open a new thread for each possible piece of gear you might want to take to Costa Rico? See posts,
Monopod, tripod or none, Must haves, Macro lens or tubes, and Update on Need thoughts on current lenses.
At this point you really need to answer the question, "Is this trip primarily for photography, or is it a trip that I want photos to remember the trip by?" If your answer is remembrance, then your camera and the lenses you have is fine. You don't really need anything else. Just make sure you know how to use the gear you have. If, on the other hand, you are interested in fine art photography, then you need better lenses, a good tripod with a good head, a good flash, and the money to hire a guide to pack all your gear.
 
R

rocketman122

Senior Member
rick.osgood said:
I read a statement somewhere from a pro photographer that they can spot a newbie a mile away because he/she has all or most of his camera gear with them. A real pro only takes what is needed. Well, as a newbie, I am not sure what I will need at any time so I bring it all in a backpack. Case in point, I will be going to Costa Rica in November and want to shoot people, birds, landscape and macro. I believe I need to carry everything but don't want the "Newbie" label. How do you pro's decide what to bring when in a diverse location?

Thanks
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actually the fact you take all your gear with you would not make me think amateur or pro. it wouldnt even be your gear. because it can happen that a pro can go very light when being on vacation. or maybe hes using his wifes gear. I could spot an amateur by how they hold their gear and how they use it and the way they move around. body language. very quick for me to assess the level.
btw, I take all my gear in my big bag all the time. vacation or not, I lug my big backpack. I will take out all accessories and put 2 flashes inside with triggers and will take a small light stand and a tiny tripod ball head for either tripod work or to use it as a flash stand.
 
rick.osgood

rick.osgood

Senior Member
I opened new threads because they were about specific equipment. I won't open any more.

Bikerbrent said:
Rick,

Are you going to open a new thread for each possible piece of gear you might want to take to Costa Rico? See posts,
Monopod, tripod or none, Must haves, Macro lens or tubes, and Update on Need thoughts on current lenses.
At this point you really need to answer the question, "Is this trip primarily for photography, or is it a trip that I want photos to remember the trip by?" If your answer is remembrance, then your camera and the lenses you have is fine. You don't really need anything else. Just make sure you know how to use the gear you have. If, on the other hand, you are interested in fine art photography, then you need better lenses, a good tripod with a good head, a good flash, and the money to hire a guide to pack all your gear.
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B

Bikerbrent_RIP

Senior Member
rick.osgood said:
I opened new threads because they were about specific equipment. I won't open any more.
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I am sorry if you missed my point. I did not mean to imply that you shouldn't open any more threads. But many of your threads, without some background information, appear to be asking the same basic questions over and over. You seem to be concerned about even taking your camera and three lenses, and yet you are asking about Macro lenses or extension tubes and tripods or monopods, and also everything is on a very tight budget. You can't buy a good, lightweight tripod with a decent head for a dirt cheap price let alone on a very short fuse. You might find some good used equipment at a good price, but you lack the time to pursue this course of action. You need to answer some basic questions before investing in good equipment. What style of head do you want (ball head, joystick head, a pan-and-tilt head or a telephoto lens support, like a gimbal head). On a Tripod, do you want carbon fiber or alumnium, flip or twist locks on the legs).
You choice depends to personal preference as well as budget considerations. Do you want to spend a little now on some equipment that you will likely end up throwing away, or waiting until you can afford what really works?
 
rick.osgood

rick.osgood

Senior Member
Bikerbrent said:
I am sorry if you missed my point. I did not mean to imply that you shouldn't open any more threads. But many of your threads, without some background information, appear to be asking the same basic questions over and over. You seem to be concerned about even taking your camera and three lenses, and yet you are asking about Macro lenses or extension tubes and tripods or monopods, and also everything is on a very tight budget. You can't buy a good, lightweight tripod with a decent head for a dirt cheap price let alone on a very short fuse. You might find some good used equipment at a good price, but you lack the time to pursue this course of action. You need to answer some basic questions before investing in good equipment. What style of head do you want (ball head, joystick head, a pan-and-tilt head or a telephoto lens support, like a gimbal head). On a Tripod, do you want carbon fiber or alumnium, flip or twist locks on the legs).
You choice depends to personal preference as well as budget considerations. Do you want to spend a little now on some equipment that you will likely end up throwing away, or waiting until you can afford what really works?
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I guess you have missed my later posts where I update what I have done. I have asked the same types of questions under multiple forums. I assumed asking about tripods under the lens category would not be appropriate.

I have also tried to explain my reasons for asking without sounding like I was bragging but to be clear.... I am going on a 2 week trip to Costa Rica in November. I had a chance to upgrade my camera gear from a Nikon D40 to a D7100. With that, I wanted to ask this group a series of questions that would help me make the best decisions on lenses, tripods, etc.

Your statement about wanting to even bring my camera is, as was in your first post, condescending. We are all on a budget and I felt my stating I am on a budget would help narrow the recommendations I received. While I appreciate feedback that clarifies, recommends or educates, I would prefer to skip the forum slaps. It serves only to discourage posts.
 
R

Rick M

Senior Member
rick.osgood said:
I read a statement somewhere from a pro photographer that they can spot a newbie a mile away because he/she has all or most of his camera gear with them. A real pro only takes what is needed. Well, as a newbie, I am not sure what I will need at any time so I bring it all in a backpack. Case in point, I will be going to Costa Rica in November and want to shoot people, birds, landscape and macro. I believe I need to carry everything but don't want the "Newbie" label. How do you pro's decide what to bring when in a diverse location?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Most "Pro's" don't really care what others are doing or their gear (unless they get in the way of the shot!). The people you are referring to are more enthusiasts with ego issues. You're going to come across many variables in unknown territory, having all the tools is the right move. I can't tell you how many times I've "traveled light" and wished I had more gear with me. Usually folks that "know what to bring" have been there before, forget about whatever anyone else thinks. The same uppity enthusiast or perhaps a snobby pro is not going to admit they forgot something because they want to look a certain way. I get funny looks with my micro 4/3rds gear, but I sell plenty of prints. Get the shot, forget about keeping up with the Jones's.
 
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RobV

Senior Member
Do you have a bag, yet? If not, I highly recommend shopping at a brick & mortar, so you can look them over carefully and hopefully get some unbiased opinions from the staff. But they generally have so many bags in stock, they won't care which one you buy, as long as you buy from them. Take all your gear with you to see how it fits. Don't forget to get one that can carry a tripod.
I tried a sling bag, but I didn't care for it. It was top access, and I would rather have a rectangular one that opens the entire front (back?).
 
Whiskeyman

Whiskeyman

Senior Member
Rick M said:
Most "Pro's" don't really care what others are doing or their gear (unless they get in the way of the shot!). The people you are referring to are more enthusiasts with ego issues. You're going to come across many variables in unknown territory, having all the tools is the right move. I can't tell you how many times I've "traveled light" and wished I had more gear with me. Usually folks that "know what to bring" have been there before, forget about whatever anyone else thinks. The same uppity enthusiast or perhaps a snobby pro is not going to admit they forgot something because they want to look a certain way. I get funny looks with my micro 4/3rds gear, but I sell plenty of prints. Get the shot, forget about keeping up with the Jones's.
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I'm glad you said this. One part of the professional photographer's creed that I once read was that a good pro encourages, informs and instructs all photographers in a positive way. They do this because any photographer can affect all photographers, as well as clients, and garnering respect among all photographers benefits all photographers. If someone wants to carry their gear, I say let them do it, and good on 'em!

WM
 
B

Blacktop

Senior Member
rick.osgood said:
I read a statement somewhere from a pro photographer that they can spot a newbie a mile away because he/she has all or most of his camera gear with them. A real pro only takes what is needed. Well, as a newbie, I am not sure what I will need at any time so I bring it all in a backpack. Case in point, I will be going to Costa Rica in November and want to shoot people, birds, landscape and macro. I believe I need to carry everything but don't want the "Newbie" label. How do you pro's decide what to bring when in a diverse location?

Thanks
Click to expand...

I'm not a pro (meaning I don't make my living from photography ) I'm a professional hobbyist. I see lot's of images from hobbyists that put some these so called pros to shame.
A real pro doesn't worry about what amateurs do, or what they carry with them when they are out and about enjoying their hobby.

Carry everything that you think you'll need and stop worrying about labels.
 
D

Don Kuykendall_RIP

RIP :(
I wished I had been in the forum when I first got started and HAD asked more questions before I started buying equipment. I made a lot of mistakes in equipment purchases. I also bought some gear that was not the best choice BUT it was better that what I had and was what I could afford at the time. Some of us can't afford top of the line equipment and can't upgrade at the drop of a hat. Asking a lot of questions is a great way to weigh all your options and make the decision that is right for you. No one here should ever put anyone down for decisions they make nor should they police posts made by anyone. That is what we have moderators for and believe me we will take care of any problem posters that we have. As I have stated many times, If anyone feels someone is posting inappropriately just send me a PM with the link any why you have a problem with it and I will look into it. There is also a "Report Post" button on the bottom of each post that will send a message to every moderator and one or more of us will look into it ASAP.
 
F

Fat Fingers

Banned
You are identified as a newbie by using the Nikon yellow strap AROUND YOUR NECK rather than a black shoulder strap and having a lens cap on the lens.
 
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