Have you ever bought a piece of gear that promised to revolutionize your work or be the exact tool you needed just to find that it was a total dud? We all have those pieces sitting at the bottom of our gear closet that irk us every time they come in view. Alternately, we also all have pieces that have become our indispensable go-to’s that we can’t image shooting without. I asked five photographers to share their best and worst purchases. These juicy gear confessions are sure to land some pieces on your blacklist and others in your B&H cart.
Nat Wongsaroj who has photographed weddings worldwide and has been rated as the top 10 wedding photographers in the US shared this about his best and worst purchases.
Worst Gear: The Holdfast MoneyMaker 2-Camera Harness
“I initially found the Holdfast Money-Maker 2 Harness ($250) impressive, but ultimately, it proved to be the most disappointing purchase. Despite its promising start, the harness deteriorated significantly within a few years. More concerningly, it caused considerable discomfort in my lower back during extended use, an issue that was resolved only after transitioning to a different system.”
Best Gear: The Canon RF 50mm f/1.2 L Lens
“This lens stands as my most invaluable photography gear, accompanying me on all my photographic endeavors. Its 50mm focal length captures scenes with a natural, lifelike perspective, while its exceptional low-light performance and ability to produce stunning bokeh highlight its versatility. This lens consistently delivers outstanding image quality across various photography genres including wedding and travel, solidifying its place as a fundamental tool in my photography kit.”
John Gress who is known for his expertise in lighting and has completed commercial work for Ben & Jerry’s, Best Buy, Burger King, Chrysler, ESPN, Nike and more shared this concerning his best and worst gear purchases.
Worst Gear: The Leica M4-P
“The most regrettable purchase in my photography journey was a Leica M4-P, a poor decision I made not once, but twice. I was working as a photojournalist back then, and I believed that owning this camera would be pivotal for my career. However, in practice, it wasn’t the most pragmatic choice. Juggling two SLRs during assignments was the norm, and adding the Leica into the mix meant dealing with an additional roll of film, which I had to process. This, understandably, became a hindrance, especially when facing extremely tight deadlines. The valuable lesson I gleaned from these missteps is that what you put in front of your lens in a lot more important than the lens itself. So just keep in mind, gear isn’t everything. “
Best Gear: Sekonic L-308X-U Flashmate Light Meter
“One of the most valuable investments I made in my photography journey was the Sekonic L-308 light meter. I relied on this trusty meter for a good 20 years. I took it in and out of my pocket so many times that all the paint wore off. The best part? It only set me back about $200. The meter significantly streamlined my workflow, allowing me to replicate my shots consistently over the years. I used it seamlessly as I transitioned from film to digital and used it with my Alien Bees, Profoto and finally Elinchrom lightings. In 2019, I upgraded to the L478, which seamlessly communicates wirelessly with the Elinchrom system.”
Annalise Kaylor is a full-time documentary wildlife photographer and conservation photojournalist. Her job has taken her to 39 countries around the world and has been published in many major US publications shared this about her gear wins and flops.
Worst Gear: Manfrotto Accessories
“For me, it was Manfrotto gear or anything else that is proprietary enough that you have to stick with one brand for every accessory. They make some nice accessories, no doubt, but now that everything I own is Arca-compatible, I can seamlessly move from tripod, to holster, to strap, to video head, to ball head without ever changing my lens foot or mount.”
Best Gear: The Gerhard Schaffer Floating Hide
Wildlife photography is all about access to your subjects, and my floating hide made by Gerhard Schaffer in Austria gives me unparalleled access in water. Unlike my kayak, my floating hide (or blind, as we tend to use here in the States) makes me look like just another muskrat hut on the water. The birds and wildlife have no idea I’m there, so their behavior is completely undisturbed, and being able to have my lens just an inch above the water for subjects like grebes and ducks makes for gorgeous, eye-level photography.
CJ Duncan holds the Master of Photography and Photographic Craftsman degrees and is the founder of Find Your Focus Education. He has photographed Presidents, Vice Presidents, dignitaries, and countless others. He has worked for such companies as Frito-Lay and Bayer CropScience and has been honored to photograph numerous weddings, portraits, and commercial assignments.
Worst Gear: Countless ‘Game-Changing’ Speedlight Modifiers
“Unfortunately, I feel like there are more disappointing purchases than good, not because the product was necessarily bad, but rather because I did not need the product. I just got sucked into the idea that the gear would be the ‘game changer’ and it was not or it was rarely used. That being said, I would have to say the worst purchase has been any type of modifier to the speed light— domes, cards, flexible bounce, boxes, etc… They are useless in my opinion as they rarely seem to be effective while being cumbersome to carry and attach.”
Best Gear Purchase: Canon EF 200mm f/2L
“I would have to say the Canon EF 200mm f/2L. This lens is like Photoshop in a glass. The 200mm focal length is not rare and, in fact, is very common. I have used the staple 70-200 f/2.8 lens. However, with the fixed 200 f/2.8, the image quality is noticeably different. There is a look to this lens that is like no other. Last year when my 200 f/2 was stolen, it literally broke my heart, as Canon is no longer manufacturing this lens. Thankfully, I was able to find another one. I am hoping for an RF version but for now, the adapter works great.
Once I began to learn more about my craft, the less likely I was to purchase gear that is regrettable. I understand the physics of lighting and the science of photography and therefore I do not get ‘swindled’ into gear that cannot deliver what it advertises because it goes against the science of the craft. “
Lee Morris, is a Charlestown-based wedding photographer and the co-founder of Fstoppers.
Worst: Gimbal and Other Gadgets You Won’t Use
“I can’t think of a single piece of gear that I regret, but there’s a ton of stuff I’ve bought and then rarely or never used. Just last week, we opened a gimbal that has been in its case for two years and because it hadn’t been charged, the battery was shot. Brand new, but unusable and impossible to fix because the battery is internal. Don’t buy stuff you aren’t going to use.”
Best: Nikon D90
“The Nikon D90 was the best piece of gear I ever purchased because it was the first DSLR to shoot video. This doesn’t sound like a big deal now, but back then, you either had cheap video cameras with small sensors or you had $100,000 cinema cameras. The D90 got me into video and inspired me to start Fstoppers. Without that camera, who knows what I’d be doing today.”
Micheal Hoss, owner, and photographer for branding studio Hass House shared this:
Worst Purchase: Godox SL-60W
“My worst gear purchase is easy The worst purchase I’ve made is the SL-60W continuous light from Godox. Much love to Godox. I use their equipment to this day. But the SL-60W is massively underpowered for studio work. I didn’t know that when I bought it, but I quickly found out. If you’re starting out, get the Godox MS300 instead. It’s an absolute steal.”
Best Purchase:
“My favorite purchase has been a second monitor for tethered shooting. My iMac will show captured images, and the second monitor will show a live view from my camera. This lets everyone on set see what’s happening on a big screen in real time. It’s not necessary, but it makes life easier.”
Brent Dosher serves as a director of photography and outside the office, you’ll often discover him braving a snow-covered mountain slope with a camera in hand. His clients include Patagonia, Runner’s World, Teva, Men’s Journal, and more. Brent shared this:
Worst Gear: Sony RX-100VA
“Maybe not necessarily my worst, but one of my most frustrating gear purchases was the Sony RX-100VA. I decided to buy that camera to bring along on fast and light adventures in the outdoors when I didn’t want to bring a full camera, as I could fit the Sony in a small hip pack. The concept was sound, and the camera was able to produce some good images in the right circumstances, much like a camera phone. However, I found the controls and settings to be absolutely maddening and the buttons so tiny, and because of this, I often had my settings set incorrectly and would miss a crucial shot. The image quality at the long end of the telephoto range was quite poor, and even at the short end, there wasn’t anything to write home about. It seems like it would be a great camera for a lot of hobbyists, but I was never super comfortable delivering images to clients from that camera. I still managed some good shots with it over the years, but I wish I had just brought the full-sized camera instead.”
“My best gear purchase was my Nikon D750. It’s a body that has lasted me an incredible amount of time and has traveled the world with me. It’s not the top-of-the-line camera by any means, but being more inexpensive allows me to bring it along with me on adventures and not be as concerned about damaging it. I have held it under spraying water, I have scraped it against rocks, I have frozen it in sub-zero temperatures.”
“The built-in flash won’t pop up, the rubber grip is tearing off the side, and it’s worn down to bare metal in places. It’s started acting a little weird in the past few months after close to 6 years of use, but if it dies I wouldn’t hesitate to buy another one. “
My Best and Worst Purchases
I have so many candidates for each category. My worst purchases ended up being pieces I never expected to be disappointed by. My Canon R5, let’s not talk about that again. I was beyond excited about the Westcott Optical Spot, and it exceeded my expectations until it joined the ranks of another pricey piece of gear that broke inexplicably. The lens on it jammed after about eight uses, and I could never use it again. It still sits in the corner of my studio. I grab it periodically and hope for a miraculous healing, but as of now, no “up from the grave” moments. In the “worst purchases column,” I echo Micheal Hoss with a long list of “not strong enough” continuous lights and Cris Duncan’s collection of light modifiers that were unimpressive. On a more positive note, my “best purchases” include almost every piece by Canon I’ve bought, apart from my R5. The 5D Mark IV, which came out in 2016, still delivers stunning work when I have to grab it as my backup piece. It has withstood years of shooting under every single condition and I haven’t had to repair it once. My 100mm lens is a gift from the camera gods of sharpness, and my 16-35mm creates the most epic hero shots.
It too has taken years of harsh conditions and held up flawlessly. I know I need to upgrade these two to the newest RF models but it’s hard to justify it when they still give me everything I need.
The Karl Taylor Light Cone is at the tip top of the list of my favorite tools. You simply must try it to see what it does. It surely was my best purchase for 2023.
What Are Your Best and Worst Purchases?
One of my favorite parts of being a writer is hearing from you in the comments. What is the best and worst-ever gear you have ever purchased? Leave all the juicy details in the comments below.
