THE G.O.A.T CAMERAS THAT INSPIRED GENERATIONS

Does Gear Really Matter in Photography?

The eternal question in photography circles: “Does gear matter?” Does the camera you use really change the outcome? Will it make you a better photographer? Will it magically elevate your work to the next level?

For me, the short answer is: yes, but with nuance.

What you use matters in the sense that you need to want to use it. That’s the key. I should also clarify: I’m coming at this from the perspective of a hobbyist. I don’t get paid to take photos; in fact, I pay to take photos. That makes my relationship with gear very different to someone shooting for clients or billboards.

Gear Does Matter (But Intent Matters More)

Let’s be honest. The latest and greatest camera will give you all the bells and whistles you could ever dream of. With the newest Sonys, you could track the hairs on an ant’s knees as it scurries across a bridge in a hurricane and still get a cinematic banger. But do you need that? Do you really need a camera that can track stubby knees at 60 megapixels just to post an image on Instagram, where your nan and some bloke named Jeff from a tiny island will drop a fire emoji in the comments? For most of us, the answer is a firm no.

The bigger question is: can that camera help you make work that inspires you (or others)? Maybe. Maybe not. But do you need to spend six grand to get there? Probably not. As photographers, we lean on the work that came before us for inspiration. As Austin Kleon writes in Steal Like an Artist:

“All creative work builds on what came before. Nothing is completely original.”

And when you look back at the images that shaped photography, you realise: the magic wasn’t in megapixels.

Cameras Behind Iconic Photographs

Here are just a few examples of cameras used to capture images that still spark inspiration today:

• Heinz Kluetmeier – “Miracle on Ice” (Lake Placid, 1980)
  Camera: Nikon F2

• Walter Iooss Jr. – Michael Jordan “Air” (1988)
  Camera: Nikon F3

• Fan Ho – “Afternoon Chat” (1959)
  Camera: Rolleiflex TLR

• Matt Stuart – “Dog in a Convertible” (2006)
  Camera: Leica MP

These images remind us that inspiration doesn’t come from having the latest firmware update or the highest ISO performance. It comes from vision, patience, and the willingness to press the shutter.

My Film Bias (and Why It Doesn’t Matter)

I’ll admit: I’m deep in a film phase right now. I’ve been reaching for film cameras more than digital ones. But that bias doesn’t change how these photographs make me feel. When I think of sports photography, the Jordan dunk and the USA vs. USSR hockey image instantly come to mind. When I think of black-and-white street, it’s Fan Ho. These moments could technically be shot today with a Canon R6 or a Sony A7-whatever that rattles off a billion frames per second. But here’s the thing: you don’t need that to make meaningful images. If you’ve got £50–60, you can grab a Pentax SP body with a 55mm Asahi lens on eBay, pick up a roll of film for a fiver, and you’re ready to create something just as resonant. Or, if you’d rather stay digital, a Panasonic G7 with a TTArtisan 25mm lens and an SD card for £200 is more than enough to set you up for years of shooting. (Unless, of course, you keep it in a bag that explodes with shower gel, but that’s a story for another blog post.)

So… Does Gear Matter?

Yes, but not in the way we often think.

Get a cheap camera. Get an expensive camera. The truth is: your output will reflect your intent, not your sensor size. If you’re shooting for billboards, go big, grab a Hasselblad or a Fuji GFX. But for most of us, don’t bankrupt yourself chasing specs. Because for 99% of photographers, the magic isn’t in the megapixels. It’s in the moment.

Use the gear that excites you, that makes you want to pick it up and shoot. That’s what really matters.