Kind of funny article popped up

[jspek]

in reply about something ken rockwell said on his site here.

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/es...s-matter.shtml

So please folks, stop the childish nonsense. Equipment does matter, and if anyone tells you otherwise, smile, nod sagely, and simply move along. Or, send them here for a good spanking.

is it bad for me to say that, those d300 pics used as examples, i could or already do take better ones with my d50?

[TROLL]

ha this should be an interesting discussion, and a good one hopefully. ken rockwell does not demand much respect from many in the photo industry, and rightfully so. i check out his reviews but also keep in mind that he's not a photographer and his reviews are often much different than most others.
i should also say that the cartoon was really funny and i saved it.

my opinion regarding equipment... a chain is only as strong as its weakest link and photos are produced by a person with a camera. there are times when the camera or lens can be the limiting factor, but often the photographer is the problem. people really should spend less time on the internet agonizing over scientific testing on their gear and instead they should put a camera in their hand and focus much more on their own personal development with photography.
you see a similar phenomenon with cars interestingly enough... you know its as the 'driver mod' which is generally by far the most important one. i've been smoked in autox by a totally stock mini cooper base model with an incredible driver behind the wheel.

[sisforsurfing]

Bryan - no surprise, I agree with you completely. Ken Rockwell is one of those people I will read but with a generous grain of salt.

I half-way agree with Rockwell, and totally agree with the "Brushes and Soup Pots" part of the LL article. In the two years I owned a D70 I took many pictures that would have been no better with my D300. Some of my favorite images I've captured with a 3 megapixel point and shoot, but only are really big enough to be viewed on a computer. What consumer or even prosumer really needs prints greater than 10x15, 6400 ISO, 8 FPS, etc? You don't.

That being said, lots of the times I absolutely need that f2.8, ISO, etc. It's funny this comes up though... the other day I was complaining that my D300 doesn't flash sync at 1/500 like my D70. Then I looked at an old Leica rangefinder that syncs up at a blazing 1/30 max! hah, how lucky we are.

[TROLL]

Yeah, there are definitely some situations where you NEED certain gear... like indoor sporting events or concerts you're going to need a fast lens, and without it you're pretty much beat.
Its just a shame when people focus 90% of their energy and focus on the hottest newest camera when they'll never do it justice. I say buy new gear when you know you need it, when you have a reason why its necessary and beneficial.