Amateur with pro gear vs pro with amateur gear

As first reported over at DIY Photography, the team from Mango Street have helped address that classic statement we've been banging on about for years – it’s not the gear that will help you make good photos, it’s the photographer.

In their latest video, the team set up two kits. One made up of two cameras, a Canon EOS Rebel T3i (known as a 600D here in Oz) with a 40mm f/2.8 lens, valued at about $6-700, and a Rebel T5 (known as a 1300D) and valued at around $5-600 with kit lens, and the other a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV with a 35mm f/1.4 lens (around $6000 together).

The team gave their friend Justin, who has a basic understanding of photography, the 5D, and the two professionals used the T3i and T5. They all took shots in the same location at a studio.

You can check out the video to see who (or what) takes better shots – professional gear, or professional photographers.

The lesson is pretty obvious. As long as you keep focussing on building skills, even cheap gear will do. And as your skill grows and you get a sense of what you really need your gear to do (and not what you want it to do!) you can upgrade guilt free as you'll be really making the most of it.