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The Great Debate: Lens vs. Camera Body

By May 15, 2024October 31st, 2024Blogs, Gear, Q&A, Tips&tricks
multiple lenses

multiple lenses The Great Debate: Lens vs. Camera Body (A Landscape Photographer’s View)

Let’s face it: as we get into photography, we all wrestle with gear choices, from camera body to accessories to lenses.

Lenses are as crucial as the camera body (some would say even more than the camera itself), offering creative control and sharp images.

But is the market full of marginally upgraded “new” lenses at inflated prices?

Lens: Friend or Foe?  

Good lenses matter because they help you capture sharper images with richer details and better color reproduction. If I have to be honest, a high-megapixel camera sensor cannot save a blurry picture from a poor lens.

Dark Ice - One of my most iconic shots, was taken using a low-budget Rokinon 14mm F2.8

Dark Ice – shot using a low-budget Rokinon 14mm F2.8

But are the latest bells and whistles worth the ever-increasing cost? Not when you are at the beginning of your journey.

The picture on the right shows an example of what a cheap lens can do. This is “Dark Ice” one of my first and now one of my most iconic shots, and was taken 6 years ago in Iceland with a low-budget Rokinon 14mm F2.8 (cost of $370 as we speak)

Also, remember that vintage glass can often deliver stunning results for a fraction of the price, but also you might need to invest more money in adapters if you follow that route.

The Camera Body: Silent Partner

The camera body acts as the canvas for the lens’s painting. A suitable sensor helps in low light, but a top-of-the-line model isn’t essential for that perfect sunrise shot. I’ll use Sony as an example since I am a Sony guy. Sony A7RIII was released in 2017 and still has cleaner pictures at higher ISOs than the new models due to the bigger pixel size on the camera sensor.

The Verdict: Balance is Key

Invest in a solid, versatile lens (f2.8 wide-angle, 28mm or wider if you choose landscape as I did), but prioritize learning composition and light. Upgrade the body later as your skills grow. Remember, the most stunning landscapes are captured with both skill and vision, not just the most expensive gear.

Remember, as Peter McBride once said to me, “The best camera is your eyes; the second one is the one in your hands.