Thoughts on Photography & Overkill

"Right, but I have a 1D." - HBO's VEEP

With bigger projects, and more high profile clients, it makes sense to use the right tools to get the job done. As I've started to plan out my different jobs for the first half of the year, improving the quality of my production equipment is something that has been on my mind. 

Currently, I'm using my Nikon D7100 for most of my projects, which maxes out at 1920 x 1080. With no really useful color profiles for video, there is the option of adding an external recorder, such as the Atomos Ninja Blade, but the jump in quality is something that doesn't offer the flexibility I am looking for to make a drastic improvement in production value.

Looking into 4K cameras, like the ones used by tech YouTubers, I have seen options that bring amazing production value to the end result. It has been during this process that I realized something.

As much as we all would like to use the best tools for the job, what we really need to think of are what are the necessary tools for the job. It's like the "Right, but I have a (Canon) 1D" joke from HBO's VEEP.

For me, I'm a one man crew, and while Canon C200 would be amazing, considering it's low-light ability and amazing bit depth, I could just as easily do the same work with a Sony A7R III, a 24-105 lens and if need be, an Atomos Ninja Flame and get similar results.

While there are tools that can easily do any job we toss at them, sometime's choosing the gear that fits the job means realizing what's necessary and what's excess.