So what camera gear are you investing in for 2023???

This is great advice Matti. I bought the Fuji XT3 from the video you made a few years back it still a great camera for both Stills and videos. This video resonates with me as there are so many youtube videos that say buy this new camera, and you buy it and then few months later 10 reasons why not to buy camera X,Y,Z so youtubers should encourage more people to find 10 reasons what they can do with their existing (old camera) instead of buying another new one, just because they are bored with it. Well done for this genuine video

THANK YOU for actually explaining stuff. A lot of times when big influencers say I’m not going to tell you what camera to buy, It just feels like a cop out, like “I have all this knowledge, but I won’t share it with you”. I think most of the time what people are really wanting to know, or at least what I am wanting to know, is “IS this camera you’re talking about the right one for me”. But you taking time to explain it is a lot better than just saying “gear doesn’t matter, make videos with your phone.” Everyone knows that’s not true, and you even said it at the end of this video that it should be balanced. Also, I think which gear you buy matters more the higher you start to go, for example, I’m currently filming weddings with the black magic 4K, it’s a fantastic camera and it absolutely gets me the wedding footage that I need, however it is the opposite of weather sealed and the file sizes are enormous, so there’s big reasons to get some thing else if you’re filming weddings. Also, I believe in to being debt free as well, and it’s so good to hear you say this. Based on a much earlier video, I thought you financed your C300, so cool to hear someone say buy what’s in the budget. No wonder you’ve done well financially. Thanks!

this video has a deep deep meaning, thank you Matti ! i appreciate your thinkings on that. i can imagine that it must be tough sometimes when ppl buying stuff because you "hyped" it in a vid. there is so much more stuff which is important to your biz.

Glad you came out with this video. I’ve been telling my friends this, and it’s the biggest reason why I try not to watch camera/film maker KZfaqrs as much anymore unless I’m for sure trying to buy a particular piece of gear and I need to research. The constant bombardment of basically “ads” the film making community has been putting out since like 2018 has been ridiculous and initially lead me to spend lots of money on things I ended up giving away to friends or selling on eBay. Now I only upgrade cameras if I can reasonably view myself making an increased amount of money using it, and only if I can sell my existing gear for a reasonable price to help recoup my cost. And I buy used now. Usually a year old product so it’s still relevant but someone else eat the gear depreciation.

I personally sit down regularly and evaluate my creative process, write down the biggest pain points and find solutions that could help alleviate those. Last year I invested in upgrading my computer vs. buying a new lens and I can say that while not as flashy, it was a much better use of my budget.

I love the candor of this vid! I’m a gigging musician, and as I’ve matured I’ve grown more fond of what serves the sounds I want to create as opposed to what is the hot new thing in gear! This is great stuff

What's best for you is such good advice. When I started out a couple of years ago on my KZfaq journey I had been a photographer for a while and wanted to share my hikes. I bought into all these gimmicks of gear and because of a limited budget, I just wasted my money and found using and carrying all this gear around affected my enjoyment of my walks. Fast forward to today, I just use my phone on a OM 6 Gimbal with a Rode Lav mic attached to a Zoom H1n which also records ambient nature sounds. My whole system basically fits in my pockets and while not great does an adequate job of documenting my walks with minimal weight and fuss and I can get back to enjoying my hikes. So the advice you give Matti about what's best for you rings so true for me.

Wow, this is really refreshing and impressive to hear. Not many KZfaq creators have the courage to say budget first and don’t spring on the brand new products. Everyone on KZfaq these days is saying buy this buy that, but this is a breath of fresh air.

I think the big thing is experience. The more work I have the less gear obsessed I become...at least for the buzz words. Basically, I get more excited for things I know I will actually use in creating art and also generating a profit. That's why I'm torn about either keeping my Lumix S5 or trading it in for an S5 mkIIX.

I think the other thing people forget is that there is rental gear. I regularly rent lenses that I know I would like for that event, but I can't afford them at the moment. Build it into your cost for business, and within no time you will have that gear, not on credit, and know how to use it because when you rent it you want to make sure you get the most out of your 3-7 day rental.

Great video! It is so useful having people doing reviews and highlighting the features. But you are so right - it is so important to buy what fits an individuals needs. I bought the Ronin 4D - definitely not for a lot of people, but it definitely fits for me. Thanks again for the video 😀

I can’t believe I’m backing Canon here, but I used the R5 with the EF adapter, and I agree, the built in ND filter is hugely underrated, and worth using older lenses just for it.

Respect! I just love your honesty. Most people buy new gear because content creators promote it (after receiving it for free from the manufacturer). I wanted to buy a new camera, but now I realize that I do not need it, and it will not bring in any money...

Loved this video. I find myself in the same situation often with cool VR technology.. just because the tech is impressive and cool doesn’t mean I want people to go out and buy it.. actually.. Well said :)

I'm SO happy to see a new video from you! I have been loving my avata so far

The honesty is so much appreciated

Years ago, my accountant told me to only buy equipment that was absolutely necessary for the job, and as late as possible if I wanted to make a living from my work... and he was absolutely right. So I think this is the most important of your advice. Light is important, but I don't need that much, if possible I always use light from windows and the like. With LED light with color adjustment, it rarely causes problems. If necessary, I can do a job with a cheap and simple old 35mm lens, but if I don't have my tripod, and very, very important, my sound equipment with me, I'm not sure the client will be happy.

Matti, always follow your passion. I'm about 60 and have been successful over the years by following what i have been passionate about at stages of my career. Being the best of what you do is key to success. On a side note, thank your for all you have done! It has been very instructive to me!

So glad someone finally shared their honest opinion on all the gear videos. KZfaq has such a habit of overhyping new gear while all you really need is a phone these days.

I connected with what you said about buying expensive gear and feeling rushed to pay it off. I am in it right now. TAKE HIS ADVICE, often increase in quality is nice but if you already have an interchangeable lens camera that takes pictures and you have a 50 f1.8 that's all you need for a looooooong time. Remember that I am currently paying credit card debt as a college student and its not fun. Plus financial aid is low for me this semester so I don't even know how I will pay my rent but if I haden't made that purchase I could have been assured that I can pay my rent with my credit card. SO please please please DONT get into debt trying to purchase new gear. ALso better to purchase something with cash then with credit because you are relieved once that transaction happens because its not messing up your credit.

I appreciate you Matti a lot especially with this video about telling so good and honest advices!!

Refreshing! You're so right, different solutions work for different folks. Loved this one, Matti!

Love this approach to a gear video. So many folks buy gear they don't need.

I freaking love this guy. Nice job Matti!!

I'm still rocking the Sony a6000 and have been slowly investing in better glass. I hope to start a business or at least land a few paid gigs and learn as much as I can so one day I can go to a full frame and maybe even full time as a photographer!

I really love the transparency here, I currently use the fujifilm X-T30 (stills only) and the fujifilm X-T4 (vids + stills) but my investments this year will be an action cam like the gopro or the dji action plus a better tripod.

My order for photography purchases is a little bit different. I start with what tasks I must accomplish. Then I consider (for a camera ecosystem) what choices are there to accomplish those tasks? I look to see if there are paths for future growth. Next, I need to examine the possible tool choices (I believe that lenses are more important than the camera). My first step is to learn about them from tool educators. I like to read Ken Rockwell (and yet I shoot raw). For camera reviews, I like the Northrups and Jared Polin or Kai* for general camera choices or Theoria Apophasis* (for example) for Nikon specific stuff. For stills lenses, there is Christopher Frost, Arthur R, Dustin Abbott, etc.. For video we have Potato Jet, Gerald Undone, Kerry* from Camera Conspiracies, and Matti. Hot to take pictures? For landscapes we have Ben Horne, Steve O'Nions, Thomas Heaton. Portraits: Julia Trotti. Street work: Matti Sulanto. Large format: Ben Horne, etc., etc., etc. So now I know what equipment is right for me, right? Not remotely. Now I know what equipment is right for other people. To find out what is right for me I will rent it first. If I can buy it used cheap enough, I may do that instead. Then attempt the tasks I want to accomplish. How else would I discover that I hate the old Sony menu system or that kit lenses are a complete waste of time? Don't buy a giant kit. Start with one camera and one lens. Do you like the feel and controls? Do you like the images? How is your post processing experience ? Suppose you don't like it? If you rented it, send it back after you used up your time. If you bought it, you can sell it back. Try stuff until you find what really works for you. Summary: 1. Start with education. Read dxomark and optical limits reviews along with domain expert reviews 2. Using youtube, learn domain specific knowledge for what YOU want to do. Portraits/Sports/Videography have different equipment needs. Examine several sources. I always use at least three. 3. Try before you buy by renting or get minimal cheap used stuff (which will become your backup). 4. Properly educated, knowing what you want, buy the equipment you can afford. * = occasional strong language warning

I just got the Sony zve-10 and it’s pretty awesome for my first camera! Got a whole entire wishlist of accessories I wanna get now 😂

This was so wholesome and genuine. This video will do a lot of people good, including me 😂

Appreciate the honesty! Definitely keeps me a fan.

Nice one , People always ask me what a camera Gear should buy, and this video answer this question. Thanks!

Matti - I appreciate the openness and honesty here. Awesome -- and thank you man!

I thought this was a very honest video and actually came from you rather than a lot of content that is about selling stuff. Hands down one of the best contents on KZfaq. Thank you for the honesty.🙂

Thanks for keeping it so truthful & real 🙏🏿

Honest and helpful, thank you!

Awesome video and great message! Loved it!

f you had to choose only one camera, one lens, and one drone from the gear you own, what would be your choice? For me, it would be the Sony A7C, 24-70mm lens, and the Mavic 3 Cine :)

Awesome video, and great points. It is key to learn about new gear but not to buy everything. I push a lot of adapted f mount glass with the fTZII for value and quality.

Awesome vídeo, Matti! Thank you so much for this. Really Good, mate!

thank you for this matt!!!

Thanks for your candid advice.

Aloha Matti, It is great to see you and your family enjoying Maui. I've lived on Maui for over 20 years and recognized the beach that you visit in previous videos of yours. Also fun to see you and Kai snorkeling with the turtles and listening to the whales :) I recommend toothpaste scrub and de-fog for Kai's mask (seriously fogged l.o.l !) I had to comment though when I saw that you found the swim through cave a bit further out and I am wondering if you found the second swim through cave as well. Me and my gal park our chairs out on the point there sometimes and snorkel that area and swim through that same cave. I had a little video business starting in 1993 with a Commodore Amiga 2000 and got onboard with the NewTek Video Toaster Flyer in 1995 and closed shop in 2007. Now, photo and video is a hobby and I am happy with my Fujifilm X-T30, X-S10, X-T4 , Ikelite underwater housing , Fuji primes and zooms. For 2023 I will buy the Fujifilm 70-300 with 1.4 teleconverter for a trip to Africa. I admire your work and your channel. Maybe we'll cross paths some day at that swim through cave! Aloha! Derek. p.s . I imagine that you have seen that the catamaran that uses that beach has Kai in the name ✌🏼

Hey man , enjoy your channel but you should stop doing stuff like " You should not buy " , or " This is last video " . Its annoying and you can do better then this.

Very good video and advice!!! Congrats!!!👍

That's why I make reviews to be as pragmatic as possible. Some people watch them not to buy stuff but to justify their own purchase. I got an a7siii, 24-105g f4, and a cage. Sifting through reviews was so difficult because a lot of reviews are made by professionals who have access to the top of the line stuff that they're so sensitive to minor things that a prosumer or consumer probably isn't going to need to worry about.

This lightly touched on a video I wanted to create but definitely really great points

Thank you! Some solid advice! :)

Matti - thank you for this video! Out of all the recent drops and videos released on them, yours the realest of them all! It’s so easy to get gear envy and try and get too much too fast. But for real, thanks for putting this out. I’m not sure I’m ready for a world where there aren’t any Matti Haapoja videos haha.

Love the message!!

Great IRL advice.. Much appreciate brother!!

Just bought the Fujifilm X-H2. Love it!

dude, you're amazing! Thanks for keeping it real!

It's really starting to feel like a "goodbye" from you Matti... The way you say all of this is like you're just about to leave.😢😭 If at all, what has to happen has to happen, Please do not delete any of your videos Matti. Sending Love and Strength from India.♥

Start with a Reflex Canon after digital video appearance got the T2i while dreaming of 5D mk2, couple months after got the 5DmkII finally years and years as passed... Sony A7S release got it and changed the game in my nightlife club filming and wedding reception filming... 5Dmk2 got dusted and sold... A7S2 release, switched ...and the long long waited A7S3 and got the mega upgrade to it... since never look back and today ... mostly shoot with my phone NOTE20ultra 😅🤣😅🤣😅🤣😅🤣 ohh and Insta360 X2 changes the game when going snowboarding no more GoPro battery dead... got my self the Tilta hydra arm car mount 😅 and Tilta steady gimbal set for 2023 ... new projects ✨️

Love the thoughts herein, thanks for the wisdom!

I’ve always followed the rule spend less on a camera and more on good glass. It’s 2023 and I still use a Canon 5D , Olympus EM10 mark ii and of course my iPhone.

It's really great, skills first then tools. Thanks man

Great video, very entertaining and informative.

I like this type of video. This is how I have done it throughout the years. I have an iPhone 8 and an FX3, RS 3 Pro, A7III and 4 lenses 3 zooms one prime. Couple of cheap lights that I don’t use often. I sacrificed upgrading my phone and bought cheap quick ROI lights and a 85 1.8 for like 550 dollars total for the occasional headshot or in house photos. I mostly do wedding videos now and found that niece where there weren’t as many good videographers in my area as photographers. I focus on that but I try to never turn down the occasional headshot client or engagement photo clients. I make more per house on headshots but I enjoy video and get more video shoots then anything else because I’m one of few people doing good video in the area. Definitely don’t waste money on things that won’t make your photos or videos better or make your time making those easier. I bought the RS3 pro because I was getting exhausted on long wedding days with a normal stabilizer, I still use it for some shots but I’m slowly using the RS3 more and more and finding that natural look the stabilizer gave my shots.

Maui is such an amazing place! Just got back from there, started recovering from the sunburn!

Cool! Thanks for sharing it ✌️

Glad to see you back

Maybe the Nisi true color Swift system, it looks good! Now I have the Freewell and 2-5/6-9,it's also pretty good.(even as the Polar pro are good ones) Of course you have the Polar pro vnd from Peter, they are nice too but I like to try the Nisi Swift system. I have a question did you ever try a ND16 + vnd 2-5 to create 6-9 stops filter (from polar pro)? I wonder if its works good or even better?

Rocking out with a g95 and loving the learning experience...

@mattih random question what brand are your glasses? They look really cool I'm looking to buy something similar for myself. Thx!

Amazing trip!!

This is probably the best video I’ve seen from you in AGES

Great vide. Very good tips. 👍🙂

Appreciate your candor Matti

Great video. I love my iPhone camera. Still rocking the 12 Pro but still great quality.

Thank you for this Matti. We needed this, we are in a time where you can make a million dollars with your phone but yet we all keep looking for whats next. Dont wait Create!

For 99.9% of people, and even most KZfaqrs, an iPhone 14 pro with a moment mount and a gimbal is literally all people need for vlogging, can also use some moment lenses for dramatic effect. But now that they have ois they’re literally some of the best vlogging tools money can buy.

Bought a Photo Camera that came out in 2016 used. Missing some Features that would be nice to have but needed to pay waaaaay more to get them. It was basically a steal.

Thank you Matti !

as a former gear addict my advice is as follows. Use your phone.. prioritize audio. that's it.

I love this video.. T_T made me feel that im not lost or left behind.. I just wanna make short films or story tell thru films..

This is actually a very important thing to think about. People usually think the most expensive piece of gear is the best and they should get that, but that's not how it works. It may be the best thing on paper, but it might not be what you need for your work.

One of your best videos ever bro.

Honest & sincere Love it 👍

Totally get it. I'm a bit torn about the s5ii though, as I have the s1r and the video capabilities are not that great unfortunately. (especially AF, but also stuff like codecs). That said, do I need it? probably not...

I'm thinking of investing into my first 'cinema' camera aka the FX6

Excellent advice👍👍

Good video Matti. I’ll bet your favorite camera on vacation with family in Maui was your GoPro! Personally, I just love the GoPro for those underwater sea turtle 🐢 shots! 👍👍

Thanks for the honest talk - great video!

I REALLY like the big subliminal message here- there's always a newer, better product. Make sure a new product either fixes an issue you have you have or adds significant benefit over the gear you currently use. Up until this year I was still using a Sony A300 from 2009. I only switched when I needed to start filming!

I love this truth bomb vid! Mad respect for you to make this Matti!

Not everyone creates videos to get paid. For me its gear that I enjoy using without breaking the bank. I'm sure for many its just an expensive hobby. Its been my hobby since year 2000 starting with the Canon D30 3 mpix for photos and still buying new gear every year because I enjoy gear and what new things it brings for me to learn and enjoy. Currently just learning how to take advantage of editing with RAW videos. Also played with Sony gear for about a year just to enjoy what other manufacturers are doing. Do what you love so you can love what you do.

I love my S5 mi, I would love to get my hands on the mii just to go shoot around town

I'm thinking about getting a first camera. I used to have a sony DSLR but I didn't really like it that much, because my kit lens was only f3.5 - f5.6 so most my photos were blurry. I sold it eventually because my smartphone started to take better pictures. Now I'm getting back into photography and feel that iPhone is not enough. I would love to get a full frame Sony mirrorless like A7C or A7 iii but after watching your video I realise that I should probably stick to a ZV-E10 or a6400 because even if I buy a lens with them, they will still be cheaper then full frame cameras. Maybe I just got jealous because my friend got himself a full frame Canon EOS R and he isn't even interested in photography. 😭

I'm still rocking my GH5. I want a new camera, but it's still good enough for me, so I'll wait for something better.

Thank you for your honesty! Now, I watch KZfaq reviews "through a different lens".

I am completely happy with my old Sony A7S mark One and with Sony 6400. Two or maybe three years I will no need any new camera.

Matti, I understand and agree where you are coming from with the content of this video, but it is titled wrong. I am a S1H shooter and I will not buy the S5II(X) because the S1H does everything I need and it is not marketed towards S1H type owners. With that said, it is clearly the best 2 to 2.5K camera for the budding filmmaker. It beats the A7IV and R6II in film making features/functionality and if you go by the overall sentiment of the S5II reviews, the PDAF hangs with both Sony and Canon's best. You are going to have people listen to the first few minutes of the video (completely ignoring the rest of it) and think the S5II is a bad camera.

Hey Matti! Big fan! Do you know if it's possible to use a DSLR/Mirrorless Camera Gimbal also por a Phone? To avoid having 2 gimbals.

great vid matt

@mattih have you ever had any mic imput problems with the fx3? I know it really was an issue with the a73 and a7r3. I want to buy a Sony for the mirrorless video cameras but I’m to afraid to face any problem of that kind.🙄 Thanks

This came out just on time because I was going to purchase the mini today lol

Does the next year include starting the KZfaq class/workshop you've been teasing for many months?

Matti, will you make a video about Lumix S5II?