Originally Posted by
Ron Beaubien
For general photography, like album cover portraiture that may be true, but it certainly isn't for many other photographic areas.
Try photographing a tiny insect up-close with a point-and-shoot camera. Unless you are using a specially made lens you'll likely get nothing but blury photos as normal lenses cannot focus that closely. How about an Olympic event where you are restricted to a particular area, often far from the action, and not allowed to use a flash? No one enjoys squinting in a vain effort to find the action in a wide angle shot of an arena. Most sports photographers drag around those large white Canon telephoto lenses for a reason.
A photographer needs talent. There is no doubt about that. However, without the proper equipment, in certain areas it can often be impossible to get a good photograph. That is why 35mm systems are so popular. They often have a large assortment of interchangeable lenses.
Regards,
Ron Beaubien