Be a photohead, not a gearhead

Many people get way too caught up in the gearhead thing and not nearly enough into the photohead thing. Learn. Practice. Read a book on photography. Look at good photos in books, on the internet, at galleries regularly in order to learn what you like and don't like. It will help you learn to "see" much better. Worry more about QI (quality image) than IQ (image quality) and your photography will be much better. Of course, if your goal is to be a gearhead then go ahead. :-) From what I have seen from over 35 years or so in photography is that most people blame their tools for their dissatisfaction with their photos. Occasionally the tool is the problem, but usually it is the photographer.