Photo vs Post-processing - Which is more important?

[Chosen_One]

I'm VERY new to this whole photography thing. Currently I'm shooting either:
1) Canon Rebel T1i usually with a 55-250mm f/4-5.6 Lens
2) Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
3) Several cheap waterproof cameras for diving and kayaking, etc

I've noticed that even with the cheapest camera, I can post-process (even with the extremely limited skills I have) in Lightroom and get a great picture. At least a picture that looks great to me. So much so that I showed some pictures I took with my cheapest camera and got a "wow, whatever camera you're using for these pics is awesome!"

So, my question is this: which is the more important of the two: getting a perfect shot, with perfect light, using the perfect camera settings? ...or getting a good shot, with decent light and then post-processing to make it great?

[kat]

Perfect shot or close to it. Wrong exposure to the extreme you can't fix. Wrong composition entirely can't be fixed (yes yes..crop and stuff..but you know what I mean). I find most edited photos, HDR, etc are good to begin with. Today I went shooting and left my auto bracketing on after doing a shot for HDR..and the rest of the kids went from -3 to +3 exposures...not too many that were good..and all of them are pretty extreme for me in regards to what I would normal do.

Guess it's up to you though. What you are happy with.

[asnow]

You always want to get it right in the camera first.

[Iguanasan]

Just to agree with the crowd, you want to get it right in camera as best as you can. Yes, you can create an image in post regardless of what you start with but it's a lot easier to tweak a good image than to wrangle a bad image into a good image.

[QuietOne]

As much as possible, in camera. But sometimes post processing rescues things your eyes handle better than the camera's sensor (I'm looking at you, bright red roses!)

[Richard]

If it looks great in camera, its a great image. After all we're photographers not retouchers.

[Bambi]

At least a picture that looks great to me. So much so that I showed some pictures I took with my cheapest camera and got a "wow, whatever camera you're using for these pics is awesome!"

sigh.

[Marko]

I'm with the crowd. Way too many people use Photoshop as a crutch. Learn to get it right in camera, don't go fishing in photoshop.

[Kawarthabob]

"wow, whatever camera you're using for these pics is awesome!"

And to the people that say that your response should be "Thanks! Your mouth makes great compliments."

[Wicked Dark]

Go shoot film. Limited do-over capacity there. That will teach you the rules. Once you know them and can do well within them, like Picasso, you'll have leave to break them.