It is the photographer, not the camera, that is the instrument.
Hear, hear! Although you'd never know it from the photography literature available online and at the magazine racks. And too many photographers are, unfortunately, products of the media they consume - a media based on selling ads for products - so, too often gear becomes the discussion at photo clubs and many in forums as well. How often have we heard "Wow - you must have a good camera!" or something of to that effect. (Not here, mind you!)
Ignoring the banner ads above, it is in forums such as this that the true nature of photography as self-expression and photographs as products of people (not machines) can be discussed.