Basic Camera and Accessory Suggestions for Getting Started in Digital Photography
I have been asked many times exactly what is needed to start out in digital photography. How much do I need to spend, and what items do I really need to buy? Start with the basics. You do not need to purchase the most expensive camera body and the biggest lens. I honestly feel that today’s entry level dSLR cameras are more then adequate for you to start your journey into the world of digital photography. And it really is a journey, one that will hopefully last you for many, many years to come. As you explore photography, you’ll learn what your interests are, and as you improve you can spend your money on a different piece of equipment, or that special accessory, that meets those specific needs. I’ll tell you what I honestly recommend for a starter kit, and why I would suggest it. If I were to go out today and buy a starter kit for a family member or a friend these are the items that I would purchase for them.
I am going to suggest a basic kit, and then a list of accessories that you might want to consider getting, either at the time you get the camera, or shortly afterwards. My suggestions are aimed at getting you solid, reliable equipment that you’ll be able to use for a number of years to learn and to make some amazing photographs. This kit can be built upon, as you add an accessory here or there as you grow as a photographer.
The Basic Kit
In the next several sections you’ll find my recommendations on the basic equipment that you’ll need to create your kit. This is the minimum equipment needed in order to start creating fine art photography that you’ll enjoy for years to come.
The Camera
I would start off my kit with a Canon EOS Rebel T4i Digital Camera with kit lens for a little under $900. I suggest Canon simply because that is the product line that I am familiar with. Nikon makes a great camera and the Nikon telephoto lens is one of the best you can get. I am not going to entertain a debate as to which brand is better. I encourage you to go to a camera store and play with models from all the manufactures. Hold them, snap some photos right in the store. Play with the menus. Find the camera that feels right in your hands. This camera is the starting point of all of your images, and the more comfortable you are with it, the better off you will be. If you decide that Nikon is the system for you, then by all means buy the Nikon without a seconds hesitation. The model that I suggest has a great set of features. I suggest this camera because it will allow you to explore and learn at a very reasonable price. Yes, you could spend $3,000 on a camera, and if you an giant pile of cash lying around that is fine. But if you are like the majority of us you budget and looking for the most bang for your buck. And this little camera is going to give you a LOT of bang!
The Lens
Most camera systems come with a “kit” lens. For Canon, this is often the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II Lens, and Nikon has an equivalent. These are good general purposes lenses, that are suitable for a wide variety of photography. They are going to allow you to learn. This is usually included in the price of the kit, although you can but the camera body without the lens and then buy a lens separately.
Memory Card
Believe it or not most digital cameras do NOT come with a memory card, so you need to pick up one or more of these little babies. And they do not come cheap. SanDisk makes a very reliable memory card, and you can pick up a 32 GB SD card for about $30. With today’s digital cameras cranking out large files, and shooting multiple frames in a second it is always a good idea to have several cards on hand!
Book
The book that I am about to suggest is what I consider the #1, numero uno, single most important accessory that you want to buy. Bryan Peterson’s book Understanding Exposure is a must read, must understand book for everyone that wants to get into photography. A digital camera, at its very core functionality, simply creates an exposure. Understanding how your camera does this is the most important thing that you can learn, and the sooner that you start to understand your camera, the sooner you will be creating the photographs that you want to make. At $20 you would be crazy not to to pick this book up! In fact, I might even suggest that you buy the book BEFORE you buy the camera so that when you get that shiny new camera home you are ready to begin experimenting!
Bag
You need something to safely carry your new baby, and all those accessories around in. There are shoulder bags, hip bags, and backpack style bags to choose from. The style that you choose really comes down to a personal preference. Look for a bag that has thick padding, solid zippers and well padded straps. Companies like Lowepro, ThinkTank, and Kata are just a few of the quality manufacturers that you’ll find. You should be able to find something for $50-$75 very easily.
That sums up the essentials, and it gets you into a basic kit that is going to last you for years for about $1,000. As you learn more about photography, and find what type of photography you enjoy you can add lenses and an accessory or two that match your interest. Maybe you find macro photography to be your thing, and decided to purchase a dedicated macro lens and a focusing rail. Maybe you decide you like landscape and opt to invest in a wide angle lens and some filters. Explore, play around and find out what you like. You never know, you might find yourself surprised where photography can take you!
The Accessories
The following accessory list is comprised of things that you will probably want to acquire at some point, but are not required for you to get started.
Tripod & Ballhead
I consider my tripod to be my single most important accessory. Getting crisp, sharp images is critical and a secure, stable platform to mount your new camera on is the best way to get those sharp images, putting the tripod at number one on my accessory list. This platform actually consists of 2 components – the legs, and the head. You can buy them separately, of together. You can spend anywhere between $10 and over $1,500 on a system. I would suggest a 055XPROB Tripod Legs for about $135 and a 498RC2 Midi Ball Head with 200PL-14 QR Plate for another $100. This is a very solid setup that is going to give you excellent performance at a price that is not going to break the bank. In fact, this is the setup that I am using today!
Camera Release
A cable release is a simple cable that connects to your camera and allows you to take a photograph by pushing a button on the cable release, rather then touching the shutter button on the camera. The purpose of this accessory is to simply keep your hands off of the camera so that the camera does not move at all at the time the photograph is taken. A basic model will run you about $20
Spare Battery
Battery technology just keeps getting better and better, but it never hurts to have a spare battery charged up and ready to go! I can tell you from experience, there is nothing worse then being in the right place at the right time when mother nature is doing her thing and realizing that the battery in your camera is dead.
Software
Without a doubt, my first recommendation is Adobe Photoshop Lightroom. A complete package, this application was designed from the ground up for today’s digital photographer. A photo library and development application all rolled into one. At around $80 this piece of software is a bargain, and is the foundation of most pros. Adobe is the de-facto standard in photo editing software in the digital world, and for a very good reason. Their software is top notch, and with Lightroom it is easy and intuitive to use.
No matter what you end up with for a camera and accessories, the most important thing that you can do is to get out there and use it. Shoot, shoot and shoot again. Read your manuals and get familiar with your equipment so that you know it like the back of your hand. Look at lots and lots of photos. Study the work of photographers that you admire – try to understand what you like and why, and then try to incorporate those same things in your own photographs. Most of all , have fun!
I hope this information helps you as you enter into the world of digital photography! As always, comments and questions are always welcome!