Entering Photography: Must have items.
Discussion
Just been discussing things with a few friends into photography and one thing we all seem to have done, is wasted good money on things we didn't need (and will likely never use) and not spent it where we should have.
Just wondering if you guys would fancy all pitching in and creating a "what to buy" guide, starting with the absolute basics and working through to the point where you'd know better?
Just wondering if you guys would fancy all pitching in and creating a "what to buy" guide, starting with the absolute basics and working through to the point where you'd know better?
Camera bodies come and go as technology improves - they are, in effect, the most 'disposable' element of any camera system. 5 years would be a decent life cycle for replacing bodies, in that during this time the improvement in technology will reveal obvious differences, rather than small incremental ones.
Lenses can be considered more of an investment, with good quality lenses lasting many, many years. The choice of lenses is really based on what you would normally seek to photograph. Don't discount the option of renting lenses you may only need for short periods.
Bag - consider what you'll be carrying around, and for how long you'll be carrying it. Probably the easiest way to waste money is by getting a bag which is too small or which is a pain (literally) to carry around.
Other 'essentials' in my bag:
- memory cards - about 10 of them, of various sizes
- polarising filter
- spare battery
'Nice to haves':
- tripod - don't get a cheap, lightweight one - better to put off that purchase until you can afford one which will do the job properly and support the weight of your chosen camera and lenses.
- monopod - for when you don't want to carry a proper tripod
- graduated ND filters
- Flash - again, depends on what you'll be photographing, but I don't use my flash too often. But it's nice to know it's there 'just in case'.
- cable / remote release
Software! Lightroom and Photoshop Elements will be more than enough and maybe a mid priced printer. If you can borrow a colormunki calibrating the printer will save a lot of heartache or bypass the whole cabodle and get repints professionally done on-line.
The course is a good idea as then you can get student discounts on software. Photoshop CS5 for £160 instead of over £900 and lightroom 3 for about £70.
The course is a good idea as then you can get student discounts on software. Photoshop CS5 for £160 instead of over £900 and lightroom 3 for about £70.
Composition.
Not an item, I know
..but money spent on learning about why some famous shots just look 'right' is money invested in learning the craft and art of photography. Those are skills that will transfer to every camera you'll ever use - its money well spent.
It's all about composition
Spending £5k kit won't turn a rubbish photo into something great.
Try a book like The Photographer's Eye (around £10 currently) or one multitude of books on this topic.
Not an item, I know
..but money spent on learning about why some famous shots just look 'right' is money invested in learning the craft and art of photography. Those are skills that will transfer to every camera you'll ever use - its money well spent.It's all about composition
Spending £5k kit won't turn a rubbish photo into something great. Try a book like The Photographer's Eye (around £10 currently) or one multitude of books on this topic.
In terms of kit, what is "essential" is going to depend on the type of photography you want to do. Spare batteries and monopods might be essential for some, not for others.
Regardless of kit, you need to know the basics of exposure and composition, so the only essential, really, is a good book on this.
Regardless of kit, you need to know the basics of exposure and composition, so the only essential, really, is a good book on this.
Things you can probably do without day to day
3 or 4 lenses of roughly the same focal length and aperture, just because they were cheap on ebay.
Lensbaby - it's really not necessary
Keeping all the bodies you upgraded from
Cactus triggers
Assortment of filters that you have no intention of using
Cheap flimsy tripods
Thinking about it, most of my photographic faux-pas involve ebay and beer, I'm sure they were all a good idea at the time
3 or 4 lenses of roughly the same focal length and aperture, just because they were cheap on ebay.
Lensbaby - it's really not necessary
Keeping all the bodies you upgraded from
Cactus triggers
Assortment of filters that you have no intention of using
Cheap flimsy tripods
Thinking about it, most of my photographic faux-pas involve ebay and beer, I'm sure they were all a good idea at the time
Nick M said:
Camera bodies come and go as technology improves - they are, in effect, the most 'disposable' element of any camera system. 5 years would be a decent life cycle for replacing bodies, in that during this time the improvement in technology will reveal obvious differences, rather than small incremental ones.
That's an interesting one.When I decided to take photography up as a hobby "properly" I wasn't sure what sort of camera to go for or just how much I'd enjoy it so chose a budget end body on the recommendations of the camera store - a D60. I'm sure I'll get lots of counter arguments when I say this, but in hindsight it was a very very bad idea. It's highly frustrating to use as every single thing you want to do involves going into a menu system. My brothers D90 has considerably more options on instant call and is a million miles more enjoyable to use if for that single feature alone. I think if I'd gone dearer on the body, I'd spend a lot more time using it.
Of course that could all just be hyperbole because I'm trying to explain to the wife why I 'need' a D700
Davi said:
I'm trying to explain to the wife why I 'need' a D700
Owning both DX and FX bodies I'm gonna side with your wife! Stepping up to FX means replacing lenses too so a £1750 body soon becomes closer to £5k. Lenses and bodies are heavier too. The D300s and D700 are very similar and I guess the D7000 beats the D300s for resolution. I was making the choice with what I know now I'd be getting the D7000 and a few primes instead. I seriously considered a FX body last upgrade.
TBH unless you need maximum shallow DOF (i.e. not acheicable with f1.4 on crop)
or you need 1+ stops better low light than a crop
or you want maximum resolution for larger print (5D2, D3x etc)
Otherwise theres little point in FX.
Basic kit:
Body+included battery
Lens
memory card
lens cloth
That does for most things.
Other kit
More lenses
bag/s
tripod
remote release
filters (nd, nd grads, cpl etc).
TBH unless you need maximum shallow DOF (i.e. not acheicable with f1.4 on crop)
or you need 1+ stops better low light than a crop
or you want maximum resolution for larger print (5D2, D3x etc)
Otherwise theres little point in FX.
Basic kit:
Body+included battery
Lens
memory card
lens cloth
That does for most things.
Other kit
More lenses
bag/s
tripod
remote release
filters (nd, nd grads, cpl etc).
I often read the posts in this section about which Nikon/Canon every one ought to buy and how much it should be and what lenses. Never spent a lot on gear - I have two basic Pentax DSLR's and an old Nikon compact - so hardly fashionable. It doesn't matter what you got its what you do with them that counts. Know every function of your camera so that you don't have to think about it (makes you quicker). Test it all to its limit. Learn composition as has been mentioned, pick out detail, concentrate on what you love and like rather that photographing just anything. Have an eye for changing light and weather patterns and forget all this kit nonsense. Oh and make sure batteries are charged, cards are empty and the camera is ready at hand. Mark (RHS Photo comp 3rd 2003, 2nd 2006, 3rd 2008, finalist garden photographer of the year 2010, all with unfashionable kit).
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