Embarking on a photography journey begins with a mindset. The mere thought of capturing a stunning image can be thrilling for someone passionate about photography.
However, thoughts alone don’t yield results; action does. If you’re new to photography, despite your enthusiasm, you likely face a common challenge: a limited budget.
Acquiring the right equipment to start your photography journey can be overwhelming, especially with numerous brands offering various gear options. It’s natural to feel uncertain about what to purchase, and it takes discipline to prioritize needs over wants.
That’s where we come in – to provide guidance and support. We’ve curated a comprehensive list of essential gear for beginners, aimed at giving you the best possible start in your photography career.
And, as a bonus, we’ll reveal this year’s most significant opportunity for new photographers, which might just surprise you!
Camera Bodies
The camera body is the heart of the camera, housing the essential components such as the image sensor or film, and controlling vital functions like shutter speed and ISO sensitivity. It’s the core component responsible for capturing the image.
Selecting the right camera body can be a daunting task, especially for beginners. One common dilemma is deciding which brand to choose. A helpful tip is to consider the brand your friends use, allowing for easy collaboration and lens sharing.
However, don’t worry if you don’t have friends with gear to borrow – any brand you choose will serve you well. Established brands like Sony, Nikon, and Canon are great starting points, although they may not be the most budget friendly options. Alternatively, consider starting with more affordable brands like Zoom or Polaroid and upgrading as you progress.
When it comes to camera bodies, beginners often obsess over technical specifications (tech specs). However, these detailed documents outlining product development procedures are not essential knowledge for photographers.
In reality, a camera’s quality is only as good as the photographer using it. Any camera with 20MP or higher can produce print worthy images if you know how to capture quality photos. Focus on developing your skills, and don’t get bogged down in technical specifications.
Below we’ve listed the most affordable camera bodies for beginners:
JVC GR-D290U 25x Digital Zoom MiniDV Digital Video Camera Camcorder
Digital Video Camcorder 1080p Camera
Andoer 1080P Digital Camera Video Camcorder 48MP Antishake Portable
Nikon E5700 Coolpix 5.0 Mega Pixels Digital
Nikon D100 Digital Camera
Sony DSC-S85 Cyber-Shot 4.1 Mega Pixels Digital Still Camera
MegaGear Sony Alpha A7S II, A7R II, A7 II
Polaroid 4055 4.2 Mega Pixel Digital Camera
Polaroid Spectra 2 Instant Camera
Canon PowerShot SX160 IS Digital Camera
1280x720P HD 16X Digital Zoom 160 MP Digital Video Camera
Camera Lenses
A camera lens is a piece of equipment that attaches to a camera body and focuses light to capture images. It helps control how the image looks, including how much of the scene is included and how clear or blurry it is.
You should definitely consider buying a lens (or lenses) to go with your camera. We recommend having two when you first start off if you can; a general purpose zoom lens (very versatile and great for landscapes) and a prime lens (great for portraits among many other things).
Below we’ve listed off the basic, better, and best lenses for the cameras listed above. Do note that some of these cameras are crop sensors and so there can be a crop factor to take into account on some of the lenses that are full frame lenses.
A crop sensor is a smaller camera sensor that captures a narrower view than a standard 35mm sensor. This means it crops the edges of your photos, giving you a closer, more zoomed-in view.
A full-frame sensor is a large camera sensor (36mm x 24mm) that captures high-quality images with a wide angle of view and a shallow depth of field, making your subject stand out from the background.
Full frame lenses will work on a crop sensor but crop sensor lenses will not work on a full frame. If you know that you’ll be buying a full frame camera later on, we recommend buying full frame lenses so that you save yourself the headache of selling the crop sensor lenses to buy full frame ones.
Here are some of the best affordable lenses you can purchase:
12X Telephoto Telescope Camera Zoom Mobile Phone External Lens(Black)
Camera Lens Zoom 80mm-200mm
Vivitar Macro Focusing Zoom Lens
Kenko VARI 428ZT 420-800mm Lens
SUN Zoom Lens 28-80mm 1:3.5-4.5 Macro Lens
Tripod
A tripod is an essential piece of equipment for any photographer, especially for beginners. It’s a portable device used to support, stabilize and elevate a camera.
The tripod will help you take sharper photos by keeping your camera steady. It also allows you to take long exposures and use slower shutter speeds.
There are many budget-friendly options available such as:
Manfrotto BeFree
Slik Pro 400DX
Induro Alloy 8M AT214
External Flash
An external flash is a camera flash that is not built into the camera body. They can be mounted on a camera via a hot shoe (a mounting point on the top of a camera to attach a flash unit and other compatible accessories) or remotely triggered to fire off camera.
An external flash can help you take better photos in low light situations. External flashes are more powerful than the built-in flash on your camera, and they can be angled to bounce the light off the ceiling for a more natural look.
Some popular budget friendly options include:
Neewer TT560
Godox TT350
Yongnuo YN560 IV
Camera Bag
Finally, you’ll need a camera bag to keep your equipment safe and organized. A camera bag will help protect your equipment from scratches, dings, and other types of damage. There are many different types of camera bags available, from shoulder bags to backpacks, so you can find one that fits your needs and budget.
Some of the best budget friendly options include:
Lowepro Fastpack 250
AmazonBasics Backpack for SLR/DSLR Cameras
USA Gear DSLR Camera Backpack
Our Big Reveal
Now for the most thrilling moment! We’re unveiling the ultimate game changer for photographers – Tristetix, the premier stock photography website dedicated to showcasing the vibrant beauty of African inspired images! This is your chance to share your unique perspective, connect with a global audience, and monetize your passion like never before!”
On Tristetix, you can enhance your brand visibility and build a social media following by consistently uploading stock photos to the website. Additionally, you can engage with other photographers in our online community. Moreover, rest assured that your high-quality photos will undoubtedly help you secure unique gigs that only African conscious photographers can achieve.
Conclusion
So there you have it, with these few equipments you can get started on your photography journey, and using the power of Tristetix there’s nothing stopping you from achieving creative fulfillment.
Click here to join Tristetix and shoot your way to professional paid photography.
