- February 3, 2020
The Essential Photography Equipment for Beginners
If you’re just starting out in photography, there are a few key pieces of essential gear that you should have. Once you’ve built up your photography skills, then you can invest in an essential photography equipment.
Of course, buying the camera itself is just a small part of the equation. But, it’s not always easy to know exactly what camera equipment you need to get ahead. Finding the best photography equipment for beginners can be overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be.
Yes, we know that it is not the gear that makes a great photographer. A talented photographer can rock any type of camera because they know how to use light, composition and the situation to create a dynamic image. That being said, it helps to have the right gear to learn on which is why we created this photography equipment for beginners guide.
Here’s everything you need to know about essential photography equipment for beginners:
A Camera Bag
Certainly, you’ll need something to store all of your camera gear in.
Photography equipment is only useful if you have it on you when you want to take photos!
A camera bag will not only fit all your gear in one place but keep it protected with padded inserts too. When some beginner photographers think of must-have camera accessories, a dedicated camera bag isn’t usually on their list.
Why would you invest in a new camera, a lens or two, a tripod, and other accessories, and not in secure way to carry it altogether?
A good camera bag should have nicely padded, removable inserts inside. The removable inserts will allow you to customise the bag to best suit your equipment, and the padding will provide greater protection and help prevent your equipment from crashing into each other.
Editors tip
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Our suggestions:
Essential Photography Equipment Overview:
- Prime Lens
- Lens Shade
- Camera Bag
- Camera Strap
- Tripod
- Speed Light
A Prime Lens
As you progress in your photography skills, you’ll end up collecting plenty of different lens types that let you take all kinds of shots.
But at the start, you’ll be better off starting with a single prime lens.
Why a prime lens? Because the inability to zoom can teach you a lot about proper composition techniques. With a fixed camera lens, you have to think through your shots more, which stretches your skills and helps you improve faster.
A Lens Shade
Why do you need lens shades?
The primary use for a lens shade is to prevent light from hitting the front lens element from the sides – reducing contrast and creating flare. Pictures taken with a lens hood installed can have richer colours and deeper saturation.
Aside from image quality, the other main purpose of a lens shade is to help protect your lens from bumps, scratches, fingerprints, and other sources of damage. Lens shades also help keep debris off the front of your camera lens, which is very useful for taking pictures in rain or snow.
Editors Tip
Explore out best lens shades.
Memory Cards. Lots of them!
Without a memory card, digital photographs won’t have anywhere to go and cannot be recorded. Therefore, a decent set of memory cards is a necessity.
The three important things to remember when buying a memory card are:
- compatibility
- space
- speed
Keep in mind, that it’s better to have a handful of smaller SD cards than one big SD card. That way, if a card ever gets corrupted, you still have others you can use. There’s nothing worse than being unable to shoot because your only card died.
A Camera Strap
As soon as you have the other stuff listed above, you should spring for a quality camera strap.
The difference between a good strap and a kit strap is like night and day, and you won’t regret it.
The top reason to get a new camera strap is to make long periods of carrying your camera more comfortable and easier on your body.
There are so many options in the market of camera straps, that you‘ll need a guide for choosing the right camera strap for your needs!
Editors Tip
If you are looking for an elegant and comfortable camera strap, Rock n Roll Straps are the best option for you! They are made of premium soft leather that is soft and cushioning around the neck or wrist!
Our suggestions:
The Monochrom Rock n Roll Strap
Rock n Roll SL2 Black Leather Strap
Black Mamba SL2, Limited Edition
Black Lash SL2, Leather Camera Strap
Explore our camera straps.
A Camera Tripod
Few camera accessories are as versatile and necessary as a tripod.
Whether you’re shooting landscape, portrait, night, street, or even wedding photography, you’re going to need a tripod at some point or another. Tripods are extremely useful in low light settings as the stability of a tripod allows you to take longer-exposure shots without any camera shake.
When looking for a tripod, be sure to pick up one that’s the right height. You don’t want to slouch to see through the camera’s viewfinder.
The tripod’s maximum capacity shouldn’t be less than your camera with your heaviest lens and accessories attached. The size and weight of the tripod when folded should also be a consideration if you plan to travel with it.
Pick your favourite tripod from Amazon.
A Speed Light
The most helpful tool a photographer can have on hand is light to spare. For most image makers, a speed-light is the easiest and most convenient way to illuminate a scene quickly and efficiently.
Also, synced directly to a camera’s shutter, it offers a powerful burst light for fractions of a second.
The Bottom Line
There are so many more things you can purchase when it comes to essential photography equipment for beginners. However, I think it’s important to start simple. Learn to use this camera gear before moving on.
The biggest thing to remember when buying camera gear is that different styles of photography require different things. By understanding the basics of photography equipment, you can choose what gear will work the best for your style.
We hope you liked this essential list of photography gear for beginners. Stay tuned for more photography related posts!
