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Camera Equipment For Beginners: When To Save Vs. When To Splurge

The right camera equipment is essential for any photographer, especially if you’re still a beginner. The right gear will help you capture great shots, and along the way, help you learn the basics of photography. You do not need the latest camera if you’re just a beginner, a slightly used model is just fine.

With an array of expensive and affordable options in the market today, it is confusing which equipment to choose when you’re still starting with your photography journey. In this article, you’ll learn the basic camera equipment you should have, the features and specifications that you need to know, for you to determine when to save or splurge.

Camera Equipment For Beginners
photography gear on wooden table, digital camera lens and other accessories.

Do You Need To Spend Too Much On Cameras?

Many budding photographers think that they need to invest in expensive cameras to get the perfect shot. However, this isn’t the case, most of the time, it’s recommended to buy DSLRs or mirrorless cameras. These cameras can do the job without spending too much money. You can buy cameras here or look for photography shops that offer these cameras at low prices.

A crop sensor DSLR is a digital camera with a smaller image sensor than a full-frame model. This type of camera is often cheaper and easier to use. DSLRs have a wide selection of lenses including Nikon lenses for video, and they usually have longer battery lives. It’s also widely used for low-light shooting because it has an optical viewfinder.

A mirrorless camera has an interchangeable-lens and a digital display. These cameras are lighter and more portable compared to DSLRs. These cameras also offer better video quality and can shoot more pictures because it has faster shutter speeds.

No matter what camera you choose, as a beginner, you should look for these features:

    • Focus: Some cameras come with autofocus features, but as a beginner, you should learn to change this setting to take more visually appealing shots.
    • Color Balance: This will help you learn how to adjust your camera settings based on your lighting.
    • Light Balance and Exposure: This is also an important feature to adjust based on your lighting.
    • Additional Modes: Most cameras like DSLRs have different modes like sport, portrait, or landscape, wherein it has pre-designed settings based on the subject of your photo.

As you go along your photography journey, you’ll learn more camera features and how to adjust them to create interesting shots. It’s important not to splurge too much on your first camera so you can have more budget to buy other camera gears.

Camera Equipment For Beginners
Professional Photography Job Concept. Photographer with Modern Digital Camera in Hand

How Much Should You Spend On Camera Lens?

When purchasing a new camera, choosing a camera lens can be a daunting task, especially for beginners. Camera lenses are one of the basic elements of a camera. The focal length of a camera lens is crucial, because it determines the quality of the photo. The aperture is another important factor when choosing a Nikon macro lens, getting a wide-flanged lens will give you a wide-angled view.

There are affordable and expensive camera lenses available in the market. If you have a DSLR, there are many options to choose from, but as s a beginner, it’s not advisable to get a full set of camera lenses this early because you’re still exploring the modes in your camera. It is recommended for beginners, to start off by using an 18-55mm lens. These lenses are more versatile, and some brands offer them at lower prices. As you go along the way, you’ll learn what type of shots you want to make and explore more lens options in the future.

What Camera Gears Should I Splurge On?

There are two camera gears every amateur or professional photographers should splurge on: a camera bag protecting your valuable camera and a fast memory card. Buying a high-quality camera bag is essential for every photographer. A good bag can make your shooting time easier and more convenient.

There are different materials and designs available, some camera bags are made of hard-shell material, and others are made of softer ones. It would be best if you choose a camera bag made of a material that will protect your camera against scratches and bumps.

Aside from a high-quality camera bag, you should also ensure that you have the best quality memory cards on hand. Professional photographers invest in high capacity and faster speed memory cards because they don’t want to risk losing their images. As a beginner, if you want to secure your pictures, you should invest in fast and high-quality memory cards.

Final Thoughts

As a beginner photographer, you might be preparing to enroll in a photography course and prepare all the necessary gear to start your journey. Since you’re still beginning to explore, you don’t need to spend too much on buying the most expensive camera and lenses. It’s essential to start with the basics and upgrade along the way. You need to spend money on your camera bag to protect your gear and a fast memory card to ensure that you won’t lose your photos.


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