WHAT CAMERA GEAR WOULD I BUY IF I WERE STARTING OUT?
I’ve spent a lot money on camera gear. A LOT. And over the years I have made many, many costly mistakes. It has taken me years to know what I want, why and if I need it. If you’re a new photographer, you don’t want to just spend a ton of money without knowing what you will get out of it. You assume that buying an expensive camera will allow you to take better photos.
Sadly, that isn’t how it works. And the reality is that most modern cameras will do a solid job in most situations. You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars… and you shouldn’t. At least not until you’ve learned your craft.
So I was thinking… if I was just starting out, what equipment would I buy?
Shot with the Sony a6400
CAMERA: SONY A6400
If money were no object, I would probably be recommending Canon. But there is a reason I haven’t sold all my Sony gear and bought a Canon R5. I just can’t afford it. Sony cameras are great and far more affordable. More importantly, Sony has a ton of third-party lenses that are relatively inexpensive and high quality.
I chose the a6400, because it is one of Sony’s least expensive, modern mirrorless cameras. And frankly, it’s a beast. I’ve owned one before (and I kind of wish I still had one). It is compact and lightweight, with a flip-up LCD screen and fantastic autofocus. You can buy the body new for around $800.
This is an APS-C camera, but you don’t need Full Frame when you’re starting out. This body is fully capable of shooting in any scenario, including weddings.
ZOOM LENS: TAMRON 17-70MM F/2.8
I should mention that I have never owned this particular lens, but Tamron consistently produces quality lenses at a low price point.
I chose the 17-70 for its versatility. On the a6400, this lens has an effect focal range of roughly 25-95mm. You could get by with just this lens for a very long time. And the constant f/2.8 aperture makes this lens great in lower light situations.
Bottom line, is that your first lens should cover as much of your needs as possible, so you won’t immediately need to go out and buy other lenses.
portrait lens: SONY 85MM F/1.8
I always want an 85 on hand. On the a6400, the 85 should have an effective focal length of about 127mm. You’re going to need some distance your subject, but you’ll get incredible portraits out of it. I chose the Sony 85mm because it is only around $500 new. My preference is my Sigma 85 Art lens, but that’s above a thousand dollars. Well worth the money, but for this list I’m trying to be cost effective.
ALTERNATE LENS: SONY 24MM F/2.8
If you want to spend a little extra cash, the Sony 24mm f/2.8 G lens would be a solid choice. Part of me wants to get one myself. There’s also a Tamron model that’s half the price.
ALTERNATE LENS: SONY 28-60MM F/4-5.6
If you really want to save money, you can always choose this lens over the Tamron. The aperture on this lens varies though. You can go as fast as f/4 on the wide end, which is decent. But at 60mm, you can only go up to f/5.6. That isn’t bad, but in lower light situations, you would have to bump up your ISO. But the price of this lens is very affordable.
CAMERA STRAP: PEAK DESIGN SLIDE
A camera strap is essential. No question. And Peak Design’s straps are the best available on the market. You could use the strap that’s included with the camera, but those factory straps suck.
Peak Design straps are comfortable and easily removable.
ADDITIONAL, BUT NOT TOTALLY NECESSARY GEAR:
camera bag: THINKTANK TURNSTYLE V.2 SLING
Finding the perfect camera bag is probably my greatest challenge in photography. I’m not sure I will ever achieve my dream. Thankfully you don’t need a perfect camera bag for this minimal kit. The TurnStyle Sling will be perfect for this situation.
TRIPOD: ULANZI ZERO F38 CARBON FIBER TRIPOD
Peak Design has a really great carbon fiber tripod. But this is basically the same tripod for one hundred bucks cheaper. I have an Ulanzi video tripod, so I’m pretty confident in their production quality.
Look, this is still a lot of money to spend. Altogether this is around two thousand dollars new. But you don’t have to get it all at once. The camera body, zoom lens and strap are all you need to get started.
Also, there is nothing wrong with going to the used market. You can save hundreds of dollars by going to a reputable used market like MPB. I occasionally buy used equipment to save money.
