Three Photography Kits for Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced photographers
By: Colton Newman
For photographers who are just starting out with a basic DSLR camera is probably your best bet. One of Canon’s easiest cameras to use is the Canon T series. The most recent T series release is the Canon EOS Rebel T7i, but any T series from the Rebel family would work. Look at the T5i to the T7i cameras. The benefits of these basic models is that they tend to be on the cheaper side but the quality is good, they tend to hold a good resale price. They also have simpler and easy to navigate settings menu.
Once you have a camera body picked out the next step is to decide on a lens. For a beginning photographer a general purpose zoom lens will serve you best. A general purpose zoom lens works well on for many subjects as it covers wide and narrow scene selections. Let’s look at the work a wide lens does and then a lens on the other end of the spectrum. A wide lens has small designation number like 14 to 20mm. This is the focal length, a classification that uses a millimeter number that tells the photographer about the lens capability. Wide lenses allow the photographer to get very close to the subject or to show a lot of scenery. Think of wide as if you are looking at the world through a big window. There is a great deal of stuff outside. A focal length of 50mm and higher allows the photographer to stand back from the subject and get tight images like a dog’s face or even a single bee. Imagine a small window that provides only parts of the scene. Most photographers use a zoom lens that covers wide or tight image choices. I tested an inexpensive 18-55mm lens and could photograph most subjects well. The 18-35mm is most photographers’ bread and butter lens. The wide lens has better depth-of-field. What that means is that more things are in focus. Imagine photographing a row of fence posts from one end to the other. A good depth-of-field will keep many of the posts in focus. The tendency of a high number, telephoto lens like 80mm will tend to show just one or a few posts clearly. With a long lens, the scene will also appear compressed. I you change the F-stop to a higher number like F-16, the depth-of-field will also increase. Let’s leave F-stop for a later discussion. One of the most recommended 18-35mm is the Sigma 18-35mm F/1.8 DC HSM “Art”.
After you’re set with a good body and a lens or two it’s time for the smaller details such as memory cards and cases. For a memory card SanDisk is usually one of the more reliable companies for memory cards. For a beginning photographer a handful of cards from 16GB to 32GB would prove to work best. The last item that beginning photographers usually overlook is a camera case. Most beginning photographers usually have only one or two bodies and only need a simple shoulder strap camera case. For a cheap and durable case Canon offers a Deluxe Soft Case PSC-4200.
Beginning
Camera- Canon Rebel T6i
Lens- Canon EF -50mm- F/1.8, Sigma 18-35mm F/1.8 DC HSM “Art”
Memory Card- SanDisk 16GB, SanDisk 32GB
Case- Canon Deluxe Soft Case PSC-4200
Before the D3400, you chose your smartphone camera for convenience. Zooming was clumsy. Shooting in low light was nearly impossible. Capturing fast action was a game of luck. But after the D3400, you'll see that you were compromising image quality. That some of the greatest photos happen when the light is low. That fast action can be frozen in perfect clarity. And that a camera and a smartphone can work together in harmony to make the photos you share absolutely amazing.
- Upgraded Normal AFS lens
- Excellent in low light
- Can be used as a portrait lens on DX-format cameras
For photographers looking to take their photography to the next level a more advanced camera, more diverse lenses, larger memory cards, a bigger case, and a professional detachable flash are all a must. This equipment list is for photographers who are doing more than just casual photography. If you are getting into professional photography work such as wedding photography, journalism, senior portraits or any job where someone is paying you for your pictures, you will need to upgrade to a higher quality photography package.
If you are using a Canon you want to start moving away from the Canon T series and start working with higher quality gear. Canon EOS 7D Mark II is a good place to start. It has been hailed as one of the most complete DSLRs on the market. For Nikon users, the Nikon D7500 would be in a similar class.
A higher quality body a lens to do it justice is a must, but it is a good idea to hold onto and the 18-35mm lenses. Adding higher quality lenses to your collection will help with the quality of your images. Two additional lenses would have to be a macro lens and a telephoto lens. For a macro lens a Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS, is a good cheaper option that is still an effective tool. For telephoto lenses the Canon EF 70-200 f/2.8L IS II USM, is one of the best mid range telephoto lenses that someone can buy.
When looking at on-camera flashes a few features you want to look out for are manual settings that allow you to control the flash power. Not every situation needs a massive explosion of light to illuminate the scene but maybe sometimes it does. Having the ability to change the power of the flash is a huge plus. A flash that is easy to use and has been positively reviewed is the Canon Speedlite 430EX III-RT. Some highlights for the Speedlite flash are that it has a 2.4 wireless radio transmission, it rotates 150° to the right and 180° to the left. As this is a pretty high quality on-camera flash it is a bit pricier, around $350, but if hired for weddings, conferences or club photography it will pay for itself pretty fast.
With professional photography comes the need to start shooting your photos in raw and not JPEG, this means that you are going to be using memory far faster than when you are casually out shooting images. Having a few 36GB SanDisk cards on hand would be a good idea, but if you want to keep shooting and not worry about memory than having a 64GB SanDisk card in your camera would be wise.
If you have added more than one camera body to your collection that single body shoulder strap won’t help you too much. If you are carrying around 2+ camera bodies and more than 1 lens than you need to start looking at an upgrade. The Sports Elite Camera Pack from Pelican Cases is a good place to start. It offers space for more bodies and lens, along with that it has a slot for your computer. This can come in good use if you are pressed to edit photos on the spot. This case runs at $150, for the amount of space it offers, and the cases known durability this is a steal!
Intermediate
Camera- Canon EOS 7D Mark II, Nikon D7500
Memory Card- 36GB SanDisk, 64GB SanDisk
Case- Sports Elite Camera Pack
Lens- Canon EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS, Canon EF 70-200 f/2.8L IS II USM
Flash- Canon Speedlite 430EX III-RT
Born from a desire for flagship performance and innovation in a more compact and streamlined connected camera, the D7500 delivers the game-changing resolution, ISO range, image processing and energy efficiency of the award-winning D500 in an enthusiast-level DSLR. Simply put, the D7500 is built to outperform any camera in its class with top-tier image quality, blazing speed, flawless autofocus, 4K Ultra HD video and pro-grade creative tools—all in a comfortable, rugged design. This is a camera for the new generation of creators.
- Latest generation of Nikon's famed 70-200mm f/2.8 constant aperture zoom lens
- Lens of choice for low-light, sports, wildlife, concerts, weddings, portraits and everyday shooting
- New optical formula achieves jaw-dropping image quality, even in trying conditions
- Improved AF performance, weather sealing and handling
As far as camera bodies go the Canon EOS 7D Mark II and the Nikon D7500 are probably your best bet when it comes to the more advanced higher quality DSLRs. The Canon EOS 7D Mark II has 20.2MP, a maximum continuous shooting speed of 10fps and promoted as one of Canons “toughest builds”. The Nikon D7500 has a higher megapixel coming in at 20.9MP, but a slower maximum continuous shooting speed at 8fps. Both bodies offer top of the line quality with just small variations within their stats.
It’s recommended to have a 128GB card because these are cameras with higher resolution. The only catch is when you are at a higher level of photography you are probably going to be shooting jobs such as photo shoots or weddings and it always comes in handy to have more than a few memory cards at your disposal. So a handful of 64GB and 32GB would be what I would recommend along with the 128GB.
As a photographer collects more gear a larger more heavy-duty gear case never hurts. The Pelican 1535AirrTP Wheeled Carry-On Case is on the more expansive side of casing but the benefits out way the cost easily. The Pelican 1535 is watertight, dustproof and crushproof case with a large interior with room for multiple bodies, lenses and other accessories. This case is lightweight and easily maneuverable, and it is meant for traveling short or long distances.
When adding a higher quality lens to a collection the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM is a gem that you’ll find yourself using every trip, job or simply just for fun. Although extremely pricey the EF 100-400mm offers a high performance, rotation-type zoom ring allows for a precise composition and the optical image stabilizer provides up to four shutter speed steps or correction. This is a highly recommended piece of equipment for any photographer looking to become more professional. Along with a high quality telephoto lens a reliable wide angle is recommended. The Canon 16-35mm f/4L EF IS USM is an EF Mount L-Series lens with an aperture range of f/4 to f/22. This 16-35mm is water and dust resistant and has a nine-blade circular aperture. These two lenses alone would set any photographer up for a successful shot.
Knowing that you will be tackling a tough lighting situation a reliable flash will always be handy to have in your back pocket. The Canon 600EX II-RT EOS Speedlite Flash with Wireless Capability will come to your aide more than a few times as you start to take on more challenging photo assignments or jobs. The 600EX-II-RT is a simplistically operated flash with a stunning performance rating.
If you’re looking for a trustworthy and affordable tripod look only to the MeFOTO RoadTrip Aluminum Travel Tripod. At under $200 this lightweight heavy duty tripod is sure to do the trick for whatever photo you are trying to capture. This tripod can hold around 17 pounds and can pan 360 degrees.
More mature photographers will begin to collect small gadgets that can be used in different situations. One device that will come in handy in multiple situations is the AmazonBasics Wireless Remote Control for Canon Digital Cameras. This wireless remote can help if you are one a jobs where you might need two people but it’s only you and you have to be away from your camera but still need to take photos with it. This will be helpful on professional shoots and during small family gatherings.
Listed next is camera batteries, because each camera has their own type of battery I can’t recommend a specific one. Though to always be prepared a photographer should always have at least two charged batteries on hand when going out to shoot. If you are doing all day events having event three batteries is highly recommended.
The last item on this list is a piece of equitant that many photographers now a days probably over look and that is a light meter. When using film a light meter is crucial when figuring out what settings you should be using but with digital most people will just guess around until they find their sweet spot but if you’re running low on time popping a light meter out and getting a quick read can give you a more professional presence to a client opposed to just messing with settings until you get them right.
Advanced
Camera- Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, Nikon D850
Memory Card- 64GB Sandisk, 128GB Sandisk
Case- Pelican 1535AirrTP Wheeled Carry-On Case
Lenses- Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens, Canon 16-35mm f/4L EF IS USM Lens
Flash- Canon 430EX III-RT EOS Speedlite Flash with Wireless Capability
Tripod- Manfrotto RoadTrip Aluminum Travel Tripod
Remote Control- AmazonBasics Wireless Remote Control for Canon Digital Cameras
Batteries- Depending on camera body
Light Reader- Pyle Pro PLMT21 Digital Photometer with 20,000 Lux Range
When Nikon introduced the D800 and D800E, it set a new benchmark for DSLR image quality and super high resolution photography that approached medium format. Now, five years later, Nikon proudly introduces the next evolution in high resolution DSLRs, a camera that allows photographers to capture fast action in 45.7 megapixels of brilliant resolution. With remarkable advancements across the board—sensor design, autofocus, dynamic range, sensitivity, Speedlight control, battery life, shutter and mirror drive mechanisms, Silent Photography in Live-View mode, focus shift capability and more—this is quite possibly the most impressive, well-rounded DSLR yet.
- Versatile FX-format super-telephoto zoom lens that covers a broad focal length range—80mm to 400mm (120mm to 600mm equivalent on DX-format cameras).
- Excellent all-in-one choice for everything from portraiture and landscapes to wildlife and sports.
- In low-light situations, Nikon's Vibration Reduction (VR) technology lets you shoot at shutter speeds up to 4x slower than would otherwise be possible.
- Get as close as 5.7 feet from your subject, then zoom in for dazzling macro-style close-ups.
- Nikon's exclusive Silent Wave Motor (SWM) provides ultra-fast, ultra-quiet autofocusing with seamless manual override.
- Definitive Wide-angle Zoom Lens
- Nikon VR II (Vibration Reduction) Image Stabilization
- Nano Crystal Coat
- Radio control Advanced Wireless Lighting that does not require line-of-sight to work
- Flash cooling system provides more than 100 consecutive shots at full output
- Streamlined access to your frequently used functions such as Flash Mode, Zoom Head Position and Flash Compensation Value
- Fully compatible with all current optical control Speedlights
