Just getting started in digital SLR photography? Check out these gear recommendations...

Fishing villages co-mingled with tall palm trees line the beach between Benin's capital of Cotonou and the historic town of Ouidah. Women walk along the dirt road that connects Cotonou and Ouidah, carrying food and belongings on their heads.

I often get questions from people at a range of photographic levels on gear, whether it be camera bodies, lenses, flash, or other accessories.  Today, someone asked me for recommendations for a first digital SLR camera.  (Here’s to you, Mac!)  Rather than continue to answer these questions individually, I decided to share my response with all of you!  So if any of you are budding photo enthusiasts, check out this gear list!

I want to preface my list to say that you can certainly buy more expensive equipment than what I’ve recommended below, but before you get hooked on gear, think about WHY you need something more.  Photography’s an awfully expensive hobby – and profession – and beyond the camera and lens purchase, there’s a LOT more that you can invest in, such as flash and lighting equipment, photo editing software, and even your photographic education (lessons/workshops, books, videos, etc).  Before you spend out your entire photographic budget on an expensive camera and lens, I’d advise you to step back, pause, and be patient.  An entry-level digital SLR is still a great camera, so if you’re not working professionally, you don’t need to have super expensive gear.  (And if you are working professionally, you don’t need to read this post anyway.)

Let me say it again another way…IT’S NOT ABOUT THE GEAR!  A GREAT CAMERA DOESN’T MAKE A GREAT PHOTO!  IT’S ABOUT HOW YOU USE WHAT GEAR YOU HAVE! Therefore, I’d say buy less at the beginning, get comfortable and good with what you do buy, and take some time to figure out what aspects of photography you’re really passionate about.  That will guide your future decisions about additional investments in gear.

Below, I’ve divided my initial gear recommendations into two sections: (a) mandatory first purchase; and (b) optional second purchase.  Either the first purchase, or the first and second purchases, will get you off to a good start.  (Click on the links below to view and purchase the products through Amazon.com.)

MANDATORY FIRST PURCHASE

• $499 –  Canon Rebel XS 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm lens
• $12 - UV filter to protect the lens
• $14 – 4 GB Kingston Elite compact flash card
• $13 - Compact flash card reader (if your computer doesn’t have a built-in slot)
• $12 - Lens cleaning kit

Added bonus – they’re cheap and handy, so why not:

• $11 - Lens pen cleaner
• $3 - Alpine Innovations Spudz Microfiber Cloth in Black Pouch

Total: $564

That’s it!  That’s the starter list!  And the total is often less than what I find that people think they have to spend.

OPTIONAL SECOND PURCHASE

Now, for the optional second purchase, you’ll need to know what you like to photograph.  Is it landscapes?  People? Sports? Architectural interiors?  Night subects?  If you’re not sure, then STOP HERE!  Don’t spend any more money!  Wait a bit, use that 18-55mm lens that comes with the camera, and try it out.  Take some time to figure out what you like about photography.

Now that you know, if you like to photograph landscapes, architecture, or night subjects, but not so much people or sports, then go for the tripod next, because this will allow you to use longer exposure times in low-light situations:

• $130 – Manfrotto 7302YB M-Y Tripod

But if you like photographing people and sports, then go for the zoom lens so you can get close-up shots with nice blurry backgrounds:

• $234 – Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens
• $12 – Second UV filter to protect the second lens

Total: $130 or $246 or, if you buy everything on the list, then $376

MORE ADVANCED THIRD PURCHASE

I know, I know, I said I’d do two purchase lists.  But I did get another question from a different person today who asked me for a wide angle lens recommendation.  When I asked her what lenses she already has, she said she has an 18-55mm and a 70-300mm on a Canon EOS 30D.  (I sold her this 30D, by the way, 1 1/2 years ago.)  Well, my first thought was that she already  has the 18-300mm range pretty-well covered.  (The 30D has an APS-C size sensor, so this range is equivalent to around 24mm-450mm on a full-frame sensor.)  Does she really need a wider angle (i.e. “ultra-wide”) lens?  These can get pretty darn pricy, and there are so many other – perhaps more useful – accessories to buy.  For example, does she have a tripod?  Does she have an external flash?  Does she have a photo cataloging/editing software like Adobe Photoshop Lightroom?  I need to go back and ask her what she’s trying to photograph, why she wants an ultra-wide lens, and whether she already owns these other accessories…

$130 – Manfrotto 7302YB M-Y Tripod
$250 – Canon Speedlite 430 EX II Flash OR
$395 – Canon 580 EX II External Flash
$10 – Sto-fen Omni-Bounce OM-EW Flash Diffuser for the Canon 430 EX/EX II Flash OR
$11 – Sto-Fen Omni-Bounce for the Canon 580 EX/EX II Flash
$299 – Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 Software

TOTAL: $559-$705 (excluding the tripod, which is included in purchase 2)

GRAND TOTAL, 3 GROUPS OF PURCHASES: $1498-$1644

So, in summary, you see what I mean, right?  There’s so much more to photographic equipment/supplies than a nice camera.  And I’ve only touched the tip of the iceberg here…  If you’re on a limited budget, think twice before spending your entire budget on the camera and a single lens.

Want more recommendations, or want to learn how to use all that gear you bought?  I teach private photography lessons and group photography workshops in the Washington, DC area.  One day, I will also lead a group photo tour in West Africa!  But for the moment, download the brochure on private photography lessons at the link above.  For group workshops, send me an e-mail at irene@ireneabdouportraitsweddings.com to find out what I’ve got on the horizon.  (I don’t always announce my workshops, but rather match students interested in the same topics together, based on people who have already expressed interest.  If you e-mail me, I’ll send you a questionnaire to let me know your photographic level and the kinds of workshops you’re interested in.)

And p.s., if you still have a burning desire to know what ultra-wide lens I’d recommend in the particular case above, here it is: Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM lens at a cost of $720.  And yes, this is as cheap as it gets…

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