Camera Gear Beginners Don’t Need
When thinking about entering the world of photography, there is so much gear and various options available to you, it can be incredibly hard to know where to start. Furthermore, the more you research and digest information from all over the internet, the deeper down the rabbit hole you fall.
As a result of this, talking from experience in this blog I’ll be sharing examples of various pieces of equipment and gear beginners don’t really need. Alternatively, I have previously written a blog regarding Camera Gear for Beginners here.
Expensive Camera
We will start with the most obvious one, the actual camera body. Naturally, your budget will help you to decide and narrow the choices, as the price point of cameras new and used can range from a couple of hundred into the thousands. However, as you’re just starting out and may just want to get a feel of things before committing to photography long term, do not fall into the trap of purchasing the most expensive and advanced cameras right away.
You will want to start with something simple and flexible enough to allow you to learn about the basics of photography, which in time will allow you to grow. For example as a beginner, if you purchase a camera with advanced features well beyond your knowledge at an early stage, there is a chance you will become overwhelmed. I know people who have done exactly this, and ended up giving up with photography altogether because the camera was too technical for them, or they simply didn’t have the time to learn about the software and features at their disposal.
Premium Lenses
Carrying on from the last point, as a beginner there is definitely no need to spend all your money on the newest and best equipment of top tier level lenses straight from the off. More often than not, a large portion of premium lenses carry a hefty price tag and may also cost more than the camera body itself. Having a fast lens with a low aperture is great, a f1.8 or f2.8 will be beneficial, however realistically you are only going to need that low light advantage further down the line, not when you’re starting out and learning the basics of photography.
As an alternative, handily a lot of cameras these days come bundled with an affordable Kit Lens, which makes for a great starting point. These zoom lenses which normally cover a wide range of distances, for example 28-70mm or 18-55mm, are great to allow you to get used to and figure out how distance and compression can effect your photos. They are versatile because of the range, and are well suited for the use of travel. Furthermore, they also allow you to be flexible in your approach to photography, which is perfect for beginners.
Filters
The next unnecessary piece of equipment for a beginner that springs to mind is filters. They seem to be the trendy thing these days with a wide variety of photographers seeming to promote or advise using them, furthermore I also have friends who are avid users and swear by them. Personally, I do feel they of course have their place and are great for certain aspects of photography, however as a beginner there is no need to overcomplicate it.
When attaching certain filters to your lens they can provide a number of benefits, for example removing reflections or boosting colours, so they have their positives, although as a beginner you want to keep shooting as simple as possible instead of playing around and mixing up ideas.
Tripods
Tripods can be seen as an essential in many aspects of photography, however as a beginner they will just weigh you down. For example, if you’re wanting to get into long exposure or any kind of slow shutter speed work including low light and night photography, then the steadiness of a tripod definitely comes in handy, but just remember you’ve always got to carry that extra luggage around with you. This is why as a beginner I feel a tripod is something you don’t require, instead maintain your focus on the basics of photography rather than adding and worrying about setting up more equipment from your camera bag.
Advanced Editing Software
Editing can play a role in the final outcome of an image, although you don’t need to pay out for expensive monthly/annual subscriptions, you just need software which is solid and reliable when it comes to editing, organising, and the storing of your photos. Honestly, to start with just the built in Photos app on your phone works well, it allows you to edit and do all of the above at no extra cost.
Only once you have started to take photography more seriously and you feel at a advanced stage should you then consider committing to certain softwares, the best and most flexible of which in terms of photo organisation editing is Lightroom, however this requires a paid subscription.