Basic Equipment

[bikingbadger]

I have just received a digital camera with a kit lens, Nikon D90 with a 18-105mm Zoom lens. It is fantastic and the last month have dipped my toe into the dangerous pool of learning how to use the manual mode I have enjoyed every bit although I still have so much to learn. My question is what would you consider basic equipment needed. I have been thinking about a macro lens and a tripod but was wondering if there is any basic setup that you think every photographer should have?

[RichardTaylor]

I think you are better off learning to use what you have now before expanding your lens/gear collection.

However you may find a few accessories to be handy.
(1) Lens hood. - to reduce flare and help protect the front of the lens.
(2) Lens cleaning cloth.
(3) Spare memory card.
(4) Spare battery.
(5) Polarising filter
(6) a small camera bag to put it all in.

After a while you will know if you need a tripod (+ remote release) and/or a macro lens if you want to start shooting macro.

[candleman]

depends what you want to shoot.

people?
landscapes?
macro?
street?

in saying that, every photographer needs a good solid tripod.
You feel the burn once, and if you buy right it will last decades.

Welcome to the forum

[CharlieJ]

Originally Posted by RichardTaylor

I think you are better off learning to use what you have now before expanding your lens/gear collection.

However you may find a few accessories to be handy.
(1) Lens hood. - to reduce flare and help protect the front of the lens.
(2) Lens cleaning cloth.
(3) Spare memory card.
(4) Spare battery.
(5) Polarising filter
(6) a small camera bag to put it all in.

After a while you will know if you need a tripod (+ remote release) and/or a macro lens if you want to start shooting macro.

+ UV filter
+ tripod (go ahead and buy a good one right from the beginning)

[Biomech]

First thing is to always get a UV/Skylight filter for your lens. It doesn't affect the picture much but provides vital protection. It's better to scratch a £30 filter than a £400 lens :P

+ tripod (go ahead and buy a good one right from the beginning)

I second this, if you get a cheap one you'll soon change it. I use a Manfrotto 190XPROB with an 804RC2 head

[Izzy]

What is this tripod you guys speak of? I shot for 10 years without owning one. I have a fancy Gitzo I NEVER use. Good thing I paid $3 in a rummage sale for it.

I have seen an entire masterpiece of street photography done with a cell phone camera so there is no "need" gear outside of owning a camera of some sort. I hate Ken Rockwell but he gets better pics from his cellphone than most get from a $1k plus rig. Point is that the gear is what you actually need not want.

I have various doo dads in my camera bag and none of them get used. They are dead weight and never go with me on a Urbex shoot. The dead weight thing is why I don't carry a tripod with me anywhere. If I have to screw around with setting it up then I won't bother to take the shot at all. Fact is most people are lazy in this regards and for good reasons.

Times I use a tripod
1. Time lapse at night
2. Macro

Total tripod shots made in the last 10 years = 6

It is easy to know what you "need". Go for a trek with all that gear loaded on you during a photowalk a few times. You will quickly learn the stuff you don't use and are not willing to carry with you. If you do a photowalk with a guy or gal with a backpack full of gear they will not use you can be assured that they will blame the missed or bad pic on the gear.

With all that said.
1. Spare memory cards they are cheap. I have never out shot my 32gig card yet.
2. Back up battery. I have never run one dead.

My gear for a photo walk

1. Camera with battery grip (holds 2 batteries)
2. 32gig SD card
3. My eyes - the rest will follow.

I have seen the "bragging line" of SOME peoples gear around here. If they had all that gear on them at once they couldn't move.

Its a photowalk not a survivalist black ops mission

[jml79]

Originally Posted by candleman

depends what you want to shoot.

people?
landscapes?
macro?
street?

in saying that, every photographer needs a good solid tripod.
You feel the burn once, and if you buy right it will last decades.

Welcome to the forum

+1

Every job has a tool. Sometimes the camera and kit lens are enough, sometimes not. I learned pretty quickly when my camera was enough and when it wasn't. Then I just had to figure out what I was missing and fix it. My 'kit' changes depending on what I am planning to do. I have monolights but I only pack them up when I intend to use them. Same as my tri-pods. I only bring one when I will need it and then the smallest one I can get away with.

[douglas]

" | have just received a DSLR"

I would not get anything else now. Have fun with what you have and learn by using it.
There will be times when you think..."Maybe I should have" but don't.
In time you will find what you like to photograph, and what things will help.
Don't be tempted when you see people with loads of gear.
Just my 2 cents worth.

[Stephanie C]

I'm in the same boat, having just received a Canon EOS 1000D for chrissy. (YAY!!)
I'm thinking that a good bag is the first thing to get, followed by a tripod (no IS for me).
As for the rest, I'll wait and see what type of pics I tend to take and see where to go from there.

[Biomech]

Originally Posted by Izzy

What is this tripod you guys speak of? I shot for 10 years without owning one. I have a fancy Gitzo I NEVER use.

Well I guess that all depends on what you shoot. Good luck shooting time lapse or nice landscapes with not tripod.

I have seen an entire masterpiece of street photography done with a cell phone camera so there is no "need" gear outside of owning a camera of some sort.

That doesn't mean they perform well for all types of photography. If I wanted to shoot retro then a cellphone would probably do because of the lack of quality controls.

The dead weight thing is why I don't carry a tripod with me anywhere. If I have to screw around with setting it up then I won't bother to take the shot at all.

All I can say is... wow.

....not willing to carry with you.

If you're not willing to carry the kit you need to take the best shot you can, then you have no one to blame when you can't take that shot. I'm not willing to keep a £800 DSLR in my car - for that reason I know that I am unable to get certain shots I might want on the spot.

1. Spare memory cards they are cheap. I have never out shot my 32gig card yet.

I would highly recommend AGAINST using 32gig cards, or even 16gig cards for that matter.

2. Back up battery. I have never run one dead.

Always a definate. But why do you carry a backup battery if you've never run one dead? Surely that's more of your dreaded dead weight? What do you do, go out with just a camera, take one hand held shot and go home?

My gear for a photo walk
1. Camera with battery grip (holds 2 batteries)
2. 32gig SD card
3. My eyes - the rest will follow.

So no flash? No filters? No camera strap? With a vert grip on it's not like you can rest it on much so no cushin[sp]? no gorilla pod? Perhaps you SHOULD start taking more kit with you.

I have seen the "bragging line" of SOME peoples gear around here. If they had all that gear on them at once they couldn't move.

I'm amazed that you've been "shooting for 10 years" with that attitude. Of course no one keeps all their kit on them, that's quite possibly the single most pathetic thing I've heard on DPS. I'm not going to be taking my fisheye out to photograph the moon, or my 70-200 for a macro shoot. Neither am I going to be using grads when photographing people. My 75-300mm doesn't get used on interior shots and I don't use my tripod when I'm shooting freerunners.

Usually I'm quite passive on the forums and take everything on board, but **** me, that is possibly the most ludicrous post I've ever seen!