AA photography essentials
Whether you’re into hiking, biking, photography, or drone piloting — getting started and making the right equipment decisions can be a serious investment. But sometimes it’s hard to know where to get started, especially if you’re new to the hobby. That’s were AA Essentials comes in. This new Android Authority series features different experts from our team who discuss their recommendations for the gear you need to optimize your experience.
Choosing the right photography essentials is important, especially if you are stepping into unknown territory. In this post we’ll walk you through the essential purchases you need to make the most of your photography experience: a camera, lenses, memory cards, tripods and a bag to carry it all in. We’ll also go over some recommendations for optional accessories, too.
Just remember the right equipment is only one part of the equation. My nine years of experience in commercial, product, and general photography have taught me you can often get amazing shots without spending much cash, or even using a cheap smartphone. Simply put, fancy equipment won’t make up for poor photography habits. It’s just as important to work on improving your skills through practice as well as checking out our resources on photography tips, terms, and more.
Getting the right camera
The first purchase on your list should be a good camera. What makes a good shooter will highly depend on your needs. Casual hobbyists may do just fine with a point-and-shoot or a good smartphone camera. Others might prefer more advanced DSLR or mirrorless options.
Regardless of which brand or camera type you pick, research the models and brands you are interested in before pulling out your wallet, as these factors will affect future purchases and upgrades. For example, going with a full-frame camera will require you to purchase lenses made for full-frame sensors, which are significantly more expensive. You will also be forced to buy lenses and accessories designed for your camera, mount, and/or brand.
With that said, we would recommend an entry-level DSLR for those getting their first camera. These are not as expensive as mirrorless options tend to be, so you can dip your toes into the world of photography without spending too much. DSLR cameras are great for learning, as they offer manual controls and plenty of complex features to tinker with. Furthermore, you can grow with them. Both the body and lenses can be easily upgraded at any time, and chances are most of your other equipment will work with your current setup.
Those who have a bit more cash to spend, or want something lighter and with more features, can also take a look at two of our mirrorless recommendations below.
Nikon D3500
The Nikon D3500 is a great starter camera that can also take amazing shots if you are a proficient photographer. I used a previous version of this camera professionally for a couple years. The unit comes with an 24.2MP APS-C sensor, eleven autofocus points, a three inch display, and more. This bundle throws an 18-55mm kit lens in your bag, so no need to look for a separate lens to get started. The Nikon D3500 costs $446.95 on Amazon.
Canon Rebel SL3
If you can spare a bit more cash, you can’t go wrong with the Canon Rebel SL3. It comes with a 24.1MP APS-C sensor, an articulated 3-inch touchscreen, built-in WiFi/Bluetooth, dual-pixel autofocus, and 4K video recording capabilities. It’s quite the upgrade for $649 with the 18-55mm kit lens.
Sony Alpha A6100
At $750 for the body alone, you are spending big bucks on something like the Sony Alpha A6100, but many of us would say it’s worth every penny. This camera features things you won’t find even in some of the best DSLR bodies out there, including a 0.02-second autofocus speed, real time eye-autofocus, focus tracking, 11fps shooting, gorgeous 4K video recording, a touchscreen, electronic viewfinder, WiFi/NFC connectivity, and a 24.2MP APS-C sensor. It’s a beauty.
Fujifilm X-T30
Fujifilm has a strong photographer fan base, and for good reason. Their cameras strike a great balance between what we love about both classic cameras and modern features. Manual controls are easily accessible with the use of multiple dials and nobs. Similarly, you can easily jump into auto mode with the move of a manual lever. Fujifilm arguably has the best controls for those who love manual settings.
In addition, you get all the features in modern cameras, such as eye/face autofocus, focus tracking, a focus area covering nearly 100% of the frame, up to 30fps shooting, 4k video recording at 30fps, a tilting touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity, and a 26.1MP APS-C sensor. It is the most expensive camera in this list at $899, but it is a heck of an upgrade.
Other camera options:
- Best DSLR cameras
- Best point-and-shoot cameras
- Best Android camera phones
- What a professional photographer can do with a cheap smartphone camera
Memory
Storing your images on the right memory card is very important as you start working with higher resolution images, improved video, and therefore, larger files. Getting a slow card can result in buffer times between shots, increasing processing time.
SD card speeds are categorized in classes, where the number represents the minimum transfer speeds. A Class 10 card can transfer 10MB/s, a Class 6 can transfer 6MB/s, and so on. Obviously you want a Class 10 card, which is the highest. You will also want the highest UHS and V speed class ratings, especially if you plan to shoot high-res video.
In addition, a lower-quality SD card is more likely to fail. These cards keep your work safe, so make sure to buy good ones. Below we will show you some of our recommendations.
SanDisk Ultra 32GB Class 10 SDHC UHS-I Memory Card
Sandisk is trusted by photographers worldwide. Their Ultra memory card has Class 10 UHS 1 speeds of up to 80MB/s. While 32GB isn’t much, neither is $6.79, and it can still store plenty of images.
Samsung 128GB MicroSDXC Evo Select Memory Card
Samsung’s memory cards are among the most durable, featuring water, shock, temperature, x-ray, and magnetic resistance. This microSD card is plenty fast, with up to 100MB/s speeds. It is a class 10 UHS 3 card, so you know it can keep up. It’s $19.49, but has much more storage and better features. And while it’s a microSD card, it comes with an adapter to use as a standard SD card.
Kiorafoto SD card holder
I kept losing memory cards until I finally decided to get an SD card holder. The Kiorafoto SD card holder is a great option at just $8.99. It fits 12 SD cards and 12 microSD cards. It will protect your cards against water, dust, and random debris.
Your first lens
Good lenses are expensive, but they are the best photography investment you can make. I can’t stress the importance of glass enough. In fact, spending on quality lenses will usually improve image quality more than buying an advanced camera body. This is because the image is formed by the lens you put in front of a sensor. Without glass elements, the sensor will capture nothing but a blur of scattered light rays. Getting a crisp, clean image with no aberrations and plenty of detail requires quality glass, shaped perfectly and arranged precisely inside the lens body. These are truly engineering feats, and this is why they can get pricey.
The lens will also determine your maximum aperture, which is important for capturing more light and creating nicer bokeh (blurry background). Focal length is another matter dependent on the lens; it will affect the perspective and distance required to shoot a subject. Modern lenses can also play a big role in focusing speeds.
Furthermore, lenses can usually be taken from camera to camera as you upgrade, so you never lose the initial investment. And when you are ready to let go of a good lens, it tends to keep its value, meaning you can sell it without losing much money.
50mm f/1.8 prime lens
Regardless of your camera manufacturer, there is a 50mm f/1.8 option for you. These prime lenses are phenomenal. The wide f/1.8 aperture helps capture plenty of light, and makes it possible to achieve a beautiful bokeh. The 50mm focal length makes this a standard lens; it isn’t a zoom or wide-angle lens. This means there will be little to no distortion in your images. The best part is that, while being capable of producing amazing imagery, these prime lenses are usually very affordable. Canon’s can be had for just $125. Sony and Nikon charge $198 and $196.95, respectively.
Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 Art Lens
The Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 Art lens comes with a heavier price tag, but it is worth every single penny. The lens’ wide aperture is held throughout the entire focal range, which is rare to see unless you buy expensive, professional-grade glass. It outputs amazing content and has become a favorite in the industry. The price is different depending on your mount, but all prices are close to $600.
Tripods & monopods
Being able to keep your camera stable is crucial for taking certain types of photographs. Tripods make it possible to perform longer exposure times without adding motion blur to your images. This can be beneficial when it’s dark, or when you want to capture motion, whether it be from moving lights or objects in an image. You can also take advantage of a tripod when you need your camera to stay still, say for a video, or just to make sure you don’t change composition. Some also provide smooth panning.
The main downside to tripods is they tend to be bulky and take a while to set-up. This is why I usually recommend them for studio work and certain outdoor shoots. Those who need a more versatile tool can use a monopod. These operate on a single leg. This means they aren’t as stable and need more human help, but they are the best solution when space is limited, you want more manual control, or you need to keep moving.
Regardless, the point here is your body and hands are not always steady enough to take certain shots under certain circumstances. Tripods and monopods offer the stability our human bodies sometimes can’t provide.
AmazonBasics 67-inch Monopod
Monopods simply hold a camera in place with a single leg. You do much of the work, which is why I tend not to get too picky with tripods. This AmazonBasics monopod will do just as well as most other options (unless you really pay up) for just $16.47.
Vanguard Alta Pro
The Vanguard Alta Pro is a popular tripod with a great build and no extravagant price point. At $119.98, it is a great investment that will offer features comparable to expensive alternatives. The aluminum alloy legs adjust to 25, 50, and 80-degree angles. The head can rotate 360 degrees, and it includes bubble levels. The center poll can also be adjusted at different angles, and a weight hook can stabilize the tripod further.
TYCKA Rangers 56” Compact Travel Tripod
The TYCKA Rangers Compact Travel Tripod is for those who want a real bundle. This tripod has a detachable leg that allows you to turn it into a monopod. The center pole can also be flipped to mount the camera upside down and take pictures from a very low angle. The aluminum body is very solid, and the tripod offers versatility that is hard to beat at just $53.54.
Camera bags
A good camera bag will keep your expensive gear protected and readily accessible during a shoot. It’s also a simpler way to keep your equipment organized and stored properly; they usually have dividers and compartments for all your photography gear.
There are plenty of options for sizes, styles, and purposes. You will have to figure out what you prioritize in a bag. Do you want it to be light and stylish? Maybe you need something that can carry all your equipment. Does it have to be heavy duty and secure? That’s usually best for traveling photographers.
As for me, I have chosen something in the middle. I have been using a Manfrotto Veloce V backpack for about five years, which should tell you I made the right choice. While it is starting to look aged, the backpack’s integrity is in great condition and it continues to serve me well. I can fit about 5-6 lenses, accessories, a laptop, and a tablet in it, along with either a camera with an attached lens, or two camera bodies. It has an outer tripod attaching mechanism, and meets carry-on requirements for flights.
I have to say my personal choice would be too big if I was doing more casual shoots, though. Since my photography work is usually commercial, I depend on the ability to carry more equipment with me. I would get something lighter otherwise.
AmazonBasics Holster Camera Case
The Amazon Basics Holster Camera Case is the perfect companion for your casual photo walks, thanks to its reduced size. It can hold a DSLR camera with a medium lens attached (up to 110mm). The outer bags can carry SD cards, polarizers, wipes, and other small accessories. There are nicer options available, but this one gets the job done perfectly at just $15.99.
Peak Design Everyday Messenger Bag 13
The Peak Design Everyday Messenger Bag is for those who want quality, functionality, and style. It’s pricey at $219.95, but it is a bag you will be proud to carry. The inside features a couple dividers for fitting a camera with an attached lens, as well as a couple other lenses. The outer and inner compartments can store plenty of accessories too.
Think Tank Photo Airport Essentials Backpack
Think Tank is synonymous with quality and widely trusted in the photography community. The Photo Airport Essentials Backpack is great as a full camera equipment transportation and storage solution. The main area features space and dividers to fit multiple cameras, lenses, and flashes. In addition, there are compartments for laptops, tablets, accessories, and more. It’s also made to meet most international carry-on requirements, so you can keep it close to you when traveling. The bag isn’t cheap at $199.75, but owners tend to love it.
Lights
Photography is all about capturing light, but sometimes there isn’t enough of it. Learning to use artificial lighting to your advantage is important. The trick is to make it look as natural as possible. Diffusing is key, as it makes light softer and stops shadows from becoming too harsh. This is why studio photographers prefer using large lights with multiple diffusing layers. These are usually recommended for controlled environments, though.
Event photographers tend to rely more on small LED panels and flashes, as they need to stay mobile, and more often shoot in dark conditions and odd lighting. If you are shooting outdoors, something like a reflector might do the trick. These are cheap and simply use redirected ambient light to illuminate the subject.
What kind of light you use will depend on your shooting needs, habits, editing style, and other factors. In fact, some of you may want to avoid artificial lighting altogether. Astrophotographers have no need for them, and lights can actually ruin their images. Wildlife photographers can also scare off animals with bright lights.
Neewer 176 LED Panel
Neewer is known for making affordable photography products. These don’t offer the best quality out there, but their lights work well and can help you produce stunning photos. At $32.99, the Neewer 176 LED Panel is a steal. It comes with a battery and charger, as well as a couple filters.
Neewer 700W Octagon Softboxes
Need more light? I have used these ones in the past and they work perfectly. The Neewer Octagon Softbox kit comes with a couple softboxes, stands, 700W lights, and a carrying bag. All for just $79.99. The octagon shape makes for rounder reflections and more evenly distributed lighting.
Fovitec LED Panel Kit
If you can spend more cash on lights, we would highly recommend you upgrade to LED panels. They don’t heat up the studio, use less electricity, and are much easier to set up. Because they can be powered by a V-Type battery and are smaller than traditional softboxes, these can easily become portable lights for on-location shoots. Temperature and intensity controls come in handy. These cost $309.95 from Amazon.
Yongnuo YN-560IV Flash
Flashes from camera manufacturers are very expensive, but there are some good affordable options out there. You just need to find them, and the Yongnuo YN-560IV is a great one for just $75. It supports wireless transmitters, and can save custom settings. It will lack some fancy auto features you get with the pricier speedlites, but will serve its purpose while helping you learn the fundamentals of flash photography.
Neewer 43-inch 5-in-1 Collapsible Multi-Disc Light Reflector
Carrying lights around can be inconvenient; they are large, bulky, and more expensive than this Neewer reflector. When the sun is up and shining, a reflector can be all you need to light up your subject, reduce shadows, and bring more depth to your images. This one is a steal at just $20.62, and it comes with multiple surfaces to work with: Translucent, silver, gold, white, and black.
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Software
Taking a good photo is only half the battle, and I would say editing is just as important, if not more so (depending on the photographer). Images are usually perfected in post-processing. This is when you can correct any mistakes you have made. Cropping, cloning, fixing exposure, correcting white balance, and manipulating colors are only some of the things you can do in post-processing. This is why I recommend shooting RAW, as uncompressed RAW files keep more information and grants more editing freedom.
Because you can manipulate images to your liking through editing, it is also a great time to imprint your own style into photos. Some people prefer darker environments, or deeper colors. Others like a hazy effect. You can use color theory to induce certain emotions.
Beginners should probably give free apps a try before they spend money on paid software. Below I will give you my favorite desktop recommendations, but there are also plenty of free photo editing mobile apps worth your time.
Gimp
Gimp is argued to be just as good as Photoshop and other editing software, but it is free. I believe it’s not as polished as paid alternatives and has a learning curve. It is an amazing program considering it is free, though. If you are learning to edit and don’t want to invest money on software yet, this is a great tool.
Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan
Adobe’s editing apps are used by professionals worldwide, but they can be expensive. A more affordable way to obtain them is paying for the Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan. This subscription gives you access to Adobe’s Photoshop, Lightroom, Lightroom Classic, Portfolio, and Spark applications.
Adobe Creative Cloud prices:
- Photography plan ($9.99/mo): Lightroom, Lightroom Classic, Photoshop, Portfolio, Spark, and 20GB of cloud storage.
- Photography Plan ($19.99/mo): Lightroom, Lightroom Classic, Photoshop, Portfolio, Spark, and 1 TB of cloud storage.
- Lightroom plan ($9.99/mo): Lightroom, and 1 TB of cloud storage.
- 10 reasons why Adobe Lightroom is the best mobile photo editor
- 10 Adobe Lightroom tips for improving your smartphone photos
Helpful accessories
Plenty of smaller photography essentials can help improve both your experience and image quality. Remember photography is an art, and the way you feel while shooting can reflect in the final product. If you are uncomfortable, for example, you may want to change your camera strap. Otherwise you won’t be giving your photos your best, and might be complaining to yourself the whole time.
Smaller accessories like cleaners, white balance cards, and remote triggers can help you fine-tune your images to reduce editing time, or to simply obtain more precise results. Some of these products make it possible to shoot images you couldn’t otherwise, such as an ND filter or a circular polarizer. Take a quick look at these recommendations to see if any can make it to your camera bag.
Blackrapid Breathe Curve Camera Strap
Straps included with cameras are usually very good, but those who want to change things up can get a third-party strap. Blackrapid camera straps offer great quality and a different style. Instead of hanging from your neck, these lock to your shoulder and keep the camera secure using the tripod screw. The Blackrapid Breathe Curve Camera Strap costs $66.94. It’s not cheap, but it makes up for the price in quality and comfort.
Camkix Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
It’s always a good habit to keep your camera and glass as clean as possible. This will ensure your images are free of odd elements and your gear stays clean. Camkix microfiber cloths are a great option at just $7.79 for 18 units.
Nikon Lens Pen Cleaning System
Nikon’s Lens Pen is a simple tool for keeping your camera clean. One side features a brush for clearing out debris, while the other end can clean fingerprints and smudges. At $9.48, it is an affordable photography gear purchase.
AmazonBasics Wireless Remote Control
A remote shutter trigger helps for photographing groups, creating long exposures, and general shooting purposes. The AmazonBasics Wireless Remote Control can activate the shutter from ten feet away. There are versions for both Canon and Nikon cameras and the price is very accessible at $8.44.
AmazonBasics Circular Polarizer
Circular polarizers can create bluer skies, deeper colors, and reduced reflections. They are also quite affordable. Amazon Basics offers multiple sizes, with prices ranging from $10.17 to $16.36.
Rangers 8pcs ND Filter Kit
Neutral density filters stop light from reaching the sensor. These are used to achieve a longer shutter speed or wider aperture when there is too much light available. Think of ND filters as sunglasses for your camera. It’s just dark glass. They usually look much like the circular polarizer above, but the Rangers ND Filter Kit is a one-size-fits-all alternative that doesn’t break the bank.
Giottos Rocket Air Blaster
The Giottos Rocker Air Blaster can help you keep your sensor clean. Sensors are very delicate, so you should only clean it by blowing air at it. If this isn’t enough to get dust and other particles away from the sensor, you should get professional help.
Fstopa White Balance Cards
Cameras do a pretty good job measuring white balance, but they can get things wrong from time to time. This is when you go into your camera’s settings and manually adjust a custom white balance. Your camera will read color data from an image of these cards and adjust white balance accordingly. It’s a must in every list of essentials for photographers.
Keep in mind all the gear you buy won’t make you a good photographer. What matters most is learning and working on your technique. We have plenty of articles to help you with that. With that said, the tools help, and can often push you to learn more about the fundamentals of photography. These photography essentials will improve your experience, and therefore, your imagery.
Learn the fundamentals of photography:
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