One of the biggest deterrents many beginning photographers grapple with is gear. As if choosing your first camera and lens kit isn’t intimidating enough, there’s a laundry list of accessories that many photographers will insist you “need”. These expenses quickly add up, and many give up before they ever really start due to the costs of complicated equipment.
In truth, there’s very little that beginner’s need to navigate the basics. Photographer James Popsys shares his thoughts on a few items that burgeoning photographer’s definitely do not need to succeed.
Most photographers have a closet full of gear that rarely gets used, much to their dismay. The fact is that there’s a lot of different types of photographers out there, and what you gravitate towards will dictate what gear you need to invest in. For instance, a landscape photographer will firmly tell you that having a tripod is an absolute necessity. However, an equally accomplished street photographer might sheepishly admit that his has been collecting dust for the past 5 years. So, it makes a lot of sense to nail down the basics and figure out what you like to photograph before shelling out tons of money.
On top of that, there’s plenty of accessories for sale that might make your life as a photographer a little bit easier, but ultimately aren’t worth their price tag. Being able to distinguish what’s truly useful from the sea of available photo products takes time and experience.
You don’t need a small fortune to become a photographer, and cutting out the small stuff can make a big difference. Spend your time on learning the fundamentals rather than your paycheck on gear that may just weigh you down!
Like This Article?
Don't Miss The Next One!
Join over 100,000 photographers of all experience levels who receive our free photography tips and articles to stay current:
I agree that a blower is a good “investment”, but if it comes with a brush attachment, remove it and throw it away. I’ve found over the years that you inevitably get oils from your fingers on the bristles which you’ll end up transferring to your lens.
You forgot to mention that the “L” bracket also allows you to mount a flash off-camera. So, if that’s what you want, it’s work getting one.
The article did not list the eight unnecessary things…
I need bullet points – not to watch a sixteen minute video!
Life is too short for that.
Excellent advice. Over the years I have collected a load of “hardly-used-accessories” and wish I’d not purchased most of them. Filters are a waste of time now that we have post-processing apps that do the same if not better. I do use UV filters as protection and have often wondered if the plain glass affects the finished image. It does, and using a hood as protection makes sense. Adding a blower with a brush to clean is (at a few euros) a must. Mine must be more than forty-years-old and cost a few pennies (I used to live in the UK!). Tripods can be useful for time-lapse, for animals that you want to photograph but when you need to be hidden a short distance away with a remote trigger or shooting the full moon! However, as a substitute, I’ll use a concrete pillar, a wall… to lean the camera against or similar, in order to keep the camera still. Your best tip is to spend your money on a trip!
Which are they? I do not see them enumerated.
Could not read complete article