Equipment

Okay so let me break down on some of the bare minimum of what you will need equipment wise before we start getting into The Rules. I know I said in the last post that we would do the rules first, but then I realized that some of you would need know what equipment you would need so you could put the rules into practice. So first up is a good DSLR camera. Now I have nothing against either Canon or Nikon it really is all a matter of preference. So, I will include a camera of each brand.

1.    

Nikon D3200- This is a good camera it is the camera I still use to do my photography with. It comes in black or red. 24MP CMOS DX-format sensor. 4 frames per second continuous shooting. 11 AF points (with 3D tracking). ISO 100-6400 (plus ISO 12,800-equivalent Hi1 setting). Full HD 1080p video. 3.0 inch LCD with 920,000 dots. Expeed 3 processing. Microphone input. Twin IR remote receivers and Beginner-friendly Guide mode. What this means is that it is a good camera for both photo and video. You will want to get the deal that includes the camera body and an 18-55mm lens. The pricing should depending on where you get the camera be about $450-500 dollars. Remember this includes both the camera body as well as an 18-55mm lens.

2.     

Canon EOS Rebel T3i- This is the Canon contemporary of the Nikon D3200. The camera as far as I know only comes in black. Now this camera will do anything that the Nikon D3200 can do, but it is more expensive at about $800 for the camera body and an 18-55mm lens. Now I have not worked with the Rebel so I will link a site to help you will pros or cons. It should be noted that this article is when the cameras were new the prices of the Nikon has changed but the Canon hasn’t changed. thecameraguide.org/canon-t3i-vs-nikon-d3200-dlsr-better-value/

Next thing you need is a tripod. Not a Monopod (though the one-legged monopod will do in pinch for stability) but a full tripod. More specifically one with a quick release feature so that you can quickly remove your camera from the tripod and back again. This should run about $20 dollars. If you want to shell out a little more money you can get a quick release swivel head tripod. Please steer clear of the one hundred versions you do not need them. Next and last thing you need at this moment is a camera bag. Now you should think ahead with camera bags. You get a decent sized bag. It should have room for chargers, SD memory cards, two lenses, and your camera when it has a lens attached. It should have a place you can attach your tripod to as well. The Lowepro brand has always been my go to. The brand may be a little more costly than some but they are an excellent brand that stands up well to the wear and tear you can expect to put your stuff through. You can expect to shell out at least $100 dollars for a descent size and quality camera bag. www.lowepro.com

This is the absolute minimum you can start with so expect starting cost to be anywhere from $600-$1000 dollars. Later I will talk about bridge cameras which might help you save money if you want a cheap DSLR in a pinch.