Basic Photography Kit – What to buy?
I am starting an A Level course in photography and I need to buy a basic kit. However, this is something I want to pursue as a career so I want to have a decent enough camera to use for work on the future.
Can anyone recommend a great Digital SLR that should see me through?
Also, how many/what type of lenses should I get for my starter kit?
Any other bits and pieces I will need?
Thanks
Are you sure that a digital camera will work for this course? Most beginning photography courses involve work in the darkroom and require you to have a film SLR of other type of film camera with manual settings. If you don’t know, you should ask before you go and buy a digital SLR.
There are film cameras which use their brand’s current lens line-up. So if you are required to use a film camera for this class, you can find one that will use the same lenses as the DSLRs from the same brand. Just a little research will help you to figure all that out.
I am sure that you are wanting a DSLR and so you should probably base your decision in brand on which DSLR you want and then (if you want or need a 35mm SLR) you can find a film SLR that will work with the system.
For Nikon I believe that includes the N series 35mm SLRs. Ritz, which is closing a lot of stores actually had some new Nikon N80 cameras. You might get one at a nice discount. For Canon you would be looking at an EOS camera to work with the EF lenses. For Sony, you would be looking for a Minolta Maxxum. Any Minolta Maxxum will use the Sony lenses as they bought the mount when Minolta quit the business. I don’t know about Olympus or Pentax, etc. But dpreview would be a good place to look for that info.
As far as brand, they all make great DSLRs. I personally shoot Sony/Minolta. My first SLR was a 35mm Canon Rebel but when I went digital I switched to Sony. I did my research and I tried out some cameras and I loved the Sony a700.
You should really base your decision on what the brand has to offer that you need and how you like the camera models when you try them out. Canon and Nikon obviously have the biggest selection of lenses so if that is important, that simplifies your choice. There are also more lenses available to rent for Canon and Nikon. Between Sony, Minolta, Sigma, Tamron and a few others, there are more than enough options for me where lenses are concerned and they are constantly expanding their lens lines.
Ebay and craigslist are great places to get used cameras. B&H and Adorama are my two favorite camera stores to buy new equipment. I also buy used equipment from them.
Sony Alpha DSLRA330L 10.2 Megapixel SLR Digital Camera Kit – JR.com
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