10 Camera equipment for the absolute beginners

I have always been fascinated with the work of photographers. The amazing clicks and astonishing shot definitely cross our mind and make us wonder how they take such photos.

Well, they might probably have a long history of practice and might have taken a thousand shots of the same sunset. But besides their immense practice, they use several types of equipment that goes alongside with them and assist them to create the desired and perfectly timed photographs.

So, if you are just starting out your journey or thinking of getting into the professional photography world, then you must have this 10 camera equipment.

The equipment here is ranked according to its need and importance. Without further delay, let's get into each one.

1. Camera

First thing first, you need a camera to get into the photography world. If you have just started out then don't go for the high-end cameras. Start with the small, know your gears and enhance your camera with time.

So, where do you jump in for the perfect entry-level cameras? Before you decide what to and where to purchase your first camera, know the difference between DSLR and mirrorless cameras. DSLR and Mirrorless cameras are the two types of modern day's camera.

They both have their own features and are widely used cameras in the world. However, there's a prominent feature in DSLR cameras that made them quite distinctive than mirrorless cameras. DSLR cameras have an internal mirror which directly reflects light from the lens to an optical viewfinder which helps the photographer to see exactly what the lens sees. Mirrorless cameras lack this feature, on the other hand, mirrorless cameras tend to be smaller and lighter than DSLR cameras.

You can get these cameras from $300 to $700 in the market. Some of the popular DSLRs include Canon Rebel series, the Nikon D3400 and the Nikon D5600. If you tend to go for lighter mirrorless cameras then you have a wide range of options can pick up any cameras from big brands like Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fuji, Olympus, and Panasonic.

If you have a low budget and can't even go near to $300 then it's better to go for some late and older model from the same lineup. Despite being older, they are the high ends cameras of their years and they can help you to get picturesque photographs.

2. Lens

Most of the wowmazing shots are clicked with the help of a camera lens. So, after the camera, this is one of the crucial equipment that any photographers should have.

The amazing thing about lenses is, sometimes it's more expensive than the camera itself. There's a reason for that as well. Without lenses, it’s hard for a light to get focused and reach out to your camera sensor.

Another benefit of using lenses are you can switch between the lenses while clicking the pictures. They are simply called "interchangeable lens cameras" for instance, you are clicking the portrait shot using one lens while you can click fast moving an object using another lens in the same camera. Well, that's one huge benefits of having a camera and different lenses.

So, what kind of lenses you should go for?

As a beginner, we would recommend you to go for a kit lens which comes in bundled with many cameras. Besides, you can get a prime lens and a telephoto zoom lens. All these types are described briefly below.

Kit Lens: the Kit lens is inexpensive lenses that help to zoom in i.e. 14-42mm, 16-50mm, 18-50mm, or 18-105mm lens. These are the perfect lenses for the beginners and if you use it correctly, you can get the high-quality shot easily.

Prime Lens: Prime lens is widely used for portrait photography. The prime lens doesn’t' zoom but is famous for creating "Shallow Focus" effect, portrait photography and shots with people. If you love portrait photography, then we recommend you to go for this lens i.e. 25mm f/1.8, 35mm f/1.8, or a 50mm f/1.8mm.

Telephoto Zoom Lens: These are the lenses that are used to click the distant and far objects. A telephoto zoom lens is widely used in while clicking wildlife shots or sports photography.

Before you decide which one to purchase, make sure you know the meaning of "mm" in lenses. Every lens comes with millimeter number, which is also known as the focal length. If you have to describe it, then it refers to how far "Zoomed-in" a lens is and how narrow of an angle it helps to capture.

The lens that comes up with a higher number such as 85mm or more is a telephoto zoom lens. Whereas, millimeter ranging from 28 or less is considered as wide-angle lenses. On the other hand, a lens like a 50mm is considered to be a normal lens.

3. Tripod

The next thing you want to go as a beginner is Tripod. Yes, tripods are extremely valuable assets for many photographers. Though the use of tripod totally depends upon the nature and types of photography you chose to prefer, but it's an unavoidable thing for the photographers.

The main purpose of using a tripod is to get stable and non-moving photographs. Tripods are basically used to click portrait and landscape shots. However, with a stable tripod, you can get your desired shot without introducing the motion in it.

So, where do you get one? Well, the price of the tripod varies according to its weight and stability. The cheap tripods are good for absolute beginners. You can get it from 500 NPR to 2000 NPR. Though they are good, it might not come handy when you are out there on the wind. Despite using tripods, you still have a chance of getting motion in your shot.

If you are an intermediate or professional photographer, we highly recommend you to buy famous brands which cost around 50$ to 100$.

4. Camera Bag

The camera bag is a must if you travel frequently for different kind of shots. You can easily find the camera bags in the online and physical store. But before you buy, you must be verified whether the bags can fit all your equipment or not.

The ideal camera bag simply depends upon the types of photography that you are involved in.

If you are fond of landscape photography, then we recommend you to go for a hiking backpack. Likewise, if you are keen on street and holiday photographer then the shoulder bag might be enough for you. Since you won't have much equipment in your bag, you have the easy access to your gears which on the other hand won't let you miss any photograph.

5. Memory Card

If you hardly click any photo from your camera then it’s not the thing for you. But if you have the problem of clicking whatever you see, then the Memory card is a must by equipment for beginners.

Well, photographers spend a lot of time clicking and practicing the perfect shot, we have very limited time to empty space and click again. That's where memory card comes in. It helps you to store your photographs and transfer them from your camera to your computer.

Before you buy the memory card, make sure it is fast and has the capacity of at least 16GB. These days, memory card is cheap and fast. And buying of higher capacity won't harm you.

6. Filters

Some of the breathtaking photos are taken with the help of filters. Filters are the small equipment that directly fits in front of your lens and alters the light that your camera captures.

Filters have always been and will always be an integral part of photography. However, the use of filters depends on the type of photography you're interested in. Basically, there are four types of filters. They are:

Clear Filters: These are the transparent filters which protect your lens from harmful elements. Good and clear filters are expensive while there's a huge chance of getting bad quality photos from the cheap filters. These filters are used in extreme condition while some use it every single time. Clear filters are also known as UV or Haze filters.

Polarizing Filters: Polarizing filters are one of the popular and widely used filters in the world. The specialty of these filters is they simply darken the blue sky and also helps to decrease the reflections in the image. Polarizing filters are very important in landscape and nature photography as it helps to balance the light and give natural colors in the photographs.

Neutral Density Filters: These are the filters that tremendously decreases the amount of light that reaches your camera sensor. In other word, it is a darkened piece of glass that helps to create extra motion blur in your photographs i.e. soothing waterfalls. These filters are widely used for clicking in bright conditions.

Neutral density graduated filters: These are the filters that help in the transition from gradient dark to clear images. It is extremely useful when you need to darken the selective portion and has no effect in the rest of the image.

7. Flash

Flash is the key to the darkness. If you are fond of night photography or simply a nigh shot, then flash is all you need.

Remember, not every picture click on a dark environment requires flash. The use of flash is totally dependent on the type of shot you hope to get. Many cameras come up with flash which helps to shape and mold the light that shines on the object of your photographs. The use of flash also brighten the dark shadows even in the daylight.

Flash is not mandatory, but there is a certain situation when Flash is a must. In such a case, you can buy an additional flash for your camera. If we have to recommend then don't go for the flash first. Try clicking various pictures, select your photography theme. Till then, you will have the idea of whether you need to have additional flash or not.

8. Extra Batteries

Extra batteries are just like a back up power or power bank for mobiles. You can simply change it or charge it and began to shoot again.

Batteries are the must and essential equipment if you are a frequent traveler and walk miles and miles to get perfect shot. Most of the photographers who travel a lot carry 3 to 6 extra batteries and one additional charger with them.

Sometimes, the weather condition will be worse than imagine, on such condition extra pair of batteries will help you to click good photos. And it's quite absurd to lose a good scenic view just because your battery is dead.

While buying extra batteries, there are a few things you need to take care of. The first thing is whether you are buying original batteries from the original owners or you are using different brands. If you are going with original batteries then it might be expensive while other brand batteries can drain battery life and has several malfunctions.

Well, it's up to you and your budget. But there's a way, once you decided to buy batteries of another brand, remember to check their ratings, reviews, and refund policy. These are the little things, but it always works.

9. Photo editing Software's

You click the photos, you think it's awesome but in the end, you end up with some post-processing software.

It's completely ok, masterpiece photos do need additional work and additional retouch on its color and other components. So, where to go for such software's?

The most common software used to edit the photographs are Adobe Photoshop. Adobe Photoshop has been in the market over the decades and has ruled the market in terms of its feature and quality. If you are clicking image for the commercial and advertisement works, then Photoshop can be a lifesaving god for you.

However, if you are just a photographer then you might have a different opinion about Photoshop. Some think it's great, while some think it's not the perfect tool for photographers. Obviously, it's a mix of review that confuse the beginner's photographers. Don't worry, we definitely got your back.

Besides, Adobe Photoshop, there's numerous editing software available in the market. The choices is all yours. If we have name one other than Photoshop then you might want to go for the famous Lightroom.

Over the years, Lightroom has been a favorite of many photographers as it is well designed for photographers. Besides, here are the few software's you might be interested in.

• Affinity Photo
• ON1Photo RAW
• Alien Skin Exposure
• Capture One
• ACDSee Ultimate

No matter what you use, you should be comfortable and use the software in a regular manner. With times, you will know the software's depth, which on the other hand improves your editing skills.

10. Cleaning Kit

Above all, you need a cleaning kit to clean all your equipment or gears. Cleaning kit may contain a microfiber cloth and cleaning spray for your lens. Clean everything time and again.

Besides, you can get or that help to clean your camera sensor gently and without harming the camera sensor. Likewise, go for the camera servicing before or after the long photographic tour.

Well, this is it. If you are a beginner and want to start with a small investment, then these are the equipment you must have. I know, the list is long but you can omit several things like cleaning kit, tripod, software, and flash. These are essentials for photographers, but you can always count in and cut things off from the list.

Make sure, you have the camera and the thrill to learn the basic photography tips. If you have these two things, then you will automatically expand your necessity with times.