ESSENTIAL GEAR
Here’s what any fledgling photographer needs...
01 Flashgun
Aside from being more powerful than your camera’s pop-up flash, a flashgun can be swivelled to bounce off walls or ceilings, or fired off-camera to light your subject from any direction.
02 FILTERS
Lens-mounted filters offer a variety of effects. A polarizing filter intensifies colours and contrast; a neutral-density (ND) filter cuts out light; and an ‘ND grad’ (graduated) balances landscapes by darkening skies.
03 TRIPOD
A robust tripod is one of the first pieces of kit any new photographer should buy. Being able to keep the camera still opens the door to slower shutter speeds, for a multitude of photographic effects.
04 camera MODEL
As well as its sensor and features, the size and weight can make a big difference over years of ownership.
05 clothing
Warm, waterproof clothing is a must if you want to go on long photo shoots outside.
06 Backpack
A good camera bag will last for years. Some prefer shoulder bags, others like backpacks. Think about how many lenses you want to carry and if there’s a fastener for your tripod.
07 extra Lenses
One of the biggest advantages to owning a digital SLR is the interchangeable lens system, so gradually build up your collection of extra lenses. A quality lens is just as important as the camera body.
08 Memory cards
Memory cards are cheap, so grab yourself a couple of spare 16GB cards to ensure you’re never caught short of memory. If you plan on doing lots of High-speed Continuous shooting, look for cards with a write speed of at least 30Mbps.