I'm just taking up photography as a hobby. And although I don't expect it to lead anywhere other than a hobby, I do expect to be moderately serious about it. So my question is what optional equipment do you highly recommend for new photographers? For example how useful is a tripod. How often do you use yours (if you have one?)
If it helps, I have a Sony DSC-HX300. My goals are to shoot great nature shots - scenery and wildlife. Beside the camera and memory card (of course...) I have the camera bag and an extra battery, but nothing else. I can't afford to go and buy high end equipment, or something that I would rarely use, but I willing to invest in the things I will probably need to make sure I enjoy my new hobby. I spend a lot of time outdoors and I would hate to miss a great shot because I didn't have something I needed.
I'm a very amateur photographer and I'm sure a lot of other people here will be able to give you excellent advice on what to buy but I would definitely recommend a tripod. The longer you stay with the project (and the more you get into your photography) the more you are going to want to try new things such as long exposure, macro etc and a tripod will be very useful.
I shoot 99% nature probably - though strictly amateur - and I'd agree that really the only important extra I have - and use - is the tripod and a remote trigger for the camera (not expensive). Maybe I don't use it as often as I should, but I can tell the difference when I do.
Honestly I'm a huge gear geek, I shoot professional regularly and I've owned lot of stuff. I could get by with 10% of my gear if I had to. Here are a few things I consider to be must-haves (for me anyways)
- Tripod (you'll want to find the balance between STURDY and light)
- Good Camera bag (fits camera, batter + charger and a lens or two, with a slot for extras such as cord, granola bars for hikes ect)
- Telephoto lens (for your wildlife)
Not too familiar with the Sony system, but if you're wanting to do wildlife you'll probbaly need more reach than the kit lens that came with the camera. That one could be used for your landscapes and such. Other than that honestly, is ust icing on the cake. I could live with two lenses if I had to :)
i echo the tripod... essential for landscapes because if you plan on being serious about this you're going to want to experiment with greater dog and early morning light meaning longer exposures meaning the steadiness of a tripod is required...
you might also want to think about a circular polarizer - it does wonders for blue skies and cutting glare on snow and water :)
For your fixed lens camera (x50 optical zoom) you won't be in the market for removable/changeable lenses. Anyway, should have plenty of reach for your purposes. And your camera doesn't come with an external flash shoe, so you can forget the speedlights, etc.
Tripod, well if you are going to go into long exposure shots, in other than auto I think you can reach up to 30 second shutter, a tripod is essential. It will also be useful for a general landscape, even with the camera image stabilization, since the lens itself will not be super, super sharp (quite acceptable though I suspect), and you'll want to be as rock steady as you can. Remote shutter release, yes, for the same reason as the tripod not to rock the camera as you press the shutter, but not essential since you can set the self timer for a few second delay so the shutter is not open as you are pressing the release.
Shooting jpegs only (the camera will not produce RAW, so you should do everything you can to produce the best jpeg color and tones you can in the camera not in post processing) I like Northy's idea of a circular polarizer filter. I hope you can mount filters on the fixed lens. If you ever want to get into flowing water shots where you smoothe out the water with long exposures, ND (neutral density) filters are essential for you. I'd go with a variable one, although they are not inexpensive, $50 or more. I'd also invest in a UV filter (they are inexpensive) to mount on the lens all the time, not because UV light is a problem with digital cameras, but as protection for the lens from scratching and dust, and heaven forbid if you drop the camera.
I'd go with just that, and see how you go. It's all about learning your camera, what it does well, what you need to do to help it out, and what to avoid trying for. Perhaps you might want to upgrade to a DSLR or other interchangeable lens system some time in the future, but you have a good beginning kit, so see what you can do with it. Good luck and good shooting in 2014.
@frankhymus good job checking out the owned gear before responding. very thoughtful :) i'll second the tripod, and maybe a super hot tungsten lamp for playing in a studio setting!
I have also taken photography up as a hobby. I recently bought a DSLR, I have two lenses and a moderately nice tripod.
However, I HATE carrying anything with me when shooting. I just like to have my camera. And I find that it works best for me that way. I don't need equipment. I barely even use a tripod because I like to be able to move where I want how I want.
So you don't necessarily need equipment, especially if you're not shooting people that much.
Most tripods these days will have a built in spirit level. I got a new one and it has 2 levels on it (one for the legs and one for the rotating head). It wasn't an expensive one either.
I recommend a
- tripod
- polarising filter, if your camera will take it. Polarising filters are great for blue skies but also cut down glare on water so if you want some detail of what's in the water you'll want to use it then. Also handy for blocking too much light if you want to try long exposures in bright conditions as a stand in for getting a ND filter.
- lens hood
I love my remote and they aren't expensive so you might want to consider one if they have them for your camera.
Spare battery, plenty of memory cards.
An optional extra which I find very handy is a card reader. I find it quicker to upload photos with it and it saves the camera battery as well.
Definitely a tripod, extra battery and remote trigger release (so you don't get shake when pushing the trigger when using the tripod.) Gorillapods are good too for low-down shots.
You don't really need loads of kit to do some excellent photography (tho you may find that once the bug gets you you can't resist buying it.) Lots of things can be improvised. When doing macro shots I often use the inside of a biscuit tin lid to bounce light back onto the shady side of the subject, or a packet of tissues to rest the lens of the camera on.
Regarding tripods, I really like having a lightweight tripod that I can carry hiking. I use a Slik photo trekker for that, it's not sturdy enough for my longer lenses but is still super-useful (I used it for some 10s exposures last night when I was outside and the northern lights failed to show up).
The remote is nice to have, but before I had one I just used a 2s timer for long exposures.
Thanks for the input, and I love the advice! So it sounds like I should look into a tripod, a remote trigger and possibly a polarizing filter. I think these are at the top of my list. But a lot of other good advice for later, or for when I upgrade.
I'm new too. I have bought a Slik tripod. Very light and it pokes out a little from my back pack. I use it A LOT! Leaves me two hands to fiddle with everything else. I also was lucky enough to find a book on how or use my specific camera. So much more useful than the manual. It even had tasks at the end of each chapter. Search on line. But to be honest I am loving the tutorials I have found on here and spend endless hours checking out the wonderful work of others on here for inspiration. Your best tool... Time spent with your camera feeling brave enough to explore. Have fun... I knew I am. :D
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- Tripod (you'll want to find the balance between STURDY and light)
- Good Camera bag (fits camera, batter + charger and a lens or two, with a slot for extras such as cord, granola bars for hikes ect)
- Telephoto lens (for your wildlife)
Not too familiar with the Sony system, but if you're wanting to do wildlife you'll probbaly need more reach than the kit lens that came with the camera. That one could be used for your landscapes and such. Other than that honestly, is ust icing on the cake. I could live with two lenses if I had to :)
you might also want to think about a circular polarizer - it does wonders for blue skies and cutting glare on snow and water :)
Tripod, well if you are going to go into long exposure shots, in other than auto I think you can reach up to 30 second shutter, a tripod is essential. It will also be useful for a general landscape, even with the camera image stabilization, since the lens itself will not be super, super sharp (quite acceptable though I suspect), and you'll want to be as rock steady as you can. Remote shutter release, yes, for the same reason as the tripod not to rock the camera as you press the shutter, but not essential since you can set the self timer for a few second delay so the shutter is not open as you are pressing the release.
Shooting jpegs only (the camera will not produce RAW, so you should do everything you can to produce the best jpeg color and tones you can in the camera not in post processing) I like Northy's idea of a circular polarizer filter. I hope you can mount filters on the fixed lens. If you ever want to get into flowing water shots where you smoothe out the water with long exposures, ND (neutral density) filters are essential for you. I'd go with a variable one, although they are not inexpensive, $50 or more. I'd also invest in a UV filter (they are inexpensive) to mount on the lens all the time, not because UV light is a problem with digital cameras, but as protection for the lens from scratching and dust, and heaven forbid if you drop the camera.
I'd go with just that, and see how you go. It's all about learning your camera, what it does well, what you need to do to help it out, and what to avoid trying for. Perhaps you might want to upgrade to a DSLR or other interchangeable lens system some time in the future, but you have a good beginning kit, so see what you can do with it. Good luck and good shooting in 2014.
I have also taken photography up as a hobby. I recently bought a DSLR, I have two lenses and a moderately nice tripod.
However, I HATE carrying anything with me when shooting. I just like to have my camera. And I find that it works best for me that way. I don't need equipment. I barely even use a tripod because I like to be able to move where I want how I want.
So you don't necessarily need equipment, especially if you're not shooting people that much.
But I'm no professional, haha. Just my take.
I recommend a
- tripod
- polarising filter, if your camera will take it. Polarising filters are great for blue skies but also cut down glare on water so if you want some detail of what's in the water you'll want to use it then. Also handy for blocking too much light if you want to try long exposures in bright conditions as a stand in for getting a ND filter.
- lens hood
I love my remote and they aren't expensive so you might want to consider one if they have them for your camera.
Spare battery, plenty of memory cards.
An optional extra which I find very handy is a card reader. I find it quicker to upload photos with it and it saves the camera battery as well.
You don't really need loads of kit to do some excellent photography (tho you may find that once the bug gets you you can't resist buying it.) Lots of things can be improvised. When doing macro shots I often use the inside of a biscuit tin lid to bounce light back onto the shady side of the subject, or a packet of tissues to rest the lens of the camera on.
Have fun!
The remote is nice to have, but before I had one I just used a 2s timer for long exposures.
There's some useful info on tripods here:
http://photo.net/equipment/tripods/
Thanks for the input, and I love the advice! So it sounds like I should look into a tripod, a remote trigger and possibly a polarizing filter. I think these are at the top of my list. But a lot of other good advice for later, or for when I upgrade.