Let me start this page by saying that expensive gear won’t make you a better photographer, only time and practice will.
If you’re just starting out and want to get better at photography, you can easily practice using just your phone to get the basics rights – light, angle, capturing the subject in a variety of ways, playing with concepts and challenging yourself to find something unique in even the most boring scenarios.
My first venture into professional photo gear was years ago, when I bought my first DSLR camera which got me very excited about capturing everything around me. Soon after that, I found out that shooting in manual mode is a lot more challenging than I thought and a lot of trial and error will be involved.
For me, lenses are the things that make the most impact. So if you have money to invest, I recommend getting a starter or mid-range camera model with a better lens.
The other thing to consider if you’re looking for a new camera is how you will use it. Do you want to capture shots of your family at home? Do you want a camera for travelling? Dragging a fancy heavy DSLR with you everywhere you go is not that much fun, especially when the body with lens is close to 2kg.
Photography Gear I Use
Canon 5D iii – this was a very expensive purchase for me and one that I debated for a very long time. The camera is of fantastic quality and very easy to use. I used it extensively with a couple of lenses until about 2021, when I changed to a lighter model below. I still use this as my backup camera with my portrait lens attached. Before this, I was using one of the lower-end models, the Canon 700D.
Sony a7 iii – this is a super lightweight and compact DLSR with high res video function and the ability to transfer your photos to PC through Bluetooth. I have been using it for the last couple of years mainly because it’s much smaller and lighter, so it’s perfect for travelling.
Sony FE 2.8 / 24 – 70 GM Lens – a very versatile lens that works great for portraits and travel photography. I wanted something that goes as low as 2.8 F for portraits and details, but same time works as a zoom lens which I need for travelling.
Sigma 24 – 70 DG HSM Lens – my oldest lens used mostly for travel shots, it’s super heavy so that’s one of the main reason why I don’t use it with my Canon camera too often.
