recommended equipment for the hobbyist

Buying your first DSLR? That is…your first digital camera that’s bigger than a point and shoot? Or are you upgrading from equipment that you’ve had for a while? Well I’m hoping that this page can be a helpful resource to you. The equipment listed on this page is recommended with a hobbyist in mind, someone who loves photography and wants to get better at taking pictures of the people in their life that they love. This equipment will help you do that well and within a budget. If you are pursuing photography as a business, I have different recommendations for you. All of the equipment that I’m recommending here is Canon. Canon is what I use and know best so I feel most comfortable recommending it to you. Plus I personally think Canon’s the best and I believe you get the most for your moolah with Canon products.

A couple of quick tips before we get into the specific equipment.

Please purchase from a reputable company rather than a random website that appears to have a deal. If it seems too good to be true it probably is. I always purchase from either B & H Photo or Amazon. Links and prices below are from B&H as of April 2011.
I don’t personally recommend buying the kit that comes with the camera and all of the lenses. Those kit lenses may not be what you really want once you learn how to use your camera on manual.

Camera Bodies and Lenses

Canon Rebel T2i Camera Body
(No lenses included)

A great camera body for a hobbyist or a mom. This camera will allow you to shoot completely on auto but also has full manual capabilities. It has a pop up flash and is 18 megapixels (plenty) and the ISO will go to 6400 (though it will be grainy). $699

Canon 60D Camera Body
(No lenses included)

If you can spend a little more I would recommend the 60D. It will shoot multiple pictures faster with less delay. It is going to handle the high ISO numbers (in low light) with a bit less grain. The colors will be better. It’s a step up from the rebel. $999

Canon 50mm 1.8 Lens

An inexpensive, great lens to use when learning aperture and to shoot on manual in low light. I recommend this for your first lens. Start with a lens that’s $100, learn your camera, then see what you really need. $130

Canon 35mm 2.0 Lens

A great wider lens. Does your 50mm lens seem too close up? Too zoomed in on your Rebel or 60D camera? Then a 35mm lens is better for you. It will be closer to what your human eye sees. This lens has an aperture of 2.0 so this will be a great lens for indoor low light pictures without a flash. $329

Canon 28mm 1.8 Lens

This lens is even a bit wider (farther away) than the 35mm lens. This lens has an aperture of 1.8 so this will be a great lens for indoor low light pictures without a flash. $529

Canon 85mm 1.8 Lens

This is a great zoom lens. This would be zoomed in more than the 50mm lens for closer up shots. Great for at the park, swim lessons, or maybe even t-ball games. I had this lens for a long time until I upgraded to the professional version. $419

Canon 24-70mm 2.8L Lens

If you would prefer to have one fantastic lens rather than switching a bunch of lenses on and off your camera then this may be the lens for you. The aperture goes down to F 2.8 so it will be good for indoors or outdoors. It’s a bit more pricey but might be all you need. $1399

Accessories

SanDisk 8gb SDHC Memory Card

I recommend having multiple memory cards. $25

White Balance Target

A white balance target. I take this on every shoot. I use it almost every time. Realistically I don’t always use it when I’m with my own kids. My camera is often on auto white balance in my daily life, but for a photo shoot it’s on custom and I’m using my target. $39

Epiphanie Camera Purse

Great padding inside of a cute purse. You can take your camera and a lens anywhere you go. I have one of these bags and I love it. $164

Jo Totes Camera Purse

Great little camera bag that can also be used as a purse. $89

by Cori Derksen

8 comments

April 9, 2011 - 10:11 am

Lisa - I just went out and bought the Canon Rebel T3i. I feel like a little kid at Christmas time…can’t wait to really see all it has to offer. Thanks for the guidance!

May 24, 2011 - 12:39 pm

Holly Williams - Hi! I’m a nurse but I lovvve to take pics in my free time! I’m looking at buying another dslr. I have a nikon d50 now but I’m looking into buying a Canon. I’m one of those people that shoot on auto a lot, but I’m really interested in learning more about the manual features. This website is great btw! One question that I have though is if you can explain to me the different lens measurements. It may be common sense, but for example what do the numbers mean when you say 85 mm 1.8 lens?

May 25, 2011 - 9:57 pm

Cori Derksen - The 1.8 part is the aperture. 1.8 is a lens that will open up quite wide and let in a lot of light. It will also create that blurry fun effect which is called bokeh. :) the wider the aperture, 1.8 and down to 1.2 the more expensive the lens.

June 2, 2011 - 4:31 pm

Holly - Hi I have a Canon power shot. can you get lenses for that? I love to take pictures and I’m good at poseing but no nothing about my camera.

June 6, 2011 - 9:54 am

cori - I’m not sure which power shot you have. Which one is it?

June 6, 2011 - 12:42 pm

Holly - Powershot SX30 IS

June 7, 2011 - 10:54 am

Holly - yes thanks for amswering my question.

January 17, 2012 - 9:35 am

Nicole - Love your blog!!! Could you please include more Nikon in your post! I’m new to all
Of this and would love to know more Nikon setting:) Your teaching method is easy for me to understand ! Thank you!

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recommended equipment for the hobbyist

Camera Bodies and Lenses

Canon Rebel T2i Camera Body (No lenses included)

Canon 60D Camera Body (No lenses included)

Accessories

Canon Rebel T2i Camera Body
(No lenses included)

Canon 60D Camera Body
(No lenses included)