What Type of Photo Equipment Should You Have?

As you take more and more pictures, you'll realize that there's a lot more to photography than just the basic camera. The right equipment can make a huge difference in the picture quality regardless of the photographer's experience. So, here is a list of the photo equipment that will come in handy in almost every situation.

Digital Camera

This one is so basic it almost doesn't need to be mentioned- it's your digital camera. If you don't already own a digtal, then consider getting a basic digital SLR that lets you manually control the aperture, focus and exposure length. Although point and shoot automatic digital cameras are great for taking pictures of people, they lack the flexibility for taking quality photographs.

Tripod

When stability counts, there is no substitute for a classic tripod. Even though tripods can be a little expensive, they can provide you with lots of photo opportunities that you couldn't get with a hand held camera and are definitely worth the investment. Longer exposures and low-light photography will need the aid of a tripod if they are going to turn out as anything but a blurry mess.

Memory Cards

Although today's memory cards hold a lot of data and images, there's always the possibility you'll run out of space or it will fail. So remember to bring at least two large memory cards with you all the time so you'll never miss a shot. There is nothing more frustrating than having a lot of great photo opportunities and not having enough space on your memory card.

Your Power Source -Batteries

Much like memory cards, no matter how long you think your battery is going to last, it's always best to keep an extra one in the bag. A digital camera is really just a paper weight without the batteries. Even though most cameras are pretty efficient with battery usage, you still want to have a couple of extra batteries on hand in case you need them.

Camera Bag

A camera bag doesn't have to be fancy but you just want a bag that will have room for all your gear. A small, cute camera bag certainly has its place, but if you can't fit extra lenses, batteries, and other equipment inside, it's not really worth spending the money. It is also important to have a safe place to keep your camera when not in use, and a nice bag can serve this purpose well.

A Basic Zoom and Macro Lens

You don't have to go crazy at the photo store and buy every lens you see, but you will certainly benefit from bringing basic zoom and macro lenses. These days, many camera manufacturers sell lenses that are a combination of both so you can have more functionality without having to get multiple lenses.

Basic Photo Editing Software

If digital is going to be your game, you're going to want to have a way to edit those photos once you bring them into the computer. Just like with film photography, there is more to digital photography than just taking the picture- eventually you'll want to print your picture. It's a good idea to buy a good quality photo editing software so you can start using it right away to edit your digital pictures. Photo software comes in super helpful anytime you have to make minor changes to your pictures like removing red eye or getting rid of something in the background.

Digital photography is just like any other activity-if you come prepared with the right set of tools, there is no limit to the things you can accomplish. Of course, you should always be honest with yourself about your needs and about what you want to do with your camera - all this gear is certainly useful, but you may not want to lug it around on a vacation with the family. Start with a good stock of equipment and train yourself to bring what you'll need and you can't lose.

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