My Current Photography Kit
Does Photography Gear Matter?
If you’ve been in the photography space for any period of time, you have heard the “gear doesn’t matter” debate. So, does gear matter? It depends.
Hobbyist vs. Professional Needs
It depends on your goal, what you’re shooting, and the conditions you’re shooting in. If you’re a hobbyist, like most start out, then gear is likely not the most important thing. As long as you have a camera that you know how to use, enjoy using, and can use often, then you’re all set. But there’s nothing wrong with wanting to experiment with different camera setups. If you are shooting professionally, then your kit may change to tailor to your genre.
My First Camera and Lens
My first camera was the Sony a6100 with the 16-50 kit lens. This is a great little camera that I still use to this day. It’s small, lightweight, and is often my go-to camera when I just want to throw something in my bag for a day of running errands, visiting coffee shops and farmers markets.
When I first started getting into photography, I LOVED macro photography. Getting close up to flowers and taking detailed shots of food—I just loved getting close to everything. So naturally, and unconventionally, my first lens purchase was the Sony 30mm macro lens. It’s a cheap little lens that I had a lot of fun with. I still have it and pull it out when I want to get any close-up detail shots.
Transition to Portrait Photography
After a few years of consistently carrying my little a6100 around, I started to want to get more into portrait photography and take things “more seriously” (is there such a thing?). My next lens purchases were the nifty 50 (50mm 1.8) and the 35mm 1.8. These lenses have taken me so far. I shortly followed up with my first full-frame purchase: the Sony a7IV . Everything you see in my gallery to this date has been shot with this bit of kit.
Why the 35mm and 50mm Lenses?
The 35mm 1.8 and 50mm 1.8 lenses are well-known in the portrait photography world, and for good reason. They’re budget-friendly, the shallow depth of field allows you to achieve those super creamy blurred-out backgrounds, and the focal lengths maintain a natural feel. The 35mm has become my go-to as I have grown to prefer wider angles. The a7IV has enough resolution that you can easily crop in post if needed; I also use the in-camera crop during a shoot to compose a shot a bit tighter.
Exploring Film Photography
My most recent camera acquisition is a gift from my grandmother—the Minolta Maxxium 300si film camera. Film photography has made quite the resurgence recently, and I just had to hop on the bandwagon. I have it loaded with Fujifilm Fujicolor 200 film. I have yet to get them developed, but physically loading the film and hearing the inner workings with every shot is just so fun. I will be sure to give an update on this as I get more experience and develop my first roll of film.
What’s in Your Kit?
What is your current kit? Do you have a favorite photography genre to shoot? Share your experiences in the comments below!
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