Photographic Equipment (advice and information)

While PhotoLust as a project is about bringing more exposure to talented artists, it's also about inspiring people and helping them to advance with their photography.  For this news article, I've gathered together a selection of very talented photographers from dA who work with very different subject matter using a wide range of techniques and equipment.  If you haven't heard of these artists, I'm sure you'll have seen their work around the site and been very impressed.

The purpose of this article is to give aspiring photographers some useful information and advice about photographic equipment, and to demonstrate just what can be achieved within different budgets.

Thanks to Teeslpscreations, contains-mild-peril, RhoadesAsylum and fangedfem for taking the time to be involved with the creation of this article.

Enjoy!



INTERVIEW WITH Teeslpscreations</u>

When you first started taking artistic photographs, what equipment did you use?
My first digital camera was my trusty little Canon PowerShot A75 I sure did give that camera a good work out. 110,000+ photos later the poor thing died on me

The only lighting I could afford was good old natural light nothing but the best other then that I used bed side lamps and 500watt halogen lights that give off that yellow warming light but at times that’s not what I wanted to achieve. I later learned that if you placed blue cellophane paper in front of those light’s it became more of a natural colour.

What equipment do you use now?
I now use a Canon EOS 350D DIGITAL with a 220 EX and 420 EX speedlite. I still haven’t got my hands on better lighting equipment yet this is why I do most of my photography work out doors to make good use of the natural light.

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What's your favourite piece of inexpensive equipment?
Don’t really have any.

What's your favourite piece of expensive equipment?
That would have to be my 420EX Speedlite my new toy.

At what stage in your career/hobby did you start spending 'real' money on photography equipment?
Over the last 2 years I had to upgrade from my little 3.2mp camera to an 8mp because I started doing commercial work for bill boards etc so I had to get better equipment.



Do you feel that it's important to spend lots of money on equipment to achieve the quality of image that you want to take?
My big thing is the lighting I would love to have a great lighting set up and I know for a fact my images would turn out a lot less noisy if I had better lighting to work with.

I don’t think it’s that important but it would be nice and I’m sure things would be easier in some ways. But hey who says you have to spend a fortune? Shop on ebay or in your local news paper for great second hand deals I’ve seen many but never had the money at the right bloody time


Do you have any advice relating to equipment for people getting started with photography who don't have loads of money to spend?
If you don’t have loads of money to spend on equipment don’t stress your just like me just start with the basics such as cheap lighting and a small mega pixel camera you don’t need these big 8 to 10 mp cameras that cost an arm and a leg start small and work your way up it may take time bit it’s all worth it in the end

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INTERVIEW WITH contains-mild-peril</u>

When you first started taking artistic photographs, what equipment did you use?
A Praktica MTL5 with a 50mm f/1.8 and Ilford and Kodak film. First digi was a Fuji S7000.

What equipment do you use now?
Canon 1D II and 1D, Sigma 15mm Fisheye, 28-70mm, and 500mm f/4.5, Canon 17-35mm, 70-200mm, 100mm, 1.4x Extender, 550EX and 2 420EX Speedlites plus a Nikon SB-28, coloured filters for flashes, ND filters, Hoya Skylights.  Plus I've still got the Praktica, a Lubitel 66 and a Polaroid.

What's your favourite piece of inexpensive equipment?
Off camera flash cord. Twenty pounds and it transforms flash lighting!

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What's your favourite piece of expensive equipment?
At the moment it's the 500mm, but that's because I've just got it. I'd say favourite overall is the 70-200mm. Hugely practical, sharp and fast.

At what stage in your career/hobby did you start spending 'real' money on photography equipment?
I guess 3 years ago when I got a second hand 10D. Cost five hundred pounds so was more than all the other gear I'd spent put together.

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Do you feel that it's important to spend lots of money on equipment to achieve the quality of image that you want to take?
No, the technique and knowledge comes first. I'm a firm believer that your equipment grows with you and that you progress past your camera and onto better gear. A DSLR can be quite intimidating and if you don't know how to get the results you have in your head you'll soon become disillusioned.

Do you have any advice relating to equipment for people getting started with photography who don't have loads of money to spend?
Buy second hand and avoid eBay! eBay prices are generally higher than second hand prices and rarely have a guarantee. Plus second hand stores have a wealth of knowledge that eBay lacks.  Apart from that I'd say really look into what you need and what you want. There's no point in buying a 400mm lens if what you really need is a better wide angle.

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INTERVIEW WITH RhoadesAsylum</u>

When you first started taking artistic photographs, what equipment did you use?
My 'equipment' consisted of a POS Vivitar camera, and my bureau...oh, and a Marilyn Manson flag that I used as my backdrop... My bureau was the tripod.

What equipment do you use now?
Right now I use a Sony DSC-F717, a tripod (sometimes) and I have four screw-on ((lol, I don't even know *what* you'd call them)) macro lens attachments that I sometimes use. The only lights I use are natural light; I shoot in the daytime 99.9% of the time. I have a lens hood (whoop-dee-do), and a UV lens (and it's just so me and my stupidity don't scratch the *actual* lens).

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What's your favourite piece of inexpensive equipment?
Well, my tripod cost like 12 bucks ((and I only ever use it for self portraits))

What's your favourite piece of expensive equipment?
My camera was the most expensive piece...so I guess that'd be my favorite.

At what stage in your career/hobby did you start spending 'real' money on photography equipment?
Again, aside from my camera's cost, I havn't spent 'real' money on equipment. There's things I'd love to own (like a telephoto lens), but I have 4 kids...That's where my 'real' money goes

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Do you feel that it's important to spend lots of money on equipment to achieve the quality of image that you want to take?
Personally, no. I am happy with the results I get with the few things I have.
Some people probably do need all that serious stuff...real backdrops, multiple lenses, lighting equipment...

I don't need all that...because I don't shoot for commercial reasons nor is this my 'career'.  I have fun doing it, and that's pretty much all there is too it.
Not to mention, I usually only get about 5 minutes to take my shots, so I don't have time for an elaborate set up.  Besides, my kids break stuff...the more I have, the more for them to destroy ((I've already gone through 4 tripods...and I didn't break them.))

Do you have any advice relating to equipment for people getting started with photography who don't have loads of money to spend?
Tripods are pretty inexpensive, and I see that as being the one piece of equipment you'll probably need.

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INTERVIEW WITH fangedfem</u>

When you first started taking artistic photographs, what equipment did you use?
Wow, that was quite awhile ago and when I was much younger! LOL! I am pretty sure I started out with a Polaroid Land Camera instamatic back in the late 70s early 80s as that is what my parents used a lot, that and a simple Kodak point and click 35mm and even 120 film. Most would say well those really don’t count seeing as you were so very young but I think it does count. I kept on using those until I got my first real 35mm which was a Chinon and I don’t think that company is even around anymore, I really don’t know but if they are I don’t think they make cameras anymore! I also used an old Ricoh 35mm as well. I really didn't have any other equipment so to speak. I would use sheets and such for backdrops if needed and aluminum foil covered cardboard for reflecting lamp light. Never really had the money for the proper equipment but made do just fine with what I had

What equipment do you use now?
Over the years I have collected things. I have an old Argus rangefinder, a couple of old instamatic Polaroid land cameras (and regular newer Polaroid instamatic cameras too), holgas, old Ansco Anscoflex II, Minolta T 101, Canon AE-1, Olympus OM10, Nikon N80, Nikon D70, plus varied lenses for the films cameras and the one digital one too, and then other various odds and ends. I also would consider my computer to be a tool. I have my darkroom at home to develop film and print, albeit very small with a very old Durst enlarger, it works. I have paints and paper and scanners. I love doing multimedia work; I haven’t indulged myself enough in it yet. I am always on the lookout for new tools to try. Unfortunately my finances won’t let me have everything I want Again, I make do with what I have and take care of things so they last many years. I still need a decent light set but use made up things like construction lights and other random things to get the light I need.



What's your favourite piece of inexpensive equipment?
Hmm, that would probably be my old Polaroid Instamatic Land camera. Although the film is not cheap

What's your favourite piece of expensive equipment?
Hehe, I really don’t have that much expensive stuff but I would have to say the Nikon D70 and the macro lense we have for it.

At what stage in your career/hobby did you start spending 'real' money on photography equipment?
I don’t think I have gotten to that stage yet because we still can’t afford it! LOL! But a couple years ago when I was in a car accident I took some of the money and bought the D70 and a couple extra lenses so that was the first big purchase, even though I had been into my career for years already.



Do you feel that it's important to spend lots of money on equipment to achieve the quality of image that you want to take?
I am sure by reading my replies so far you already know that I do NOT think it’s important to spend lots of money on equipment to achieve what you want. While it certainly doesn’t hurt, and can make things a bit easier at times, to have the latest and greatest, in the end I think it’s a lot about the person behind the lens too. But heck, I would love to have a newer enlarger or a lighting set, or a newer camera, etc. etc., I won’t site here and say that I wouldn’t like to have things, but I enjoy what I have and concentrate on trying to do the best I can to express what I want to express with my images.

Do you have any advice relating to equipment for people getting started with photography who don't have loads of money to spend?
Watch out for that equipment envy! Don’t let yourself get caught up in that silly game Also don’t let yourself get caught up in the film vs digital wars. Do what YOU want and concentrate on how you want pursue your creativity. Don’t define or limit yourself through your equipment. Don’t give up, look for ways around things when you feel you don’t have what you need to achieve what you want. There are lots of tips and tricks out there that you can use to make up for not having access to certain kinds of equipment. And when you do make purchases, no matter the size, make sure you do your research and don't just buy something without first checking it all out.

Most important be true to yourself. Enjoy the journey and never stop learning. I know I still have a long way to go but I look forward to the journey and you should never stop looking forward to the journey!