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The most useful tools for outdoors photography are good shoes and a car ! A cheap camera and a good landscape are better than the best camera in a living room !
Yes, for some reasons my $6 000 camera gear hasn't created any good photos (not even a bad one) for the last couple of years just stuck in the camera bag.
I've told people who look at expensive cameras that they can nab an old Ricoh GR2 or X100T/F and take a trip to Europe with the money they've saved not getting something bleeding edge and come back with better pictures and experiences they'd have dreamed of.
I completely bought the most expensive camera bag the same week I got my first camera... but I have to say I really use it a lot so it wasn't a bad purchase.
This is a great video for sure. I was really lucky when I started out to have a good mentor. He advised me to get a Sony a6000 with the 16-55 kit lens which was a great move. I used the kit lens long enough to work out that it was limiting me in low light and that variable aperture was very annoying for shooting in manual. I then bought the 18-105 F4 and a 35mm F1.8 (basically a nifty fifty because of the crop sensor) on a credit card just before my first paid photography gigs and I never looked back! Very much recommend the a6000 or a6100 to anybody starting out
I usually buy refurb I did all of my Nikon gear like that, then when I got my Canon 7Dmkii I did that too. Now I'm shooting Sony with a a6600 I was going to get the A7iii but a deal on a open box a6600 came up for sale at $300.00 dollars off and I bought it, it was supposed to have minor scratches on it, I didn't see any, wear doesn't bother me, since they end up getting scratches and wear on them anyway.
@@bikecommuter24 I’ve yet to experience a refurbished or used that I opened the box and returned it because of poor quality. Again I buy through reputable dealers only. Merry Christmas.
As a professional photographer for 20 years, it’s great to see some well considered advice for those new to this world. I agree with everything that’s been said here!
Photography is something I’ve always had a passing interest in, my family always said I picked the more interesting photos ok holidays and the like. The sheer volume of “things” you can get for a camera is pretty intimidating tbh, never mind learning the various pros and cons of different lens types. It’s a real rabbit hole! My issue is I love my gadgets and fear once I fall into the rabbit hole it’ll be a financially painful experience lmao.
Don't make my mistake and fall into Astrophotography too, the rabbit hole yawns even wider when you start factoring in telescopes, mounts, and all the accessories for them ontop of the cameras XD
@Quiet Wanderer haha yeah I’ve already looked into stuff like that and decided my pockets weren’t deep enough for a lot of it! Some seriously cool tech there though.
@@timmy3822 a "Star Adventurer Mini", a decent tripod, and a intervolometer can go a long way towards making heaps of nice astro photos. Admittedly Telescopes only really start to matter when you want to see smaller objects in the sky, moon close ups, or our local Planets, which is deffinitly the rabbit hole that ramps up cost the fastest
@@UNSCPILOT When it comes to hobbies you can be assured that I'll want to do something, that is without prior knowledge the most costly thing to get into. My parents both told me I needed to find a rich lass when I grew up lol. I wanted to be a pilot, I ride a motorcycle... I enjoy building high end PC's and have a "cockpit" set up of sorts for flying in DCS. Honestly I think I'd be quite happy to start with just getting some decent imagery of the Moon and local planets. In terms of nebula etc I image that's where the massive money is, given how distant they are.
Just buy an old fuji xv100 and see how you like it before actually investing into photography. Also, think about what it is you really want to shoot. If you just want to be like every single photographer on youtube than go for landscapes and the occasional street shot. That style of photography is suppppperr over saturated with bigots and know it alls, but its hands down the easiest medium to shoot since you barely have to think about composition or anything really. Just go out on your backyard during blue or golden hour and snap away. People will suck you dry for basic photos like that. If you get into a unique shooting style (i.e. i shoot skateboarding and derby girls in b&w and if i do a traditional "shoot" i make my composition as abstract as and essentialy go against the grain of what a lot people have to say which in turn creates these photos that have so much depth and character and story) you will be 100x more satisfied from what you learn and produce. Id say instead of looking into cameras, look into the people behind them since that will help guide you towards what youd actually like to shoot. Also, dont let post editing intimidate you. Start simple with just lightroom and some presets and work your through the program. Learn it like the back of your hand and you will have so much fun with it. I keep reading all these cliche wishy-washy stories and makes me cringe so bad. The only tip you need as a beginner is dont be scared. Thats it. You will natrually learn the ins and outs and no matter how many videos like this are made no one can truly tell you what YOU would need. These kind of videos are cancerous honestly.
I would recommend - related to point 5, goals - to pick themes. Some subject that you enjoy shooting and can create a collection of, and that you keep adding to, over time. This takes some pressure off of you of "having to" get photos with perfect composition, or lighting. As long as you've captured your theme, you feel like you've achieved something. After a while you can create screensavers, calendars, books, around them, which again makes you feel better. Some themes really helped me remain motivated through the years and in bad photo conditions.
@@alexandermuncey5409 A few assorted ones are "doors and windows" "reflected self portraits" "my flat in high contrast black & white" "regular patterns in modern architecture". All (almost) completely independent of weather and lens!
Excellent advice. I love photographing tree trunks, I think they're all beautiful and there is so much texture to capture. I rarely come back from a photo walk without a tree trunk photo to add to my collection :)
Started 8months ago with D50 kit lens and a 50mm nifty fifty all for around £120. Had great results. Getting a D7000 and a wide angle next for around £300. The main thing that helped 1 RUclips 2 your channel 3 always in my thoughts taking a photo about something not of something. Thanks james
The tip you gave at the end about liking components of a photo even when you don't like the photo as a whole is great. We need to have a good balance between knowing what we are doing right and knowing that we still have so much to learn.
I can fully attest to the Creativity boost you get from limitations. When starting out in photography, i was using a borrowed 35mm film camera. and the only lens i had access to was a telephoto zoom lens. i HAD to get super far from my subject to take shots. it made my early portfolio very unique. most of my classmates had a 50mm, but i was stuck at like a minimum of 135. i don't exactly remember. but the limits forced me to be creative. Thanks for this solid info James.
There is a bunch of things I find that are super helpful. Particularly starting out. - Prime lens cause they are usually smaller so it is not as awkward to quickly pull out your camera when you don't have a massive zoom lens on it. - a messenger bag reduces the number steps to pull camera. It is surprising how much taking a backpack off your back discourages people from taking photos.
One thing that I have found out with photography that new photographers have to hear is just being in the right place at the right time! Most of it is honestly just luck! So don’t be discouraged if you haven’t been able to get any good shots. Once you get that ONE really good shot, you’ll be chasing that high again next time you go out!
Couldn't agree more. I used to feel sorry for photographers with 'all the gear and no idea' being dropped off at roadside locations in beauty spots near where I used to live. They would invariably be shooting in poor light or nasty grey conditions and I would envisage them spending hours post visit trying to add drama in the editing process. At these same spots and those away from the roadside I have been fortunate to be driving by and having time to capture the most dramatic light or natural weather phenomena by being there at daybreak or just by chance through frequency of travel in the area. So luck, being in the right place at the right time far away from the cities is a tremendous advantage.
Definitely, although obviously there are ways to make your own luck and be able to capitalise on those "perfect shot situations" - like being better at composition to take full advantage of a scene, or not making a stupid mistake (such as messing up the crop, exposure, focus etc). Ive been into photography for about 4 months now, shooting on my Dad's Fujifilm XT3 with two kit lenses. I've taken some shots I love - yet my best ever photo is still one I took on my phone of an absolutely crazy sunrise a few years ago😂. Yes, I made the effort to get up at about 4am and walk 4km to reach my shoot location - but at the end of the day most of the shot is down to luck
The need for a goal was a genius addition. And a completely essential thing that many tend to forget/neglect. It's so easy to become lost in one's creative journey if we don't have any milestones or measurable progress. Really good point there, Mr. Popsys.
My suggestion, at least in my experience is to buy lenses for what you're trying to shoot most. Macro primes - for shooting close up Portrait primes - 35mm and 50mm Other primes - higher than 50mm Telephoto 55 - 200mm or higher All in one lens 18 - 105mm or higher Super wide angle primes - anything below 18mm and wide 18-28mm I'm a Nikon guy, so I listed lenses with common focal lengths for this brand. Also consider getting lens hoods, helps a lot with light distortions in highly lit up environments and a polarizer filter. You don't need all kinds of crazy filters, they're a waste of money. Most filters will slightly ruin your image, so get a good quality one to reduce it to a bare minimum.
I thought wide angle was anything below 35mm? Im new and a little confused by whats wide angle because everyone seems to use a different mm as what wide angle starts at
The prime lens is definitely a good lens to get. Before I got my camera, I thought that there was no way I was gonna spend money on a focal length I already have on the kit lens, but then I was asked to shoot photos at Christmas, inside, with kids running around. Obviously shooting fast moving objects in low light without getting blur is not an easy equation to solve. I ended up raising the ISO higher than anyone should feel comfortable and I got usable photos, but not ones you should look too closely. A week later, I got the prime lens.
Boredom is one of the reasons I tell people starting guitar to buy an electric. When you’re not able to play much, strumming the same few chords can get boring quickly. Keeping people interested when they’re still crap is the goal.
Another good tip for a beginner is not to ignore buying second hand gear. When looking for what James would consider the T swear word (tripod), I went for what would have been an expensive option if not for second hand. In all the camera (bodies, lenses, tripods and stuff) I have only bought one body new. All the second hand gear I bought them from reputable camera shops, both my local - an excellent and invaluable source of advice - and online would have been out of my price range.
Nifty 50's are great if you want to try astrophotography too, step it down a stop or two and you can get amazing pictures of space with some trial error, and lots of RUclips tutorials
@@Xgil2Play lower F-stop is better obviously, ie F/1.8, but you may need to stop it down as much as F/4 to get proper sharpness across the image. I'm just a noobie myself though so looking up some "DSLR Astrophotography" videos is probably good be a good bet
Great video. One thing that I think is absolutely critical when considering a camera is comfort. Does it fit well in your hand? Is it too heavy? Are the buttons easy to get to? There have been a few cameras that I did NOT purchase because they failed in one or more of the above criteria.
Absolutely. You need to hold the camera before you buy it. People's hands aren't all the same size and some people are much more sensitive to camera weight than others. Caveat: less of an issue if you're mainly interested in tripod work.
Thanks James. For my camera bag in a camera bag I started using either a soft sided lunch bag with a zipper lid and I am also using an old shaving kit bag both of which I found laying around the house. Nobody guesses you are carrying around some expensive equipment and fits easily in my back pack. Enjoy being a new dad.
I've really enjoyed watching your videos! You're delivery method and confidence in sharing "outtakes" throughout your videos just make them feel more authentic and genuine. I feel like we could have a great conversation over a pint.
I was a new photographer forty five years ago. I pretty much followed your five steps. I’m stuck on step five, setting goals as my goalposts seem to keep shifting. Super content as always. I haven’t got my print framed yet as the frame I wanted is out of stock until the new year. Best to you and Emily.
A lot of my early photography was connected with walking so my preferred camera carrying method was a holster carried over the shoulder. It was instantly accessible, protected the camera and had room for the basic accesories like lens cloth, battery & memory card. They don't seem fashionable any more but I still use one in combination with a dedicated bag for extra lenses, tripod (sorry I swore) and filter system. I do believe that always having the camera accessible is really important.
My beginners camera was the Panasonic Fz2500 bridge - fixed zoom lens - Leica f 2.8~4.5, 24~480mm, flip out touch monitor that's fully integrated with the menu & camera. Just like a DSLR in many technical ways but it's most endearing feature being . . . FUN factor ! & ease of use in one package - grab and go ! By the time I was ready to move on to the G9, I had a pretty good understanding of the new camera's operation.
Thank you so much for not putting down beginners! Ive been watching a lot of beginer videos, and all of them have been putting their beginner photography down so hard, and i know its just cause theyve learned, but as a beginner seeing these beautiful photos their ridiculing while i compare them to my own. it just makes me feel so unmotivated. So thank you for not being like that, and focusing more on the fun of the hobby! Youve for sure helped me 💚
Having a micro 4/3 sensor changes the focal lengths a lot in older lenses. I wish I had chosen the dslr version of my cannon instead of the mirrorless to keep more of my vintage lenses useable.
@@Faizan_Shaikh there are speedbooster adapters that convert the lenses down to a very similar focal length equivalent. However the extra glass can cause more glare spots from light source, amongst other issues. They also tend to be double or triple the price of a full frame adapter. Its not all bad, but just an extra thing to consider when you're buying a camera to use with vintage glass.
Y’know, sometimes (often) I find myself skipping through the beginning banter of videos like this, But man, you’re just a charming dude, idk how else to put it. Very natural on camera presence, I could watch it all day. First camera/photography channel I’ve subscribed to. Great stuff man :)
It's incredible how toxic social media can be for the people that actually love to create and share. Photography and the tips you shared can help you learn how to be enough for yourself. Learning how to receive feedback and grow from it takes a lot of time: don't rush it. I'd also like to share that getting the 50mm prime as my first non-kit lens helped me really enjoy photography. The kit lens on the A7II is slow and soft, and seeing that I could achieve that depth of field with the 1.8 aperture really woke something in me. I'd almost recommend to buy the body only, a used 50mm lens, then get a used zoom lens as soon as you feel that your feet can't zoom in or out enough in the situations where you take the most pictures. Thanks for the video.
I actually put my camera away as a beginner because of the relationship I was in. I had no motivation to do anything. Now I live in a different area, in a much better relationship, we both want to get into photography and I can't wait to get a new camera to finally get back into all this again.
I bought one of those Crumpler inserts from B&H (an experience in itself!) years ago on a trip to NY. It's an incredibly useful little bag for turning any bag into a camera bag. Nice and stealthy way to carry a camera.
I think you also forgot to mention the price of the 50mm being another reason for that to be your first lens to buy! Also - extra batteries and memory cards!
Love my nifty 50 to bits, so much more fun than the basic 18-55 kitlens, looking to get the EF-S 24mm f2.8 to partner with it for wider angle shots, especially for Astrophotography which is what lured me into getting a camera to begin with
I've been doing photography for a year, and I'm currently in a photography class in high school (I'm 17). My teacher makes us do "concentrations", where we take photos on a different subject each week. This really helps expand me expand my horizons and gain experience in all sorts of different styles. Otherwise I'd always just take pictures of animals and not try other things.
Those clips are GREAT! I shoot so much more now that I have one. It lets me comfortably carry camera at the ready in all sorts of circumstances from urban street to action on skis or hikes. I keep the strap so when camera in my hands it is still safe from drops. The clip just keeps camera stowed and ready to draw in a way that doesn't flop around when I'm moving. HIGHLY endorse the clip.
This is a great video for relieving gear anxiety. The fact that sticking to specific focal length within a compact zoom is still a good option when starting out (I got a lx100ii second hand but have been giving side eyes at a second hand gx9, and I think I should leave that well alone for a good year).
Or get a green screen to roll up on those bad weather days when you wanted to be out. Keep the present wall as is, like it as an alternative "moody ina good way" color
I love my kit lens that came with my Canon Dslr. I only use two lenses, Canon EFS 18 to 55mm kit zoom and used Tamron EF 70 to 200mm Zoom. I enjoy my photography, because my expectations aren't thru the roof, what I photograph and how I do it isn't based on some one else's opinion or judgements or so called expertise. You don't have to spend a ton of money to enjoy photography on stuff you don't need, enjoy photography your own way, no matter what gear you have (or paid fot it).
Thanks, James. I think you might be able to expand “creamy bokeh” into its own video. Great advice for beginners. I upgraded my bag and got a peak design clip and it has really made a world of difference for my photo-taking experience because it typically involves hiking. Now choosing candles that remind us of our favorite movies is an innovative thing. Now I’m going to be browsing the candle section of stores smelling candles and thinking: “Does this smell like Luke’s X-wing?” Or “It says ‘leather’, but I’m thinking it’s Indiana Jones’ briefcase”.
i have only watched the first couple of minutes of the video so far and im going to go out on a limb and say "No tripods were mentioned in the making of this video"
After forty years in the hobby, I'm still wedded to film, specifically black and white. I started out with a 35mm slr and a few lenses, all primes. I quickly realized that I valued mobility and switched to fixed lens rangefinder cameras for about 3 decades. But now I came back to slr photography, but this time in 6x4.5 medium format. Still use prime lenses even though zooms are available for my camera. I have a kit which contains only two lenses, a 55mm and a 150mm. That's a moderate wide angle which suffices for most situations, and a moderate telephoto for the rest. My bag contains filters and various adapters and specialized accessories suited to my specific needs. There's everything I need and nothing I don't. It is lightweight for a medium format kit. it's taken years to learn that a sturdy tripod and the right filters or other accessories may prove far more valuable than the costliest camera or the fastest, costly lenses. Film or digital, a decent camera that matches your needs along with a couple lenses will do. Just don't keep buying the same camera, maybe with minor improvements, over and over again. Simplify. Save the extra money for travel.
Good tips, especially the part about the bag, you wouldn't believe the number of shots I have missed due to not having the camera easily accessible, next stage, get a flash, unless you decide on landscape, learning lighting is also fun, off camera flash, backlighting, HSS and so on. For a strap I recommend peak design as per the video with the quick release pegs, they have become somewhat iconic.
My wife and I joined a local camera club. It has been a great motivator. We’ve been able to continue with our monthly meetings through the internet during the lock downs. Our board has been very creative. We’ve even had guest instructors.
I started out with a camera and 2 kit lenses, 18-55 and 75-300, they were actually pretty good lenses considering. I then pretty quickly got a 50 and I’ve since sold my kit lenses for upgrades, 12-24 and 70-200. Still got my original camera body. And I just use a backpack, the bottom of it is designed for cameras etc and the top is just a normal backpack, would definitely recommend
Also I think it's a great to get vintage lenses from back when cameras used film. Especially when owning a mirrorless camera adapters are abundant and cheap, and so are the lenses. You can get a Helios 44-4 50mm with amazing and unique bokeh for around 50 bucks depending on where you live. It lacks auto focus, however this could also be considered a challenge to make you better at photography in general. I looked up prime lenses for the Sony E mount and they are quite expensive, very few options below $200 when used however all 3 of my vintage lenses combined cost about $200 and I got a 50mm f2 prime, 135mm f3,5 prime and a 35-70mm f3,5, which lets me try out a lot of different lenses without spending significant amounts. On top of that, since these lenses are old, they really don't loose any value unless damaged, so if you don't like one, chance are you can just sell it to someone else without loosing money. Give vintage lenses a try, they're insanely good for how little you have to spend
Great video! As to goals, I think the first thing would be, "Did I have an enjoyable time or at least a moment?" Much like your fishing example, if you have a bad time at it, not much of a hobby. Second thing, did I do something new or learn or apply something with a modicum of success? Along that last line, did I achieve what I was attempting? Hitting any of those can make the time spent worthwhile, the more the better. The goal is always to please yourself with the results of your efforts.
I have to say that this video was exceptionally nice to watch. The sound, the look, the atmosphere and the down to earth feeling youre giving me. Its just not like youre trying to force your knowledge onto me and instead somehow feels like you are telling a Story. Incredibly catchy and calming :)
For the camera bag all you need is a binoculars carry bag, sling it over your shoulder so it's always on hand, it's padded and the right size and its cheap as chips
Hi James. As a total newbie on a fixed income, I am very limited on price. £500 for a lens is a none starter. My best tip for newbies is to buy used stuff (eBay charity shops). I bought my camera bag (hand stitched, leather case with straps and compartments), for £30. I have subscribed to your channel as you seem to live in the real world. I spent weeks trying to decide between the Sony ZV e10 and the Sony ZV1. You tube led me to the Nikon D4 and I could not be happier. Best wishes from Manchester.
Got a few cameras, compact, DSLR, and film, but buying a Sony a350 body to reuse my Minolta AF lenses has really created my favourite combination for landscape photography. The body cost me £67. I love it and trust it to deliver great images at 14.2mp. Confidence in your gear is the best advice. Cool video!
I'd really insist on people getting an interchange-able lens camera. I find it's EXTREMELY useful for understanding the exposure triangle, experimenting with different lens focal lengths, qualities, aperture (that you won't get from a fixed lens camera). Also, prime lenses were absolute GOLD for me. The old 100$ 2nd-hand 35 mm f1.8 taught me so much, having to move closer / further to my subject, taught me so much attention to framing and compositon, as well as what a 1.8 can do was amazing for me. I absolutely loathed how careless I had been until then with the kit 18-105 :) P.S. Does anyone else feel gear has gotten ridiculously expensive lately compaired to the "good old days"? Just me...?
I am not new to photography, have been doing it all my life...general nature, landscape, some wildlife. This older video popped up and RUclips so I watched. I think you gave great advice regarding kit lens and primes. I have been watching your other videos and really enjoy your combining mans structure in the environment. Love your simplicity of not letting a ton of gear burden you down and the simplicity of one lens. How in the hell you don't go bankrupt buying all those cameras has me perplexed, but please keep doing those great videos with your flare for wit. That is missing from RUclipsrs here in the states.
@@matthewmartin8726 Absolutely. It's a great way to create a theme as well. EG: Shoot 10 woodland scenes or abandoned buildings and cars, etc in 1x1 and when you're done everything fits together. Next trick is to print a Walgreens photo book every year of last years images :)
Thanks for this one! Your vid on what not to buy was hugely helpful! I love gear and it would have been so easy to fall into the trap of stuff that would have been beyond my skill level to make any meaningful use of. Plus waiting to figure out what I enjoy most has saved me a bunch too. I think the biggest thing I've learnt from you James is you try to take pictures about something, rather than just off. Not always possible, but really helps with the frame of mind and to think about my compositions! Cheers mate!
ok, i really need to stop having my saturday morn coffee while watching your vids! when you said "the first thing.... camera..." There is so much coffee in my sinus cavity now.... damnit! lol
Good video overall. I would suggest to anyone starting out to be sure they buy an extra battery and an extra memory card. They can save the day if you have them when you need them.
When I started out I hadn't realised I'd spend at least as long indoors picking the keepers & editing as I do out shooting. A creative, but frustrating fact given that photography was supposed to be getting me out more!
That's for this video ❤. I am about to buy my first camera ever,, a 2006 Canon Rebel XTi and let me tell you, I am into DJing, music production, video editing, cooking and skateboarding and buying a camera is by far the hardest thing to understand my a mile. I have absolutely hammered Google/RUclips for weeks now. Oh and the most expensive. How can an entry level camera from 20 years ago still be so expensive lol
I have to say, I truly enjoy your videos, very clever and funny. No matter the content, I have appreciated the craftsmanship of every one I’ve seen since discovering the channel a few weeks ago. Thanks!
I'm getting a zoom lens. Nothing particularly expensive but one of the things I've been finding is struggling to get close enough to subjects I like. Times like where the only way to get closer would be to float in the river or lake, or to walk off the edge of whatever I'm on.
???????? My favourite landscape lens is not a wide-angle, but a telephoto. Having a lens capable of doing tele is vital to isolate distant subjects, and you can produce very beautiful images with them. It's also much easier to compose than with a wide-angle lens. Most of the time I go out with a standard zoom and a telephoto, or with a superzoom. My wide-angle usually stays at home.
For M43, I suggest the 40-150 f4-5.6. Small, light, cheap ($100) and makes decent images. Not fast, not weather sealed, but I have one and it is a decent starting point for building a cheap kit. Then you can fill out some primes, as you develop a sense of which focal length(s) to jump on.
Another storage that I've come to love is from Chrome Industries which I encountered while going on with cycling. They mostly make messenger and slings with a seatbelt quick release. They also make camera sling bags, which caught my interest.
this is the first video I've ever found of you on the internet. literally, i've never seen you before. that opening is more than enough for me to be a lifetime follower. holy hell i couldn't stop laughing for so me reason.
Great video! I went into viewing this video with the mindset of being a beginner who just bought their first camera and it is greatly accurate. Also, i go by the same goal, each time I am out I wont come home until I have atleast 1 keeper. Have to set goals
I am gong to sort of disagree with some of this. No, I wouldn't recommend buying a compact camera, in 2021. They are ok image quality wise but they do very little to help you learn photography and you will probably want to get a mirrorless or dslr soon after, I would just say it is a waste of money. I would also say research the camera and manufacturer you are going to buy. You don't need to buy the most expensive camera on the market or even get a new camera but you want to buy something that you can eventually upgrade from. I agree that megapixels and dynamic range are not a big thing. Lenses, I don't necessarily agree in getting a 50mm as your second lens. I bought a 50mm early on and I can honestly say after 20 years, it is the focal length I use the least. Use your kit lens for a while then look at what kinds of photography you are doing and the focal length you regularly prefer. Camera bag. You can easily find a good second hand camera bag online you don't have to pay the earth and often when companies are introducing newer bags, there will be deals on old bags. I have camera bags which I bought for £1.99 second hand in 2006 that I still use today and bags which should have cost £60 that I got for £20 brand new by looking around. Also there are some manufacturers who make really good bags but you because they are not as well known you can pick up their bag cheaper. I have a ton of Tenba bags, they are a great company and I have bought a lot of bags for half price. Strap, if you are carrying your camera every day and the strap is putting pressure on your shoulders and neck, then it maybe worth updating, otherwise I would say there are more important things to buy. Card. Nothing too expensive. I probably would recommend 32gig card, make sure they fit the camera you buy.
I bought my first camera today. I'm super excited, but also apprehensive about maybe not being very good. Your video was really helpful & calming. I like your personality >,
On M4/3 I started out with vintage lenses, to better learn about depth of field with fast lenses from the past. Of course, I paired this with a decent focal reducer...not the best in the business...but a decent one for about $70-100 bucks. In is important to start with a focal reducer with a conversion mount that manages a broad vintage choice. To start, I went with the M42 mount to M4/3. With this mount, I was able to use lenses from Pentax (Super Takumar), Industar, Helios, Jupiter. A decent 28mm/f2.8 will run about $50. For M4/3, this will have a full frame equivalent focal length of (2x28mm)x.72 = 40mm (for street shooting, landscapes). The full frame nifty-50 vintage on M4/3: (2x50mm)x.72 = 72mm (decent for portraits). 50/1.8's stopped down to 2 or 2.8 tend to get pretty sharp from the greats (Canon, Pentax Tak, Konica Hexanon, Nikon Nikkor, etc.). The Helios 58/2 produces incredible bokeh, with a swirly effect. Over the last 10 years I moved to even faster vintage lenses (28/2, 50/1.2, loads of 50/1.4, 85/2, etc.). Unfortunately, these deals are getting rarer and the prices have crept upwards over the last 4 years. Nevertheless, finding local deals (estate sales, garage sales, flea markets) is a fun way to discover hidden gems on the cheap. Sometimes, they are paired with an old SLR or rangefinder...where the gem of a lens is hidden within an old camera deal. Always take care to look at the lens quality. Is there excessive oil on the diaphragm blades; do they operate across their specified range. Does the focusing mechanism work or need to be cleaned/greased? Is the glass clean, uncloudy, and clear of fungus (shine a flashlight through the rear of the lens to expose fungus, which can impact photo quality). Take care to inspect the lens for scratches, especially deep scratches. Scratches on the rear of the lens element are the most problematic. A damaged lens on the cheap is still a damaged lens. Some fungus cannot be corrected with a full breakdown/cleaning, if the coatings have been permanently etched by the fugus itself. Just my two-cents as an amateur shooter.
The things that I advise when asked for advice about buying a first camera are ... 1) Buy secondhand (ideally with interchangeable lens mount, but a mid range point and shoot will do) 2) Don't listen to RUclipsrs like Tony Northrup 3) Use the kit lens / zoom to get an idea of the various focal lengths and their effect on shots, and then buy prime / fixed lenses. 4) Don't buy a thief attracting dedicated camera bag, when a cheap canvas bag with seperate padded insert will do the job just as well. 5) Don't misuse the word bokeh (like most RUclipsrs) ... Yes you James Popsys 6) Take a camera out with you, and shoot as much as possible. 7) Try to get things right in camera to avoid over processing of images. 8) Take RUclipsrs advice with a pinch of salt. 9) Don't listen to criticism of your work if the critic can't use a camera and back up what they say. 10) Get out, shoot as much as possible and enjoy your new hobby .... It's good for mind and soul.
Huh... I just realised that the part about having a goal is exactly what has made me get in to photography. My goal when I got my (very first) camera last year was that I wanted to take photos of my favourite singer at his concerts. I knew absolutely NOTHING about cameras so I just plunged right in... and realised that I actually had to learn how to use it in order to be able to get those photos. So, I had about four months before the concert and I set about learning about ISO, aperture, shutterspeed and all that... But never managed to specify how to get good photos at concerts in particular so it ended as something of a failure. But! I did find that I really loved going out and practice with my camera. And I got tickets for the next concert so I was now better prepared for taking awsome pictures the second time around! ... but covid... so the concert is postponed... Well. Got more time to practice I guess. And that is not a hardship.
Another great and inspirational video James! For a moment I thought that was a G80 until I saw those three buttons lined up haha! I had my G80 now for 7 months and love it more and more every day :)
I’m new to the whole camera and photography. I had some digital camera in the past but it’s been a long time. My budget was $1,000. My mom has the same camera set up I bought. I got my setup for $752 at Best Buy. I got the Canon EOS Rebel T7 premium kit with a 2 year warranty and a 256gb SD card. My premium kit came with; Camera body Neck strap 18-55mm lens 75-300mm lens Travel case One battery Battery charger I wasn’t sure what to get so I waited over 12 years before I got my camera stuff. Best Buy suggested the Nikon D7500 or the Nikon D3400. But both of those Nikon cameras were not in my budget. One of my sister in laws has the Canon EOS Rebel SL3. One of my friends from college has the Canon EOS Rebel T1. I don’t know much about my camera but I’m trying to learn.
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Thanks for the support everyone! You can find me and my stuff here:
👉 Instagram: instagram.com/jamespopsys
👉 Twitter: twitter.com/jamespopsys
👉 Presets, Prints & Books: www.jamespopsys.com/store
👉 Newsletter: www.jamespopsys.com/newsletter
I do not need it and won’t use the link but felt compelled to say thank you.
Which copyright course are you doing on skillshare?
@@Jonathankuchera I'd want James to check me on this, but I think he meant copywriting, not copyrighting.
ooh great! it worked, thank you!
Hi James, Nice video. Can you please share the link to the small storage pouch/sack?.
The most useful tools for outdoors photography are good shoes and a car ! A cheap camera and a good landscape are better than the best camera in a living room !
Yes, for some reasons my $6 000 camera gear hasn't created any good photos (not even a bad one) for the last couple of years just stuck in the camera bag.
Me i wanna go take photos. Jeeps gas tank. No!
@@jenstf I'm always happy to take it off your hands for free 🥺
@@giannimura8870 😂
I've told people who look at expensive cameras that they can nab an old Ricoh GR2 or X100T/F and take a trip to Europe with the money they've saved not getting something bleeding edge and come back with better pictures and experiences they'd have dreamed of.
As someone who is a bit further into my photography I will say that these tips would've been *really* useful for me when I started out!
I completely bought the most expensive camera bag the same week I got my first camera... but I have to say I really use it a lot so it wasn't a bad purchase.
Agree. I luckily did some things he covered, just jumped in to getting g somethings I should've waited on. Still liked the advice.
This is a great video for sure. I was really lucky when I started out to have a good mentor. He advised me to get a Sony a6000 with the 16-55 kit lens which was a great move. I used the kit lens long enough to work out that it was limiting me in low light and that variable aperture was very annoying for shooting in manual. I then bought the 18-105 F4 and a 35mm F1.8 (basically a nifty fifty because of the crop sensor) on a credit card just before my first paid photography gigs and I never looked back! Very much recommend the a6000 or a6100 to anybody starting out
The one tip I can share is to buy used or refurbished from a reputable company. What a cost savings and gives you more bang for your buck. 🥂
And if you don’t like it, you can usually recoup most of your money 🤙
I usually buy refurb I did all of my Nikon gear like that, then when I got my Canon 7Dmkii I did that too.
Now I'm shooting Sony with a a6600 I was going to get the A7iii but a deal on a open box a6600 came up for sale at $300.00 dollars off and I bought it, it was supposed to have minor scratches on it, I didn't see any, wear doesn't bother me, since they end up getting scratches and wear on them anyway.
@@bikecommuter24 I’ve yet to experience a refurbished or used that I opened the box and returned it because of poor quality. Again I buy through reputable dealers only. Merry Christmas.
@@DavidSenteno
Same here I usually use B&H or Adorama.
@@bikecommuter24 Yep. Two good ones.
As a professional photographer for 20 years, it’s great to see some well considered advice for those new to this world. I agree with everything that’s been said here!
Photography is something I’ve always had a passing interest in, my family always said I picked the more interesting photos ok holidays and the like. The sheer volume of “things” you can get for a camera is pretty intimidating tbh, never mind learning the various pros and cons of different lens types. It’s a real rabbit hole! My issue is I love my gadgets and fear once I fall into the rabbit hole it’ll be a financially painful experience lmao.
Don't make my mistake and fall into Astrophotography too, the rabbit hole yawns even wider when you start factoring in telescopes, mounts, and all the accessories for them ontop of the cameras XD
@Quiet Wanderer haha yeah I’ve already looked into stuff like that and decided my pockets weren’t deep enough for a lot of it! Some seriously cool tech there though.
@@timmy3822 a "Star Adventurer Mini", a decent tripod, and a intervolometer can go a long way towards making heaps of nice astro photos.
Admittedly Telescopes only really start to matter when you want to see smaller objects in the sky, moon close ups, or our local Planets, which is deffinitly the rabbit hole that ramps up cost the fastest
@@UNSCPILOT When it comes to hobbies you can be assured that I'll want to do something, that is without prior knowledge the most costly thing to get into. My parents both told me I needed to find a rich lass when I grew up lol. I wanted to be a pilot, I ride a motorcycle... I enjoy building high end PC's and have a "cockpit" set up of sorts for flying in DCS.
Honestly I think I'd be quite happy to start with just getting some decent imagery of the Moon and local planets. In terms of nebula etc I image that's where the massive money is, given how distant they are.
Just buy an old fuji xv100 and see how you like it before actually investing into photography. Also, think about what it is you really want to shoot. If you just want to be like every single photographer on youtube than go for landscapes and the occasional street shot. That style of photography is suppppperr over saturated with bigots and know it alls, but its hands down the easiest medium to shoot since you barely have to think about composition or anything really. Just go out on your backyard during blue or golden hour and snap away. People will suck you dry for basic photos like that. If you get into a unique shooting style (i.e. i shoot skateboarding and derby girls in b&w and if i do a traditional "shoot" i make my composition as abstract as and essentialy go against the grain of what a lot people have to say which in turn creates these photos that have so much depth and character and story) you will be 100x more satisfied from what you learn and produce. Id say instead of looking into cameras, look into the people behind them since that will help guide you towards what youd actually like to shoot. Also, dont let post editing intimidate you. Start simple with just lightroom and some presets and work your through the program. Learn it like the back of your hand and you will have so much fun with it. I keep reading all these cliche wishy-washy stories and makes me cringe so bad. The only tip you need as a beginner is dont be scared. Thats it. You will natrually learn the ins and outs and no matter how many videos like this are made no one can truly tell you what YOU would need. These kind of videos are cancerous honestly.
I would recommend - related to point 5, goals - to pick themes. Some subject that you enjoy shooting and can create a collection of, and that you keep adding to, over time.
This takes some pressure off of you of "having to" get photos with perfect composition, or lighting. As long as you've captured your theme, you feel like you've achieved something. After a while you can create screensavers, calendars, books, around them, which again makes you feel better.
Some themes really helped me remain motivated through the years and in bad photo conditions.
Not gonna lie, this makes me feel better about taking pictures of a lot of the same things on my photo walks.
@@alexandermuncey5409 A few assorted ones are "doors and windows" "reflected self portraits" "my flat in high contrast black & white" "regular patterns in modern architecture".
All (almost) completely independent of weather and lens!
I've collected a series of photos of wildlife, specifically birds!!!
Excellent advice. I love photographing tree trunks, I think they're all beautiful and there is so much texture to capture. I rarely come back from a photo walk without a tree trunk photo to add to my collection :)
For me, it’s lunar and evening/night photography. I’m a trucker and always seeing things in those guilt places recently left forgotten by people.
Started 8months ago with D50 kit lens and a 50mm nifty fifty all for around £120. Had great results. Getting a D7000 and a wide angle next for around £300. The main thing that helped 1 RUclips 2 your channel 3 always in my thoughts taking a photo about something not of something. Thanks james
Cheers Richard! So great to hear 👍🏻😃
Enjoy that d7000, tough little camera.
D7000 is a really great choice.. good luck
The tip you gave at the end about liking components of a photo even when you don't like the photo as a whole is great. We need to have a good balance between knowing what we are doing right and knowing that we still have so much to learn.
I can fully attest to the Creativity boost you get from limitations. When starting out in photography, i was using a borrowed 35mm film camera. and the only lens i had access to was a telephoto zoom lens. i HAD to get super far from my subject to take shots. it made my early portfolio very unique. most of my classmates had a 50mm, but i was stuck at like a minimum of 135. i don't exactly remember. but the limits forced me to be creative. Thanks for this solid info James.
There is a bunch of things I find that are super helpful. Particularly starting out.
- Prime lens cause they are usually smaller so it is not as awkward to quickly pull out your camera when you don't have a massive zoom lens on it.
- a messenger bag reduces the number steps to pull camera. It is surprising how much taking a backpack off your back discourages people from taking photos.
One thing that I have found out with photography that new photographers have to hear is just being in the right place at the right time! Most of it is honestly just luck! So don’t be discouraged if you haven’t been able to get any good shots. Once you get that ONE really good shot, you’ll be chasing that high again next time you go out!
I would add, move. Just move thru city thru random streets and go to random places, you will find a lot of interesting things
Couldn't agree more. I used to feel sorry for photographers with 'all the gear and no idea' being dropped off at roadside locations in beauty spots near where I used to live. They would invariably be shooting in poor light or nasty grey conditions and I would envisage them spending hours post visit trying to add drama in the editing process. At these same spots and those away from the roadside I have been fortunate to be driving by and having time to capture the most dramatic light or natural weather phenomena by being there at daybreak or just by chance through frequency of travel in the area. So luck, being in the right place at the right time far away from the cities is a tremendous advantage.
Definitely, although obviously there are ways to make your own luck and be able to capitalise on those "perfect shot situations" - like being better at composition to take full advantage of a scene, or not making a stupid mistake (such as messing up the crop, exposure, focus etc).
Ive been into photography for about 4 months now, shooting on my Dad's Fujifilm XT3 with two kit lenses. I've taken some shots I love - yet my best ever photo is still one I took on my phone of an absolutely crazy sunrise a few years ago😂. Yes, I made the effort to get up at about 4am and walk 4km to reach my shoot location - but at the end of the day most of the shot is down to luck
The need for a goal was a genius addition. And a completely essential thing that many tend to forget/neglect. It's so easy to become lost in one's creative journey if we don't have any milestones or measurable progress. Really good point there, Mr. Popsys.
I really like the calm atmosphere that you convey with your videos.. no music, just clear voice and a good vibe!
My suggestion, at least in my experience is to buy lenses for what you're trying to shoot most.
Macro primes - for shooting close up
Portrait primes - 35mm and 50mm
Other primes - higher than 50mm
Telephoto 55 - 200mm or higher
All in one lens 18 - 105mm or higher
Super wide angle primes - anything below 18mm and wide 18-28mm
I'm a Nikon guy, so I listed lenses with common focal lengths for this brand.
Also consider getting lens hoods, helps a lot with light distortions in highly lit up environments and a polarizer filter. You don't need all kinds of crazy filters, they're a waste of money. Most filters will slightly ruin your image, so get a good quality one to reduce it to a bare minimum.
I thought wide angle was anything below 35mm? Im new and a little confused by whats wide angle because everyone seems to use a different mm as what wide angle starts at
@@resevil2396 Sorry I was meant to say "super wide". 18 to let's say 28mm is pretty wide, and below that you're in super wide territory.
The prime lens is definitely a good lens to get. Before I got my camera, I thought that there was no way I was gonna spend money on a focal length I already have on the kit lens, but then I was asked to shoot photos at Christmas, inside, with kids running around. Obviously shooting fast moving objects in low light without getting blur is not an easy equation to solve. I ended up raising the ISO higher than anyone should feel comfortable and I got usable photos, but not ones you should look too closely. A week later, I got the prime lens.
Boredom is one of the reasons I tell people starting guitar to buy an electric. When you’re not able to play much, strumming the same few chords can get boring quickly. Keeping people interested when they’re still crap is the goal.
Another good tip for a beginner is not to ignore buying second hand gear. When looking for what James would consider the T swear word (tripod), I went for what would have been an expensive option if not for second hand. In all the camera (bodies, lenses, tripods and stuff) I have only bought one body new. All the second hand gear I bought them from reputable camera shops, both my local - an excellent and invaluable source of advice - and online would have been out of my price range.
Kit lenses with good ranges are an amazing thing, especially if you take pictures of the homies just being homies.
I still love my 50mm. It's cheap, sharp and the images look fantastic.
Nifty 50's are great if you want to try astrophotography too, step it down a stop or two and you can get amazing pictures of space with some trial error, and lots of RUclips tutorials
@@UNSCPILOT Really 🤔? What about f-stop? What would you recommend for astrophotography?
@@Xgil2Play lower F-stop is better obviously, ie F/1.8, but you may need to stop it down as much as F/4 to get proper sharpness across the image.
I'm just a noobie myself though so looking up some "DSLR Astrophotography" videos is probably good be a good bet
What got me into photography was making prints from negatives in the darkroom. Truly an amazing process
Great video. One thing that I think is absolutely critical when considering a camera is comfort. Does it fit well in your hand? Is it too heavy? Are the buttons easy to get to? There have been a few cameras that I did NOT purchase because they failed in one or more of the above criteria.
Absolutely. You need to hold the camera before you buy it. People's hands aren't all the same size and some people are much more sensitive to camera weight than others. Caveat: less of an issue if you're mainly interested in tripod work.
Thanks James. For my camera bag in a camera bag I started using either a soft sided lunch bag with a zipper lid and I am also using an old shaving kit bag both of which I found laying around the house. Nobody guesses you are carrying around some expensive equipment and fits easily in my back pack.
Enjoy being a new dad.
I've really enjoyed watching your videos! You're delivery method and confidence in sharing "outtakes" throughout your videos just make them feel more authentic and genuine. I feel like we could have a great conversation over a pint.
I was a new photographer forty five years ago. I pretty much followed your five steps. I’m stuck on step five, setting goals as my goalposts seem to keep shifting. Super content as always. I haven’t got my print framed yet as the frame I wanted is out of stock until the new year. Best to you and Emily.
Thanks so much Mate! Much appreciated!
A lot of my early photography was connected with walking so my preferred camera carrying method was a holster carried over the shoulder. It was instantly accessible, protected the camera and had room for the basic accesories like lens cloth, battery & memory card. They don't seem fashionable any more but I still use one in combination with a dedicated bag for extra lenses, tripod (sorry I swore) and filter system. I do believe that always having the camera accessible is really important.
My beginners camera was the Panasonic Fz2500 bridge - fixed zoom lens - Leica f 2.8~4.5, 24~480mm, flip out touch monitor that's fully integrated with the menu & camera. Just like a DSLR in many technical ways but it's most endearing feature being . . . FUN factor ! & ease of use in one package - grab and go ! By the time I was ready to move on to the G9, I had a pretty good understanding of the new camera's operation.
Thank you so much for not putting down beginners! Ive been watching a lot of beginer videos, and all of them have been putting their beginner photography down so hard, and i know its just cause theyve learned, but as a beginner seeing these beautiful photos their ridiculing while i compare them to my own. it just makes me feel so unmotivated. So thank you for not being like that, and focusing more on the fun of the hobby! Youve for sure helped me 💚
As a newbie in photography this is the best video I have seen
The first lens I'm buying is a fisheye 🤙 skate photography is going to be my jam. Camera is coming today, finally!
May I also suggest vintage lenses? They’re super cheap and helps understand different lenses.
Having a micro 4/3 sensor changes the focal lengths a lot in older lenses. I wish I had chosen the dslr version of my cannon instead of the mirrorless to keep more of my vintage lenses useable.
@@b1991romaz91 I'm sure there are adapters available for the mirrorless camera
@@Faizan_Shaikh there are speedbooster adapters that convert the lenses down to a very similar focal length equivalent. However the extra glass can cause more glare spots from light source, amongst other issues. They also tend to be double or triple the price of a full frame adapter. Its not all bad, but just an extra thing to consider when you're buying a camera to use with vintage glass.
@@b1991romaz91 Most old lenses are 35mm, even on APS-C sensors they are perfectly usable. A 50mm full frame ends up being 30mm.
Y’know, sometimes (often) I find myself skipping through the beginning banter of videos like this, But man, you’re just a charming dude, idk how else to put it. Very natural on camera presence, I could watch it all day. First camera/photography channel I’ve subscribed to. Great stuff man :)
It's incredible how toxic social media can be for the people that actually love to create and share. Photography and the tips you shared can help you learn how to be enough for yourself.
Learning how to receive feedback and grow from it takes a lot of time: don't rush it.
I'd also like to share that getting the 50mm prime as my first non-kit lens helped me really enjoy photography. The kit lens on the A7II is slow and soft, and seeing that I could achieve that depth of field with the 1.8 aperture really woke something in me. I'd almost recommend to buy the body only, a used 50mm lens, then get a used zoom lens as soon as you feel that your feet can't zoom in or out enough in the situations where you take the most pictures.
Thanks for the video.
I actually put my camera away as a beginner because of the relationship I was in. I had no motivation to do anything. Now I live in a different area, in a much better relationship, we both want to get into photography and I can't wait to get a new camera to finally get back into all this again.
I relate to this comment so glad you’re able to be more motivated than before
I bought one of those Crumpler inserts from B&H (an experience in itself!) years ago on a trip to NY. It's an incredibly useful little bag for turning any bag into a camera bag. Nice and stealthy way to carry a camera.
I also tried them but went for Tenba wraps because the inserts takes too much place in a bag while the wrap is flat
I think you also forgot to mention the price of the 50mm being another reason for that to be your first lens to buy!
Also - extra batteries and memory cards!
Love my nifty 50 to bits, so much more fun than the basic 18-55 kitlens, looking to get the EF-S 24mm f2.8 to partner with it for wider angle shots, especially for Astrophotography which is what lured me into getting a camera to begin with
I've been doing photography for a year, and I'm currently in a photography class in high school (I'm 17). My teacher makes us do "concentrations", where we take photos on a different subject each week. This really helps expand me expand my horizons and gain experience in all sorts of different styles. Otherwise I'd always just take pictures of animals and not try other things.
Those clips are GREAT! I shoot so much more now that I have one. It lets me comfortably carry camera at the ready in all sorts of circumstances from urban street to action on skis or hikes. I keep the strap so when camera in my hands it is still safe from drops. The clip just keeps camera stowed and ready to draw in a way that doesn't flop around when I'm moving. HIGHLY endorse the clip.
This is a great video for relieving gear anxiety. The fact that sticking to specific focal length within a compact zoom is still a good option when starting out (I got a lx100ii second hand but have been giving side eyes at a second hand gx9, and I think I should leave that well alone for a good year).
Why not paint your wall chroma-key green and project a nice Wales landscape behind you when weather is preventing you from filming outside? ;-D
I like your thinking 😂
Or get a green screen to roll up on those bad weather days when you wanted to be out. Keep the present wall as is, like it as an alternative "moody ina good way" color
I love my kit lens that came with my Canon Dslr. I only use two lenses, Canon EFS 18 to 55mm kit zoom and used Tamron EF 70 to 200mm Zoom. I enjoy my photography, because my expectations aren't thru the roof, what I photograph and how I do it isn't based on some one else's opinion or judgements or so called expertise. You don't have to spend a ton of money to enjoy photography on stuff you don't need, enjoy photography your own way, no matter what gear you have (or paid fot it).
Thanks, James. I think you might be able to expand “creamy bokeh” into its own video.
Great advice for beginners. I upgraded my bag and got a peak design clip and it has really made a world of difference for my photo-taking experience because it typically involves hiking.
Now choosing candles that remind us of our favorite movies is an innovative thing. Now I’m going to be browsing the candle section of stores smelling candles and thinking: “Does this smell like Luke’s X-wing?” Or “It says ‘leather’, but I’m thinking it’s Indiana Jones’ briefcase”.
An intelligent primer for the photography beginner, concisely presented with a touch of humor. And nice lighting on the video.
i have only watched the first couple of minutes of the video so far and im going to go out on a limb and say "No tripods were mentioned in the making of this video"
After forty years in the hobby, I'm still wedded to film, specifically black and white. I started out with a 35mm slr and a few lenses, all primes. I quickly realized that I valued mobility and switched to fixed lens rangefinder cameras for about 3 decades. But now I came back to slr photography, but this time in 6x4.5 medium format. Still use prime lenses even though zooms are available for my camera. I have a kit which contains only two lenses, a 55mm and a 150mm. That's a moderate wide angle which suffices for most situations, and a moderate telephoto for the rest. My bag contains filters and various adapters and specialized accessories suited to my specific needs. There's everything I need and nothing I don't. It is lightweight for a medium format kit. it's taken years to learn that a sturdy tripod and the right filters or other accessories may prove far more valuable than the costliest camera or the fastest, costly lenses. Film or digital, a decent camera that matches your needs along with a couple lenses will do. Just don't keep buying the same camera, maybe with minor improvements, over and over again. Simplify. Save the extra money for travel.
Good tips, especially the part about the bag, you wouldn't believe the number of shots I have missed due to not having the camera easily accessible, next stage, get a flash, unless you decide on landscape, learning lighting is also fun, off camera flash, backlighting, HSS and so on.
For a strap I recommend peak design as per the video with the quick release pegs, they have become somewhat iconic.
My wife and I joined a local camera club. It has been a great motivator. We’ve been able to continue with our monthly meetings through the internet during the lock downs. Our board has been very creative. We’ve even had guest instructors.
I started out with a camera and 2 kit lenses, 18-55 and 75-300, they were actually pretty good lenses considering. I then pretty quickly got a 50 and I’ve since sold my kit lenses for upgrades, 12-24 and 70-200. Still got my original camera body. And I just use a backpack, the bottom of it is designed for cameras etc and the top is just a normal backpack, would definitely recommend
Also I think it's a great to get vintage lenses from back when cameras used film. Especially when owning a mirrorless camera adapters are abundant and cheap, and so are the lenses. You can get a Helios 44-4 50mm with amazing and unique bokeh for around 50 bucks depending on where you live.
It lacks auto focus, however this could also be considered a challenge to make you better at photography in general.
I looked up prime lenses for the Sony E mount and they are quite expensive, very few options below $200 when used however all 3 of my vintage lenses combined cost about $200 and I got a 50mm f2 prime, 135mm f3,5 prime and a 35-70mm f3,5, which lets me try out a lot of different lenses without spending significant amounts. On top of that, since these lenses are old, they really don't loose any value unless damaged, so if you don't like one, chance are you can just sell it to someone else without loosing money. Give vintage lenses a try, they're insanely good for how little you have to spend
Great video!
As to goals, I think the first thing would be, "Did I have an enjoyable time or at least a moment?" Much like your fishing example, if you have a bad time at it, not much of a hobby. Second thing, did I do something new or learn or apply something with a modicum of success? Along that last line, did I achieve what I was attempting? Hitting any of those can make the time spent worthwhile, the more the better. The goal is always to please yourself with the results of your efforts.
...forgot to mention last week that I like your green wall...i can see the colour & it looks very opulent. Looks a good set-up to me.
My first dslr was a 6 megapixel, 17 year-old D70 and I don’t regret it since it was easy too use and develop my skill. I paired it with a 18-55.
What’s the name of the bag?
I have to say that this video was exceptionally nice to watch. The sound, the look, the atmosphere and the down to earth feeling youre giving me. Its just not like youre trying to force your knowledge onto me and instead somehow feels like you are telling a Story. Incredibly catchy and calming :)
Lots of great ideas in this video not only for a new photographer, but for someone who has been doing photography for a while.
For the camera bag all you need is a binoculars carry bag, sling it over your shoulder so it's always on hand, it's padded and the right size and its cheap as chips
Hi James. As a total newbie on a fixed income, I am very limited on price. £500 for a lens is a none starter. My best tip for newbies is to buy used stuff (eBay charity shops). I bought my camera bag (hand stitched, leather case with straps and compartments), for £30. I have subscribed to your channel as you seem to live in the real world. I spent weeks trying to decide between the Sony ZV e10 and the Sony ZV1. You tube led me to the Nikon D4 and I could not be happier. Best wishes from Manchester.
The use of the candle in the narrative of the video is underrated.
So I guess I'm not the only one one who consciously noticed that.
@@MajorMiningManMC Yep.
Got a few cameras, compact, DSLR, and film, but buying a Sony a350 body to reuse my Minolta AF lenses has really created my favourite combination for landscape photography. The body cost me £67. I love it and trust it to deliver great images at 14.2mp. Confidence in your gear is the best advice. Cool video!
I'd really insist on people getting an interchange-able lens camera. I find it's EXTREMELY useful for understanding the exposure triangle, experimenting with different lens focal lengths, qualities, aperture (that you won't get from a fixed lens camera).
Also, prime lenses were absolute GOLD for me. The old 100$ 2nd-hand 35 mm f1.8 taught me so much, having to move closer / further to my subject, taught me so much attention to framing and compositon, as well as what a 1.8 can do was amazing for me. I absolutely loathed how careless I had been until then with the kit 18-105 :)
P.S. Does anyone else feel gear has gotten ridiculously expensive lately compaired to the "good old days"? Just me...?
Love how down to earth you are at times keep up the good work James
I am not new to photography, have been doing it all my life...general nature, landscape, some wildlife. This older video popped up and RUclips so I watched. I think you gave great advice regarding kit lens and primes. I have been watching your other videos and really enjoy your combining mans structure in the environment. Love your simplicity of not letting a ton of gear burden you down and the simplicity of one lens. How in the hell you don't go bankrupt buying all those cameras has me perplexed, but please keep doing those great videos with your flare for wit. That is missing from RUclipsrs here in the states.
Always a refreshing way to start my Saturdays. Stay warm, James. Rock on!
"Using a prime forces you to be creative." A millions times this!
"zoom with your feet" lol, I love that
Smashed the like button as soon as you moved the candle 2 inches into the frame 🤣
😂😂
3:44 I find that limiting my aspect ratio is another great tool. Nothing says think about what you're doing like 1x1 or 16x9
Going to try this! Thanks 👍🙂
@@matthewmartin8726 Absolutely. It's a great way to create a theme as well. EG: Shoot 10 woodland scenes or abandoned buildings and cars, etc in 1x1 and when you're done everything fits together. Next trick is to print a Walgreens photo book every year of last years images :)
00:24 nah that candle be haunted
Thanks for this one! Your vid on what not to buy was hugely helpful! I love gear and it would have been so easy to fall into the trap of stuff that would have been beyond my skill level to make any meaningful use of. Plus waiting to figure out what I enjoy most has saved me a bunch too. I think the biggest thing I've learnt from you James is you try to take pictures about something, rather than just off. Not always possible, but really helps with the frame of mind and to think about my compositions! Cheers mate!
I gotta say I really love the light you have behind your head
ok, i really need to stop having my saturday morn coffee while watching your vids! when you said "the first thing.... camera..." There is so much coffee in my sinus cavity now.... damnit! lol
Me too! Great fun. He should also consider his better half.
Oh I sure do hope your sinus cavity has recovered by now. 🤣
When you start out with the kit lens, you have an excellent lens for social occations. Which should keep the interest going.
Gott the cuff and slide strap, the cuff definitely helped me use my camera more and also getting a good prime helped
Good video overall. I would suggest to anyone starting out to be sure they buy an extra battery and an extra memory card. They can save the day if you have them when you need them.
When I started out I hadn't realised I'd spend at least as long indoors picking the keepers & editing as I do out shooting. A creative, but frustrating fact given that photography was supposed to be getting me out more!
That's for this video ❤.
I am about to buy my first camera ever,, a 2006 Canon Rebel XTi and let me tell you, I am into DJing, music production, video editing, cooking and skateboarding and buying a camera is by far the hardest thing to understand my a mile. I have absolutely hammered Google/RUclips for weeks now. Oh and the most expensive. How can an entry level camera from 20 years ago still be so expensive lol
The last tip is the MOST useful tip i heard
It really did step up my photography game w it
I have to say, I truly enjoy your videos, very clever and funny. No matter the content, I have appreciated the craftsmanship of every one I’ve seen since discovering the channel a few weeks ago. Thanks!
I just got my A7 IV today. Prior to that I was an iPhone photographer, multiple lenses and all. What an upgrade!
The the most important thing for any beginner photographer is to only buy lenses with the red line around them.
I did got my first camera Panasonic LUMIX G DMC-G81 + 12-60mm + 75-300 + 2 Prime, i am happy with it
This is the first video I've seen of yours, and while you didn't seem keen to make it, I'm glad you did. You're funny and informative. Subscribed!
You seem very genuine, it comes across in your videos. Thank you for making this!
I'm watching this at 11 pm and your voice is lowkey soothing with headphones on
I'm getting a zoom lens. Nothing particularly expensive but one of the things I've been finding is struggling to get close enough to subjects I like. Times like where the only way to get closer would be to float in the river or lake, or to walk off the edge of whatever I'm on.
???????? My favourite landscape lens is not a wide-angle, but a telephoto. Having a lens capable of doing tele is vital to isolate distant subjects, and you can produce very beautiful images with them. It's also much easier to compose than with a wide-angle lens. Most of the time I go out with a standard zoom and a telephoto, or with a superzoom. My wide-angle usually stays at home.
For M43, I suggest the 40-150 f4-5.6. Small, light, cheap ($100) and makes decent images. Not fast, not weather sealed, but I have one and it is a decent starting point for building a cheap kit. Then you can fill out some primes, as you develop a sense of which focal length(s) to jump on.
Another storage that I've come to love is from Chrome Industries which I encountered while going on with cycling. They mostly make messenger and slings with a seatbelt quick release.
They also make camera sling bags, which caught my interest.
this is the first video I've ever found of you on the internet. literally, i've never seen you before. that opening is more than enough for me to be a lifetime follower. holy hell i couldn't stop laughing for so me reason.
Great video! I went into viewing this video with the mindset of being a beginner who just bought their first camera and it is greatly accurate. Also, i go by the same goal, each time I am out I wont come home until I have atleast 1 keeper. Have to set goals
Thumb up just for the home alone candle 😅 you are a son of the 80s
first video ive seen from this guy, i love him. his humor is great
Wish I’d watched this last month when I ventured into photography.
I am gong to sort of disagree with some of this. No, I wouldn't recommend buying a compact camera, in 2021. They are ok image quality wise but they do very little to help you learn photography and you will probably want to get a mirrorless or dslr soon after, I would just say it is a waste of money.
I would also say research the camera and manufacturer you are going to buy. You don't need to buy the most expensive camera on the market or even get a new camera but you want to buy something that you can eventually upgrade from. I agree that megapixels and dynamic range are not a big thing.
Lenses, I don't necessarily agree in getting a 50mm as your second lens. I bought a 50mm early on and I can honestly say after 20 years, it is the focal length I use the least. Use your kit lens for a while then look at what kinds of photography you are doing and the focal length you regularly prefer.
Camera bag. You can easily find a good second hand camera bag online you don't have to pay the earth and often when companies are introducing newer bags, there will be deals on old bags. I have camera bags which I bought for £1.99 second hand in 2006 that I still use today and bags which should have cost £60 that I got for £20 brand new by looking around. Also there are some manufacturers who make really good bags but you because they are not as well known you can pick up their bag cheaper. I have a ton of Tenba bags, they are a great company and I have bought a lot of bags for half price.
Strap, if you are carrying your camera every day and the strap is putting pressure on your shoulders and neck, then it maybe worth updating, otherwise I would say there are more important things to buy.
Card. Nothing too expensive. I probably would recommend 32gig card, make sure they fit the camera you buy.
I bought my first camera today. I'm super excited, but also apprehensive about maybe not being very good. Your video was really helpful & calming. I like your personality >,
He was so excited and happy about that candle at first 😂😂
On M4/3 I started out with vintage lenses, to better learn about depth of field with fast lenses from the past. Of course, I paired this with a decent focal reducer...not the best in the business...but a decent one for about $70-100 bucks. In is important to start with a focal reducer with a conversion mount that manages a broad vintage choice. To start, I went with the M42 mount to M4/3. With this mount, I was able to use lenses from Pentax (Super Takumar), Industar, Helios, Jupiter. A decent 28mm/f2.8 will run about $50. For M4/3, this will have a full frame equivalent focal length of (2x28mm)x.72 = 40mm (for street shooting, landscapes). The full frame nifty-50 vintage on M4/3: (2x50mm)x.72 = 72mm (decent for portraits). 50/1.8's stopped down to 2 or 2.8 tend to get pretty sharp from the greats (Canon, Pentax Tak, Konica Hexanon, Nikon Nikkor, etc.). The Helios 58/2 produces incredible bokeh, with a swirly effect.
Over the last 10 years I moved to even faster vintage lenses (28/2, 50/1.2, loads of 50/1.4, 85/2, etc.). Unfortunately, these deals are getting rarer and the prices have crept upwards over the last 4 years. Nevertheless, finding local deals (estate sales, garage sales, flea markets) is a fun way to discover hidden gems on the cheap. Sometimes, they are paired with an old SLR or rangefinder...where the gem of a lens is hidden within an old camera deal.
Always take care to look at the lens quality. Is there excessive oil on the diaphragm blades; do they operate across their specified range. Does the focusing mechanism work or need to be cleaned/greased? Is the glass clean, uncloudy, and clear of fungus (shine a flashlight through the rear of the lens to expose fungus, which can impact photo quality). Take care to inspect the lens for scratches, especially deep scratches. Scratches on the rear of the lens element are the most problematic. A damaged lens on the cheap is still a damaged lens. Some fungus cannot be corrected with a full breakdown/cleaning, if the coatings have been permanently etched by the fugus itself.
Just my two-cents as an amateur shooter.
The things that I advise when asked for advice about buying a first camera are ...
1) Buy secondhand (ideally with interchangeable lens mount, but a mid range point and shoot will do)
2) Don't listen to RUclipsrs like Tony Northrup
3) Use the kit lens / zoom to get an idea of the various focal lengths and their effect on shots, and then buy prime / fixed lenses.
4) Don't buy a thief attracting dedicated camera bag, when a cheap canvas bag with seperate padded insert will do the job just as well.
5) Don't misuse the word bokeh (like most RUclipsrs) ... Yes you James Popsys
6) Take a camera out with you, and shoot as much as possible.
7) Try to get things right in camera to avoid over processing of images.
8) Take RUclipsrs advice with a pinch of salt.
9) Don't listen to criticism of your work if the critic can't use a camera and back up what they say.
10) Get out, shoot as much as possible and enjoy your new hobby .... It's good for mind and soul.
Huh... I just realised that the part about having a goal is exactly what has made me get in to photography. My goal when I got my (very first) camera last year was that I wanted to take photos of my favourite singer at his concerts. I knew absolutely NOTHING about cameras so I just plunged right in... and realised that I actually had to learn how to use it in order to be able to get those photos. So, I had about four months before the concert and I set about learning about ISO, aperture, shutterspeed and all that... But never managed to specify how to get good photos at concerts in particular so it ended as something of a failure. But! I did find that I really loved going out and practice with my camera. And I got tickets for the next concert so I was now better prepared for taking awsome pictures the second time around! ... but covid... so the concert is postponed... Well. Got more time to practice I guess. And that is not a hardship.
Another great and inspirational video James! For a moment I thought that was a G80 until I saw those three buttons lined up haha! I had my G80 now for 7 months and love it more and more every day :)
I got the G85 with the 12-60 kit lens and very happy. Great video and commentary.
I’m new to the whole camera and photography. I had some digital camera in the past but it’s been a long time.
My budget was $1,000. My mom has the same camera set up I bought. I got my setup for $752 at Best Buy.
I got the Canon EOS Rebel T7 premium kit with a 2 year warranty and a 256gb SD card.
My premium kit came with;
Camera body
Neck strap
18-55mm lens
75-300mm lens
Travel case
One battery
Battery charger
I wasn’t sure what to get so I waited over 12 years before I got my camera stuff. Best Buy suggested the Nikon D7500 or the Nikon D3400. But both of those Nikon cameras were not in my budget.
One of my sister in laws has the Canon EOS Rebel SL3. One of my friends from college has the Canon EOS Rebel T1.
I don’t know much about my camera but I’m trying to learn.