I want to learn how to take nice photographs.
I will give myself a budget, set some practical goals and dedicate some time every day to the craft to test the waters. I think I can get set up with great, gently used stuff for less than $500.
I want to find out whether I’m really into photography before spending a lot of money on it. At the same time, I want to secure reasonable equipment for a beginner that will last me if I decide I’m in.
I want to produce prints. I also want to feature my own photos on this blog.
I like analog objects, and eventually want to work with film sometimes. But I think I should start with an older DSLR from an established brand like Canon or Nikon with a large resale market. Something I can take a million photos on before I actually start developing prints.
Below the fold is raw notes as I think through what I’ll do.
Early Subjects:
- San Francisco landscape and architecture
- Home cooking
I’d like to publish 3-5 digital photos a week. It would be cool to exhibit a few prints in a casual way at home in a few months.
Costs:
Camera – $150 - $300
When Canon introduced their the EOS D30 in 2001, it offered 3 megapixels and a 1.8in screen.
The “entry level” EOS R100, set to drop May 24th, is a 24MP DSLR with 4K digital video capture. Things are crazy powerful these days, and the screens are much bigger too - this one boasts a 3in touchscreen.
The R100 is a “mirrorless” DSLR, which means you see a digital image in the viewfinder. I don’t love that disintermediation.
I don’t need to go to the bleeding edge.
Something like the Canon EOS 40D (2008) can be had for less than $100, with more than 10MP and a 6.3FPS burst capture. Might this be a sweet spot? Or is it worth opting for a newer model with, like, wifi and other quality of life stuff.
I want to check out Fireside Camera in the Marina, see what kind of used stuff they got and what they’d recommend.
Lens
There are a lot of lens options.
Something like the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM Autofocus APS-C Lens would be allow me to cover both landscape and portrait frames in one ~$70 package. I think prime lenses are cool and appreciate their small form factor; I will probably want to spend ~$200 on, say, the 24mm and 50mm lenses at some point.
Education
I can learn from free resources on the internet to get started:
- my camera’s manual
- community user guides
- Find a local photography class:
- Talk to my friends / go take photos with them
- Jonathon
- Kenny
- Sam
- Go to the library and check out their books.
Kit, Cables, Carry – $150
- USB-C -> USB dongle: do I have one of these?
- An everyday bag – like the Peak Design Field Pouch
- A strap – like the Peak Design Leash, or perhaps a clip, but despite their benefits I think they look kinda dorky.
Film – $0 at first
At first I’ll just shoot digital, probably.
At some point I want to get a film camera and shoot lots of film.
Software
Getting started, I’ll probably stick with the GIMP for free.