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As a new photographer you’re probably wondering what type of beginner photography equipment you need to get started in the photography hobby/profession. With such a wide assortment of cameras, lenses and accessories it can be very overwhelming.

This page will help you understand what you really need as a beginner photography gera. We know that you don’t want to spend thousands of dollars to get started in photography, so we’ve put together a list of essentials you need to get started.

1) Camera with Kit Lens

We suggest that the first beginner photography equipment you buy is a camera that comes with a kit lens.

A dslr camera is made up of two parts, a camera body and a lens. You can buy these parts separately. To make it easy for aspiring photographers to get into the field most manufacturers offer a camera with a kit lens so the person can get started taking photos right away. As a beginner you wouldn’t know what type of lens to buy first, so they throw a standard lens like an 18mm-55mm into a package deal.

Your beginning photography gear should include a 18mm-55mm lens because it so very universal. You can shoot wide shots and close up shots with this lens.

Here are the best camera kits for you to choose from:

• Nikon D3100 14.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens
  Features:14.2-megapixel DX-format CMOS Image Sensor, Full 1080p HD Cinematic Video, Easy-To-Use, Compact and Lightweight Design, Split-second Shutter Response, Fast 11-point Autofocus System, ISO sensitivity 100-3200, expandable to ISO 12800 equivalent, ISO sensitivity 100-3200, expandable to ISO 12800 equivalent, 3-inch monitor, Scene Auto Selector, Scene Recognition System in Live View, 6 Automatic Exposure Scene Modes, Active D-Lighting
• Canon EOS Rebel T2i 18 MP CMOS APS-C Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens
  Features: 18.0-megapixel CMOS (APS-C) sensor and DIGIC 4 Image Processor, DIGIC 4 Image Processor, ISO 100-6400 (expandable to 12800), Improved EOS Movie mode with manual exposure control, Enhanced 63-zone, Dual-layer metering system, and 9-point AF system, Wide 3.0-inch (3:2 aspect ratio) Clear View LCD monitor, Wide 3.0-inch (3:2 aspect ratio) Clear View LCD monitor, Improved layout with dedicated Live View/Movie shooting button, 3.7fps continuous shooting up to approximately 34 JPEGs or approximately 6 RAW, New compatibility with SDXC memory cards
• Pentax K-r 12.4 MP Digital SLR Camera with 3.0-Inch LCD and 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens
  Features: High-quality, true-to-life image reproduction, Compact, lightweight body, Compact, lightweight body, High-precision AF system, Bright, clear optical viewfinder, Large, easy-to-view 3-inch LCD monitor with wide-view design, Versatile dual-power-source design, Pentax-original Shake Reduction mechanism for sharp, blur-free images, Auto Align function, High-speed infrared data transmission system, High-quality, HDTV-proportion movie recording at 1280 x 720 pixels and at 25 frames per second

2) Lenses

If you followed our recommendation above you went ahead and purchased a camera with a kit lens. That’s great! The first problem you’ll find yourself running into is the limited zoom capability of the kit lens.

So, our second recommendation for beginner photography equipment is to purchase a telephoto lens. This is a standard lens that belongs in every beginner photography gear. You should buy one so you can get those really far away shots.

Here are the best telephoto lenses we recommend for beginners:

• Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR [Vibration Reduction] Nikkor Zoom Lens
  Features: Super-integrated coating minimizes ghosting and flare for more vivid images in dim lighting, Silent Wave Motor produces quick and quiet high-speed autofocusing, weighs 9 ounces
• Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Telephoto Zoom Lens
  Features: Improved mechanism makes zooming smoother, 4.9-foot closest focusing distance, 32- to 8-degree diagonal angle of view, weighs 16.8 ounces
• Pentax: Tamron AF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 Di LD Macro Zoom Lens
  Features: Low Dispersion (LD) Glass for Greater Lens Sharpness, compact, light-weight, ultra-tele zoom, superb macro capability with a magnification of 1:2 enabling 1/2 life-size close-up shots, weighs 0.43 Kilograms

3) Tripod

Every photographer has to have a tripod. As a beginner photographer you may think that you can shoot all of your shots hand-held, but you’ll be surprised how often you wish you had a tripod on hand.

There are many situations where you want to achieve a large depth of field, like in landscape photography, or capturing a night shot, or close up of a flower. These types of shots require a steady camera and/or long shutter speeds and the only way to achieve quality photos is by using a tripod.

But don’t worry. We’ll make it easy for you decide on which tripod to get as beginner photography equipment.

The single best and cheapest tripod for beginners:

• Dolica AX620B100 62-Inch Proline Tripod and Ball Head
  Features: Rapid stabile center column, Reversible locking center column, Durable flip leg locks, Non slip rubber feet with retractable spike, Closed cell NBR grips, Integrated tripod bubble level and compass, 3-position leg angle adjustment locks, Counter weight hook

4) Accessories

Camera Bag – You have to have something to carry your photography equipment and gear in.

• Apecase Messenger-Style Digital Slr Camera Case

UV Filter – Essential accessory. Protects your lenses from getting scratched, reduces uv rays and bluish tints.

• Nikon: Tiffen 52mm UV Protection Filter
• Canon: Tiffen 58mm UV Protection Filter
• Pentax: Sigma DG 52mm Multi-Coated UV Filter

Remote Shutter Release – Allows you to snap photos without touching the camera. Great for group shots and use with a tripod.

• Nikon ML-L3 Wireless Remote Control
• Canon RC-6 Wireless Remote Controller
• Pentax Remote Control

5) Books

While not considered beginner photography equipment per se, as a beginner photographer there are several books you should have on your shelf. These books will teach you everything you need to know to becoming a better photographer and come recommend by us and most photographers.

Each link below contains a full review of the book.

• Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson
• Understanding Photography Field Guide by Bryan Peterson
• The Photographer’s Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos by Michael Freeman
• The Complete Photographer By Tom Ang

We hope this list of beginner photography gear has helped you to know what type of equipment you should star with as a beginning photographer.