Equipment Guide

Do I Have the Right Equipment? The short answer is: probably yes.

The photography industry has a vested interest in convincing you that better equipment makes better photographs. It doesn't — at least not in the way that matters. What makes a better photograph is a more intentional photographer. The guide below is designed to help you work out whether what you already own is enough to get started, and what — if anything — you might want to consider adding over time.

What do I actually need?

At its most fundamental, you need a camera that allows you to make conscious creative decisions about three things: aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.

These three variables control how light is captured and interpreted by your camera, and understanding how to use them deliberately — rather than letting the camera decide for you — is the foundation of intentional photography.

If your camera allows you to control all three independently, you have everything you need to begin.

Does my camera qualify?

  • This is usually marked as M on the mode dial.

    If yes, you have full creative control and you're ready to go.

  • These will usually be marked as A or Av and S or Tv respectively on the mode dial.

    If yes, you have sufficient control to learn with, even if full manual feels daunting at first.

  • If yes, you can control your camera's sensitivity to light — an essential creative tool.

  • Interchangeable lenses are useful but not essential at the beginning.

    A camera with a fixed lens or a versatile zoom is perfectly adequate for developing your practice.

If you answered yes to the first three questions, your camera is ready. The brand, the age, the number of megapixels, and the price you paid for it are irrelevant.

What cameras does this include?

A camera is a tool, a means to an end, and what is the best choice for one person, might be the worst for another. Any of the following will serve you well to start with at least:

  • The traditional choice, robust and widely available second-hand at very reasonable prices. Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Pentax, and Sony all make excellent options across a wide price range.

  • Lighter and increasingly the current standard. Again, all major manufacturers offer strong options at every price point.

  • Don't overlook cameras that are five, ten, or even fifteen years old. A well-maintained DSLR from 2010 is entirely capable of producing outstanding images in the hands of a thoughtful photographer.

  • Fixed-lens cameras with a long zoom range and full manual control. A legitimate and practical option, particularly if portability matters to you.

What about megapixels, sensor size, and all the rest?

These things matter — eventually, and in specific contexts. For learning, for personal projects, and for most practical purposes, they don't.

A 12-megapixel image from a decade-old camera is more than sufficient for prints up to A2 and beyond. Sensor size affects how a camera handles low light and depth of field, but these are refinements rather than fundamentals.

If someone tells you that you need a full-frame sensor to take photography seriously, they are mistaken.

What about film cameras?

Analogue photography is experiencing a genuine and deserved revival. Shooting on film is inherently more deliberate — you have a finite number of frames, no instant review, and a direct relationship between your decisions and the resulting image that digital photography can obscure. For developing intentionality, it is arguably the most effective tool there is.

If you shoot film, or are curious about it, you are very welcome. A session on analogue photography and home developing is in development — register your interest via the contact page.

What about smartphones?

Modern smartphones are remarkable photographic tools — genuinely capable of producing outstanding images, and increasingly used by professional photographers for personal and editorial work.

For learning composition, light, and the instincts of seeing, a smartphone is entirely valid. Its limitations — less control over depth of field, reduced performance in very low light — are also useful teachers.

A dedicated smartphone photography session is in development — register your interest via the contact page.

I'm still not sure — can I just ask? Yes. Get in touch via the contact page and describe what you have. I'll give you an honest answer.