Affordable Camera Gear for the Aspiring Professional
Find links to products below the Top 13 list…
1. Canon T3i DSLR Camera $620 or $950 w/ 18-135 lens
Advanced features, Quality LCD – Awesome video – Flip screen – Will hold you until you go pro
2. Canon 18-135 IS Lens $325
Sharp images – Versatile zoom – Rated best all-around lens – Don’t get 18-55 + 55 – 250 – too much changing! Check kenrockwell.com review and others – This lens rocks!
3. Canon 50mm 1.8 Prime Lens $110
The bokeh is incredible and at this low price, you need it as your second lens
4. Transcend Class 10 SD Cards $9 – 8gb or $17 – 16 gb
You need class 10 fast storage for quick saves and video – Rated very high and a bargain!
5. Zeikos Medium Bag $8
This is nice and a bargain when you don’t want to haul around the kitchen sink
6. Pick a tripod, (or two): About $55
A. Sunpak 6600 PG 65″ Pistol Grip Ballhead Tripod $40- This is tall enough and has it all for a great price..Normally $60!
B. Manfrotto compact ballhead 65″ Tripod $53 – Fits in a backpack – Best compact fullsize tripod for travel
C. Sunpak Pistol Grip Ballhead- $29 Add this to an existing tripod with a removable head – Just squeeze and lock into place
7. Reflector: 43″ 5-in-1 for $18
Bounce the light where you need it to fill in your shadows. Good quality and a great price
8. YN-560 Flash – $70
This gets my Best Deal Award!
90% powerful as $500 bad boys. Has all the features: Pivot, bounce, rotate, bounce card, diffusers, zoom!
9. Hot shoe Flash Trigger & Receiver $23
This will allow you to trigger your flash off-camera, even without using the fill flash on your camera
10. Rogue Large Flashbender: $30 with my 25% off code: cesplin2012
Positionable reflector for off-camera flash – Amazing results & beats hauling around a lg umbrella & stand!
11. Rogue Large Diffusion Panel: $15 with my 25% off code: cespline2012
This is vital to soften the light on the Large Flashbender.
12. Westcott 43″ Apollo Orb Speedlite Kit $150
If you want studio light…skip the cheap, small umbrellas and get this baby – A bargain and versatile for bouncing or diffusion
13. Macro Extension Tubes $60-65
For only about $60 you can turn any lens into a Macro lens – Beats paying hundreds for a new macro lens!
Click here to check out my blog post for tips to shoot water drops with these Macro Tubes
Buying Tips:
TIP 1: USE THE AMAZON LINKS ABOVE! To earn money, prizes and benefits for BYU-I students, please start by using one of the Amazon links above… when ordering anything from Amazon – Thanks!
TIP 2: BEFORE BUYING GEAR…GET AMAZON PRIME!
Before buying any gear, you should get Amazon Prime (free two-day shipping) for six months FREE: http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200444170
After this expires, you can get Amazon Student Prime, which is half price: $39 for one year. You only need a .edu email address to qualify. http://www.amazon.com/b/ref=tb_surl_astudent/?node=668781011
I am trying to get a reflector, but there is no link to one. I found a few on Amazon. Which one do you recommend?
Here is the one I love for free shipping (Prime) and only $19:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003UYKGOS/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=caryesplphot-20&camp=213381&creative=390973&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B003UYKGOS&adid=1MVW273F1M8N7KAS29D1&&ref-refURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.carynesplin.com%2Ftop-13-gear-deals%2F
Awesome. I just ordered it! I am also looking into getting a tripod and I want a remote. Do you have any recommendations for a remote? I’m getting tired of running back and forth in my self-portraits! Thanks
Hi Caryn,
Thank you so much for all the useful information. I love getting your notifications of new posts. I was wondering if you have a suggestion for a 3 strobe studio lighting kit that could be portable? (Student budget). Thanks again for your time. Happy Holidays, Crystal
Hi Crystal,
Here are some helpful links from my friends (Jim and Dustin) at http://www.improvephotography.com. They have all kinds of tips about buying flash, strobe and lighting setups. You can ask read these links, search for more topics on their website, or just go to their facebook page and ask them a question. They will give you all kinds of great info for free. And for a low price, you can sign up for their classes too.
Try reading these links about strobes and getting a portable studio look:
http://improvephotography.com/5898/speedlights-vs-strobes/
http://improvephotography.com/4005/home-photography-studio-cheap/
http://improvephotography.com/jims-recommended-photography-gear/recommended-flash-photography-kits/
That last link has some great lighting setups that I think you may be looking for. This list includes all price ranges.. even the high-end The Einstein monolights from Paul C. Buff. They are amazing, but pricy. So you can start whereever your budget will allow. Good luck!
I’m going to get the yn-560 flash you recommend but see that they have a yn-560II out. I’m leaning towards the yn-560II after reading about them, what do you think? Also I’m going to be starting a web sight, what soft ware would you recommend. I love your sight and have taken some great (well I think so anyway) shots around the Tetons thanks to your blog and directions on how to get to the different locations. My wife and I had a great time thanks to you. I know you are crunched for time, everyone probably ask for your advise so if I don’t here back I’m going with the 560II Thanks again for sharing your talents.
It is great to hear that my advice around the Tetons was helpful! I would love to see your photos sometime, if you want to leave a link? Yes, I would go for the YN 560 II. I just got one and I love it! It has a faster synch speed. Good luck and I appreciate the comment. I hope you stop by again. 🙂
Hi Caryn (Sis. Esplin :D) I’m looking to buy a flash and I was wondering if you still recommend the YN-560 Flash? Is there another one you have been using lately?
Thanks.
I like the newest models of the YN-560 flash. They YN 560 II or III. They are still priced at around $70ish and you can’t beat their quality for the price. They have added some nice new bells and whistles on the newer models. Like they now recycle faster, so you can shoot more shots in a row, and the III has a built-in receiver so it you use the YN triggers you don’t have to buy a receiver. But that is is you want to trigger them off-camera. Of course you can always trigger them in Slave Mode with your fillflash on your camera. I have all these and some more tips on my Gear page. Just go to the top right area and choose the page you want. The lighting gear is on the Portable Lighting Kit page. If you use one of those links to get to Amazon, then they give us a kickback to provide more gear for BYU-I students. Thanks and Good luck!
I am so happy you are enjoying the new lens! Thanks for the comment. 🙂