So many people ask me what camera I have, and how much Photoshop I use. Especially when they see some “sick” photos like these (the fact that they all represent pyramids is accidental… I just picked a few good ones):
Let me tell you something first: I have no clue about how to use Photoshop. That said, let’s go on with the photography equipment.
The answer to the “what camera do you have” question is very simple: nothing special. Here is a detailed list of the few tools and accessories I use. Just so that you know that to take good shots you don’t have to own a great (read: expensive) camera. For each lens I will add a photo taken with it, to give you an idea of what you can do with each one.
Camera body: an old, pretty much wrecked Nikon D40 camera. I bought it in New York after my photography course, when I felt like I knew how to use it. It was the most basic and cheap model, plus I got a refurbished one so I got a good deal. She has always done a great job and gave me a lot of satisfactions. It’s a relatively light and small model if compared to more advanced, professional cameras. I’d love to upgrade to a “better” camera body but the problem is always the same: money.
The camera body came with a classic Nikkor 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6 lens. At the beginning it was my only lens, but now I hardly use it. It’s not a bad lens, quite the opposite, it’s good but doesn’t really give the photo any effect I like. Plus the zoom is not that much and sometimes I missed my old compact Panasonic Lumix camera with its 10x optical zoom. This lens alone is not enough, definitely not enough.
Montauk lighthouse, Long Island, NY, USA
In the need of a zoom, I asked Santa Claus for a zoom lens and he brought me a Nikkor 55-200 mm f/4-5.6 lens. There I started to take some pretty pictures… And understood that the lens really makes a huge difference. Not that this lens is the best on the market, but after all I’m not a pro and this works just fine for me. When the National Geographic will send me to Tanzania to shoot photos of lions 10 km away from me, they will probably provide me with a Nikkor 1200-1700 mm worth $40,000. But for now, I just don’t need it (thanks God in a way!). 
A bird in Marsa Alam, Egypt
For a while I didn’t buy any other lens. Then I realized that a wide angle could help me both with indoor and landscape photography, and I started to search for a lens like this. I finally went for the Tamron 10-24 mm f/3.5-4.5 lens. I was looking for the Tokina 11-16 mm f/2.8 lens but it looked impossible to find in Italy, plus it was way too expensive. Anyway I am very happy with this lens, it gives the photos a dramatic effect, and this is definitely one of my two favourite lenses. It was a great choice!
Singapore by night
I was almost done with lenses, but there was just something missing. I didn’t have a good lens for portraits… So when I arrived to Cairo I bought a fantastic Nikkor 35 mm f/1.8. And that, for now was the last purchase (check the link for the post about my experience buying camera accessories in Cairo!).
A cute Egyptian puppy who just had some milk!
This lens is just great! It allows me to take the best portraits and photos of close objects, both with daylight and low light.
So that’s all concerning lenses. I have a few more very basic accessories, and that’s it.
- 2 tripods (just because I forgot to take mine to Singapore and had to buy another one… but I’ll leave one in Egypt when I leave).
- 3 batteries (veeeeery important! The camera comes with one battery only, but it’s absolutely not enough when you are traveling).
- 1 external flash – I don’t like to use flashes but for parties it’s a must. I have a basic one, it’s enough for what I need.
- 1 circular polarizer – a filter to avoid reflections and to make colors warmer. Great effect!
- 1 haze filter – it reduces haze and excessive blue.
- 1 uv protection filter – it protects your camera from uv rays and prevents your lens from scratching.
- 1 “soft” filter – it minimizes facial imperfections… but I never use it!
I think this is all!
I really really want to buy a new camera, but first I need the money, then I need to understand which one to buy. I want to stay with Nikon. Any suggestions?
What do you use for your travel photography? What’s your favorite lens and effect? I am super curious to know about your gear : ) As you can see I am not professional at all. But some of my photos turned out very well! If you want to see more photos by me please visit my online gallery and let me know what you think : )
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8 Comments
I don’t go into it as much as you do. To be honest half of your post went over the top of my head. I struggle with photography and getting a grasp of it. Like to read others people stories though and see their photos.
Hehe, yes I understand. Anyway I think everyone can take good pictures with almost any camera: the most important thing is the photographic eye : )
Hope you enjoyed the pics at least! : )
Love your photography! I should get one other lense… I’m using 11-16 Tamron as a major. I broke my 16-85 and didn’t fix it yet… :)
I didn’t know you have several lenses!! Love your photos.
11-16 Tamron sounds great : ) Plus, I know and love your photography too. Yes I have several lenses, sometimes too many, but I wouldn’t get rid of any of them, at least for now : )
I’ve been wanting to buy a new camera for when I go travelling. I see so many beautiful photos from travel blogs (including yours) that I’m always nervous about which one to choose.
Glad you liked the photos, Ceri : )
My advice is: if you don’t have much grasp on photography, don’t buy a DSLR. You’ll hate it because it’s heavy and you won’t get good photos.
Go for a good compact camera with manual settings, so you can get ready for the DSLR step little by little : )
I didn’t know you don’t use photoshop. That being says you always take really beautiful photos girl!
So you’re looking for a new Nikon camera, i suggest you buy the most expensive one you can get (maybe refurbished to save some money) i think the minimum should be a Nikon D5100, a D7000 would be even better above that you get cameras with a full frame sensors, (double the size yours is) which means not all of your lenses would work with it, and the ones that do, would work differently, because full frame sensors don’t have a field multiplier (yours has a 1.5x, which means a 10-24mm lens works as a 15-36mm, but on a full frame they are exactly 10-24mm), in short on a full frame lenses zoom out more but zoom in less, depth of field is also greater.
Another choice would be the older but higher end D90, if you can still get it.
Now i don’t actually have a DSLR camera but i reallly wanna buy one, so i’ve looked around a LOT, and read a lot of reviews, try looking these cameras up on cameralabs.com for sample photos, comparisons, opinions, they also have reviews on lenses.
Someone i know has a D40 but has absolutely no photographic eye.(now she want’s to buy a better camera, thinking that will help)
Oh and photoshop isn’t that hard, but i’m not sure it’s worth the money, try some free ones like GIMP, if you don’t know how something works look for tutorials (even on youtube)
I hope some of what i said will be helpful
P.S. i loved your photos
Visit me at my flickr page (or my blog) if you want to see some of my pics http://www.flickr.com/photos/joe85/