Getting started in digital photography for CHEAP!

Getting started in digital photography

You don’t need to spend a ton of money getting started in digital photography. In fact, you could use the affordable camera equipment I’m about to recommend for your entire photography journey! Buying quality used gear can save untold THOUSANDS of dollars. I’ve photographed with the same camera body and the same three lenses for well over a decade.

Three things in a camera body

Regardless of the camera brand you choose, there are three things you’ll want in a used digital camera. The first thing you will want is a full-frame rather than a crop sensor camera. Full frame equals 35mm photography. With a full-frame camera, the focal length of your lenses will be the actual focal length of the lens. Everything lines up when you shoot with a full-frame camera. The one exception to this would be if you are primarily shooting bird or wildlife photography. For this type of photography, you may benefit from a crop sensor camera.

Next, you’ll want a camera that accepts interchangeable lenses. In truth, your camera lenses are far more important than the camera body. You’ll want to put most of your money into your glass. Don’t paint yourself into a corner by getting a camera with a fixed-focal-length lens.

Lastly, make sure the camera you purchase can shoot in full manual mode. You’ll want to have total control of your camera settings if you wish to reach your full creative potential. Regardless of the camera brand, make sure your camera has these three things.

That said, I personally shoot with Nikon equipment. The primary reason I use Nikon over other brands is the variety and interchangeability of their F-mount lenses. Nikon recently changed their lens mount system for the first time with the introduction of their modern mirrorless camera systems.

That means you can use all the old KILLER glass from the film camera days on modern DSLR digital cameras. You won’t have auto focus ability with older AI and AIS Nikkor lenses, but Nikon DSLR camera bodies have focus assist in the viewfinder if you need it. You can also purchase AF-D series autofocus lenses. Both manual and older autofocus lenses will cost a fraction of the price of a modern lens, without any sacrifice in image quality.

Camera body choices

I highly encourage you to do your research before purchasing a DSLR camera body. As I’ve said, I’m a Nikon man, but there are comparable options with other brand choices. You don’t have to buy a Nikon system. That’s what I know, so that’s what I’m going to recommend. I’d like to suggest two classic Nikon camera bodies that are insanely affordable and are still used by professional photographers today.

As a full-frame option, the Nikon D-700 can be had for as little as $350.00! This Nikon DSLR was released in 2008 and is still used and coveted by professional photographers in 2026. A quick YouTube search will show how loved this camera is.
For a crop sensor, the Nikon D-7000 can be had for as little as $250.00! With either choice, that’s a lot of camera for a little bit of money. I have personally used the Nikon D-700 for the past twelve years. The camera has never let me down and produces fine prints.

Buying good glass

The last thing you will need is some killer glass to capture all those awesome images that are out there waiting for you to discover. Glass is where it is at. The camera body is just there to record whatever has come through the glass. If you have cheap glass, your images will be less than satisfying.

Buying good glass new can be very expensive. You can easily spend $1,500.00 or more on a single modern prime lens. This is what keeps many people from getting into digital photography. The price for new equipment is just out of reach for many people. But you can affordably purchase awesome quality lenses when you go old-school. I’m talking kick ass, ultra crisp, mega sharp, professional quality glass for next to nothing.

Many professional photographers use two or three lenses for their entire careers. I’ve used the same three lenses for almost 20 years. Get what you need and start taking photos. Get off and stay off the gear-acquiring syndrome train. Equipment is NOT what will make you a good photographer. Take all that money that you would have spent on the next best shiny thing and buy photo books of the great photographers of the past. Hold the books in your hands while you study the details of the images closely. Look, learn, and then apply what you see to your own photography.

Back to good glass. I recommend using prime lenses. I’m not zealous about it, as zoom lenses are totally appropriate, but I do think prime lenses make better photos and better photographers. Let me offer a few suggestions regarding lens choices.
Most photographers will need a wide-angle lens. This is especially true for genres like photojournalism and documentary photography. Many conflict photographers also utilize a wide-angle lens. With a wide-angle lens, you can connect multiple things within a frame to tell a story. The problem most people have with a wide-angle lens is that it requires the photographer to get close to the subject. This can be intimidating, yet necessary when using a wide-angle lens.

Choices for a wide lens include 24mm, 28mm, and 35mm. I’ve used the Nikkor 24mm AIS for a solid 20 years now. It’s as if it has become an extension of my body at this point. I know what I will see in the viewfinder before I even lift my camera. Personally, I find the 35mm to be a bit too tight. I tend to get really close to my subjects, and I often find myself in close-quarter spaces where I need all the peripheral vision that I can get.

Go to a camera store and look through the various lenses. Whether you prefer the 24mm, 28mm, or 35mm, make a choice and stick with that lens until you have mastered it. The wide-angle lens will allow you to capture the big story, the big view, and it will allow you to connect multiple objects to tell a story.

Along with a wide-angle lens, many photographers like to use a second lens that is capable of getting in close and capturing the details of a story. Common choices for a long prime lens include the 50mm, 85mm, 105mm, and 135mm. I’ve used the 135mm along with the 24mm for as long as I can remember. With these two lenses, I can cover any story, work on any documentary project, or even shoot a wedding!

Find what combination works best for you. Stick with it. Save your money for photo books, long-term project funding, and prints of your work. Photography isn’t about owning the latest and greatest equipment. It’s about the visual literacy of the person behind the lens.