With a camera can come questions about choosing a camera bag, taking along gear, and packing accessories to carry. Read below about what cameras we started in our photography journey with and what we feel is important to consider when choosing a camera, lens, accessories and a bag.
Please click here for help with camera settings
Starting Out
When we started out, we used a Kodak Advantix camera. This camera used the Advanced Photo-System format. As the Kodak Advantix slowly quit working, we moved from Kodak to Sony Digital to a bridge camera and a fixed lens system. We later moved from Sony to a Nikon DSLR with interchangeable lenses that was between entry level and semi-professional in the Nikon lineup. Since, we have used Nikon professional full-frame from DSLR to Mirrorless cameras for nearly twenty years.
Choosing A Camera
These are things to consider when choosing a camera to purchase:
The Style - Look at both DSLR and mirrorless cameras. Mirrorless cameras may be more compact and useful for modern content creation, while DSLRs may be bigger, but easier on battery usage. Think about how the camera feels and looks in hand (including the grip and button layout).
The Subject - Think about the purpose of the camera and the subject the camera will be used to photograph (sports, portraits, landscapes, etc). This will help with deciding the type of camera and features of the camera.
The Budget - Plan a budget that includes the camera body and lenses, accessories, extra batteries, memory cards and more. Consider if paying cash or a no-interest option is best for the purchase of the camera.
The Other - Sensor Size/Speed, Video Capabilities, Printing/Online Sharing:
Sensor size/Speed - Look at features like autofocus speed, startup time, and continuous shooting speed (frames per second). Consider the lighting the camera will shoot in.
Video capabilities - For video check for features (resolution, external microphone support, and advanced autofocus).
Printing/Online Sharing - Consider if printing or online display of images will be used. A larger megapixel count can allow for larger prints and more cropping.
Choosing A Lens
These are things to consider when choosing a lens to purchase:
Type of Lenses - Consider if prime lenses (fixed focal length) or zoom lenses (variable focal length) are desired. Think about the subject that will be photographed. Consider what type of lens each one is and how that may fit into the use of the camera (sports, portraits, landscapes, etc). Consider if a particular line is best.
The Cost - Consider the cost of the lens or lenses with the camera budget. If trying to keep the cost in a particular range, one lens (like a prime lens) could be purchased with the camera and then later adding a new lens.
The subject and lighting - Look at the subject and lighting being photographed when making a decision on a particular lens. Consider what the camera will photograph, the type of light, and which lens may be needed.
Accessories We Carry
Backpack: Pro Master Backpack
Bags: Wandrd 3.0L Sling Bag
Strap: Black Rapid Strap, Pro Master Strap
Shutter Release Cable: Nikon MC DC2 Cable
Lens Pen: Pro Master Cleaning Pen
Rain Sleeve: Optitech Sleeve
Tripod: Mefoto Road Trip Carbon Fiber Pro Master Professional Ball Head
Video Tripod: Pro Master Hitchhiker Convertible (for camera or smartphone)
A Little About BKC
Kristi has been shooting with a Nikon since 2007. She has used a variety of Nikkor Lenses as well as a few favorite accessories. She loves light-seeking and storytelling through her lens and also likes using soft boxes for photography projects at home. She is self-taught in photography and has thoughtfully put together a processing workflow over time.
Bennet has been shooting with a Nikon along side Kristi since 2007. He has used a variety of Nikkor Lenses as well as a few favorite accessories. He loves looking for interesting places to photograph when traveling. He assists in Martial Arts as a third degree black belt and instructor with portraits during belt testing. He is self-taught in photography and leaves the post-processing up to Kristi.
Sharing a few of our images taken with 20mm, 50mm, 70-200 lenses on the Nikon Z7ii mirrorless cameras with exif info included. Enjoy!
Nikon DF/Nikkor 20mm f/22 | 1/200s | 400 iso
Botany Bay Plantation Preserve on Edisto Island, South Carolina
Nikon Z7ii/Nikkor 50mm f/16 |1.3s | 200 iso
Rocky Mountain National Park Estes Park, Colorado
Nikon Z7ii/Nikkor 50mm f/1.8 | 1/3200 | 1600 iso
View of Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Orlando, Florida
Nikon Z7ii/Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8 | 1/500s | 4500 iso
Cowtown Coliseum Rodeo at the Historic Stockyards in Fort Worth, Texas
Thank you for stopping by and reading about our camera/lenses, other accessories, and our camera bag. We hope this was helpful to you and if it was pretty, please share!
