34 21 March 2020 I http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk I subscribe 0330 333 1113
W
hile it’s great
to have the
perfect set-up
for your needs,
it’s unlikely you’ll have your
full kit with you all the time.
Having the right tools for the
job is important but the old
cliché, ‘the best camera is the
one you have with you’‚ is one
for a reason – because it’s true.
Many shops and
manufacturers will try to
convince you to buy the latest
cameras, along with all the
bells and whistles. Unless you
really need these features, their
cost is often disproportionate
to the resulting images. For
many people, they’d be better
off spending the money on
other things. Different set-ups
for different purposes. But one
specific type of set-up is one
that’s always at the bottom of
your rucksack or bag. You often
forget it’s there. It has one role.
It’s the ‘I wish I had my camera
with me’ camera.
Last year, MPB’s Marc Read
(@115quidcamera) decided to
put this theory to the test. He
spent just £115 on a well-used
Canon EOS 50D and EF
50mm f/1.8 II lens, and now
takes it with him everywhere.
He explains, ‘These days, some
manufacturers will announce
new cameras that promise to
improve your photography and
enable you to get better photos.
Then, they’ll replace thatcamera within 12 months with
an even better camera that will
help you get even better shots.
Most of the time, this is partly
true – the extra autofocus
points or megapixels might
indeed get you a shot that its
predecessor might not have.
But is this what photography
is all about?Budget challenge
‘In January 2019 I decided to
set myself a challenge to see
what I could achieve on a small
budget. I wanted a DSLR and a
single small lens. After looking
at the options, I purchased a
well-used Canon EOS 50D.
While it had obviously seen a
lot of use over the years, it wasADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
still in full working order. In
the lens department, to keep
the cost down, I was limited to
a small number that would fit
the budget. In the end, I opted
for the classic “nifty fifty”, the
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II.’
Now that he had decided on
his kit, Marc tells us how he
got on. ‘I’ve been into
photography on and off for
around 15 years and I’ve
mainly concentrated my efforts
on my major photographic
passion – wildlife. But this
set-up has made me branch out
into lots of different genres that
I’d never thought of trying.
I’ve owned this set-up for a
year and it’s probably been one
of my favourite years for
photography.’
As he explains, ‘The main
benefit is not one I really
expected. I’m now constantly
on the look-out for things to
photograph. I get excited if I
see something a bit out of the
ordinary, like a pair of shoes
hanging from a power line, for
example. I’ve ditched the niceLow budget?
No problem
The great thing about budget kit is that you can carry it
round with you all the time and not worry too much
about it. MPB sings the praises of bargain buys
Low-budget kit
that’s always on
you means you
can grab shots
like this urban fox