This week, I was asked to give recommendations for a “real camera” and lenses.  As I started answering the question, I decided digging up an old post I wrote about my camera gear and sharing that link would be a more thorough answer, but then I saw that post was 11 years old!  Yeah, I need to write an updated post sharing about my camera gear, why I have each piece of kit, how I use it and offer some tips when you’re shopping for a DSLR camera and using it to shoot interiors and products.

To start off, let me say that I shoot Nikon, so those are the products I will recommend.  I know many people prefer Canon, so if that’s your preference, you can find comparable camera bodies and lenses.    Both brands are excellent and it really does come down to preference.  It is nice to commit to a brand, though, so you can invest in quality lenses and know you can upgrade the camera body, and the lenses, which can be the most expensive part of a camera, will still be useable.

The second thing I want to mention is that iPhone and other smartphone cameras have gotten so good!  You really can do a lot of shooting with the camera on your phone.  There are so many options that appeal to more serious photographers now, like more lens options and the ability to shoot in a RAW format.  While I still prefer a DSLR, the phone camera is great for on-the-go shots and times when I don’t feel like lugging my camera bag around.

While we will be talking about gear, it really is the photographer (beginner, amateur, or pro) that makes the shot what it is.  A great photographer can take great photos with a mediocre camera and a beginner photographer can take terrible pictures with a high-end professional camera.  Learning the art and tech of photography will serve you better than buying fancy gear.  If you don’t understand your current camera, then you need to learn that one before you upgrade (unless we’re talking about something so dated that you can’t even work with it.)  Buying a better camera will not necessarily make you better.  It’s time to upgrade to a new camera when you have learned the one you have and you start to feel limited by it.

If you’d like to learn how to shoot in manual mode, HERE is a post on it.

a few tips on buying DSLR cameras & lenses

1. Buying used and/or refurbished is a great way to get better gear at a lower price.  I was always talking gear with the photographers who came to shoot my house in Pennsylvania and almost all of them purchased second-hand gear.  That gave me the green light to do the same and I have never had a problem.  Just buy from a reputable place with a guarantee like Amazon Marketplace or B&H photo.
2. If you see a dramatic price difference in two different listings of the exact same item, make sure you understand why.  Sometimes, it’s because one has a USA Warranty and one is considered “gray market”, which doesn’t have a USA Warranty.  Read all of the details carefully.  Reputable sellers are upfront about that (and buying gray market can be a good way to save money as long as you understand what you’re buying) and disreputable ones try to sneak things in like “US Warranty,” which doesn’t stand for the United States and other tricks like that.  And sometimes, there is a price difference simply because of the quality and features of the lens.
3. Unless you’re on a tight budget and just getting started, I would avoid kits and packages that come with extra lenses, tripods, care kits, etc.  It might seem like a good deal, but the quality of the gear is usually not very good.  If you’re at the stage when you want to upgrade, buy a camera body and select separate lenses that are designed for the kind of photography you do.  We’ll talk about the lenses I have and why lower in the post.

here are the DSLR cameras I’ve used over the years…

The Nikon D7000 was my first “upgrade” camera as I blogger.  I purchased it about 10 years ago and it was a big step up from my $200 refurbished DSLR.  It is not a professional camera, but a good, sturdy amateur camera.  You can buy used bodies starting at $220.

My next camera upgrade was to the Nikon D800, which is a full-frame professional camera and I still own and use it.  It has become my backup or second camera.  It’s also one I’ll travel with so I’m not taking my latest and greatest camera on trips where it might be damaged or stolen.  As an older model, this camera has dramatically dropped in price, so it’s an excellent value if you’re ready to upgrade to a professional camera body, but you don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on the camera body.  It’s currently priced between $500-600.

The camera I’ve used primarily for the past five years is the Nikon D850.  I purchased it so I could have two DSLR cameras I could use if I needed to shoot simultaneous video from two angles or shoot video with one camera and take stills with the other.  I also wanted to have two nice cameras in case one broke or needed to be tuned/repaired.  The D850 is also a full-frame professional camera and runs about $2300-2700, so it’s definitely for serious photographers. I have had it for five years and haven’t felt like I needed an upgrade.

the DSLR camera lenses I use & why

You will notice that all of my lenses are one number (known as prime lenses.)  Most lenses that come with a DSLR camera body as a part of a set are zoom lenses, which means they have an angle range.  Some common Nikon zoom lenses are 18mm-55mm and 70mm-300mm. The lower the number, the wider the angle of the lens (meaning you can fit more in the shot.)  The higher the number, the lower the angle of the lens, and the less you can fit in the shot.  The “high number” lenses (or range of the lens) would be used to take pictures of birds on your feeder or your kid playing soccer.  You can get closer to things that are further away.  The “low number” lenses allow you to shoot in smaller rooms and tighter spaces.  So, for the sake of the kind of creative business photography I do, an 18mm-55mm zoom lens would be better than a 70mm-300mm.

The zoom lens I own is this Nikon 24mm-85mm.  I rarely use it for interior shots or products, but it is nice to use when I travel or go on a day trip.  At around $200, it’s an economical choice and a good place to start if you don’t want to invest in prime lenses yet.

I use fixed (prime) lenses, though, that don’t zoom.  That means I have to position the camera closer or further away from the subject to frame the shot.  Turning the ring only affects the focus, not how much I can fit in the picture.  But, unless you’re getting into crazy expensive professional zoom lenses, prime lenses almost always will produce a sharper, higher-quality image.  Since I am shooting things that are in a room and staying still, I can use prime lenses and take my time setting up a shot.

All of the images below were taken with the lens mentioned in each section.

50mm lens

This is my workhorse lens and is on my camera about 90% of the time.  I know it is a favorite of so many other bloggers and creative business owners.  I used THIS Nikon 50mm lens for years and, at around $200 – $500, it is one of the most affordable, practical prime lenses out there.  When I was preparing to shoot my book, Feels Like Home, I upgraded to a Sigma 50mm which is a beautiful lens that produces super sharp images.  At $500-900, it is a bigger investment, but it’s worth it if you’re ready for a lens upgrade.  It’ll shoot partial rooms, flat lays, close-ups, mid-range shots, and more.  I use this lens a lot!

60mm macro lens

The Nikon 60mm is the lens I use to do close-ups and product photography.  I bought it years ago when I was trying to shoot my own hands in a tutorial and my lens wouldn’t focus that close.  I needed a lens that would allow me to get closer to my subject, specifically my hands when I was making tutorials.  Since then, this has been my go-to lens for shooting products, tutorials, and details.

35mm wide angle lens

The Nikon 35mm wide angle lens is my favorite for full-room shots, so I used it a lot when shooting Feels Like Home.  It is priced around $850-1700, so it’s only a worthwhile investment if you are shooting a lot of interiors where you would need a wider angle.  If you shoot a lot of mid-range shots, like furniture, products, partial rooms, etc., then you can get away with the 50mm and add a 35mm to your kit if you find you’re not getting enough in your shots and your back is against the wall.

24mm wide angle lens

I purchased the Nikon 24mm lens specifically for shooting in very small rooms, like bathrooms.  I don’t use this lens very often, but when I need it, I need it!  If you find you’re wedged in a corner and still not getting the shot you need, you might want to consider having this lens in your bag.  It runs around $1,700-2,000, so it is only worth it if you’re doing a lot of shots in small spaces for your business (or a serious hobby.)  If you just need one here and there, I would suggest renting the lens.

Two other components that are crucial to good interior photography are a very sturdy, trustworthy tripod, and a shutter remote.  I use two tripods – THIS ONE is for shooting overhead or shots at tricky angles and THIS ONE is for everything else.  I use THESE sandbags to hold the tripod down, especially if I have the arm extended to shoot overhead shots.  A tripod is important because it’s holding expensive gear (your DSLR camera and lens), but it also holds the camera still.  This is important when you are shooting inside, which typically has limited light.

A shutter remote prevents you from having to touch the camera when you’re taking a picture.  Even touching and releasing the shutter button can shake the camera enough to cause a blurry photo.  I have used THIS one for years and, at $55, it’s a great investment.

I won’t share all the rest of my equipment like reflectors and lights, because I don’t use them a lot.  I prefer shooting in natural light and might use a reflector here and control shadows.  You can see a full list of my camera gear HERE.

When I first started writing my blog and taking pictures for it, there was very little information about interior or product photography.  Most of the photography books and classes I found were about portrait and landscape photography.  But, there are now so many more resources available online.  I hope that sharing what I use will help those who feel ready to switch from their phone to a DSLR or who want to upgrade their equipment but are not sure what would be best for the kind of photography we do.

Any other questions about camera gear or photography?