As a photographer and choosing your equipment can be a real pain. It’s a huge jungle out there with too many options and way too pricey at times as well. I have listed a couple questions you should ask yourself before you go hunting for new camera equipment.
What kind of photographer am I?
If you don’t know the answer to this question then I highly recommend you borrow or rent some camera equipment to try different lenses in different situations and see what interest you the most. You may also want to look at photos from other photographers that you like. Often they will provide information on the equipment used which can be a great help.
Should I use a zoom or fixed focal lens?
Most people prefer zoom lenses because it gives you a wide range and you can capture the object quickly without moving too much. This is ideal for photographing wild life and pets because you don’t want to disturb them and scare them away.
For landscapes, macro, portrait and street photography then you generally don’t need a zoom. In these situations I would recommend a fixed focal lens because they often offer better image quality and can handle lowlight situations better.
Differences between lenses?
Normal lenses are about 50mm and are great lens for regular photos, portraits and street photography. Macro lenses are intended for flowers, insects, products and produces very sharp images. They can sometimes be used for portraits as well.
Wide-angle lenses are great for lanscapes, artitecture and street photography. They are 35mm and below while 35mm is a very common length for people and street photography.
Telephoto lenses are also good for lanscapes but its main purpose is for wild life and sports. Shorter telephoto lenses 100-135mm are good for face closeups such as portraits.
Do I need a tripod or a flash?
Most people don’t need a tripod but it really depends on what kind of photos you take. Tripods are mainly used for telephoto lenses that can be quite heavy but they can also be useful for portraits, macro and product photography.
Flashes are useful for most type of photography but they are best indoors. I would recommend them for macro, portrait, landscape and product photography. I believe every photographer should have one at least.
Should I buy new or used?
I would say this mainly depends on your economy and what you feel most comfortable with. Buying used camera equipment is rather safe and very common. New lenses are not produced very often so even if you have had it a few years you can still sell it for about 30% of the price you bought it new, as long as the quality is good of course.
If you buy used make sure you are able to check out the equipment before paying. Do this by either meeting up or use an online service for the payment and shipment. Do not pay the seller directly before you have it in your hands.
Further reading
Here are a few links that might help you find what you’re looking for.
http://www.16-9.net/lens_tests/
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/
http://www.pixel-peeper.com/
