What camera gear do I need for aviation photography?
The official word “photography” goes back to 1839 and attributed to Sir John Herschel. The word photography in greek means “Painting with Light”.
Up until a couple of decades ago, most photographs were taken using film emulsion to expose the images we made. Even though considered very much antiquated by most, a large number of the greatest photographs ever created was done so with equipment which by todays standards would be considered minimalistic and extremely crude.
With enough imagination, practice and dedication, we can all create photographs with the simplest of camera gear. But that’s not what you really wanted to hear was it?
To give an analogy, one can travel to their destination by foot, horse and carriage, basic car with very few options or a fully loaded sports car that could get you there very fast. They all get you to your destination but the question is how was the journey?
Over the years, I have used camera made by Canon, Nikon, Fujiflm, Yashica, Minox, Leica, Pentax, Rolleiflex, FED, Cosina, Contax, Olympus and Minolta. They were all great photographic equipment yet each has its strengths and weaknesses. I have yet to find the perfect camera that can do everything very well nor have I found and used a bad camera. You must assess your specific needs and find a camera that fulfills them within the budget you can afford. If you can’t answer the question as to what your needs will be, then you are a beginner to aviation photography and a breath of fresh air and cant wait to see how you will interpret what you see through the lens in the form of a photograph. Even the most basic of camera gear will serve you well until you hone your skills and see a reason to upgrade.
In the recommended gear section, I will suggest cameras based on my experience and the experiences of photographers I highly respect. For each Manufacturer/Brand, I will suggest an “Entry”, “Mid” and “Pro/Amateur” setup which will include a camera body and lenses that will allow one to create amazing photographs,
If you already have a camera and lens, go out and maximize its potential so you will find out if you need to upgrade to further expand your skills and quality of photographs or whether your current gear suffices. Having new gear does not necessarily equate to better photographs.
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CHOOSE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR: