There are so many times I've asked myself: If I were starting fresh, would I end up within the same system of gear that I'm using now? When I started photography, Sony wasn't even a player in the DSLR game, and so inertia has invariably led me to (mostly) Canon and Nikon over the years. But today's new photographers are spoiled for choice. Which way to go?
One take on that question comes from landscape and street photographer Arnulfur Hakonarson, aka THAT ICELANDIC GUY on YouTube. As a Sony shooter, he recommends starting out with one of their budget APS-C models, such as the a6400 or a6300. Pretty standard choices, I suppose, but where he expanded on the lenses, he suggested that beginners steer clear of the kit lens options and instead go for a fixed aperture zoom. In the video, he suggests the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 (and just as a note, he accidentally calls it the 16-50mm, but this is the one he means) as a good starting point for its quality and constant aperture.
I've never thought of going that route when talking to beginners, but it makes sense. Having a constant aperture makes understanding and learning the triangle of exposure much easier since you're not fighting with changing apertures as you zoom. Also, kit lenses tend to let in so little light compared to something like the aforementioned Sigma that you have to kick the ISO much higher, and image quality suffers as a result. So, very sound advice to try something just a little higher-end from a reputable third-party company. If you're looking for something with a little more range (and also for a little more money), Tamron makes a 17-70mm f/2.8 lens for the Sony E-mount as well.
There are also some ancillary gear recommendations that Hakonarson makes, such as variable neutral density filters (especially important for those getting into video) and tripods. You can check out the rest of his video above for more advice and gear recommendations.
But that brings me back to the burning question I have from the top of this post: What gear would you choose as a beginner?
For me, with someone with years of Canon muscle memory, I find their cameras pretty easy to use. I've dipped a toe into the Sony waters here and there (I borrowed an a7 IV for a couple of weeks and own a ZV-1), but I find the menus way too confusing to understand and the ergonomics lacking. If I were starting fresh, I'd steer beginners on a budget towards a Canon EOS R50 or, if they had more of a budget, an R8—the full frame because of the wider lens selection available for the larger sensor. While third-party support, because of Canon's reluctance to open up the mount to more companies, is lacking, there's still a lot to be said for what the system offers in terms of an upgrade path for new photographers to grow into. For the most part, there's a consistency of design there that I like.
And as far as tripods go? Anything from a reputable brand that's built well, such as Manfrotto or Peak Design. I purchased too many $20 tripods in the early days to realize that a good tripod never dies.
What are your thoughts on the best gear for beginners? Especially those who shoot other brands I haven't mentioned in this article, I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
For an enthusiast who's eager to learn photography (not video), I'd have trouble endorsing a camera that doesn't have a front dial, such as the a6300, a6400 or a6600. I couldn't really endorse a newer front-dial-equipped a6700, either, when a used a7RIII - a hugely capable stills camera - is available for about the same price.
If budget is tight, I'd suggest instead a used Micro Four Thirds kit such as a Panasonic GX7, 12-32 and 35-100 or 45-175 zooms. Later, these could be supplemented at low cost by a 7-14/4 UWA zoom and 20/1.7 and 42.5/1.7 primes. This is similar to the MFT kit I used for seven years for professional event work. If video is a keen interest, a used GH-series body would probably serve well.