Getting the most value from your photography equipment requires strategic thinking, not endless spending. Smart gear choices can save you thousands while still producing professional-quality images that stand up against those shot with the latest and most expensive equipment.
Coming to you from Scott Choucino with Tin House Studio, this practical video breaks down a philosophy of photography equipment purchasing that might challenge your assumptions. Choucino speaks from personal experience, having started his photography journey with extremely limited resources while on social benefits. His approach centers on a simple yet powerful rule: never buy brand new equipment unless it enables you to do a job you're being paid for that you couldn't do otherwise. The secondhand market offers incredible value—a £1,000 budget can get you either a brand new entry-level crop sensor camera or a used professional 50-megapixel DSLR with a prime lens that's capable of shooting major advertising campaigns.
For lenses, Choucino recommends prime lenses when your budget is tight. The image quality of an affordable prime lens significantly outperforms similarly priced zoom lenses. While he acknowledges his perspective on zoom lenses has evolved, he emphasizes that beginners can get exceptional results with a secondhand 50mm prime. This principle extends to lighting equipment too—vintage Bowens strobes from the 90s still function beautifully for a fraction of today's prices, and older Broncolor gear outperforms many of today's budget options.
Choucino's hierarchy of investment follows a clear pattern that prioritizes what impacts image quality most: invest more in light modifiers than lights, more in lights than lenses, and more in lenses than camera bodies. This approach directly contradicts the common beginner mistake of buying an expensive camera body with plans to "grow into it" with better lenses later. The value proposition of secondhand professional equipment from previous generations is substantial—his professional-grade tripod cost £300 used but would be significantly more expensive new, yet it performs the same essential function. Another advantage of buying heavily devalued equipment is that you can often sell it for close to what you paid, making upgrades more affordable. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Choucino.
