How Would You Build a Thousand Dollar Kit from Scratch?

This week DigitalRev put up a video challenging Kai and Lok to build a decent photo kit from scratch for a thousand bucks. While $1,000 is a decent amount of coin for most people (certainly including myself), it wouldn't put too much of a dent in any pro's photo kit. Just two days ago,  posted an article showing off his fleet of awesome Broncolor lighting gear - a $20K setup! While I wouldn't care to start my own (small) kit over from scratch, I think it's a fun little mental experiment. Here's what I've come up with.

Camera Body: $200

For a camera body, I'd have to go with the Nikon F100. They're readily available used for, at most, $200. This camera has everything I, as a 135 portrait and editorial guy, could ever want: 1/8000th second shutter speed, 1/250th second flash sync speed, *enough* AF points, plus more. Being a film junkie, I'm definitely cheating here; ditital guys will have a harder time finding a body, let alone a full-frame one for 200 bucks. 

Lens(es): $450

I'd keep it O.G. and go for a used Nikon 85mm f/1.8D (around $350) and 50mm f/1.8D (around $100). This would be enough to get me through the bread 'n' butter of my shooting. I practically keep my 85 glued to my camera.

Flash + Trigger + Modifier: $190

Early on at Fstoppers, I reviewed the wicked lithium-ion battery-powered TT850 strobe which retails for around $130. Add to that the Neewer-brand radio trigger ($30), and a cheap-a-f brolly box from Amazon ($30) and you're good-to-go for versatile off-camera lighting.

Extras: $160

I'd use the remaining $160 to fund my coffee addiction, buy some film ($160 could get you four five-roll packs of Portra), and pay for processing at my favorite lab (good development and scanning at a pro lab costs in the neighborhood of $20 per roll, uncorrected scans can be had for around $15). 

Now it's your turn: how would you spend the $1K? Let me know in the comments below!

[Video via DigitalRev]

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Austin Rogers joined Fstoppers in 2014. Austin is a Columbus, OH editorial and lifestyle photographer, menswear aficionado, pseudo-bohemian, and semi-luddite. To keep up with him be sure to check out his profile on Fstoppers, website, drop him a line on Facebook, or throw him a follow on his fledgling Instagram account.

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21 Comments

Good mental exercise.

Here's my portraiture setup:

5D Classic: $420

Rokinon 85/1.4: $280

Collapsible reflector and a stand with clamp: $80

Wood to build my own stands, 5500k bulbs from Home Depot and cheap softboxes: $100

Year subscription to CC: $120

For $1,000, I'd buy a Hasselblad (again).

For $200, I'd buy a Canon A-1: http://www.ishootfilm.org/blog/2014/10/18/10-the-best-film-camera-kit-yo...

I still use my A-1 that I bought new in 1980.

i would go with a t3i with the 18-55 for 250, 3 yn600ex (150 each) 450, card 30, and some modifiers and tripod

Original Fuji X100 - $450
Extra batteries and Charger - $50
3 YN 560 - $225
YN560tx - $50

$225 under budget...

Nikon D90 or D7000 second hand. A Nikon 50mm 1.8G. And something allround like a 18-105mm.
The rest you can invest in a Youngnuo flash, a light stand and a cheep trigger set.
Also a bag and memory card together is off course important.

After you got a bit of money invest in a Sigma18-35mm f1.8. then you can start building your gear.

the D7000 is MILES ahead of the D90. I own the latter and boy has it aged...

Used NEX 6 with a kit zoom lens $425
3 new Sony camera batteries $150
Used Nikon SB-27 with an off camera cord $100
8 high quality 2500mAh Rechargeable AA batteries with a charger $50
Manfrotto 709 Tabletop Tripod with Ballhead $50
2 16gb SD cards $30
a super old refurbished PC that could run Windows 7 and had a slot for the SD cards $120 (maybe less...)
and my Lightroom standalone upgrade $75

That went quick.

Austin, you including that light meter in your $1000 kit? (According to the photo) Either way, thanks for the awesome article!

As for this exercise, I agree with most of Alex Cooke, except I buy a Canon Rebel with Kit Lens. And if I have enough, I buy an old / used light meter

Haha no, I didn't include a meter. While I do use one for the vast majority of my shooting I didn't have enough room in the budget for one in this. I'd trust the meter built into the F100 for the first couple gigs until I could afford one. :)

Used Fuji X-Pro1 - $400
Used Fuji 23mm f/1.4 -$500
AFAITH tripod -$95
light-rail ticket - $2
Triple shot of espresso at Starbucks - $3

Nikon D700, saw one end for £460 with OEM grip!
Nikon 35mm f1.8 DX, £100 works bloody great on FX! Not much vignetting.
Remaining £100(that about $1000 in total)
Cheap flash and wireless trigger......CF cards!
Steve.

Dude! I didn't know D700s had dipped that low. I've missed mine ever since I'd "upgraded". *sigh*

I know!! Most end slightly over that. But that is the lowest i've seen!

Used x100t or s.

For DSLR? D300 with a 35mm 1.8, yongnuo cheapo and and an umbrella.

In 2013, for $450, I ordered a used Canon F-1N with AE Finder FN, AE Motor Drive FN and two focusing screens: 15% and 3%.
I didn't order any lenses because the lenses I have for my Canon A-1 can be shared: FD 28mm f2.8, FD 50mm f1.8, Promaster 80-205 f4.5 and Spiratone 400mm f6.3. I also have a SUnpak 522 handle-mount flash.

In light of the followup article at https://fstoppers.com/deals/moderators-guide-buying-used-gear-facebook-g.... I'll share my experience with KEH.
I bought my F-1N kit at KEH (http://www.keh.com/); I had a problem with the F-1N within the 6 month warranty and they replaced the camera. This was my first major purchase from KEH and I'll use them again.
I also bought a used Canon FD 28mm f2.8 lens from B&H in 2011 and I've had no problems with the lens.

That works out to about £688 in the UK.
So:
Used Fuji X-E2 £399
Used Fuji XF 27mm £199
Fotodiox Canon FD to X-Series adapter £24
Canon FD 50mm 1.8 £25
2x Batteries £26

5D Classic $450
EF 40mm stm $150
Nikon MF (non ai) 24mm f2.8 (must cut the rear tab) $100 plus Nik to EF adapter $12
EF 100 F2 (used) $250
Yongnou flash $50

Or
Godox RS600P portable DC pwr pack/flash
used EOS M with 22mm stm

Portrait setup: Canon 5D Classic: $420, Canon 85 1.8: $320, Canon nifty fifty 1.8: $120, Yongnuo 560 flash about: $56 and a stand and umbrella and cheap triggers $64 all gear used from ebay.

Nicely done. I absolutely love the SOOC files out of the D700 and 5DC. There's something beautiful and organic to them. I know a handful of pros who actually CHOOSE to use a 5DC when there's good light and only break out the MkIII when they have to. :)