Choosing a Camera System

What camera or lenses you need, depends on the type of photography you do, how much you are willing to carry, and how much you want to spend. Use the following chart as a guide when deciding on a system. Keep in mind that you don't need to purchase a ton of gear to take good pictures. Don't run to your photography store to buy all the following equipment's. You can start with one or two lenses and slowly add to your system as you grow.

Note: Lenses are recommended in 35mm equivalent.

General photography 35mm or digital SLR, 24mm, 50mm, 100mm, 200mm, 300mm fixed lenses, or 24-80mm, 75-300mm zoom lenses, flash, tripod, polarizing filter, cable release.
Landscape photography 35mm or digital SLR, 24mm, 35mm, 80-200mm zoom, 300mm, tripod, flash, polarizing filter, ND graduated filter, 81B filter, cable release.
Wildlife photography 35mm or digital SLR, 80-200mm, 300mm or 400mm lenses,1.4x or 2x converter, winder with 3fps or faster film advance, tripod, monopod. Longer faster lenses if your budget permits.
Sports photography Same as wildlife photography plus a 24mm f-2 or 35mm f-1.4 lenses for indoor sports , flash.
Portraits photography 35mm or digital SLR with PC terminal, 85mm, 135mm or 80-200mm lens, tripod, cable release, diffusion filter for soft focus portraits, flash used off the camera, reflectors, studio flash, back grounds.
Close-ups photography 35mm or digital SLR, 50mm or 100mm macro lens, or 50mm and 80-200mm lenses with extension tubes, +1 & +3 close-up filters, 1.4x or 2x converters for high magnification clasps, tripod with legs that can be spread for low level close-ups, cable release, flash & flash bracket.
Architectural photography 35mm or digital SLR, 24mm, 35mm lenses (shift & tilt recommended), 80-200mm zoom, tripod, cable release, polarizing filter, grid focusing screen, flash.
Still life 35mm or digital SLR
 with PC terminal, 50mm standard or macro lens, 80-200mm zoom with close focusing, tripod, cable release, special effect filters, back grounds, off camera or studio flash, reflectors.