Get some new camera gear just in time for the new school year.
As the summer is beginning to wind down in the United States, many students are beginning to gather supplies and other essentials in preparation for the upcoming school year. With the Fall semester rapidly approaching, we’ve put this roundup together for the photography enthusiasts looking to assemble their Back-To-School Photography Kit for the new school year.
Cameras
Photography can be a rather expensive hobby, but with all of the advancements that camera manufacturers have introduced during the past few years, you can get a lot of camera for not a lot of money. There’s never been a better time to get into photography. All of the cameras in this roundup are competitively priced (under US$1,000) and offer a wealth of features that have trickled down from more premium professional camera bodies.
Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay (Hybrid Instant/Digital Camera)
In our review, we state:
“The image quality from the Fujifilm Instax Mini LiPlay is the best weâve seen thus far. The camera has a glass lens and therefore produces sharper images when combined with the sensor resolution and the flash.”
You can pick one up now for $149.99.Â
Fujifilm X-T30 (Fujifilm X Mount, APS-C)
In our review, we state:
“For photographers on the go who want a high speed, low drag camera that can do it all (or just about) without weighing you down or taking up premium real estate in your camera bags. pockets, satchel, etc, the Fujifilm X-T30 is most certainly a contender worthy of your consideration. For the Crop Sensor shooters out there, you can finally breathe a sigh of relief because it looks like APS-C is going to be sticking around for the foreseeable future. For roughly 2/3 of the price itâll cost to pick up a Fujifilm X-T3 body, you can pick up a X-T30 instead that can do almost everything its larger cousin is capable of, with enough money left over to put towards a nice lens to boot.”
You can pick one up now for $899
Olympus PEN E-PL9 (Micro Four Thirds Mount)
In our review, we state:
“Photography, first and foremost, isnât necessarily all about the megapixels and the tech. Sometimes itâs about the aesthetics, and the Art Filters, especially the new Instant Film simulation in the Olympus EPL9, just make things fun.”
You can pick one up now for $599
Panasonic GX9 (Micro Four Thirds Mount)
In first impressions, we state:
“Itâs packing a lot of great autofocus algorithms, a tilting LCD screen, a tilting viewfinder, a touch screen, buttons that feel good, a new Venus engine, and of course that new L Monochrome D feature.”
You can pick one up now for $797.99.
Sony A6400 (Sony E Mount, APS-C)
In our review, we state:
“The segment-leading autofocus technology that Sonyâs incorporated into the A6400 makes the camera an interesting value proposition, although the omission of the excellent in body image stabilization found within the older yet higher tiered A6500 will surely be a deal breaker for some. Not having in body image stabilization is not the end of the world, however, if youâve got stabilized lenses.”
You can pick one up now for $898.
Lenses
A camera is only as good as the lenses mounted onto them. As you embark upon your photography journey, you will undoubtedly begin to build up a collection of lenses. To help you get started, here are some of our top picks to complement the above-mentioned cameras nicely.
Fujifilm 16mm F2.8 R WR (Fujifilm X Mount, APS-C)
In our review, we state:
“The exterior of the Fujifilm 16mm f2.8 R WR lens feels every bit as solid as many of Fujifilmâs other lenses. On top of that it is lightweight, which translates into your back potentially needing less of a massage after a nine mile hike with this combo.”
You can pick one up now for $399.99.
Fujifilm XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 R LM OIS (Fujifilm X Mount, APS-C)
In our review, we state:
“Fujifilmâs XF 18-55mm f2.8-4 R LM OIS is the most refreshing take weâve seen on an otherwise forgettable form. Kit lenses are often cast aside in favor of faster options with better build quality, but we found that we kept this lens on for longer than we thought we would.”
You can pick one up now for $699.
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 25mm F1.8 (Micro Four Thirds Mount)
In our review, we state:
“The 25mm f1.8 is one of the most affordable and bang for your buck lenses out there for the Micro Four Thirds system. In general, weâre quite impressed with the sharpness, bokeh, fast focusing speed (coupled with accuracy), small size, and the overall feel. It is the single lens that you may want to keep mated to your camera forever.”
You can pick one up now for $249.Â
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 45mm F1.8 (Micro Four Thirds Mount)
In our review, we state:
“Overall, I canât help but recommend the Olympus 45mm f1.8 lens. It should be the portrait lens in the bag of every single Micro Four Thirds camera user and I will not take that statement back. Though Panasonic has a lens that doubles as a Macro lens (45mm f2.8 with Leica branding), it gets utterly destroyed by this lens.â
You can pick one up now for $249.
Sigma 56mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary (Sony E Mount, APS-C, and Micro Four Thirds Mount)
In our review, we state:
“The Sigma 56mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary produces some of the best images weâve seen to date of any lens designed specifically for Crop Sensory Sony E Mount cameras. In-focus areas are tack sharp while out of focus areas pack plenty of bokeh.”
You can pick one up now with a Sony E Mount for $429.
You can pick one up now with a Micro Four Thirds Mount for $429.
Sony E PZ 18-105mm F4 G OSS (Sony E Mount, APS-C)
In our review, we state:
“When it comes to zoom lenses for mirrorless camera systems, not much can beat the Sony 18-105mm f4 G OSS. Micro Four Thirds have their own excellent zooms, but we havenât seen any truly breathtaking and spectacular ones for the APS-C systems. Sony has done it by creating a lens that while big for a mirrorless system, renders some of the best images weâve seen from the Sony APS-C E mount system after the companyâs very excellent primes.”
You can pick one up now for $598.
Gear
MeFOTO Roadtrip Leather Edition Tripod
In our review, we state:
“For the photographer who needs to occasionally shoot video or the photographer who likes to do long exposures at times, the MeFOTO Roadtrip Leather Edition is a really great option, at least when it comes to both versatility and looks.”
You can pick one up now for $187.
Tenba DNA 15 Backpack
In our review, we state:
“The Tenba DNA backpack is a beast all in its own, incorporating a roll-top style design, pockets on the side, pockets within pockets, and a really nice way to access your gear.”
You can pick one up now for $199.95.
Tenba Cooper 13â³ Slim Camera Bag
In our review, we state:
“This is a bag designed for the photographer who wonât over-pack, but will instead bring just the right amount of gearâif theyâre a mirrorless shooter or a DSLR shooter who brings one or two lenses, a laptop, and smaller things. It works out very well, is lightweight, comfortable, etc.”
You can pick one up now for $199.95.
Stroppa Flat Camera Neck Strap
In our review, we state:
“When you sling the Stroppa Flat Camera strap and a camera around your neck, youâll be amazed at how much natural padding there is. Because itâs designed to be so incredibly solid and thick, it allows the skin underneath to breathe.”
You can pick one up now for $34.99.
