Photography is a Fun Hobby but Painful....

Photography is good. Photography is unique. Photography is fun. I love photography. I started to love photography when I was a student in MMU but at the time, I did not have money to buy DSLR camera. My first camera was Canon S3IS, before I changed to my first ever DSLR camera, Sony Alpha 300, a camera for beginer. SONY, like.no.others. They providing free workshop class for newbies in photography world for free of charge. The only ticket to get into workshop is just a camera of Sony Alpha (of course you need to apply for a seat but yes, at no cost). They not only organize it in Klang Valley, but around the Malaysia, from west to east Malaysia.


After using Sony A300 and I have enough basic photography skill (I think so), I have changed to Canon EOS 40D, semi-pro DSLR camera. The only reason I change to Canon is because they have a large number of user, thus, it makes the lenses and accessories cheaper than Sony and Nikon. Talking about cheap lens, it is not that cheap. Photography is a luxury hobby. Imagine, a single lens would damage your pocket at least RM300 (cheap Canon 50mm f1.8) and those L lens (high end Canon lens is known as L, and G for Sony, but I am not sure about Nikon and others) would cost you at least RM2000. Max price? It can be RM50k or even RM100k. That's a lot man!

In photography, you not only need a body and a lens. Flash gun should be in your gear list if you are serious hobbyist. How much does it cost? It is not as much as the cost of lens. For original flash gun from Canon would cost you at least RM1000 or below RM2000 for high end model. Yeah, below RM2000 for a high end model. Cheap right if compared to L lens? But, are you sure you only need a flash gun? You need at least 2-3 or even more flash guns to produce creative pictures. But do not limit your creativity just because you own cheap lens and a flash gun. Photography is all about your creativity, the man behind the camera, not the equipment been used. :)



I myself do not have a lot of money to spend on this hobby. Rather than getting Canon flash gun, I am owning a third party flash gun, Nissin di622. It only cost me about RM450, half of the price of low end Canon flash gun but it is good enough for me. It can be triggered wirelessly, by built-in flash where Canon flash gun cannot. You need an additional flash trigger for Canon flash gun to work wirelessly. Wanna see the different of wireless flash? I will post review about it once my time allows me. :).

I have not talk about how to store your camera equipment, camera bag, clean the sensor, etc. You need a large sum of money if you are serious in photography. For starter, RM2000 would be good enough to invest in your first DSLR camera. You have plenty of options with this amount such as Canon 1000D, Sony A330 and Nikon D60. I recommend go to Sony if you are newbie and join their workshop to learn more about aperture, shutter speed, ISO, white balance, etc.

whatever painful I have talked above, once you get desired result, photography is a fun hobby. Enjoyce!





As usual, for more pictures from my eyes captured by my lens, visit my Flickr

Thanks...