This is a common question asked by lot of people. Where I should invest my best money in photography? Lens, camera or anything else?
After learning photography for 5-6 years (I am still learning and will continue to do so for rest of life), some of the things have started to become clear. Here is my priority list:
1. First investment should be towards building your energy and habbit to get up early in the morning. Lot of people have habbit of getting up after sun has move beyond horizon in sky. So you have already missed the magic of first light.
2. Second investment should be towards reaching the photographic spots. Reaching out to places requires money and you should save for it before even you think about great lenses and camera. A great lens and camera would do no favour when you are sitting at home with it. But if you go out to locations, you can take great pictures using cheap lenses like Nikon 28-80 G & 70-300 G, which cost just about $50 and $100 used.
3. Third investment should be towards support system i.e. Tripod or any other kind of support. No matter how good your camera and lenses are but if you are not able to hold it properly (even though VR and IS have made life easier) then pictures will not be sharp and clear.
4. Fourth investment should be towards lenses. Lens is eye of camera. Better the eye, clearer it can see and clearer it can record.
5. This comes last in my priority. If you still have handsome amount left then invest in expensive bodies else buy whatever you can afford.
6. Accessories





1 is hard… very hard.
Nice writing. You are on my RSS reader now so I can read more from you down the road.
Allen Taylor