How can I get the best results from an entry-level DSLR and kit of lenses?
Asked 4/7/2014
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I'm a student photographer with limited budget, so upgrading gear isn't a priority right now. My current setup is a Canon Rebel XS with a 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 zoom and a 50mm f/1.8. I sometimes run into limitations like not having a flash, not owning faster zooms, or not having dedicated wide-angle or macro gear.
What are some practical ways to maximize this kind of entry-level setup? I'm interested in tips for portraits, landscapes, macro, low light, and general technique—especially ideas that work well without buying much more equipment.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
12y ago
2 Answers
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I'd say the best thing you can do is embrace the limitations that your gear imposes on you. There is nothing quite like having some restrictions to encourage creativity.
At the end of the day you can make amazing photographs using almost any equipment, it is the idea and how you express that idea which matters. Less is often more.
Given your 50mm you should be set to take great protraits, throw in a couple of DIY reflectors: a white sheet, some tinfoil on a backing form and you can get some pretty good lighting just using natural light.
You can also do some pretty good landscapes without a wide angle lens, it just requires looking at things a little differently. You can shoot good landscapes well into the telephoto range (100mm for example).
The 28-135 can be used pretty effectively for flower shots etc. (max mag of 0.19x) If you can afford a couple of extension tubes you can get into true macro territory (1.09x with a 25mm tube source)
Don't feel limited by what you have, rather embrace it.
Originally by user22113. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user22113
12y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes: the best way to maximize entry-level gear is to lean into what it does well and work around the rest.
Your 50mm f/1.8 is already a fast lens, and on a crop-body Rebel it’s excellent for portraits and can even work for some indoor sports if you can get close. For portraits, natural light plus simple DIY reflectors like a white sheet or foil-covered board can improve lighting a lot.
Your 28-135mm is versatile, and landscapes don’t always need ultra-wide lenses. Try composing tighter scenes or using longer focal lengths for landscape details. If you want a wider view, shoot panoramas; use manual exposure, focus, and white balance so frames match.
For macro, you can experiment by reversing a lens for high magnification, focusing by moving the camera instead of the focus ring. It’s a workaround rather than a polished long-term solution, but it can produce interesting results.
More broadly, limitations can improve creativity. Strong photographs come more from ideas, light, timing, and composition than expensive gear. Learn what each lens is best at, practice deliberately, and use low-cost accessories or techniques before assuming you need an upgrade.
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