The best starter equipment for mobile photography
Finding reliable equipment can make a big difference when it comes to quality photography (even for beginners). The correct lens can be the make or break of an image. Unfortunately, there is a lingering question on how to purchase equipment without breaking the bank. The simple answer to that problem is, don’t go out buying a $1000 lens for just one collection of photographs! Think practical and think long-term. “What type of equipment will I use regularly?” And also, “Will I spend most of my time inside or outside?” I would recommend looking at your basic needs first like; lenses, tripods, and essential gadgets. Study at the quality of the equipment which you want to purchase and also look at money efficiency. Is it worth purchasing a $60 tripod for a mobile smartphone, or is it worth buying a $60 lens kit? Throughout this article, I will list some of the top Mobile Photography gadgets for beginners, that won’t break the bank!
Overview
A phone LED Panel/ Ring light: Commlite CM-L50 LED light / UBeesize Mini Led Camera Ring light / Meifigno Phone Selfie Ring Light
Tripod / Power bank / Lens Cleaning / Remote shutter control
Smartphone lenses: Xenvo Pro Lens Kit / Bully Eyes Wide-Angle and Macro Lens / Jisusu 3 in 1 lens kit
Total cost: USD 70-180
A phone LED Panel/ Ring light
We adore the notion of being able to use a light to help us with those overcast days and unpleasant shadows. But is it necessary to spend a fortune on a light? If you prefer indoor photography, then I recommend you take a look at these functional and affordable lighting tools.
Commlite CM-L50 LED light
This universal LED light has a very unique design in terms of functionality and placement. The light includes CM-L50 multi-functional Led light, with 50 LED lightbulbs, with the capability of being fixed 360° horizontally. It is cooperative with most smartphones and also works well with DSLR cameras. It is very user-friendly and easy to use.
The package comes along with:
- 3 filters in white/orange/blue
- High brightness and a super long working time of 18 hours.
- Perfect Heat Radiation Design.
- It has the option to dim the light according to what you need.
UBeesize Mini Led Camera Ring light
This subtle light consists of 8 inches of pure brightness. The type of light is ideal for portrait shots, and it has dimmable light with 3 different colours. It has Warm Light (3000K), Cool White (4500K), and Day Light (6000K). Each mode has 11 brightness levels and 33 options in total.
The ring light also comes with the following:
- Tripod Stand made from high-quality aluminium
- Rotatable phone holder
- USB powered
Meifigno Phone Selfie Ring Light
This ring light is highly affordable and suitable for most smartphones. It also has a silicone lining to prevent scratches on your phone screen. The Meifigno selfie ring light includes a built-in rechargeable battery with CE FCC ROHS MSDS certification without requiring any extra disposable batteries. It has a 3-level adjustable light, and although it doesn’t seem like much, it does have a 100% money-back guarantee! The ring light would ideal for the use of a close-up photograph, where the lighting is bad.
Lens Cleaning
We are not all that concerned about finding cleaning cloths, but it is essential to take care of your cameras and screens. A good quality cleaning cloth can make a world’s difference. Here is a quick list with some brands that work well with phone and camera lenses.
- Zeiss Lens Cleaning Wipes
- Zeiss Lens Cleaning Spray (paired with a microfibre cloth, this can be a superb combination)
- Eco-Fused Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
Remote shutter control
Why use a remote shutter control? A remote shutter is not a compulsory item to have but rather a gadget for a specific type of photography. In other words, this is a comfortable thing to possess, but it won’t harm your career in photography if you don’t own one.
Xenvo Shutterbug
Well, we’ll still suit you in, to make your mobile photography journey more handy. This product is absolutely high quality and user-friendly. I would definitely recommend this product if you are just starting out. It is worth every penny and very affordable!
Tripod
Tripods are the three-legged equipment we utilise to keep our cameras from moving excessively. They have proven to be very useful to support cameras and recently confirmed that they are beneficial to mobile photography and filmmaking. We will do a more comprehensive comparison blog soon, where we will review the various tripods in detail. Tripods are used for still and motion photos and videos and help loads with slow speed exposures. A decent tripod prices at around $18, while a flexible octopus tripod prices at around $28, depending on the brand and make of the tripod.
Learn more: Top tripods that help assist your mobile photography (coming soon)
Power Bank
As we all know, this is a rather self-explanatory gadget. Ultimately your battery will run-out, and you will need to charge it in some way or another. It is important to keep a spare battery around, and not pleasant to grapple with a low-battery. Portable batteries tend to diversify in price, essentially because of branding and packaging. If you don’t own one already, here are a few brands worth trying when it comes to fast and efficient charging:
Smartphone Lenses
Purchasing the right smartphone lens can be intimidating, especially when it comes to determining whether the quality is good or bad. The cost of a smartphone lens can fluctuate, but usually, in small ways, they make up for the extra bucks. There are quite a few different lenses for smartphones at the moment like; Wide-Angle, Macro, Fisheye, and many more. Before buying a lens, first look at a few things like; are you using an iPhone or Android, and is it beginner-friendly?
Xenvo Pro Lens Kit
The Xenvo Pro Lens Kit works well with the majority of single and dual-camera smartphones. The Macro Lens is excellent for getting those very close-up shots. The wide-angle lens is decent, although some reviewers have claimed that they see the images blur on the outside corners. Still, this is a prominent starter kit for beginners!
The contents of the Xenvo Pro Lens kit include:
- TruView 0.45x Wide Angle Lens –
- Clarus 15x Macro Lens
- TruGrip Lens Clip
- GlowClip Mini Rechargeable LED Light + Charging Cable
- Quick-Release Lanyard and Travel Case
- EasyClip
- Cleaning Cloth
Bully Eyes Wide-Angle and Macro Lens
The Bully Eyes Wide-Angle and Macro lens kit work considerably well with IOS, Andriod and also Windows. The Wide-angle Lens expands up to 50% and lets you catch all details at a 120° Wide-Angle composition, whereas the 10x Macro Lens magnifies the subject and develops an astounding shallow depth. Bonus, by choosing Bully Eyes, you are also supporting a good cause.
The Contents of the Bully Eyes Lens Kit includes:
- Wide-Angle 17mm Lens
- Macro 40-60mm Lens
- Universal Clip
- Small Pouch
- Micro Fibre Cleaning Cloth
Jisusu 3 in 1 lens kit
For the last lens kit, I had to include a lower budget lens. The lenses themselves have astounding reports, and by the looks of it, they are amazing! For the price they sell at, I would recommend these lenses if your budget is tight and you are just starting. It fits the majority of smartphones, like android, iPhone, Pixel and Huawei.
The Jisusu kit includes:
- Wide Angle Lens x1 （0.4X）
- Fisheye Lens x1 （230°）
- Macro Lens x1
- Lens Cap x3
- User Guide x1
- Carabiner x1
- Universal Thread Clip x1
- Microfiber cleaning cloth x1
- Luxury Protective Carrying Case x1
Conclusion
Generally, the listed gadgets are affordable and easy to purchase, but it is not necessary to purchase all of it! Get the essentials; like lenses, tripod, battery bank (if you don’t own one) and find your métier! A métier is typically a profession (example: if you like nature photography more than portraits, the go with nature photography.) There is always the feasibility of upgrading your equipment in the future, so there is no need to panic immediately. Begin by getting your Niche off the ground and start building your career as a photographer, and as you arise, you can increase your equipment.