Photography Equipment Requirements

Commercial Photography

Higher-level commercial photography classes use advanced equipment. Students will be required to have full-time access to a dSLR of at least 12 megapixels. A full-frame 35mm size sensor is highly recommended, such as the Nikon D-600, D-610, D-700, D-750, D-800, D-800e, D-810, D-3, D-3s, D-4, D4s, or Df, or Canon 5D Mark II or III, Canon 6D, or 1Dx.

In addition to a normal lens, students should have full-time access to a wide-angle lens of at least 28mm (or 17-18mm on an APS-c size camera) and a medium focal-length telephoto lens. (in the range of 85-135mm on a full-frame camera, or APS-c equivalent of about 60-105mm). Wide-angle zoom lenses, and medium-length zoom lenses that cover these focal-length ranges are also acceptable.

Students are also required to have access to a hand-held digital flash meter similar to a Sekonic L-328, L-478, L-358, L-308s, Kenko KFM-1100 or Gossen Digi-Pro F, Luna-Star F-2 or Digiflash.

Consult a VisCom faculty member for current camera and / or flash meter recommendations.

Each spring, check out equipment may be available for purchase by students at a reduced price.

Strobe lighting equipment, including Pro-Foto, Speedotron, Dynalite, Photogenic and Alien Bees are made available in the studios and for check out use. Large-format cameras and lenses are also part of the school’s equipment inventory. In addition to school-owned lighting equipment, Midwest Photo Exchange in Columbus, OH frequently furnishes additional lighting equipment for student check out and studio use.

Students may wish to purchase additional cameras or lighting accessories based on their areas of interest.

Many camera equipment and lighting companies, including the MAC Group, Profoto, Sekonic, Hasselblad, Benro, Manfrotto, and others, offer significant educational discounts for students and beginning professionals. Please see your academic advisor or instructor for details.

Computer and software discounts may be available through the university’s Tech Depot in Baker Center.

If you have questions about equipment requirements, please feel free to contact us at any time.

Gary Kirksey
Associate Professor
740-593-4893
Kirksey@ohio.edu

Larry Hamel-Lambert
Associate Professor
740-597-1336
Hamel-La@ohio.edu

Sam Girton
Associate Professor
740-707-9677
girton@ohio.edu

Photojournalism Camera & Lenses Equipment

Graduate Photojournalism

Graduate students in the School of Visual Communication are required to have at least the following:

  • One professional-level DSLR camera,
  • Three lenses
  • Dedicated flash
  • Professional tripod.

One lens should have a 28mm or shorter focal length (or digital equivalent) with a maximum aperture of f/2.8 or larger.

The second lens should be in the 135mm to 200mm (or digital equivalent) with a maximum aperture of f/2.8 or larger.

The third lens should be in the 50-85mm range, with a maximum aperture of f/2 or larger.

Zoom lenses are also acceptable if they meet the maximum aperture requirement of f/2.8 or larger.

Undergraduate Photojournalism

Undergraduate students in the School of Visual Communication are required to have at least the following:

  • One professional-level DSLR camera,
  • Two lenses
  • Dedicated flash
  • Professional tripod

Two lenses with f/2.8 or faster aperture: one 28mm or wider focal length, and one with a 135mm to 200mm focal length (zoom lenses are also acceptable if fixed aperture).

Zoom lenses are also acceptable if they. meet the maximum aperture requirement of f/2.8 or larger.

Most professional newspaper, magazine and freelance photographers choose either Nikon, Canon or Sony cameras and lenses. Each manufacturer has certain cameras and lenses that are designed to be used by professional photographers. This equipment is made to hold up under heavy and intense use.

The prices listed here are not retail prices, but what you would expect to pay at competitive camera stores. Used equipment cost less. Prices are subject to change.

Nikon

Nikon digital camera bodies
Nikon D5 ..........................................$6,500
Nikon D850..................................... $3,300
Nikon D750 ...................................... $1,500
Nikon Mirrorless Z series kits...$3-$4,000

Nikkor AF lenses
20mm f/2.8D AF ................................$650
24mm f/2.8D AF ................................$400
28mm f/2.8D AF ................................$300
35mm f/2D AF ....................................$400
35mm f/1.4G AF................................$1,700
50mm f/1.8G AF ..................................$150
85mm f/1.8G AF .................................$500
105mm f/2D AF ............................... $1,200
135mm f/2D AF ............................... $1,400
180mm f/2.8D ED-IF AF ................$1,000
24-70mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S ........ $1,800
70-200mm f/2.8G ED VRII ........... $2,100
300mm f/4D ED-IF ......................... $1,500
Or get the equivalent Nikon Z lens.

Nikon flash
SB-5000 AF ........................................$600

Sony

Sony digital camera bodies
Sony A1.............................................$6,500
Sony A9 II ........................................ $4,500
Sony A9 ........................................... $3,500
Sony A7R IV .................................... $3,500
Sony A7R III .....................................$2,500
Sony A7R II ......................................$2,000
Sony A7S .........................................$2,000
& extra batteries

Sony lenses
24mm f/1.8 ZA ...................................$1,100
35mm f/1.8 ...........................................$750
50mm f/1.8 FE.....................................$600
85mm f/1.4 GM ................................ $1,800
135mm f/1/8 GM .............................. $2,100
24-70mm f/4 ZA .................................$800
24-70mm f/2.8 GM ........................ $2,200
28-135mm f/4 G OSS ....................$2,500
70-200mm f/4 OSS ........................ $1,500

Sony flash
F60M ....................................................$550

Canon

Canon digital camera bodies
EOS-1D X Mark II.............................$5,700
EOS 5D Mark IV ............................. $3,300
EOS 6D Mark II...............................$2,000
EOS 5D Mark III.............................. $2,300
Canon Mirrorless R series .........................
..............................................$1,300-$3,900

Canon EOS EF lenses
20mm f/2.8 USM ...............................$550
24mm f/2.8 IS USM ...........................$550
28mm f/2.8 IS USM ...........................$500
35mm f/2 IS USM .............................$1,100
35mm f/1.4L USM............................ $1,500
50mm f/1.8 II ........................................$130
85mm f/1.2L II USM ........................ $2,100
85mm f/1.8 USM.................................$420
100mm f/2 USM .................................$500
135mm f/2 USM...............................$1,000
200mm f/2.8 L II USM ......................$750
24-70mm f/2.8L II USM ..................$1,700
70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM ........$2,000
300mm f/4 IS USM ......................... $1,400
Or get the equivalent Canon RF lens.

Canon flash
600 EX II-RT........................................$600

Accessories

  • Tripod & Monopod: Manfrotto, Gitzo or Bogen........$50-400
  • External hard drive 1TB or larger. Ideally 7200rpm, USB 3.0 or thunderbolt connection
  • Used equipment can be found at numerous places including but not limited to: Midwest Photo (Columbus), Roberts (Indianapolis), Dodds (Cleveland), KEH.com (used), ebay.com, and bhphotovideo.com.