Technology Requirements

Photography in VCD is a digital-based program, and all work is done with digital cameras. As such, there are several camera options for you to consider. However, before deciding on your preferred camera system, consider your major or area of concentration and the extent of your future involvement in and with photography. 

List of Cameras

If you plan to major in Photography or take Photography classes beyond Photo 1, your camera will need to be tetherable (hard-wired) to a laptop and able to fire an accessory flash and trigger devices.

The primary programs we tether with are Adobe Lightroom and Capture One Pro. Please research the camera before you purchase one to be sure which programs it will work with. [Note: Photo Majors are required to work with Capture One beginning with their second program year.] We recommend either Nikon or Canon cameras primarily for interchangeability with classmates, depreciation value, current state-of-art and availability of rental equipment in the VCD Creative Lab. If you already have another brand of camera, send an email with the camera’s brand and model to VCD@kent.edu and someone will get back to you.

All cameras used in Photography in VCD classes must have interchangeable lens capability; feature a manual mode that allows for setting ISO, f-stop, and shutter speeds; allow manual focusing and can work in monochrome (black and white) mode. 18 megapixels is the minimum acceptable sensor resolution. Mirror-less cameras are acceptable but be aware of their limitations with inter-changeability with our inventory of cameras and lenses and fellow students, and there are certain issues with tethering in a studio flash environment. 

DSLR cameras offer excellent technical and image control and allow the use of a broader range of interchangeable lenses with a wide range of focal lengths. The cameras listed offer recommendations to allow for a spectrum of sophistication and price considerations while meeting the requirements for both photo majors and minors. Camera technology is advancing rapidly, so please carefully research your decision.

Note: If you currently own a DSLR that is not listed but meets the requirements, it may be fine for this class. However, tethering is required to advance in the photography program. In all cases, if you are unsure or have questions, send an email to VCD@kent.edu.

Notes: Tether-able means the camera will connect directly to a laptop. This is not required for Photo 1 but is for all other Photography classes.

The prices/specifications are for reference only. Please confirm pricing, specifications and tetherability.