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Entry level gear guide

Start shooting.
Stop overthinking.

You don't need the most expensive kit to get started. I've been shooting real estate for 7 years and I'll tell you exactly what matters, what's a waste of money, and how fast the right setup pays for itself.

3
Proven kits
~$1,835
Cheapest full setup
6 shoots
To pay off the Canon kit
100%
Free advice
Pick your brand

Three kits. All proven. All lean.

Sony, Canon, or Nikon — choose the kit that matches what you already own or what feels right for your budget. Every one of them will get the job done.

Sony Real Estate Kit
Total approx. cost: ~$2,625
Camera
Sony A7 III
~$1,100
Lens
Tamron 17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD
~$550
Drone
DJI Mini 4 Pro
~$850
Check eBay or Facebook Marketplace
Tripod
K&F Concept Aluminum Tripod
~$50
Ball head included
Video / Gimbal
DJI Osmo Mobile 7
~$75
How fast does it pay for itself?

Based on typical real estate photography pricing — your market may vary.

New Photographer
Photos $150Drone $50
Avg job: $200
14 shootsand the kit has paid for itself
Growing Photographer
Photos $200Drone $75
Avg job: $275
10 shootsand the kit has paid for itself
Established Photographer
Photos $250Drone $100
Avg job: $350
8 shootsand the kit has paid for itself
Canon Real Estate Kit
Total approx. cost: ~$1,835
Camera
Canon EOS RP
~$620
Lens
Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM
~$240
Drone
DJI Mini 4 Pro
~$850
Check eBay or Facebook Marketplace
Tripod
K&F Concept Aluminum Tripod
~$50
Ball head included
Video / Gimbal
DJI Osmo Mobile 7
~$75
How fast does it pay for itself?

The most affordable of the three — it pays off the fastest.

New Photographer
Photos $150Drone $50
Avg job: $200
10 shootsand the kit has paid for itself
Growing Photographer
Photos $200Drone $75
Avg job: $275
7 shootsand the kit has paid for itself
Established Photographer
Photos $250Drone $100
Avg job: $350
6 shootsand the kit has paid for itself
Nikon Real Estate Kit
Total approx. cost: ~$2,575
Camera
Nikon Z5
~$750
Lens
Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm F2.8
~$850
Drone
DJI Mini 4 Pro
~$850
Check eBay or Facebook Marketplace
Tripod
K&F Concept Aluminum Tripod
~$50
Ball head included
Video / Gimbal
DJI Osmo Mobile 7
~$75
How fast does it pay for itself?

Based on typical real estate photography pricing — your market may vary.

New Photographer
Photos $150Drone $50
Avg job: $200
13 shootsand the kit has paid for itself
Growing Photographer
Photos $200Drone $75
Avg job: $275
10 shootsand the kit has paid for itself
Established Photographer
Photos $250Drone $100
Avg job: $350
8 shootsand the kit has paid for itself
My philosophy

Why I chose these specific items

Not every gear list is created equal. Here's the thinking behind what made the cut.

Jace's take

Sony, Canon, and Nikon made this list for the same reasons — they're intuitive to learn, they have deep lens ecosystems that grow with you as your business grows, and they consistently offer better value for the money than comparable options from Fuji or Panasonic. When you're starting out, being in a well-supported ecosystem means more lens options, more community knowledge, and easier resale if you ever want to upgrade.

For the drone I recommend the DJI Mini 4 Pro — it punches well above its price point and is genuinely all you need for real estate aerial work. Buying used on eBay or Facebook Marketplace is how I'd do it. DJI drones hold up well and you can save hundreds buying second-hand without sacrificing quality.

Here's the most important thing I can tell you about gear: expensive equipment does not make better photos — the photographer does. When I started I was shooting on a Canon Rebel T6i with a wide angle adapter. I built a business with that setup. It's not about what's in your bag. It's about how you use it.

Gear I left out on purpose

What's NOT on the list — and why

Beginners get sold stuff they don't need. Here's my honest take on gear that gets left off intentionally.

Buy later
Flash / Strobe
Learn natural light first. Flash adds complexity before you're ready and most entry-level jobs don't require it.
Skip it
Lens Filters
CPL and ND filters are rarely used in real estate. Save your money for things that actually move the needle.
Optional
Extra Batteries
One battery gets you through most shoots. Grab a second once you're doing multiple shoots per day.
Buy later
Camera Bag
Any bag you own works when you're starting. Invest in a proper one once you know exactly what kit you're carrying.
Skip it
Expensive Editing PC
Whatever computer you have now is fine to start. Upgrade when editing becomes your actual bottleneck.
Optional
Wide Angle Adapter
The lenses on this list are already wide enough for real estate. Adapters add distortion and rarely improve the shot.
Growing your kit

When to upgrade — and what to buy next

Start lean. Upgrade when the work tells you to, not before.

1
A second lens
Once you're comfortable with your wide angle, a tilt-shift or standard zoom opens up more creative options for larger homes.
When: 3–6 months in, shooting regularly
2
Off-camera flash
Flash unlocks darker spaces, eliminates blown-out windows, and makes your work look more professional. It's the single biggest quality jump you can make.
When: Clients start asking about quality or you're losing jobs
3
Matterport 3D camera
3D tours are a premium add-on service that significantly increases your average job value. Worth it once you have a steady client base.
When: You're fully booked and want to increase revenue per job
4
Better drone
The Mini 4 Pro is genuinely excellent — you may never need to upgrade. But if you're shooting luxury properties, a larger drone is worth considering.
When: You're consistently shooting $1M+ listings
Shop the kit

Grab your gear

These are affiliate links — if you buy through them I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only link gear I actually recommend.

Camera — Sony
Sony A7 III
~$1,100
Buy on Adorama →
Lens — Sony
Tamron 17-28mm F2.8
~$550
Buy on Adorama →
Camera — Canon
Canon EOS RP
~$620
Buy on Adorama →
Lens — Canon
Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM
~$240
Buy on Adorama →
Camera — Nikon
Nikon Z5
~$750
Buy on Adorama →
Lens — Nikon
Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm F2.8
~$850
Buy on Adorama →
Drone
DJI Mini 4 Pro
~$850
Buy on Adorama →
Tripod
K&F Concept Aluminum Tripod
~$50
Buy on Adorama →
Video / Gimbal
DJI Osmo Mobile 7
~$75
Buy on Adorama →

* Prices listed are approximate and based on the last time this page was updated. Adorama pricing fluctuates — click through to see the current price. These are affiliate links, meaning I earn a small commission if you purchase through them at no extra cost to you.

Common questions

FAQ

The questions I get asked most by photographers just starting out.

No. You can absolutely build a successful real estate photography business with an APS-C camera. What matters far more is having a wide lens, good composition, consistent editing, proper flash and ambient technique, fast turnaround, and strong customer service. The camera body is the least important variable in that list.
Absolutely. If someone handed me a crop-sensor camera and told me to go shoot a $500k listing tomorrow, I wouldn't hesitate. The key is having a lens wide enough for interiors — on APS-C you're typically looking for something in the 10–20mm range, which gives a field of view similar to a 15–30mm lens on full-frame. Nail that and you're good to go.
For real estate photography specifically, yes — it's one of the best values on the market right now. It shoots 48MP RAW photos, has excellent HDR performance for aerials, weighs under 250g so it's easy to carry everywhere, includes omnidirectional obstacle avoidance, supports waypoint flights for repeatable video moves, and shoots vertical video for social media content. That's a lot of capability for the price point.
No — if you're only shooting photos, a tripod is a far more valuable investment than a gimbal. A tripod gives you stability for long exposures, consistent framing shot to shot, and is essential for HDR bracketing. Save the gimbal for when you're ready to add video to your services.
It depends on your financial situation. New gear is convenient and often comes with warranty coverage, but can cost 2–3x more than the same item bought used. Used gear is more than good enough to start a real estate photography business — the photos coming out of a used Sony A7 III are identical to one bought brand new. If budget is a concern, buy used and put the savings into marketing and client acquisition instead.
Stay in the loop
Intermediate gear guide coming soon.

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You've got your gear. Now what?
Now let's talk about
how to shoot.

Gear is only half the equation. My shooting technique guide walks you through my exact camera settings, on-site workflow, and room order — everything you need to walk into your first listing with confidence.

Read the shooting guide →