There is no denying that photography can be an expensive hobby. Costs can be reduced, however, without sacrificing quality, reliability and durability, so you can maximize your budget and buy more of the gear you'd love to have. Here are three methods that will allow you to stretch your dollars when buying new photography equipment.

1.Focus on the Lens

It's likely that other than your DSLR/MILC (Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera), the next most-costly piece of photography gear is a lens. You may own a Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus or Panasonic model since these companies dominate the market. If you purchased a Canon, Nikon, Sony or Olympus camera, then you probably purchased it with their respective 18–55mm or 14–42mm “kit lens”; therefore, you may already have a lens from the same manufacturer. The question you must ask yourself, however, is” “When I want to take advantage of my camera's imaging capabilities, do I actually need a lens (or lenses) from the same company as my camera?”

If you are a hobbyist or enthusiast DSLR photographer (as most are), then you don't need to spend the budget-busting prices of your camera's brand lenses to produce professional quality images. When it comes to buying additional lenses, you may want to consider the option of a company that specializes in designing and manufacturing high-performance lenses – and at a value price. That company is Rokinon.

You benefit in three ways when you choose the Rokinon option.

• There is a large selection of Rokinon lenses with mounts that are compatible with all major camera manufacturers' models: Canon EF/EF-S, Nikon F, Sony A, Sony E and Olympus/Panasonic micro 4/3 as well as Pentax K, Olympus 4/3, Samsung NX, Fujifilm X, Nikon 1 and Canon M.
  
  
• Rokinon lenses are known for their quality construction and performance parameters that are essentially equal to and sometimes even surpass Canon, Nikon, Sony and other manufacturers' lenses.
  
  
• Rokinon lenses costs half or less of their Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus and other OEM counterparts and all include a removable (reversible for storage) or built-in lens hood, lens pouch and certificate of performance.
  
  
• An additional benefit is that all Rokinon lenses give you complete control and the precision feel of manual focus and aperture directly on the lens. You'll have the opportunity to develop your photographer's eye and improve your camera skills without relying on your camera's auto-focus, which does not always focus on the most important part of the subject, according to your vision of the shot.

The Rokinon 24mm f/1.4 Aspherical Wide-Angle Lens

For landscape, travel, street life and everyday photography subjects, the Rokinon 24mm f/1.4 is an excellent choice. It provides 84.1 degrees angle of view in full frame 35mm and 57.6 degrees in APS-C format. The 13 Ultra Multi-Coated precision glass elements in 12 groups include 2 aspherical elements to produce quality images, as Popular Photography discovered during its review and tests. (View full specs here) 

“…the Rokinon (24mm f/1.4) turned in excellent sharpness and contrast numbers, with results almost identical to those of the Canon 24mm f/1.4 and slightly better than those of the comparable Nikon…” Popular Photography

This Rokinon lens is available in Canon EF/EF-S, Nikon, Sony A, Sony E, Pentax K, Olympus/Panasonic Micro 4/3 and Olympus 4/3 mounts.

24mm f/1.4 Price Comparison

The Rokinon 35mm f/1.4 Wide-Angle Lens

This is the focal length that professionals love – for group shots, landscapes, low-light, hand-held shooting and a multitude of other shooting situations. Not only is this a great lens for still photography, but also produces sharp, stunning video. Its 12 Ultra Multi-Coated precision glass elements in 10 groups, including 1 aspherical element, have been carefully designed and manufactured for optimum sharpness and clarity. You'll also like the easy-to-read focusing scale – and it costs much less of all equivalent lenses.

The Rokinon 35mm f/1.4 lens is available in Canon EF/EF-S, Nikon, Sony A, Sony E, Pentax K, Olympus/Panasonic micro 4/3, Olympus 4/3, Fuji X and Samsung NX mounts. If you own a Canon or Nikon DSLR, then it is also available with the added bonus of a built-in focus confirm chip for auto aperture and auto exposure. (View full specs here)

“A classic 35 that plays nice with many mounts…In the Popular Photography Test Lab, the lens produced Excellent SQF scores, even at maximum aperture, indicating first-rate sharpness and contrast.” Popular Photography

35mm f/1.4 Price Comparison

The Rokinon 85mm f/1.4 Tele Portrait Lens

If your particular photographic passion is portraits, then the Rokinon 85mm f/1.4 is the lens for you. With 9 Ultra Multi-Coated precision glass elements in 7 groups, this Rokinon lens is more compact and lighter in weight than its OEM counterparts. Its versatile medium-telephoto angle-of-view and shallow depth of field renders razor-sharp detail, high contrast, true color reproduction and amazing background blur, or bokeh. (View full specs here)

“This lens is sharp as a tack…the lens produced Excellent SQF scores at 11x14 at all apertures…Of the four lenses mentioned above (Nikon, Sigma, Sony, and Carl Zeiss 85mm f1.4s), only the 85mm f/1.4G Nikon AF-S…outperformed it.” Popular Photography

85mm f/1.4 Price Comparison

2.Save Even More with Reconditioned Photo Gear

If you're new to DSLR photography, don't want to make a major investment in equipment until you know your interest will last, or a photography student, then previously owned gear is a money-saving alterative you should seriously consider. Benefits include:

• The best used-equipment companies thoroughly inspect and recondition each piece according to manufacturers' specifications and then provide as much as a 6-month warranty.
  
  
• Used equipment companies can have a wider selection of products, including those that were recently discontinued.
  
  
• Because used equipment is more affordable, you may be able to accelerate your photography education and experience, which may otherwise stall as you wait to save the money for new equipment.

3.Buy with a Photo Buddy.

Many photography instructors and professionals encourage new and hobbyist photographers to learn and shoot with a photo buddy. You may be able to connect with a photographer at the same skill and enthusiasm level through PhotographyTalk.com's forum or by becoming a member of your local photography club. You and your buddy could share in the cost of lenses and other equipment to use when shooting together or individually. Another option is for you to buy a piece of equipment and your buddy to buy a different lens or accessory at a similar price, thus establishing ownership, but making the equipment available to both of you.

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