There aren’t many essential items. Actually three.
- Tent / Hammock
- Sleeping Bag
- Roll Mat / Airbed
Thats it, the tent / hammock is to protect you from the elements, a sleeping bag to keep you warm and the roll mat to stop you losing body heat to the ground.
Things like, cooking you can always eat out. If you really just want to try camping these are the essential items.
if you are going during our summer and warm nights are expected (nights not days) you could potentially use a quilt instead of sleeping bag, but you might feel the cold, remember your in a tent and not your normal bedroom.