Which camera should I buy? For Beginners
- Ashley Einav Eshel
- May 12, 2022
- 3 min read
Updated: May 20, 2022
One of the most confusing aspects of photography for beginners is nothing other than the number of cameras that are available on the market today.
It's not just that there are tons of brands out there, nowadays, there are hundreds of models to choose from.
Specifically, those are the four main types of digital cameras: compact, bridge, DSLR and mirrorless cameras.
And to make matters even more confusing, your smartphone already takes pretty great photos too.
With that in mind, let's take a look at a few tips in order to help you to decide which camera should you buy.
Tip #1 - What do you want to shoot?
It all depends on what you want to shoot
It’s an obvious question, but a good one to ask- Why do you want to buy a camera?
Is it for traveling? Cinematography? Commercials? Weddings? Portraits? Real Estate Videos? YouTube videos? Vlogs?
What do you want to shoot?
You must ask yourself those five questions:
1. Would you say you're a beginner?
2. Are you considering a career in photography?
3. How important is video for you?
4. Do you take a lot of pictures on your smartphone on a daily basis?
5. How about something well-rounded? A good, average camera?
After deciding what's best for you, you can move on to the next tip.
Tip #2 - Price Range
What’s your budget?
Eventually, You don’t have to spend a fortune to find the camera that is right for you.
Many models that are priced higher are loaded with features that you might never use.
On the flip side, spending too little may result in a camera that’s disappointing, With smartphones taking such good photos these days.
Look at the list and see what's suits you:
-Less than 350$- Use your smartphone
-$350-$800- A Beginner
-$900-$3500- A Prosumer
-$900-$4000- A Pro
Tip #3 - Resolution
What do you prefer? 4K or 1080p?
typically 1080p/Full HD, 4K on the latest cameras. Shooting 4K footage gives some flexibility during the editing process, even if your final output will be 1080p, but the files tend to be a lot larger and require more storage and a more powerful machine for editing.
In my opinion, 1080p is absolutely fantastic for beginners, prosumers, and pros.
If you want more information about the differences between 1080p and 4K, check out this great tutorial-
Tip #4 - Camera company
Which company should I buy from?
There are a lot of different companies which sell cameras.
Now let’s take a look at the biggest cameras companies out there (Those are the main three):
1. Canon- If you’re looking for a reliable and popular brand in a digital camera, look no further than Canon.
PROS
-Canon lenses have a superior depth of field. This trait is a great perk for people that love taking detailed photographs.
-Canon cameras, even entry ones, have excellent build quality.
-Very good phase detection.
-The best white balance and color tones on the market, real video autofocus in a DSLR body.
CONS
-Canon's Light/high ISO performance.
-Canon does not have the best live view autofocus without one of the newest bodies.
2. Nikon- Nikon's suit any budget or genre of photography. And it is also known for performance and image quality.
PROS
-Nikon’s Wi-Fi is excellent. Transferring images from camera to phone happens easily and quickly for most Nikon cameras.
-The dynamic range of Nikon cameras, as pointed out earlier, is also pretty good!
-Nikon’s low light capabilities with the ISO turned up are also exceptional.
-Nikon’s speed and accuracy when it comes to focusing is at the top of the industry.
CONS
-Nikon’s lens selection is slightly more limited than Canon’s.
-Entry Nikon cameras have slightly lower build quality than comparable Canon cameras, especially when it comes to weather-sealing.
3. Sony- Of course, Sony makes exceptional cameras and is considered one of the best camera brands. Sony creates a selection of powerful full-frame mirrorless digital cameras that deliver incredible image quality.
PROS
-Electronic Viewfinder.
-Image Stabilization.
-Eye Autofocus.
-Size.
-Image Quality.
CONS
-Battery Life.
-Only 1 SD Card Slot.
-Low Light Autofocus.
-Lack of Budget Lenses.
Of course there are also Fujifilm, Panasonic and etc.
Tip #5 - Don't Forget About The Lens
Lens are also very important
It is not only about buying a camera body.
A camera without lens is useless to a photographer. The lens is what focuses light from what you see through the viewfinder into a tiny 35mm-50mm spot on the back of your film, DSLR, or mirrorless camera.
If you choose a DSLR, the options you have in terms of lenses are almost endless but you have to be aware that the price rises accordingly.
(Stay tuned for a guide about "which lens should I buy" (coming soon...))
Bonus Tip - Take a photography class
If you spend a lot of money, why not using it right?
A part of the process of buying a camera is knowing how to use it right.
I think that you deserve to know how to use a camera after purchasing it.
Don't be scared to "spend" more money on taking a photography basis course.
Whether you want to become a professional photographer pro or not, you must know how to use a camera on a daily base skill before you go out there and start shooting.
Trust me, it is worth the money.
My recommendation for an online course (of filmmaking) is "Full Time Filmmaker"-
Ashley's Recommendation
The camera that I use is called "Sonya6500". I have shot with it plenty of videos with an amazing quality and millions of portraits, It is an absolutely incredible camera.
I think that for good image quality, you need to plan to spend at least $450, but you can certainly get away with less if you just want more versatility than what your phone offers, an expensive camera won’t make you a better photographer.
Those are my favorite cameras for beginners who want to become successful in filmmaking but mostly in photography:
1. Canon EOS M50 (600$)
2. Sony Alpha a6000 (490$)
3. Canon Digital SLR Camera Body [EOS 80D] (620$)
4. Nikon D3500 DSLR Camera (690$)
Final Words
Lastly, knowing more a little bit about cameras can go a long way in helping you become a successful photographer.
Buy a camera, learn how to use it, and experiment until you reach its limitations. Then, and only then, think about upgrading.
Leave me a comment below if you have any questions, and happy snapping!
Click Here if you want to learn more about LENS (I'll add a link soon...)
©2022ashleyeshelworld article written by 'Einav Eshel Ashley' on 12.05.22 10:25pm
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