What camera should I buy? (2018 edition)



This is probably one of the most asked questions by anyone looking to get into photography. To be fair, there are way too many choices out there, so let's do our best to tackle this question as objectively as possible.

First off, I need to let you readers know that I have owned and used a tremendous amount of different cameras over the years. From smartphone cameras to point-and-shoot models to industry-leading DSLRs to mirrorless and everything in-between. That being said, I obviously have my preferences. This post will not spend time on that. I'll try to be as quick and concise as possible. Here goes:

1. Get what you can afford, but be reasonable. Seriously. If you can't afford much, I would advise save up to expand your options. If you are looking for the perfect camera, then you will be majorly disappointed, because it doesn't exist. I DO know that unless you are willing to spend more than 100 dollars, then you probably wont' find anything worth buying. Photography is an expensive hobby. There are certainly ways to save money, but that usually comes with compromises and some of those compromises are not worth it.

2. Know what your needs are.  Do you like to travel? Then consider the weight of a DSLR vs maybe a smaller mirrorless camera. Do you want to photograph sports and wildlife? Then consider the ability of your camera lens to zoom in and stop any action. Do you just want to take nice portraits of people? Then pretty much any camera will do in the right lighting conditions. Each kind of photography demands certain things if you wish to really enhance your photos in that area. Knowing what you want to achieve can save you lots of money down the road.

3. Here's my specific recommendations: If you are planning to learn photography and want something that will grow with you, then I'd recommend an interchangeable lens camera such as a Canon Rebel or similar entry-level DSLR. You can find these online for decent prices, and if you are willing to trust a refurbished item (I think you should), then you can get amazing deals on these kinds of cameras.

If you just want a camera that can take nice pictures, then you need to decide how much money you plan to spend for those. While a DSLR is a "nice camera", they have the drawbacks of being complicated beasts and often too large or heavy to carry around. I know myself that I don't like carrying around my DSLR when I'm traveling or exploring because it's just too cumbersome and I end up fussing with things rather than enjoying my trip.

For something a bit smaller and simpler, consider a mirrorless camera from Fuji or Sony or Olympus or Panasonic (these are the current industry leaders, avoid Nikon and Canon brands for mirrorless right now). These cameras offer smaller alternatives to larger clunky DSLRs, but also provide the complexity for growth while taking excellent images. In fact, Mirrorless cameras are the up-and-coming trend in digital photography. They offer lightweight alternatives to DSLRs with similar image quality. The most major compromises with these systems are battery life, but an extra battery or two is all you need to mitigate that.


4. Lastly, don't buy an expensive camera if you are not willing to learn how to use it.  Let us be real here: laying down hundreds of dollars on a new camera just to shoot everything in automatic mode is not a good idea. In fact, it's a waste of money. I run into lots of people who just hate their photos and yet when they spent 8-900 dollars on that new DSLR kit and lenses they expected their photos to come out like a seasoned national geographic photographer. Ain't gonna happen. You need to educate yourself on how to use your camera. Start with the instruction manual. Then read this blog. There are plenty of tips in the archives in this blog that will give you a good start on your photography journey.

If you have further questions, let me know in the comments. I'm always happy to give advice that is more specific to the needs of each person.

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