Hey there and welcome back! Ready to dive into the mesmerizing world of pixels, lenses, and ISOs?
Today we are going to be talking about something I’ve been asked quite a bit in the past…. how to choose your next camera. Picking your next camera can be confusing and overwhelming. But don't sweat it, I've got your back!
Choosing your next camera
Before you start being overwhelmed by image quality, interchangeable lenses, image stabilization, sensor size, amongst other things, I want you to focus on the three most important ones (at least in my opinion):
These three things are going to decide for you. I do want to make it very clear that yes, there are more factors that are important when you are choosing your next camera but I think these are the ones that will seal the deal. Keep reading and I'll explain why.
Purpose
Let's talk about 'Purpose'. Are you the kind of person who captures landscapes that would make Ansel Adams weep with joy, or are you more into street photography like the legendary Henri Cartier-Bresson? Each genre requires a specific set of features, so this will significantly influence your choice.
There are different types of photography and below I've included a list with some examples. Not all of these are my images (they are stock images) as not all of these are my area of photography but I did want to show you in case you are not sure about what your style is.
Portrait
Wedding
Sports
Product
Food
Landscape
Street
Wildlife
I know this doesn't look a lot like wildlife but this is New Zealand's wildlife... We don't have snakes, lions, or anything like that, just pretty birds.
Astrophotography
Night
Travel
So, ask yourself ‘what do I want to photograph?’ The answer can be multiple things so don’t get scared if this is your case. I, for example, shoot portraits, sports, and products for the most part but now and again I shoot some landscapes and food. It’s normal to have different niches so don’t be afraid to branch out. In this case, pick the one you will be doing the most.
Once you get your answer, you should start listing the things your camera must have. So if you are into sports photography, your camera requires a high frames-per-second rate (unless you are photographing chess) so you can freeze the athletes' movements. If you are into landscapes then you might not need a super high frames per second rate because you will mostly be shooting long exposure shots and instead you'll need a camera with a good low light performance. So have a think about that. It is very important to be completely honest.
If you have several areas you want to cover, I recommend you start with the one you practice the most and then move to the second most important one. See what features overlap and what are you missing and make a list. Make sure to mark the things that are a ‘must’ and the ones that are ‘nice to have’. Take your time, there is really no rush.
Experience
This one is a tricky one and let me explain why. When we talk about ‘Experience’, I’m not just talking about the years you’ve been taking pictures, I’m talking about how you feel behind the camera. This can really make you love your camera and photography or stress and want to quit (yes I know I’m dramatic but it can be that way).
So to me, it is something like this… Let’s say I have never cooked in my life and one day I decide I’m going to make a grilled cheese or ‘cheese toastie’ as they call them here in New Zealand. Pretty simple right? And all of a sudden I need to bake the bread, make the butter, and cheese from scratch plus learn how to use the sandwich press or pan if I want to do it on the stove... Can you see how easily it can get overwhelming?
The same happens with your camera. If you’ve never had a digital camera or a film camera and all of a sudden you get this top-of-the-line professional mirrorless camera, it can be like doing a sandwich from scratch where you have all these amazing things that your camera can do while you are trying to understand how to shoot in manual and that’s not what you want. The camera should help you and work with you and not work against you by giving you more questions than answers. So be realistic about what you need and what you can operate.
I started with a Nikon D3500 which was my mom’s. Once I felt comfortable with that camera and I felt like I needed a little bit more, I moved up to the Nikon D5600, after that the D7500 and lastly, I moved to my beloved Nikon Z7ii. I know it doesn’t sound like big step-ups but even if it was only one more thing that I needed to learn how to set up, it was a lot easier to learn one thing at a time rather than 20.
Budget
Now, onto 'Budget'. Again, a camera is just a tool. A more expensive gadget won't automatically transform you into a world-renowned photographer. It's all about how you use it! Be realistic about what you can afford and remember to set some money aside for accessories like lenses, camera bag, and perhaps, extra batteries. Just be aware that these can be really expensive.
Other important factors
Camera Type
There are a few camera types that you can choose from. I've included a brief explanation below to help you out a little bit. If you have any questions though, feel free to send me an email and I can try to help you as much as I can.
DSLR cameras
Digital Single-Lens Reflex or DSLR cameras received their name because they use the same lens for framing, focusing and snaping the picture. Not really that important to know when you are buying your first camera but I love those nerdy fun facts. Anyway, these are known for their optical viewfinders allowing photographers to see exactly what the lens sees.
Just as a quick note, the DSLR camera uses a mirror mechanism to reflect light from the lens to an optical viewfinder. This is the main difference with mirrorless cameras so I think it is worth mentioning.
DSLRs are versatile and favored for their excellent image quality, robust build, and a wide range of interchangeable lenses. However, they can be very big and heavy (especially if you are going for a full-frame sensor one - more on that coming up).
The entry-level models are very good as a starting point and they will not leave you bankrupt.
Mirrorless cameras
Mirrorless cameras, as the name suggests, lack the traditional mirror mechanism found in DSLRs. In the mirrorless camera system, the light directly reaches the camera's image sensor which makes the digital camera a lot lighter and more compact.
Mirrorless cameras offer fast autofocus, advanced video capabilities, and are increasingly popular for their portability and versatility.
On the down side, the starting price for these digital cameras is a lot higher than the DSLRs.
Micro Four-Thirds Cameras
Micro Four Thirds cameras (also called Micro 4/3, MFT or M4/3) are a type of mirrorless camera that cover a wide variety of styles and options, but their common feature is their sensor size.
I will talk about the sensor size later so for now, all you need to know is that a Micro Four Thirds camera is like a smaller version of an interchangeable lens camera.
Compact Cameras (better known as Point-and-Shoot Cameras)
Point-and-shoot cameras, or compact cameras, are designed for simplicity and convenience. They're lightweight, small, easy to use, and often feature automatic modes.
While they may have limitations in manual controls and image quality compared to more advanced options, they're great for casual photographers and everyday use. They are also great for practicing composition and experimenting.
Bridge cameras
Bridge cameras are the bridge between point-and-shoot and DSLR/Mirrorless cameras. They often have larger zoom ranges, more manual controls, and electronic viewfinders. Bridge cameras are suitable for those who want more features than a point-and-shoot without the complexity of interchangeable lenses.
Action Cameras
Action cameras are extremely compact, rugged devices designed to capture high-quality video and stills in extreme conditions. They are commonly used for sports, outdoor activities, and vlogging.
Action cameras are known for their durability, wide-angle lenses, and ease of use.
This brief overview should help you navigate the diverse world of cameras. Each type caters to different needs, preferences, and skill levels.
Sensor Size
The 'Sensor Size' is like the camera's eye. A larger sensor means more surface area to capture light which results in better image quality, especially in low light conditions.
There are 3 main camera sensors you’re likely to find when shopping for a digital camera:
1 Inch (or smaller): commonly found in some compact cameras
APS-C: this sensor size, also known as cropped sensor, is found in advanced compact cameras, mirrorless cameras and DSLRs
Full Frame: just like the cropped sensor, this can be found in advanced compacts, mirrorless cameras and DSLRs
Professional photographers commonly use full-frame sensor or advanced APS-C sensor cameras. However, larger sensors often mean larger and heavier cameras and heftier price tags. Balance is key here!
If you have the budget, a full-frame camera is a wonderful investment, but not a necessary one in my personal opinion. I think that if you are a beginner or an enthusiast photographer, a cropped sensor is a better option. This way, your camera body won't be as heavy or as big as a full-frame one and you will be more inclined to get it out on the field more often than not. Also, an APS-C sensor camera body will offer you the option of kit lenses which have a reasonable price. Fixed (also known as 'prime') and zoom lenses for these types of digital cameras are a lot more affordable so it is a good starting point.
Now, I should also mention that the sensor size on interchangeable lens camera will also affect the ‘crop factor’. PetaPixel described the crop factor as the ratio of the 35mm full-frame diagonal to the diagonal of a smaller crop sensor.
I'll try to be brief with this explanation as I don't to give you a headache... In the film photography era, the 35mm film was (or I guess it became with time) the dominant still photography film format. A 35mm sensor has a diagonal that measures 43.3mm. Once the digital cameras came around, there was no longer a constraint to the sensor size because it could be anything that the manufacturer wanted. So as a result, some cameras are full-frame (meaning the same size as a 35mm film camera sensor), some are smaller than full-frame, and some are larger than full-frame.
This difference between the camera sensor and the 35mm film is known as the 'crop factor', also known as the 'format factor' or 'focal length multiplier'. This is expressed mathematically and it is a number that tells us how the lens behaves with the size of the sensor.
Note that this crop factor doesn't affect how the lens performs. It just means that if you have a 35mm lens, this might behave as a 50mm lens instead due to the sensor size.
I will write a post about this so don't worry too much about this right now.
Resolution & Image Quality
When considering 'Resolution', remember that more megapixels don't always equal better images. They do, however, provide more flexibility in cropping and printing large-size photos.
Lens System
Let's not forget the 'Lens System'. The flexibility to change lenses is what sets DSLRs and mirrorless cameras apart from compacts. If you're keen on exploring different styles of photography, this feature is a must.
User Interface and Ergonomics
Last, but certainly not least, 'User Interface and Ergonomics' can make or break your experience. If the camera feels uncomfortable in your hands, or the menu seems like it's written in an alien language, it's probably not the right choice. So I really recommend you go to a camera store and give them all a try. See how they feel, what you like, and what you don’t.
Recommendations
Right so here are a few things I wished someone told me when I was looking for my next best friend:
Go to Google and search for the cameras within your budget. With the available options, start checking the specs. You will find that there are more than a few options that will suit you and that is ok. Once you have a few that you are interested in, I think the best thing to do is go to a store where you can see, touch, and use them. I'm sure once you grab them one will click with you and you will know that’s the right one.
You don’t have to use all your budget! I was always like ‘I have $1000, I need to spend it all’ and that’s absolutely not true.
If you ever get overwhelmed with the choice of cameras, let online reviews be your guide. User ratings can provide valuable insight into the real-world performance and features of a camera model. YouTube offers a lot of reviews where you can see the photographers’ experiences and how the cameras work. Just remember to read/watch them with 'a grain of salt' – everyone has their own preferences and biases.
Make sure to add the cost of the accessories you may need for your camera into your budget. In addition to lenses, you may want to invest in spare batteries, memory cards, lights and other gear depending on the type of photography that interests you. And don't forget about the importance of good quality photo editing software for post-processing your images! With the right combination of hardware and software, you should be ready to capture stunning photos with your camera.
It is always a good idea to check out second-hand shops. Not only you can find cameras, but lenses and accessories as well. That can reduce the cost significantly while you are still learning.
Be realistic! No matter which camera you decide to buy, make sure it meets your needs and it adapts to you. Don’t go for the biggest most powerful one if you are not going to use it to its full potential. At the same time, pick a camera you can grow into. I know it seems contradictory but try to find a balance. Don’t buy something that will limit you but don’t buy something that will give you more problems than solutions.
Remember, choosing a camera is a personal journey. Take your time, do your research, and most importantly, have fun with it! Because in the end, it's not about the camera, but the person behind it.
Happy shooting!📷✨
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