Which camera should I buy?
I’ll often get asked about entry into the photo/video world. Where do I start? What gear is essential? And which camera is the best? The advice I give depends on several factors:
Budget (How much are you willing to spend?)
Goals (What do you want to capture and how well?)
Commitment (Wanna shoot for money or just a hobby?)
Once I have an idea on those, I’m able to give much more specific advice on what to buy. But since I’m writing this article to a vague audience, I’ll be vague in my advice. Still, I hope these guidelines will help as you explore all of your options. Let’s start with some basics!
You take pictures, not your camera - Wanna insult a photgrapher? Tell them their camera takes good photos.
Lenses are more important than camera bodies - A stupid lens on a pro body limits you to stupid pictures. A pro lens on a stupid body (within reason) can take great pictures
Don’t buy above your skill - If you waste money on specs you don’t need, you will stunt your learning. Let your skills overtake your gear. It’s cheaper and makes upgrading so satisfying.
Don’t buy kits - Kit lenses are usually terrible and you would do better saving money buying a body only and then purchasing a good prime lens separately (Prime = fixed length, so no zooming. Good zoom lenses are much more expensive)
Dual card slots - If you want to shoot professionally (especially weddings), you need two card slots
With that in mind, let’s take a look at camera brands. As you begin your journey, it’s important to pick a camera brand that fits your goals and accommodates your personality. It’s almost like picking a phone. Once you decide iPhone or Android, there isn’t much room for going back. Camera brands are like that too. Because you aren’t just going to buy a camera; you’re going to buy lenses and add ons that won’t be compatible with other brands, so committing to a brand is a major first step. Let’s just look at the major brands:
Nikon - Back in the day, the battle was between Nikon and Canon. Those were the only two serious contenders, and pros felt quite strongly about their team. Nowadays, Nikon isn’t what it used to be. When most brands went mirrorless, Nikon joined with a subpar entry (the Z series). Those cameras had out of date auto focus, ok specs, and average lens options. That put them behind, and I wouldn’t recommend Nikon to anyone just starting out. Their cameras are fine, but not the best options, and the company as a whole is just behind.
Canon - Currently, Canon is exiting a slump in which their products were lagging behind Sony, who for a while was the leader in the camera industry as far as performance, quality, and affordability (especially for video). The EOS R and RP were Canon’s “here ya go” entries into the mirrorless world and they weren’t great. Canon’s status as a second tier option all changed when they released the R6 and the R5 in 2020 and finally caught up to Sony. Today, I would place Canon and Sony as the top two options for any amateur or professional. Canon lenses are also some of the best in the whole industry.
Sony - Sony’s tend to appeal to the tech nerds and the enthusiasts alike. Their camera bodies are admittedly less fun and user friendly than a Canon or Nikon (and especially fuji), but Sony delivers on specs and quality, and is known for not holding back. They have lost some ground since their revolutionary a7sii and a7iii back in the 2015-2019 era in which they dominated the mirrorless world, as Canon has made up a lot of territory and encroached on (and in some cases overtaken) Sony’s domain. As far as autofocus, Sony and Canon are at the top. Sony still remains a solid choice and offers great native lenses as well as more third party lens options than Canon.
Fujifilm - Fuji’s are typically attractive to hobbyists who love the indie look of an old school camera body, but with the quality of 2024. Fujifilm makes smaller cameras with lots of dials and buttons, and their cameras look like they shoot film, but are actually capable of what you would expect in a modern camera body. As far as specs, they get the job done and can be used for professional work. They aren’t the first choice for most pros, but have put out a lot of good stuff recently. Their lens options are not going to be as accessible or vast as a Sony, Canon, or Nikon, though. I would recommend a Fuji to someone who travels a lot and wants to do street or documentary style photography.
Lumix (Panasonic) - I honestly don’t know much about Lumix, and have never shot with one. Some years ago, the GH5 was one of the best options for video, and was later replaced by the Netflix approved S1H. These are solid video cameras, but I don’t know much about their photography capabilities. They are L-mount, which gives more flexibility with lens options. I don’t see these as much as I used to, but if you are looking for a cheap used video camera, picking up one of these wouldn’t be a bad move.
Ok, now that you have a brief overview of the brands, let’s talk about specifics. Let’s say you have a $1500 budget, what would I recommend?
If you gave me no context and asked what camera is my top recommendation for a solid entry level body that will enable you to shoot incredible pictures and videos for the cheapest amount, the Canon R8 is almost a cheat code. The main con for me is that it only has one card slot (and bad battery life). But besides that, it’s an absolute monster, currently going for $1,200 on Amazon (click the picture to view on Amazon). I won’t nerd out too much on the specs, but let’s just say that Canon didn’t have to make this camera as good as they did. It shoots at the level of $3k cameras but costs less than half as much. If you put this body in my hands I could shoot videos and pictures at pretty much the same level that I do with my $3k R6ii. As I mentioned, there are some drawbacks, but you can’t find another camera this good for this cheap. And right now, I think Canon is the best brand to commit to. They are churning out bodies, lenses, and upgrades faster than anyone else, and they seem on the rise.
So what about lenses? I already mentioned that buying kits is usually not smart, so I would recommend buying the body only. That leaves you about $300 for a good lens. In this case, you can’t go wrong with the “nifty” 50. It’s a classic and performs great for $125(!). This lens isn’t professional grade, but if you are just starting out, you’ll be quite pleased with the images this little stud can help you produce. It’s got a super low f/stop (1.8), which can allow you to shoot in low light. It’s lightweight as well, making it great for travel. Obviously there are drawbacks to any lens that costs $125, but for the value, it’s hard to beat! (click the link to shop on Amazon).
There ya go! My broad advice as well as a couple specific recommendations. I’m passionate about photography and I love spreading that joy to anyone who wants to join me in this amazing hobby!
