Whether you are a serious photographer or a casual one, choosing a camera can be tricky. There are so many things to know and consider when making that important decision. Hopefully, these 6 things can help you make the right choice for you!
Point and Shoot vs. DSLR
The question you need to ask yourself is: What kind of photos are you looking to shoot? For many people, a point and shoot is all you need. But in many other cases, you might want to bring your photography to the next level. If you are opting for the more simple option, you may want to consider a point and shoot. However, phone cameras these days are becoming more and more advanced.
If you have a smart phone, that might be all you need, but you can find other point and shoot cameras that have the ability to zoom farther and possibly achieve higher quality photos. If you’re looking for higher quality, though, you might want to consider getting a DSLR, or Digital Single Lens Reflex camera. These cameras allow you to change lenses and manually choose exposure and focus settings at a completely different level.
If you are looking to purchase a DSLR, keep reading!
Brand
There are plenty of brands to choose from, which can be a blessing and a curse. Of course there are the typical two rivals, Nikon and Canon, but there are a lot of other contenders such as Sony, Fujifilm, Pentax, Olympus, Leica, etc.
Traditionally, Nikon is known for doing better with still photographs, while Canon is known to be better with video, but truthfully, you can achieve great photos and video with both brands. Sony, too, is moving up in the game and plenty of people are switching to Sony.
Personally, I use Nikon because it is what I started with and it is what I am used to. I have been completely satisfied with Nikon so far, so I would definitely recommend it! That being said though, it’s really all about preference.
There are plenty of places that will rent out cameras (and lenses) so you can try them out before you buy them. If you want to try different brands without the commitment, renting is a great option!
Price Range
Are you a beginner photographer? Advanced? Professional? There is a camera for every level. If you are a beginner, I definitely recommend getting a beginner camera until you learn the more technical skills involved with photography. The higher quality cameras can allow you to create higher quality images, but you won’t be able to get those images until you know more about how to use the camera.
Some great beginner DSLR cameras I would recommend are the Nikon D3200 or D3400 or the Canon T5i or T6i. Once you feel like you are being limited by your equipment, instead of the other way around, that’s when it’s time to upgrade!
Features and Specifications
What kinds of things will you be taking photos of? The features and specifications of the camera are important when answering that question. For example, if you will be using your camera in dark situations, like at concerts, a dimly-lit wedding venue or the night sky, you will want a camera that can perform well in these specific circumstances.
You want to look for a camera that maintains quality photographs at a high ISO, or International Organization of Standardization. The ISO determines how sensitive the camera’s sensor is to the light. The higher you set your ISO, the more you compromise the quality of the image, so it’s important to choose a camera that is designed to perform better in low light.
Look for cameras with a higher range in ISO. Ranges start at 100 ISO but can go to anywhere from 6,400 (in the Nikon D3200, a beginner camera) all the way up to 102,400 (in the Nikon D5, a professional camera).
Other specifications you need to look at are sensor sizes, aperture, focus points and shutter speeds. But you’re a beginner, you will do best getting a beginner camera and learning the importance of these things in a hands-on way. There are too many details on this subject to cover in this post alone, so I will come back to this subject another time!
Ergonomics and Size
If you plan on carrying your camera around for long periods of time, it’s important to make sure it is comfortable. This may not be a significant factor to some people, but it’s definitely something to consider. Do you travel a lot? It might be a good idea to find something more compact. Of course, you can travel with a big camera, it just depends on what you are willing to manage.
User Interface
If you’re new to DSLR cameras, there will be a bit of a learning curve when navigating the menu and settings. Since each brand is different, each has its own style of user interface. If you want to get a taste for what each brand has to offer, you can try out cameras at an electronics store or, again, you can rent a couple different cameras and see what works best for you! It’s important to be able to navigate your camera efficiently so don’t miss that once-in-a-lifetime shot!
There are definitely more things that you can consider, but these are the six main things that I personally take into consideration before I buy a new camera. If you have a camera that you love and are comfortable with, it will show in your photography!
What are the things you look for in a camera? What aspects did I leave out? Let me know in the comments!
∆ Abbi