As a professional photographer, I always get asked what the best beginner camera to buy is, so to save me repeating myself all the time, I thought I’d write this up quickly for you guys!
Do you have a budget in mind?
Consumer products are almost always prices according to quality, I’m no expert, that’s just my experience and understanding. So it’s only natural, to think the more expensive a camera is, the better one you’ll get, it’s not always the case, but with digital SLRs, it is.
But that’s not to say you should go out and buy the most expensive one you can afford. You see, there are other factors to think of.
There’s a few options, but here’s just a couple.
Expensive body and cheap/kit lens
The good thing about having a more expensive body, is that it would probably have more functions, so things like in-camera double exposure, HDR, higher and cleaner ISO, touch screen etc.
But then you’ll be left with a mediocre lens that won’t get you the sharp and crisp images that the camera body is capable of.
Cheap/Second hand body and expensive lens
If you decided to get a cheaper body, and a good quality lens, then you’ll be able to get crisp and sharp images. But may not have the capabilities to get those sharp images in low light for example.
So a good solution, would be to have a good second hand body, and a good quality lens.
What camera do I use?
Personally, I use a Canon 5D Mark IV (affiliate link), and a Mark III, with a host of professional lenses. But that’s because I need certain features like dual memory card slots, incase once card fails, I’d have a back up. It’s also very good at low-light, perfect for those dark churches, it’s also weather sealed too, exactly what I need to get those rain shots at weddings!
But I’ve also taken my son’s Canon 1100D (£100 second hand) out for photos too, I’ve used it along with a Canon 50mm f1.8 (affiliate link), and can still get perectly great photos!
Why did you choose Canon?
I ended up using Canon, simply because, at the time of purchasing, Boots had a deal on a Canon 450D. I gradually upgraded my lenses, then upgraded the body, so I’m stuck with Canon, unless I decide to jump ship, sell all and buy it all back at a different brand again.
Obviously, a photograph is only as good as the photographer, so jumping brands isn’t gonig to make a difference in your photography. However, I have been considering Sony mirrorless cameras, only because they’re lighter, and they have an articulating screen. That’s really not a good enough reason for me to be loosing money switching! So I may look into the Canon EOS-R (affiliate link) at some point in the future.
But what camera do I buy?
You should have worked out by now, there really is no right or wrong answer to this, it’s it’s usually centred around your budget and needs. I really do suggest you visit specialised camera shops like Camarthen Cameras, tell them your situation, and they can talk you through the options. Make sure to hold different cameras too, as they all feel different. When I first held a Nikon D800 after shooting with a Canon 5D Mark III for years, I loved the Nikon, and had wished I’d picked up a Nikon initially!
Learn photography
So you’ve bought your camera, and you need to learn how to use it? If you’re not into learning yourself, and you don’t want to trawl through hundreds of YouTube videos skipping irrelevant parts, you could always get some Free Photography Training! Where you can learn at your own pace, it’s full of great reading material to help you learn the basics of using a digital SLR right up to the creative photography!
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