CAMERA BUYING GUIDE

One question I get asked more often than anything is “What kind of camera should I get for my kids / spouse?”  So I thought I would put together a little something to help you in choosing a camera in your shopping.  While I am a professional photographer, I am not a professional camera retailer so I am sure there will be something I miss somewhere!  Forgive me 🙂

Now, please note.  Just as a gorgeous set of all-clad pans and shun knives will not make me Julia Child, the best camera equipment in the world will not make anyone a fantastic photographer.  Choosing a camera is just the start.  Whoever is getting the camera MUST MUST MUST learn to use it!! And I don’t mean just reading the manual.  But actually taking the time to learn what goes into photography.  At the end I will provide some resources for further learning!

Please note, Part Two of this article can be found here – Choosing a Lens

let's begin

TYPES OF CAMERAS

A quick breakdown of each type of camera on the market today.
point & shoots

Point and shoot cameras are the smallest and most simple of the options available.  With a P&S what you see is what you get.  A small body with a lens that goes out and retracts, a point and shoot can easily fit in a purse or small bag.  You might be able to get adaptors for the lens, but you are stuck with what you bought in terms of the lens focal length.

dslr

DSLR stands for Digital Single Lens Reflex.  Do you need to know that?  Nope.  All you need to know is that a DSLR is the camera where you have:
a camera body
a lens
This type of camera allows you to change the lenses.  You are not stuck with only the focal length that it came with.

mirrorless

Mirrorless cameras are the “new(ish) kid on the block” Mirrorless cameras are what they sound like – no mirror inside in front of the camera’s sensor.  You likely don’t need to worry about what the mirror does – just know that it’s the same as traditional DSLRs in terms of a body with interchangeable lenses.

Let's pause for a second for a quick intro to terms

Some terms / phrases to know that you might see that will greatly helping when choosing a camera:

  • Body – the body is the main part of the camera that the lens attaches to in a DSLR and mirrorless camera.  You can purchase bodies separately from lenses allowing for more customization
  • Lens – the front of the camera that light passes through that is used to make images.  (My post on lenses can be seen HERE!)
  • Focal length – how long the lens is – but not the *actual* length of the lens, instead it’s how far away the lens makes the subject appear.  Focal lengths range from 8mm to upwards of 600mm.  For reference, our eyes see at roughly 50mm.  So any lens longer than 50mm will be zoomed in a bit, while anything shorter will be what we call “wide angle”.  REALLY low numbers (roughly under 24) are super wide angle which give a fishbowl type of image.  And for a quick reference point, anything super low or super high will usually be super expensive 😉
  • Lenses can be PRIME or ZOOM.  A prime lens is a fixed focal length – for example a 50mm lens.  A zoom is where when you turn the lens you get a range of focal lengths – for example 24-70mm or 18-55mm or 70-200mm, etc..
  • Shutter – the part of the camera (in the lens) that opens and closes when you take a photo
  • Aperture – how wide that shutter opens or closes when you press the shutter button.

CHOOSING A CAMERA - POINT AND SHOOT CAMERAS

pros

Small and easily portable.  Great for travel and something to easily pull out and use.  You can basically open the box and use it; there really isn’t much of a learning curve at all, and entry price can be very low – under $50.  Prices can range from under $50 to well over $1000 for cameras with more advanced features.  There are many shooting presets on point and shoots – depending on the situation you simply choose the matching setting and the camera does the thinking for you in terms of settings.  They are often pretty quiet which is nice for many situations.  They also have a built-in flash which means you don’t need to add one for lower-light situations.

cons

Because it’s an all-in-one camera, there are a few drawbacks.  The first is that you have no other lens options.  You are stuck with what you bought.  Also, point and shoots have what we call “shutter lag” – this means when you push the shutter button there is a decent amount of time before the shutter actually opens and closes.  This results in lots of motion blur and missed shots.  There are often not advanced options on the lower end point and shoot cameras although as you spend more, the options become more plentiful.  Image quality is generally lower than DSLRs and Mirrorless systems because of lower quality sensors and smaller megapixel sizes.  Again, however, the more you spend those can change.

who is it good for?

Point and shoots are fantastic for younger kids (12 and under) who parents want to stop giving their phone to to take photos, and for beginning photographers who might just want to work on composition and very basic intro photography.  Choosing a camera such as this also good for travel as small ones can easily fit in purses and pockets.  There is definitely a time and place for point and shoots!

CHOOSING A CAMERA - DSLR CAMERAS

pros

When choosing a camera, it’s nice to have lots and LOTS of configuration options.  There are zoom lenses, and wide angle lenses.  You can get almost any focal length that you would like.  You have macro lenses that work very close up, or super zoom that work very far away.  DSLRs can be configured to work in almost any situation as long as you have the correct lenses.  The startup is instantaneous, and there is zero shutter lag.  So unlike the point and shoot, when you press the shutter button it immediately takes the photo.

The battery life on a DSLR is generally pretty good.  There aren’t a lot of electronic parts draining it like you get with the other two.  Image quality is generally high.  Because of the sensor size and quality you will get superior quality.  You will also be able to shoot in low light better because of the sensor.  You can have complete control over your images!  You can control everything – the shutter speed, the aperture, the ISO – all of it. For people (ahem, like me) who can have a bit of trouble letting go of control and trusting devices, this is a great advantage.

cons

Since it is a body with a lens, it’s a much larger camera than the point and shoots.  They are also heavier – depending on the lens you put on it, sometimes much heavier.  They can also be quite expensive.  Although basic entry level DSLRs have come way down in price, it’s still a decent chunk of change.  Especially because you do have to buy lenses separately.  And once they start, glass gets addicting!!  DSLRs are also obviously nice cameras.  When you are out and about they draw attention.  Although they are far more popular than they used to be, it can still make you a target, especially when traveling.

Because they are able to give you full control, they have a steep learning curve.  So often people will get a “fancy big camera” and expect their photos to be perfect.  Just because you have it, doesn’t mean the photos will be perfect.  There are Several DSLR bodies do have an “Auto” setting on them that will make all of the decisions and change all of the settings for you.  But there are other modes  you will need to learn to use.  I used to teach a class where I said “Using a DSLR on auto is like buying a mercedes just to roll it downhill.”  What’s the point if you don’t learn?

who is it good for?

Anyone!  Seriously, as long as they are over the age of about 12, a DSLR will work for anyone.  (For those of you with younger kids who are really into photography I would go for a less-expensive version or even look for a used body.)

CHOOSING A CAMERA -
MIRRORLESS CAMERAS

pros

As with DSLRs, there are many configuration options for a mirrorless camera.  As I will talk about below, there aren’t *as* many options available yet and some can be quite expensive, but the options are there.  They are small – quite small.  Much smaller and lighter than a DSLR and much less bulky.  Yes, it still does require a lens to be attached so they’re not as small as a point and shoot, but compared to full sized DSLRs, there is quite a difference.  They are silent – or almost!  No mirror to flip up and down means less sound.

Mirrorless cameras also feature what is called an EVF – Electronic Viewfinder.  This is the part you look through.  One advantage that EVF has is that as you change the settings, you can see right in the viewfinder how it changes the photo.  From white balance, to exposure, you will see it happen as you adjust the dials.  They are also inconspicuous – they don’t always look like a big fancy camera. So if you travel and don’t want to be an obvious target, these might be good for you.  Along that same vein, for those of you who want to travel with them, because of their size, they require smaller bags, lighter-weight tripods, and overall less bulk.

cons

Since there is no mirror, when you change lenses on a mirrorless camera, the all-important sensor is unprotected and dust can easily get on it.  Since so many people turn their cameras upside down to put new lenses on, this can be a real problem.  Battery life is not as good since most mirrorless use an electronic viewfinder and / or live view.  They tend to eat batteries quickly.  As I said above – they are small, which is great, but can also be difficult with larger hands or if you are used to a large camera.  I don’t have really big hands but after extended use of my Sony A7iii, I find that sometimes my hand starts to cramp.

There also aren’t as many lenses available because they are still a newer product to the market.  Because of that, I find the lenses to be more expensive because there isn’t a lot of competition.  But as time passes, and more third party companies (Sigma, Tamron, etc) become more popular, that should change and improve.  And, as with DSLRs, they also have a steep learning curve – I personally feel it’s more difficult to learn all of the extra menus and adjustments with mirrorless, or at least adding my Sony a7iii to my arsenal was more of a curve than I expected!

who is it good for?

Anyone!  As with DSLRs, they are great for pretty much any age that can take care of a camera.  They are especially good for people who do a lot of traveling and want something less bulky and more lightweight.

A FEW EXTRAS

Some additional things to keep in mind when shopping

Ergonomics: As silly as it sounds, when you are choosing a camera, some cameras will just feel right to the owner.  For example for me, Canon never felt right.  It didn’t feel good in my hand, the buttons didn’t make sense to me.  Nikon feels perfect.  It’s solid, it’s a beast, the button and dial layouts make sense.  For some of my best girlfriend photographers, it was the opposite.  So sometimes it also is incredibly helpful to just go and hold the cameras.

Brands:  There is no one superior brand.  Each one, like each style of camera, has its pros and cons.  The most popular brands are Nikon, Canon, Sony and Fuji with Pentax lagging behind a little and Olympus behind that.  I own Nikon and Sony cameras now in my business, and have owned Canon in the past briefly.  *To me* Nikon’s colors are more vibrant while Canon’s are more muted.  I think Canon does a better job with skin tones, but Nikon does a better job with handling low-light shooting and grain (noise).  Sony has remarkable features for video (which is what I use my Sony for).  As with anything else, do your research!

Memory Cards:  If you are choosing a digital camera, you probably realize that every digital camera uses memory cards.  Your choices are SD, CF, and XQD cards.  Cards are rated on their speed to read and write data onto them.  SD cards are the least expensive of the three but the higher level the camera, the higher level / speed of card you will need.  For most people and most cameras, a 16-32GB memory card will be more than enough.  You can get them from 4GB up to 512GB+ but only professionals would probably ever need a memory card 64+ GB or above.  Also, the more memory, the more expensive the card.  I personally swear by SanDisk for all of my memory cards, except for my Nikon D850 which uses a Sony XQD card.

Card Slots:  This would probably only matter to someone in business when choosing a camera, but some people prefer a camera with dual card slots. This means it holds two memory cards and you can set it to automatically back up each image onto the second card, or use it as an overflow when the first card is full.

Flash:  Used with DSLRs and Mirrorless systems, flash (or speedlights) are something to be bought and added on externally.  They sit on top of your camera so if you want to use one, make sure when choosing a camera, that yours has a “hot shoe” on top to accept one.  Flashes come in all different strengths and varieties.  Think of them as a flashlight – some flashlights are much more powerful and reach much further than others.  Each brand makes flashes compatible with their bodies, but there are also plenty of good off-brand options by makers such as Yongnuoand Godox to name two.  Just make sure the flash is compatible with your camera body.

Video:  More and more people these days are looking for cameras that do both video and photos.  If you are looking for that luckily a ton of cameras have the option for both!  Make sure before you buy it to ask about the video capabilities.  Check and see what the frame rate (FPS) is.  You ideally want 24-30 and / or 60fps.  Some cameras now even offer 4k quality video but that’s not always all it’s cracked up to be.

Software:  Once you get the images, you will need software to be able to work with them on the computer.  The most popular programs are Lightroom and Photoshop.  There are also less expensive and free versions of software out there such as:

Review Sites:  It’s always good to find unbiased reviews of cameras.  Some good sites to use:

WHERE TO SHOP

My favorite resources for shopping for equipment!

I have several places that I prefer to shop for my equipment.  NO MATTER WHAT if the price you see is too good to be true, it probably is.  I highly recommend using www.resellerratings.com if you have questions about a website.  Please note I am not a paid endorser – I get nothing from you shopping any of these places.  I just like them!

For local readers:

  • Hunt’s Photo and Video – 571 N. Main St in Providence – great small chain camera shop with knowledgable staff.  Limited inventory but helpful and a “real” camera shop they are a great asset when choosing a camera.  A little limited in stock.
  • Best Buy – 1337 N. Washington St, North Attleboro, MA – the N. Attleboro store has a fantastic camera section with very knowledgable staff and even basic photography classes!  When I was choosing a camera to use for video last year they were extremely helpful!

Online:

  • Best Buy – www.bestbuy.com – personally I like them because I can usually get 1% cash back with ebates / rakuten!  Decent selection and competitive pricing
  • B & H Photo and Video – www.bhphotovideo.com – a great company based out of NYC.  Massive selection, fast shipping and great customer service.  Do note that they observe Jewish Shabbat as well as all Jewish holidays so check for any restrictions on purchasing / shipping dates.
  • Adorama – www.adorama.com – similar to B&H they are based out of NYC and have a huge selection of items.  Only drawback I’ve found is shipping takes longer. They also observe Jewish Shabbat and holidays.
  • Unique Photo – www.uniquephoto.com – based out of NYC not as popular so will sometimes have equipment other stores are sold out of.
  • KEH – www.keh.com – a fantastic online option for used equipment.  I highly recommend buying used sometimes.  You can get better equipment for cheaper by doing so.  These guys really check over the equipment and their ratings system makes it easy to tell what quality you are getting.

For Repairs:

  • Just in case you get the fancy camera and something happens, the guys down at Midstate Camera Repair (389 Warwick Ave, Warwick, RI) are fantastic.

WHERE TO LEARN

My favorite resources for learning more about photography

After you’re done choosing a camera and you’ve given it to your gift receiver, why not go an extra step and provide some learning for them??  Like I said before, having a “big fancy camera” and using it on Auto is like getting a Mercedes and pushing it down the hill.  Here are some varoius resources both online and in print.  If there are classes near you, take advantage!  See if photographers by you offer classes or workshops.  Anything hands on will teach even better. 🙂

Books:

  • Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson – a wonderful basic primer to photography that everyone should read.
  • Your camera manual – seriously.  You’d be surprised how many people don’t read the manual.
  • Read This if you Want to Take Great Photographs by Henry Carroll – a fun basic guide
  • BetterPhoto Basics by Jim Miotke – good beginners guide
  • Langford’s Basic Photography: The Guide for Serious Photographers by Michael Langford – a bit of everything this book covers a ton of topics.

Advanced Books:
If your gift receiver already has some basic knowledge about cameras, then these might fit the bill:

  • The Photographer’s Eye by Michael Freeman – works specifically on composition
  • Learning to See Creatively, third edition: Design, Color, and Composition in Photography by Bryan Peterson
  • The Digital Photography Book: Part One by Scott Kelby

Online:

  • ClickinMoms – www.clickinmoms.com – fantastic worldwide resource online for learning.  Has message boards, breakout classes to join, a great learning library, and more!
  • Creative Live – www.creativelive.com – great classes you can either stream live or purchase for download.
  • FStoppers – www.fstoppers.com – tons of articles and tutorials with an active community
  • Digital Photography School – www.digital-photography-school.com – lots of great resources
point and shoot camera options
Entry-Level Option
Entry-Level Option

Canon PowerShot SX530 HS

Although at first glance it doesn't look like it, this is a point and shoot. It comes in at a nice low price point with basic features.

Beginner-ish option
Beginner-ish option

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III

A good small and compact option, this has more controls and better image quality.

Advanced Option
Advanced Option

Fujifilm X100F

Closest to DSLR quality in a powerful compact camera. Nice solid feel.

DSLR camera options
beginner option
beginner option

Nikon d3500

A small compact camera, has a guided shooting mode and good features. Lightweight.

enthusiast option
enthusiast option

Designer

Cropped sensor but very high resolution. Shoots up to 10 frames per second, good for sports. Offers 4k video.

prosumer option
prosumer option

Nikon d780

Starter pro level full frame camera. Shoots 4k video

mirrorless camera options
please note although pictured with lenses, you will need to purchase a lens separately
Beginner option
Beginner option

Sony a6100

Perfect for switching from a point and shoot, similar in size. Lots of features, okay image quality

enthusiast option
enthusiast option

Canon EOS RP

A step up from beginners this is a full-frame option at less than a full-frame price with plenty of features

best all-around option
best all-around option

Sony a7iii

Full-frame pro level camera, excellent image quality, tons of features and great video capability