When it comes to choosing a camera, there seems to be an infinite number of options, which can be overwhelming. Of course, your choice will be directly influenced by the type of photography you want to do, your level of experience, your budget, and plenty more. Here is a brief camera guide to help get you started.
Things to Consider
- Brand: there are plenty of brands to consider, such as Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon, Olympus, Sony, just to name a few. I don’t believe that any one is significantly better than another; it is simply preference. When it comes to the cameras they offer, each brand has comparable models for each type you are looking at.
- Mirrorless vs. DSLR: digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras contain a mirror that reflects the image; when you press the shutter, the mirror lifts up, allowing the sensor behind it to record the image. Mirrorless cameras do not have a mirror, so the light is sent directly to the sensor. This means that mirrorless cameras have an electronic viewfinder, while DSLR cameras have an optical viewfinder.
- Special Features: Other features you should consider are size, weight, autofocus capabilities, lens options, image stabilization, video capability.
- Budget: the not so fun part….. cameras can be EXPENSIVE. Think about what you’re doing- is this simply for fun and a hobby you’ll pick up every few weeks, or are you going the distance and possibly making this a source of income? There are plenty of budget friendly options for beginners, and then of course, the sky is the limit when it comes to ultra professional systems.
My Final Verdict
For me, the best option was…… the Canon EOS Rebel T7. My decision came down to what I thought was the best bang for my buck. I didn’t want to waste my money on something I thought would fall apart or be outdated in no time, but I also didn’t have extra money laying around for something extravagant…. especially since I didn’t even know how far I would be taking this hobby or how much I would end up loving it. I appreciate how user friendly the Canon system is, which made it very easy to learn. The camera body itself is very comfortable to hold and extremely light. The screen is a great size and easy to see, plus it allows you to customize the brightness of the display. It also has excellent battery life.
I have owned this camera for just over a year now, and I have not had a single problem with it- I am extremely pleased with my purchase. I also have a backpack with compartments for the camera and accessories, plus my laptop, which makes it so easy to take it everywhere with me. If I could do one thing differently in my camera buying process, I would have gone for a mirrorless instead of a DSLR…. so I’ve got my eye on the R50 for my next investment.
Bonus: But Wait, There’s More!
Now that you’ve used my camera guide and have your camera, you need tools to edit your photos. I love this part of the process because I can put my individual touch on an image and really take it to the next level. Of course, you can also take an image that’s not so great and transform it into something wonderful that you never even expected. The possibilities are endless. I’ve tried lots of different editing software, from Photoshop, to Lightroom. So far, my favorite is Luminar Neo, which uses the power of AI to help take your images to the next level. It eliminates the large learning curve that you encounter with other programs, and makes it easy to produce a stunning image from your raw work.
**Disclaimer: this camera guide may include affiliate links and/or partnerships that may earn me with a small commission at NO COST to you**
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