What's the Best Camera for Beginning Photographers?
Maybe you are a budding photographer looking to buy your first DSLR. Or maybe you are the parent of a kid who has an interest in photography. Christmas is just a little over a month away, and I know for a FACT that Santa loves to give cameras to people for Christmas! But what’s the best type to ask him for? I’ve been asked this question by so many people, I thought I would share my advice here!
I am not a brand snob. I’m a Nikon girl simply because that’s the brand I started with, and to switch to a different brand now would require a huge investment. But Canon, Sony, Panasonic…they all make great cameras, especially for beginners. But before you go out and buy the first one you see on sale, here are a few things to ask yourself and look out for:
Do you want a point-and-shoot or DSLR? The difference is HUGE. Point-and-shoot cameras do not require additional lenses, but they are more limited. They’re great for travel and if you don’t want to go in deep learning how to master manual exposure, but if you’re interested in taking your skills a little further, you will want to invest in a DSLR or even one of the newer mirrorless bodies.
If you’re shopping for a DSLR, get a camera kit and/or bundle. A kit is a camera body and usually two lenses. Bundles usually include all the essentials—battery, charger, memory card, sometimes a case, and even a lens or two, and they are already compatible with the camera you are buying. Otherwise you will have to end up buying your body, lenses, batteries, and memory cards separately…and for a first-timer, that can be a daunting task. If you’re on a budget, you can always spend a little time pricing out the pieces in the kit just to be sure you’re not overpaying.
Watch out for “professional grade” labels. If you are shopping for a beginner, you don’t need a professional camera (yet). These often do not include automatic settings, and while you DO want to learn how to shoot in manual mode, sometimes you need the baby steps (automatic, aperture priority, shutter speed priority) before you’re ready for full-blown manual settings.
Make sure the camera can take photos in .jpg (already formatted to be readable by computers) and raw formats. And in order to access and work with raw format images, you also have to own or purchase photo editing software like Adobe Lightroom or PhotoShop.
The new mirrorless cameras are fantastic, but they can be quite pricey! If you are not sure you want to invest a ton of money into photography yet, find a used or refurbished DSLR! You can definitely learn how to take fantastic pictures on older models.
Do you want brand-new, or is used/refurbished acceptable? I have bought a refurbished camera body and a couple of lenses before and have had zero issues…and saved a wad of cash. They’re less expensive, and if you do your research, just as high quality. You can find them on eBay, Amazon, FaceBook Marketplace…just look carefully at the fine print and seller reviews to make sure the item is exactly what you’re hoping for and that the seller is legit.
Make sure your home computer/laptop has a way to read your memory cards! Some of the newer model computers cannot read certain types of memory cards, so you may have to buy a memory card reader. (There’s nothing worse than taking photos on your new camera for the first time and then not being able to put them onto your computer!)
If you would like a couple of specific recommendations, check out these links:
Good luck, and happy shopping!
