Buying the Right Camera. Where to start.

If you have more than a passing interest in photography and decide to buy a camera, there are a few things you'll need to consider in order to get the camera that will serve you best. You want to end up making a purchase that fits with the type of photography you want to pursue.

You probably don’t need to buy an entire kit straight away. In fact, if you have time to get to know each lens or accessory you own before you purchase the next, you will have a clearer idea of what you actually “need”.

Let's start by looking at a few things that will influence your decision making.

Aspirations

What are your aspirations as a photographer and what are your intentions for the finished images? Do you want to do video? If you are looking at photography as an ongoing concern, either as an enthusiast or as a professional, chances are you will need to look at a DSLR or a mirrorless as they provide greater flexibility with interchangeable lenses and a huge range of accessories.

The technology that goes into a higher-end camera means the lenses are purpose build without compromise, they are precise and very sharp. The files carry significantly more information and are better suited to being enlarged without degradation. This means the photographs you take could be used in publications, large prints for exhibitions or video for broadcast.

Take note that you will need a decent monitor and apps for editing and postproduction and increased storage to store and back up your work.

If you haven’t backed up your computer lately, go and do it once you are done reading this.

Remember that there is a vast amount to know if you want your work to be consistent. A good kit is great but you will still need to put in the time to learn how to drive it and get the most out of the files afterwards.

How much?

A pivotal question is, what is a realistic spend? If you are starting a business, make calculated decisions and be wary of debt as it limits your choices in the early stages. If it’s a hobby, look to build up a kit over time, it means you aren’t over capitalising on things you may not even use.

Once you know your price range you will have narrowed down your search to a large degree. Camera gear can be obscenely expensive and be aware that many people have fallen prey to the notion that if they spend more they will automatically be a better photographer. Owning a professional grade tennis racquet is not the key to being a good tennis player. A camera is only a tool and a big expensive camera is by no means the only pathway to better photography.

Areas of Interest

What do you intend to shoot? Different subjects require specific equipment. If you want to shoot landscapes you will more than likely want wide-angle lenses. If you want to shoot birds or sport you require longer faster lenses. If you are into discreet travel photos you may want a camera that is small and unobtrusive. If you are interested in insects you will need a good macro lens. If you want to have a camera on your person at all times, a mobile phone with a quality camera is a good fit.

Do I need a compact point and shoot, a mirrorless or DSLR (digital single-lens reflex)? What are the pros and cons?

DSLR Pros

DSLR have interchangeable lenses and accessories, with more options than you can imagine. These offer the most flexibility in high-quality cameras.

You can buy into a system where lenses will interchange between the entry-level body of the same brand as the pro-body you are lusting after.

When looking through the viewfinder you are seeing the image through the lens itself.

They are made tough and are well sealed against the elements.

They have interchangeable long-life batteries.

The more money you spend the more advanced the technology you have access to.

DSLR Cons

DLSR’s can end up being massively expensive, with a pro-kit costing as much as a car.

They are bigger and heavier.

With more options for functions and accessories comes a need for more knowledge to get the most out of them. Many people only utilise a fraction of the potential of their DSLR.

Mirrorless with interchangeable lenses Pros

They offer real flexibility and loads of features with some high-end manufacturers devoting more of their energy to these over DSLR’s.

Manoeuvrable touch screens offer greater flexibility when shooting with the camera really close to the ground or up high.

Mirrorless tend to be lighter and smaller than an equivalent DSLR camera. My wide-angle pro lens weighs 200 grams more than its mirrorless cousin.

In-camera stabilisation means the chip acts as its own gimbal to stabilise the image capture. This is a prime reason these cameras are so popular for video.

The top end of these cameras offers professional image quality for both stills and video.

Cons

A smaller camera body means less area for buttons/controls and harder to hold if you have big hands.

Quality products can be pricy compared to compacts. Tech is still evolving but watch these change the photographic landscape.

Compact Pros

They are virtually foolproof, point and shoot and the menus tend to be simple to navigate.

They are unobtrusive and much less “threatening” than a big camera.

As a rule, compacts are an all in one unit, which has a built-in zoom lens and built-in flash.

They are lightweight and small and therefore more likely to end up in your pocket when you go out.

Cons

They lack the flexibility of manual controls of DSLR’s.

They have lesser levels of technology compared to high-end gear so the quality of the file will suffer in big enlargements.

High-end phone cameras are taking the place of these cameras.

Phone it in

A phone camera is not the equal of a high-end DSLR but no doubt they are getting better all the time. They have become a means of keeping a record of your life’s journey and are valid and convenient image-making devices. The images will look mindbogglingly good on your phone screen but displayed on a decent monitor side by side with an image from a pro camera, the quality is not in the same league. That being said, if they enlarge well to the print size you need then you are good to go. A phone is always with you and if it takes the images that offer you all you need as a photographer, then it’s the right camera for you.

Big Versus Small

How must stuff do you want to carry? Ok, you are on holiday; you are about to walk out the door to visit the markets and do a bit of site seeing. Are you more likely to pick up a high-quality lightweight camera or lug around a 12kg backpack full of camera gear and a tripod? In this situation, the DSLR will attract more attention to you and though it may produce better files it is probably a liability unless you are committed to needing big high-quality files.

As with any purchase you want to end up with a piece of kit that you are going to use the most. You want to buy the camera that facilitates getting the shots you want.

Get online and find some reviews about the types of cameras used to do the photography you are interested in and talk to people in camera stores about the feedback they have received from customers.

Don’t get caught up in the hype. It is remarkably easy to overcapitalise when buying camera gear. Impress your friends with the images you take and not the camera you buy.