The Ultimate Guide to Buying A New Camera
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So you're about to embark on a thrilling journey—buying a shiny new camera!! Exciting! But you might also be a bit intimidated… What are all the different types? What accessories do you actually need? What do all those crazy letters and numbers mean? Looking for a more comprehensive guide? You've come to the right place. There are so many options available it can be difficult to know where to start. Worry not, brave explorer. This guide is designed to teach you everything you need to know about buying a camera, so you can feel confident when you make that delightful purchase.
What type of camera should you buy?
There are a ton of different types of cameras, from little point-and-shoots to big fancy DSLRs. Let's take a look at the different types, and what makes them each unique!
DSLRs
When you think of a big, fancy, expensive camera, you're probably picturing a DSLR (digital single lens reflex) camera. These cameras are made up of two main parts—the body and the lens. The lenses can be taken off and changed (aka interchangeable). But you'll need both parts – the body and the lens – in order to take a photo. DSLRs feature a mirror that allows you to actually look through the lens as you compose your image. This gives you the most accurate idea of what your final image will look like when you take the photo.
Now when you press the shutter, the camera records the scene as a digital image on a sensor. In DSLRs, these sensors are quite large (typically the size of 35mm film, or a bit smaller). The benefit of the large sensor is that it provides better low light noise performance and better background blur (bokeh).
But when it comes to image quality, a big part of the story is the lens (aka. the glass). See, the lens is what collects the light from your scene. The better the quality of the lens, the better the quality of the final image created.
And here's the great news: With DSLRs, there are so many kinds of high quality lenses out there that you have plenty of options when it comes to getting variety and getting creative with your photography. We'll talk more about lenses later on in this guide!
If you're interested in pursuing photography as a serious hobby or professionally then a DSLR is what you're looking for.
Mirrorless (& Micro Four Thirds)
In recent years, mirrorless cameras have become increasingly popular.They have a lot of the same features as a DSLR but in a smaller body, without the mirror.
(A subset of the mirrorless category are Micro Four Thirds cameras, a title that refers to the size of sensor.)
Like DSLRs, mirrorless cameras also come with interchangeable lenses. In general, the quality and selection of lenses for mirrorless bodies aren't on par with DSLRs, but they've definitely been improving. And there are now mirrorless cameras that boast a full frame size, the same size as the ones found in professional-level DSLRs, making this genre of cameras even more appealing.
All that being said, most mirrorless cameras do have some downsides relative to DSLRs. Although there are now a few models out there with full frame sensors, most mirrorless bodies have sensors that are smaller than those in DSLRs, meaning that they won't be as good at registering depth of field or at shooting in low light conditions.
But mirrorless cameras do have their advantages. Most notably, they're generally much, much smaller and lighter than DSLRs.
This format of camera is great for everyone from the casual hobbyist to the advanced amateur.
Compact Point-and-Shoots
Point-and-shoots are the smallest cameras dedicated primarily to photography (camera phones are typically smaller).
The big advantage of the point-and-shoot is its size. Because they're so small and easy to carry around, you may be more likely to take more photos than you otherwise would if you had to carry a bigger mirrorless or DSLR camera around.
These cameras have permanently attached lenses (i.e. not interchangeable) that generally cover a wide zoom range. The lens retracts back into the camera in order to keep it nice and small.
But point-and-shoots have their downsides too.
Typically, they have the smallest sensors, meaning your image quality won't be nearly as good as it would be with a higher-level camera. Things have definitely improved in recent years though, so it's not that hard to find a point-and-shoot that produces good quality images.
Further, some models lack manual controls for key settings (like shutter speed, aperture and ISO). Autofocus speeds will most likely be slower and the lag time between when you press the shutter and when the camera takes the photo will be longer.
So why buy a point-and-shoot camera? Like we said, they're so much easier to tote around than larger cameras, meaning you may be more likely to use your camera.
And then there's that matter of price. Point-and-shoot cameras are typically much less expensive than the higher-level options.
If you're not looking for a lot of creative control or fancy extras, a point-and-shoot may be the right place to start. If you're looking to get serious about photography though, expect to grow out of a point-and-shoot pretty quickly.
Camera Phones
Camera phones are the most widely used cameras today.
The pros are impressive: a camera that you can carry in your pocket, giving you incredible convenience to shoot anytime, anywhere, with minimal effort. Many photographers are showing great proficiency with the camera phone, taking photos more regularly and getting in more practice, honing their skills. Some even say their camera phone let them fall in love with photography again. Not something to sneeze at!
Then comes sharing. The camera phone pretty much made photo sharing a *thing*. Now it's easier than ever to take a shot, and then (almost instantly) get it in front of thousands of eyes with phone apps like Instagram.
But too often the cons of the camera phone are overlooked.
For one, the image quality is still behind every other type of camera. The point-and-shoot is starting to be challenged, as camera phones are coming out with bigger and better sensors every year, but mirrorless cameras and DSLRs are still far ahead in terms of image quality. They have bigger sensors, better lenses, better autofocus, more control, better response times…
But the biggest drawback of all is that a camera phone has a fixed lens. You can't zoom without reducing image quality, so you're left with only one focal length option. You could see this as a creative challenge. But it is, indeed, a limitation as well.
If you want to take photography seriously, you need more than a camera phone. It's a great way to keep a visual diary, to practice your skills, and grab a snap here and there. But you just can't beat the creative control that comes with a bigger camera.
Action Cams
Action cams are small, mountable cameras geared towards sports and adventure photography, and for photographers looking to use the mountable function to bring a unique perspective to their shots. GoPro and Sony make the most popular action cams on the market. But Yi 4K is a Chinese action cam brand that offers excellent quality for nearly half the price!
Action cams are primarily used to capture video, but they also let you create image stills and time lapses.
Though action cams have come a long way since they were first introduced, we don't think they're really a substitute for a proper camera. The camera settings are pretty limited, and your ability to adjust those few settings is fairly restrictive as well. Unless you're looking specifically to get to create action cam-style shots and videos, think of these cameras as fun extras rather than your primary piece of shooting gear.
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