Camera Buying Guide for Photography

I’m a tecnical-geek self-taught photographer and videographer. I’ve been asked alot about my gear and that reminds me how much time took me to research for my gear when I started photography. So I decided to collect all the information I know and put it together here as a guide to save you time and money.

Main question: do you really need it or just want it?

Cameras are like phones right now, coming out every year with newer models. But they are esentially the same with minors teaks here and there. Not necesary with big improvements but adding features just to drag buyers’s atention. It’s easy to fall into their marketing bait if you don’t know what you actually need. So I am going to cover the main aspects and important things you need in a camera for most people’s applications.

Date the cameras, mary the lenses

The lenses and accesories add a lot of character to your work, offering different looks adding value to your projects no matter if your camera is newer or older model as long it’s a compatible lens mount. If you want to get the best out of your camera, you have to custumize your camera with lenses and accesories that suits your projects. You want to invest in a ecosystem of lenses and accesories that will serve you in a long term and that way you’ll turn the investment into an asset.

Smartphones

Everyone have a phone in their pocket today that has a camera. Most people underestimate the power of it because they don’t know how to use it properly. Camera default app is useful for snaps photos you need and memories. I love that it can save the location of each photo (if location is enabled) so you can remeber when and where the photo was taken. But the real benefit is when you gonna use it in Pro mode (for android) or Ligthroom mobile app, when you adjust your own settings. The only downsides is the ergonomics. But there are cases with grip that makes it much more easy to hold and shoot. G-grip for exemple (not sponsored).

Cameras

When choosing your first camera isn’t an easy task. There are a few factors that both types of operators should consider. Before you figure out the best type of camera, you need to decide on the types of images you want to capture. When I first started I wish someone would have told me to not get the latest and gratest. There are cameras that produce beautiful images but not easy to use.

Factors to cosinder:

What’s the budget?

What do you plan to shoot with it?

Weight and size

Ease of use

Image quality/ Colors/ Low light/ Dynamic range

Performace/Autofocus/FPS

Interchangeble lens or built-in lens?

Ecosystem/ Lenses options

Senzor size

Manual mode

Touch screen

Battery life

IBIS

Wifi

Focus Peaking/Magnifier

Zebras

Intervalometer built-in

Compact Cameras

Compact cameras, also known as point-and-shoot, are a good option for a beginner or if you only casually take pictures. These don’t need any manual focusing because the outcome is the same as what you see in the preview window. With a lightweight design and simple usage, the only real consideration you need is the type of batteries required because they are small and the’re drain too fast.

These are typically the most cost-efficient of the options available. Bring these along on a vacation or for photo-ops while hanging out with loved ones and family members. Their resolution is sufficient for uploading to social media or creating a physical photo album once you get home. Look up for cameras with 1 inch sensor and has built-in the lens like Canon GX series, Sony RX100, Panasonic ZS/TZ series, Ricoh series, etc.

My pick would be Sony RX100vii for the value it offers. Although not the brightes lens, it offers pretty much everything that you can really need. It’s the cherry from the top of the cake followed by Canon G7X mark ii and Sony RX100VA for a brighter lens.

Compact cameras with Interchangeble lens

Those cameras with APS-C sensor size brings a lot of value and performance for money.

They are small and lightweight and offers profesional level features, like the ability to use hot shoe for external flash, or to switch lenses when you need. They are versatile, convienent, and get the job done. The only real consideration is that being crop sensor, the lens you will attach will give you 1.5 or 1.6 times crop factor than larger full-frame sensor. Basically a 23mm lens will give you a 35mm equivalent field of view on full-frame camera. So every lens focal length need to be multiplied by it’s crop factor. It’s not a big deal just remeber that you have more reach than a full-frame camera. Could be an advantage for someone who’s into zoom lenses, a disadvantage if you want to shot ultra wide scenes.

Buy new:

Look up for cameras that use APS-C sensors like Sony A6000 series; Canon R50, R10 or R7; Canon M series: great value but this line not anymore supported because of newer RF mount, although Sigma has released exicting 16mm,23mm,30mm,56mm all lenses at incredible f1.4;
Nikon Z30, Z50 or Zfc; Fujifilm XT30 mark ii, XS10, X-E4.

Buy used DSLR:

Lool up for Nikon D7200, D7500, Nikon D500; Canon 80D, 77D, 7D mark 2, ; Sony A77 mark ii, Sony A580, A68, Sony A6300.

My pick would be Canon R7 for shooting portraits, Sony A6400 for fast moving subjects, or Fujifilm XS10 everything in between.

Full Frame Cameras

coming soon

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