Which camera should I buy?
I thought I’d share a few pointers today if you’re starting out in photography and wondering about the huge array of cameras out there. Which one is best for you? Here are a few tips.
What differs between brands?
I’d recommend you take a look at the menus - this is my own deciding factor in using Canon cameras, as I personally find their menus more intuitive for me, and therefore items are easier to find. Canon and Nikon are the two top brands in the UK for cameras and lenses (although as they say, many other brands are also available!). Try before you buy, would be my recommendation. Within each brand, the menus across the models tend to remain similar.
Compatible lenses
This is a very important point. When photographers change brand, they often find they have to change lenses to their new brand if they cannot fit a lens adaptor satisfactorily - the auto-focus may not work, even if an adaptor is used. This is an ever-changing picture (excuse the pun!) so do your research if you’re using a mix of brands for your camera and lens - and remember to check the date of any online statements as technology changes rapidly, so what may once not have worked may have been resolved more recently. If in doubt, I’d recommend you get advice from a reliable source such as a camera company before making any purchases.
Buy a camera - INVEST in a lens! You're likely to keep the lenses you buy far longer than any camera. I’d recommend starting with a zoom lens, like an 18-55mm kit lens which is a great little starter lens, usually at a very good price as there’s loads on the market. The range of focal lengths in this one lens will let you do wide-angle for landscapes as well as closer-in for portraits or product shots as you first start out. This lens will let you see how a zoom lens works and give you experience in using the various focal lengths.
Used or new?
OK, so a new camera is just that - brand new. And therefore costs more to buy than a used camera. However, as a beginner, I’d recommend you save your money until you have more of a feel for what you like and don’t like in a camera. Going with a used camera is a very good choice as you start out. People tend to move from using a beginner-level camera quite quickly, so there are usually a lot of these cameras on the market which are only lightly used and in very good condition (*do remember to buy a lens as well though, if you’re only buying a camera body! The two are not always sold together).
Shutter count: this is the number of times the shutter has been used - i.e. the number of images taken. The higher the shutter count, the more worn it will be. Aim for a shutter count of well under 150,000 when buying a used camera as a beginner.
Reliability of seller: My recommendation would be to always use a reliable company such as mpb.com, which is used by professionals (myself included) as they have a 6 month warranty on all kit and do quality checks on all cameras and lenses before selling them on. If you decide to upgrade, you can also do a trade-in for your next camera or lens. MPB also show the shutter-count on all of the used cameras they have for sale. There are other companies out there too, and it may be worth looking at Wex or Canon / Nikon online to do a comparison of prices once you’ve chosen your camera model - see next point.
Camera models: for Canon cameras, beginner models are usually give a number in the thousands (such as the Canon 4000d). The next level up is in the hundreds - also beginner / post-beginner level (e.g. Canon 650d). The level above this is for semi-pros and professionals - in the tens - so models such as the 80d / 90d etc. And finally the high-end professional cameras such as the Canon 5d Mark IV - single numbers. The same system does not seem to apply for all brands though, so it may be best to check with your chosen brand website to find out which are beginner-level models.
