HELP! What camera should I buy?

So you want to get into photography, but trying to decide which camera to purchase is SO overwhelming! I have many people ask me which camera they should buy, so I thought I’d do a post on what I look for when buying a new or used camera. First, I’ll start with finding a great used camera and then we’ll talk about new camera buys!

I have been a full time portrait photographer for over 14 years now. Many of my friends and clients come to me for advice when they are trying to purchase a professional grade camera! Most people I’ve talked with want to get the best camera for the least amount of money. There are so many great cameras and lenses out there that are lightly used or a few years old. These used cameras can be AMAZING cameras for beginners! I am a firm believer that you DON’T have to buy a brand spanking new / top-of-the-line camera if you’re just doing it as a hobby. While having the newest, latest and greatest gear is amazing… Let’s face it, some of us don’t have that kind of cash to spend on a hobby.

Here are some guidelines to follow when looking to buy a digital camera. Camera bodies and lenses that are a few years old will do a GREAT job for you on a budget. I have a lot of friends and family that find theirs on a local craigslist ad/ Facebook marketplace / garage sales / etc. and have loved what they bought. As with anything used, just make sure (to the best of your ability) that whomever had the camera before you took very good care of it, and it wasn’t dropped or damaged.

These are the specifications I recommend you look for before purchasing:

• The camera must be digital. Meaning you do NOT put film in it 😉
• The camera must be a DSLR with a removable lens. We are not talking about a camera on a phone, or a small camera that would fit in your pocket.
• The camera should shoot at 10 megapixels or more. Megapixels (in a nutshell) means how high quality the image will be. If you get below 10 megapixels, you could have a problem with blurry or pixelated images when you print.
• Preferably no older than 10 years old. If possible, 5 years old or newer 🙂 Technology has advanced greatly in the past 10 years. If you get something older than 10 years, you may have poor image quality.
• Pop up flash. If possible you want a camera with a pop up flash (not completely necessary – but ideal). You can eventually buy a flash that will attach to the top of the camera (more about that later), BUT for now it’s nice to have a flash automatically included for night time photo ops.
• ISO range of up to 6400 (not completely necessary but ideal). A high ISO range is great for night photos. Some older cameras may only go up to 1600. If you can find and afford a camera that will go up to 6400 ISO, you will be able to take higher quality photos in dark rooms or at night.

• I am a huge fan of Canon gear, especially for people starting out. It’s reliable, it’s excellent quality, and it’s affordable. That being said, there are many other brands out there that do a fantastic job as well. I have many friends that use Nikon and Sony, and love them. I don’t believe the brand matters as much as the specs. You want a camera that is over 10 megapixels, is no more than 5-10 years old, and is in good shape. Until you’re shooting covers of magazines, or complicated setups, these cameras will get the job done regardless of the brand or model!

Recommended Cameras To Buy

Listed below are a few good deals for affordable starter cameras on Amazon. If these are above your budget, try finding some used cameras locally either on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace.

USED OR CHEAPER OLDER MODEL CAMERAS:

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• Canon Rebel KIT with a lot of extras – Includes 2 lenses, 18-55 and 70-300 (the 70-300 is the lens I love for daytime sports photography). Some of the extra stuff in this kit you will not use, but it’s actually cheaper to purchase the entire kit than to buy it separately. So plan on tossing some of this package, LOL. Regardless, it’s a great deal. Eventually, I would plan on losing the 18-55 mm lens that comes with the package, and buying a new or used Tamron 28-75 lens.
• Canon Rebel Kit lots of extras, no zoom lens – This is what I’d recommend if you just want a new starter camera, but don’t need a lens to shoot sporting events… And eventually you plan on buying the Tamron 28-75 instead of using the kit lens that comes with the package. This packaged lens is okay, but not the greatest. Overall, the package is a good deal.
• Canon Rebel CHEAP!!!- If you’re on a super tight budget, I would grab this steal! GREAT deal. It’s a little older than I would normally recommend, but I’ve had this exact camera as a backup for my second shooters in the past and loved it. Great deal for someone just looking to try photography out. I’d eventually buy a different lens, starting with the Tamron 28-75.
• Want Nikon? Check this Nikon kit, 2 lenses 18-55. I am not a Nikon expert. But this camera has all of the specs I’d like to see in a camera! I would eventually plan on getting the Nikon version of the Tamron 28-75 to replace the kit lens. 🙂

BRAND NEW CAMERAS:

WANT TO GO ALL OUT? 😉  HERE ARE SOME OF MY FAVORITE BRAND NEW CAMERAS in order of most expensive to least:

• Canon EOS-1DX Mark II – Have a big budget and price is no object? Without going into super complicated Hasselblad’s or Phase One camera bodies – Here’s your camera, friend. Canon’s top of the line EOS-1DX Mark II. This bad boy can shoot 60 FRAMES PER SECOND. Yep. You heard me right. It’s the best for fast action and can also pull a 8.8MP screen grab (whhhhhaaaa?!!!) Don’t know what that means? Well just trust me- you will be the envy of your friends (and pro photographers) when you walk in with this camera over your shoulder. And it will shoot some amazing photos.
• Canon 5D Mark IV – Wanting to get into professional photography as a profession or very serious about having the top of the line? The Canon 5D Mark IV is a best buy for both still photos (think portraits and landscapes) and video. With a 30.4 megapixel full frame sensor, this camera is a serious contender. Most pro photographers I know use this camera body.
• Canon 7D Mark II – Want a very well rounded pro-level camera but don’t want to spend the cash on the 5D Mark II or the EOS-1DX? The 7D Mark II is also an excellent contender. It boasts a 20.2 MP sensor and shoots 10 frames per second. It’s also great at video! The main downside to this camera is it features a cropped sensor, which basically means your lenses won’t shoot to their 100% full potential. But for most, it’s not a huge difference. Many beginning photographers I know shoot with this camera as their main body. Many videographers I know also use this body for their main video camera.
• Canon Rebel SL2– The smallest, lightest DSLR camera Canon currently has out! Want a brand new top of the line camera that will photograph kiddos, and fit easily in a purse for travels and outings? This is your camera! Small and mighty, this camera is built to be an entry level amateur camera, but still packs many pro features like a 24.2 megapixel sensor. All of that in a small and compact body makes it a perfect buy for a hobby-ist, mom, or traveler! I love the Canon Rebel series and highly recommend this camera.

Lenses

Need lens recommendations too? See this post on recommended lenses HERE

• Other Camera Accessories You Will Need
• 1- At least one fully charged battery and charger, preferably 2 batteries – One main, one spare.
• 1- At least one memory card, 16 GB or more preferably. I use 32 GB cards. Depending on your camera model, your memory card may be called either SD or CF card.