Buying a camera is a real headache, right? And it’s not because you don’t know about the subject, I assure you, even knowing something about cameras, the final decision causes anxiety to anyone who dares to try to take this step.
There are several reasons, mainly because there are many, many models, brands, and types of camera. The second reason is because we don’t know ourselves too well or we haven’t been honest with ourselves. What do I mean? Well, we usually promise ourselves, get excited and believe that we are going to go much further, that we are going to do this and that, that we need the best, most expensive, heaviest and most professional camera because we are sure to take advantage of it. Sure sure.
But the truth is that the more you deceive yourself about it, the less you will get out of your purchase. If your user profile is that of a compact camera, who enjoys carrying the camera in your pants pocket, the integrated zoom is enough and is left over, and you buy a cumbersome SLR, I promise you that the photos are over. You will take it out for a day or two and on the third day the laziness of carrying it will be greater than your photographic passion. Goodbye photos.
A preliminary note, the most important question is: What type of photography do I want to do?
This is the first question you must answer and it will define the type of camera on which you should focus your search. If you think about it, just by answering this question thoughtfully and honestly, you will greatly reduce the options available on the market and you will be able to focus your search much more.
- streetphotography
- Scenery
- Sport
- Portrait
- Social report (Weddings, baptisms, communions…)
- Trip
- Macro
- Artistic
- Fashion
- Documentary film
- …
For example, let’s see the difference between someone who wants to do street photography and someone who wants to work in the field of sports.
streetphotography: You need a camera that above all is light, discreet and silent, where probably a folding and / or touch screen can be useful. An EVIL or an advanced compact would be the most suitable camera profile for this type of photography.
Sport: You need a camera fast both when focusing and when shooting in burst, with image stabilizer, robust, to which you can safely attach a telephoto lens. An SLR is probably the best option.
1. Forget Megapixels
We usually marvel and let ourselves go crazy to buy the camera that offers us the most megapixels on the market, being willing to pay outrageously to have a few more, but the truth is that we are at a level of quality more than sufficient in any of the current cameras. From 12 or 16MP we have more than enough, imagine. So unless you want upgrades like wallpapering a building, the MP increase will only affect one larger file size resulting which, from personal experience I tell you, is terrible.
Instead, the size of the sensor is important and decisive. The higher this is, the higher the resulting image quality will be, which we will notice mainly when we leave “normal” situations and we must, for example, increase the ISO, work with little or too much light, or want to crop the image, etc.
2.Compatible lenses and plugins
We always insist that, in general, the least important of the photographic equipment is the camera. As strange as it sounds, and as long as it meets the basics that each of us needs according to our profile as a photographer. With a very simple body and good optics, our team is completely transformed. If you don’t believe me try to get the king of objectives to prove it. Or with the prince. you will hallucinate Word.
So almost more important than the camera when choosing a camera (how strange it sounds, I know) is that you check the compatibility and offer of lenses and add-ons that this one has. This can make you opt for one type or another, and even one brand or another. The offer and variety of these are key. There are cameras that can be very good but have a limited range of lenses, or that these are very expensive. So it is a point to take into account.
3. Size matters, and a lot
I know that with the motivation and the “high” that the possibility of buying a new camera gives us, it seems like an unimportant point. We can think that it doesn’t matter, that you will always carry it with you no matter what it weighs, wherever it fits. If you have already had a first camera and you are going for the second or third, you may have already realized that this is not the case ;-). But if it is the first time, I assure you that a mistake in this aspect can make the difference between taking photos or not taking them.
So, going back to the introduction, remember first of all, what do you want the camera for Y what kind of photographer are you. I know many people who are crazy about photography and can’t bear to carry weight and others, like me, for whom weight is not a problem. Luckily, today, there are great cameras for all profiles.
4. You don’t need the latest model, seriously.
Why? Only rarely is there an abysmal jump between one model or another in terms of quality or features, but there can be abysmal jumps in the price of one and the other. So carefully review the characteristics of one and the other before launching yourself into the purchase of the latest model. I would almost never recommend it to you, I would always go one or two models below the last one. The quality will be very similar and you will save a lot of money that you can invest in a good lens.
I give you an example. The other day I was reviewing this fantastic EVIL (mirrorless), the Sony A6000, which is on Amazon for €399.00 and that is a real wonder. It has two superior models, the Sony A6300 which is worth N/A and the Sony A6500 that you can find by N/A.
I guess the price jump from one model to another has not gone unnoticed. Look at the differences between the A6000 and the A63000 (think that one is twice the price of the other) Would it compensate you? Just in case you really needed to record movies at high speed, right? 😉
Recommendation: Use Snapsort to make comparisons (previous screenshot) whenever you have doubts between the characteristics of one model or another, it will be very useful.
5. Take into account the opinions of other users
No matter how good a salesperson is, let’s not fool ourselves, what he wants is to sell, and we don’t always explain ourselves well enough or understand us well enough to hit what we’re looking for. It is possible that if we are not sufficiently informed or we are too confident, we end up buying something that was not exactly what we needed. So my advice is: go with your homework done before approaching a photography store or before clicking to buy on Amazon or wherever you buy on-line (be careful with that, there are many pages on the internet that promise bargains and turn out to be a fiasco).
And for me, the last step to decide is what do others think that, before me, got hold of the camera and have had the opportunity to try it out. Do you agree with me? Is there a big but that makes this camera not the right one for me? It works well? Is it what the brand promises? Browse (without obsessing, please) on what other users suggest and draw your own conclusions. Their criticism may not affect you in the slightest, or it may make you change your plans completely ;-).
I know that buying a camera is an exciting but also exasperating task. I hope that these homegrown tips because, like you, I have been through this situation, get you right in the purchase of your equipment. Remember that the best thing about photography is not the camera, not even the lens, it is yourself. So, whatever you decide, enjoy it, squeeze it, practice it, give us your photos, share your photographic passion and, above all, have fun. Oh, and if you found it useful, don’t hesitate to share it on your favorite social network. Thank you and see you soon :-).