If buying oneself a camera is a complicated matter, due to the immense offer of models and brands, giving one to a relative or close friend is already crazy. Where do you start? which camera do you choose? There are reflex, compact, small, large, more advanced, lighter, what brand do you give away? And within the brand, what model?
How crazy right?
In this article I am going to explain the key points that you have to pay attention to when choosing a camera to give as a gift.
And if you want more gift ideas for photographers, don’t miss this mega guide. You will find ideas for all types of photographers and for all budgets.
How to get it right when giving a camera
You have to start from the current situation of the person regarding the photograph. Obviously, at this point I assume that the person to whom you want to give a camera likes photography. You’ve already taken it upon yourself to find out and be sure of it. If you don’t like photography, I don’t know what you’re doing reading this 🙂
Having said that, the question from which we will start is, does the person currently have a camera? If yes, what type?
If the answer is no: If the person to whom you want to give the camera does not have a camera at all, then a whole range of possibilities opens up for you. You can choose between a compact, reflex, or bridge/Evil camera (in the links you will find recommendations). If the person is attracted to photography, very, very much, and is also patient, likes to get on with things and take them out, etc., a SLR camera may be the best option. I say “patient nature” because SLR cameras produce SPECTACULAR results but require time, attention, care and pampering. With an SLR camera you don’t take the photo in 4 seconds, no way, you have to configure it, try a photo, see the result, review the settings, modify them, try again, and so on until you take the photo. SLR photography is like good stews, it is done slowly. If that suits him, buy him a SLR and you’ll look great. And since it is going to be his first SLR, if you ask me for a subjective recommendation I will tell you to go for a Nikon D3400. Of the SLR cameras for beginners it is my favorite, along with the Canon 4000D. Both are extremely easy to use for a photographer who has never touched an SLR before. On the other hand, they have a price practically impossible to find in other SLR cameras.
If the answer is yes: Suppose the person already had a camera. You would have to ask yourself if he currently uses it or not, can you find out if he is satisfied with it, or is it difficult to know? Is it a compact, reflex, bridge camera? Let’s look at the assumptions. I will tell you what I would do in each situation.
If you have a compact camera and you’re half dissatisfied with it, every time we pass a photo shop you stand for a while looking at the SLR cameras in the window, let out a deep sigh before walking on with your head downcast and sad, that’s that he can’t wait for you to give him a SLR as God intended 😉 There I recommend the two Nikon D3400 options again and Canon 4000D.
What if you have a compact camera but it’s a bit old, a bit out of date, and at the same time you don’t seem to be very interested in SLRs, or you are, but you’re the kind of person I was describing at the beginning who are very impatient and unable to be there 10 minutes let me hit you to take a single photo. In any of these cases, the best seems to be a current compact camera. If you don’t know which one to choose, here is a careful selection of cameras.
Let’s say that this person has a camera but of the «Bridge/Evil» type. These are cameras halfway between the compact and the SLR. They look like reflex cameras due to their large shape and their generally black color, however they lack some of the typical characteristics of reflex cameras themselves, such as having interchangeable lenses, for example. If he has one of these cameras, you will be interested in giving him a compact or an SLR, mainly depending on how much or how little the weight and dimensions of the camera bother him. If you see that at the time of going on excursions or traveling he tends to leave his bridge/Evil camera at home, don’t even think about considering a SLR, as it will be heavier, thicker, and the only thing you will achieve will be to accentuate his problem. He will tell you “Thank you, what a cool gift… How do you know me ehhh!» but will end up leaving it at home in a drawer collecting dust, and we don’t want that. So, if her current Bridge / Evil weighs you down, go look for a good compact camera, there are some very, very good ones.
If, on the other hand, you see that he goes everywhere with his Bridge/Evil camera, there is clearer water: reflex.
What if your current camera is an SLR?
Look, the people who have SLR cameras classify ourselves into 3 categories:
Professional photographer caught on amateur camera:
On the one hand, there is the user who bought a SLR at the time as an amateur photographer, but his photographic use was evolving and right now he is doing work of a professional nature, one could say. This is a user that sometimes his current SLR camera is somewhat short. He is a user who has many accessories, he has a good handful of lenses, not just one or two, I tell you a good handful, several lenses, some of them specialized in portrait, landscape, frame, or other types of photography.
If your friend belongs to this group, a Nikon D7500 or an EOS 6D Mark II they can be a great option.
One thing: the transition from an amateur SLR to a semi-professional or professional should go, as far as possible, under the same brand. If the person already had a Nikon D40 for example, they will surely have an arsenal of accessories and lenses, do not annoy them by giving them another brand man, you will force the poor man to put all his lenses up for sale and find a life to acquire them from the new brand . If you give him a camera of the same brand, all the lenses and accessories that he had previously will be worth it.
Amateur photographer, passionate and in love with his camera:
On the other hand, there is the photographer who enjoys taking pictures but remains, after all, an amateur, a person who uses his camera occasionally, during trips, on weekends surely, or to photograph the family, the newborn baby. born, or go on excursions on time, and that you are happy with the performance of your camera. This type of photographer does not need a camera, he already has one, surely a very good one. Surprise him with something much more creative, unexpected and useful: a goal. Yes sir. A lens is the perfect complement to an SLR camera. The lenses that come standard with SLR cameras are good for taking photos, but there are lenses out there that are real glass jewels that, attached to the camera body, make it a machine for taking impressive photos. I have an extensive article where I recommend some of these lenses, but if you want a quick recommendation that never fails, give him a 50mm f/1.4. It’s an amazing goal.
Unhappy amateur photographer:
How…?! Unhappy? Yeah man, there are. SLR photography is not for everyone. There are people who stumbled at one point in their lives with a reflex camera, and well, there it is, in a drawer, without further ado. They would use it for a couple of weeks or months and then put it away. It is understandable. An SLR camera means taking a picture slowly, deliberately, trying over and over again, not to mention the weight of carrying it around your neck or shoulder, the accessories, the lenses, the backpack, the tripod, and so on. There are people who prefer the practicality of compact cameras, tiny, light and easy to store. Try to find out this point, if it is the case of the person to whom you want to give the gift, consider giving him a good compact camera.
My personal experience giving a camera
Shortly after meeting my wife, and because photography was one of our shared passions, I gave her a Bridge camera. She came from a compact camera, as were the compact ones at that time, very rudimentary, she had it quite damaged and deteriorated. It was clear that she needed a new camera. “A Bridge sure is much better than a simple compact camera” I thought. I tried hard is to choose a good bridge camera, I gave it to her, she used it a couple of times or three times and hardly touched it again ;( It was too big, too complex, too convoluted for her.
The following year we bought a Nikon D60. A full-fledged SLR. The idea was that we both use it. Again, after the initial contact, he didn’t use it much again. And when it did it was in automatic mode. That Nikon D60, currently discontinued, was the origin of the Photographer’s Blog 😉 but I still couldn’t find the right camera for my wife.
After a long time and taking advantage of a birthday occasion, I decided to give him a compact camera. A Panasonic Lumix TZ30 (today the Panasonic Lumix TZ61 which is better, for the simple fact that time passes for everyone ;)). Since then I never saw her go on a trip without her camera on top of her 😉 That had been a total success. The very small size of a compact camera, the ease of use, the speed of the shot, are things that, depending on the type of user, can make a huge difference. My wife was a compact camera photographer. There was no need to turn around. I had to find out, and that was what cost me one or two disappointments before finding the ideal camera 😉
I hope this article has helped you get a little closer to that photographic gift you were looking for for that person. Oh, and as always, if you’ve enjoyed this read, I’d really appreciate it if you could give it a Like or a Like on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+ 🙂