What kind of camera should I get?
A Photography/Business Should Be 50/50
So you're asking me to do all the work, Huh?
Alright. The first question you should ask yourself is, “What do I want this camera for?”
If you want something quick and simple, or a camera to take away on holiday or for occasions like birthdays. I’d say go for a point-and-shoot.
I'd suggest getting a used camera if you're just getting into photography. Don't spend too much money.
A lot of people fall into the trap of thinking that if they buy an expensive camera (Leica), they'll be able to take great photos.
Yeah, not how it works.
Sure, I'd like a Leica, but I don't need one. Though if I decided to buy one, I'd know that I'm already good enough and that the camera itself is just a tool. An extension of my vision. The camera just captures it. It doesn't do the work for me.
Cameras have come a long way, and they can be set up to do most of the work for you, but you still need to point the thing at a subject and press the button.
Do you want to shoot film or digital?
Cropped, full frame or medium format (We'll leave large format for another time).
If you have a favourite photographer or Youtuber, I suggest buying their brand, Canon, Sony, Fuji, Lumix, etc.
I say this because, if it is a Youtuber, they'll have plenty of videos on that brand, which will help you.
I frankly don't care which one of the above you go for. Just make it cheap enough because the camera body you buy is nothing more than a box with a hole in the front.
It's the lens, baby. The lens.
Deciding on the type of photography you want to undertake will determine the lens's focal length.
Some focal lengths lend themselves better to certain types of photography.
Take Street photography, it's become quite popular in recent years, and if you watch enough YouTube videos on the subject, you'll notice a trend. People do like a Range Finder camera for it.
Stolen from Wikipedia;
"A camera fitted with a rangefinder, typically a split-image rangefinder: a range-finding focusing mechanism allowing the photographer to measure the subject's distance and take photographs that are in sharp focus."
When you look through the camera eyepiece, you'll notice that you're seeing double in the centre. As you turn the focus ring, the images will aline. It's how your eyes work if you've ever forced your eye together, anyway. You are finding the 'range' (distance) of your subject.
The usual focal lengths range from 24mm, 28mm, 35mm, and 50mm, all primes.
A Prime is a lens with a single focal length. It doesn't zoom. These tend to be sharper and faster than zoom/telephoto lenses.
I have one Range finder, a Canonet QL17 GIII (35mm film) with a fixed 40mm lens.
I do have a Range Finder-style camera in the form of a Fujifilm X-E4 (digital). It's not a "true" range finder because its focusing system is more traditional.
Let's hit on TRL, SLR, DSLR and Mirrorless cameras.
Though, to be honest, if you're just getting started, TRL and SLR probably don't matter right now. But trust me, once you get into photography, you'll want to buy a TRL at some point.
So, what do all these letters mean?
TRL = Twin Lens Reflex
SLR = Single Lens Reflex
DSLR = Digital Single Lens Reflex
Mirrorless = Quite
A TRL is usually a small camera with a waist-level finder. You hold it somewhere near your naval and look down at it. No viewfinder, just a ground glass. It'll have two lenses on the front. The top lens is the one you're looking through as you compose your shoot (but remember, left is right and right is left), and the bottom lens is the one taking the photo and will contain a leaf shutter. Light enters through the lens, bouncing off a mirror and into your eye. The left and right thing is because the lens flip flops (turns left to right and upside down) the image.
An SLR is what your traditional camera looks like. Box, a lens on the front, usually an interchangeable lens. But this time, as you look through the viewfinder, which will be housed behind the lens, you see through the lens. Unlike the TRL, where you see through one lens and take a photo with another. The SLR fixed this by letting you see through the lens while taking the photo. Light comes in, gets flip-flopped, hits a mirror and bounces up into a prism that flip-flops it again and turns it the right way up and then out to your eye. This allows you to compose a more accurate photo. Oh, I forgot, when you hit the shutter button to take a photo, the mirror moves up and out of the way, and the shutter curtain then does its thing to expose the photo.
So far, we've been talking about film cameras.
Now digital.
DSLR is basically the same as the SLR but captures the photo digitally. The distinctive sound for a D/SLR is the mirror moving out of the way.
Mirrorless, as the name suggests, there isn't a mirror as with all of the above. The basic principles are the same, but there is usually a shutter curtain protecting the digital sensor, which does all the flip-flopping and correcting of the photo for you. You can also see exactly what the camera sees through the EVF (Electric View Finder. A small monitor) or the screen on the back of the camera. If you adjust ISO, Aperture or Shutter Speed, you can see what that will do to your photo before you take it. This gives you more control over the photo. Which is why It's a good starting point for beginners. Mirrorless cameras are also cheaper and lighter than DSLRs
One thing I didn’t hit on was the Point and Shoot cameras. These are small compact, easy to use and pretty much do everything except the pointing and shooting, they are fully automatic cameras. Though they won’t teach you much about exposure.
I started with a Fujifilm X-T3 (£629 - £734 used), which is still too much for someone considering getting into photography. I'd suggest spending no more than £300 with a lens, ideally a (stock) zoom lens between 16mm - 70mm. This will give you a good range.
If you already know what type of photography you want to do, watch some youtube videos and pay attention to what lenses they like using.
Try to find out what focal length they prefer. Then look for something used within budget.
To clarify, I'll never tell you to go out and spend whatever you want on a camera if you're just starting out. Used is where it's at. I mean, I still buy used gear.
If you're in the UK, then MPB.com (not sponsored) they also have a US site. Also, Stateside, check out B&H (Green banner, far right side, USED!).
Now, the hard truth. Expect to avoid going out and taking incredible photos right off the bat.
Unless you're some kind of photography prodigy.
But let's move forward under the assumption that you're not.
YOU ARE going to take more shity photos than good.
Yes, it will sting. All that hard work for what?
Like anything, getting good will take time. The more you go out and shoot, the better at it you'll get. Bad photos should be used as a tool to learn your craft. Ask yourself, "Why is this photo so bad?" then try to find ways of not doing that again. Mistakes are how we learn.
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I’m a Professional Photographer who dabbles in Writing and Documentary Film Making.
I’ve recently quit my job of three and a half years as a Bartender/Manager. Photography began as a hobby and quickly became a passion.
I’m a Professional Photographer, Filmmaker, Writer/Author and this website is where I’m going to document all of it. The good, the bad and the ugly.
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