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What camera should I buy?
As the holidays approach, many of you have asked me what camera should you buy as a gift (for someone or for yourself). There is no easy answer. Depending on what type of photography you want to do as well as your budget, these and other factors will help you through the selection process.
- Budget: As with anything, knowing what you have to spend dictates what you can buy. Once you define your budget, then you can select the best product within that price point.
- Type of Photography: If you are looking to photograph snapshots, a good point and shoot camera (I have a Canon PowerShot 7.1 mega pixels under $300) will serve you well. Some will offer video options which gives you added benefit. If you are wanting to get to a more professional level such as wedding or portrait photography, sports, landscapes or macro, then you'll need to upgrade your camera and your budget significantly.
- Brand: Some of us have loyalty to a brand. I personally and professionally don't. I shoot with both Canon and Nikon. Canon was my first film camera and just in recent years I switched to Nikon for lens quality. Both are superior brands and will give you great digital images. The key is to know what the brand offers, its limitations, and possibly new features in upcoming releases.
- Now here's where it gets tricky. Within each brand you have 10 or more body types available to add to the confusion. This is where your budget helps you through the "deciding funnel" process in narrowing down your choices. The prices can range (for DSLR) from $500 to $15K and beyond. Yes, I do have a big expensive one on my wish list!
- Don't let the big number of pixels mislead you into thinking that body is superior to its less pixel kin. If you are photographing for billboards, then you'll need your higher pixel, full frame format camera, but most people are simply wanting really good quality images they can print to 24x36" max. Which any DSLR in the Canon and Nikon family will give you a great product.
- Additional Peripherrals: DSLRs allow you to take some great images and instantly share them through digital technology. But, to take your photography to the next level, you will also need to consider accessories such as lenses (telephoto, macro, wide angle, fish eye, etc). These lenses can range from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands. In addition to lenses, there are flashes, filters, wireless shutter release (iPhone users have an app for Nikon), GPS system, and the list goes on.
I have a total of eight camera bodies ranging in price and capability. As my photography and technology in photography shifted through the years, so has my equipment. Know where your photography is today and where you want it to go tomorrow. Before you go out and buy a new camera, take out the one you have, read the manual - if you have already mastered everything with that camera, then you're ready for an upgrade. If you haven't mastered your current camera yet, have fun exploring its features and make a list of its limitations, nice to have and must have features, this will help formulate your decision for your next camera.
If you are shopping for cameras, lenses and other camera equipment, visit the links below for reviews on products (dpreview) and good priced retailer is B&H which I use both frequently.
One thing is for certain, once the "CLICKER BUG" bites you, you're hooked. Above all, it is not the camera that makes a great photograph, it is the photographer! Happy clicking : )
Take care,
Fatima Donaldson, creative director / lead photographer
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