Woodland Sorrow, Clinton River Park, Sterling Heights, Michigan
I am pretty sure any photographer has been on the receiving end of this question from relatives or friends. Quite frankly, it is an easy question and a hard question to answer at the same time. So briefly, here are some of my thoughts on both.
The Easy Answer (but perhaps a frustrating one)
They are all good these days. Seriously, if you find yourself in a position of just starting out, wanting a starter camera, or just one “more serious” than a phone, no matter what you pick to upgrade to, it is going to be better than what you have. Digital cameras have reached a maturity of sorts. Revolutionary new features are far and few between these days. You can drive yourself nuts browsing camera forums, comparing specs, making spreadsheets, pixel peeping at samples and asking your photographer friends. No matter what you pick, it is going to be better than what you have, and something to grow into. Don’t worry, if the bug really bites you, you may outgrow your pick like so many of us have, but it isn’t something to worry about now. Buy what you can afford, used if you want, and don’t worry about it.
The Hard Answer (is mostly more questions)
Of course, and you know I am going to say this – “it depends.” It depends mostly on your budget. Then it depends on some personal preferences, do you prefer manual dials, or electronic menus? Do you want something a bit more compact, or don’t mind the size of a full DSLR? Do you think you will want a lot of different lenses or just one all-in-one? Will you use flash a lot? Do you like multiple-exposures? These are things, if they are important to you, that need to be flushed out to at least narrow down the extensive list of good cameras. These are also things that someone just starting out may not know up front. That is perfectly understandable. Here’s the thing – what you think is important to you now, may not be so important in the future.
“Never forget that all the great photographs in history were made with more primitive camera equipment than you currently own.” – Brooks Jensen, publisher of Lenswork
One of my first SLR cameras was a Nikon 5005. It was fine, it got me started, did what I needed it to do at the time when I wanted to “get more into photography.” As I continued to photograph, I outgrew it and felt myself wanting more options. It lasted perhaps a couple years until I spied the features of the N70, and so on, and so on. Eventually I reached the point where I didn’t need any more features in a film camera no matter what new model was introduced. A similar thing is happening with digital today.
So ultimately the hard answer may lead to the easy one! Seriously, what will matter most is that you simply pick something and start making photographs with it. You can rent cameras now if you want to get your feet wet without a lot of purchase commitment. You can pick the same thing your friend has, borrow one, or throw darts at a board. It really doesn’t matter.
All of the rest will fall into place sooner or later. That’s my 2 pixels worth of advice.
One thing at this technical juncture is whether to go DSLR or a mirrorless. The future seems to be mirrorless. I made a huge DSLR investment about a year ago. If I had it to do over again I would’ve gone mirrorless.
Fortunately there are adapters for many models that can at least allow you to use your glass.
Love the Brooks Jensen quote! And I think you are right that they are all good these days. And I think that a camera at a similar price point from all the main companies are likely to be, well…very similar.
Another good question I ask is what do you want to do want to take pictures of and how big do you want those pictures to be?
Great post!
It definitely seems we have reached a maturity level when it comes to digital cameras, particularly for beginners, with the next big push being into smaller, mirrorless formats. I am sure soon we might see virtually noiseless ISO 12500 and similar things like that, but what the appeal will be I am not sure.
I don’t get the question anymore, probably because for years my answer has been: “whatever feels good in your hand”. People don’t find that very useful for some reason, though I do because it stops any further questions 😉 Much the same reason I always tell people to buy a Mac when they ask me what computer to use, or an iPhone if they ask me about phones. Not because I use a Mac or an iPhone (never have), but because when they come back for “support” advice I can say in all honesty: “sorry, don’t know anything about Macs/iPhones”. Yes, I am a little bit evil, though I like to think of it as self preservation 🙂
What I do find though, is that people spend way too much time agonising over the camera and no where near enough time thinking about the lens. If I was to give someone any advice more useful than the afore mentioned statement (which is unlikely but I am going to be hypothetical here), I would suggest that the bulk of the budget be put on as good a lens as possible (even if it is a second-hand one, or a manual one) and the balance used for the camera.
I’ve had a few friends get into photography as complete newbies and watched them get discouraged to the point of giving up. When I looked at their photos I could see that their composition and their ideas were good but their kit lenses were letting them down with horrible bokeh and poor sharpness. When I let one of them, who’s camera had the same mount as mine, use one of my prime lenses, he couldn’t believe the difference. So much so that he went out and bought a lens that cost double what he spent on the body + kit lens. He hasn’t looked back.
There’s not much discernible difference in cameras or sensors anymore (in terms of output) but there is plenty of difference between lenses (again, in terms of output).
Of course, all this could be moot someday, when cameras end up having all the software we are seeing on phones these days, which will rectify any shortcomings a lens may have. Who knows.
That is a cunning, yet hilarious strategy Cedric, recommending something you know nothing about to avoid tech support! I tend to agree good glass can make a world of difference, especially if someone has aims of achieving those creamy backgrounds. It will be quite amazing if software can make up for physics some day, but I would not hold my breath for quality equivalency.
If social media has taught us anything, it is that where quality is concerned, close enough is good enough. A semblance of quality is all people want. But all that aside, there is no doubting in my mind that software will some day (sooner than later) be able to greatly improve the quality of whatever physical gear we use. For example, if all you can afford is a slow kit lens, no worries, software will nicely cream out your background and remove whatever noise may be present. Google is already working on an OS (Fuchsia) to replace Android that will be device independent. I can see camera companies jumping on that and incorporating it within their future models (well, the smart companies will. The rest will become fodder for documentaries and be compared to Kodak). When that happens we will likely see a boom in apps that may well shake up the industry.
I guess I am not so convinced major camera manufacturers would want to turn over their software control to Google. It comes at a significant price, as well as to their users that already don’t want to be monitored with their phones. There are thousands of apps already for phones, for me that’s enough. I don’t need, or want, them infiltrating my “serious” cameras.
I think we will however continue to see better lens choices within the phone camera realm. There already phones with 3 lenses. And certainly phones already satisfy the “good enough” criteria you mention for many.
Television and car manufacturers have already gone over to the dark side, I don’t see why camera manufacturers will not do the same. I would suggest that no one really cares about being monitored. Sure, people go on about it like it’s a crime on humanity, but convenience always trumps the perceived need for privacy. I say “perceived” because these days, privacy is a myth 🙂
Like you I do not want apps on my camera, I don’t even use them of my phone, but we are the dying breed I feel. Hopefully I am wrong.
Yes, that dreaded question! I try, usually unsuccessfully, to dodge it because if you provide the real answer, the answer you gave, “It really doesn’t matter,” they probably won’t believe you anyway! 🙂
Yes, you are right Earl. That’s why I dread it also, because I know the question comes from a sincere place, just I honestly don’t know what to tell them. I don’t follow all the specs of the newest models, and it wouldn’t matter even if I did. ?