Trying to buy your first-ever camera equipment can be tricky if you’re not familiar with them, since there’s a lot of different features and elements that go into each model. Even something as tiny as the shutter speed or the maximum picture resolution can completely change the kind of photos you’ll be able to take, as well as their overall quality and how you’ll be able to use them.
Thankfully, if you focus on the important parts first, you can quickly narrow down the cameras you might want without having to spend hours sorting through dozens or hundreds of cameras at once.
Use Lists
There are top-ten or countdown lists all across the internet, and they can actually be a great resource for finding cameras that fit specific criteria. If your budget is under $500, then look for lists titled something like “10 Best Point and Shoot Cameras Under $500” and have a quick skim through it. Even if you don’t end up buying any of the products they mention, it’ll give you an idea of what to look for, and might even reveal new brands or features that you didn’t know about beforehand.
Many of these lists also go into some detail about the kinds of situations they can be useful in, or the kind of photographer and hobbyist they might be perfect for. If you have no idea what features you might want on your camera, this can make it a little bit easier to figure out your needs and what kind of camera can fulfill them.
Look into Beginner’s Kits
New people get into activities like photography every day, and companies are aware that starter kits are in high demand quite often. A decent kit will contain not only the camera and a lens or two, but might have extra attachments like stands, tripods, lens caps, carrying cases, holding straps or even extra lens attachments that offer more magnification. They might even give you a great starting point for specific camera types, like everything you need to use a ‘point and shoot camera’ correctly.
The good thing about these kits is that they’re designed for first-time users, and everything that’s included will work together properly – if you’re buying all your gear yourself, there’s always a chance that certain parts or attachments won’t fit together with one another. In a kit, you don’t have this problem, so they’re a great way to jump-start your photography career or hobby with a single purchase.
Think About Your Skill Level
You can be good at photography even if you haven’t owned a camera before – the power of smartphone cameras means that many people start their photography career before they’ve even had a chance to hold a real camera. A lot of the skills are transferable between the two, especially when it comes to things like taking stable photos and getting the perfect level of zoom for each scene.
If you’re already fairly skilled at taking good photographs, you don’t necessarily have to start with the bare minimum – it depends on what you’re prepared to use, and the kind of equipment you might already own that you’ve been using with your phone. Small tripods, for example, can sometimes be used for both phones and cameras. On the other hand, if you’ve had no experience using cameras before, there’s plenty of camera designs that can appeal to users of any skill level.
Don’t Worry About Manufacturers
A lot of people like to buy tech from specific manufacturers, especially if they’re known for creating good-quality products. However, when it comes to cameras, this isn’t as important – even if your chosen manufacturer isn’t that popular or well-known, they’ll generally still create great-quality cameras. The only downside might be any manufacturer-specific attachments they sell, since certain camera brands prefer to limit their product compatibility with their competitors.
Most major brands will have a very minor difference in quality, and often no difference at all. You can usually go for a slightly cheaper option if you’re working on a limited budget, or deviate from a manufacturer that you’ve been recommended if you’d prefer a feature offered by another company. The end product will be very similar, so don’t worry about being pressured into choosing a very specific brand.
