A 3-Step Guide To Choosing Your Next Camera

With the rapid rate of advances in technology and photography gear, more and more people are getting enticed into purchasing a camera and trying out photography. Being very vocal about photography and my reflections about it (through this blog), I very often get asked the questions “What camera should I buy?” or “Is this a good camera?” or “Is this a good brand?” and so, here’s a 3 step guide on finding out what camera is suitable for you. You will have to answer the questions on your own and do a bit of research on your own but this article should guide you in your camera-soul-mate searching.

SELF

Why are you buying a camera? What do you intend to use it on? Where do you want your photos to end up? and Are you willing to commit to learning photography extensively?

“I’m a traveller”

• If you’re buying a camera because you travel a lot and you want good photos to post on social media and have minimal to moderate desire to learn photography, a good quality Point-and-Shoot camera is good enough for you. One with wifi and GPS function would be very much suitable.

“I’m a traveller and I want to take good photos when I travel”

• The intention clearly demarcates the first two. It is really adviceable for people who travel a lot to get a good camera and learn photography. If you are willing to patiently learn the craft and eventually make large prints of your valued travel memories then a good mirrorless or DSLR camera would suit you well.

“I’m a traveller but I think carrying a camera is such a chore”

• Stick to your smartphone. You’ll never have the real desire to learn photography anyway. Just don’t expect to have good quality, large format, photos to stare at when you finally sit your lazy ass down in your livingroom

“I like taking pictures and I am passionate about making art”

• If you think you’ll be able to stick to such a craft that entails a lot of learning, a lot of failure, a lot of expenses and a lot of frustration, then by all means, get a serious camera. Your budget is pretty much your limit but you’re gonna be choosing between a DSLR or a Mirrorless Camera.

“I’m a blogger, I only take pictures of myself and/or my clothes and I have no real desire to learn photography”

• Read the answer to the first one. Same goes for you. If there’a bit of desire in you to learn, then an entry level mirrorless camera should do the job.

“Photography is my profession and I need to make good investments”

• You don’t need to read this. Skip on to the next parts

Brand

Before choosing your camera, it is good to narrow it down by choosing what camera brand you should choose.

“What camera brands have good presence and availability in my area?”

• This is something people don’t really take much into consideration but is very very important. Being able to purchase what you need, specially additional batteries, lenses and accesories right when you need them can be beneficial instead of having to order overseas and waiting for a long time.

“Which camera brand has the kind of lenses I need?”

• It’s sad to say but there are camera brands that have very good cameras but have a very limited lens line-up for their cameras. On the other hand, there are some that have good lens line-ups but the lenses are not that affordable. Compatibility of third-party lens brands (Tamron, Sigma, Tokina, etc) should also be considered.

“What direction is this camera brand going towards and it this parallel to the kind of photography I want to do?”

• Camera brands create cameras that can be used by everyone in general but as you look deeper into how and why they develop their cameras and lenses, you’ll be able to see that certain brands make cameras for certain fields. There are brands that manufacture cameras that would have more edge in sports, events and other fast-paced kinds of shooting. On the other hand, there are brands that make cameras more suitable for travel, landscape and documentary photography who put emphasis on portability. There are also brands (and camera formats) that are best for commercial and advertising work.

“Which brand has good after-sales service and good service center reputation?”

• This is the most important thing if you value every cent you spend. Choose a camera brand that has a functioning service center that has a reputation for fast turn-around time. Feeling secure that there are people who can fix your camera when it breaks really matters. Its a plus when they can do it quickly. It’s best when your camera comes with a long enough warranty period. You can do your photography with such comfort and ease.

Camera

Once you’ve chosen your camera brand and have determined why you want to buy a camera and your willingness to learn, you can then choose your specific camera. Only two questions and you’ll know what you want.

“How much budget do I have?”

• This will pretty much narrow things down to an easier set of choices. You obviously can’t go for a camera that you can’t afford. Know what cameras are in your price range and proceed.

“Which camera is suitable for the kind of photography I do or plan to do?”

• Brands don’t just make cameras that vary in price. There are usually multiple lines or series that are made for varying kinds of workflow. A more expensive camera doesn’t always mean that it’s better for the kind of photography you do. If you simply go for the more expensive one or the ‘top of the line’ model, then you might end up over-spending for specs that you won’t ever use.

Hopefully, after this rather lengthy read and looking up what camera is what, you’ll be able to make a more knowledgeable purchase and maximize your future camera.

Thanks for reading!

*** for more free knowledge, follow me on medium via @niccovalenzuela and to see some of my work, follow me on instragram via @niccov.ph