I can admit that I love cameras. I love collecting vintage cameras and playing with the best current gear. Thankfully, I have an excuse to my madness. They are tools of the trade for me, for which I’m extremely grateful or else I’d have yet another expensive hobby on my hands.
My first real job was at a camera store at Metrotown, Black’s Photography. Over the years, I got to see what equipment worked best for myself. More importantly, I got to see what gear didn’t work for others. What brands would have issues most frequently and came back as returned product.
Now that you know where I’m coming from when I approach this FAQ, let’s get into it. I can’t give a universal answer, because that’s not how tools work. It comes down to personal preference. Any camera you buy now is going to be great. They wouldn’t survive if they weren’t good enough for consumers. So what separates Nikon from Canon, Fujifilm from Sony? There will be pros and cons to all of the choices, and people (myself included) will bring biases (so here’s my grain of salt).
What camera should you buy? Here’s where we’ll start:
What is your budget? Many cameras come with a lens, but you have the option to buy them “body only.” Figure out how much to allocate on the body, lens, or kit by deciding how much you’re willing and able to spend.
If you don’t have them already, you’ll need memory cards, extra batteries, and a bag to carry and keep it all safe. These costs add up pretty fast. For example, for a camera I just bought, extra batteries for it go for $300 each! Cheaping out on the memory card could also mean you don’t have full access to the cameras features too!
What kind of photography (and video?) do you want to do? For me, I primarily use Nikon for stills (photography) and Sony for video. To me, they are the best for those respective uses. Canon is a great option for many because it does well with photo and video. If you’ve invested heavily in Nikon lenses over the years, then switching to Canon may be prohibitively expensive and literally works backwards to what you’re used to.
Mirrorless cameras: differentiating from DSLR (digital single lens reflex) is a topic I get asked often too, so I’ll address here (feel free to skip ahead if you know already). Sony has been the king of mirrorless with its a6000 and a7 line, to the point where Canon and Nikon have had to play catch up. What makes them so great? Mirrorless, as the name suggests, means the camera lacks a mirror. The “R” in “DSLR” stands for reflex, which refers to the mirror. By not having a mirror in the camera body, the cameras can be much smaller and lighter weight. As a result, looking through the camera involves the use of an electronic view finder or the screen on the back of the camera. A DSLR is a system with a mirror and often a prism, where you look through the lens and see the real scene. Mirrorless cameras give you a preview of what the final image will look like, because it’s reading the image that is on the image sensor in almost real-time. Because of that, you get to see the adjustments you’re making to your final image while you’re making them. You don’t get that feedback with a DSLR.
Would a smaller camera mean you’ll use it more?
I love DSLR’s for my commercial photo work because of its ergonomics, responsiveness, and honestly, because a big camera looks more professional in the eyes of the general population. I often hear from people who are in the market for a new camera, that it’s because they don’t use their camera because it’s too big and heavy.
When I go for a hike or if I’m backpacking, a DSLR is heavy and can make me more of a target for thieves.
I choose a Sony a7R II and a Sony RX100 IV pretty often when it comes to traveling light and unencumbered. I also pair my a7R with older Leica manual focus lenses. Not cheap, but they’re extremely well made and compact.
Now that you have these questions to help direct you, you can hone in on the brand, style, and specs to look for, but keep an open mind. Go to your local camera store and ask to play with some of these cameras that you’ve researched like crazy and have kept you up at night. Which camera feels best in your hands? Which one has the buttons in a comfortable spot for you to use? Which has menus that drive you the least insane, because they’re all pretty annoying.
Choose a store that has a great return policy. I won’t name any here, but you can test out a camera in the real world for two weeks! As long as you bring it back in the same shape it left the store in, you can get a full refund. I don’t advise to take advantage of these policies, but it’s a nice reassurance that you don’t have to be 100% sure you’ve made the right decision. These are expensive tools, so it’s good to know you can get it right.
I hope this helped guide you make a decision on what camera, lens, or other gear would work best for you! You can have a look at my previous post about the gear that I choose if you want to see the choices I’ve made for myself. If you have questions or want to chat about gear with me, feel free to give me a shout!
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Email: info@julianfok.com
If you’ve made it this far, clearly my guide wasn’t very helpful! I’m offering private and group workshops related to photography, videography, and getting the most out of Instagram. I’m based in Vancouver and open to travel and doing sessions online.