What Camera Should I Buy?

From time to time, I get asked questions about photography, equipment, and running a small business.

Probably one of the most common questions I receive is, "What Camera should I buy?"

I'm sorry to say, there is no one right answer to give, but I do have a few tips to guide everyone to finding a solution.

While I have my personal favorite, when recommending a camera, I try to stay away from specific brands or models, just because that might not be the right choice for everyone.

There are many things to consider, but those things usually have to do with you more than the camera........kind of like taking a good photograph when you think about it.

(Ooh that's deep!)

Here are my Top 5 Tips to Purchasing a Camera:

1. The best camera you can have is the one you have with you.

Sounds simple right? Well, lugging around a camera and a couple of lenses everywhere you go can be daunting, but it is doable. Consider whether carrying around an extra bag is going to weigh you down too much. It does no good to have a pro consumer camera, if you're just going to leave it at home. Perhaps a nice point and shoot or even a smart phone will get the job done.

2. What are you going to be photographing?

Without geeking out too much, different cameras have different capabilities in terms of focusing systems, frames per second, and light sensitivity. So a camera only needed for still portraits and the one necessary for an action sport might not be the same. Luckily, there are some happy mediums out there. It's gonna take some research, but it's worth it.

3. What is your budget?

It can be easy to drive to the closest box store and pick out a camera. Most of those stores have budget options with some so-so add-ons. Do your research on sites like Adorama or B&H. There you'll find a little something for everyone from the hobbyist to professional gear, but don't get crazy. Not everyone needs the latest and greatest in cameras, lenses, and light. Buy the best camera you can afford.

4. Know your goals.

Are you wanting a nice camera for the family, wanting to tinker with and enjoy the art of photography, or do you want to make some money doing this? I know I just talked about your budget, but one thing to consider is -will you outgrow this camera quickly? Sometimes it's better to save up just a little more to get that higher end camera.

5. What do the folks in your friends group use?

This is may sound like a weird tip, but if you are going to be photographing things alongside others for a good amount of time, there's something to be said for compatibility. Not all lenses fit all cameras. Having the same or similar cameras could open up the opportunity for sharing.

There you have it, my tips to finding the right camera for you.

As always, thank you for reading.

Some of you have some homework to do now. I'd love to hear if these tips helped you out in any way and what you

ultimately decided on.

In my next blog post, I'll tell you what I use and why I decided it was the perfect camera for me.

Until next time, Keep on Clickin'...