It is me with the camera Wolf. Tbh most systems are excellent so I doubt you’d be disappointed, it’s more about giving you choices in future. I did a lot of research before buying and decided that I wanted to go with one of the two main systems, which are Canon and Nikon. The advantages are the huge range of lenses available (both system lenses and third party compatible ones) and the trade in second hand lenses etc is strong, so that makes it a bit more accessible to expand your range and also get some money back if you don’t use something much. They are also pretty much guaranteed to keep developing their products and not exit the market (not really a concern if you are likely to just buy a camera as a one-off purchase but if you became a more serious hobbyist you’d appreciate the wider options). Canon and Nikon are both excellent - I went for Canon and have been very pleased, both with the cameras (I’ve had 3) and some really superb lenses.
A lot of my gear is more than 10 Years old (and still working perfectly!) so I can’t really advise about exact models on the market now. I have always found the entry level canons to be fantastic value though and do most of what the more expensive sub-pro lenses can do, but I have appreciated the extra functionality on the slightly higher range ones, and the build quality is a bit better once you get off the lowest rung. I’d maybe go for the entry level or one above, if you can stretch to it. I’ve had a quick look and there are quite a lot of options now so it’ll take a bit of research! Basically though:
- entry level with either Canon or Nikon will be excellent (others probably also Very good but those are the most comprehensive systems, most serious photographers use one of those in my experience)
- the level above that will have slightly more functionality and may be more robust - so possibly worth a stretch if you can manage it
- above that, to be honest, the quality of your lens (and the experience of the operator!) will have far more impact on your picture quality than a better camera, unless /until you get really and and /or
Have very specialist needs
- often at the entry-level end the cameras are not ‘full frame’ - basically that means that for a given Lens length your picture will be a bit ‘Zoomed in’. This is totally not a problem, you just get used to the effect that a given lens length gives you on your camera. I actually never upgraded to full frame, I just got the best cropped frame camera I could buy because the extra crop was really useful to me (I did a lot of bird and wildlife photography and so the extra ‘zoom’ on top of my expensive long lenses was really helpful). If you become a semi-pro level Landscape photographer you’d want a full frame camera but below that level you’d probably not notice. And wide angle Lenses are cheaper than super zooms.
- I see some DSLRs now come with smartphone type controls. I wouldn’t recommend that at all if you really want to learn about photography, rather than just take some nicer pictures up to a point. It’d be like learning to drive an automatic and then finding later (if you like Driving) that you can’t drive any of the cars you really want because they’re all manual!
- it would be a good investment to buy a good photo magazine. I’d recommend Digital Camera. They have some good articles to whet your appetite but also Usually have a comparison of the main cameras on the market with pros and cons. I think Readly even have some of those magazines, if you have that?
You’ll get good advice from a proper retailer but it helps to have thought about what’s important to
You before you get bombarded with options. I’d be happy to chat more about it (PM or
Even - gasp! - actual phone chat!) but I won’t bore on any more here now!