Camera Buying Guide
When it comes to shopping for a camera, with so many options to think about, it can be tough trying to find the right camera for what you need. If you are searching for the right camera for what you need, this camera buying guide is perfect for the novice photographer trying to narrow down the right camera choice for capturing life’s precious moments.
If you are just starting to research the right camera for you, then your first decision to make is whether you go with a basic camera or a more advanced camera. If you are planning to use your camera for quick point-and-shoot pictures, then you should go with a simple point-and-shoot camera. If you are thinking you need a more advanced camera that allows you to play with different exposure settings, and switch out different lenses for more creative photographs, then you should consider a more advanced camera like a DSLR or Mirrorless camera.
Once you have figured out what camera type will work best for you, then you have to dive deeper to find what key features in a camera will be right for you moving forward.
In this camera buying guide, we will help you with your decision-making process on what features to look for in a basic camera, and what key features to look for in an advanced camera. By the end of this post, you should be more comfortable in deciding which camera is the perfect fit for you going forward.
We have researched the internet for popular camera reviews to save you time and money with your camera purchase decision.
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Best Camera Buying Guide For Beginners 101 - Find The Right Camera For You
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Basic Cameras
Camera Buying Guide – The basic point-and-shoot cameras function the same way as you would with your smartphone. The settings are pretty basic in which you simply set the camera to either auto mode or scene mode, and just start shooting pictures. With a basic point-and-shoot camera, you are limited to changing the exposure settings of the camera, and you can’t change out lenses. But point-and-shoots differ quite a bit in terms of features and abilities.
Here are three types of basic cameras to consider in this camera buyers guide:
1. Basic point-and-shoots
Basic point-and-shoot cameras are compact digital cameras that are designed to be easy to use and portable. They typically have a fixed lens and offer a range of features that allow you to take photos quickly and easily. Here are some key features of basic point-and-shoot cameras:
Fixed lens: Basic point-and-shoot cameras have a fixed lens that cannot be removed or replaced. This lens is typically a wide-angle or standard focal length lens, which is suitable for a range of subjects and shooting situations.
Automatic settings: Basic point-and-shoot cameras often have automatic settings that allow you to take photos without having to adjust the camera’s settings manually. This can make them a good choice for beginners or those who want a simple and straightforward camera.
Compact size: Basic point-and-shoot cameras are generally small and lightweight, making them easy to carry with you wherever you go.
Limited manual control: While basic point-and-shoot cameras may offer some manual controls, such as the ability to adjust the white balance or ISO, they tend to have a more limited range of manual controls compared to more advanced cameras.
Overall, basic point-and-shoot cameras are a good choice for those who want a simple and easy-to-use camera that is compact and portable. They are well-suited for everyday photography and offer a range of automatic settings to help you take great photos with minimal effort.
Price range: $100 to $300.
2. Superzoom point-and-shoots
If you are going to be using a basic camera for vacations, sporting events, etc. then you may want to go for a superzoom camera.
Superzoom point-and-shoot cameras are digital cameras that offer a long focal length zoom lens, allowing you to take photos of subjects that are far away. They are similar to basic point-and-shoot cameras in that they are compact and easy to use, but they offer more advanced features and a longer zoom range. Here are some key features of superzoom point-and-shoot cameras:
Long zoom lens: Superzoom point-and-shoot cameras typically have a zoom lens that ranges from 20x to 50x or more, allowing you to take photos of distant subjects with great detail.
Automatic settings: Like basic point-and-shoot cameras, superzoom point-and-shoot cameras often have automatic settings that allow you to take photos without having to adjust the camera’s settings manually.
Compact size: Superzoom point-and-shoot cameras are generally small and lightweight, making them easy to carry with you wherever you go.
Advanced features: In addition to the long zoom lens, superzoom point-and-shoot cameras may offer other advanced features such as image stabilization, manual controls, and high-resolution sensors.
Overall, superzoom point-and-shoot cameras are a good choice for those who want a compact and easy-to-use camera that offers a long zoom range and advanced features. They are well-suited for travel, nature photography, and other situations where you need to take photos of subjects that are far away.
Price range: $200 to $600.
3. Waterproof point-and-shoot cameras
Waterproof point-and-shoot cameras are digital cameras that are designed to be used in and around water. They are typically sealed and built to withstand exposure to water, making them a good choice for activities such as snorkeling, diving, and beach photography. Here are some key features of waterproof point-and-shoot cameras:
Waterproof and durable: Waterproof point-and-shoot cameras are designed to be used in and around water, and are typically sealed to keep out moisture and other elements. They are often built to be durable and able to withstand rough handling and exposure to the elements.
Automatic settings: Like basic point-and-shoot cameras, waterproof point-and-shoot cameras often have automatic settings that allow you to take photos without having to adjust the camera’s settings manually.
Compact size: Waterproof point-and-shoot cameras are generally small and lightweight, making them easy to carry with you wherever you go.
Underwater shooting: Many waterproof point-and-shoot cameras are designed specifically for underwater shooting, with features such as specialized underwater modes and color filters to help you capture high-quality photos below the surface.
Overall, waterproof point-and-shoot cameras are a good choice for those who want a compact and easy-to-use camera that is durable and able to withstand exposure to water. They are well-suited for activities such as snorkeling, diving, and beach photography, and offer a range of features to help you capture great photos in and around water.
Price range: $100 to $400.
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Advanced Cameras
Camera Buying Guide – If you are looking for a camera that will allow you to be able to fine-tune the exposure settings, then this is where you would find these types of cameras. With large image sensors and other features that come with these advanced cameras, they can help you produce high-quality images and video.
Here are three types of advanced cameras to consider in this camera buyers guide:
1. Advanced point-and-shoots
Advanced point-and-shoot cameras are digital cameras that offer more advanced features and manual controls than basic point-and-shoot cameras. They are typically more expensive and may be larger and heavier than basic point-and-shoot cameras, but offer a greater range of creative options and higher image quality. Here are some key features of advanced point-and-shoot cameras:
Manual controls: Advanced point-and-shoot cameras often offer a range of manual controls, such as the ability to adjust the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. This allows you to have more control over the exposure and creative look of your photos.
High-resolution sensors: Advanced point-and-shoot cameras often have high-resolution sensors that are capable of capturing more detail and producing higher image quality than basic point-and-shoot cameras.
Advanced features: In addition to manual controls, advanced point-and-shoot cameras may offer other advanced features such as image stabilization, raw image capture, and a wide range of shooting modes and scene settings.
Larger size: Advanced point-and-shoot cameras are generally larger and heavier than basic point-and-shoot cameras, due to the additional features and controls they offer.
Overall, advanced point-and-shoot cameras are a good choice for photographers who want a compact and easy-to-use camera that offers more advanced features and manual controls. They are well-suited for a wide range of subjects and shooting situations, and offer a greater range of creative options and higher image quality than basic point-and-shoot cameras.
Price range: $250 to $3,300.
2. Mirrorless Cameras
These types of cameras allow interchangeable lenses, like DSLRs, but they are smaller and lighter.
Mirrorless cameras are digital cameras that do not have a traditional optical viewfinder or mirror system. Instead, they use an electronic viewfinder or LCD screen to allow you to compose and review your photos. Here are some key features of mirrorless cameras:
Electronic viewfinder: Mirrorless cameras typically have an electronic viewfinder (EVF) that displays a live preview of the scene as you are composing your photo. This allows you to see the effect of your camera settings and any changes to the scene in real-time.
Interchangeable lenses: Mirrorless cameras have interchangeable lenses, allowing you to choose the lens that is best suited for your subject and shooting situation. This can give you more creative control and flexibility than a fixed lens camera.
Compact size: Mirrorless cameras are generally smaller and lighter than traditional DSLR cameras, as they do not have the same size and weight of a mirror and optical viewfinder system.
Advanced features: Mirrorless cameras often offer advanced features such as fast autofocus, high-resolution sensors, and a wide range of shooting modes and scene settings.
Overall, mirrorless cameras are a good choice for photographers who want a compact and lightweight camera with advanced features and the ability to use interchangeable lenses. They offer a range of benefits over traditional DSLR cameras, including a live preview, smaller size, and the ability to change lenses.
Price range: $440 to $4,000.
3. DSLRs
DSLR stands for “digital single-lens reflex” camera. These cameras use a mirror and prism system to allow the photographer to view the scene through the lens in real time, as the image will be captured. When the photographer takes a photo, the mirror flips up out of the way, and the image is captured by the image sensor.
DSLR cameras are known for their ability to capture high-quality images with a lot of detail and dynamic range. They also offer a wide range of interchangeable lenses, which allows photographers to choose the best lens for the type of photography they are doing.
DSLRs are popular among professionals and serious amateur photographers because of their versatility and image quality, but they can also be used by anyone looking for a high-quality camera for everyday use.
Price range: $400 to $3,300.
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Features & Specifications That Matter
Camera Buying Guide – When you have an idea of what type of camera you want to buy, and how much you are willing to spend on a digital camera, it’s time to look at important features and specs you may want in a digital camera.
Side Note: there isn’t a specific specification or feature to a camera that will make it better or not.
Take megapixel counts, as an example, they are mentioned prominently in ads to make the camera sound better than it actually is.
Sure the number lets you how fine the resolution will be in the final picture, but nearly every camera on the market has enough megapixels for most camera users. You will need more than 16 megapixels if you want to send your photos out for poster-sized prints.
So if megapixels don’t matter much as the deciding factor in a camera, but what should you really look for?
Here are some important features to consider.
Sensor Size
A “sensor” is the part inside a digital camera that captures the image. So, when it comes to a camera sensor, the larger the sensor is, the better the camera performance will be, especially in low light.
Some more expensive camera models offer a full-frame sensor, which is the largest sensor available on consumer models. The downside to a camera sensor is there isn’t a consistent standard of measurement. For example, large sensors include 1-inch sensors and 35-mm full-frame sensors, which are measured differently.
So, if you’re interested in professional quality pictures and videos, you should try to get the largest sensor size you can. Information on a camera’s sensor size is usually in the features and specs portion of the description of the camera page.
Also, you can search the internet for “camera sensor sizes” to find charts that show the comparative sizes of image sensors. In general, a camera model featuring a sensor that’s 1 inch (12.8×9.6 mm) or larger can be recognized as an advanced camera.
Optical Zoom Lens
Even the most affordable cameras have at least a 3x optical zoom lens, which is greater than what you get on many smartphones. If you think you will be capturing many shots at sporting events, think of a lens with 24x optical zoom or longer, which can be found on superzoom cameras.
Some zoom lenses have very long ranges, which makes them very handy. For example, this photo of the moon was shot with Nikon’s Coolpix P1000 superzoom, which includes a mind-blowing 3000mm zoom. The only problem with wide-range superzooms is they tend to be larger and heavier. If you are looking for a traveling camera, think of a more compact model, with more moderate lenses.
Type of Flash
For point-and-shoot cameras, almost all have a built-in flash that’s better than what you will find with a smartphone. Some advance point and shot cameras let you even adjust the brightness.
But if you are looking for more professional looking photogrpahs, then opt for a DSLR or Mirrorless camera that has a hote shoe to add and external flash to it. By doing this, it allows you enormous control over the strength and direction of the light so it doesn’t have the harsh look you can get from a built-in flash.
An external flash can help turn a dull candid photo into a professional looking piece of art.
4K Video
Next up in this camera buying guide is 4K Video capabilities. Since most content creators are looking for a high-quality video to post on social media, having a camera that can shoot video in 4K helps video stand out from the crowd.
Megapixels
The first thing displayed in almost every advertisement for a camera is the megapixels. Most of the major cameras whether it’s a point-and-shoot camera or DSLR camera, offer a min of a 16-megapixel sensor, which is enough for almost all situations.
The megapixel specification tells you how many dots make up the image. This information assists you to understand how large you can print your photos, or whether you can crop your image and still be able to print a decent-sized photo.
Keep in mind that even though a camera may have a lot of megapixels, doesn’t automatically mean it shoots sharp, high-quality photos and video.
In most cases, the camera’s lens and the size of its sensor are really the driving factors in producing top-quality images.
Reliable Camera Brands
Canon – “Quality Pictures at an Affordable Price. With a Canon digital camera, you can take professional-looking photos without investing in very pricey cameras. A Canon camera is a good choice for aspiring photographers and so are the lenses and accessories.” – digitalcameraworld.com
Fujifilm – “Fujifilm’s range of X-series cameras – as well as its medium format GFX line offers superb sensors, elegant retro design, and beautiful image quality. There’s even a camera for people who don’t like the traditional exposure controls that Fujifilm has become known for!” – camerajabber.com
Leica – “Are Leica Cameras Worth the Cost? Just as some cars are more expensive but retain their value exceptionally well, Leica cameras tend to come in at higher price points but can be worth it in the long run. When purchasing a Leica, you can be confident it will perform beautifully for years to come.” – adorama.com
Nikon – “Nikon DSLRs are among the best DSLRs you can buy. Of course, an interchangeable lens camera might be more than you need. The best camera for beginners include many of Nikon’s fixed-lens Coolpix compact cameras, and for family or casual use, these are a great and inexpensive choice.”- Digitalcameraworld.com
Panasonic – “For every kind of photographer, there’s a Panasonic LUMIX camera to match. Point-and-shoots with pro-quality imaging and WiFi. Tough, all-season adventure cameras for action addicts who love to share. And LUMIX DSLMs for pro-photo performance with 4K cinematic video for serious hybrid photography fun.” – panasonic.com
Sony- “Sony also has some excellent advanced compact cameras. … You might buy a camera with a different brand name on it and end up with a Sony sensor, such as newer Nikon models. That’s okay because Sony makes good sensors. Sony has some of the best mirrorless camera systems on the market.” – expertphotography.com
You can find are a huge selection of these fantastic camera brands at Adorama and Amazon.com
Conclusion
As you can tell from this camera buying guide, there are many factors to consider when choosing the right camera for you.
Do you want portability for travel? Then maybe go for a point-and-shoot camera that is either lightweight, with superzoom options, or waterproof and rugged to capture your memories.
If you are looking for a more advanced camera with an interchangeable lens and more control over your camera settings, you can go with a lightweight mirrorless camera or a more complex DSLR.
Whatever your decision will be, you should be more comfortable in shopping for the perfect camera for you.
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About the author: Trent (IMDB | Youtube) has spent 10+ years working on an assortment of film and television projects. He writes about his experiences to help (and amuse) others. If he’s not working, he’s either traveling, reading or writing about travel/film, or planning travel/film projects.
