"What Kind of Camera Should I Get?"

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

"What Kind of Camera Should I Get?"

A lot of people ask me what camera they should buy if they’re either just buying their first DSLR camera or upgrading from a point and shoot to a DSLR.

I’m a Canon guy, and that’s what I know, so I recommend Canon products (because I can help them then if they have questions or issues.) Nikon makes some great cameras, as well, and you can’t really go wrong with either a Canon or a Nikon camera.

That said, I start by asking what their budget is. I learned pretty quickly that you can spend a lot of money if you want to on camera gear. But the good news is that you don’t have to if you know what to buy for your particular interests and needs. These are some bare bones suggestions.

I’ve put together a few options that will hopefully get you started:

Option 1: The Absolute Beginner – “I just want to take pictures”

• Canon T3i (Canon just released the T4i, so T3is are at good prices right now) ($599)

-or-

• Canon T3i bundle (a good starter kit with a couple of lenses, tripod, bag, etc… Pretty much a complete beginner’s kit.) ($709)

Option 2: “I just want to take photos of my kids, wherever”

• Canon T4i (camera kit with 18-55mm lens) ($749)

• Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 lens (a prime lens that doesn’t zoom, but one that takes amazing photos in low light and indoor situations without a flash) ($110)

• Canon Speedlite 430EX II flash ($254)

• Transcend 16GB Class 10 SD Card ($13)

$1126

Option 3: “My kids are in sports and I want to take photos of them playing.”

• Canon T4i bundle ($900)

-or-

• Canon T4i (camera kit with 18-55mm lens) ($749)

• Cannon 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS zoom lens $255)

• Transcend 16GB Class 10 SD Card ($13)

($1017)