What camera should you buy? Some questions and answers to help you decide.
There are trillions of camera reviews coming at you from hundreds of photography web sites and magazines; it's enough to intimidate any consumers in today's camera market. Even professional photographers like me can get lost in this reading material.
Reviewing cameras in 2011, 2012: Which model camera is Best?
What camera should you buy? What brand camera should you go with? How much should be budgeted? Do I buy a new camera or will used equipment work out fine? Will I regret what camera I purchase six months from now or 2 years from now and on and on? Lots of questions to ask.
Ask some Pros, friends and family what camera they enjoy using.
At every wedding I photographed it seemed like someone would come up and start talking photography. I enjoy people so, as long it didn't keep me from the job at hand I was always happy to talk shop for a while. Usually the conversation would end up being one of these topics, but many times it ended with a key question.
What cameras do I (the pro) shoot with?
Did I know how to load or rewind film their consumer camera brand x, y, or z?
Could I teach them how to use their camera?
Did I know how to replace the their camera's batteries or could I show them how to "un-jam" their old, tired, warn out, needed replacing years ago camera?
I always avoided touching other peoples camera's if it was something more than loading film.
What camera should they buy next?
The hardest questions where always the ones from people asking which camera I'd recommend they purchase next. There are just too many variables to a question like this and certainly not something I could get into while working a wedding reception. Hell, I have the cake cutting shoot coming up in 5 minutes.
How to make buying your next camera easier: some advice from a pro.
Here are a few steps and thoughts to get you headed in the right direction.
Start putting money aside from paychecks and make a rough budget for your camera.
Decide what type of camera you will need? Will it be a point and shoot pocket camera or something more advanced, a higher end (more quality) consumer camera, semi-pro or even some pro level camera.
Plan on doing some research but be smart about it, visit with friends and start there. See what they are using. Ask them what features they like and ask them how it feels in their hands.
Ask if they think the buttons are in the right place, is it something they are happy with or did they wish they bought something else. Ask them to let you hold it and maybe even fire off a few clicks. Look at the images the cameras produced.
Buy some reading material, join a photography forum, research online.
You can purchase some camera magazines and do searches on the web like "best Nikon Cameras", visit Amazon and see what cameras sell the most there and read the feedbacks of their customers. This will also show you the range of prices with the various cameras.
If buying used is considered, a trip to ebay.com might be the ticket. Just be sure to know the seller (follow your gut) and trust that what they are saying is the truth about what they are selling. Buyer beware.
Their feedback rating should help you in this department. I have purchased lots of photography gear off eBay with great savings but I suggest you avoid sellers with low or no positive feedback.
Send questions to the seller about how much use the piece has had? Ask about any blemishes and if the lenses are clean and free of scratches. I like to buy cameras that had protective lenses on the various lenses for obvious reasons.
When it comes to cameras: information is everywhere.
There are sorts of places to research and buy cameras, newspapers, eBay, craigslist, local camera shops, amazon and on and on but there is only one person who can figure out what camera you should buy, and that my friend is you.
If you want to make an educated decision you will need to do your research. Build your budget while you do all this and you might end up with something a little better for less money even. Mostly. Pick up the camera before you decide (If possible) as some cameras just don't feel right.
If you love photography I suggest you buy the best your money can afford without buying more than you need. Deciding what it is you want to photograph should help you big time with your decision.
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