How To Buy The Best Cameras For Beginners In 2021

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Buying yourself a new camera can be a pretty exciting thing. Regardless of whether you’re upgrading from your current smartphone camera or just simply feel like getting your hands on a manual DSLR to see if photography is a path you want to take. But with so many options to choose from in the market, how do you know which one will fit you best? Not to worry! For our article today, we will be guiding you on how to buy the best cameras for beginners this 2021.

From knowing the different types of cameras in the market to learning the things you need to consider, you’ll surely have an idea of how to buy your first manual camera by the end of this article. Just keep scrolling to find out more.

Want To Check Out Our Top Recommendations? Click Here To Read Our Article On The Best Cameras For Beginners In 2021.

The Rise Of Smartphone Cameras & Why A Manual Camera Is Still Worth Investing On

As you already know, smartphone cameras have come to a point where they can easily go toe to toe with some of the best mid-range manual cameras in the market.

Nowadays, smartphones are capable of having 48MP cameras as well as shooting high-res videos at 4K. This even surpasses the quality of a lot of manual cameras in the market, making them almost feel obsolete.

So it’s pretty understandable if some of you may still be on the fence about whether it would be good to invest in a dedicated camera or stick with the one your smartphone provides. After all, smartphone cameras provide a certain convenience these manual cameras don’t.

For example, manual cameras are mainly used for taking pictures, while the former is built into an all-in-one device. This means you don’t have to carry a separate gadget with you every time you want to take a photo. Additionally, smartphone cameras are just much easier to use in general. They don’t have these complicated setting options you really need to properly set in order to get the photo you want.

And because of these very reasons, the camera industry has seen a significant decrease in demand these past years. It has come to a point where some people have ultimately quit buying cameras and don’t see them as worthy of investing in anymore.

It’s very rare nowadays to see someone anticipating the next release from Canon or Nikon the same way you would see people get excited about Apple‘s new releases every year.

So Are Cameras Still Worth It?

While it’s true that you can get away with taking a perfectly good photo with your current smartphone camera) if you’re really serious about your photography and you want an authentic experience of honing your skills and growing as a photographer, nothing will beat holding a manual camera in your hands.

The majority of people nowadays prefer smartphone cameras since they’re readily embedded into their main devices. However, professional photographers are unlikely to utilize a smartphone to record and shoot professional events, commercials, or films.

Meanwhile, cameras like DSLRs offer the advantage of longevity and versatility to let your creativity shine so you can get different results for your photos. Of course, smartphones have these too but they’re frequently done with the help of certain apps.

All in all, manual cameras are sure to last you for decades. You can also easily just swap out certain parts if you want an upgrade such as the lenses and there’s no need to completely throw out your current unit if you’re on a budget. On the other hand, you can’t really do the same thing with a smartphone camera and you’ll be wanting to upgrade the model every 3-5 years or so.

Why You Should Pick A Beginner-Friendly Camera

Just like any other hobby we pick up or just starting to take interest in, we usually test the waters first by starting small and avoid investing too much in case it turns out to be something we’ll not be doing in the long run. The same logic can be applied to photography.

Some might get excited at the prospect at first and even dive headfirst into taking as many pictures as you want without really taking into account the technicalities that come with it. There’s nothing wrong with this but after a while, you might ask yourself if this is something you truly enjoy or are you simply following a trend?

So in order to avoid wasting or spending too much money on professional-grade cameras before you’re ready for them or have decided that photography will be a long-term hobby of yours, let me tell you why buying an entry-level camera model will be more beneficial to you as a beginner.

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The term “beginner” might mean different things to different people. To some, it may imply a complete lack of knowledge in photography. Which in this case, you’ll want to stick with entry-level cameras that offer plenty of manual choices for you to experiment with as your skills improve over time.

Aside from that, entry-level cameras are also generally a lot cheaper compared to other cameras that were made specifically for professionals or veteran photographers. Not only this helps you save money, but it also prevents you from feeling guilty for investing too much or wasting resources in case you realize that photography isn’t something you want to do in the long run.

Feel Like You’re Ready To Check Out Different Camera Models? Read Our Top Picks Here For The Best Cameras For Beginners In 2021.

Different Types Of Cameras

DSLRs

The term “DSLR” stands for digital single-lens reflex which refers to the fact that it uses a single lens for shooting and focusing on your subjects.

Internal mirror mechanisms are built into DSLRs, allowing you to use an optical viewfinder. When it comes to capturing shots, photographers prefer to use this viewfinder rather than the LCD screen provided by the camera.

Due to their rugged builds, DLSR cameras are also generally more durable and weatherproof than other types of cameras you’ll see in the market. Though this can also vary depending on the model.

The DSLR used to be and still is, the professional camera standard. It’s one of the most popular varieties of cameras on the market, and it’s frequently utilized by professional photographers all over the world. If you frequently go to a lot of social or professional events, you’ll often see this type of camera used by photographers or journalists in their line of work.

Looking For A Beginner-Friendly DSLR? Check Out Our Review Of The Nikon D3500 Here.

Mirrorless

In some aspects, mirrorless cameras are similar to DSLRs. They have interchangeable lens mounts that can be swapped out whenever you want. But in exchange for the ability to build this type of camera more compact and lighter than your average DSLR, mirrorless cameras forego the mirror system that allows for an optical viewfinder.

Mirrorless cameras are also the most popular type of camera nowadays, They’re trendy and sport an aesthetic that a lot of younger people gravitate to. So if DSLRs are a little too bulky or complicated for your taste, mirrorless cameras may be a better option. They’re more portable and have smaller bodies so they won’t take up as much room in your bag.

Looking For A Mirrorless Camera? Check Out Our Full Review Of The Fujifilm X-T200 Here.

Film Cameras

The traditional method of photography is with a film camera. This type of camera is usually inexpensive. But they also don’t have as many options for customization as you would with a digital camera like DSLRs or mirrorless cameras.

Film cameras demand more effort and time than digital cameras. Wherein the latter allows you to see the outcomes of your images immediately after hitting the shutter button. On the other hand, film cameras use film rolls, which run out after a set number of photographs are taken.

Afterward, you can take your film rolls to a picture developer and have them processed for you to get a physical copy of your pictures.

Instant Film

Instant film cameras are similar to film cameras, except they print your images in a couple of seconds. They produce what is popularly known as “polaroids“.

This type of camera also uses a specific film roll that only allows you to capture a certain number of images. But unlike your regular film camera, instant film cameras can create photographs shot after shot. These models are also very popular among teenagers. They’re fun, easy to use, and great for memorabilia purposes.

Compact Cameras

This type of camera is also called “point-and-shoot-cameras”. These types of cameras have fixed lenses that cannot be changed or swapped out. So you’ll either be stuck with a zoom lens that covers a specific focal range, or a fixed-focal-length “prime” lens that focuses on quality.

Additionally, a lot of people find this type of camera outdated. But before smartphone cameras were a thing, this was the most popular type of camera among the masses.

The models in this category of cameras were cheap and did an adequate job of taking photographs. However, because of the tremendous rise in the popularity of smartphones, their subpar quality has significantly improved since then. Many point-and-shoot cameras now offer imaging quality that can easily rival that of interchangeable lens cameras in order to compete.

Conclusion

Now that we’ve finally reached the end of our article, I hope this was able to help you out in deciding whether a camera is worth the investment or not. As well as knowing the types of cameras that will suit you the best.

Photography is a wonderful experience and there’s no better way to preserve memories than taking photos of them. So whether you opt to get a manual camera or stick with your smartphone, I hope you have fun in your pursuit of taking great images.

Do you already own a camera? Or are you still thinking of getting one? Did our article on How To Buy The Best Cameras For Beginners help you out in making a decision? Let me know in the comments section below if you have any insights, suggestions, or questions to ask. I would love to hear all your thoughts!