Beginner Photographer - Which Camera?

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Martyna111

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Martyna
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Hi, I’d like to start my journey with photography and I’m looking for a camera that would be good for a beginner. I’m looking for equipment that:
  • Is easy to use but also allows me to learn manual settings.
  • Has interchangeable lenses.
  • Is not too expensive.
I’ll mainly photograph landscapes and streets, but I’d also like to have the option to experiment with different subjects.

Can you recommend a specific camera model that would be great for a beginner and maybe suggest some lenses or accessories worth getting? Thanks for your help! :)
 
Hi and welcome to TP

As you may realise your question has been asked many times here at TP. If you take the time to search TP you will find them.

However, perhaps if you answered these questions first that will potentially inform some answers!

  1. What subjects are you intending to photograph apart from the ones you have mentioned?
  2. Have any experience of using camera(s) and if so can you say what it/they were?
  3. What is your budget for the camera & lens(s)
  4. Are you happy to consider buying second hand?
  5. Have also got a computer and budget for any software that might in future be needed(?) ?
 
Last edited:
Also, 2nd hand may be the way to go.

Many photographers have preferences as to what equipment to buy, which brand etc.

Check out a decent camera shop that sells 2nd hand too. Do some research.

Good luck...
 
Martyna111 said:
Hi, I’d like to start my journey with photography and I’m looking for a camera that would be good for a beginner. I’m looking for equipment that:
  • Is easy to use but also allows me to learn manual settings.
  • Has interchangeable lenses.
  • Is not too expensive.
I’ll mainly photograph landscapes and streets, but I’d also like to have the option to experiment with different subjects.

Can you recommend a specific camera model that would be great for a beginner and maybe suggest some lenses or accessories worth getting? Thanks for your help! :)
Click to expand...
No :p
More info needed- questions in bold.

But seriously… Any interchangeable lens camera meets your needs. There’s not really a camera that won’t.

So, you’ll need to narrow down your actual requirements
Is small size / weight important to you
What’s your budget
Are you happy to go 2nd hand

Honestly; your first camera is precisely that: the first.
In 12 months time, it’ll either be:

  • Worn out from loads of use
  • Replaced because you learned quickly you needed something different
  • Stuck in the bottom of the wardrobe cos you gave up.
In which case, buying 2nd hand can help to avoid the worst of the consequences of the above. You won’t lose so much money if you want to sell it, you can avoid the pitfall of buying an ‘entry level*’ camera, you don’t necessarily need to spend fortunes.

* entry level cameras are a marketing ploy by manufacturers; they sound like they’re designed to make it easy for beginners, but in reality they’re built down to a low price but aren’t actually as easy to use as mid range or pro models. Therefore creating an upgrade path.

The other tip I’d add from your question is:
Try to avoid the mistaken belief that shooting fully manual is what ‘real photographers’ do. It’s nonsense, most pro’s will have their cameras set up how ‘they’ like to work, often based round a semi automatic mode, sometimes auto, sometimes Manual. And they may switch about depending on the needs of the shoot.
Remember the aim of the game is to make pictures, not to learn complicated maths by heart.
Like when learning to drive; the point of which is to get yourself to interesting places, not to perfect wonderful parallel parking.
 
Martyna111 said:
Hi, I’d like to start my journey with photography and I’m looking for a camera that would be good for a beginner. I’m looking for equipment that:
  • Is easy to use but also allows me to learn manual settings.
  • Has interchangeable lenses.
  • Is not too expensive.
I’ll mainly photograph landscapes and streets, but I’d also like to have the option to experiment with different subjects.

Can you recommend a specific camera model that would be great for a beginner and maybe suggest some lenses or accessories worth getting? Thanks for your help! :)
Click to expand...

Welcome Martyna.

Pretty much any camera will have an auto setting to get you started, and most have the ability to switch to manual for when you get a bit more experimental. I'd suggest maybe looking at older DSLR's perhaps. They are perfectly fine, and very well priced.
 
LeeRatters said:
Certainly buy used from a shop. Preferably visit a shop to see what you like and get on with.

If you don't want to edit, Fuji
Click to expand...

Granted my Fuji ownership was short with a fixed lens camera with too many negative issues for me but I didn't have an edit free experience or anything like it. I found Fuji no different from any other digital camera I've had. All of the different makes of camera and lenses too will have their own influence on files and colours but forgetting all that and going for JPEG's or filters to get a certain look there's still going to be many of the usual things we do in editing such as straightening, cropping, cloning out, exposure tweaking and all the rest.

Martyna111 said:
Hi, I’d like to start my journey with photography and I’m looking for a camera that would be good for a beginner. I’m looking for equipment that:
  • Is easy to use but also allows me to learn manual settings.
  • Has interchangeable lenses.
  • Is not too expensive.
I’ll mainly photograph landscapes and streets, but I’d also like to have the option to experiment with different subjects.

Can you recommend a specific camera model that would be great for a beginner and maybe suggest some lenses or accessories worth getting? Thanks for your help! :)
Click to expand...

I'd always recommend people take a look at mirrorless cameras as they do IMO offer real advantages over conventional DSLR's. Personally I'd go for a 35mm equivalent "Full Frame" system from Sony or Nikon. I left out Canon due to possible lens cost issues but these are worth looking at too.

If you do come back to this thread.... Good luck choosing.
 
I've just purchased a Nikon D750 to use on a copy stand. Purchased second hand for under £400 with a shutter count of 2200; the camera is like new............and what a camera!

Full frame 24mpixel that gives stunning results; it can also be as simple as you want or full control for learning photography.

Highly Recommended
 
woof woof said:
Granted my Fuji ownership was short with a fixed lens camera with too many negative issues for me but I didn't have an edit free experience or anything like it. I found Fuji no different from any other digital camera I've had. All of the different makes of camera and lenses too will have their own influence on files and colours but forgetting all that and going for JPEG's or filters to get a certain look there's still going to be many of the usual things we do in editing such as straightening, cropping, cloning out, exposure tweaking and all the rest.



I'd always recommend people take a look at mirrorless cameras as they do IMO offer real advantages over conventional DSLR's. Personally I'd go for a 35mm equivalent "Full Frame" system from Sony or Nikon. I left out Canon due to possible lens cost issues but these are worth looking at too.

If you do come back to this thread.... Good luck choosing.
Click to expand...

Straightening and cropping isn't really getting into editing though is it? You aren't applying different profiles, or tweaking contrast and saturation, or playing with HSL or colour grading, or masking effects or the calibration section..... Any basic phone allows crop and straighten without additional apps.

Most of my X100f stuff, esp my thread in the 'street' section, are pretty much SOOC (I sometimes straighten/ crop) - but that's maybe just my own personal way of how I like to use the camera. I don't even image review or anything.
 
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