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Pro Photo Rental

What Camera Should I Buy?
By Zac Henderson

Photography is an industry that has had an absurd explosion in technology, product, and interest within the past 20 years. There are more people taking images now than ever before in history. To keep up with such a massive demand and interest in photography, new and old camera companies have been churning out cameras of all kinds, shapes, sizes, and prices.

It can certainly be overwhelming when first beginning to shop for equipment. Just a quick search around the internet will turn up hundreds if not thousands of “what should I buy?????” blog entries and articles. Pro Photo Rental’s suggestions are a reflection of the years of experience we have, as well as the feedback we receive from clients and their unique needs.

Even with all the information floating around the web, we still occasionally get the question “What camera should I buy?” We love getting this question, but it’s hard to answer.

It’s important to understand that, even for people just starting to learn about photography, this is a huge question and one with no easy answer. The great part about a business like Pro Photo Rentals is that you can walk in and talk to a real person about your needs and questions, or call us over the phone to get recommendations. Then, you can try the gear before you commit to buy. People often skip the opportunity to rent first, but it can end up saving you a lot of time and money in the long run. It’s much better to rent a camera and discover its not right for you than buying it first and realizing you should have gone with that other model.

So - to get back to the real question: What camera should I buy? The only answer to this general question is “It depends”. I know it would be easier if someone just said “THIS camera” and holds out the perfect solution to all of your photo needs, but this realistically can’t happen. The only way to truly offer a suggestion for what camera to purchase is to have the answers to some important questions. We’ll get you started below.

What's your interest level in photography?

It’s important to be honest with yourself here. Where do you see yourself going with your photography? Do you have aspiration to be the next Annie Leibovitz, or do you just need a camera capable of taking better quality images than your phone? This is relevant because its very easy to bite off more than you can chew and pay for more camera than you’ll ever need. Technology has progressed far enough to allow even the “lower end” offerings for camera companies to be absolutely packed with power and potential.

For those looking for a camera for everyday non-specialized use for the kids and to take on vacations, don’t be afraid to look at the advanced point and shoot models, also known as “super zooms”. These cameras have only one lens, but are extremely versatile and often offer very impressive zoom ranges.

Depending on the model, these cameras can be as simple or complex as you like. The benefit of the super-zoom is that it’s not necessary to buy and carry specialty lenses with you everywhere. Lenses can be expensive (for good reason), and can be cumbersome to those that aren’t using them often or to their full extent. The super-zoom has a variety of focal lengths built in. So instead of taking your eyes off of what you want to shoot, you can push a button to get as much or as little in the scene as you want.

Click below to see the offerings from major manufacturers of this camera type:

Canon
Nikon
Fujifilm
Sony

Where do you want to take your camera?

Most cameras are not as delicate as you might think. Some are weather sealed, dust resistant, etc. However, these features often come with a higher price tag because these cameras also have all of the typical features of a normal camera, just with more seals and potentially a magnesium frame. If you have a specific camera in mind there may be a waterproof housing or other accessories that make it more resistant to the elements, but these can be pricey and add a lot of weight and size. This is where “tough” cameras come in.

Tough cameras typically will feature optical zooms, are waterproof to an impressive depth, and are shockproof: all without needing any additional housing or accessories. That means even if it falls out of your bag it can still keep going. Can’t say that about your phone… These are a speciality camera that may not be as versatile as other models or have a wide zoom range, but can certainly hold their own in regards to image quality and features.

Click below to see the offerings from major manufacturers of this camera type:

Canon
Nikon
Fujifilm
GoPro (Speciality)

Do you feel a burning need to share your photos now, now, NOW?

Sometimes the answer here is no. That’s ok! If you’re always connected online and want to share your images as soon as they’re taken, there are cameras out there that can fit this need. Recently, even some of the more advanced DSLR and mirrorless cameras have the capability to connect to WIFI and upload content. Fortunately, this ability is not limited to high end cameras.

Some cameras in this genre blur the line between a dedicated camera and phone photography. These cameras use a phone’s user interface like an app so you have all the sharing options on your phone as if you took the photo with the phone’s built in camera, but boasts a greater resolution, higher image quality, and sometimes optical zoom.

Fortunately, many cameras allow you to be connected to some extent. You don’t have to have a dedicated specialty wifi camera to upload on the go, but some do it better than others, or in different ways.

Click below to see the offerings from major manufacturers of this camera type:

Sony
Canon
Nikon
Fujifilm

How much do you anticipate growing as a photographer?

If you have a budding interest, it may be best to go with a camera you can grow with. Except for ultra high end specialty gear, every camera is going to have some combination of automatic functions. This gets your feet wet so that later when you have a better technical understanding you can shoot in full manual and really push your gear.

An entry level DSLR or interchangeable lens mirrorless camera would allow you to purchase lenses for specific tasks as your skill increases. Also, if you start on the lower end of the camera product line, you’ll typically still be able to use the same lenses on a higher end camera should you ever choose to upgrade. This camera type is easily the most versatile and has the most potential for growth or expansion and is generally thought of as the professional option.

Just because some DSLRs are professional caliber doesn’t mean you should overlook the basic offerings of this camera type. Many of the same features found on more expensive cameras are also found on less expensive cameras. Changes in price can be due to materials, sensor size, screen articulation, or configurational differences. Even older DSLR cameras on the used market are very capable and offer higher image quality and versatility than other camera types. Many of these cameras come with a “kit” lens to get you started. These lenses are typically of a high quality and have the potential to make some impressive images. Don’t think that just because it comes with the camera that it should be replaced.

Click below to see the offerings from major manufacturers of this camera type:

Canon
Nikon
Fujifilm
Sony


Why buy when you can rent?

I think it’s important to have an everyday camera. Sometimes life throws something amazing your way that deserves better than an Instagram filter or can’t easily be capture on a phone. For those times and for general use, your go to camera will be there. That being said, sometimes it’s fun to play with some toys that are more specialized that may not get enough use to justify a purchase.

At the risk of sounding self-serving, renting gear is a great way to try out the latest, coolest stuff without having to buy it first. Going on a vacation to Hawaii and want something more than your kit lens? Rent a wide angle lens to take on your trip instead of buying one. Save the money, and also be able to get the photos you wouldn’t have been able to get otherwise. Pro Photo Rental has some of the best gear from manufacturers like Canon, Nikon, and Sony. Be sure to look online for what we have available, or stop in to check out our expanding high end video selection.

There are a LOT more brands and styles of cameras than what we’ve listed here- and we didn’t even talk about video! That’s for another post entirely. The “what camera should I buy” question is a big one- one that nobody can easily answer in a single blog post. Hopefully the camera types we’ve mentioned will give you a starting point to begin your research. When it comes to the big companies like Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Fujifilm, nearly any newer model will be of a high quality. It’s hard to go wrong, but it’s always best to do your research and look up reviews for what best suits your individual needs. Find out what’s most important to you, whether that’s low light shooting, extreme telephoto or wide angles, portability, etc and then find the camera that fits those needs.

Thinking about a specific camera, but not sure that we carry it? Give us a call or send us an e-mail! If we don’t have it, we’ll do our best to point you in the direction of someone who does.

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