Joseph EllisJuly 28, 2021Comment

Buying a new camera - what to look for and what not to

Joseph EllisJuly 28, 2021Comment

Do you occasionally think about whether or not it would be a good idea to add a camera beyond your cell phone into your life but have no idea where to begin or what would make you happy? Let me see if I can help.

The first couple of questions you have to ask: What is it that my current camera/phone doesn’t do well for me? If the answer is nothing… move on… your phone is probably a fantastic tool and if you don’t see any real limitations with it there’s no reason to spend the money or have to carry a dedicated camera.

Second, if I do carry a dedicated camera, what about that will bother me the most? And lastly, what is my budget?

Just tell me what to buy

TLDR (Too long didn’t read) and you just want my recommendations on some camera models and lenses to consider… you can find them at the end of this article.

The number one thing I would impress upon anyone looking at a new camera is that the lens(es) you buy/use with it are really important to your success, just as much as the camera, if not more. If you just buy a new camera and a kit lens it might largely only do the same jobs as your phone and fail to solve any problems for you. In fact, it might add a lot of frustration to your life.

One example of where lenses are so critical would be if you want to take great pictures of field sports like baseball/softball or soccer. A long lens capable of reaching out into the field for closeups of your kids is critical. That purchase is an equal part of your success, just as much as a camera with great autofocus and good sequential shooting speed.

Ok so that out of the way, lets look at my top five must haves and five more “can ignore” features of a new camera system.

Ergonomics/ Size and Portability - You simply cannot underestimate how important picking a camera that fits your hands and has an intuitive layout is to your enjoyment and use of it as a tool. This category is hugely subjective, but it’s the main reason I advocate searching out a physical store to handle the camera before purchase.
I honestly think this is a case of once you hold the right one in your hands you’ll know it, but if you’re still undecided, look at the size and placement of the buttons, specifically, the method by which you move the autofocus point. Second, can you easily operate the cameras main functions with one hand? Do you like the way the screen on the back articulates? Once you’ve looked at those things, I think one option will most likely get the win for your preferences.
Part two of this is looking at the size of the total system, or said another way, the portability factor of both camera and lenses you want to carry. If you’re going to buy a long telephoto lens, how heavy is it? What about a flash or a prime lens you may want? Does the size of one option win out vs. another brand?
One of the reasons I bought into the Olympus system a few years ago was that I could carry everything I wanted in a much smaller and lighter kit. That size and weight savings meant that I left fewer things at home so I more often had exactly what I wanted, even when I was out on casual shoots.
System price/flexibility - Just make sure you look at the lens prices along with the camera bodies, that the lenses you want are available, and have a price point within your budget. Some systems have many options for zoom ranges and others might only have one. Usually there is going to be at least two lens options from any manufacturer: the pro line and most expensive stuff, a consumer line, and possibly a third pro-sumer. Knowing where you’re likely to purchase is a great help in planning your kit.
Autofocus - Here is where I would really think hard about buying as much capability as possible. Everyone is pretty great at focusing quickly on non-moving subjects in 2021 but there are some systems that excel at focusing on moving subjects and others that do not. Right now, I think you’re generally very safe with Canon, Sony, Nikon and Fuji (mostly) but other brands like Olympus, Panasonic have strengths and weaknesses that may or may not be important to you. When buying a new camera for sports, I’d say to definitely check a few video reviews to get an idea of what to expect. Just know that performance can vary greatly between different models. There are many companies that also give you free upgrades to the camera firmware over time so you’ll need to know what the current performance is, not the initial one.
Image quality/video quality - For the home photographer, I think the sweet spot for still image quality is around 24-30 megapixels, and for video, I’d honestly be happy with basic 1080P but at 60 frames per second for most projects. That being said, almost everyone is offering 4k at 30 frames per/sec these days so just make sure you look at the specs, and specifically look at the slow motion options, if you’re into making videos.
Connectivity - If it were me, I would handle any potential camera long enough to look at it’s wifi implementation and maybe even use it’s mobile app. This is probably going to be a critical part of how much fun and how useful the camera is in your life, if you’re anything like most parents I know. You should be able to send images from the camera directly to your phone for editing/posting without too much time or trouble.. Make sure you’re OK with that experience or you’ve seen a review of it to know what to expect.

What not to pay attention to:

Megapixels over 24 - A camera with more than even 20 megapixels will do almost any job a photographer could want. Yes, more resolution is great for some applications, but unless you’re comparing two cameras head to head, same photo, you’ll be very happy with whatever resolution you have. Due to the faster computer, more storage, better cards needed for higher megapixels, I’d say it’s more of a hinderance than a benefit for most. As a pro I own both, and to be honest, I love my 102 megapixel camera but it’s application is really only for very large prints where I want ultimate image quality. At home when I’m taking photos of my own family, I’m very happy at 24-30 MP.
The number of AF points - This is a headliner for some camera’s autofocus systems, but honestly, more points isn’t really a game changer. Take a look at how they are selected, positioned on the screen/viewfinder, and how easy it is to move between them… that’s more of a decision point for me.
The frames per second for shooting stills - This spec is very misleading because the real thing you want to know is real world performance when the camera is tracking a subject. This number is always lower than the spec.. and for some cameras it’s hugely lower. Check a real world review to know the truth.
Color simulations/dynamic range/bit depth (good for pros and other advanced photographers- not moms and dads) - All modern sensors are pretty great with these specs, unless you’re working with something 7-8 years old you’re not likely to see a big difference in your images. Besides, this is pretty techy stuff that most parents won’t ever even think about on a day to day, year to year basis.
Kits - I have to admit a preference for not buying a camera with a lens. I just think it’s too similar a lens to what you use your phone to do. If you’re going to have a dedicated camera make sure it solves a job you cannot do with your current gear. For me, a long lens or one that operates really well in low light are the main reasons a parent would want to carry a dedicated camera.

Camera recommendations for parents 2021:

First thing to know… I’d rather spend my money on a great lens, like a fast telephoto zoom to capture sports, recitals, music performances etc. than I would upgrade to a slightly better camera, so for each recommendation around 50% of the budget is going for that purpose. Aside from the lens being a great investment, it also handles things your phone cannot. That kit lens they try to sell you with your camera… that mostly does the same jobs as my iPhone.

Second, I’m going to make recommendations around the price point of $2000 since I think a great many parents can work with that budget if it really makes a big difference in their images and videos.

If you have a bit more there are a lot of great options at 3-6K but at that level I think you’re way beyond this article’s purpose. If you have less, then look at keh.com for great deals on used gear. I’ve bought loads of stuff from them, not only is it warrantied, but it’s almost always in better shape than I thought it would be.

Canon

$1000 - A new Canon EOS RP for around $1000 with a used Canon 70-200mm f2.8 LIS lens $1000 (note: you will need the EOS-R adapter which might cost you $200 or come with the camera on promotion).

Fujifilm

Fujifilm XS10 ($999) with a Fujifilm XF 50-140mm f2.8 R LM OIS WR ($1199) I currently shoot with the flagship Fujifilm XT4 and the medium format Fujifilm GFX 100s for my professional photography and I love this gear.

Leica

OK I can’t give any recommendations to parents for a Leica camera at the $2000 price point, but because I love the brand, I’ll say that the Leica SL2 at $6500 is their best all-around camera and you can pair that with an L-mount 70-200 f2.8 from Panasonic ($2500) or for the full effect the Leica 90-250mm f2.8-4 ($7295).

Nikon

Nikon Z50 with and FTZ adapter for $1000 and a used Nikon AFS Nikkor 70-200 f2.28G ED IF VRII for around $1000.

Olympus

Olympus OMD EM1 MKII camera ($949) and an Olympus OMD 40-150mm Pro lens ($1499) or you can buy the Panasonic Lumix 35-100mm because the two brands share a mount for their m4/3 cameras. I will say between the two the 40-150mm not only has more reach but it’s just a gem of a lens with all metal construction, weather sealing, etc.