There is so much choice, it is hard to know where to start….
Chase Jarvis said “The best camera, is the one you have with you.”
Most of us have mobile phones, and these have cameras built in. This can be all it takes to spark your interest in photography. The ease of use and the accessibility help you enjoy taking photos. Once you have decided that you ‘love’ photography and want to get a ‘decent’ camera, this is where the fun starts. DSLR, mirrorless, bridge, compact so many choices.
When you are first learning too many lenses, too many features can be very daunting, even the most basic digital camera now come with a manual thats an inch thick…unless its a PDF only !
The Introductory photography course is designed to help you get past the controls and take charge of your camera. So if you have had a new camera fro birthday or Christmas then this course will help you get the best out of it.
I started with a 35mm film SLR [Single Lens Reflex] and then shot with medium format film and the very early digital camera backs, peel apart Polaroids, transparencies and slide film. There are not many types/styles of cameras that I have not shot with. I have shot with Canon cameras for over 26 years and have recently switched to the Fuji mirrorless systems in the last 18 months. A lot of photographers, me included, buy into a ‘system’ and once you go down that path it generally doesn’t make sense to start switching systems. You are financially invested. You end up buying lens after lens over the years and even though another manufacturer may have the latest greatest camera, most of the manufacturers catch up to one another.
So how do you pick?
Budget: Money this is the starting point for most people.
Ambitions: What are you hoping to do with the camera?
If you wander into Jessops (local camera store) and explain that you want a camera, most people will get sold a DSLR with a kit lens and possibly a longer telephoto lens. There is nothing wrong with this but most people will then struggle to get the best out of the camera, and would possibly have more fun with a bridge camera or compact camera. The DSLR’s always looked more professional and that’s what people think they should get. I have met and am friends with lot’s of different photographers some amateur, hobbyists, semi professionals and professional photographers. 90% of them all shoot with DSLR’s.That was the norm. Though a shift is happening over to mirrorless cameras in the industry.
When I am not ‘working’ [ie paid photography work] my camera of choice is a Fuji X100F. This is a fixed lens, mirrorless camera. I can pop this into my jacket pocket and take it anywhere. It is a fantastic camera, very retro and allows me to adjust my aperture, shutter speed and ISO without having to go into the menus. All the dials are on top.