How to Choose a Professional Camera on a Personal Budget

Photography 101: How to Purchase a Great Camera on a Low Budget

Common Questions People Ask Themselves When They Consider Buying a Really Nice Camera:

What is the best camera I can buy for the least amount of money? What type of camera should I get if I just want great pictures but don't have time to become a professional? Which camera brand is the best: Nikon, Canon, or some other? Every person that gets into photography has asked these questions. When I was asking these questions, I couldn't find a great post that answered them. Now that I have the answers, I want to share the information.

Cameras 101, What You Need to Understand

When I was getting into photography, I found myself asking many of the questions above. I asked my professor, colleagues and friends. I even searched the internet to find the answers, but I found none. The truth, there really is no one correct answer to these questions. With that said, after many hours of searching, learning, and researching I can offer some advice. It is advice and knowledge I have compiled  from several people and experiences, but I specifically want to thank my friend Lars. Over the years, he has given me great advice and I want to pass it, along with other things I have learned on to you.

My Answer: Buy a Canon T2i with a 18-135mm 3.5-5.6f Lens

The Canon T2i takes great photos!!! It is also the least expensive professional grade camera that I am aware of. If you are just beginning it has totally automated features, but-for those developing their skills as an advanced photographer-it also allows you total manual control. Another great feature about the Canon T2i is it will take amazing HD video.

The Canon-made 18-135mm zoom lens with an aperture of 3.5-5.6f is a great lens! It will make small rooms look big when you are zoomed all the way out, and when you are zoomed all the way in it will get you up close and personal with the subject. It is about as good a lens as you can afford, unless you have thousands of dollars to spend on a lens. It is really versatile and works great for most situations. In low light settings you will need to bump up the ISO to its max (6400), but in all other situations you can get great photos from this lens.

Another Lens to consider getting:

I should mention that if you want to get a bigger aperture than 3.5f you might consider buying a second lens like this one. This is a 50mm fixed lens, meaning you can't zoom in or out (you zoom with your feet). The camera sees things at about the distance as your eyes. The great thing about this lens is its ability to provide a shallow depth of field. That means even if you are in a small room you can get that professional look where the subject is in focus but the background is totally blurred out.

Canon vs. Nikon: Which One is Better?    

Canon and Nikon are definitely the leaders of the D-SLR still camera industry. I have heard that Sony is also on par with them, but I have seen a lot more professionals go with Canon or Nikon cameras. Besides manufacturer, the only real difference between the two is the camera menus and user interface. Each has a unique camera menu system and slight button changes. If you haven't used either, then that won't make a difference. I have heard that Canon is a little more well known for innovation/being on the cutting edge of technology and that Nikon just follows very closely behind, but that isn't really verifiable. Both manufacturers are great and if you buy from either you can't go wrong. It really just comes down to user preference and brand loyalty.

Where Should I Buy a Camera?

BHphotovideo is the best site to purchase equipment from, but definitely check amazon. Both are great! Amazon is nice because you can get really good deals, and use amazon credit card rewards, and/or other discounts. However bhphotovideo.com is where professionals go. I have found BHphotovideo is just as cheap if not cheaper than everyone else and I have heard they give great customer service if you have an issue with your equipment. (I have never had an issue with something I bought from them, but other people have told me that is the case).

To learn more about still camera basics check out these other posts I have written. As always, if you have a question just leave a comment below.
Camera Lens 101 Basics: Things You Should Know or at Least be Familiar with When Buying a Camera Lens.
Light and Photography; a Few Things You Should Understand