Since this is a photography blog, so I thought my second post should be something that's a very integral part of photography. After thinking about writing stuff related to exposure, composition and what not, I decided to go a bit closer to the beginning. What's the one thing, without which we can't start photographing? The camera, of course. Now there are thousands of camera models out there, so which one to buy? Before searching for an answer here, I would like to clarify one thing first. Regardless of which camera we buy, the ultimate end result will not depend upon the camera itself. Its a tool, through which we capture our interpretation of the world. So, while its natural to think about buying the latest and greatest camera when we are starting out, its important to keep in mind that just like an expensive pen automatically doesn't transform us into a great writer, a good camera automatically doesn't make us a great photographer. There is a lot of hard work, dedication and determination is needed to make us photographers.
First of all, we need to understand the types of cameras that are available today. Mainly there are two types of cameras, Film and Digital. In order to keep this post short, I am just talking about the digital cameras that have become the norm these days. Also, to be clear I am focusing on cameras that specially caters to the photographic market, and excluding all kinds of video cameras.
One of the main advantages the digital cameras offer over the traditional film cameras is that it offers flexibility and the ability to shoot as many pictures as you want without wasting precious films. Also you get to check your composition immediately at the camera display which is not possible in case of film cameras. So despite running the risk of angering some old school folks who swear by their film cameras and film SLRs, I am skipping the film cameras and concentrating solely upon the digital cameras.
Types of cameras-
Thanks to the advancement of technology, there is a huge number of options available to us now. But in order to maintain our sanity, lets concentrate on only two types for now, the ILC (Interchangeable lens camera) and the Compact Point & Shoot cameras . The main difference between a Point & Shoot camera and a ILC is that of the ability to change the lens. There are so many options available in both of them, that while starting, its very natural to get confused. So lets try to decipher this mystery by delving a little deeper.
Even within the point & shoot cameras, we have further divisions. We have the basic P&S cameras, the High Zoom cameras and the Advanced Point & Shoot Cameras. Each of them are discussed below with their pros, cons and pricing of a few models (They are just for reference purpose and I am not advertising them in any way. Moreover, the links will redirect you to various sites, but I have done so solely because I thought you might be interested in reading some reviews from users and to search for similar models)
1. Ability to manually control the flash and ISO.
2. Ability to take panorama shot.
3. Check the start up time, shutter lag and Photo processing time, the less the better.
4. If manual control of shutter speed is available then it is preferable.
5. The Zoom range, the more the better.
6. Low light photo quality.
7. At least 8 Megapixel resolution.
Most of the Point & Shoot cameras don't have the optical viewfinder and you have to rely on the digital one on the rear of the camera. Now a days you can find pretty decent P&S cameras even at Rs 4000/- , like the Nikon Coolpix L25 Point & Shoot or even lower at Rs 3249/- like the Fujifilm FinePix C25 Point & Shoot . They are very basic cameras which don't have the usual bells and whistles like their more costly counterparts but in most cases they get the job done.
In my opinion, if we are serious about photography, it is better to avoid these P&S cameras. For as little as 10000/-, we can manage to get pretty decent second hand ILC's that are much better suited to take care of our needs.
There is also no shortage of High Zoom Cameras in the market. The price range starts usually from Rs 15,000/-. Some good High Zoom cameras are Nikon Coolpix L830 Point & Shoot, Sony DSC-H300 Point & Shoot, Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX60V etc. All of them are more or less same in functionality. I suggest these to anyone wanting a good all round camera for casual snapshots. But again, if you seriously want to explore photography, avoid them.
The price range for the DSLR cameras starts around Rs 25000 and there is practically no upper limit. For starters, cameras like Nikon D3300 SLR, Canon EOS 1200D SLR, Canon EOS 700D SLR etc are perfect. They offer almost everything that much costlier professional ones do for a fraction of the cost, plus you get to use different lenses which is the primary reason you will buy a DSLR.
If you are pretty serious about your photography and have the kind of money to burn for a DSLR, don't think anything and go for it. They are better than all the basic point & shoot and High Zoom Cameras out there. While I have already said any DSLR will do, but its nice to keep the following factors in mind-
1. Image stabilization- Ever encountered the dreaded camera shake in a very rare opportunity to click photos? Then you will know exactly what I am talking about. Image stabilization is a must have feature.
2. Auto-focus- Try to get a camera which has the auto focus motor in the body rather than the lens. Because if you buy a DSLR which doesn't have the Autofocus motor in the body, then you will spend a lot of money later on buying costlier lenses with AF motor. In this department, Canon is better than Nikon.
3. View-finder size- A large view finder is always better than a small one as it allows better and cofortable viewing angle.
4. Continous Shooting rate and Buffer size- If you intend to do a lot of sports or action shooting, then these two are very important factors. The buffer size determines the number of consecutive shots you can take at the maximum rate before the camera has to slow down. Current DSLRs range between 2.5 frames/sec (fps) to 10 fps. Unless you are shooting action sequences, 2.5 fps is probably fast enough for the needs of most amateurs.
5. Video quality- Although not related to photography, but having a DSLR with decent video capabilities doesn't hurt anybody.
6. Wireless Remote Control- Some cameras do not have IR receiver and hence can't be used with a wireless remote control. It is a very essential feature, especially if you intend to do some trick photography. So checking about it is very necessary.
7. Auto Exposure Bracketing- Before everyone starts bashing me on this, I accept that it is not a must have feature but it is a nice to have feature, especially if you are interested in doing High Dynamic Range (HDR) Photography.
What I have seen is starters normally tend to think DSLRs are far superior to mirrorless cameras. But that is simply not the truth. Each has its own advantages and it really comes down to individual preference. I own both the systems and am speaking from personal experience. I shall write a detailed post later comparing the two to shed more light on this.
Well folks, those who have managed to have the patience to read till this point, I thank you with all my heart. Hope this clears your confusion instead of adding to it. Keep posting comments as it inspires me to write more. Good bye.
First of all, we need to understand the types of cameras that are available today. Mainly there are two types of cameras, Film and Digital. In order to keep this post short, I am just talking about the digital cameras that have become the norm these days. Also, to be clear I am focusing on cameras that specially caters to the photographic market, and excluding all kinds of video cameras.
One of the main advantages the digital cameras offer over the traditional film cameras is that it offers flexibility and the ability to shoot as many pictures as you want without wasting precious films. Also you get to check your composition immediately at the camera display which is not possible in case of film cameras. So despite running the risk of angering some old school folks who swear by their film cameras and film SLRs, I am skipping the film cameras and concentrating solely upon the digital cameras.
Types of cameras-
Thanks to the advancement of technology, there is a huge number of options available to us now. But in order to maintain our sanity, lets concentrate on only two types for now, the ILC (Interchangeable lens camera) and the Compact Point & Shoot cameras . The main difference between a Point & Shoot camera and a ILC is that of the ability to change the lens. There are so many options available in both of them, that while starting, its very natural to get confused. So lets try to decipher this mystery by delving a little deeper.
Point & Shoot Cameras-
Even within the point & shoot cameras, we have further divisions. We have the basic P&S cameras, the High Zoom cameras and the Advanced Point & Shoot Cameras. Each of them are discussed below with their pros, cons and pricing of a few models (They are just for reference purpose and I am not advertising them in any way. Moreover, the links will redirect you to various sites, but I have done so solely because I thought you might be interested in reading some reviews from users and to search for similar models)
Basic Point & Shoot Camera-
This segment has the highest number of cameras out there. Hundreds of models are available and it only adds to the confusion about which one to buy. Roughly the price range for these cameras are Rs 3000 to Rs 15000/-. There isn't much to write about them, but before deciding to buy any one of them, check the following things-1. Ability to manually control the flash and ISO.
2. Ability to take panorama shot.
3. Check the start up time, shutter lag and Photo processing time, the less the better.
4. If manual control of shutter speed is available then it is preferable.
5. The Zoom range, the more the better.
6. Low light photo quality.
7. At least 8 Megapixel resolution.
Most of the Point & Shoot cameras don't have the optical viewfinder and you have to rely on the digital one on the rear of the camera. Now a days you can find pretty decent P&S cameras even at Rs 4000/- , like the Nikon Coolpix L25 Point & Shoot or even lower at Rs 3249/- like the Fujifilm FinePix C25 Point & Shoot . They are very basic cameras which don't have the usual bells and whistles like their more costly counterparts but in most cases they get the job done.
In my opinion, if we are serious about photography, it is better to avoid these P&S cameras. For as little as 10000/-, we can manage to get pretty decent second hand ILC's that are much better suited to take care of our needs.
High Zoom Camera-
There is no perfect definition, but I dare say that any camera capable of more than 20X optical zoom is a High Zoom camera. There is not much difference between a High Zoom Camera and a P&S except for the Zoom Range. They are particularly helpful while photographing in the wild. But the more we zoom, the more the camera becomes sensitive to shakes.There is also no shortage of High Zoom Cameras in the market. The price range starts usually from Rs 15,000/-. Some good High Zoom cameras are Nikon Coolpix L830 Point & Shoot, Sony DSC-H300 Point & Shoot, Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX60V etc. All of them are more or less same in functionality. I suggest these to anyone wanting a good all round camera for casual snapshots. But again, if you seriously want to explore photography, avoid them.
Advanced Point & Shoot Cameras
This is a comparatively new segment that primarily caters to advanced users. These cameras offer excellent image quality along with larger sensors and greater control in a compact body. Often these cameras feature a fixed focal length lens. In some cases, they do offer a little zoom capability. Some examples of these cameras are- Fujifilm X100T, Sony RX 1, Sony RX100 mk3 etc.Interchangeable Lens Cameras (ILC)
As the name itself suggests, ILC cameras let you swap lenses.An ILC can be either a DSLR or a Mirrorless camera. These are mainly of two types, i.e Full Frame and Cropped Sensor, depending on their image sensor, but lets not get into those details right now. Whether to get a DSLR or a Mirrorless depends upon personal preference. Both has its own advantages and disadvantages.The price range for the DSLR cameras starts around Rs 25000 and there is practically no upper limit. For starters, cameras like Nikon D3300 SLR, Canon EOS 1200D SLR, Canon EOS 700D SLR etc are perfect. They offer almost everything that much costlier professional ones do for a fraction of the cost, plus you get to use different lenses which is the primary reason you will buy a DSLR.
If you are pretty serious about your photography and have the kind of money to burn for a DSLR, don't think anything and go for it. They are better than all the basic point & shoot and High Zoom Cameras out there. While I have already said any DSLR will do, but its nice to keep the following factors in mind-
1. Image stabilization- Ever encountered the dreaded camera shake in a very rare opportunity to click photos? Then you will know exactly what I am talking about. Image stabilization is a must have feature.
2. Auto-focus- Try to get a camera which has the auto focus motor in the body rather than the lens. Because if you buy a DSLR which doesn't have the Autofocus motor in the body, then you will spend a lot of money later on buying costlier lenses with AF motor. In this department, Canon is better than Nikon.
3. View-finder size- A large view finder is always better than a small one as it allows better and cofortable viewing angle.
4. Continous Shooting rate and Buffer size- If you intend to do a lot of sports or action shooting, then these two are very important factors. The buffer size determines the number of consecutive shots you can take at the maximum rate before the camera has to slow down. Current DSLRs range between 2.5 frames/sec (fps) to 10 fps. Unless you are shooting action sequences, 2.5 fps is probably fast enough for the needs of most amateurs.
5. Video quality- Although not related to photography, but having a DSLR with decent video capabilities doesn't hurt anybody.
6. Wireless Remote Control- Some cameras do not have IR receiver and hence can't be used with a wireless remote control. It is a very essential feature, especially if you intend to do some trick photography. So checking about it is very necessary.
7. Auto Exposure Bracketing- Before everyone starts bashing me on this, I accept that it is not a must have feature but it is a nice to have feature, especially if you are interested in doing High Dynamic Range (HDR) Photography.
Mirrorless ILC
Consider them as DSLRs in a compact, lightweight body. The don't have Optical Viewfinders like DSLRs and hence, are considerably light and small. Now mirrorless cameras come in various price points and with various sensor types. Some of the good mirrorless cameras presently in market would be- Sony ILCE-6000L, Fujifilm X-T1 Mirrorless Digital Camera, Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4, Sony Alpha a7II etc.What I have seen is starters normally tend to think DSLRs are far superior to mirrorless cameras. But that is simply not the truth. Each has its own advantages and it really comes down to individual preference. I own both the systems and am speaking from personal experience. I shall write a detailed post later comparing the two to shed more light on this.
Well folks, those who have managed to have the patience to read till this point, I thank you with all my heart. Hope this clears your confusion instead of adding to it. Keep posting comments as it inspires me to write more. Good bye.
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