Chamber election criteria
The most important thing in photography is the content and how to show that content to tell a particular story, to convey a message through the photo. Capture a special moment, find a suitable frame.
The second most important thing would be light. Learn to manage light and get the most out of it.
Another crucial part would know specific techniques or tricks that help us with the creative part.
Lastly, there would be the most technical or technological part: knowing our team and knowing how to get the most out of the camera we have at that time.
Therefore, as a fundamental idea that you have to stay with: the camera is not essential to learn photography, you can start with any camera: a mobile phone, a small compact … anyone. Because the fundamentals of photography and the weight of an image are not in the technical part but the artistic position.
Then, as you discover the style or type of photography that you like or are most interested in, you can guide your team to meet new needs or new challenges.
That said, cameras will make the task more comfortable for you and allow you to understand the light management part better, and expand the range of possibilities.
What would you ask a camera to learn photography:
- Have manual controls. That allows me to control the exposure parameters to achieve the effect that interests me the most depending on the scene. Let’s say this would be my only mandatory requirement.
- [Optional but recommended]. A camera with a viewfinder. Most cameras have a rear screen to view the scene, but not all have a viewfinder. The viewfinder is handy because it makes our eye have the same field of vision as the camera, isolates us from the environment, helps us frame, and allows us to acquire a ‘photographic vision..’
- [Optional but recommended]. An interchangeable lens camera (SLR or EVIL). The idea of interchangeable lenses is that we can choose the most suitable lens depending on the type of photography we will take. We can start with a simple objective and gradually add more goals to expand the range of techniques and creative options.
- [Optional] . A light camera that I can carry easily and that I am not lazy to take out of the house. This is a very subjective criterion, but from experience, I know of people who have the camera abandoned simply because of the hassle of having to remove a large piece of equipment.
Any reflex camera would work correctly, any EVIL camera (that is, without the mirror, with interchangeable lenses, and with electronic viewfinder) and some compact ones, as long as they include manual modes.
We are going to discuss several specific models that we would choose and that we think would be good cameras to start in photography and learn:
Canon EOS 250D (Rebel SL3 in America)
Or the Canon 200D (Rebel SL2)
It is a small and relatively light reflex camera (with an optical viewfinder). Allows manual control of all parameters. It offers excellent performance in both photography and video. It is a very balanced camera in terms of performance, size, weight, and value for money.
With the Canon 250D, you have a camera for a while, both to learn and to get the most out of it. It is also a very comfortable camera to use, with a fully articulated and touch screen.
You have at your disposal the entire catalog of Canon lenses and third-party brands compatible with this system.
In any case, the lens it includes (18-55mm STM) already offers a more than acceptable optical quality.
Olympus OM-D E-M10
It is a camera that I love.
It is a mirrorless camera (EVIL). It has a high-quality electronic viewfinder in addition to the rear touch screen and folding (up and down).
It is small and light, and the lenses of this system (Micro 4/3 system from Olympus and Panasonic) are smaller and lighter than those corresponding to SLR cameras, so it is perfect for carrying the camera with you you go.
It offers excellent image quality and is a camera for life. The exterior design is based on the older Olympus OM analog cameras.
It is effortless to use. It has two dials to configure the exposure parameters, which allows high-speed and precise control.
The E-M10 has at your disposal the entire catalog of lenses from Olympus, Panasonic, and third-party brands that make lenses for Micro 4/3. It is also effortless to adapt and use old analog camera lenses.
Nikon D3300 / D3400 / D3500
Another highly recommended camera to start and learn photography. It is Nikon’s entry-level SLR model, which periodically releases new versions with minor improvements or extras. However, from the point of view of performance and essential features, all these models have a similar account.
They are complete cameras, which offer excellent image quality in both photography and video.
It has an optical viewfinder (it is a reflex), and its rear screen is fixed. It is not articulated. It is also an effortless camera to use, which allows very intuitive control of all parameters.
For the D3400 / D3500, you have the Nikon and third-party lens catalog. You can use AF-S and AF-P-type lenses.
Sony a6000 (or any of Sony’s other mid-range cameras)
The Sony a6000 or any later model from the Sony a6000 series: a6000, a6100, a6300, a6400, a6500.
They are tiny mirrorless cameras that mount an APS-C sensor (like Canon or Nikon SLRs). From an image quality point of view, its features are identical to those of any mid-range SLR. They have two dials, which allow you to change, for example, the shutter speed and the aperture quickly and easily, which I find efficient for someone who is starting to use manual modes.
The a6000 remains an exceptional camera today, especially for photography. Later versions have introduced improvements but are mainly related to the video part. Although the second generation ( a6100, a6400, and a6600 ) also includes essential improvements in the focus system.
For value for money for photography, I would choose the Sony a6000 if you find a good deal.
If you are looking for a super complete camera for photography and video, I think the Sony a6100 is probably the best option.
The lens that usually comes in the kit is perfect for traveling and always carrying the camera with you. It is small and retracts in transport mode.
Canon EOS M50
This camera is part of Canon’s M System, mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras with an APS-C sensor.
It has outstanding performance. In terms of image quality, it would be equivalent to any of the mid-range Canon (200D, 800D, 77D)
It is a small and light camera, perfect to always carry around, for trips, etc., and an excellent option to learn photography.
Although the M system (EF-M lenses) has a somewhat fair catalog of lenses, it covers the most common types of photography and situations. Besides, EF / EF-S lenses (Canon’s SLR lenses) can be used via an adapter, which generally works very well.