Kako izbrati fotoaparat leta 2022 (Najboljši nakupovalni vodnik)

Če ste v letu 2022 na trgu za nov način fotografiranja, morate prebrati ta vodnik za nakup fotoaparata!

Izbira novega fotoaparata je bila včasih tako enostavna. Z omejeno izbiro se je vaša odločitev običajno vrtela le okoli cene.

Dandanes je na voljo na stotine modelov, med katerimi lahko izbirate, in da je stvar še bolj zmedena, vaš pametni telefon že posname precej dobre fotografije!

Z vsem tehničnim žargonom, ki obkroža fotografske izraze in dele fotoaparata, je odločitev lahko zastrašujoča.

Tukaj vam bo ta vodnik prišel prav;-)

Pri Shotkitu imamo več kot 100 let kombiniranih fotografskih izkušenj.

Zagotovo vam lahko pomagamo poiskati pravo kamero za vas ... zato se lotimo!

Priporočene kamere za vse proračune v letu 2022

Slika	Izdelek	Funkcije
	Canon G7X Mark IINajboljši kompaktni pod 500 $	Vsestranski razpon povečave Robustno ohišje Dobro pri šibki svetlobi Odlična kakovost slike
	Nikon D5600Najboljši DSLR pod 500 USD	Izjemna kakovost slike Intuitivne kontrole Dolga življenjska doba baterije SnapBridge
	Sony a6000Best Mirrorless Under 500 $	Hibridni AF Nagibni LCD Neprekinjeno fotografiranje do 11 FPS Kompaktno
	Fujifilm X-T30Best Compact pod 1000 $	Odlična vrednost za denar Izjemno samodejno ostrenje Izjemna kakovost slike Izboljšana zmogljivost pri šibki svetlobi
	Canon M50Best Mirrorless Under 1000 $	Kompaktno Enostaven za uporabo Vgrajeno elektronsko iskalo Hitro in natančno
	Najboljši DSLR Canon 90DB pod 1000 USD	Odlična kakovost slike Hitro neprekinjeno fotografiranje Prilagajanje z več krmilniki Vsestranski
	Sony RX100 VIINajboljši kompaktni pod 1500 $	Velik EVF Enostaven za uporabo Rafal brez zatemnitve Video 4K
	Nikon D750Najboljši DSLR pod 1500 $	Zaslon LCD s spremenljivim kotom Kompaktna in lahka Zmogljiv 51-točkovni AF Zmogljivosti HD videa
	Fujifilm X100VBest Mirrorless Pod 1500 $	Ikonično oblikovanje Izjemna kakovost objektiva Hibridno iskalo Kompaktna velikost
	Leica Q2Best Overall Compact	Najboljša kakovost slike Senzor 47,3 MP Čudovit dizajn Najboljši EVF/zaslon
	Nikon D850Najboljši DSLR na splošno	Izredna rešitev Izjemna zmogljivost baterije Nagibni zaslon na dotik Izjemen dinamični razpon
	Sony a7IIIBest na splošno brez zrcala	AF podpira objektive A-mount Nov senzor, napreden procesor Neprekinjeno fotografiranje 693 Fazno zaznavanje

Na kaj morate biti pozorni pri nakupu kamere

V času, ko sem bil profesionalni fotograf in ocenjevalec, sem preizkusil na stotine fotoaparatov.

Nakupovanje fotoaparata se lahko hitro zaplete. Kot pri večini stvari, več možnosti kot imate, manjša je verjetnost, da se boste odločili.

V tem vodniku sem poskrbel, da sem vključil vse dejavnike, ki vam lahko pomagajo pri izbiri med najboljšimi fotoaparati, ki so na voljo letos.

Če pa se vam mudi, je tukaj kratek povzetek bistvenih stvari:

5 najpomembnejših dejavnikov pri izbiri nove kamere

1. Kakovost slike, ki je boljša kot pri telefonu s kamero

To odločitev bi morali sprejeti z branjem ocen fotoaparatov. Nima smisla nositi fotoaparata s seboj, če ne posname lepše slike kot vaš telefon ali vsaj ponuja funkcij, ki jih vaš telefon nima.

2. Ergonomija, ki ustreza vašim rokam

Če ne morete iti v lokalno trgovino s fotoaparati, da bi dejansko držali fotoaparat, se boste morali odločiti na podlagi prebranih mnenj. Ali je dovolj velik? Ali ima izrazit oprijem? Ali so glavni gumbi dovolj oddaljeni?

3. Velikost, ki ustreza vašim navadam

To je pomembno. Ste starš, ki ima otroka vedno v rokah? Če je tako, bi moral biti vaš fotoaparat verjetno lahek in/ali kompakten. Ali običajno nosite torbo s seboj? Lahko bi se rešil z nečim večjim. Ali veliko potujete? itd itd

4. Razpoložljivost leč, ki ustrezajo vašemu proračunu in prihodnjim potrebam

Če izberete kompaktni fotoaparat s fiksnim objektivom, tega ni treba upoštevati. Če se odločite za fotoaparat z izmenljivimi objektivi, si oglejte še ostale objektive v ponudbi. So v vašem cenovnem razredu? Ali potrebujete goriščne razdalje? Ali so na voljo rabljeni objektivi?

5. Najnovejši model v okviru vašega proračuna

Ker se tehnologija fotoaparatov tako hitro razvija, vedno priporočam naložbo v najnovejše fotoaparate. Če se vaš proračun ne more raztegniti do najnovejšega, je pogosto mogoče najti ugodne cene s prejšnjim modelom, vendar se poskusite izogibati vsem, ki so starejši od tega. Obstaja tudi možnost rabljenega ... vendar, caveat emptor!

Napisali smo vodnik o nakupu in prodaji rabljene opreme za fotoaparate, ki se vam bo morda zdel koristen. Upoštevajte tudi, da čeprav lahko dobite fotoaparate pod 300 USD, priporočam, da vložite malo več od tega, da zagotovite, da lahko ustvari boljše slike kot vaš pametni telefon.

Vrste kamer

Brezzrcalni fotoaparati Fujifilm so priljubljena izbira.

Fotoaparati DSLR

DSLR pomeni 'Digital Single Lens Reflex', kar v bistvu pomeni, da fotoaparat uporablja isti objektiv za kadriranje, ostrenje in fotografiranje.

Nič od tega pa ni zares pomembno za vas kot prvega kupca fotoaparata – pomembno je, da so fotoaparati DSLR še vedno najbolj priljubljeni fotoaparati za amaterske in profesionalne fotografe tukaj leta 2022.

Začetni modeli so na voljo po ugodnih cenah, nekaj odličnih kupčij pa lahko dobite tudi na trgu rabljenih izdelkov.

Po drugi strani pa so večji, težji in ne ponujajo najboljše tehnologije samodejnega ostrenja (in raznih drugih), kot druge vrste kamer spodaj.

Fotoaparati DSLR imajo APS-C ali "senzorje polne velikosti" – več o tem spodaj.

📸 Povezano: Najcenejši fotoaparati polnega formata | Najboljši fotoaparati DSLR

Brezzrcalni fotoaparati

Fotoaparat brez ogledala nima ogledala, ki je v fotoaparatu DSLR, kar mu daje različne prednosti. Imajo lahko fiksne ali zamenljive leče.

Napisal sem cel članek o primerjavi fotoaparatov DSLR in brezzrcalnikov, a če povzamem:

Običajno so manjši in lažji od fotoaparatov DSLR, zato so odlična izbira, če veliko potujete.

Splošno mnenje je, da so fotoaparati brez zrcala prihodnost, DSLR-ji pa umirajoča vrsta … vendar to ne pomeni, da je tehnologija še popolna.

Zaradi prednosti, ki jih ponujajo, imajo modeli brez ogledal slabo življenjsko dobo baterije (približno polovica trajanje enakovrednega DSLR-ja) in izkušnjo fotografiranja, ki je malo ... no ... brez duše!

Če pa vas fotografiranje z »mini računalnikom« ne odvrne, priporočam, da izberete brezzrcalni fotoaparat, ne glede na to, ali je to vaš prvi fotoaparat ali ga nadgrajujete.

Brezzrcalni fotoaparati imajo tudi senzorje APS-C ali polne velikosti.

📸 Povezano: Najboljše brezzrcalne kamere

Fotoaparati Micro Four Thirds

Fotoaparati Micro Four Thirds (tudi Micro 4/3, MFT ali M4/3) so vrsta brezzrcalnih fotoaparatov, ki pokrivajo veliko različnih stilov in možnosti, vendar je njihova skupna značilnost velikost tipala.

Spodaj bomo razpravljali o tem, zakaj je velikost senzorja fotoaparata pomembna, vendar morate vedeti le, da je fotoaparat Micro Four Thirds kot "mini" fotoaparat z zamenljivimi objektivi.

Upoštevajte eno stvar:manjši sistem kamer ni vedno primeren za vsakogar, saj omejeni kontrolniki in manj izrazit oprijem pogosto ovirajo tiste z večjimi rokami.

Kamere MFT imajo samo senzorje MFT, kar omejuje njihove zmožnosti, kot bomo izvedeli spodaj.

Vendar so fotoaparati Micro Four Thirds leta 2022 še vedno priljubljena izbira za začetnike do profesionalnih fotografov

📸 Povezano: Vodnik po fotoaparatih Micro Four Thirds

Kompaktni fotoaparati (tudi kamere za nastavitev)

Kompaktni fotoaparati so zelo priljubljeni in z dobrim razlogom – zaradi majhnih mer so prenosni in priročni, da jih imate vsak dan s seboj, podobno kot telefon s kamero.

Te funkcije so lahko zoom objektiv, boljše zmožnosti fotografiranja pri šibki svetlobi, hitrejše rafalno fotografiranje, zajem RAW itd.

Nekateri ljudje (vključno z mano!) preprosto raje držijo "pravi" fotoaparat za fotografiranje kot telefon, in majhen fotoaparat običajno pomeni, da je bolj verjetno, da ga boste imeli s seboj v žepu ali torbi.

Meja med kompaktnimi in majhnimi brezzrcalnimi fotoaparati je zabrisana, vendar je stroga definicija »fotoaparata s fiksnim objektivom« fotoaparat s fiksno lečo (tj. ne morete ga zamenjati za drugega objektiva.)

Ta omejitev močno poenostavi postopek fotografiranja in ga lahko naredi veliko bolj prijetnega za tiste, ki jih ne zanima več možnosti objektiva.

📸 Povezano: Najboljše kompaktne kamere

Kamere na mostu

Manjši od fotoaparatov DSLR, vendar večji od kompaktnih fotoaparatov, lepo zapolnjujejo vrzel, saj ponujajo objektive z zoomom z visoko povečavo (fiksne, niso zamenljive) in ročne kontrole, vendar brez pretežnega dela polnopravnega fotoaparata DSLR.

Običajno imajo majhne slikovne senzorje, podobne kompaktnim fotoaparatom, in le redko imajo optično iskalo (OVF), namesto tega pa se za fotografiranje odločijo za elektronsko iskalo (EVF) in zadnji zaslon LCD.

📸 Povezano: Najboljše mostne kamere

Akcijske kamere

Običajno so majhni, vodoodporni in robustni, z zajemom videa kot glavnim poudarkom.

Lepota manjših akcijskih kamer tipa GoPro je v tem, da jih je mogoče namestiti na telo ali čelado, kar daje edinstveno prvoosebno perspektivo.

Dobite lahko tudi robustne in vodoodporne kompaktne fotoaparate, vendar ti običajno ponujajo le primerljivo kakovost slike s sodobnimi pametnimi telefoni.

📸 Povezano: Najboljše vodotesne kamere

Cena (vrednost za denar)

Priporočljivo je, da izberete najnovejši model fotoaparata, če je v okviru vašega proračuna.

Ko kupujete fotoaparat, je pomembno, da ste realni glede proračuna.

Če boste porabili premalo, boste dobili fotoaparat s povprečno kakovostjo slike, če boste porabili preveč ... no, to bo pustilo luknjo v vaši denarnici!

Če ste pripravljeni kupiti starejši model, lahko za svoj denar dobite veliko denarja, vendar bo tehnologija že zastarela.

Vedno priporočam, da investirate v najnovejši model, kjer je to mogoče.

Kar se tiče nakupa rabljenega, morate biti previdni. Fotoaparati DSLR imajo "življenjsko dobo zaklopa", ki temelji na številu že posnetih fotografij, nadomestni deli pa so lahko dragi.

Rabljeni brezzrcalni fotoaparati imajo manj gibljivih delov, ki se lahko pokvarijo, a če jim poteče garancija, lahko vseeno plačate drag račun za popravilo, ko gre kaj narobe.

Kaj pa paketi kamer? Čeprav je na voljo nekaj odličnih ponudb (oglejte si na primer ta paket Nikon D5600), večina paketov ponavadi vključuje veliko dodatkov za fotoaparate, ki jih verjetno ne boste nikoli uporabili ... ali pa so nizke kakovosti in se po nekaj uporabah pokvarijo.

Moj nasvet je, da denar zapravite za najnovejši model fotoaparata, in če vas mika paket, kupite takega, ki vključuje lečo ali dve.

Torej, kaj dobite, če porabite več denarja za fotoaparat?

Na splošno imate koristi od zmožnosti fotografiranja hitrejših, večjih fotografij pri slabši svetlobi (brez uporabe bliskavice). Tudi kakovost izdelave bo boljša.

Če niste profesionalni fotograf, vam priporočam, da za fotoaparat z zamenljivimi objektivi porabite med 500 in 1000 USD.

Ko boste imeli več denarja, morate investirati v nove objektive, da razširite svoje možnosti.

Če vas objektivi ne zanimajo, porabite denar za napreden kompaktni fotoaparat s fiksnim objektivom, po možnosti najnovejši model.

📸 Povezano: Najboljše kamere pod 500 USD, najcenejše kamere polnega formata

Kakovost slike

S prakso lahko naredite, da je slika iz poceni fotoaparata videti kot en posnetek na nečem veliko dražjem. To sem vzel na osnovnem DSLR-ju in kompletu objektivov za 400 $.

Če fotoaparata še niste uporabljali, je težko oceniti kakovost slik, ki jih ustvari.

Priporočam branje spletnih mnenj na spletnih mestih, kot je ta, in mnenj kupcev na Amazonu.

Druga stvar, ki jo morate upoštevati, je, da je kakovost slike fotoaparata zelo odvisna od objektiva, ki je nanj pritrjen.

Če se odločite za fotoaparat s fiksno lečo, očitno nimate izbire, pri modelih z zamenljivimi lečami pa je leča, ki jo izberete, zelo pomembna.

Večina začetnih modelov DSLR in brezzrcalnih modelov je opremljenih s "kit objektivi". To je običajno poceni zoom objektiv srednjega razreda s počasno, spremenljivo zaslonko. Skratka, običajno je precej bedno!

Objektiv v kompletu je lahko dober način, da se navadite na svoj novi fotoaparat, vendar vam priporočam, da investirate v cenovno ugoden objektiv s fiksno ločljivostjo in bolj kakovosten zoom, takoj ko vam proračun to dopušča. (Glejte:fiksni objektiv proti zoomu.)

(Eden od glavnih razlogov, zakaj profesionalni fotografi porabijo toliko za fotoaparate, je, da dražji modeli običajno ponujajo veliko boljšo zmožnost zajemanja kakovostnih slik pri slabši svetlobi.)

Če povzamemo, če se držite najboljših digitalnih fotoaparatov, priporočenih v tem priročniku, vam ni treba skrbeti za kakovost slike :-)

📸 Povezano: Najboljše nizkocenovne kamere

Velikost in ergonomija

Usmeri in streljaj je lahko priročno prenašati, vendar težje držati.

Velikost fotoaparata in občutek, ki ga imate v rokah, je dejavnik, o katerem se redko govori ... vendar je v resnici zelo pomemben.

Velikost je bolj osebna želja in tudi zelo subjektivna. Kar se začetniku zdi veliko, se bo profesionalcu verjetno zdelo majhno!

Osebno obožujem nekoliko večje kompaktne fotoaparate, ki se podajo v moje velike roke. I also prefer mirrorless models with a more pronounced grip, which usually makes them slightly bigger.

A camera’s ergonomics relates to not only how it feels in your hand, but also button placement.

Some small cameras may feel OK to hold, but their buttons are too close together, rendering them awkward to use.

If you’re unable to get to a camera store in person, I recommend reading reviews and judging the size of a camera by its dimensions compared to your smartphone.

📸 Related: Best Point and Shoot Cameras | How to Buy a Rangefinder Camera

Sensor Size

A full-frame sensor can produce incredible image quality… but so can an APS-C.

Digital cameras use a sensor to ‘record’ images. There are various types of sensor available for each type of camera, making it a rather confusing topic.

For everyone else, here’s what you need to know – the larger the sensor, the better the image quality, especially in low light.

Also, the larger the sensor, the greater your ability to ‘blur the background’ (blur can also be added in Lightroom), but this is also highly dependent on the lens you attach to your camera.

Here are the 3 main lenses you’re likely to come across while shopping for a digital camera:

• 1 Inch (or smaller) – commonly found in budget compact cameras
• APS-C – found in advanced compacts, mirrorless and DSLRs
• Full Frame – found in advanced compacts, mirrorless and DSLRs

Professional photographers commonly use full frame or advanced APS-C sensor cameras.

If you have the budget, a full frame camera is a wonderful investment, but remember that full frame lenses are more expensive too.

The size of the sensor on an interchangeable lens camera will also dictate something called the ‘crop factor’.

Without wanting to get too technical, APS-C sensors ‘multiply’ the focal length of your lenses. A lens that says ’35mm’ may give you an actual focal length of 50mm.

This is great for shooting subjects that are far away, since you’re essentially getting more ‘reach’ on every lens you own.

On the flip side, if you want to get the widest possible lens, you’re a bit more limited with an APS-C sensor.

There’s also a difference in the ‘creaminess’ of out of focus areas (aka ‘bokeh’), and a difference in available dynamic range when choosing APS-C vs a full frame… but this is getting in to nerd-territory, so don’t worry about it for now!

📸 Related: Best full frame cameras

Types of Lens

Different lenses allow you to expand the capabilities of your camera.

Since this article is to help you find the best digital camera, I won’t go too deep into all the various lens options.

Interchangeable lenses are a whole world of fun and creative opportunity, but the myriad of options can sometimes be unnecessary to photographers.

The main decision you need to make at this point is whether you’re happy to have a ‘fixed’ lens on the end of your camera, or if you want the flexibility of interchangeable lenses.

• Fixed Lens Cameras

These feature either a zoom or a fixed focal length lens (aka a ‘prime’), but either way, you’re stuck with that one lens.

Many point-and-shoot cameras have fixed lenses, as do bridge cameras.

I own a fixed length compact (Fujifilm X100V), and love the simplicity and efficiency of a single lens. Check the review here.

• Interchangeable Lens Cameras

When shopping for your first camera, it’s important to check both the availability and the pricing of lenses.

There are own-brand or ‘native’ lenses that are usually the most expensive, and arguably the best quality options, and there are often several third-party options too.

Canon and Nikon offer the largest selection of lenses for their DSLRs, but the smallest selection for their mirrorless cameras here in 2022.

Sony and Fujifilm offer a much larger selection of lenses for the mirrorless system.

📸 Related: Lens Reviews

Speed and Performance

DSLRs offer excellent operational speed, but only the more expensive models offer high FPS.

This relates to autofocus speed, frames per second (FPS), and the startup time and general operational speed of the camera.

Most modern cameras around the $500 mark and upward have good enough auto-focus speed for casual use.

DSLRs and mirrorless cameras typically offer better performance than compacts and bridge cameras, although it depends on the model.

In general, you need to spend a lot more on a compact camera for it to rival the speed of a larger model.

FPS refers to the number of photos you can take in a row by holding down the shutter button during continuous (aka ‘burst’) mode.

DSLRs that offer high FPS are generally over $1,000, but this isn’t the case with mirrorless – the Sony a6000, for example, costs under $500 and features an impressive 10FPS.

Being able to fire off hundreds of frames isn’t always a good thing – you’ll have lots more photos to examine while editing, and there’s also the question of how fast your buffer can ‘clear’ (i.e. how long the camera will be ‘locked up’ while writing all the images to the memory card).

The overall speed of the camera’s operation is another important factor to consider. Typically, DSLRs ‘wake up’ faster than mirrorless and point-and-shoot cameras.

📸 Related: Sony a6000 Review

Video Performance

Most photographers are likely to shoot video on their smartphone for convenience.

All digital cameras shoot video these days, with some offering high-end features such as 4K Ultra HD resolution, multiple frame rates, super slow-motion, high speed recording and time-lapse.

If you choose a model with interchangeable lenses, it’s not hard to get video quality that can rival the very best YouTubers and short-film makers.

The main features to consider if you’re serious about capturing high quality video on your digital camera are:

• Frame rates – 24fps and 30fps are standard. 60fps and higher is great for slow-motion footage.
• Image Stabilization – whether in-body, or in-lens (OIS), image stabilization is essential if you plan to shoot video without a tripod or gimbal.
• 4k video – more resolution =better image quality and the ability to crop more heavily. If this is a feature, just make sure that it can record 4k at 24fps and 30fps.
• External mic input – to get the best audio, you need to be able to plug in an external mic.
• Recording duration – many DSLRs have a limit to how much they can record at one time.
• Rotating LCD – to film yourself, or just to save your neck from craning over all the time while shooting.
• Clean HDMI out – to record to external capture devices.

When choosing a camera for video, try and be honest with yourself…

Are you likely to use a bulky DSLR or mirrorless to capture the occasional footage of your kids playing around?… Or is it more realistic to assume your smartphone will be your first choice?

Personally speaking, I seldom press the record button on any of my cameras. The iPhone can already record high-quality 4k video, so I really don’t see the need.

In addition, editing video can be a painfully slow experience, especially if you don’t own a powerful computer.

📸 Related: Camera Stabilizers

Camera Brands

The brand of your camera won’t affect the image quality of the photo.

Although there isn’t really any noticeable difference in the image quality you can expect from the various brands, there are still small nuances to be aware of when choosing your first camera.

Each brand offers its own selection of native lenses which can influence the look of your photos, and in some niche cases, it can determine what exactly you’re able to shoot.

In addition, some brands only produce APS-C sensor cameras, with others only producing mirrorless models.

Let’s take a look at the four main camera brands and their characteristics, starting with the main 2 names in the industry:Canon &Nikon:

Canon

The biggest photography brand in the world, catering to all kinds of photographer, from absolute beginners to the best professionals in the world.

Canon is known for having the widest selection of lenses, including EF, EF-S, EF-M, and R lenses, with the holy grail being any lens with the iconic ‘red ring’, also known as L-series lenses.

For beginners, there’s a wide selection of affordable lenses, including some excellent options that start from only $100.

Canon produce a diverse selection of cameras (1), with their core sales coming from compacts and DSLRs. You can pick up a great entry-level Canon DSLR for around $500.

One area that Canon is playing catch-up is mirrorless – their first full frame mirrorless model was released relatively recently (in 2018), and their lens selection is still small and expensive.

I’d recommend Canon for compacts and DSLRs. If you’re a professional or have deeper pockets, their mirrorless R-series cameras are a good option too.

📸 Related: Best Canon Lenses

Nikon

Another hugely popular photography brand, albeit much smaller than Canon.

Nikon caters to all photographers, offering some of the best entry-level DSLRs for beginners, all the way up to incredible flagship bodies for professionals (2).

Nikon also offers a huge selection of DSLR lenses, although smaller than that of Canon. For beginners, there are many affordable lenses on offer, starting from around $100.

Nikon produces ‘DX’ and ‘FX’ format lenses, which refer their compatibility with APS-C and full frame sensor formats, respectively.

Nikon’s foray into the world of full frame mirrorless was also relatively recent (2018), and their body and lens selection is limited and expensive.

(Similar to Canon, you have the option of ‘adapting’ the existing selection of DSLR lenses to be used on the latest mirrorless camera bodies.)

I’d recommend Nikon for their excellent D-series DSLRs. If you’re a professional or have deeper pockets, their mirrorless Z-series cameras are also impressive.

📸 Related: Best Nikon Lenses

Sony

Sony is the key player when it comes to mirrorless and premium point-and-shoot cameras.

Their Cyber-shot line of compact cameras is still hugely popular, with new models being released several times a year (3).

Sony full frame mirrorless cameras also offer the best battery life out of any other brand in the industry.

Sony offer a broad selection of lenses, but it pales in comparison to that of Nikon and Canon. Lenses are typically more expensive too, with less options for beginners.

However, you can still choose from a range of affordable entry-level APS-C mirrorless cameras, and some truly class-leading Sony Alpha full frame cameras, if your budget allows.

📸 Related: Best Sony Cameras, Best Sony Lenses

Fujifilm

Another key player in the world of mirrorless, Fujifilm is perhaps best known for its instant cameras and film stock.

A key distinction of Fujifilm mirrorless cameras is their APS-C sensor size.

They also produce medium format sensor cameras (larger than full frame), but they don’t produce anything with a full frame sensor.

Fujifilm offer some excellent lenses, although the selection is not as broad as that of Sony.

In addition, due to the ‘crop-factor’ of their APS-C sensor cameras, you’ll need to take into account a focal length multiplication factor of 1.5x when selecting lenses.

While Fujifilm offer a fine selection of cameras (4) with new models appearing several times a year, their entry-level offerings start at a slightly higher price than those released by Sony.

The aesthetics of Fuji cameras is a big reason to invest in this brand – their cameras look and feel great, and have earned legions of devoted fans.

📸 Related: Best Fujifilm Cameras, Best Fujifilm Lenses

Resolution (Number of Megapixels)

More megapixels allow you to crop your images more heavily while editing.

The resolution of digital cameras is measured in megapixels – one megapixel =one million pixels.

When it comes to digital cameras, a high number of megapixels matters most when ‘cropping into’ a photo, or if you plan to print large pictures.

Photos with more megapixels have more detail, but are consequently larger in file size, meaning they can take longer to edit, send, store, and handle in general.

Most cameras have the option to choose lower resolutions if desired, which can be handy when transferring to smart devices to share online.

Your fancy smartphone with 50 megapixels will never compete with a great DSLR with ‘only’ 24 megapixels, since the DSLR sensor is much bigger.

Don’t make the number of megapixels be a determining factor when shopping for a camera.

Unless you plan to print large, highly detailed prints, there’s little need to invest in a camera with more than 20-odd megapixels.

Other Features

Wifi image transfer and in-camera film simulations can be fun, but their absence aren’t deal-breakers.

These are the features that will help you make your final decision when choosing a new camera.

None of them are essential, and only you will know whether they’re truly important when making your final decision.

• Long Battery Life – mirrorless and point-and-shoot cameras typically have much shorter battery life than DSLRs.
• Manual Shooting Modes – if you’re interested in learning about photography, a camera with a Manual shooting mode is essential.
• Auto Modes – how much you can leave to the camera’s ‘brain’.
• High Frame Rate – being able to shoot multiple consecutive photos can be useful for capturing fast-moving action
• High ISO Performance – helps you capture images in low light without using a flash.
• Rotating/Tilting LCD Screen – useful for selfies and getting experimental with your compositions.
• Dual Memory Card Slots – instant backup, but only really relevant if you’re a professional.
• Mic Input/Output – required if you’re serious about video recording.
• Film Simulations – unique to Fujifilm cameras, but other brands offer creative effects and filters.
• Touch Screen – being able to use smartphone gestures on your camera can be fun.
• Eye/Face Tracking Autofocus System – advanced autofocus technology that’s limited to mirrorless cameras.
• Electronic Viewfinder – an ‘EVF’ can display more information than an ‘OVF’, and offers a WYSIWYG view.
• Image Stabilization – essential for smoother video recording and handheld shooting.
• Weatherproofing / Dustproofing – useful if you travel a lot or shoot in all weather.
• RAW Image Format – RAW files offer more flexibility when editing. See RAW vs JPEG.
• Wifi, Bluetooth, NFC – transfer images wirelessly to your devices, and/or control your camera remotely.

Camera brands try to compete by introducing fancy new features, but my advice is to make your decision based on the core elements mentioned in this article.

Essential Camera Accessories

Taking the photo is only half the battle – you need to learn to edit too.

While it’s important not to go too crazy with accessories when purchasing your first camera, there are a few things that I consider essential:

• Software – you need to learn how to edit photos if you want them to stand out. I recommend Adobe Lightroom, but there are also many good alternatives.
• Memory Card – get the fastest one you can afford, and a fast memory card reader. See memory card guide.
• Spare Batteries – especially for mirrorless cameras.
• Screen Protector – cheap way to prolong the life of your camera’s rear LCD screen.
• Camera strap – see our guide to the best camera straps
• Camera bag – not necessary for point-and-shoot cameras. See our guide to camera bags.

… and that’s it :-)

A common mistake made by beginners is buying everything in the bargain bin at the local camera store, but in reality, very few accessories are actually required at first.

When you start developing your style and realise what kind of photography interests you, that’s where some of the following accessories will become useful.

📸 Related: Lightroom Review

Optional Camera Accessories

A tripod can be a worthwhile investment if you require a steady shot.

I’ve tried to list these in order of importance to the average beginner photographer who’s looking to expand his/her repertoire:

• Tripod – for long exposure photography or simply getting a sharper shot. See best travel tripods.
• Filters – attach to the front of your lens for various purposes, including UV, ND, Polarizing, etc.
• Cleaning accessories – consider a lens pen, rocket blower and microfiber cloth.
• Battery grip – to extend the battery duration and/or to give large hands more to hold onto.
• External flash – the tiny one on top of your camera gives unflattering results.
• Remote Control – to trigger your camera from a distance. Good for selfies and group shots.

Remember – the more accessories you have, the heavier your camera bag… and the less likely you are to take your camera with you!

Photographers have a name for buying camera gear just for the sake of it – ‘Gear Acquisition Syndrome’, or G.A.S. for short!

Make sure you don’t develop a bad case of GAS…

📸 Related: Best DSLR Tripods

Where to Buy your first Camera

Purchasing cameras online is simple and convenient.

Following a recent poll in the Shotkit Facebook Group, I learned that people buy cameras from a wide variety of local high street shops and online retailers.

My preference is to buy from Amazon, B&H Photo and Moment.

Pro tip: Moment actually have a ‘Clearance’ section with massive discounts, which is somewhat hidden away on their website – you can see the latest deals here.

Obviously, you can’t touch and feel products if you purchase online, but at least all the online retailers mentioned above have free returns, allowing you to try out the camera and exchange it for another if necessary.

Zadnje besede

If you’ve read this far, you should be MUCH better informed to go camera shopping!

Don’t worry too much about the various camera types on offer here in 2022 – at the end of the day, you can get a great image on a compact, mirrorless or DSLR.

It’s easy to get caught up in camera sensors, zoom lenses, image stabilization, shutter speed, camera body type, exposure settings, optical zoom, viewfinder features, video quality, kit lenses, video mode, sensor sizes, zoom range, and every other variable under the sun.

Just remember this – every camera is different, but your skill as a photographer is far more important than the camera body.

Buy a camera, learn how to use it, and experiment until you reach its limitations. Then, and only then, think about upgrading.

Leave me a comment below if you have any questions, and happy snapping!

References: (1) https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/products/groups/cameras
(2) https://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-products/cameras.page (3) https://www.sony.com/electronics/interchangeable-lens-camera-products/t/interchangeable-lens-cameras (4) https://www.fujifilm.com/products/digital_cameras/