Which camera should I buy?
This is the 2020 A Year With My Camera buying guide.
The best advice I can give is to go into a reputable camera shop and be completely honest about your experience and your budget. Tell them what you like to take photos of and how you hope to grow your photography practice. A good shop will not pressure you into a purchase. They will let you hold the different cameras to see how they feel in your hands. And in the UK at least you should be able to take the camera back if there are any problems. In the UK many AYWMC students love London Camera Exchange for their no-pressure, helpful sales staff (and they are nationwide, not just in London).
For those who can’t get to a shop or just don’t know where to start, the recommendations in this post are based on what current A Year With My Camera students and staff have tried. Use them as a starting point but please read around widely to check the camera isn’t either too basic or too complicated for what you need.
All of the Amazon links in this post have affiliate links. Unlike any other camera review site, not only do I tell you this up front, but I also donate all the affiliate income from this page to my favourite charity, Charity Water. If you click one of the links in this post, and then go on to buy the camera, Amazon will refund between 4 and 8% of the purchase price to my affiliate account at no cost to you. I make a donation of at least the same amount to Charity Water. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO USE THESE LINKS TO BUY THE PRODUCTS - I need to make that clear to stay within Amazon terms of service: you can search for the suggested items directly within Amazon to avoid using the affiliate links below.
Buy the book
Whatever camera you buy, pair it up with my beginner’s workbook, A Year With My Camera. Designed to get you up and running quickly without having to read the manual cover to cover, it’s a complete beginner’s course broken down into easily digestible steps.
IF You are just about to start A Year With My Camera
Do you already have a camera with manual controls – one where you can change the aperture and the shutter speed? If so you do not need a new camera.
We (Emma, Hilary and Judith) strongly recommend that nobody buys any new gear until you have finished the first six lessons of A Year With My Camera. At this point you will know whether you enjoy the process of learning to use the controls, or you hate it and will stick to auto mode. You will also know why the lens is often more important than the camera.
We also suggest not buying a bridge camera. If you already have a bridge camera it will be fine to do the course with. But if you are investing from scratch you will probably find the aperture and control limitations frustrating after week one. (A bridge camera is like a DSLR but you can’t change the lens.) Having said that many students find the light weight and ease of use of a bridge camera more important than the lack of controls. Another reason to go to a shop and try one out.
Read this post: Don’t buy a new camera until you’ve read this
And this one if you don’t know what a mirrorless camera is: Mirrorless cameras vs DSLRs
Second hand
If you haven’t tried photography before, unless you have an unlimited budget, buy second hand. When you choose a place to buy check if they offer a warranty.
Friends and family: try asking if anyone wants to sell or lend you an old camera they aren’t using any more. If you can borrow a camera for 6 weeks you’ll be in a much better place to decide if you want to invest a little or a lot. If you are in a photography Facebook group that you trust, try asking in there.
These UK shops are all highly recommended by AYWMC students (you can visit or buy online):
Ffordes (Inverness and online)
Fuji users can benefit from their official refurbished online store.
Many students have used the online secondhand market MPB.com and report ease of use and excellent service. You can get camera models that are one or two editions out of date for incredibly low prices compared to the current model, and which are more than suitable for beginners. For example an excellent condition Fuji X-T1 (which I still use as a professional camera) is £264 compared to a new X-T3 at £1,300 or more.
If you are thinking of using eBay we would suggest you only buy from sellers with good reviews. Do your research before you bid – know exactly what you want and stick to your budget.
What to buy
New or second hand, if you don’t know where to start you won’t go wrong with any of these (the first six suggestions below are all under £500 on Amazon UK, today 18 November 2019).
Canon and Nikon entry level DSLRs
If you want to have a system that will last the whole course get the camera body plus a 50mm lens rather than the kit lens package. The 50mm lens will last you many, many years. Even when you outgrow the entry level camera you can keep the lens to use with your upgraded body.
If you want a mirrorless camera
For those with more to invest
I chatted to Angela Nicholson who runs CameraJabber.com and the SheClicks network. She has a vast experience testing and reviewing gear and these are her reviews and recommendations (click the heading to read her complete reviews for each camera):
As a Micro Four Thirds camera the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III is compatible with an extensive range of lenses. When paired with the collapsible 14-42mm EZ lens, it's not much bigger than a compact camera but it's much more versatile and has features to suit beginners and more experienced photographers, including the clever Live Composite and Live Time modes that make long exposure photography easy.
The Fuji X-T30 has the same superb 26Mp sensor and processing engine as the X-T3 so you get the same image quality from a smaller camera. It's a great choice for beginners as the traditional exposure controls help you get to grips with setting the shutter speed and aperture. There's also a choice of Film Simulation modes that produce lovely colours or monochrome results.
Sony A6100
Sony has developed one of the best, if not the best autofocus systems around which means you can concentrate on getting the composition and exposure right and be confident that even fast-moving subjects are sharp. The 24Mp sensor also has a proven track record for image quality.
With sensitivity (ISO), shutter speed, exposure compensation and aperture dials, the Fuji X-T3 takes the traditional exposure controls a step further than the X-T30 and it really puts you in touch with your photography. You know what exposure settings are selected without even turning the camera on. The image quality is also delightful and the electronic viewfinder gives an accurate preview of the image so you know you've got everything right before you take the shot.
IF You want to buy a camera for someone as a gift
Are they the kind of person who will enjoy spending 2-3 months of hard work to get to know how their camera works?
If you’re sure they will enjoy the technical side of things, pick any of the cameras listed above based on your budget. And don’t forget a copy my book, A Year With My Camera to get them off to a flying start.
If you don’t know what they would enjoy, buy my book and wrap it up with a gift voucher and a promise to visit a camera shop to find out what’s best.
Free beginner’s workshop
My flagship course, A Year With My Camera, is free via email. Join here and get started today:
