Don’t Buy The Wrong Camera
In this blog I will share with you 10 camera buying tips that will save you time, money and ensure you get a camera that’s right for you.
Do Your Own Research (Don’t Trust Camera Stores)
Let me start with a quick story. A few months ago I was in a camera store and whilst I was waiting to be served I couldn’t help but overhear what at best I thought was very questionable advice. A lady came in and said that she enjoys taking photos on her phone and figured its time to buy a proper camera for the first time. She stated that she will mainly be taking photos of her kids running around and that she really liked the blurred background look. The salesman then proceeded to try and sell her a Canon R6 and insisted she needed an f2.8 top of the line zoom lens. We are talking about nearly 4 grands worth of pro level camera gear. Thankfully she sensed she was being fleeced and left the store.
The point here is that in many cases, people who work in camera stores are there to sell, hit KPIs and up sell at every opportunity. Although they might be knowledgable in the technical aspect, it does not always translate into a nuanced and unbiased opinion based on real world experience. So my first tip is don’t solely rely on the opinion of people who sell cameras for a living. Read blogs, watch YouTube videos, ask your favourite photographers online and get as much information as possible to have a balanced overview.
Be careful with YouTube reviewers
YouTube is a fantastic source of information but like the previous point, make sure you understand who the information is coming from. Typically there are two types of photography YouTubers. The first are gear reviewers. They know cameras inside out on a technical level but they are not photographers nor have much real world photography experience or a body of work to showcase. The second are photographers who actually use the cameras. Here you will get the best real world opinion but they might gloss over many details that a tech reviewer will pick up on. For example a gear reviewer will tell you that you must buy the XT5 over the XT3 because the autofocus is a huge upgrade and the XT3 can’t keep up. Technically when comparing side by side it’s true. However from experience, I can tell you that for 90% of people in 90% of cases, the difference will simply not be obvious enough to warrant spending so much more if you’re on a budget.
My suggestion is to listen to both. Once you have all the information around you, it would be easier to make a decision. Also avoid listening to anyone who’s an ambassador. Their opinion will always be biased and they will gloss over or play down anything they don’t like. Finally if the camera you’re buying has been out for a while already, make sure to find long term reviews. I’ve never had a camera where my opinion has not changed after a years worth of use.
Prioritise ergonomics and usability
When you’re looking for your camera, try to focus more on what that camera feels like to use.
How many buttons does it have?
Are they customisable?
How does it feel in your hand?
Can you tilt the screen?
Does it have IBIS for longer exposures?
What’s the battery life like?
Is it weather sealed?
These questions are way more important than “How many megapixels does it have”? Or if it has “AI Autofocus”. Because Image quality and autofocus is great on any camera in the last 5 years. However having a camera that you can use in the rain, can last all day and can be set up exactly how you want is way more practical than extra 10 megapixels.
Consider the lens line up
If the camera you’re looking to get is a fixed lens system, then just skip this entire section. However if you’re buying an interchangeable lens camera, then make sure that is has a healthy and complete lens line up. As you progress you might want to try different lenses for different types of photography. If the lens lineup is limited then it might force you to change systems which is expensive and a hassle. However if you have a large selection of lenses at different price points, it can make your life easier by keeping everything in one system. This can also extend to third party lenses. If you have a large selection of more affordable third party lenses, it’s only a good thing.
Don’t sleep on the kit lens
There’s a general belief that kit lenses are cheap, nasty and need to be replaced as soon as possible. I am not sure where this belief comes from however in many cases it is simply not true. As an example the Fuji 18-55 kit lens is so good that many prefer it over the more expensive 16-55. Also when you get the lens as a bundle, it works out way cheaper than buying it separately. In many cases you could probably sell it and get that extra money back. So unless you already have lenses, I suggest not sleeping on the kit lens.
Is there a market?
The next thing to look at is whether the camera system has a market and a thriving community. Part of this is the lens line up I mentioned earlier but equally, is there a large and dedicated community? How often does the manufacturer release firmware updates? Is there a road map? Before investing money into a system, all these things are worth taking into consideration. For example if there is a huge community around the product, this will mean that getting help would be easy and resale values would generally be higher. If there are consistent firmware updates, it means that any bugs have a chance to be fixed and that there is support available. Finally if there is a road map of future products, it simply reinforces the longevity of the system.
Photography vs Camera Budget
I’ve made a whole video about this where I talked about having a photography budget and not just a camera budget. I suggest watching it in full however here’s a quick summary. Photography is more than just having a camera. So don’t blow all your money on a fancy camera and have nothing left for actually using that camera. You still need money to go out and shoot. So if your total budget is £2000 then perhaps only spend half of it or less on the camera. The rest spend it on actual photography.
Don’t buy latest model (& buy used)
You don’t always need to buy the latest model. Sure the XT5 that I use is a little better than the XT4. But I can assure you the difference is not night and day. Same can be said for the XT4 vs the XT3. Sure you get a slightly better battery but the difference is not groundbreaking. Matter of fact my most recommended camera is the Fuji XT3 which is now nearly 5 years old. If you have the money, sure go for the latest. If this is a business expense, fine. But most people simply don’t need the latest and greatest. Also by buying a slightly older camera, you can buy it used. This works out even cheaper and is more sustainable.
Don’t pay retail
There will be some of you who still insist on buying the latest or buying new. In that case I suggest waiting for cash back deals or even going abroad. For example Fujifilm does amazing cash back deals where you can save a lot of money. Most of my new gear has been purchased that way and over the years I saved well over £1000. Another method is to see which country has the same product for cheaper and if you happen to be passing through, you can grab it. In some cases you can even use the money saved to get a small holiday and actually use your new camera. A good example is Dubai where you can pick up tech that is noticeably cheaper than at home in the UK.
Sleep on it
The final tip is to sleep on it. This extends to any major financial purchase. Unless there is a substantial deal that ends tomorrow, sleep on it for a few days. Humans are naturally irrational and impulsive. So by sleeping on it for a few days, we can give ourselves time to process and think. There was an article I read the other day where something like 1/3 of shoppers immediately regretted a purchase. Don’t be one of those.