Best Beginner's Camera

[Dean Wilson]

I belong to a couple Beginning Photographers Groups on social media that have a multiple number of Thousands members multiple times a day the question is asked:

"What is the best camera for a beginner?"
...and often with that won't break the bank.

Many replies include one manufacture over another or an exact model and lens claiming it has the best advanced technology.

SIDE NOTE: Which reminds me of a quote by Douglas Adams, "We are stuck with technology when what we really want is just stuff that works."

There are also those that reply: "What are you going to be photographing?"

Ay, there's the rub.* (Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 1)

What does a beginning photographer know what they will be shooting a year from now... three years from now?

Question time:

What was your first interest: Nature, People, Manmade Objects, Abstract...? Has it changed from when you picked up your first camera.

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[David Stallard]

Very good question!
My answer to the initial 'best camera for a beginner' is a simple one, pick up and handle a few different ones and see what feels good in the hand and after that - what you can afford without breaking the bank, learn / play / practice and then once you are happy with your subject genre save up and the world is your oyster.

Second question - thought long and hard and can't really pick a single 'start point' even now although trackside motorsport is my main 'gig' I love landscapes and wildlife a LOT so for me. . . . . everything ;-)

 

[RickyRed]

If I was starting photography. A used R6II or refurb with the 24-240.. The 24-240 give you all the possibilities to try. Yes, its A somewhat spendy kit. All the money I wasted in the beginning was spendy. . A new photographer could enjoy a R6II for years and buy a few lenses along the way.

 

[Dean Wilson]

Yes, its A somewhat spendy kit. All the money I wasted in the beginning was spendy. .

I think the biggest waste of money for me was the constant purchase of tripods that lasted one year. Those definitely cost more than the myriad of 55mm filters over the years.

 

[JCBigler]

Honestly, for a very entry level beginner's/hobbyist level camera, the RP does a whole lot of photo stuff right for anyone who isn't shooting fast subjects, fast drive modes, or extreme low light, it's a great full frame camera for general entry level photography. You can still get them new from Canon for $800, and often refurbed for around $500. The RF 24-240 has IS, but the variable aperture. Refurbed RF 28-70 f 2.8 are about the same price, and I think it's a better entry level kit lens.

The various cheap R APS-C cameras I don't think bring much to the table from a budget : features ratios that the RP doesn't.

Anyone who wants to get more serious will upgrade pretty quickly. But I think for casual photography an RP with a RF28-70 and a RF 35MM f/1.8 gets a lot of fun photography done for a relatively low budget.

 

[Tsubaki]

"There are also those that reply: "What are you going to be photographing?" "

This is valid. Earlier this year I help a bunch of folks transition away from Windows to Linux and they invariably started that journey with "What Distro (Linux distribution) should I use?" to be then inundated with recommendations for distros that the responders had on their computer without having a clue what the users needs were or their thoughts of the future.

My response was "What do you NEED to use your computer for?". Clearly define the scope of these requirements, keep it high level and be prepared to answer questions. Then I can recommend some options for you to look at.

I wish I had followed my own advice when it came to my own camera purchases instead of "ooh looky, it's on special".

 

[Photofarmer]

Amen to the RP ive passed mine on to daughter in law and son but occasionally I borrow it for lightning photography or astronomy when I want a third camera still darn good. Battery drain is biggest issue

I went RP it just didnt keep up for equestrian so upgraded to r6ii and picked up a second hand R5 along the way. Kits lens the 24/105. Soon upgraded to 15-35L 27-70L and 70-200L thats the work horse the 70-200.

Ya can find RP used with kit lens $700 on market place eBay etc etc

 

[Dean Wilson]

Earlier this year I help a bunch of folks transition away from Windows to Linux and they invariably started that journey with "What Distro (Linux distribution) should I use?" to be then inundated with recommendations for distros that the responders had on their computer without having a clue what the users needs were or their thoughts of the future.

A few years back I took my one and only Linux class (online due to Covid in 2020) and for my Final exam I set up three VM's:

VM-1 using openSUSE.
VM-2 using Ubuntu.
VM-3 using RHEL.

The Object was to have VM-2 open and run a program on VM-1, while VM-3 monitored VM 1 & 2. My online demonstration for the Instructor was 8am on a Sunday. I really liked the class.