How to choose a camera: The ultimate guide to buying the right gear
Making matters worse, most of us already own a pretty decent camera in the form of a smartphone, and knowing when a dedicated camera provides a real benefit can be difficult to determine. Prices for new cameras range from a couple hundred to a few thousand dollars, with numerous brands and models at each tier along the way. Do you need an expensive interchangeable lens model, or will a simple point and shoot be enough to outshine your phone?
This guide is designed to get first-time camera buyers pointed in the right direction to answer such questions. You may also find it helpful if you haven’t purchased a camera in many years and are looking to finally upgrade. This article will make reference to different sensor sizes — it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with those first, or scroll down to the “megapixel myth” section below for a brief overview on why bigger sensors take bigger pictures.
CAMERA TYPES
Cameras come in all shapes and sizes and no one is objectively better — which camera works for you depends entirely on your specific needs. The first step is to identify the overall type of camera you want.
There are three basic categories: compact/point-and-shoot, mirrorless interchangeable lens, and digital SLRs (DSLRs). Within each, there are many different variations — some point-and-shoots look like DSLRs, some mirrorless cameras are incredibly compact while others are much bigger, etc. Here’s what you’ll find in each category.
Point-and-shoot cameras
These run a wide gamut. They can be compact pocket shooters that are affordable and easy to use, or robust advanced models with long zooms, large sensors, and full manual controls. The one constant is a non-interchangeable lens.
You’re probably aware that the point-and-shoots’ popularity has waned considerably as phone cameras have gotten so good. Basic point-and-shoot cameras are no longer attractive to the masses, and manufacturers have responded by shifting efforts into higher-end models.
While some entry-level point-and-shoots can be found in the $100-$200 range, these typically won’t offer image quality that’s noticeably better than a modern smartphone. They will, however, offer features phones usually don’t have. Look for zoom lenses, large sensors, and any other features that stand out.
For better quality, an advanced compact is the way to go. Look to cameras that use a 1-inch-type sensor, which start around $500 but can cost as much as $1,500 or so. These bigger sensors produce higher quality images. The downside is that a larger sensor makes everything else about the camera, from the body to the lens, also larger. For this reason, you won’t often find long zooms and large sensors together in a compact body, although the engineers behind the Sony RX100 VI
have done an impressive job, fitting a one-inch sensor and 24-200mm zoom into a pocketable camera.
have done an impressive job, fitting a one-inch sensor and 24-200mm zoom into a pocketable camera.
Another type of point-and-shoot is the considerably less compact “superzoom,” so named for its extremely long zoom lens. The Nikon P1000 currently holds the record for longest zoom, with a power of 125x or equivalent focal length of 24-3,000mm. Such a camera gives you a lot of shooting flexibility in a relatively compact package.
Note, though, that while superzooms look like beefy DSLRs, they still have the limited photo quality of a compact camera, due to their small sensors. A few higher-end models, like the Sony RX10 IV, have larger one-inch sensors. Image quality will likewise be better on such models, but they can’t match the ultimate zoom range of a small-sensor superzoom.
Splitting the difference between compact and superzoom is the travel zoom subcategory. These cameras have zoom lenses in the 20x to 50x range, but they are also easier to lug around because the body style is more compact than the DSLR-like body of superzooms. These are versatile travel companions when you want flexibility with
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