It’s kind of like asking which car you should drive. There are lots of them out there in different price ranges, and many serve different functions. I may recommend a sporty little Honda when you were looking for a Lotus. Or a Mini Cooper when you wanted a big 4×4 Yukon. But there’s one thing everyone wants from a camera, and that’s good pictures. Here are two cameras that come with the Andrew Stamp Of Approval ™. I’ll try to elucidate the use cases for each one to aid in your buying decision.
This is the camera you buy if you want something that fits in your pocket. It’s not the cheapest camera you can buy that’ll fit in your pocket, but it’s probably the best in this class. They retail for just under $500, and I’d like to shoot this camera for a while. It’s essentially a Leica camera (snobby art student camera brand) with a cheaper brand name on it. One of the biggest benefits to buying this camera is that you won’t be tempted to buy any lenses for it; it doesn’t change lenses. You can buy some adapters to make it act like it has a wide-angle or telephoto lens, but you won’t be tempted to plunk down another 4 grand to buy the good glass.
These are the cameras you want if you’d like to really learn photography. I think an SLR camera (one you can change the lenses on) is the best way to put yourself in the driver’s seat. You say you’d rather buy Canon cameras? Well, those will work just fine, too. The best camera brand to buy is the one that all your friends shoot. You can swap lenses and advice with each other most easily that way. The D40 is in the $400-$500 range, while the D90 will set you back about a Grand. With either of these cameras, you’ll have the opportunity to buy lenses later on. Even though lenses can be wicked-expensive, they really unlock a lot of the potential in your camera. You can do some neat stuff with good glass.
This is the camera to buy if you’re buying a gift for me. 🙂
But, seriously, people make good picture, not cameras. I had a great time a week or two ago shooting a Pentax K-1000. It’s old and manual-everything, but I shoot it to remind myself that I can make good photos without a computer, and without my fancy cameras. So no matter what camera you have or which you end up buying, go enjoy taking pictures with it. I promise that more pixels don’t equate to more joy. Mostly.
Great post. Love that “more pixels don’t equate more joy”.
Looking forward to the next event at your studio.
Knock on your wall and say hi to my hubby for me. :o)
Hey Drew,
Great camera advice. Your Mom and I are having such fun with our D-40 Nikon. Its a wonderful camera and we take inspiration from our favorite professional photographer to look at things more creatively and go for those more interesting shots. Keep up the great work. Love, Dad
Andrew,
Great review/write-up! I’m sure this will be helpful for a lot of people. We’re looking that Panasonic, as the pics on my current camera now look like x-ray slides, minus the interior view.
Any chance you might put up the pics you took on the Pentax? I know they’re not digital, but it would be so fun to see what you did with an “old-fashioned” camera, if you get a chance to convert them to dig files and/or scan them in.
Cheers!
Well, we took your advice, and got the Lumix LX3. Have not used it TOO much yet, but the first few shots I have taken look excellent, without any effort!
Thanks again!
I put a dollar in a jar for the D3x every pay day, its going to be a wile… Great post I think ill take out my cannon Ae-1 today.