12/29/2020
As a photographer many people ask me for camera suggestions when theyâre ready to invest in a new camera system.
If you have never looked for an interchangeable lens camera, or if itâs been a while since you last looked, the market has changed dramatically in the past two years with more shake-up coming in 2021.
In my role with Sony I spend a lot of time studying the competition and will often recommend an option from another manufacturer if it's a better fit for someoneâs needs or budget. I don't sell photography equipment, I recommend solutions.
Itâs easy to tell that the current market is confusing to consumers, even if they have made an effort to educate themselves before looking. YouTube videos and articles are often very skewed towards the personâs personal preferences or the articles are written by someone who has some vested interest in giving some product a great review when it actually should be heading to the dumpster.
Here are some common misconceptions that I find people looking for a new camera have at present.
Misconception: A fully articulating LCD display is a critical component to have in a new camera. People literally are making $1000 decisions based on that feature alone. Unless youâre shooting selfies or walkabout vlogging youâll rarely use this screen fully articulated. More important is whether there is an app that you can use to control the camera remotely. That is 100% more useful if you are using the camera on a tripod to shoot video (which is why most people want it). If youâre seated away from the camera you can see what it sees a lot better if the display is on your mobile device which you can then use to start/stop or re-focus without having to move back out of the scene again.
Misconception: Those point and shoot cameras are better than my phoneâs camera
This is a newer misconception. Until recently that would have been a pretty accurate statement. In 2020 the Samsung 20 Ultra and the iPhone 12 Pro Max were introduced sporting camera sensors on-par with most point and shoot cameras (ie. Canon PowerShot, Nikon Coolpix). Even if they mold a plastic body shaped like a DSLR around the tiny sensor in these cameras, they still produce lower quality digital images. Youâd be surprised how many people believe one of those cameras are âa beastâ when their phone already does just as good a job.
Misconception: Itâs better to get a kit with more lenses because itâs a better deal
Lens quality is not measured in the quantity of lenses you have on hand. I see many people opt for a lesser camera because it has two starter kit lenses. If youâre serious about photography youâll learn quickly that it takes a great camera AND lens to capture your image in the highest quality. The kit lenses that are bundled with new cameras are usually not very good and that should not drive your decision.
Misconception: Bigger cameras must be better at taking great photos.
This one is ridiculously incorrect in todayâs market. There are many great cameras that are large that are great, but smaller form factors donât mean compromised image quality and definitely donât mean compromised performance. In fact, itâs the largeness of cameras that have made them far less nimble than their all-digital contemporaries.
Misconception: I will get a DSLR because itâs definitely better than what I have now.
First, unless you're buying used gear, do not buy a DSLR in 2021 if you are just starting out. Although you can still buy them, camera manufacturers who still have stock can't get rid of them fast enough.
Mirrorless, or all-digital interchangeable lens cameras, are the only way to go if
you don't have any ties to a manufacturer.
Mirrorless is a marketing term devised to make it sound like these cameras are missing a mirror. The real question is why do you need a mirror in a camera? That's right, you don't. Not in 2021. Mirrors get in the way now, they don't help
Here's what I suggest for 2021 If you're in the market
APS-C crop sensor cameras:
Fuji is the best, but they don't have a full frame option should you want to go that route in the future. They do have an entry-level x-t30 (t40 in Q1 2021) and the x-t4 in the next tier up. Fuji has been making mirrorless cameras since 2012 so there are many lens options available.
Sony would be next for APSC cameras. The a6100 is a killer little camera with the a6400 and a6600 which are both steps up in features. With Sony you have full frame options to grow into and the lenses you have will work with your full frame. Canon and Nikon have really only been making mirrorless APS-C cameras for a couple of years and their lens options are limited and aren't compatible with their full frames.
I would hesitate to recommend the Canon M-50 mirrorless APSC camera. They just released the mark ii version of the camera and at the last minute pulled back on upgrading its sensor. I think that this will become an orphan camera as Canon will release their new R7 APS-C camera in 2021 and drop the M-50.
If you want a full frame, the absolute cheapest way there is with the Sony a7ii with a kit lens for $999. Older model Sony models are still competitive and a bargain way into a full frame camera.
Any of the a7 full frames would be great and the newer Canon R series full frames are getting great reviews. So Sony or Canon for full frame. I would not recommend Nikon's Z series full frame cameras, not because they're lacking in quality, but Nikon's future is murky.
Vlogging cameras are probably the hottest segment right now. There are only a small handful that I would recommend in this class. If you want a good Vlogging camera for under $500 then use your phone. Unless you have a phone with a camera that's more than a couple of years old it will be as good or better than almost every point and shoot camera under $500. You won't find a sub $500 camera with an external microphone input.
Best options, try a Panasonic Lumix G7. It's a micro four thirds interchangeable lens camera with a mic input, image stabilization and does full 4k video. All for about $500. The Canon G7X is a point and shoot with a one inch (Sony) sensor that does 4k for about $650 and the Sony ZV-1 vlogging camera which was released this year and finds itself at the top of many vlogging camera lists. It's about $750.
If money isnât a constraint, then the best choice available is the Sony a7S III which came out in 2020. This camera is the best video/camera you can get at present. Sony just signed a deal with the Associated Press to equip all of their photo/video journalists worldwide with this camera. Unfortunately it will set you back about $3500.
Finally, watch out for bargains in boxes, those are what camera companies are dumping this season (e.g. Canon t7, Nikon d3500). Also, don't be fooled by the name cache of Nikon. They are iconic cameras, but Nikon is struggling mightily in the present. They closed their factory in Japan and just laid off 2,000 employees. After Olympus sold their camera division this year, analysts are looking for a similar outcome for Nikon next.
People tend to be brand loyalists when it comes to their cameras. People are way more loyal to their camera manufacturer than their manufacturer is or ever will be to them. I often find people have a manufacturer in mind but not for any reason other than "that's what my friend has so I'm getting it too". Or, "my last camera was this so Iâm just going to go with it again." We are dealing with a very different landscape than what you may have known to be true. A great photographer will get the most out of whatever camera they have. Who makes the camera should be irrelevant.
Good luck!
