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Grab a Fujifilm X100F if you can, or the X100T if that’s a bit out of budget. It’s a fantastic camera on its own and a great one to learn on. It’s small enough to always have on you, and the entire exposure triangle has physical dials instead of being buried in menus or only shown on-screen.
If you’re concerned about the fixed focal length, I’d encourage you not to be. After all, nearly all great photographers shot prime lenses. A prime lens will force you into considering composition more, and the 35mm field of view is close to what the human eye sees naturally. It’s perfect for getting enough in the frame to tell a story. And sticking with one focal length helps you to start “seeing” the world through your lens, even when you’re not looking through the camera.
I’m happy to help more if you have any questions. If you’re serious about photography, I’d recommend a body and either a 35mm or 50mm prime lens and shoot with only that for a very long time. Please note that the sensor sizes in cameras change what the field of view of a lens is, though. A 50mm lens on a full-frame camera is 50mm, but the same lens on an APS-C sensor is actually closer to 75mm.
It’s a confusing world, but at the end of the day, don’t sweat the gear too much. Just get a camera and actually get out there and shoot. Too many people turn photography into a gear contest instead of actually, you know, taking photographs.
Used full frame digital camera and a cheap 50mm prime lens.
Sony a6000
From someone who started out “dabbling” but now does the occasional shoot for international brands as a freelancer, here’s my most important advise: get whatever camera you want; Nikon, canon, whatever - get their lower end body and spend more money on the lenses. Most all DSLR and higher end mirrorless sensors are pretty amazing, but the glass is where the detail comes from. You can have a $10k camera, but if you stick a crap lens on it, it’ll look crap.
Personally I started as a canon kid because - at least at the time - it was cheaper bar for the highest end lenses on the canon than the Nikon. Truth is that almost any of them will be fantastic, so pick based on your needs and have fun.
Mirrorless cameras are very highly rated and more compact than traditional DSLRs. Check out dpreview.com’s buying guide.
For $1000 I don’t think you’ll get a full frame. You’re probably in more of the canon rebel or maybe EOS 77d realm. Because you’re not getting a full frame I don’t recommend a 50mm. Instead do a 30mm because with the crop that will be closer to a full frame 50mm. Also get a good lens. It’s all about the lens.
Apologies. I initially read that as “dabbing” and almost did a spit take. Good luck!
I’d also highly recommend taking a local class.
I hear the fancy camera on the new iPhone takes great pictures.
I sold my full frame Nikon D750 to get the Fujifilm X-T20 earlier this year and by far and away, the Fuji is the best value on the market right now. For $1200 you can get a tiny camera and lens combo that shoots full frame quality photos. (The 18-55 kit lens is excellent) Most cameras these days take great photos so picking one purely on specs is hard. The Fujifilm has an indescribable quality that is just magnetic and makes you not want to put it down, something the Sony’s and Canons just don’t have.
I would highly recommend the X-T20 since it’s nearly identical to its $1800 brother the X-T2, but it only costs $800.
However, Fujifilm just came out with the X-E3, which is the same guts, but a simpler interface for those whole like the rangefinder style cameras. I would buy that today. Also look at the Olympus Pen series. They have the same feel in the hand as the Fuji’s.
Don’t worry about going full frame. 3 years ago it would have made a big difference. Today it doesn’t. I noticed that I stopped carrying my full frame Nikon because the body and lens together was too heavy to take on trips. I would also point you to look at mirror less cameras because they (mostly) have electronic shutters. The shutter is generally the reason DSLRs fail after around 50-100k pictures taken. The only downside to mirrorlesses is since they are physically smaller, you’ll need to carry more batteries than for a DSLR.
Go to BandH or borrowlenses.com and shop their used stuff. Borrowlenses only keeps their equipment in service for a year, so it’s all in good condition. I’m partial to Nikon, but as Sr. AD 2 said, get what you want and feels comfortable in your hand. I’ve always shot the Nikon crop sensors (D7000/71000 etc.) because the body and lenses are cheaper. But I’ve heard great things about mirrorless as well.
Depends on what you’re planning on shooting, but the future is mirrorless. Look into Fujifilm, Sony, Panasonic and Olympus. I shoot with Sony for work and Fuji for personal stuff, and cannot be happier.
I found a refurb sale online around Black Friday. That could be a good option to start. I got a Nikon D3200.
iPhone X 😝