This is a very thorough analysis (with TL;DR) about choosing the right camera gear. Reading it in your mail app might be overwhelming. So, here’s the link to the essay so that you can have a more comfortable reading experience.
This is an article that may or may not be relevant to you at the moment, but it’s one that you should bookmark for future reference.
For a long time, I have looked for a comprehensive guide that could help me choose a camera. I found many websites that gave objective recommendations for gear, but none that could help me develop a mindset for judging good from bad.
I wanted to change that.
So, I decided to make my own guide.
After going through hundreds of websites, articles, and YouTube videos, I think I have finally developed the mindset that I was looking for. To avoid indecisive and deliberate people (such as me) from spending countless hours researching, I have compiled it all in this article, with the goal to make this process simpler and easier.
As newer and better products will be released, the recommendations in this article are bound to become obsolete. However, your mindset won’t.
Let this be a guide to becoming a better judge of what you want and how to be a more informed buyer from the plethora of options available to you.
How it all started
It all started with me looking for the equipment for The UIUC Talkshow. It’s easy to come up with a list of what to look for while buying a camera, but it is much harder to sort through all the options available to you. When you enter a website, you’re not only making a decision based on the functionality but also the year of release, price, lenses available, models, future resale value, etc.
The list never ends.
So, how do you even begin? How can you convert your unspoken needs into something that can give you tangible results?
Step 1: Start by making a list of features
The first step in finding the right camera for you is to make a list of what you are looking for. Which features matter to you? What do you want the camera to be able to do? Is it meant for photography, videography, or both? What is your budget?
For instance, my list looked something like this:
No 30 min recording cap
Can function as a good photography camera
Dual SD Card slots
Mirrorless
Budget-friendly
Mic input port
Step 2: Ask the “experts”
I asked myself, “If I wanted to buy camera gear, what would I get?”
I didn’t have an answer.
I asked ChatGPT.
I had more options now.
Browse through the list of options that you get. Make sure that you are thorough in listing out your needs to ChatGPT or any equivalent searching mechanism that you may use.
Next up, Reddit.
Reddit has a very big community of people who can also help in getting to know some other options. Some of the subreddits I recommend asking/searching in:
(Note: Also consider posting in brand-specific subreddits (like r/SonyAlpha) if you have a particular model in mind and would like to get some opinions from the people who have used it)
This should give you a couple of good options to choose from, narrowing down the list from >10 to ~5.
Step 3: All hail YouTube
YouTube is going to be your decision-maker. You will find videos from all spectrums for camera and gear. Some of the YouTube channels I recommend checking out:
I will be sharing more YouTube links as we progress in our journey to find the ultimate camera gear, but these will serve as a list of overarching channels that will be useful regardless.
There is a lot of material to go through. So, let’s get to it, shall we?
I. Camera
II. Lens
III. Tripod
IV. Microphone
V. Camera Bag
VI. Camera Strap
VII. SD Cards
VIII. Camera Filters
IX. Extra Batteries and Charger
I. Camera
The most important part of it all. What kind of camera do I need?! Start by asking yourself the following questions:
What am I going to be using it for? (Intended purpose)
What is my budget?
Do I care if it mirrorless or DSLR? What’s the difference?
What sensor size do I want?
Do I need a mic input?
Answering these questions should already narrow down the list of cameras to choose from. However, there is still more to do.
Once you a list of about 5 potential cameras, start comparing them on YouTube.
Look at what each of their intended purposes is.
Look at subsidiary factors such as:
[ ] Overheating tendencies
[ ] Image stabilization
[ ] Autofocus speed
[ ] Ports on camera
[ ] Screen rotation type
[ ] Sensor resolution
[ ] Weight
[ ] Recording capabilities
[ ] Value for money
Checking the cameras against these factors should lead you straight to the answer. This is not just a list of factors, but a list of priorities for you to choose from.
Advice:
There is no “right” company for cameras. Every company makes cameras with their own perks and drawbacks. It is a matter of choosing which drawbacks you are willing to overlook/do not care about, and which features you prioritize.
Many companies also have different series depending on the intended use of the camera. For example, Sony has three A7 variants (S, R, and normal).
Check what comes in the box when you buy the camera. One of the things not being included with cameras now is a charging adapter for the battery. For Eg. Lumix S5ii
Findings (on comparing Panasonic and Sony):
Lumix is good for the purpose of filmmaking (superior video stabilization, no overheating problem, better LOG profile etc.), whereas Sony has a focus on photography (unless you go to their series which are designed to shoot videos)
Leica lenses are really good
Sony makes expensive lens, so the better option is to get a Sigma or Tamron lens if you’re working on a budget
Panasonic has a good range of native lenses that are in the same price range as Sigma or Tamron for Sony
Tamron doesn’t makes lens for Lumix yet
💡 My findings will relate more with the people looking to work on a budget and trying to find a camera that checks all the boxes at a reasonable price (highest value for money)
II. Lens
Lenses are expensive. While you have the option of getting a kit lens (standard base lens) with the camera that you buy, you will most likely end up buying a lens for your particular aperture or focal length/magnification needs.
It is important to know what range you will be shooting at. The type of lens can be broken down into three types:
Wide Angle (16-35 mm) 2. Standard (35-85mm) 3. Telephoto (>85 mm)
Furthermore, you can buy a zoom lens (varying focal range) or a prime lens (fixed focal range).
In a zoom lens, you can change your “magnification” whereas in a prime lens you have a fixed magnification.
Zoom lenses come in all sorts of combinations, ranging from wide-angle to telephoto (eg. 18-300mm) and wide-angle to standard (eg. 24-70 mm).
(Thorough analyses on lens types here and here)
I found this video to be helpful in deciding an optimum combination of lenses:
A prime and optimally ranged zoom lens should cover most of your camera needs. There will be exceptions based on your need, however.
💡 IMPORTANT: Check the mount type of your camera before you start looking at lenses. Different camera brands have different mount sizes, so it is important to make sure that you buy a lens that is meant for your camera mount.
List of brands with their mount type:
Sony: E-mount (mirrorless)
Fujifilm: X-mount (mirrorless).
Canon: RF-mount, EF-mount (DSLR)
Nikon: Z-mount, F-mount (DSLR)
Panasonic: L-mount
Micro Four Thirds mount
You can buy a camera adapter (such as Z to E mount) if you already have lenses from an older camera. However, you will lose your electronic functionalities (such as Auto Focus) from the lens.
Note: Native camera lenses can be quite expensive, ranging from a couple hundred to a couple thousand dollars. Hence, it is important to know your options. There are some affordable third-party lenses that work (almost) equally well with the cameras.
Reliable third-party brands:
Sigma
Tamron
III. Tripod (Critical)
For some reason, tripods are REALLY expensive. There are cheaper options available ranging from $30 to $600 (sometimes bundled with a lens), but it really depends on your use case and budget.
Personally, I put great importance on a tripod since it will be holding my precious and even more expensive camera and lens. My criteria was:
Not too heavy
Small folded length (should be able to fit on the side of the camera bag)
Fluid Head
Ease of use and portability
Rolling leg lock instead of clip
Difference in type of head type:
Other things to keep in mind:
[ ] Check the max loading of the tripod and compare it with your camera+lens weight.
[ ] Choose a tripod that can sufficiently handle a heavy weight on top if you are planning on attaching long telephoto lenses to your camera. Moreover, choose a tripod that has a hook for attaching weights on the bottom to lower its center of gravity and make the whole arrangement more stable.
Another helpful Youtube Channel:
The 4 BEST LIGHTWEIGHT Travel Tripods of 2022
List of reliable brands:
Manfrotto
Sirui
Peak Design
IV. Microphones
(For people intending to use the camera for video)
Questions:
On-camera or separate?
Wireless or wired?
There are many types of microphones to choose from. You can have a compact setup (on-camera) like this
or have a separate setup for the microphone like this
You can either connect these microphones using 3.5mm cable or XLR cable to the camera. If you need to use the latter, you will need a separate XLR adapter for your camera.
Which one do you choose if you’re working on a budget?
Pro tip: Also look into external audio recorders if you are going to have multiple inputs (audio channels) recording simultaneously.
🌬️ Buy a windshield for the mic to reduce wind noises while recording outside
💡 Some microphones, such as the Rode Wireless Go ii, also allow audio to be recorded locally on the microphone, eliminating the need to connect it to your camera. This can allow you to record as many channels as you want (externally) simultaneously, without needing an adapter for the camera.
Reliable Companies:
Rode
Shure
Sennheiser
V. Camera Bag (Critical)
Questions:
How would I like to store my camera?
Do I want a shoulder bag, backpack, sling bag, pouches, rolling cases, or simply camera straps?
Prolonged period of wearing these can induce shoulder or joint pains too. So, taking that into consideration is also very important
Do I own a backpack that can be substituted for storing my camera?
Is it important for it to be compact?
Do I need a tripod holder in it?
A comparison of camera bag types:
A camera backpack better suited my needs since it was a one-step solution to storing all of my camera gear. However, you can opt for something smaller too if you aren’t planning on carrying much gear with you.
💀 Why are camera bags so expensive?! Look at this beautiful bag from Peak Design:
And then look at its price. Almost $300!!
🧠 Advice: Give priority to quality. Your bag is going to be housing some very expensive equipment. So, it is important that you do not compromise on its structural integrity and material quality. Also, check whether your bag is waterproof or not.
If you do not want to spend that kind of money on a bag, you have some other cheaper options available as well.
Reliable brands:
ThinkTank
Lowepro
Peak Design ($$)
Brevite
VI. Camera Strap (Critical)
Another critical component of a camera is its strap. You have some types with this as well (you guessed it!):
Wrist Strap
Shoulder Strap
Neck Strap
Holster
etc.
Which Camera Strap is Right for You?
Once you have chosen a style that feels comfortable to you, the next step is to sort through all the options available to you.
My criteria:
[ ] Long strap
[ ] Comfortable even after wearing it for a prolonged duration (cushioned)
[ ] High Strength
I eliminated the wrist strap and holster quite quickly since I knew I wanted a conventional neck strap since I am used to shooting it with it.
🗒️ Some cameras include a camera strap in their box. If that works out for you, there is no need to buy a new one. You can opt for a cheaper camera strap too as long as the attachment point is secure and it fits your needs.
This video helped me in deciding which camera strap was the right choice for me:
Recommended companies:
Peak Design
(Other smaller companies found on Amazon will work fine as well)
VII. SD Cards
Don’t overthink this one - you have done enough of that for the rest of the gear.
Questions:
What type of SD card do I need? (there are different types?!)
What is the storage capacity that I need?
If you want to learn more about the type of SD cards, check out this video:
SD Cards Explained | Ask David Bergman
Amazon should be a pretty good place for finding the SD card that you need. For most cases, SD cards by Sony or SanDisk should fit your needs. Sony is on the more expensive side, whereas SanDisk is more budget-friendly.
Do not look any further; I highly recommend them.
VIII. Camera Filters
No need to overthink this one either (low stake). You can decide whether you would like to get a filter or not based on the three most basic filters any camera can be expected to have:
Neutral Density (ND) filter: reduce the amount of light hitting the sensor without affecting the color of the resulting image
UV filter: to protect the front element of a lens against moisture, dirt, and scratches (highly recommended)
Polarizing filter: add depth to an image by saturating its color and reducing reflections
(In-depth analysis of filters types here)
Recommended brands:
HOYA
ProOptic
IX. Extra Batteries and Charger
It is recommended to get some spare batteries if you plan on shooting for a prolonged duration or will be away from any electrical sources for a while.
💡 To-check: Battery type of the camera
Original batteries are quite expensive. You can rely on third-party sources as long as you find them to be reliable.
Amazon has a good collection of batteries from third-party sources.
Third-party camera battery for some Sony Alpha series camera
💡 Make sure that the charger you choose is not cheaply built and doesn't have the reputation of damaging the battery over time.
Purchasing site
There are many sites available for one to buy a camera and its accessories. Two of the more trusted and popular ones are B&H Photo and Adorama. In my experience, I have found the prices to be similar between the two, with the only difference being the availability of “kits” in Adorama.
While buying a lens, you can bundle it with a filter kit and tripod, which I found to be quite useful. Amazon offers similar kits too, but if you want to buy everything from the same website, you have the option to do that from Adorama.
Conclusion
Buying a camera can be an overwhelming and nerve-wracking ordeal. However, asking yourself questions along the way will help you filter through a lot of options. Take advantage of all the videos available on YouTube related to your product and be wary of paid promotions.
Lastly, think about any future resale prospects of the gear that you buy too.
Here’s everything important compiled into a few important points:
TL;DR
ChatGPT and Reddit are great resources to help you generate a list of options
YouTube will help you compare different models with each other and learn about particular models in great detail
Always start with a list of requirements and search accordingly
Choose your lenses wisely. You would be surprised how much you can do with less
Give some thought to convenience and the environment you will be using your gear in
Invest in good tripods and camera bags since the safety of your camera gear depends on it
Happy shooting,
Aaryaman.
💡 This is not a perfect list by any means, but a way to help you navigate through the vast ocean of camera gear. By doing your research, you will find other websites and YouTube channels that are helpful to you. If you have any suggestions or ways to improve this list, please leave a comment below!
“Godspeed, fellow artist!”
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