What camera should you buy when you want to begin photography?
For a beginner starting out. Literally any camera. Your phone is a great start. But if you physically want a camera, any DSLR or bridge camera will do, or a film camera, it’s up to you.
My preference is a DSLR, just because I can have full control of the camera and the lens.
The important thing to remember is that it’s not about the camera, it’s all about you and how you use it. Anyone can buy a camera, but ‘having an eye for it’, that takes time to develop, unless you’re just naturally talented.
When you start out you don’t need to have the best camera, you just need a camera. It’s the same when you got your first car. You don’t start out with a Ferrari when you learn how to drive.
You can achieve extraordinary things with an entry-level DSLR and kit lens.
My first DSLR was a Nikon D3100 with the standard 18-55mm kit lens. I used it for about 5 years and took thousands of pictures with it. It served me extremely well. From taking pictures of landscapes, animals, flowers, people, cars and houses.
As cheesy as it might sound, the only limit is you.
Last bit of advice.
Keep in mind to develop your own style.
Draw inspiration from others, but don’t try to copy them. Because then you will never be unique. You will never be different. You’ll just be another face in the crowd.
Do whatever you want to do. Yes, there are ‘rules’ for photography, but they are made to be broken. Don’t allow it to limit your creativity.
Confused by some photography terminology? Here’s a list of photography jargon.
If you found this helpful, here are 5 photography tips for beginners.
Learn about developing your eye for detail.
Thinking about which camera you should buy to begin photography?
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Hannes van Eeden 
Useful information. Lucky me I found your website by accident, and I’m shocked why this accident didn’t happened earlier! I bookmarked it.
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Pretty! This was a really wonderful post. Thank you for providing this info.
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I would like to thnkx for the efforts you have put in writing this site. I’m hoping the same high-grade site post from you in the upcoming as well. In fact your creative writing abilities has encouraged me to get my own blog now. Actually the blogging is spreading its wings rapidly. Your write up is a great example of it.
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Something that made a big difference for me was switching to film. I tried a basic high end digital point and shoot (that still had some manual controls and shot RAW, almost a hybrid DSLR) and then my phone. The price tag on the DSLR’s was just too much for something I wasn’t sure I wanted to get too into. Problem also was that I was sloppy with my photo taking when I was using digital. I don’t feel like I improved very much and I’d go out to shoot and end up with hundreds of shots to go through and try to edit Photoshop to get them looking nice. Much of my time was taken up sorting through all those shots and trying to figure out which ones were worth editing. It put the emphasis on the back-end, rather than the adventure of being out in the world capturing it using the photographic process. I didn’t feel motivated, so I wouldn’t practice my photography and would only go out to shoot sporadically and eventually not at all.
But, an old film SLR with a prime lens can often be had in good condition for about $40 or so, doesn’t require batteries except for the light meter, which probably isn’t working anyways and there are plenty of free phone apps that can do light metering. Then get some cheap film, read/watch a guide about the basics of film photography, and go out and do some shooting. I fell in love with it right away. Like some people fall in love with the ritual of listening to music on vinyl. It takes time, patience, dedication, and investment unlike just saying “Alexa play The Beatles”. Shooting with film is ritual and dedication and investment. You know that clicking the shutter may cost you about 50 cents each time once you factor in the cost of film and developing, but that’ll be a lot of shots before you spend as much on film as you would on a DSLR. And better yet, when you only have 24 or 36 exposures on a roll when you go out, you’ll begin to focus on making each shot count. And you’ll be thinking about the purity of photography since you’ll be limited on your tools as well and won’t be using Photoshop or software tools to fix your shots as much (if at all). And since you won’t be able to review your shots instantly on a screen, you’ll be thinking mentally about your photography, using your imagination about how your shots may look and thinking very carefully about your exposure. So, now your focus will be where it should be, out in the world shooting pictures, and not distracted with screens or spending hours sifting through your hundreds of shots. Plus, you get the look of film because you are shooting with film, a look that is very hard to replicate with software and to me is very appealing.
Just my two cents, I know film isn’t for everyone, but it made a big difference for me after struggling to get into photography with digital.
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What a wonderful story. I absolutely love this! Do you mind if I use this as a post? You summed up film photography so beautifully. This is exactly what it is. Because you’re limited by the shots you can take, you make each one count. That’s where that ‘eye for detail’ is developed. By paying close to attention to what you want to photograph. Not mindlessly pushing the shutter button.
“So, now your focus will be where it should be, out in the world shooting pictures, and not distracted with screens or spending hours sifting through your hundreds of shots” – This is exactly what photography should be about in the first place. About the journey. Going out there and being present wherever you are.
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Thank you! Your post got me thinking and, when I think, I start rambling. I didn’t mean to make a whole blog post in your comment section! Glad it made some sense though. Feel free to use whatever you want. If you quote it, I’d appreciate if you’d linked to my dinky lil blog that only has a few pictures up, wcoastbeat.wordpress.com.
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Fantastic! Thank you. I’ll upload it soon and yes of course I’ll give you credit for everything 🙂
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Will keep that in mind . Thanks for the kind words on the blog ! means a lot.
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It’s my pleasure! 😀 Have a great day!
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Reading this made me dig out my old Pentax K1000. Maybe I’ll refresh myself on techniques, and start using it again after many many years. I’ve been relying on my smartphone, which does almost everything I want, but doesn’t quite cut it sometimes.
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And what a beauty she is! I am in love with analogue.
Yes we can take beautiful pictures with our smartphones, but it feels like cheating sometimes. Because there are so many settings we can change and we can take the picture over and over again until we get the perfect shot.
With analogue, what you shoot is what you get. THAT is what makes it special. THAT exact moment. Whether it’s blurry, overexposed, grainy. That’s what makes it PERFECT.
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dont wanna start a war by asking a question as same as what is better like ps or xbox but still … whats good for a newbit in dslr – canon or nikon. also great posts! the color balance is great !
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The best camera for photography, is the one you have with you.
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Thank you so much! 🙂
Haha. I completely understand. I’m not biased towards Nikon or Canon. I just started out with a Nikon around 5 years ago. The reason I haven’t switched to Canon is I’ve gotten so used to Nikon and I have a few Nikon lenses. To sell them all, buy new ones, learn a new camera, seems like a headache.
To give you a straight answer. You’ll be absolutely fine either way. They are both equally good. (Many people will disagree with me of course)
It just depends on how you use it. Might sound cliche. But it’s honestly the truth.
Give Picasso a paintbrush and some paint, and he’ll create a masterpiece.
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Lol good with camera and words alike. Actually i am working on a food and ingredients blog. Might get into food photography soon. Hope I buy my first camera soon. Thanks a mill for the help tho
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That’s great! I’ve seen food bloggers take unbelievable pictures with their phones! A good friend of mine is a food blogger. She always amazes me with her photos.
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That’s a true fact! They can create wonders . Hope to be like that soon , at present my blog aims to give all info I can on food ingredients alphabetically. Hope to stay in touch for future things. Take care
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You will. Just keep going. Don’t ever stop. You have a very unique blog style. That will help you stand out from the competition.
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Thanks man ! Your words just made my day !
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Even I have to say . The amount of detail and help you give to people , not to mention your posts – both are amazing!
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Thank you so so much. I genuinely appreciate that.
That’s why I’m here. Some regard me as a ‘professional photographer’ and think they will never be able to achieve my level of skill with photography. Especially people just starting out with taking photos.
I want to show them that it is possible. It doesn’t need to be difficult or complicated.
I want to take those ‘things’ that people regard as ‘professional photography’ and make it as simple as possible for everyone to understand.
To show that to take ‘good photos’ isn’t that difficult. You merely need a few basic guidelines then the canvas is yours to create whatever it is you want, in your own unique way.
I want to practice what I preach. I’m creating another phone photography tutorial, I recently went out and took photos with my old iPhone 4 just to show that the gear doesn’t matter. It’s up to you and your creativity.
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That is just amazing. We all upgrade devices like phones and cameras but miss out on details and end up with worthless shots. Is there any way we can talk other than just on comments
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Yes absolutely. Send me an email: hannesvaneedenbusiness@gmail.com 🙂
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I’m so glad to hear that! 😀 You made my day by saying that!
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hey how did you put the link in the comment. Been trying so hard to do the same. any help?
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You can only embed a link into text on your blog, unfortunately. If you want to add a link on a comment such as this, you’ll have to paste the entire link.
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I tried adding your link but I couldn’t
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What do you mean? Adding my link where?
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Wanted to mention your link on your friends page as a comment. I visited their blog. Have to say it’s good
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Ohh. Yes, then you’ll have to copy and paste the entire link. You can’t embed it in text. Yes she is! I’m glad you like her content. I like your site as well! It is designed very well!
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