WHAT CAMERA SHOULD I GET?

I get asked this often enough to blog about it, and the honest answer is… I HAVE NO IDEA!

I’m most familiar with professional level Canon DSLR models (typically $3k+), entry level cameras aren’t on my radar!

BUT DON’T WORRY – I’ve done some research for you!

Entry level cameras are SO darn great nowadays. You truly can’t go wrong buying a brand new Canon Rebel ($360), Canon T5i ($499), or even older used models. If you’re buying a used camera, you need to know the shutter count – this is like mileage on a car. Choose something with 20-30k actuations or less. You can look up the shutter lifespan of the model you’re looking at online. Most of these entry level cameras shoot 1080p HD video, have huge file sizes, and tons of features you’ll never use – so don’t worry, it’s really hard to pick a “bad” one! Buy on Amazon or B&H, they both provide solid return policies if you change your mind.

What I DO know for certain is that the kit lenses these cameras come with are terrible. They’re at a really high f stop and they’re, well… kinda crappy! The best thing you can do if you’re planning on taking photos of mostly people is buy a 50mm 1.8 for $125 and you’ll be WOWED!!! The low f stop means you can shoot in low light situations, and your backgrounds will be super creamy because the depth of field is so small! This is the perfect lens to have for portraits and everyday use (however not really for landscape because it’s a fixed zoom, not wide angle).

Happy shooting!