Best Camera for Beginners: Video, Photography, and Content Creation

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What Is the Best Camera for Beginners?

Written by Colette Nichol, Solo Filmmaker and Story Strategist

The best camera for beginners depends on whether you’re primarily interested in photography, video, or equally interested in both.

In my opinion, the best camera for beginners is a crop-sensor DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera or mirrorless camera with a standard zoom kit lens. For entry-level APS-C cameras a standard zoom will have a focal length of 17-55mm or similar.

For kids, you might want to purchase a compact camera that has a built-in zoom lens as they’re easier to use and cost less. However, for adults who have a strong interest in capturing creative photos or making videos, a camera with an interchangeable lens mount is essential because it allows you to grow.

But First…

Before you dash off to Amazon, let’s dig into the truth about buying your first camera so you don’t end up wasting your money.

You don’t want to buy the wrong camera. So I’ve got some tips and suggestions for you. Plus, I’ll cover all the top cameras that are best for beginners, whether you want to focus on growing your video or photography skills.

To start shopping asap, check out these four cameras that are under US $1000. But if you want more info, read through this post to learn everything you need to know to buy the right camera!

*Many old-school photographers and analogue lovers prefer to use an optical viewfinder because it means you’re looking through the viewfinder at the REAL world. The electrical viewfinders (EVF) that you find on mirrorless cameras means you’re looking at a digital replication of the real world when viewing through the eye piece.

My very first “proper” camera was a Canon Rebel T3i.

It was a low-budget DSLR that captured decent photos and videos.

And I dragged that thing with me everywhere! It was the perfect purchase. Not because it was the perfect camera, but because it was the right style of camera for what I wanted to do.

The most important decision for you to make is what style of camera you want to use based on the following:

1) What you want to create.

2) Your preferences about camera weight and size.

3) Whether you like technology that has a more analogue or digital feeling in terms of dials, knobs, and menus.

4) Your aesthetic concerns: what you want your straight-out-of-camera imagery to look like.

From there, it’s simple to choose a camera and get started!

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Under $1000: Best All Around Camera for Beginners
2. DSLRs versus Mirrorless Cameras
3. Best Cameras for Photography vs. Video
4. Best Beginner Camera Brand for Photography and Video
5. Best Mirrorless Cameras for Beginners
6. Best DSLR Cameras for Beginners
7. Best Beginner Cameras for Video Creators
8. Understanding the Different Digital Cameras for Beginners
9. Which Tech Specs Matter for Starter Cameras
10. How Do We Decide What’s the Best Camera for Beginners?
11. Best Compact Cameras for Beginners
12. Best Cinema Camera for Beginners
13. Best Vlogging Camera for Beginners
14. Best Cameras for Film Students
15. Best Beginner Camera for Low-Light Video
16. Major Problems (and Tips) that Beginner’s Should Know
17. Navigating Camera Settings as a New Photographer or Video Shooter
18. Take the Quiz!

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But can’t you just tell me what the absolute best starter camera is!?!

For beginner photography or video enthusiasts, the best camera is typically an entry-level DSLR or mirrorless camera with a kit lens.

When you buy a DSLR or mirrorless with an interchangeable lens*, it gives you room to grow and exercise your creativity.

If you want a DSLR, the Canon 90D with the kit lens is an excellent beginner camera. For a lower cost option the Canon Rebel T8i is a very good option for both photography and video.

While if you want a mirrorless camera that’s smaller and more lightweight, the Canon R50 provides outstanding value for money and is great for those focused on quality imagery. While the Canon M50 is a perfect starter camera for run-and-gun video shooter who mostly want to shoot handheld (no tripod, monopod, gimbal, etc).

If you prefer Sony, then I recommend the Sony a6400 or the Sony a6700. They are both good mirrorless cameras that will be perfect for a beginner. The Sony a6400 is the ideal choice for vloggers due to way the screen is designed as well as the eye auto focus tracking.

But don’t worry, I’m going to go over all these cameras below. So you can figure out which is best for you.

*An interchangeable lens means you can take the lens on and off the camera and swap out different lenses depending on what you want to shoot.

📖 Related Post: What Is a Mirrorless Camera?

Under $1000: Best All Around Camera for Beginners

Canon Rebel T8i with Kit Lens

WHY WE LIKE IT:

This is a great camera for both photo and video enthusiast who want to either improve their image quality or get started with a quality product. This camera has solid auto focus which is great for ensuring your videos aren’t totally out of focus. And the continuous autofocus helps beginners to track and capture moving subjects more effectively. This camera will give you the classic beautiful skin tones that Canon is known for. And, the optical viewfinder means you’ll be looking at the real world while framing, not a screen, which is typically easier on the eyes. It comes in at under $1000 with the kit lens.

DOWNSIDES:

If your main focus is shooting action videos, this camera does provide 5-Axis Stabilization in video mode. However, for slow motion, you’ll need to shoot in 1080p at 60 fps. It does, however, offer 4k video at up to 30 fps. If you need to capture great images in low-light, you’ll want to get a faster lens like the Canon 17-55mm f/2.8.

WHO IT’S FOR:

This camera is for beginner photographers and video creators who want a 4k camera with analogue-feeling buttons and dials and 5-axis stabilization. If you want a live viewfinder where you can actually frame up your image while looking at the real world rather than a digital image, this is for you.

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But wait…what TYPE of camera do you want?

But before you make any firm decisions and spend your hard-earned cash on one of these cameras, let’s figure out what TYPE of camera you want and go over a few important considerations. Then, I’ll break down the specs for each camera and who it’s suited for so you can easily make the right choice.

DSLRs versus Mirrorless Cameras

Analogue Feel & Regular Viewfinder

Generally speaking, people who prefer DSLRs put a priority on being able to look through the viewfinder and see the real world rather than a digital image.

People who prefer DSLRs also tend to have a preference towards analogue-feeling technology and easy-to-use dials and buttons. DSLR users also typically have a strong desire to capture high-quality imagery and have control over the image creation process even if it means using heavier camera gear.

Digital Feel & Electronic Viewfinder

People who prefer mirrorless cameras typically don’t mind using EVF, which allows you to see a digital image when you look through the viewfinder of the camera.

They also typically place camera size, weight and convenience as a top priority.

In-Body Stabilization

In addition, if you need in-body stabilization because you plan on doing a lot of run-and-gun style handheld video shooting then you’ll want to get a mirrorless camera that’s stabilized or rig out an iPhone pro.

For entry-level cameras under $1000 the Canon Rebel T8i and the Canon M50 both have 5-axis stabilization in video mode.

For 5-axis stabilization in photo and video mode, you’ll need to go a step up in price range. The Sony a6700 and the Canon R8 both have 5-axis stabilization in photo and video.

That said, if you’re just starting out creating videos, you should definitely learn how to use a tripod or monopod. And if you’re focused on photography, this really isn’t a deal breaker as it’s not strictly necessary.

In-body stabilization shouldn’t be a deal breaker for most people who are starting out unless you’re primarily shooting handheld video.

Best Cameras for Photography vs. Video

Do you need the best camera for photography or for video?

One of the reasons it’s important to know if you’re more interested in photography or video is that the two art forms have different requirements.

While there are plenty of hybrid cameras that can be used for both photography and video, it’s important to note that many cameras that are positioned as “good for both” are actually not. They usually skew towards being way better at either photography or video, not both.

Then within the realm of video, there are cameras that are best for vlogging, cameras that are best for making crew-based films, and still other cameras that are best for solo filmmaking and videomaking.

And that’s just the tip of the camera iceberg!

So it’s no wonder that most people get pretty confused when trying to figure out what camera to buy when getting started.

If you’re interested in photography and video, then the three best cameras for you to consider are the Canon 90d (DSLR), the Canon R8 (mirrorless)and the Sony a6700 (mirrorless).

Pick the 90D if you want to have a proper old-school viewfinder where you can look through the viewfinder and see the real world. Go with the R8 if you want something smaller and lighter with 5-axis stabilization and the easy and intuitive Canon interface. Both Canon cameras will give you the classic great in-camera skin tones that Canon users are used to having.

But pick Sony if you want to be able to do run-and-gun handheld without very little camera shake, shoot action sequences with more powerful continuous focus tracking, and obtain 10-bit 4:2:2 internal video recording at up to 120 fps.

Watch Some Useful Propaganda

I like to see the in-camera video footage before I buy. Just keep in mind these videos were shot using premium lenses, so your footage with a kit lens won’t be quite so “perfect.”

Best Beginner Camera Brand for Photography and Video

CANON IS A GREAT BRAND FOR BEGINNERS

In general, Canon is one of my favourite camera brands for both photography and video because it does four things insanely well:

✅ great autofocus

✅ captures realistic skin tones (as long as you white balance correctly)

✅ easy-to-use menu interface and on-camera dials/knobs/wheels

✅ great lens selection

If photography is what you’re most interested in doing, then in most cases I’d recommend starting out with a Canon camera.

The prices are reasonable, there are plenty of lenses to choose from, the in-camera colour is good, and the interface is easy to get to know. However, there’s a reason some people prefer FUJIFILM and Sony cameras.

FUJIFILM cameras typically have great specs, a minimalist vibe and outstanding colour science while Sony cameras offer features that typical entry-level cameras don’t have such as in-body stabilization, focus peaking, zebras, and tracking autofocus.

Best Mirrorless Cameras for Beginners

Best DSLR Cameras for Beginners

What’s the best DSLR camera for beginners?

I’m so glad you asked! In my opinion, the best DSLR camera for beginners is the Canon 90D.

Best Beginner Cameras for Video Creators

OK, at this point I’ve covered what are the top beginner cameras for most people.

However, if you’re a devil’s-in-the-details kind of person, keep reading. I’m going to go over the key concepts to know when you’re buying a starter camera.

Understanding the Different Digital Cameras for Beginners

There are three different types of cameras that are good for beginners to use when just starting out:

1) DSLR

2) Mirrorless Camera

3) Compact Camera i.e. Point and Shoot

What’s important to understand is that all of these choices are digital, and all have their own unique pros and cons.

My goal is to help you choose what’s right for you or your loved one. You might be buying a camera for you partner or kid. Or you might be purchasing for yourself.

Either way, you need to know what your budget is and the overall purpose or likely use of the camera will be.

So before you do anything else, think for a moment about all the different ways you’d like to use this camera. Then dig into our research and recommendations.

And just remember, that the camera you buy today won’t be your “forever” camera.

But it should last you at least 2 years as you get started building your skills as a photographer, video shooter, or solo filmmaker.

Which Tech Specs Matter for Starter Cameras?

First, it’s important to note that these are just the tech specs that matter for beginners.

When you’re more advanced, there’s A LOT more to think about and consider. But when you’re starting out, the point is to just GET a camera, so you can start messing around and having fun. You’re not aiming for perfect. You’re aiming to get in the game.

Okay, disclaimer over—these are the tech specs to consider:

Sensor Size

There are crop-sensor cameras and full-frame cameras.

Typically full-frame cameras cost more, so as a beginner you’re typically going to by an APS-C sensor camera body which gives you great quality but costs less. The sensor size does affect the image quality, but not by much. So don’t even bother worrying about this. The main thing a crop-sensor camera does is that it crops the field of view.

Let me explain!

Imagine you’re taking a picture of a landscape with a friend, and you are both standing at the exact same location and you both use the same focal length. However, they’re using a full-frame camera and you’re using a crop-sensor camera. Your image won’t be as wide as theirs due to the size of your sensor.

Honestly, as a beginner, you don’t need to worry about this.

You’ll most likely buy a crop-sensor camera. And it won’t affect your image quality in a manner that’s noticeable.

Max Video Resolution and Frame Rate

If you’re shooting video, then you’ll want to get a camera with 4k video.

If you need to do slow motion in 4k, then you’ll need to buy a camera that does 60fps at 4k. You don’t need 8k, so don’t worry about that. FPS stands for frames per second and when you want to do a slow motion video, it’s best to use a higher frame rate so that your slow motion is smooth in post. As a beginner you don’t need more that 4k at 60fps.

Image Quality: Bit Depth, Dynamic Range

There are two things that affect image quality more than your sensor size: bit depth and dynamic range.

Most entry-level cameras don’t offer exceptional bit depth or dynamic range. However, it’s worth comparing these specs because in the $1000-$2000 range, you do see some important differences between cameras. And if you’re planning on spending $3000 or more, then get a camera with 10-bit video and 12 or more stops of dynamic range. If you’re spending under $2000, don’t worry about this.

BIT DEPTH

Bit depth is like the colour palette for your images.

If your camera offers 10-bit video, that means “you’ll then be recording 1024 levels of color in each channel and this means the potential for just over a billion different colors.” While with 8-bit video you’ll be recording footage with 256 levels of each colour giving you a potential of more than 16.7 million colours.

When it comes to photography, it’s more of a level playing field in terms of bit depth.

JPEGs are all recorded in 8-bit colour while most cameras offer camera raw with 12-bit or 14-bit colour. The Canon 90D offers 14-Bit camera RAW for stills but only 8 bit video.

While the Canon R8 offers 14-bit stills and up to 10-bit video (which is outstanding). Likewise the Sony a6700 offers 14-bit stills and 10-bit video.

DYNAMIC RANGE

Dynamic range is what any true cinematographer or pro photographer cares about a lot.

If your camera offers high dynamic range, it’s able to capture a wide range of shadows, mid-tones, and highlights while maintaining key details. An image with very bright highlights and deep dark shadows, won’t be captured effectively with a camera with low dynamic range. You’ll have to expose for the subject and lose some (or a lot!) of the detail in your highlights and shadows. ( + )

Unfortunately, most entry-level cameras don’t have good dynamic range capabilities.

This is partially because it’s expensive to implement. It’s also because beginners don’t tend to notice the dynamic range issues they’re facing because they’re just learning about photography or video. However, if you’ve got a big budget for your beginner camera, then I say, spend it! Because then you’ll be able to get a camera with great dynamic range and you won’t have to upgrade in two years.

The Sony a6700 offers 14-stops of dynamic range in photos as well as S-Log video.

While the Canon R8 has been tested and shown to achieve “a maximum of nearly 15 stops (14.7 EV) at base sensitivity (ISO 100).” ( + + )

But, if you’re a normal person with an average budget, you’ll typically have to sacrifice dynamic range in order to get a camera that you can afford when just starting out.

CROP FACTOR

Most entry-level camera have APS-C sensors with a crop-fact of 1.5x or 1.6x.

This simply means that if you were shooting side-by-side with a full-frame camera (i.e. with a full-sized sensor) using the exact same focal length, your crop-sensor images wouldn’t have as wide an angle of view as the full-frame ones. In other words, they’d be cropped (zoomed in, if you will).

This is no big deal, so don’t worry about it. However, it does affect the lens you’re going to buy. So when you get to the point where you buy your first “fancy” lens, make sure you consider your crop factor.

Interchangeable Lens vs. Fixed lens

DSLRs and mirrorless cameras are interchangeable lens cameras.

They have a lens mount, and you can take the lens off and on and switch it up. You can even buy a lens adaptor to add other 3rd party camera lenses to your camera.

While a compact point and shoot camera has a fixed lens which cannot be removed from the camera. Point and shoot cameras are good for quick pictures and videos, but not a great option for someone who wants to do high-end photography or video.

That said, Casey Neistat swears by his Canon Powershot, and brings it everywhere. It’s also the camera that I started out using in 2007. And it’s dirt cheap!

Electronic Viewfinder vs. Optical Viewfinder

With an electronic viewfinder you’re not looking at “real life,” when you look through the little hole above your LCD screen.

Instead, you’re looking at an electronic rendering of the image. I’m not the biggest fan of EVF. I’d rather look at the Live View on the LCD screen or use a real optical viewfinder where I can see real life with my exposure information as an overlay. But that’s personal preference. I also find EVF is a little harder on the eyes if you’re using at all the time. But not everyone is 900-years-old like me.

Autofocus System and Follow-Focus or Tracking

Autofocus matters for both photographers and video creators.

Most cameras have good autofocus systems; however, Canon is still widely accepted has having the best autofocus system in general with Sony coming in a close second.

Some cameras have autofocus that can track a human (or animal) eye or face in both photo and video mode as long as there is sufficient light. So if that’s something you need, make sure you check the specs before you buy. All the cameras I’m recommending on this page have good autofocus systems.

In-Body Stabilization

In-body image stabilization i.e. IBIS is a big deal. And there are now a couple cameras with 5-axis in-body image stabilization (IBIS) coming in at under $1000, which, frankly is crazy.

But who exactly needs this and what does it do?

Cameras with 5-axis image stabilization have a built-in gyroscopes that provide stabilization along five axes: yaw, pitch, roll, horizontal and vertical. Which makes it kind of like having a low-key, much less powerful gimbal INSIDE your camera. Meanwhile cameras with with 3-axis IBIS work with Pitch, Yaw, and Tilt only. ( + )

But how does IBIS work?

Basically there’s a sensor inside the camera body that’s able to detect camera shake. If you’re walking your camera is shaking up and down.

If you’ve had too much caffeine, it might be shaking all over the place. The gyroscopic sensor is able to detect the camera shake and then move the sensor in the opposite direction in order to compensate and minimize shake in your videos. However, if you use a 3rd party lens with your IBIS camera body, you might not be getting the full power of your camera’s IBIS. So keep that in mind when lens shopping.

This is also probably why Canon isn’t supporting 3rd party lenses in their mirrorless cameras.

I’m guessing that they don’t want 3rd party lenses mucking up their in-body stabilization or autofocus system.

Advanced Features like Focus Peaking, Zebras, and False Colour

Not all cameras have focus peaking, zebras and false colour. But these three things are damn helpful, especially to video creators. Most mirrorless cameras and all cinema cameras do have these three features. However, many DSLRs do not.

FOCUS PEAKING

Focus peaking allows you to overlay coloured pixels onto your EVF or Live Screen so that you can see what’s in focus. This is helpful for beginners who often take some time to learn how to nail focus. But also most pros expect their high-end cameras to have focus peaking and use it constantly. As a video shooter, I wouldn’t buy a camera without focus peaking at this stage in the game.

ZEBRAS

Zebras allows you to overlay stripes on the areas of your image that are overexposed, so that you can ensure you’re not messing up exposure. In some cases, you can also use zebras to show you what’s under exposed. This is extremely helpful for video shooters.

FALSE COLOUR

False colour is a brilliant exposure tool for video shooters that allows you to get your skin tones just right. With false colour you can also more easily make sure you’re not overexposing shiny areas on your subject’s face like the forehead and chin, which is a common issue in videography.

Style of LCD Screen – Touch, Swivel, Tilt

These days, it’s just annoying to buy a camera that doesn’t have a touch screen.

I recently got a Sony compact camera for use on a trip to South America. I was surprised (and annoyed!) to discover that it didn’t have a touch screen. Make sure your camera has a touch screen!

I mean, just UGH, who wants to ENTER a camera menu manually in 2023!?!

Next, the most useful type of screen is a vari-angle screen that can be angled in a multitude of directions include swivelling it so you can look at it if you’re vlogging. Meanwhile, tilt screens are still common, but they are not as useful.

Low-light Capacity

Will you be shooting a lot at night or indoors without studio lights?

In which case, you’ll want a camera that has good low-light capacity as well as a fast lens. But to be fair, you won’t get this for under $2000. And for your camera to handle low light, you need to also have a lens that’s got a maximum fixed aperture of f/2.8.

Camera Body vs. Camera Lens

Your camera lens is just as important as your camera body.

Some people say it’s more important. But when you’re just starting out you usually have to make compromises. First, focus on getting a good camera body and kit lens that’s in your budget. Then when you’re ready, upgrade your lens. Doing this will often double your image quality as the lens make a huge difference to your image quality. The typical beginner’s camera doesn’t come with a killer lens. But that’s okay! Remember, you’re just getting started.

How Do We Decide What’s the Best Camera for Beginners?

Well, first of all, we don’t decide.

I’m a professional video producer, creator, solo filmmaker and photographer. And I also teach solo filmmaking. But I know that everyone is different. My biases don’t necessarily serve your needs.

So, here’s what we do:

We (myself and a tiny team) do the research and gather the information you need to make a decision. Then I present it to you, so that you can decide what’s right for YOU. Every beginner camera on the market today will “do the job.” They’ll all capture decent imagery.

However, it’s important to know what you want.

Within each camera brand, you’ll find the three main camera types and multiple options to choose from. But it’s not as complicated as it seems. When you compare camera specs with what you want to do with your camera, it’s not hard to see which are your top options.

From there, pick the options that fit your budget.

Then pick the camera that has the features and aesthetic that gets you most pumped about shooting! At the end of the day, there’s one important rule when buying a camera: ONLY buy gear that excites you! Once you find the camera that sparks your imagination and fits your budget, you’re ready to buy!

Best Compact Cameras for Beginners

Compact cameras are good for beginners who want to have a point-and-shoot camera outside of their phone.

Sometimes you just want to grab a photo that isn’t ultra complicated. These days there are a range of compact cameras across the price spectrum. Compact cameras can be used by vloggers as well as for street photography.

What makes something a compact camera?

Well, in short, they don’t have interchangeable lenses. A compact camera’s lens is part of the camera body. And usually the camera is small enough to fit in your pocket.

Best Cinema Camera for Beginners

Cinema cameras are typically not a great option for beginners.

They aren’t good starter cameras because it takes so much work to learn how to use them, that for many new filmmakers or video creators, it could be frustrating. Think of it this way: when you learn to ride a bike, you usually start with a tricycle and then training wheels. Starting with a cinema camera is like turning 10, skipping the bike altogether and trying to teach yourself how to drive a Ferrari instead.

In other words, the odds are against you.

But if you really want to do this: start with a Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera. Go with the 6k not the 4k because you’ll have more lens options. If you get a Canon EF lens with your BMPCC6k, you can use it on a Canon DSLR as well.

Best Vlogging Camera for Beginners

As it stands, I have two recommendations for vlogging, and they aren’t the lower cost cameras that are being pushed at vloggers.

I recommend the Canon R8 or the Sony a6700 for vloggers. If you’re really serious about starting a YouTube channel, then just buy a decent camera straight out of the gate. You will not regret it. It will be way easier for you to capture high-quality video and you won’t be struggling with less-then-stellar footage. Well, you will. But it will be due to user error not because your camera is a living nightmare! 

The compact cameras that are being touted for vlogging are actually not that easy to use for anything other than walk-and-talk direct address filming.

So if you’re planning on doing sit-down vlogging and adding beautiful b-roll to your videos, get a good mirrorless with decent lens, and make your life a hell of a lot easier!

Quick Review of the Sony ZV-1 II Vlogging Camera

I have this camera, and based on using it on a few different trips, I’d only recommend this for a couple types of shooters.

If you’re almost exclusively going to be doing self-videos, this will work great. If you also want to do some basic photography, but you don’t want to go back and forth between photo and video, this will be fine. The internal audio on this camera is crazy good, which is why this camera is great for walk-and-talk vlogging. 

But the MAJOR downside of this camera is that it does not have a touch screen, it’s super annoying trying to go back and forth between photography and video mode, and the menu is NOT intuitive.

Not only that when you’re using the autofocus for anything other than tracking your own face, it lets you down rather frequently.

So, I highly recommend this camera for the vloggers who will be doing walk-and-talk adventure shooting, but not anybody else. And this is absolute NOT a hybrid camera, so don’t get it if you want to quickly jump from photo to video. Again, this is great for vloggers who want an easy, quality audio solution.

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Best Cameras for Film Students

Any of the camera’s I’ve recommended so far would be great for film students EXCEPT a compact point-and-shoot camera.

You don’t need a cinema camera for film school, unless your school indicates that you must. Instead, you should think about what kind of shooting you’re going to do and choose the right camera based on your aesthetic preferences.

You’ll probably be happiest with the Canon R8 or the Sony a6700 in terms of budget and flexibility.

If you have a smaller budget, then the Canon R50 is a good option because it gives you very solid specs and superior colour science when compared to cameras of a similar price.

Best Beginner Camera for Low-Light Video

When it comes to shooting in low light, it’s not just about the camera.

You also need a good lens. Either the Canon R8 or the Sony a6700 will be good in low light as long as you have a lens with a fixed maximum aperture of f/2.8. This means, if you must have a great set up for low-light i.e. shooting at night or indoors without additional lighting, you’ll need to by a premium lens rather than the kit lens. If you’re in this situation, then read my blog post about the best lenses for video. It’ll walk you through everything you need to know to get a premium lens.

Major Problems (and Tips) that Beginner’s Should Know

1 – Consider battery life in beginner-friendly cameras. Some cameras run through batteries super fast, while others are reasonable. No matter what, have 2-3 batteries for your camera. And when you go out in the field, bring all your batteries fully charged.

2 – LCD screens are super hard to see when the light is bright. If you get a DSLR and shoot a lot of video, you’ll need a lens hood or Kinotech magnifying eye piece.

3 – It can be really hard to get your image in focus when just starting out. Focus peaking helps.

4 – Not all cameras have good follow focus and most cannot easily and cleanly follow a moving subject.

5 – Most starter cameras are super wobbly when you do handheld video, so getting a tripod, monopod, or Gorillapod is often a must. If you get a camera with IBIS, then you should still get a tripod. But you’ll be able to pull off handheld more easily.

6 – You’ll run out of space on your SD card very fast, so make sure you get more than one SD card. And also ensure you have an external hard drive so you can have one copy of your files on your computer and the other copy on a hard drive. Always have 2 copies of your work (or more).

Navigating Camera Settings as a New Photographer or Video Shooter

There are three main camera settings that beginner photographers must understand.

For video shooters, there is one extra camera setting that’s critical. All beginner cameras have these settings, which means everyone must understand what they are and how to use them.

Let’s go over them!

ISO

ISO is the setting on your camera that allows you to set the light sensitivity of the camera sensor.

If you want your camera to be more sensitive to light because you’re in a low-light situation, then you increase your ISO.

Shutter Speed

Shutter speed refers to how fast the shutter (window) inside your camera body, which is in front of the sensor, opens and closes.

For photography, you’ll set your shutter higher if you want to freeze action. But if you want to blur motion, then you’ll have a slow shutter speed. Shutter speed is written in fractions, and you typically need to set your shutter speed to double your focal length if you’re capturing stills without a tripod.

However, for video shooters you have to just double your frame rate to get the appropriate shutter speed.

Aperture

Aperture refers to the opening inside your lens that allows light to enter.

When you open up the aperture, you let more light into the camera. Unless, of course, you also increase your shutter speed. The aperture is also called the iris. It’s measure in f numbers, which are also called stops. You’ll see f numbers written like this: f/2.8, f/4.0, etc. The lower the number the more light you’re letting into the camera.

Frame Rate

Finally, frame rate is only important for video shooters. For a filmic look, set your frame rate to 24fps or similar.

For a “video” look set it to 30fps. For slow motion set it to 60fps or higher. Frames per second refers to the number of INDIVIDUAL photos that are strung together to create 1 second of footage.

Summary of Key Points:

• For beginners a DSLR or mirrorless camera with a crop sensor is often best.
• Canon and Sony both make great beginner cameras.
• The Canon 90D and Rebel T8i are two good beginner DSLRs.
• Remember that a cinema camera is not a beginner camera. They’re complicated!
• Any Sony or Canon mirrorless camera within your budget will be a good fit for beginners.

What’s Next?

So, are you ready? It’s time to make a decision! If you know what camera you’d like to buy, go for it! The longer you wait, the further you are from getting out into the world and learning how to use your camera.

And remember, this is just your FIRST camera. There will be more cameras, I promise you that! 

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Learn Filmmaking and Get the Gear Guide

If you’re interested in learning filmmaking, check out the Solo Filmmaking Mentorship Program I created for aspiring filmmakers and video creators. It usually goes live once per year. So I recommend getting the Story Envelope Filmmaking letter which comes out a couple of times per month. That way, you can get filmmaking tips for free and find out when the filmmaking course is going live again.

Also, before you go, grab the Solo Filmmaking Gear Guide and Checklist for Beginners >>>

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