The Best Camera for Beginners

For anyone starting out in photography, one of the most common questions I get asked is, “What is the best beginner camera??”

And to answer this question truthfully, there is no one right answer.

It depends on your budget and what you consider a “beginner” camera.

When I think of a “beginner” camera, I usually think of a cheaper camera that has the main functions you need and is great when getting started.

That means that if you photograph for a few months and decide it’s not for you, you didn’t just make a $2,000 investment into something you’re not going to pursue.

And it also proves the point that good equipment DOES NOT equivalent to good photos.

Imagine starting out and being given a $10,000 camera.  It doesn’t matter how good the camera is or how many options it has, if you don’t understand the settings on it or how to compose a shot, you’re not going to take good images.

And before hearing my recommendations, I want to state clearly that you should invest more money into traveling rather than the gear itself.

So, with that said, here are my top 2 camera suggestions for anyone starting out.

Nikon D5300 with a kit lens

Now, with this camera, I might be a little biased.  This was the first camera I ever bought myself and I loved it.  I researched for hours on end scanning through different camera brands and models and eventually fell upon this one.

Taken with the Nikon D5300.

The Nikon D5300 is a great all-around camera. It has minimal buttons on the back, making it very easy to learn how to use and it has a flip-around LCD screen which is one of my personal favorite aspects.  

This means you can flip the LCD screen all the way around and it can act as a vlogging camera or it comes in handy for certain angles that are hard to photograph otherwise.

It is a 24.2-megapixel crop sensor camera and shoots up to 1080p Full HD videos.

You can learn more about the Nikon D5300 here.

Canon EOS Rebel T6

This camera is basically the equivalent of the Nikon D5300 but for Canon.  However, it does not have a flip around LCD screen like the Nikon D5300.

It is an 18-megapixel camera with an APS-C sensor, meaning it crops in 1.6x the field of view.

It also has continuous shooting up to 3.0 fps. 

You can learn more about the Canon EOS Rebel T6 here.

Buy from eBay

A quick purchasing tip for any type of photo equipment is to possibly buy from eBay. Both of the cameras I have were bought from eBay, and I ended up saving hundreds of dollars on each of them.

This is because when someone sells a camera on eBay, it is technically used, even if the camera has not been used before. The price will go down but the camera is still in perfect condition.

Just make sure you are buying from a trusted and reliable seller and you should be able to save yourself a few hundred dollars! 

You don’t need an expensive camera

I cannot tell you how many times people have commented on some of my images or videos saying the only way to get those shots is with expensive gear.

This is simply NOT TRUE!

The camera and/or lens does not take good photos. The photographer does.

If you hand a beginner a $10,000 camera, they won’t magically start taking amazing, award-winning pictures. You have to know how to use the camera.

You have to know how to compose the scene and how to adjust your settings correctly.

You also have to know how to edit properly. 

All of these factors are a million times more important than the price of your camera.  So please, do not buy into the belief that you need fancy equipment to take good photos. You don’t!

Also taken with the Nikon D5300. This photo ended up being featured on Space.com.

Once you stop believing that, you will become a better photographer because you will get good with what you have.

It’s all about the photographer

Of course, these are all suggestions.  When researching a camera to buy, whether it’s your first one or your fifth one, you can use these guidelines every time.

First off, what is your price point?

For most cameras, the cheapest ones you can find that will be reliable for most situations will be starting at around $400-500.  This includes the lens (which is a big bonus).

Next, you want to ask yourself some specific questions.  How are you going to be photographing?  Meaning are you going to be in a studio most of the time, or hiking for hours up mountains.

There is a big difference because if you hike a lot, you’re going to want to find a camera that is light and small.  On the contrary, if you are mainly going to be in a studio or in one place, the weight and size might not matter that much to you.

Shot in Cancun with the Nikon D5300.

The best way to get into photography and not stress about it is to buy a camera that is within your budget and is easy to learn and use.

The quickest way to get discouraged by something is when you get frustrated by it.

Once you figure out what will be right for you, the right camera will come to you 🙂

Hope this information helps in the exciting process of buying a camera!

Have fun and keep photographing!