Don't Know What To Buy Next? Camera Gear Purchasing Guide

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As a beginner photographer, navigating the many manfactuerers, styles, features, and perks of camera gear can be tough. In this video, I break down and give suggestions on how to choose the best camera and lenses for beginner photographers.

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[ShotByDru_]

When I tell you ALL of your videos have helped this beginner photographer, I MEAN IT! YouTubers such as yourself are NEEDED so pleeease keep doing what you are doing and I truly hope God brings you great fortune for everything you are doing to help people like me

[ljtech]

I stumbled upon your channel a few days ago and I’ve been binge watching you since, so much great content! As a beginner who is getting his first camera, thank you!

[SushiLeader]

I would agree with most of the things here, except for the used full frame after the compact camera. The jump in size and weight is huge, and in most lighting conditions, full frame and crop sensors (APS-C or M43) provide very similar image quality. When comparing older Full Frame vs newer crop sensor bodies, other features should also be taken into account, such as consistent eye auto-focus for portraits or high burst speed for sports/wildlife.

[ricmrll]

This video is basically an abstract of the dozens of hours I spent searching for information about what camera and lens should I buy first. At the end I bought a Sony a7 iii and a Tamron 28-75 mm lens.

[beewh]

He didn't lie about choosing your lens mount. I am stuck with Canon RF because I was stupid :D. I am now regretting my life choice and Sony got a lot of third party cheap lenses. I should have went for Sony A7c.

[RYANROOTPHOTO]

As someone who's more intermediate and looking to "upgrade" gear what you said at the end of the video really resonated with me. What I needed to hear. Would rather focus on vision and execution than being able to know I have more costly hardware!

[ociraiz]

How come this video doesn’t have any likes? YouTube must be broken. Great video Pat, I recently discovered your channel, but I really enjoy your videos. Thank you for your hard work.

[avish]

You sir are my mentor! (Currently doing the visual patterns vids week by week). 

I currently have an m50ii + kitlens but I want to upgrade to another system before I buy new lenses. I'm honestly a bit overwhelmed with the weight and the size of full frame camera's, as I like to bring the camera with me everywhere I go including my travels, street photography and coffee places and make shooting easy and fun. I'm wondering what you, or any of you guys/girls on here think of starting out with a Fuji camera (XT30) instead of FF.

[ludvigrigger]

I'm very happy with mi Olympus OM-D E 10IV with 45 mm f1.8 lens.
It's light, adorable and give me fantastic imagine quality.

[rsat]

I started on iphone and as I grow my skill I feel the limitation and since then upgraded to real camera and I am still shooting some broll on my iphone these days.

[matthewriley]

Great to see more content Pat. I hope you're doing great.

[Linealo]

From a learning standpoint and cost-quality perspective, I really love my Fuji. Yes it's APS-C, but as you explained, it's kinda in-between the small and bigger world of cameras (like my A7iii) and for that it does everything I want. While the A7iii is my work horse and camera for quality shootings, the more I work with my Fuji "Hobby" camera, the more I feel like that APS-C is or at least can be the much better option especially for beginners. Of course there's a thing to learn with the crop factor maths and watching your light more, but I think learning these things can be important or should even be part of the FF experience.
This does not mean that I see FF as a "Pro-Only" body, not at all, but that for APS-C, at least Fujis X cameras in my experience, punch well above their weight class. Finally, saying to get used FF over APS-C is how I started aswell, but now looking at it, buying used APS-C might have been even more affordable. Comparing used to used and new to new prices is a "fairer" way to approach bit imo.

Eventually, I like both formats and there's not a definite answer to what is good for everyone, but looking at price, APS-C can and often will still be cheaper than FF (outside of Sony - Sonys APS-C are quite close to their FF prices). While my FF gives me better quality, I learned more from APS-C because the hurdles it sets made me learn how to watch out for and circumvent them. And had I started with MFT, I might even be calling that a teachable moment, but from what I used, it seldom satisfied me for the work I put into it.

[RFranks]

Look into vintage lenses, especially for primes. You can save a lot of money and they can be very good.

[sarbajitpaul]

Absolutely perfect video for me right now as I'm planning on buying one. I've settled on the A7C with the kit lens. Can I ask how good or bad the kit lens has served you? Also can I request you to make a video about how you set your camera settings for video? Thanks again for such amazing content. ☺️

[joshburchettfilms]

Love the video Pat! If I could make a suggestion I would advice you to add the markers into your videos timeline so the viewer can jump around the video to go to particular information. Again, love the content and I want you to get more followers man!!

[leokeller]

Can’t wait to watch this one, I’m always looking forward to your videos, Pat! Thanks for inspiring and helping us

[GregBrecker]

Love your quite forthright sense of purpose as the primary mover for what you envision rather than a particular OEM or size.

I find myself reinvigorated by the compositions I see and am currently “stuck” in an Apsc format Sony A6000 with some older lenses

I picked up an open boxed A6400, just to get something a little better recently. Thinking of getting the Sigma 18-50 f2.8 to get a wider bokeh and close focus capabilities with more sharpness.

[Pat-]

Solid advice and a great run through on the options available

[morgan]

I wish I had this advice earlier. Currently, I am in the process of selling my Fujifilm X-T3 and buying a used Sony A7R II

[stefanolugli]

Going from cheap compact, to bridge, and jumping directly to full fram after a few years was the best choice i could take to learn.