Best Beginner Camera - 2024 - What you need to know

2024’s world of photography might seem overwhelming at first. With hundreds of cameras on the market, it might be tricky to decide which one is the best beginner camera for you. Luckily, we’ve put together a guide to help you choose which beginner camera best suits you, whatever your budget might be.

Time Stamps
00:00 - Best Beginner Camera 2024 intro
00:43 - Your Budget
01:33 - Why are cameras different prices?
02:07 - Let's be realistic
03:15 - My recommendation on budget spend
03:36 - Types of cameras
04:15 - Mirrorless vs DSLR
05:43 - Size of your kit
09:32 - Image Quality
11:05 - Camera Brands
13:50 - Will you be making films?
14:39 - Buying second hand
17:15 - Recap- What should you be looking for?

Support us:

Grab a Freebie:

I hope you liked this video, if you did please support us by sharing it with your friends and subscribe to our channel for more.


Join our learning community on social media:

Follow my personal photography work here:

Thanks for watching and remember – Learn more at The School of Photography.

NB: Above are some affiliate links and TSOP will receive a small percentage of some purchases made.
#bestbeginnercamera

[cynvs]

More like "you got 10 tabs open in your browser and found a single negative review in each of them leading you not even to consider any of the cameras" that's me. 🤣

[moimacart]

Finally… Someone who understands that when we're not a professional, it's all about the budget.

[queencard]

THings to consider: 1. Budget 2. Better build quality 3. FUlly manual and can change lenses. 4. Size of camera (micro 4:3 is smaller/lighter) 5. Image quality (smaller sensor sizes are fine if not printing massive prints) 6. Brand 7. Filming or not filming 8. Brand new vs. 2nd hand

[babayega]

That's how you do it. You encourage and enable people, you ease them in, and you don't make them feel like the craft demands of them something other than their desire to learn. Good on you bro, I appreciat you.

[railgunawesome]

My advice when getting a first camera is to just get the body and a cheap kit lens that covers a wide zoom range. Forget things like image quality, Image stabilization, and aperture for now. As you use that kit lens, you'll start to get a feel for what kind of photos you take most frequently and then you can start looking for lenses that fill those roles. That way you don't end up splurging on a super expensive piece of gear just to end up never using it.

[rogerbrackin]

One point re mirror-less versus mirrored (pentaprism) is with a mirrorless you can (with live view enabled) see what the camera will actually take, unlike a mirrored. Also you can get post image display in the viewfinder if you choose to have it. The delay issue is only really significant on high speed sports, and there are mirrorless (Sony's for example) that have extremely fast Electronic View Finders.

[WithTheAlis]

As a novice photographer myself, I think there is also great use to actually learning how to properly set your camera for what you need it to do. The more you know the ins and out of your camera, the better you will get.

[shitinsahu]

This is one of the best and the most comprehensive videos out here. It takes enormous effort to put this much information together this well. Thank you very much!

[rickarmstrong]

I've been shooting for over 50 years and still use an "entry level camera. I switched from film to digital with a Nikon D50 about 2005. I've since moved up to a D3300. It may not do everything I'd LIKE it to do, but it does everything I NEED it to do. I can work around the features it doesn't have. For a beginner, I believe learning those workarounds will make them a better photographer.
One good reason to not spend everything in the budget on the initial camera purchase is because there will be other things to buy. For starters, a second battery; if you want to shoot much video, consider a third and a fourth battery. Then there is the customary -uv filter to protect the lens; you don't want to get the cheapest one you can get unless you love soft focus. Maybe you'll want a second lens. Sooner or later your going to want a tripod. The list goes on and on.

[MattSoup]

A long time ago I bought a refurbished Canon 450D with the 18-55mm kit lens, just recently pulled it out again, charged the battery up, and it works perfectly - I love it!

[DaNgErBoYDavies-Brown]

I'm a beginner photographer. I've had a bit of experience wit a couple of cameras and what I found was a good thing to look out for is the Interface of the camera. So like the screens and the menus. I have the Canon 250D and that's done wonders in all things I've wated to do. It's allowed me to have a go at a range of styles of photography like nature, astro and so on. It also shoots vid that's rly good as well. When anyone asks me what one to buy I always recommend the 250D, but I do say that it is quite an expensive budget one at £600 odd for the body, 18mm to 55mm and a 55mm to 250mm. So overall its a good beginner camera if u have some cash.

[Lordvader]

Great video. In 2007 I entered the digital world with an Olympus e-510. I soon moved to the e-5. I stayed with the brand because I have so many lens. I currently shoot an EM-1X. I’m so used to a cropped sensor because full frame didn’t exist back when I started. I have never seen the need to switch “up” to full frame. The 3 pictures I take in low light a year I use DXO to remove any noise. Mark is the best at explaining the benefits of any sensor size. My take is look at the cost of the body and the lenses. Size too. Size matters. My small systems weighs nothing. Nice job guys.

[DanaPushie]

Really well articulated overview of the main items to consider when looking to buy a camera. I went through the process about a year and a half ago. Decided on: Mirrorless, APS-C sensor, Canon. On the matter of budget I think one should examine the full range of gear wanted or perhaps needed i.e. bags to filters, extra batteries, etc. But don't forget items like editing software and will you need to travel to pursue you interest not to mention taking courses to help you learn? Great channel. Thanks. Oh, and lenses might be as important as the camera body.

[shoaibahmed]

What a video man, astonishing. I have watched so many videos but your content is just simple and self explanatory. I should have watched this video first hand . Good work man, cheers.

[BIGL]

Overall great video. Being a professional photographer I appreciate how you guys give out great advice to beginners. My advice: A quality lens should be a consideration, it makes a huge difference. If I was just beginning in photography, my steps would be to find the best second hand high quality lens and match it with a budget body. I purchased my Canon 70-200 2.8L on craigslist very reasonably and have used it on several bodies and still use it on a mirrorless Sony today. So think of lenses first because they are the engine of your camera.

[TheGotoGeek]

Good summary. One thing I don’t think you spent enough time on are ergonomics. How the camera fits in the hand, how the buttons and dials meet your fingers, is very important. Some cameras agree with us, others don’t, and it can be the difference between really enjoying photography and leaving the kit at home and just using your phone.

[lilkae]

Just started looking into buying my first camera and had no idea where to even start, this video helped immensely, thanks!!

[khushpatel]

Such a lovely and informative video. I seriously got so hooked to this video, I can't appreciate it enough for keeping it so clean and right to the point. You sir have gained a subscriber! Again, I loved the video a lot!

[colosine]

I got the canon 4000d as a starter and it's an absolutely amazing starter for very little money, it's very light and is great for learning the basics, now I'm looking to upgrade because as great as it is, it has a few features lacking like an adjustable viewfinder and no cord ports for stuff like external monitors/mics or any other equipment, it also doesn't support most external flashers, I definitely do not regret buying it though because it definitely gave me what I needed as a starter

[riyaad]

I was borrowed a Canon 400D by my uncle once he saw I showed interest in photography. I Never looked back since. The first camera I bought was a Canon 2000D and for a entry level camera this won me a couple of photo competitions. I feel this is a awesome beginner camera for the price and the quality it can produce. I have upgraded since though but the experience and knowledge the entry level brought me made me feel I deserved the upgrade.