The BEST CAMERAS for beginners!

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Some cameras mentioned in the video:

My name is Simon d'Entremont and I'm a professional wildlife and nature photographer from Eastern Canada. This video will tell you all you need to know about buying your first serious camera. I'll even include some recommended models.

I use Topaz Labs software for noise reduction, sharpening and upscaling:

Music in intro: "Nicer", by Houses on the Hill. Find that, and other sound effects at Epidemic Sounds

My equipment:

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[simon_dentremont]

What was your first serious camera purchase, and why? I’m always looking for information to help me make more relevant videos!

[gavinpenrose]

i think the lighting and composition of your videos, with you well lit is under rated and rarely mentioned.

[mattdumais]

The amount of information and wisdom you impart in just 15 minutes is why you are the best Simon.

[FalconStorm]

Worked in a photo lab at the beginning of the affordable point and shoot digital camera era. Had all manner of photographers come through, but I still vividly remember a guy that came through with a simple Olympus 5.0 MP camera and some of his shots were so beautiful we blew them up to 10x15 and got him to sign a release so we could use some of his photos for illustration purposes for sizes and stuff. So yeah, Megapixels isn’t the be all end all. Great video.

[tomt.]

I've been watching lots and lots of photography channels recently but I find yours the best from them all: the way you present your unquestionable know how and experience is absolutely fantastic: precise, efficient, no unnecessary or endless digressions, no waiting for the interesting bit because your content consists entirely of condensed interesting bits. I'm now to photography so I'm looking forward to literally every topic you'd like to present in your super effective vlogs 😀

[ak_hoops]

Whether I need it or not, I could watch your videos all day. No fluff, great information and tips, and just some genuine care! Thank you fr!

[justsumguuyyyy]

This might be the single greatest buying guy for any type of product I’ve seen. You managed to succinctly cover a variety of topics with only the smallest and most necessary amount of technical jargon in along with easy to understand practical explanations for what the jargon means and why it matters. That is extremely helpful. Thanks Simon.

[tarynsanmartino]

Thanks for demystifying all the options out there! Concise and great info.

[paulhopkins]

Does anyone else feel that photography is a skill with an extremely high barrier of entry? If you don't know anything about it, it's extremely daunting and confusing. Even videos and tutorials seem to assume that people have a basic knowledge of the terminology and functions of the camera.

[jimbruton]

I'm showing my age, but my 1st SERIOUS camera was in the 70's - a Canon EF film camera. I wanted to move up from "snapshots" to real photography and over time made a spare room at home into a dark room. I learned so much about exposure going from film to print. I eventually sold the EF to a friend and went to an Olympus system due to its features (at that time). When digital took hold, I returned to Canon and kept that tradition, mostly for the lenses, and primarily shoot with an R5. You are spot on with your comment about lenses - it's all about the glass!

[billbeverly]

The old saying ; you date your camera but you marry your lens. I find that I replace my camera body every 4 or 5 years, but a 24-70 2.8 lens is a keeper.

[Walt.]

I have shaky hands and chose my Nikon D7000 over the D3300 because it is quite a bit heavier and dampens the shakiness. It works! This was also a good choice because after using it a fair bit, I was glad to have the better build quality and extra features of the D7000.
I really like and appreciate your vlogs, Simon! You help a lot of people by generously sharing your knowledge of photography. Good on you for that! ;-)

[luisurbina]

Great video as usual. Amazing how you can put so much information together and explain so much in just 15 minutes.
I started with a Kodak Brownie Fiesta. Then moved to a Canon A1 film, Canon 10D, then Canon 5D. Currently I shoot a Canon 5D Mark ii, converted to Infrared, and a Canon5D Mark iii for color.
So the only “brand jump” was from Kodak to Canon. I got into Canon, for it’s lenses, and have no regrets. I have been able to keep all my EF lenses since the 10D
And, yes, the most important feature is not the equipment, but your “eye” for light and composition.
Always learning

[DanaPushie]

Hi Simon, I really appreciate your willingness to share your knowledge and experience, especially for us newbies out here in the weeds. It wasn't that long ago that I went down the rabbit hole hunting for my first changeable lens camera. I came up with the Canon M50 mk 2 along with some extras needed as I am a one-handed southpaw. I have found the M50 mk2 with the kit 15-45mm and the 55-200mm lenses were a great starting point for me. One thing I noticed while diving into the gear hunt was that many other beginners were not considering all the extras that might be needed. I'm definitely still a green horn but love the journey. It appears Canon is moving away from the M series toward the R series, but I'm sure to be too busy for years to come to worry about it.

[mwkekod]

Great advice! When going digital I went with the crop sensor A77II from Sony, because I already had multiple lenses from Minolta, which my dad had used in the 80s and I don't mind the crop factor. I only had to get the body and memory card and I was good to go. I got a used one with ca. 15k shots done in great condition for a good price.
Back in the day I've talked to some friends and uni buddies and it turned out they had Minolta lenses from their parents lying around their houses, but they did not know that they could use those with the DSLR cameras from Sony, so they went for other brands and had to buy all the lenses they needed. Money they could have spent better. I would say, if someone has family members with old gear, check the lenses they have and are not using anymore, because you might get lucky and just get the body and brand to match those or easily adapt them to it.

[kabgraphics]

You're one of my best photography tutors on YouTube❤️📸🙌🙏🙏

[kittyclerico]

Budget, weight and lens availability led me to the micro four thirds system. Love my Olympus camera and lenses. 😊

[bmeclipse]

Excellent review, Simon! I went for APS-C just for the reasons you mentioned: sports and wildlife. Fuji didn’t have a lot of supertelephoto lenses when I started and I found that I loved shooting birds and other animals. They’re starting to catch up, though. I find the new sensors have dynamic range that rival full frame, too.

[vzshadow]

I got my first camera in 1975. It had three dials; ASA, shutter speed and aperture. Now 48 years later those are still the fundamental controls.
I teach a beginning photography course and start with those principles and how they control exposure and the artistic considerations of motion blur (or not) and depth of field. Modern cameras have so many features that they result in complicated menu systems that can overwhelm beginners.
I recently purchased a Nikon D90 camera to test whether it might be a first camera. It retailed for $1300 (US) in 2008 and can be purchased with a 16-85mm lens for $303 (US). (excellent condition, 30, 000 shutter actuations) A battery, charger, and even a printed manual were included and it's in excellent condition. It lacks many features of late-model cameras but if you haven't experienced those features you don't know the difference. It has only 12.3 megapixel sensor but the small file size makes for quick downloads and the files are great for online posts and small prints.
There are many benefits to such a first camera. I you decide photography is not for you, your investment was minimal. You can learn the fundamentals. If you want to continue with photography, you can sell and recoup most of your investment and apply it to your next camera. You don't have much invested if you want to switch systems. If you stick with the same system you are already familiar with the organization of the menus.
I went with Nikon because I shoot Nikon but I'm sure there are still old but very functional cameras available at very low cost from other manufacturers.
My 9 year old granddaughter is interested in photography but isn't quite mature enough to be left alone with a DSLR, so for now she gets to do photography only when she's out with grandma or grandpa. I a few years it will be her first camera. If she likes it and wants to continue, grandpa will take her camera shopping for a new, modern camera.

[ardscorner]

Another excellent video that will be helpful to so many people. Besides your outstanding photography another of your attributes is sharing your knowledge and advice. Good man