Choosing your first camera

Choosing your first camera can be a life changing event. That is why it is very important you choose a camera you can grow into and at the same time won’t cost you an arm and a leg. You don’t need the best camera and lens to take great photos. I have seen countless images taken with entry level cameras that simply took my breath away. In the end the photographer counts more than the equipment.



The best advice I can give you is to buy something that is versatile. I have owned 5 cameras and 19 lenses over the years and I always prefer having a versatile lens. With versatility on your side you rarely miss a photo opportunity because you had to change to an appropriate lens.

Because we are starting with versatility we need to look at a lens first. Canon and Nikon both have excellent 18-200mm lenses. This lens covers a very long range and can be used for anything from landscapes to even sports. It is a jack of all trades and a perfect beginner lens. Because this lens has such a wide focal range the image quality isn’t world class but you can’t beat it for the price.

The added bonus with these lenses from Nikon and Canon is that they both have stabilisation built into the lens. Nikon calls their system VR which stands for Vibration Reduction. Canon calls their system IS which means Image Stabilisation. This is a very important feature for some people and can save you from getting blurry pictures in many situations.

There are cheaper alternatives but you will eventually find yourself then needing another lens. If your budget allows I would also suggest a 50mm prime lens. These lenses are extremely cheap and a great way to learn new things with.

Now that we have a lens or two we can look for a camera. You can usually buy a camera that comes with either of the above lenses in a kit. This is sometimes best because you can actually save a bit of money.

The camera body is not as important as the lens and once you get into photography you will always want a better body. Camera bodies are updated regularly and thus they lose value very quickly. If you buy a cheaper body you could save some money and buy other photographic accessories.

Next on our list is a memory card. I only use Sandisk cards because of the excellent speed and reliability. You can find all the relevant information on their website such as how many pictures you can get onto an 8gb card or whichever size you choose.

Finally we need a bag. Lowepro makes some of the best bags on the market and they have always kept my gear safe. I prefer a slingshot bag because it gives you very quick access to your camera.

With all that information you are ready to buy your first camera which I hope will bring you much pleasure.


Nikon D300 & 18-200mm VR

Happy Shooting!