It's the photographer, not the camera, who makes a great photograph. A skilled operator can make beautiful photographs with the ugliest of cameras. Those are words of wisdom. But then again, who wants an ugly camera?

Your First Camera

Looking for your first camera can be a daunting task. I've been there. And I know that sorting through the maze of various brands, models, and lenses can be quite a challenge. Here are some thoughts on choosing your first camera.

The System Is More Important Than The Camera

The most important thing to realize is you're not only buying a camera. You're buying into a system, a brand. Once you pick one camera brand over the others, you're pretty much locked in. The cameras and lenses of one brand are exclusive to that brand. Brand A's lenses won't work on Brand B's cameras. And if you buy into Brand A today, switching to Brand B later on is a financial disaster. So your brand decision is critical. Don't think of your first camera as the finish line. It's really only the beginning.

Thinking About Brands

A lot of people stick to a brand they've used in the past. If you've had a good experience with their products in the past, why switch? Then again, you've got the photography bug and the only cure to it is to spend lots of money on camera equipment. Make sure you're giving it to people whose products are going to make you feel good. Some things to think about when looking at the different brands: How wide is their lens selection? The top brands have expansive systems with fifty or more lenses available. You'll never use all fifty, but it's nice to know they're there. What is their reputation? Some brands are known for having the best technology in one specific area, such as the sharpest lenses or the fastest autofocus. Hopefully that specialty doesn't mask other deficiencies. Groundbreaking technology? Often a brand will promote their latest designs as a new breakthrough in photography. But be careful. If no one else buys it, you might end up stuck with the greatest discontinued camera on the planet.

Getting Better All The Time

Now that photography and technology are so intertwined, things are getting better all the time. This is both a blessing and a curse. It is cost prohibitive for anyone to keep up with the times when it comes to camera equipment. So what is your brand's upgrade schedule? Some brands release new cameras with new features all the time. It can be fun owning the brand that makes the most advances, until you realize you can't afford to buy the new model every six months. Other brands release cameras at a slower rate, but take bigger steps with those releases. This frees you from the frustration of frequent upgrades, but you're left with the frustration of waiting for your brand to advance.

Conclusion

To maintain your sanity, make a well-researched decision. Then, and this is the important part, the moment you bring your new camera home immediately stop all of your research. Once you open the box and start taking photographs, leave the buying process behind and focus on your photography. Immerse yourself in the creative process. That's what it's all about