(and what to do instead)

I often get questions in real life and on youtube about which camera to buy.

It’s a difficult question to answer since everyone’s use case scenario is different. Things vary situationally and on a person by person basis.

So this article is really to clear up any concerns one may have when buying their first camera. The way I see it, most cameras are pretty good and it’d serve one better to focus less on “which camera should I buy” and more on “which mistakes should I avoid when buying a camera?”

Mistake 1. Waiting to Buy a Camera to Get Started

I try to tell people to start by using what you have.

Photography or videography is really not limited by equipment anymore. Most people have phones that are great at what they do. And so for many, they want to buy something to get better at photography - which is really just an excuse to sort of proof the hobby.

The best tool for us is the tool we have.

Meaning: if a moment ought to be captured, we’re not going to sit here thinking about the $1000 camera we don’t have - we’re going to use what we do have. And for most of us, that’s our phone.

It’s important to understand that a camera wont make you a better photographer.

It’s also far more important to learn and understand the basics of photography.

So, if your limiting factor is thinking you need a camera to get started, just start with your phone. You’re not missing out on much.

Mistake 2. Buying the Camera Gear Your Favorite Creator is Using

Don’t buy the camera gear your favorite creator is using. It’s a question I get from many beginners because they mistakenly think the camera is doing all the work to make everything look good.

They’ll ask, “XXX is using this. Should I buy that?”

Simple answer is no. No, you shouldn’t buy that.

Chances are that person knows much more about photography/videography or whatever that’s allowing them to create what they create. You’re going to buy the same camera they have, take a bunch of crappy photos (because everyone takes crappy photos - it’s almost a rite of passage) and sit there wondering why your stuff doesn’t look like theirs. An experienced individual could use a potato to take good images for all that matters. It’s not the camera.

So you buying the same camera as them is NOT going to shortcut you towards their level of good photos. And it’s gonna break the bank when you see the credit bill.

So here’s my simple recommendation. Buy a cheaper lower end budget camera that will allow you to learn the basics of photography.

Mistake 3. The Buying Itch

What is the “buying itch”?

The buying itch is that temptation we get when we see a shiny new object. It acts as a gateway towards something new. In photography, it’s cameras. In golfing, it may mean a shiny new set of clubs. Whatever is is, we’ve all felt it before.

The important thing to understand is this shiny new tool act as a validation to this new adventure or journey you’re about to embark on. But it’s not going to make you good at what you do. And it’s gonna be a knife in your wallet. So what ends up happening is (I’ve done it before): we spend a ton of money on something unnecessarily expensive, hyped to begin this new journey, with something really just to show off to others: “look at me, I’m a photographer”. Then months later, we find it sitting on our shelves, collecting dust, realizing we never used it.

This is why it’s important to get this “buying itch” out of the way so we can focus on what’s important - the art and the craft.

If you feel like you need to buy something now, I’d recommend buying some cheap camera from a thrift store on ebay. This allows us the get the itch out of the way on something cheap so we can play around because - maybe you don’t even like photography anyways.

Often times it’s an emotional purchase. The first camera we buy bears a lot of weight, and it’s really not that important.

Buy something cheap.

Our wallet doesn’t have to suffer for our dreams and ambitions.

The First One Leaves Clues

The final tip I’m leaving with you today is quite simple. The first one leaves clues.

What does this mean?

Generally, no camera will be perfect. Each camera is unique in itself and optimizes for different things than the next. Therefore using an “imperfect” camera will allow you to understand what you like and don’t like about it. This will give you ‘clues’ on what you may want in your second camera. Maybe you want something smaller. Maybe you want a different focal length. The first one leaves clues.

So we can use our own experiences with the first camera to guide us to the next. It allows us to figure things out on a budget, instead of wasting time and money. Simple, right?

Ultimately, if you’re still concerned about buying your first camera, remember these things:

1. use what you already have

2. don’t buy the gear your favorite creators are using

3. get the itch out of the way on something cheap

4. the first one leaves clues

Hope this could help.