What camera should you buy?
Here's the thing. I have gas. Like, terrible gas! No, not that kind of gas! G.A.S. - Gear Acquisition Syndrome - always wanting the newest and hottest new piece of equipment, a common affliction of many photographers. I'm in a 12-step program and slowly recovering. If you're into techy stuff like me, you, too, might have g.a.s. The truth is that gear Does. Not. Matter. Full stop. Period. End of story. But I just lied to you. That's not entirely true. The type of photography that you practice determines if/how much gear matters.
Don’t fall for the “bigger is better” trap! Trust me! Been there, done that!
Do you even need a “big boy” camera? Not necessarily. It really depends on the type of photographs you want to take. Just taking pictures of friends and family or snapshots on vacations? A modern cell phone with a good camera may be enough for you. If you don’t need to crop very much or you don’t need fancier capabilities (like slow shutter speed to smooth out water), then a cell phone may be just fine for you. As the saying goes, “The best camera is the one you have with you.”
What camera body should I purchase? If you're doing landscape, street, cityscape, architecture, or any other genre that doesn't involve fast action, then the camera body doesn't matter as much. Do you need a 100 megapixel (MP) or even a 48 MP sensor? Nope! The main reasons to get a sensor with a high megapixel count are three-fold: (1) you need to print VERY large, (2) you know that you'll often need to crop in a lot (e.g., wildlife photography),, or (3) you're flush with cash and/or compensating for something (yes, I see you). If your goals are only to share on social media, to send via text messages to your family & friends, or to print out small (13" x 19" or less), then a 24 MP sensor is fine. If you're shooting fast action (e.g., sports, wildlife, kids), then the camera body does matter in terms of frames per second (FPS), or how may photos per second, and autofocus capabilities, ideally with subject detect and/or eye/face detection. You want a camera that can shoot at least 10-20 FPS and a reliable and quick autofocus system. All three major brands (Nikon, Canon, Sony) have excellent options for all genres. Fuji and some of the other brands are better suited for non-action photography.
Do you NEED to get a mirrorless system? They are the future, and all of the camera companies are phasing out DSLR camera and moving their entire product lines to mirrorless. I do recommend getting a mirrorless system if you can afford it. However, you can buy used DSLR cameras that are much cheaper, and they work just as well!
Do you need a full-frame sensor? Again, not necessarily. There are advantages & disadvantages of full frame vs. cropped sensors. Full frame sensors, where the sensor is the same physical size as a 35 mm negative from the film days, generally have smaller photodetectors (i.e., light detectors), allowing higher detail and better ability to crop. In comparison, cropped sensors have (relatively) larger photodetectors that have better light gathering capability, especially in low-light settings (e.g., astrophotography, indoor locations). Cropped sensors being physically smaller makes it easier for the camera's computer chip to read the information faster, but nowadays even full frame sensors are read out quickly by modern chips.
It’s all about the glass. For all genres of photography, the quality of glass (i.e., your lens) is what matters most. Once you decide what system to purchase (i.e., Nikon, Canon, Sony), buy the best lens(es) that you can afford.
But, which system should I get? My advice every time someone asks me what to get is the following: Before purchasing any system, take a few moments to consider what type of photographs you want to take, what you are going to do with all of the photos, and decide on your budget. I highly recommend supporting your local camera store as much as possible! Like many businesses, smaller mom-and-pop camera shops and smaller regional camera chains are succumbing to larger mega camera companies and online retailers (e.g., Amazon). Go to your local camera shop and look at the camera in person. Talk to the salespeople. They know their shit. Hold the camera in your hands and practice taking photographs. The ergonomics, or how the camera feels in your hands, is essential. Are you able to reach and turn/press the dials/buttons easily? Is the camera too heavy? While Sony makes some fantastic cameras, they do not feel good in my hands. I'm uncomfortable holding Sony cameras for a long time, but Nikon and Canon feel much better in my hands. I'm not knocking Sony - it's just my particular use case.
Having just said that, camera gear can get expensive quickly! Much of the gear that I've purchased is second-hand. Some local camera shops buy back used systems from their customers, test and clean them up, and then re-sell them as pre-owned gear. If you don’t have a local camera store, check out MPB.com and KEH.com for used gear. Prices are pretty good, and you can get more for your money. I’ve bought and sold through both websites and they’re reliable and trustworthy. Looking for gear on eBay is another option, but buyer beware! Be sure to check how many sales the seller has made and read their reviews to be sure they’re legit. Fortunately, eBay has very good buyer protection policies. Sadly, I had to find that out when a used camera I purchased turned out to be a fradulent seller.
Finally, a few words on tripods. Don’t cheap out here! Like many photographers before me, I’ve made the mistake of purchasing inexpensive tripods only to have them break or need to be upgraded. Get yourself a good quality, sturdy tripod, one that is more money than you feel comfortable spending. The best tripods should last you years if you take care of it. As the saying goes: Buy nice, or buy twice!