Kako odabrati fotoaparat u 2022. (Vodič za najbolju kupnju)

Ako ste u potrazi za novim načinom snimanja fotografija u 2022., ovaj vodič za kupnju fotoaparata morate pročitati!

Odabir novog fotoaparata prije je bio tako jednostavan. S ograničenim izborom, vaša se odluka obično vrti oko cijene.

U današnje vrijeme postoje stotine modela između kojih možete birati, a da stvar bude još zbunjujuća, vaš pametni telefon već snima prilično dobre fotografije!

Uz sav tehnički žargon koji okružuje izraze fotografije i dijelove fotoaparata, donošenje odluke može biti zastrašujuće.

Tu će vam ovaj vodič dobro doći;-)

Ovdje u Shotkitu imamo više od 100 godina kombiniranog fotografskog iskustva.

Definitivno vam možemo pomoći u pronalaženju pravog fotoaparata... pa krenimo s tim!

Preporučene kamere za sve proračune u 2022.

Slika	Proizvod	Značajke
	Canon G7X Mark IINajbolji kompakt ispod 500 USD	Svestrani raspon zumiranja Robusno tijelo Dobro pri slabom osvjetljenju Izvrsna kvaliteta slike
	Nikon D5600 najbolji DSLR ispod 500 USD	Iznimna kvaliteta slike Intuitivne kontrole Izvrsno trajanje baterije SnapBridge
	Sony a6000Best Mirrorless ispod 500 USD	Hibridni AF Nagibni LCD Kontinuirano snimanje do 11 FPS Kompaktno
	Fujifilm X-T30Best Compact ispod 1000 USD	Izvrsna vrijednost za novac Nevjerojatan autofokus Izvrsna kvaliteta slike Poboljšane performanse pri slabom osvjetljenju
	Canon M50Best Mirrorless ispod 1000 USD	Kompaktno Jednostavan za korištenje Ugrađeno elektroničko tražilo Brzo i precizno
	Canon 90DBnajbolji DSLR ispod 1000 USD	Izvrsna kvaliteta slike Kontinuirano snimanje velikom brzinom Prilagodba s više kontrolera Svestrani
	Sony RX100 VIINajbolji kompakt ispod 1500 USD	Veliki EVF Jednostavan za korištenje Blackout Free Burst 4K video
	Nikon D750 najbolji DSLR ispod 1500 USD	LCD zaslon s promjenjivim kutom Kompaktna i lagana Moćni AF s 51 točkom Mogućnosti HD videa
	Fujifilm X100V najbolji bez ogledala ispod 1500 USD	Ikonski dizajn Nevjerojatna kvaliteta objektiva Hibridno tražilo Kompaktna veličina
	Leica Q2Best Overall Compact	Vrhunska kvaliteta slike Senzor od 47,3 MP Prekrasan dizajn Najbolji EVF/zaslon
	Nikon D850 najbolji DSLR u cjelini	Izvanredno rješenje Izvanredna izvedba baterije Nagibni dodirni zaslon Izvanredan dinamički raspon
	Sony a7IIIBest u cjelini bez zrcala	AF podržava A-mount leće Novi senzor, napredniji procesor Kontinuirano snimanje 693 Detekcija faze

Što tražiti pri kupnji fotoaparata

Testirao sam stotine fotoaparata dok sam bio profesionalni fotograf i recenzent.

Kupnja fotoaparata može brzo postati komplicirana. Kao i kod većine stvari, što više opcija imate, manja je vjerojatnost da ćete donijeti odluku.

U ovom sam vodiču uključio sve čimbenike koji vam mogu pomoći u odabiru najboljih kamera dostupnih ove godine.

Međutim, ako ste u žurbi, evo kratkog sažetka bitnih stvari:

5 najvažnijih čimbenika pri odabiru nove kamere

1. Kvaliteta slike koja je bolja nego na telefonu s kamerom

Čitajući recenzije fotoaparata, trebali biste moći donijeti ovu odluku. Nema smisla nositi fotoaparat sa sobom ako ne snima ljepšu sliku od vašeg telefona ili barem ne nudi značajke koje vaš telefon nema.

2. Ergonomija koja odgovara vašim rukama

Ako ne možete otići u svoju lokalnu trgovinu fotoaparatima da stvarno držite kameru, samo ćete morati donijeti obrazovanu odluku na temelju recenzija koje ste pročitali. Je li dovoljno velik? Ima li izražen grip? Izgledaju li osnovni gumbi dovoljno udaljeni?

3. Veličina koja odgovara Vašim navikama

Ovo je važno. Jeste li roditelj koji uvijek ima dijete u rukama? Ako je tako, vaš bi fotoaparat vjerojatno trebao biti lagan i/ili kompaktan. Nosite li obično torbu sa sobom? Mogli biste se izvući s nečim većim. Putuješ li mnogo? itd itd

4. Dostupnost leća koje odgovaraju vašem proračunu i budućim potrebama

Ako odaberete kompaktni fotoaparat s fiksnim objektivom, nema potrebe o tome razmišljati. Odlučite li se za fotoaparat s izmjenjivim objektivima, pogledajte ostale objektive u ponudi. Jesu li u vašem cjenovnom rangu? Postoje li vam potrebne žarišne duljine? Jesu li rabljeni objektivi dostupni?

5. Najnoviji model unutar Vašeg proračuna

Budući da se tehnologija fotoaparata tako brzo razvija, uvijek preporučujem ulaganje u najnovije fotoaparate. Ako se vaš proračun ne može proširiti na apsolutno najnovije, često se mogu naći povoljne cijene s prethodnim modelom, ali pokušajte izbjegavati sve starije od ovoga. Postoji i opcija rabljene… ali, caveat emptor!

Napisali smo vodič o tome kako kupiti i prodati rabljenu opremu za kameru koji bi vam mogao biti od koristi. Također, imajte na umu da, iako možete nabaviti kamere ispod 300 USD, preporučujem da uložite nešto više od ovoga kako biste bili sigurni da može proizvesti bolje slike od vašeg pametnog telefona.

Vrste fotoaparata

Fujifilm fotoaparati bez ogledala popularan su izbor.

DSLR fotoaparati

DSLR je kratica za 'Digital Single Lens Reflex', što u osnovi znači da fotoaparat koristi istu leću za kadriranje, fokusiranje i snimanje fotografije.

Ipak, ništa od ovoga nije relevantno za vas kao prvog kupca fotoaparata – važno je da su DSLR fotoaparati i dalje najpopularniji fotoaparati za amatere i profesionalne fotografe ovdje u 2022.

Početni modeli dostupni su po povoljnim cijenama, a na tržištu rabljenih možete dobiti i sjajne popuste.

S negativne strane, veći su, teži i ne nude najbolje tehnologije autofokusa (i razne druge), poput ostalih vrsta kamera u nastavku.

DSLR fotoaparati imaju APS-C ili "senzore punog kadra" - više o tome u nastavku.

📸 Povezano: Najjeftiniji fotoaparati punog formata | Najbolji DSLR fotoaparati

Fotoaparati bez zrcala

Fotoaparat bez ogledala nema ogledalo koje se nalazi unutar DSLR fotoaparata, što mu daje razne prednosti. Mogu imati fiksne ili izmjenjive leće.

Napisao sam cijeli članak o DSLR fotoaparatima u odnosu na fotoaparate bez ogledala, ali da rezimiramo:

Obično su manji i lakši od DSLR-a, što ih čini odličnim izborom ako puno putujete.

Opći je konsenzus da su fotoaparati bez zrcala budućnost, a DSLR-i vrsta koja izumire … ali to ne znači da je tehnologija još savršena.

Zbog prednosti koje nude, modeli bez ogledala pate od slabog trajanja baterije (oko polovice trajanje ekvivalentnog DSLR-a) i iskustvo snimanja koje je malo... pa... bezdušno!

Međutim, ako vas snimanje s "mini računalom" ne odvraća, moja bi preporuka bila da odaberete fotoaparat bez ogledala, bilo da je to vaš prvi fotoaparat ili ga nadograđujete.

Fotoaparati bez zrcala također imaju APS-C ili full frame senzore.

📸 Povezano: Najbolji fotoaparati bez ogledala

Micro Four Thirds kamere

Kamere Micro Four Thirds (aka Micro 4/3, MFT ili M4/3) vrsta su kamera bez zrcala koje pokrivaju širok raspon stilova i opcija, ali zajednička im je značajka veličina senzora.

U nastavku ćemo raspravljati o tome zašto je veličina senzora fotoaparata važna, ali sve što trebate znati u ovom trenutku je da je Micro Four Thirds fotoaparat poput "mini" fotoaparata s izmjenjivim objektivom.

Imajte na umu jednu stvar:posjedovanje manjeg sustava kamera nije uvijek dobro za svakoga, sa skučenim kontrolama i manje izraženim držanjem koji često ometaju one s većim rukama.

MFT kamere imaju samo MFT senzore, što ograničava njihove mogućnosti, kao što ćemo saznati u nastavku.

Međutim, fotoaparati Micro Four Thirds i dalje su popularan izbor za početnike do profesionalnih fotografa, ovdje 2022.

📸 Povezano: Vodič za Micro Four Thirds kamere

Kompaktni fotoaparati (poznati i kao "usmjeri i snimaj" fotoaparati)

Kompaktni fotoaparati iznimno su popularni, i to s dobrim razlogom – njihove male dimenzije čine ih prijenosnima i praktičnima za svakodnevno nošenje sa sobom, baš kao i telefon s kamerom.

Te značajke mogu biti zum objektiv, bolje mogućnosti snimanja pri slabom osvjetljenju, brže rafalno snimanje, RAW snimanje itd.

Neki ljudi (uključujući mene!) jednostavno radije drže 'pravu' kameru za fotografiranje nego telefon, a mala kamera obično znači da je vjerojatnije da ćete je imati sa sobom u džepu ili torbi.

Granica između kompaktnih i malih fotoaparata bez zrcala nejasna je, ali stroga definicija "usmjeri i snimaj" je onaj s fiksnim objektivom (tj. ne možete ga zamijeniti drugim objektivom.)

Ovo ograničenje uvelike pojednostavljuje proces fotografiranja i može ga učiniti puno ugodnijim za one koji nisu zainteresirani za više opcija objektiva.

📸 Povezano: Najbolji kompaktni fotoaparati

Kamere za most

Manji od DSLR-a, ali veći od kompaktnih fotoaparata, lijepo popunjavaju prazninu, nudeći objektive za zumiranje visokog povećanja (fiksne, nisu zamjenjive) i ručne kontrole, ali bez mase punopravnih DSLR-a.

Obično imaju male senzore slike slične kompaktnim fotoaparatima i rijetko imaju optičko tražilo (OVF), umjesto toga odabiru elektroničko tražilo (EVF) i stražnji LCD zaslon za snimanje fotografija.

📸 Povezano: Najbolje kamere za mostove

Akcijske kamere

Oni su obično mali, vodootporni i robusni, sa snimanjem videa kao primarnim fokusom.

Ljepota manjih akcijskih kamera tipa GoPro je u tome što se mogu montirati na vaše tijelo ili kacigu, dajući jedinstvenu perspektivu iz prvog lica.

Također možete nabaviti robusne i vodootporne kompaktne fotoaparate, ali oni obično nude usporedivu kvalitetu slike s modernim pametnim telefonima.

📸 Povezano: Najbolje vodootporne kamere

Cijena (vrijednost za novac)

Preporučljivo je odlučiti se za najnoviji model fotoaparata ako je unutar vašeg proračuna.

Kada kupujete fotoaparat, važno je imati realan proračun.

Trošenje premalo rezultirat će kamerom s osrednjom kvalitetom slike, a trošenje previše... pa, to će ostaviti rupu u vašem novčaniku!

Ako ste spremni kupiti stariji model, možete dobiti izvrsnu korist za svoj novac, ali tehnologija će već biti zastarjela.

Uvijek bih preporučio ulaganje u najnoviji model gdje god je to moguće.

Što se tiče kupovine rabljenih, tu treba biti oprezan. DSLR fotoaparati imaju "život zatvarača", na temelju broja fotografija koje su već snimljene, a zamjenski dijelovi mogu biti skupi.

Rabljeni fotoaparati bez ogledala imaju manje pomičnih dijelova koji se mogu pokvariti, ali ako im je isteklo jamstvo, svejedno biste mogli platiti skupi račun za popravak ako nešto pođe po zlu.

Što je s paketima kamera? Iako postoje sjajne ponude (pogledajte, na primjer, ovaj paket Nikon D5600), većina paketa obično uključuje puno dodataka za fotoaparate koje vjerojatno nikada nećete koristiti... ili su niske kvalitete i pokvarit će se nakon nekoliko korištenja.

Moj savjet je da novac potrošite na noviji model fotoaparata, a ako ste u iskušenju s paketom, nabavite onaj koji uključuje leću ili dvije.

Dakle, što dobivate kada potrošite više novca na fotoaparat?

Općenito, imate koristi od mogućnosti snimanja bržih, većih fotografija pri slabijem osvjetljenju (bez upotrebe bljeskalice). Kvaliteta izrade također će biti bolja.

Ako niste profesionalni fotograf, preporučujem da potrošite između 500~1000 USD na fotoaparat s izmjenjivim objektivima.

Kada budete imali više novca, trebali biste uložiti u nove leće kako biste proširili svoje mogućnosti.

Ako vas ne zanimaju objektivi, potrošite novac na napredni kompaktni fotoaparat s fiksnim objektivom, po mogućnosti najnoviji model.

📸 Povezano: Najbolje kamere ispod 500 USD, najjeftinije kamere punog formata

Kvaliteta slike

Vježbom možete učiniti da slika s jeftine kamere izgleda kao jedna snimka na nečem daleko skupljem. Uzeo sam ovo na osnovnom DSLR-u i kompletu objektiva od 400 USD.

Osim ako prije niste stvarno koristili fotoaparat, može biti teško procijeniti kvalitetu slika koje proizvodi.

Preporučio bih čitanje online recenzija na stranicama poput ove i recenzija kupaca na Amazonu.

Još jedna stvar koju treba uzeti u obzir je da kvaliteta slike fotoaparata uvelike ovisi o objektivu koji je na njega pričvršćen.

Ako se odlučite za fotoaparat s fiksnim objektivom, očito nemate izbora po tom pitanju, ali za modele s izmjenjivim objektivima, objektiv koji odaberete je vrlo važan.

Većina početnih DSLR modela i modela bez zrcala dolazi s 'kit objektivima'. To je obično jeftini zum objektiv srednjeg raspona sa sporim, promjenjivim otvorom blende. Ukratko, obično je prilično bezveze!

Objektiv u kompletu može biti dobar način da se naviknete na svoj novi fotoaparat, ali preporučujem da uložite u pristupačan fiksni objektiv i kvalitetniji zum čim vam to budžet dopusti. (Pogledajte:fiksni vs zum objektiv.)

(Jedan od glavnih razloga zašto profesionalni fotografi troše toliko na fotoaparate je taj što skuplji modeli obično nude mnogo bolju mogućnost snimanja slika dobre kvalitete pri slabijem osvjetljenju.)

Ukratko, ako se držite najboljih digitalnih fotoaparata preporučenih u ovom vodiču, ne morate brinuti o kvaliteti slike :-)

📸 Povezano: Najbolje jeftine kamere

Veličina i ergonomija

Upucaj i pucaj može biti zgodno za nošenje, ali teže za držanje.

Veličina fotoaparata i osjećaj u vašim rukama je faktor o kojem se rijetko govori... ali zapravo je vrlo važan.

Veličina je više osobna preferencija, a također i vrlo subjektivna. Ono što se početniku smatra velikim, profesionalcu će vjerojatno izgledati malo!

Osobno volim malo veće kompaktne fotoaparate koji odgovaraju mojim velikim rukama. Također preferiram modele bez ogledala s izraženijim gripom, što ih obično čini malo većima.

A camera’s ergonomics relates to not only how it feels in your hand, but also button placement.

Some small cameras may feel OK to hold, but their buttons are too close together, rendering them awkward to use.

If you’re unable to get to a camera store in person, I recommend reading reviews and judging the size of a camera by its dimensions compared to your smartphone.

📸 Related: Best Point and Shoot Cameras | How to Buy a Rangefinder Camera

Sensor Size

A full-frame sensor can produce incredible image quality… but so can an APS-C.

Digital cameras use a sensor to ‘record’ images. There are various types of sensor available for each type of camera, making it a rather confusing topic.

For everyone else, here’s what you need to know – the larger the sensor, the better the image quality, especially in low light.

Also, the larger the sensor, the greater your ability to ‘blur the background’ (blur can also be added in Lightroom), but this is also highly dependent on the lens you attach to your camera.

Here are the 3 main lenses you’re likely to come across while shopping for a digital camera:

• 1 Inch (or smaller) – commonly found in budget compact cameras
• APS-C – found in advanced compacts, mirrorless and DSLRs
• Full Frame – found in advanced compacts, mirrorless and DSLRs

Professional photographers commonly use full frame or advanced APS-C sensor cameras.

If you have the budget, a full frame camera is a wonderful investment, but remember that full frame lenses are more expensive too.

The size of the sensor on an interchangeable lens camera will also dictate something called the ‘crop factor’.

Without wanting to get too technical, APS-C sensors ‘multiply’ the focal length of your lenses. A lens that says ’35mm’ may give you an actual focal length of 50mm.

This is great for shooting subjects that are far away, since you’re essentially getting more ‘reach’ on every lens you own.

On the flip side, if you want to get the widest possible lens, you’re a bit more limited with an APS-C sensor.

There’s also a difference in the ‘creaminess’ of out of focus areas (aka ‘bokeh’), and a difference in available dynamic range when choosing APS-C vs a full frame… but this is getting in to nerd-territory, so don’t worry about it for now!

📸 Related: Best full frame cameras

Types of Lens

Different lenses allow you to expand the capabilities of your camera.

Since this article is to help you find the best digital camera, I won’t go too deep into all the various lens options.

Interchangeable lenses are a whole world of fun and creative opportunity, but the myriad of options can sometimes be unnecessary to photographers.

The main decision you need to make at this point is whether you’re happy to have a ‘fixed’ lens on the end of your camera, or if you want the flexibility of interchangeable lenses.

• Fixed Lens Cameras

These feature either a zoom or a fixed focal length lens (aka a ‘prime’), but either way, you’re stuck with that one lens.

Many point-and-shoot cameras have fixed lenses, as do bridge cameras.

I own a fixed length compact (Fujifilm X100V), and love the simplicity and efficiency of a single lens. Check the review here.

• Interchangeable Lens Cameras

When shopping for your first camera, it’s important to check both the availability and the pricing of lenses.

There are own-brand or ‘native’ lenses that are usually the most expensive, and arguably the best quality options, and there are often several third-party options too.

Canon and Nikon offer the largest selection of lenses for their DSLRs, but the smallest selection for their mirrorless cameras here in 2022.

Sony and Fujifilm offer a much larger selection of lenses for the mirrorless system.

📸 Related: Lens Reviews

Speed and Performance

DSLRs offer excellent operational speed, but only the more expensive models offer high FPS.

This relates to autofocus speed, frames per second (FPS), and the startup time and general operational speed of the camera.

Most modern cameras around the $500 mark and upward have good enough auto-focus speed for casual use.

DSLRs and mirrorless cameras typically offer better performance than compacts and bridge cameras, although it depends on the model.

In general, you need to spend a lot more on a compact camera for it to rival the speed of a larger model.

FPS refers to the number of photos you can take in a row by holding down the shutter button during continuous (aka ‘burst’) mode.

DSLRs that offer high FPS are generally over $1,000, but this isn’t the case with mirrorless – the Sony a6000, for example, costs under $500 and features an impressive 10FPS.

Being able to fire off hundreds of frames isn’t always a good thing – you’ll have lots more photos to examine while editing, and there’s also the question of how fast your buffer can ‘clear’ (i.e. how long the camera will be ‘locked up’ while writing all the images to the memory card).

The overall speed of the camera’s operation is another important factor to consider. Typically, DSLRs ‘wake up’ faster than mirrorless and point-and-shoot cameras.

📸 Related: Sony a6000 Review

Video Performance

Most photographers are likely to shoot video on their smartphone for convenience.

All digital cameras shoot video these days, with some offering high-end features such as 4K Ultra HD resolution, multiple frame rates, super slow-motion, high speed recording and time-lapse.

If you choose a model with interchangeable lenses, it’s not hard to get video quality that can rival the very best YouTubers and short-film makers.

The main features to consider if you’re serious about capturing high quality video on your digital camera are:

• Frame rates – 24fps and 30fps are standard. 60fps and higher is great for slow-motion footage.
• Image Stabilization – whether in-body, or in-lens (OIS), image stabilization is essential if you plan to shoot video without a tripod or gimbal.
• 4k video – more resolution =better image quality and the ability to crop more heavily. If this is a feature, just make sure that it can record 4k at 24fps and 30fps.
• External mic input – to get the best audio, you need to be able to plug in an external mic.
• Recording duration – many DSLRs have a limit to how much they can record at one time.
• Rotating LCD – to film yourself, or just to save your neck from craning over all the time while shooting.
• Clean HDMI out – to record to external capture devices.

When choosing a camera for video, try and be honest with yourself…

Are you likely to use a bulky DSLR or mirrorless to capture the occasional footage of your kids playing around?… Or is it more realistic to assume your smartphone will be your first choice?

Personally speaking, I seldom press the record button on any of my cameras. The iPhone can already record high-quality 4k video, so I really don’t see the need.

In addition, editing video can be a painfully slow experience, especially if you don’t own a powerful computer.

📸 Related: Camera Stabilizers

Camera Brands

The brand of your camera won’t affect the image quality of the photo.

Although there isn’t really any noticeable difference in the image quality you can expect from the various brands, there are still small nuances to be aware of when choosing your first camera.

Each brand offers its own selection of native lenses which can influence the look of your photos, and in some niche cases, it can determine what exactly you’re able to shoot.

In addition, some brands only produce APS-C sensor cameras, with others only producing mirrorless models.

Let’s take a look at the four main camera brands and their characteristics, starting with the main 2 names in the industry:Canon &Nikon:

Canon

The biggest photography brand in the world, catering to all kinds of photographer, from absolute beginners to the best professionals in the world.

Canon is known for having the widest selection of lenses, including EF, EF-S, EF-M, and R lenses, with the holy grail being any lens with the iconic ‘red ring’, also known as L-series lenses.

For beginners, there’s a wide selection of affordable lenses, including some excellent options that start from only $100.

Canon produce a diverse selection of cameras (1), with their core sales coming from compacts and DSLRs. You can pick up a great entry-level Canon DSLR for around $500.

One area that Canon is playing catch-up is mirrorless – their first full frame mirrorless model was released relatively recently (in 2018), and their lens selection is still small and expensive.

I’d recommend Canon for compacts and DSLRs. If you’re a professional or have deeper pockets, their mirrorless R-series cameras are a good option too.

📸 Related: Best Canon Lenses

Nikon

Another hugely popular photography brand, albeit much smaller than Canon.

Nikon caters to all photographers, offering some of the best entry-level DSLRs for beginners, all the way up to incredible flagship bodies for professionals (2).

Nikon also offers a huge selection of DSLR lenses, although smaller than that of Canon. For beginners, there are many affordable lenses on offer, starting from around $100.

Nikon produces ‘DX’ and ‘FX’ format lenses, which refer their compatibility with APS-C and full frame sensor formats, respectively.

Nikon’s foray into the world of full frame mirrorless was also relatively recent (2018), and their body and lens selection is limited and expensive.

(Similar to Canon, you have the option of ‘adapting’ the existing selection of DSLR lenses to be used on the latest mirrorless camera bodies.)

I’d recommend Nikon for their excellent D-series DSLRs. If you’re a professional or have deeper pockets, their mirrorless Z-series cameras are also impressive.

📸 Related: Best Nikon Lenses

Sony

Sony is the key player when it comes to mirrorless and premium point-and-shoot cameras.

Their Cyber-shot line of compact cameras is still hugely popular, with new models being released several times a year (3).

Sony full frame mirrorless cameras also offer the best battery life out of any other brand in the industry.

Sony offer a broad selection of lenses, but it pales in comparison to that of Nikon and Canon. Lenses are typically more expensive too, with less options for beginners.

However, you can still choose from a range of affordable entry-level APS-C mirrorless cameras, and some truly class-leading Sony Alpha full frame cameras, if your budget allows.

📸 Related: Best Sony Cameras, Best Sony Lenses

Fujifilm

Another key player in the world of mirrorless, Fujifilm is perhaps best known for its instant cameras and film stock.

A key distinction of Fujifilm mirrorless cameras is their APS-C sensor size.

They also produce medium format sensor cameras (larger than full frame), but they don’t produce anything with a full frame sensor.

Fujifilm offer some excellent lenses, although the selection is not as broad as that of Sony.

In addition, due to the ‘crop-factor’ of their APS-C sensor cameras, you’ll need to take into account a focal length multiplication factor of 1.5x when selecting lenses.

While Fujifilm offer a fine selection of cameras (4) with new models appearing several times a year, their entry-level offerings start at a slightly higher price than those released by Sony.

The aesthetics of Fuji cameras is a big reason to invest in this brand – their cameras look and feel great, and have earned legions of devoted fans.

📸 Related: Best Fujifilm Cameras, Best Fujifilm Lenses

Resolution (Number of Megapixels)

More megapixels allow you to crop your images more heavily while editing.

The resolution of digital cameras is measured in megapixels – one megapixel =one million pixels.

When it comes to digital cameras, a high number of megapixels matters most when ‘cropping into’ a photo, or if you plan to print large pictures.

Photos with more megapixels have more detail, but are consequently larger in file size, meaning they can take longer to edit, send, store, and handle in general.

Most cameras have the option to choose lower resolutions if desired, which can be handy when transferring to smart devices to share online.

Your fancy smartphone with 50 megapixels will never compete with a great DSLR with ‘only’ 24 megapixels, since the DSLR sensor is much bigger.

Don’t make the number of megapixels be a determining factor when shopping for a camera.

Unless you plan to print large, highly detailed prints, there’s little need to invest in a camera with more than 20-odd megapixels.

Other Features

Wifi image transfer and in-camera film simulations can be fun, but their absence aren’t deal-breakers.

These are the features that will help you make your final decision when choosing a new camera.

None of them are essential, and only you will know whether they’re truly important when making your final decision.

• Long Battery Life – mirrorless and point-and-shoot cameras typically have much shorter battery life than DSLRs.
• Manual Shooting Modes – if you’re interested in learning about photography, a camera with a Manual shooting mode is essential.
• Auto Modes – how much you can leave to the camera’s ‘brain’.
• High Frame Rate – being able to shoot multiple consecutive photos can be useful for capturing fast-moving action
• High ISO Performance – helps you capture images in low light without using a flash.
• Rotating/Tilting LCD Screen – useful for selfies and getting experimental with your compositions.
• Dual Memory Card Slots – instant backup, but only really relevant if you’re a professional.
• Mic Input/Output – required if you’re serious about video recording.
• Film Simulations – unique to Fujifilm cameras, but other brands offer creative effects and filters.
• Touch Screen – being able to use smartphone gestures on your camera can be fun.
• Eye/Face Tracking Autofocus System – advanced autofocus technology that’s limited to mirrorless cameras.
• Electronic Viewfinder – an ‘EVF’ can display more information than an ‘OVF’, and offers a WYSIWYG view.
• Image Stabilization – essential for smoother video recording and handheld shooting.
• Weatherproofing / Dustproofing – useful if you travel a lot or shoot in all weather.
• RAW Image Format – RAW files offer more flexibility when editing. See RAW vs JPEG.
• Wifi, Bluetooth, NFC – transfer images wirelessly to your devices, and/or control your camera remotely.

Camera brands try to compete by introducing fancy new features, but my advice is to make your decision based on the core elements mentioned in this article.

Essential Camera Accessories

Taking the photo is only half the battle – you need to learn to edit too.

While it’s important not to go too crazy with accessories when purchasing your first camera, there are a few things that I consider essential:

• Software – you need to learn how to edit photos if you want them to stand out. I recommend Adobe Lightroom, but there are also many good alternatives.
• Memory Card – get the fastest one you can afford, and a fast memory card reader. See memory card guide.
• Spare Batteries – especially for mirrorless cameras.
• Screen Protector – cheap way to prolong the life of your camera’s rear LCD screen.
• Camera strap – see our guide to the best camera straps
• Camera bag – not necessary for point-and-shoot cameras. See our guide to camera bags.

… and that’s it :-)

A common mistake made by beginners is buying everything in the bargain bin at the local camera store, but in reality, very few accessories are actually required at first.

When you start developing your style and realise what kind of photography interests you, that’s where some of the following accessories will become useful.

📸 Related: Lightroom Review

Optional Camera Accessories

A tripod can be a worthwhile investment if you require a steady shot.

I’ve tried to list these in order of importance to the average beginner photographer who’s looking to expand his/her repertoire:

• Tripod – for long exposure photography or simply getting a sharper shot. See best travel tripods.
• Filters – attach to the front of your lens for various purposes, including UV, ND, Polarizing, etc.
• Cleaning accessories – consider a lens pen, rocket blower and microfiber cloth.
• Battery grip – to extend the battery duration and/or to give large hands more to hold onto.
• External flash – the tiny one on top of your camera gives unflattering results.
• Remote Control – to trigger your camera from a distance. Good for selfies and group shots.

Remember – the more accessories you have, the heavier your camera bag… and the less likely you are to take your camera with you!

Photographers have a name for buying camera gear just for the sake of it – ‘Gear Acquisition Syndrome’, or G.A.S. for short!

Make sure you don’t develop a bad case of GAS…

📸 Related: Best DSLR Tripods

Where to Buy your first Camera

Purchasing cameras online is simple and convenient.

Following a recent poll in the Shotkit Facebook Group, I learned that people buy cameras from a wide variety of local high street shops and online retailers.

My preference is to buy from Amazon, B&H Photo and Moment.

Pro tip: Moment actually have a ‘Clearance’ section with massive discounts, which is somewhat hidden away on their website – you can see the latest deals here.

Obviously, you can’t touch and feel products if you purchase online, but at least all the online retailers mentioned above have free returns, allowing you to try out the camera and exchange it for another if necessary.

Završne riječi

If you’ve read this far, you should be MUCH better informed to go camera shopping!

Don’t worry too much about the various camera types on offer here in 2022 – at the end of the day, you can get a great image on a compact, mirrorless or DSLR.

It’s easy to get caught up in camera sensors, zoom lenses, image stabilization, shutter speed, camera body type, exposure settings, optical zoom, viewfinder features, video quality, kit lenses, video mode, sensor sizes, zoom range, and every other variable under the sun.

Just remember this – every camera is different, but your skill as a photographer is far more important than the camera body.

Buy a camera, learn how to use it, and experiment until you reach its limitations. Then, and only then, think about upgrading.

Leave me a comment below if you have any questions, and happy snapping!

References: (1) https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/products/groups/cameras
(2) https://www.nikonusa.com/en/nikon-products/cameras.page (3) https://www.sony.com/electronics/interchangeable-lens-camera-products/t/interchangeable-lens-cameras (4) https://www.fujifilm.com/products/digital_cameras/