How to Choose a Camera

Photography experts share their tips for buying a camera and getting started in professional photography

Photography is one of the most revolutionary inventions in human history. Its advance has been such that practically anyone now has a camera and knows how to operate it. Joseph Nicéphore Niépce first envisioned this device in 1826. He used a box made of wood and waited 8 hours of exposure to obtain the first photographic image.

But what should we take into account when buying a professional camera? What are the essential characteristics to check and keep in mind? Various photography experts offer their advice to the Domestika community to help choose a professional camera for multiple areas.

Cameras for Self-Portraiture

Krishna (@bykrishnavr) is a young photographer specializing in self-portraiture. Her work is characterized by detailed atmospheres and stories, and her photos have a direct influence from other arts such as painting, literature, and music. The Mexican artist shares the following tips to find an ideal camera to take selfies:

- The precision and speed of the autofocus system are two of the most important factors. It is essential to get sharp photos and work on a good composition without losing the details that we want to highlight. Therefore, the more focus points the camera has, the more accurate you can be in highlighting your work elements.

- Pay attention to the number of megapixels that a camera has but also the size of the sensor. If you have a larger camera sensor, this will allow the photosensors to be larger, and the image quality will be better.

- With a good lens, you can help your sensor get its full potential. You can focus on your camera, but, at the same time, you shop for the body, take time to research a lens that matches the specific job you want to do with it.

- Today, some cameras have functions that help with self-portraits, such as a reversible screen. They will help you check the framing when taking a photograph. Another one is a Wi-Fi connection, which is useful for connecting the camera to the smartphone and having more control during the shooting.

Cameras for architectural and urban photography

Nicanor García (@nicanorgarcia) is an architect and photographer who has combined these two passions to highlight each building's uniqueness, the details, and the way to capture people in their environment. His tips for buying a camera to photograph buildings and streets scenes are these:

- The main tool you already have with you and is priceless: your gaze. It requires much more work, dedication, and concentration than any camera you buy. The secret to photography is how you see the world around you and where you focus your attention. In the case of urban photography and architecture, look at the environment where you live: unique buildings, monuments, details. Think of them in terms of light and composition.

- Use your smartphone camera. It will allow you to take the photos you want without having to worry about technical parameters. Investigate the settings for the most advanced control options, such as adjusting speed, exposure, and ISO, including the creative modes for portraits or night shots. Good photos can appear at any time, and the best camera will always be the one you carry with you in your pocket.

- When you need to buy a professional camera, the initial financial investment should not be excessive. A mirrorless camera with interchangeable lenses is a great option. Mirrorless means that the viewfinder is electronic, which physically takes up much less space than the optical viewfinder of an SLR camera.

- Different focal lenses will be useful for various types of photography. For example, with a wide-angle, you can take photos of architecture and interiors. With an intermediate focal length (35 or 50mm), street photography. And with a zoom, architectural or urban details.

- The camera is going to be a tool that will present you with new challenges and motivations, but don't forget that you already have the most important tool: your gaze.

Cameras to experiment and play with creativity

Silvia Grav (@silviagrav) has stood out in the international photography world from a very young age. This self-taught photographer has worked with brands such as HBO, Lexus, or Samsung, inspired the creators of the True Detective credits scene, and moved people worldwide with her fascinating photographs. Here are her tips for playing with the limitations of cameras:

- Take photos. Even if you only have a phone. Steal a camera from a friend for a few days. Edit the photos on your smartphone. Rent a camera over the weekend and try it, and when you can afford to buy one, do so. But don't wait to do things because you don't have "what you need."

- Do not worry too much about finding a special camera, focus on the brands that we all know, if you do not have a lot to spend. The quality / price ratio of these brands and the possibility of getting cheaper lenses, or fixing and improving your equipment in an affordable way, is very valuable, especially in the beginning.

- Buy the best lens you can afford, preferably lenses with a lot of aperture.

- Search for a remote shutter, or use a camera with a folding screen or that you can operate from your mobile. Experiment with its limitations because that is the perfect way of getting to unexpected and exciting places and getting creative with techniques.

Camera for product photography

Martí Sans (@marti_sans) discovered food photography during his cooking studies in Barcelona, so he decided to focus on food and commercial photos for advertising, brands, and restaurants. Martí shares these tips to find a camera for portraying products:

- The most important advice is that the best camera is the one you already have nearby. A compact camera, a mobile phone, an SLR, whatever! When the photos do not turn out as you expect, the normal reaction is to blame the equipment, although what usually happens is that you still lack technique.

- In product photography, we always work with controlled environments. Therefore, we do not need very high ISO values, stratospheric focus speeds, or GPS. But always check the dynamic range of the camera sensor: the more dynamic range, the greater richness in highlights and shadows.

- Many people on the internet will give their opinion of cameras without testing them, so always take into account the advice of someone you trust or a specialized store.

Whether you are looking for a camera for a specific area or simply want to start with photography, these tips will be handy. Like the courses these professionals teach at Domestika:

- Conceptual Self-Portrait Photography, a course by Krishna VR.
- Architectonic and Urban Photography, a course by Nicanor García.
- Photography of Shiny Objects and Lighting Tips and Product Photography, courses by Martí Sans.
- Photography for the Imagination and Photographic Post-Production for Imagination, courses by Silvia Grav.