What Camera Should I Buy to Start Photography?

There are so many factors to consider when choosing a beginner photography camera. It’s easy to get caught up in all the confusing features and terminology when researching the best camera for photography. To help narrow down your choices, here are four of the most popular and best-selling cameras for aspiring photographers.

Nikon D3500

The Nikon D3500 is one of the top choices for those who want a great DSLR camera for a relatively small amount of money. With a price around $400, the Nikon D3500 is one of the best cheap cameras for photography that allows just about anyone to enter the world of photography. Its controls are designed to be handy as a beginner photography camera, but this doesn’t mean that this camera can’t produce high-quality photos that can compete with those made on more expensive models. The camera has a built-in Guide Mode to speed up the learning process for new users. It also has a 24.7-megapixel APS-C sensor, 5fps continuous shooting speed, full HD 1920 x 1080 video at up to 60/50fps, Bluetooth, and EXPEED image processing system. It's a small, yet capable DSLR that is an ideal beginner photography camera as well as professional photography camera.

Nikon 5600

Though not as simplified as the Nikon D3500, the Nikon D5600 from Beachcamera.com is a more capable camera that can grow with you as you develop more skills as a photographer. If you're a brand-new photographer, the Nikon D5600 might be a bit much for you, both in terms of usability and price. Unlike the D3500, there is no guided interface to help you learn the ropes, so you're left to your own devices to figure things out. Perhaps this D5600's best feature is its 39-point autofocus system. With so many more AF points, you get much-improved coverage over the D3500, which means you get more precise control over focusing. Another feature to appreciate on this camera is the 3.2-inch articulating touchscreen LCD, which is bigger and more resolute than the D3500's LCD. The D5600 can grow with you as a professional photography camera and provide you all the photo-taking power you need for years to come.

Canon EOS Rebel SL2

There's a lot to like about the Canon EOS Rebel SL2 if you're a beginner. First and foremost, it's small and lightweight. At 4.8-inches wide, 2.7-inches deep, and 3.6-inches tall, it’s one of the smallest DSLRs on the market today. The smaller dimensions are great for new photographers that are just getting used to handling a "real" camera. But don't think that because it's a small DSLR that it's light on capabilities. The SL2 features a 24.2-megapixel CMOS sensor from its big brother, the Canon EOS Rebel T7i. This camera also sports Canon's latest imaging processor, the DIGIC 7, which is capable of handling 14 times as much data as its predecessor. In other words, though this is small, and one of the best cheap cameras for photography, it has technical specs that allow you to learn and grow as a photographer without outgrowing your camera. Perhaps best of all, the SL2 is actually easy to use, which is precisely what you want in a first DSLR.

Top Mirrorless Camera for Beginners

A more advanced camera than others on this list, the Sony a6400 from Beachcamera.com isn't just a great camera for still photography, but is also one of the best vlogging cameras around. If shooting video is at all an interest of yours, the Sony a6400 is an excellent choice because of its screen that flips around so you can see yourself as you film. It also helps that the camera shoots 4K UHD video, too. This newest member of the Sony Alpha lineup boasts a beautifully resolute 24.2-megapixel sensor and a fantastic autofocus system that has a whopping 425 autofocus points. A beginner with some gusto and time to learn how to use this camera will find it to be well-equipped and ready to tackle all kinds of tasks. It's a camera that should last you a long time and become your professional photography camera.

There you have it. Four beginner photography cameras to consider when it comes to buying or acquiring the best camera for photography that may even become your professional photography camera.