One question I get all the time from friends and family is What camera should I buy?  Yes, I am a professional photographer but one of the reasons I got into photography was my desire to take better photos of my kids.  I wanted photos they would love when they look back on them someday with their kids 50 years from now! Through out this post I’m sharing some of my favorite photos of my kiddos over the years.  All of these were taken with a DSLR.

If you’re new to photography and looking for a new camera it can be an overwhelming task to pick one that will work for you and your family.  Often the arrival of a new baby or a planned vacation has you scouring the internet looking for the best deal!

Today’s post I’ll be going over some things to take into consideration before buying your next camera, as well as my top picks for DSLR cameras.

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What are you photographing?

What are you photographing, is a very good question to start off with.  Will you be chasing around toddlers, or taking photos of a mountain landscape, maybe you will be hiking through a waterfall, and want something a bit more waterproof!

There are basically three types of digital cameras. The DSLR, a mirrorless, and an action camera.

DSLR

A DSLR camera is a Digital Single Lens Reflex camera. What this means is inside the camera’s body is a mirror that reflects the light coming from the lens and sends it through a prism (in higher-end DSLRs) or a series of mirrors (usually in lower-end models) and finally to the optical viewfinder. This is how you can see what you’re shooting, right through the lens.

When the shutter is pressed, the mirror inside the camera flips up — which is where the term reflex comes into play — and sends the light coming through the lens directly to the sensor instead of the viewfinder.

One of the awesome things about DSLR’s is that you can invest in your lenses and just upgrade your camera body if it wears out, or you want to upgrade to a newer body.  Investing in a good lens is smart.  If you put a decent lens on a lower quality body you can produce pretty high-quality photos!

Mirrorless Cameras

As the name suggests, a mirrorless camera is one that doesn’t require a reflex mirror, a key component of DSLR cameras. The mirror in a DSLR bounces the light up to the optical viewfinder. In a mirrorless camera, there is no optical

viewfinder. Instead, the imaging sensor is exposed to light at all times, giving you a digital preview of your image either on the LCD screen or an electronic viewfinder (EVF). Mirrorless cameras are called “mirrorless,” rather than DSLRs being called “mirrored,” simply because they came second.

Many brands offer mirrorless cameras with interchangeable lenses as well. One of the added benefits of owning a mirrorless camera over a DSLR is size.  Because there are not as many moving parts inside the camera, mirrorless cameras tend to be much more compact, and a perfect choice for vacation when the room to pack them along is tight.

Action Cameras

Action cameras are made to capture images without worrying about settings, or durability of the camera. When someone mentions action camera one of the first camera brands that will come to mind is the GoPro. One of the best things about action cameras is many brands are offering cameras that are waterproof, dustproof, and fall-proof. All while shooting stills, video, and time-lapses.

What Camera Should I buy?

There are a few big brands in the photography images the top two are Nikon and Cannon.  Both brands have multiple camera options at all price points.  The Nikon vs Canon debate could definitely go on for awhile when it comes to deciding which is best. Full disclosure I shoot Nikon.  My suggestion is to get one of each in your hand and see how they feel.

Honestly, both brands are great! I have found that many women prefer Cannon because the camera bodies are a bit smaller and easier for smaller hands to hold. Nikon cameras are a bit more one the heftier side.  I shoot with the Nikon 4Ds. It’s a big camera, and my arms are pretty worn out after a long wedding day.

Here are some of my suggestions for DSLR cameras.  These would be perfect for taking photos of your kids at the playground, or at birthday parties. Target is currently having a pretty good sale on camera bundles this week!

Nikon

D3400 with 2 kit lens

One of my favorite things about the D3400 is the new Snapbridge feature which is amazing! Basically, you can take a photo with your camera, and it is sent directly to your phone or tablet where you can edit it, and upload directly to Facebook, or Instagram!

Cannon

Canon EOS Rebel T6 -two kit lenses

This camera is part of Canon’s Rebel line which has a loyal following! This camera has a built-in flash, and you can record 1080p HD video.

Both of the camera bundles above are on sale at Target right now! 

Next week I will be talking a bit more about lenses and how a solid lens can uplevel your photography is a big hurry!

Here are some additional cameras, and gear! 

Coffee and Cameras Workshop

I am also starting a monthly camera class next week! Join me at Red Moose Coffee Hus in Tioga, ND on May 17th at 10 am for our first Coffee and Cameras Workshop! We will be going over camera basics like aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.  Bring your camera and we will work on getting you out of auto, and shooting in manual mode, so you can create photos you are proud of!

RSVP on Facebook!  Cost is $15 per person. Pick up your ticket here, or pay at the door!