Mb22346 Loc: Mason, Ohio

I am looking to buy a camera and I wanted to know three things first of all. What brand would you buy?
Second, what type would you buy i.e. mirror less or DSLR
And finally, would you ever buy a camera that has been refurbished?

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

Hello and welcome!! I’m going to answer your third question first. I have purchased a refurbished camera. My Nikon D810 arrived with only 176 shutter clicks. I haven’t had any issues with it and would absolutely purchase a refurbished again.

As for brand and model that is all personal preference and budget.

Best wishes on your search for your camera and may you have many years together making great memories.

Dodie

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Buy the camera and lens(es) you can afford. Although DSLRs are still being sold 'new', they've all been discontinued, whether the manufacturer says so publicly or not. You can get a used or refurbished camera for far, far less than buying new. Certainly, don't spend 2024 money on a 'new' camera first released 4+ years ago and now discontinued. Modern camera equipment is all built for extended use, even the entry-level models last for 10+ years. The pro- / semi-pro models are built for heavy everyday use for even longer. Buying one of these models, lightly used, could easily be the first and last body you need, allowing for more money to be spent on lenses.

Here at UHH, the focus is mirrorless full-frame cameras: digital technology marvels with sensors the size of 35mm frames of film. Removing the space needed for a flapping mirror gives options to adapt most every brand's SLR-style lenses onto that mirrorless body -- MILC - mirrorless interchangeable lens camera -- another buyer value of a mirrorless choice.

What brand is up to you. They're not all the same. But, anyone still selling digital cameras in 2024 has to keep up with the intense competition, where anything less than the tier-1 $6000 models is essentially the same in performance and capability. See if you can find a store where you can physically handle a few options, where one might 'feel' better to you than the others.

Handling some models might also help you decide if an interchangeable lens camera is even what you really want / need. A full-frame model is larger and heavier, even before you mount a larger and heavier full-frame lens. What types of subjects interest you? When you hold that camera+lens, would you want to carry that weight around for 4+ hours, even 8+ hours? Would a pocket-sized model, really about the size of a deck of cards, be a better choice? Depending your subjects, a MILC or DSLR might not be what you want or need.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Welcome to the forum.

If you can get to a camera shop and hold some and see how they feel, the control access, and how they function, that may be helpful in deciding.
Keep in mind that most people are biased to what they use, for various reasons.

PAR4DCR Loc: A Sunny Place

Welcome to UHH Mb22346, glad you joined us.
1) What brand is up to you. I have shot Nikon since the middle 70's and have stuck with Nikon until this day.
2) Maybe narrow your search to some brand or brands and rent these models to get a good feel for the camera. At least try going to a
local camera store and handle several models. MILC is all the craze now but might not be right for you or it might be right for you.
Only you can make that decision.
3) Buying used or refurbished will save you some $$$. My brother just purchased a Nikon D7200 from Adorama with only 476 clicks on
it. Just buy from a reputable dealer, B&H, Adorama, KEH or MPB or brand name sight, Nikon, Canon, etc.
Hope this advice helps.

Don

jim quist Loc: Missouri

I bought a Canon 1DX mk3 a couple of years ago. This is the one I would buy over and over again. Great low light performance, fast fps, 2300 shutter clicks on a fully charged battery, and built solid.

Refurbished is supposed to be as good as new from what I have heard.

joehel2 Loc: Cherry Hill, NJ

Welcome to the forum. I have bought two refurbished Nikons, they both have worked like new. I was out in Mason in February to attend my grandson’s wedding at the Manor.

tcthome Loc: NJ

Welcome to UHH. Have any idea what type of photography you want to do? eg., sports, wildlife, street, close up flower or macro, or just family events/vacation& friends recording & if you have a budget in mind, that will help with offered suggestions also.

Bison Bud

With the recent rush to mirrorless bodies, there are a lot of recent DLSR's on the used market due to folks upgrading and they are going pretty cheap. These are still fine and very capable cameras and saving a bit of money starting out is generally a good thing! One of these used or refurbished DLSR's would probably serve you well until the time you actually need to upgrade, if ever. The one drawback in my eyes is that most of the manufacturers of new mirrorless bodies also have a new series of lenses to go with them and one must have an adapter to use older lenses on them. So, a big investment in multiple lenses for a older DLSR may not be a great idea at this time. I'd recommend getting a good quality zoom lens that covers say 18mm to 100+mm and working with that for awhile before investing in more lenses. Anyway, I have personally purchased several used and or refurbished cameras over my lifetime and have been pleased with every purchase. I am presently still shooting an old Pentax K3, that I originally bought because I could use my film era lenses on it and had a good collection from my days shooting a Pentax K1000. I also have a Sony RX100 for a small, everyday type camera, but still use the K3 for any serious photography and it does quite well an virtually everyone here would consider it to be a relic! Frankly, if you want the newest technology, you will have to pay a premium for it, but it is what it is and it's your choice. Virtually any of the big manufacturers, Canon, Sony, Nikon, etc. offer excellent equipment either new or used, so I'd shop for bang for the bucks, but that's pretty much a way of life for me and it's your choice. Good luck and good shooting to all.

DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

What you buy is determined by what you want to accomplish.

Canisdirus

If you are going to dive into photography as more than a passing fad...buy mirrorless.

jrcarpe Loc: Jacksonville,AR

I have several Canon film and digital cameras. Have never had a problem with Canon.

pdsdville Loc: Midlothian, Tx

I love Sony especially the A77 and the A77ii.
I like the feel of the DSLR.
One of mine is a refurb and is trouble free.

Guess I'm prejudice.

Hip Coyote

To get to the right answer, you need to ask the right questions.

You first need to define what it is you want to do with the camera...travel, around the house pics of grand kids, sports, grand kids in sports, join a photo club and get serious, go on a photo safari to Africa, astro photography, portraits? Are you looking to study and learn photography and with it, editing programs? What is your budget? Without this information, any recommendations are shooting in the dark.

dbrugger25 Loc: Raleigh, NC

I have found that camera store salespeople are usually biased in favor of particular brands.

I recommend that you visit a store, handle various cameras, take photos of them with your smart phone and take notes. Then, go home and read many reviews of the brands and models that interest you. You can then make the decision.

You can go back to the store or buy from Amazon, or B and H or Adorama. You can also consider a used camera or refurbished camera from one of the previously mentioned sources or MPB, KEH or Roberts.