Jdaugherty Loc: Vin. Indiana

Hello I’m jdaugherty. I would like to learn about photography mainly as a hobby. I could READ about the difference between DSLR and digital and which is better all day. Which makes my brain hurt. I prefer hands on knowledge. So if anyone could spare a few moments of time all replies will be appreciated.Don’t want to start any fights 😂 maybe just DLSR OR DIGITAL and why you like it! Thank you

R.G. Loc: Scotland

Not quite sure what you mean by that. The D in DSLR stands for digital......

Perhaps you meant the difference between DSLR and mirrorless?

BlackRipleyDog

First things first. How much can you afford to spend?

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

It looks like I am the first to reply. When I was looking for my first camera the sage advice I got was ‘the lens does all the work, the camera is just a box with controls,’ and I was advised to think about the scenes I plan on shooting - are they close or far and distances in between - will they be moving or still.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Your options are really all 'd' digital. For your other many acronyms, try MILC - mirrorless interchangeable lens camera.

When you imagine yourself as a successful photographer, do you see yourself holding a camera that still has a mirror?

Leitz Loc: Solms

If reading it makes your brain hurt, how are you going to get anything out of what's written here?

bleirer

At this point I think mirrorless is the future, so an entry level mirrorless body with the best quality lens you can afford is a good bet. You buy into a certain lens mount and buy quality lenses that can be used when you upgrade the body. For Canon, for example, canon RP is a good entry level body, or a used Canon R, with a used Canon rf 24-105L lens. Then in the future Canons with the RF lens mount can be in your dreams and your good lens will still work. These cameras with an adapter can use high quality used EF lenses also.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

1. What is your budget?
2. What are your photography interests?

Also, how you do you envision using your camera? You can get a digital camera the size of a deck of cards that fits in your pants pocket. This camera has the same digital sensor as the entry level DSLRs and can deliver the same files and results, except for maybe differences of maybe the most expenses interchangeable lenses you can mount to a DSLR / MILC. So, this pocket-sized camera really can be with you always, not hanging around your neck and / or a camera bag.

Another option is a 'super zoom'. These cameras won't fit in your pants pocket, but still are smaller than a traditional DSLR. Again, they have the 'insides' of a DSLR, but not the ability to interchange between different lenses. They're a step-up from the pocket-sized in the sense they have longer zoom ranges, especially on the long end, giving some wildlife / sports usage options.

And finally is the traditional interchangeable lens camera, larger and heavier, whether with a mirror or not. These cameras are platforms for all sorts of interchangeable equipment such as the flash, lens, on a tripod, etc. They also have lots of options, including general purpose lenses covering a huge zoom range, like the super zoom bodies, and very specialized lenses at every 'wide' or 'long' focal lengths. Different brands, and models within brands, give options on the size & weight so you don't have to go with the largest and heaviest, simply to have the option of changing lenses.

Or, maybe you just need a new phone such as the new Galaxy S21 that comes with three lenses built into the phone.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Welcome aboard. Lots of choices. Your key input is your budget. Hve fun with whatever you decide.If you have a brick and mortar store like Best Buy, it is worth a trip to get your hands on the camera for feel and location of controls and viewfinder.

Mr Bill 2011 Loc: southern Indiana

DSLR versus a mirrorless camera with interchangeable lens? DSLR is bigger, heavier, much noisier, and has more mechanical parts to break or get out of adjustment. I have 2 nice Canon DSLR's plus a Nikon P900 superzoom and a Panasonic ZS100 point & shoot to choose from when I go out, and normally take the Panasonic most times when I don't need a long lens. All things considered, if I were just starting out I would go with a mirrorless camera of one type or another and not even consider a DSLR.

LaoXiang

CHG Canon asks:

1. What is your budget?
2. What are your photography interests?

A camera, or a camera set-up (camera and lenses if you go that route) is a tool. What's right tool? Depends on the job. What do you want to do with a camera?

As bleirer points out, the major manufacturers are all going to mirrorless---simpler and smaller, not yet as widely effective for the price as a DSLR, but certainly the wve of the future.

However, as CHG Canon notes ... you might not need a DSLR or a Mirrorless. It all comes back to what you want to do with your camera.

So ... why do you want a camera?

flyboy61 Loc: The Great American Desert

Basic, basic, basic...Start simple, because you may decide you don't like it all that much. Maybe an inexpen$ive "bridge " camera. Then, something that will make your brain hurt... a book on photographic fundamentals...careful there, people want to make this magical art more complicated than it needs to be! Find a photo class on the fundamentals; some school districts offer them. Be aware that photography, although a rather simple exercise, does require some skull sweat, but not really all that much, and can be very rewarding!

BebuLamar

Sorry because you will get 100 answers and they point to all over the place and thus of no help in making your decision.
Now for my recommendation. I think you should buy the best looking camera within your price range. If it looks good to you it's good for you.

wetreed

I think you should go with the Nikon D3500 bundle.

yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

One camera you should consider is the Nikon Z50. It's a mirrorless DX body, uses the same mount as the full frame Z6 and Z7, and can be had with the excellent 16-50 kit lens for less than $1000.