Doc Mck Loc: Terrell,Texas

The most popular brand in the world is Canon. The other brands are good also, but, Canon is the best selling. Refurbished is fine, used may be better. These cameras are very well built and if treated with respect, will last a long time. I have both mirrored and mirrorless, also, a couple of bridge cameras. A number have been bought used from eBay, and UHH. Look for low shutter counts and a source that allows returns if not satisfied. Don’t spend a lot of money until you decide if you like photography. You can find a very nice used DSLR with a good variable focal length lens for less than $500. Most likely.

anotherview Loc: California

Good morning. Your questions indicate to me that you have become serious about doing photography. I offer my comment from that standpoint.

The camera brand or type comes second to knowing how to use any camera to produce worthy photographs.

So, I strongly recommend that you study and apply the fundamentals of image composition. Visit this website for guidance in this central aspect of doing photography: https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography/discover/photo-composition.html

Attend a workshop or two to become familiar with camera operation as well. Doing so will help shorten the learning curve; after all, photography functions as a craft. We must learn its tools.

The concern for which brand of camera to buy and use opens the door to a big topic in the field of photography. Let me please suggest that you rent a camera that seems to suit your hand and eye. Hands-on experience may persuade you in a purchase. Let's face it: Photographers may select a camera in part from its ergonomics.

But this concern also presents a choice arising from the personal appeal of photography to your senses. Do you like black-and-white or color (or both) as the primary avenue of photography. Do you like landscapes or portraits? And so on. The field of photography covers a lot of ground. You may not know the answer to this paramount question of which way to go until you actually practice photography.

Try the informal approach while you learn more about photography: Take a lot of pictures. Learn from your failures and successes.

As to the choice of a DSLR or a mirrorless camera, let me please note that only a short time ago, the DSLR served as the latest advance in technology; now, the mirrorless camera pretends to wear the crown. Yet, consider that you and me and others cannot tell one from the other in the final product of either camera.

Of course, we now see the flashy Artificial Intelligence approach to doing photography. The sell-jobs for it have started. Do not fear this technologic advance. The basics of doing photography remain in place, as always.

As to which brand of camera to buy and use, I offer this guide. Consider the availability of gear and software behind and underlying the product. Canon leads ahead of all others.
Third-parties will naturally cater to this leader, offering a wider array of support. Nikon-lovers will find plenty of options, too.

Canon offers refurbished cameras at a cost lower than for new. I note that Canon scrutinizes these re-done cameras while undergoing cleaning, inspection, repair, and testing. In effect, the used camera performs as new-like, although another human being has taken pictures with it. I have bought and used refurbished photography gear from Canon with no problem. I also like SIGMA for its line of lenses compatible with Canon DSLRs. I own and use more than one SIGMA lens.

The hardest part of my comment here has to do with the intense sales bombardment urging photographers of all persuasions to buy this or that item, as if it represents the be-all and end-all of products under the sun.

Beware. Do your homework with a critical frame of mind. Read reviews. Avoid buying anything dependent solely on the shouting of an advertisement. Sleep on any purchase action. If really interested, rent to try before you buy.

In ending, I note the following extreme outlook for doing photography: You need only a single camera and a single lens for the practice of photography, or to learn it. You can practice photography with a point-and-shoot camera or your cellular telephone camera.

Despite non-stop, widespread advertisements showing photographers wearing backpacks, you really only need a camera bag with a sling strap to lug the camera with lens, along with, say, a spare battery and a lens-cleaning kit.

Note as well, that few photographers truly need a tripod for the practice of photography, no matter the bias and blandishments of manufacturers and their ads. Effective image stabilization subsystems have relegated the tripod to the fringe at best. I will grant that microphotography and certain other sub-fields require a tripod for best results.

I qualify my limited view by the obvious fact: Doing photography with artificial lighting (AKA flash lighting) does involve certain specialized gear. It brings up another side of photography.

Let us leave this side for later.

topcat Loc: Alameda, CA

The brand of camera? The camera is only a tool. Everyone has a favorite camera brand, and they are for different reasons. Look at the different cameras, talk to people that you know. Get one that yo are comfortable with using.
DSLRs are old, Mirrorless is the wave of the future. You can get DSLRs at a good price.
Mirrorless seems to be pushing the full frame more than the crop sensor, and that is something that you will have to look at. Determine you needs and the costs involved
Refurbished are a great buy. I don't know anyone that has had a problem with them.

It is a personal decision, and only you can decide. Too many variables to give a simple answer, if there was a simple answer.

topcat Loc: Alameda, CA

Nikon has some of the best professional cameras, and Fuji is well-regarded. Canon may be the biggest company, but they are not necessarily the best.

Goldyrock

I have an A77 that I bought new. Still works very well. Also have an A65 as a 2nd body. I can still use my Minolta A mount lenses.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

1) In 2024, all brands are good for something and are reliable and well made. Buy the brand that makes a model with the features you want and need.

2) Mirrorless. The dSLR is essentially dead now. No new R&D is going into dSLR production.

3) Yes. Refurbished and gently used gear gives you the same camera for a lot less money. Refurbs from the factory carry the same warranty as new. Used gear from KEH, MPB, Adorama, B&H, or Roberts UsedPhotoPros generally carries a six month or 180 day warranty.

Do your OWN research to see what is available at various price points. High quality images can be made with almost any new-ish camera. So Buy the features you need at the price you can afford and get out there with it.

jjanovy Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

For a first camera, the first consideration is budget, and the second is how it feels in your hands. The third consideration, of course, is what you’re going to do with it. I have a bunch of Nikons, but I also use a couple of Canons, and those are the two brands I would stick with, but that’s just a personal opinion. My friends who use Sonys take great pictures. One big consideration is lenses, and once you get hooked, you’ll want to stick with one brand and increase your lens diversity. My advice would be to start simple and give yourself a wide range of options creatively. For example, although I have D850 and Z7-2 Nikons, I still use my D3400 with an 18-300mm lens quite a bit simply because I like it, it feels good in my hands, and that lens gives me a lot of composition options. I also have a Nikon P900 and use it a LOT, simply because I take a lot of video in addition to stills, and its zoom capacity is excellent. I bought the D850 used from my local camera store that I trust completely, and have never had any problems. Shutter count is a main consideration for used or refurbished. Good luck and enjoy!

anotherview Loc: California

Words of wisdom: "High quality images can be made with almost any new-ish camera."

radiojohn

Frequently sage advice is dispensed by the various photo-gurus without a single person asking "what kind of photos do you want to take?"

Frequently those asked, pause for a moment and reply "general photography."

Nothing is learned on either side.

bobbydvideo

Canon, Mirrorless. I have the R6. Refurbished depends on who is selling. I would buy from B&H.

anotherview Loc: California

Good point. From my experience as a novice trying to learn photography, I did answer that way. I still lacked an effective set of skills to evaluate my own work.
My direction in photography developed as time passed. I found I had no interest in doing extreme photography, such as underwater photography. My preference became more or less settled from my actual practice.

radiojohn

I spent some time working in camera stores. It was away to hone down the selection and not waste time. But there were always unrealistic hopes. "I want to shoot action shots of my son playing basketball inside with a camera that fits in my pocket and costs about $150."

nealbralley Loc: Kansas

There are many great cameras out there. While I have both mirrorless and DSLRs, either will work fine for most shooters. Mirrorless cameras are lighter, and often smaller. DSLRs tend to be more robust, and I believe more rugged, but some folks don't like the weight and size of DSLRs. Others will disagree with me, and I certainly don't give a hoot what they think. I like DSLRs because they have no lag when you turn them on. You may have to wait with some mirrorless cameras because they do their digital/computer slow turn-on sequence. I find it annoying.

Mirrorless cameras provide a nice viewfinder with pretty much a "what you see is what you will get" in your snapped image. DSLRS don't do that when looking through an optical viewfinder. However, optical viewfinders often provide a better image screen within the viewfinder when you shoot in low-light conditions.

Bottomline, either system will work just fine. Many DSLRs are on the market today, and you can get bargains on used gear from the reputable used on-line stores such as KEH. They offer free returns (if you don't like what you get) and a 180-day warranty. I have bought multiple cameras and lenses from KEH, and I always received more than I expected! Sure, DSLRs are no longer being manufactured, but they are widely available, and they work splendidly.

Buy what feels good in your hand and provides you with a good view when you look through the viewfinder or LCD screen on the back of the camera. Remember, lenses are more important than the camera body, so look for a decent camera body, but spend you money on better lenses. Buy into a camera system having a good variety of affordable, good glass. What brand? Frankly, it doesn't matter, all of the major manufacturers make good equipment: Canon, Nikon, Sony, FujiFilm, Olympus/OM-1, Panasonic/Lumix. Do you want full-frame (heavier, larger, more expensive, and generally better resolution), a crop sensor camera which will likely be lighter, and lenses less expensive, Micro Four Thirds (MFT) has a smaller sensor, but they still do a fine job for many users; these are smaller and lighter to carry. There is no right answer, and there is no one-size that fits all users' needs. Shop around, and have fun doing it!