Ms. Jersey Loc: NJ Retired To FL Cruise Ports To Sail Away

New to photography and I would like your opinion(s) on what you feel is the best camera to invest in before I start. Also, best place to purchase. Thank you so much for guiding me in the right direction from currently taking photo's with my cell phone to moving forward to the perfect camera.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Welcome to our forum!

You've come to the right place to get answers, but you will also get lots of questions.

There are two main types of popular cameras: DSLR and mirrorless. Each has its advantages. Do a lot of research before you spend your money. Below are links that should be helpful.

DSLR vs Mirrorless -

https://www.lightstalking.com/considerations-mirrorless-cameras/
http://www.lightstalking.com/mirrorless-vs-dslr/
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/dslr-vs-mirrorless-cameras,news-17736.html

Camera comparison sites -

Read comparisons and specs, and decide what features are important to you.
(Reviews) https://www.youtube.com/user/TheCameraStoreTV/videos
http://www.cameradecision.com/
http://cameras.reviewed.com/
http://camerasize.com/
http://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM
http://snapsort.com/compare
http://www.dpreview.com/products/compare/cameras?utm_campaign=internal-link&utm_source=mainmenu&utm_medium=text&ref=mainmenu

fourg1b2006 Loc: Long Island New York

Hi welcome to the forum....check out those links...they will help you.

cthahn

There is no best or perfect camera nor will there ever be one. You can take any camera on the market now and take good pictures with it. The photographer takes the picture, not the camera.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Are you planning to generate income with the new camera? I ask because you stated "camera to invest in" and an investment is usually something you purchase to make money with. Previous responders said there are two types of camera to chose from, mirrorless and DSLR but there is also bridge cameras and simple point and shoot cameras. A decent point and shoot would be a step up from your cell phone camera. A bridge camera is a point and shoot but it is more like a mirrorless without interchangeable lens. Knowing ones budget would help also because there can be a big difference in price based on camera type and quality and even manufacturer.

Ms. Jersey Loc: NJ Retired To FL Cruise Ports To Sail Away

Thank you Jerry. I will continue researching and reaching out for experienced users.

d3200prime

You will be entering a new and exciting world far more technical and advanced than the simple cell phone camera. I like Nikon. Not that I have tried any other DSLR brands but I believe good advice would be to purchase a good used camera and a good wide angle lens and a good zoom lens and then learn ALL about photography you can. A good rule would be to get the body first and then carefully pick the lenses. The kit lenses are good for beginners but you will find yourself selling them and purchasing better glass on down the road if you find photography is for you. I would recommend the Nikon D3200, D3300 or D3400 camera. These are entry level and are good to start out with. Ebay, craigslist and many online stores such as KEH, B&H offer what you need at reasonable prices. Please don't go out and purchase expensive kit as so many newbies do and six months later after the novelty wears off and they become bored with it all their equipment ends up on ebay, UHH, in a yard sale or a donation. The camera and lenses do not a photographer make.
I found a website named www.udemy.com which has helped me immensely. Please try it. The last bit of advice is to get away from auto settings ASAP. Shoot manual when you finally learn photography basics, your camera, lenses and what they can do. On udemys website there is a course called "Photography: Ditch Auto - Start Shooting in Manual by Jared Hill. It will teach you all you need to know about shooting in manual and best of all it's FREE. Explore udemy and it will help you tremendously. Good shooting to you.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Welcome to the forum. Technology drives cameras today. Every year the industry makes you feel you need to upgrade. That is what is called GAS.
Gear Acquisition Syndrome. Choose a camera that will laqst you at least 5 years before you make another big investment of $$$. As said earlier,it is the person and not the camera. I lived in New Jersey for 5 years in Bound Brook.

Ms. Jersey Loc: NJ Retired To FL Cruise Ports To Sail Away

Hello Mr. Alabama,
Thank you so much for sharing your personal expertise and advise with me today. The www.udemy.com website is such a gift! I accessed the site and scrolled and scrolled and realized that there is so much to learn to enrich my life on that site. Looking forward to taking the course you recommended as well as many others. You're the best!
Sincerely,
Ms. Jersey

PS: Manual not Auto - Got it!

Ms. Jersey Loc: NJ Retired To FL Cruise Ports To Sail Away

Hello Former Mr. Jersey,
Thank you for sharing your TLC and recommendations concerning my question this morning. I want to make the right camera choice that will last me for five years just as you said. I'm not an impulse buyer and will continue to research on websites, reach out to experts like yourself before I purchase a camera.

Love Bound Brook and the Jersey Shore. I lived in Central Jersey and retired from M&M/MARS Chocolate in Hackettstown, NJ. Like you I moved out of NJ and now live in Florida. Miss our delicious Jersey corn & tomatoes!

insman1132 Loc: Southwest Florida

Ms Jersey, did you give us a $$$ range you are comfortable spending??

d3200prime

Awww............thanks! It really was my pleasure. Let the hogs know what gear you get, please. Good shooting to you.

a6k Loc: Detroit & Sanibel

Ms. Jersey, in addition to all the very good advice you are getting above I suggest that you consider renting a camera for a week. While that will or could add to your eventual total expense it may provide information that's otherwise impossible to obtain. In my case it persuaded me to NOT buy the rig that I thought I wanted and TO buy one I was only mildly thinking about. There is really nothing like trying it out. I was able to take a lot of pictures because I was on a trip for photo purposes and had two laptops with me so I could carefully examine my results. In the end the ergonomics were the deciding factor. I also spend a lot less money but that was anything but assured and it could have gone the other way.

FYI, I used "lensrentals dot com" but from what I've read, there are other good sources as well. I was extremely satisfied with their service, used them twice in a row before making the purchase of the RX10m3 at B&H. I have no idea what the right camera is for you but I think this approach could help you with the "final" decision.

Ms. Jersey Loc: NJ Retired To FL Cruise Ports To Sail Away

Great idea Mr. Dog Lover. It's amazing how much knowledge was shared and support was given to me today and I thank you all. Now the shooting begins as I will take your advise and rent camera's during my busy week of travel. I moved from Jersey to Florida and Tuesday I'm going to Disney Springs, Thursday to Kennedy Space Center, and Sunday to see the NY Giant vs Buccaneers in Tampa. I'm going to focus on not using auto but manual and not shooting into the bright Florida sun for those unique shot. Hopefully, I won't have to use the trash can for many of my photo's. Make it a great week!

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

You're traveling through another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination. That's the signpost up ahead - your next stop, the Hedgehog Zone. Welcome.

I would not even attempt to advise you without asking you a dozen or more questions. Sorry.