canyondweller wrote:
I bought my first SLR back in 1978. It was a Pentax K1000. Fully manual film camera. I still have it. I am finally ready to move into the digital world. There is so much information out there that it is overwhelming. I am trying to decide which is the better choice of camera for me. I am a hobby photographer. I take all kinds of pictures. I would like to know if one is easier to use than the other. I also want to look at cost of ownership. Are lenses more expensive for one brand than the other. Is there regular maintenance required.
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
I bought my first SLR back in 1978. It was a Penta... (
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You don't need an expensive DSLR or Mirrorless camera to start shooting digital.
When it comes to camera brands, at the stage you are at, it really doesn't matter. No camera is perfect, everyone's needs are different as are the camera options. A camera that is ideal for me may not be your cup of tea and vice versa. And your criteria for cameras will evolve. So there is no point in suggesting that this camera is better than that camera. And to try and "sell" you on a camera system without knowing what you have experienced, what you like to shoot, how you will use your pictures (print or sharing on social media), or what your budget is. I will take a guess, using your "code words" that by describing yourself as a hobbyist you don't see a reason to spend a lot of money, and by saying you take all kinds of pictures sounds like you have no specific feature in mind, other than it can take pictures, and wanting a camera that is easy to use tells me you neither have the time or inclination to learn a camera or post processing.
You have just described a cellphone camera. Nothing is cheaper (you may already have one), and judging by the sheer number of images that are posted on numerous social media sites, no camera is easier to use or requires less maintenance.
If you think I am being a smartass, you're wrong.
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/photography/8-tips-taking-travel-pictures-with-the-iphone7/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd0NAceMH8Yhttps://iphonephotographyschool.com/travel/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-hodson/iphone-photography_b_3430363.html?slideshow=true#gallery/302718/7As far as more advanced cameras are concerned, there is not a lot of difference between current cameras from a functional perspective. Lens systems on the other hand can be quite different, but not at the consumer level (APS-C or smaller), they don't cost a lot, and they are decent enough optically. Though there are some exceptions - Sigma and Tamron have a few APS-C lenses that are every bit pro quality - great build, fast focus, excellent sharpness, environmental sealing, etc.
So if you are looking for someone to tell you how to spend your money, you'll get a more informed answer if you provide a lot more information. But based on your post, my advice is get yourself a low end point and shoot or use your cellphone for the moment, learn how to post process a little bit, and let the next camera you acquire outdo the one you will get now, and by then you'll have a better idea about what makes sense for you.