Camera buying guide 2021

[GDRRiley]

On many camera focused sites like B&H or Adoramba you can get items like extra batteries, SD cards or software bundled at the same cost.
 

sub 500$ (includes kit lens)

Used Fuji X-T100
Used Canon T5-T7/ T5i-T8i

Used Panasonic

 

500-900$ (includes kit lens)

Fuji     X-T200
Sony   A6100
Canon M6mk2

 

900-1500$ (no lens)

Fuji    X-S10

 

1500-2500$ (no lens)

 

2500$+ (no lens)

 

 

I assume people will ask i'll list sources but roughly

Potato jet

Kai W

DP review (

a few others.

 

I am by no means an expert and everyone's use case may mean a different model than the listed will make sense. I'll take feedback and update it.

Edited May 20, 2021 by GDRRiley
2021 revision

[emosun]

8 minutes ago, GDRRiley said:

First a poll, include lens costs or not?

does a camera need a lens to take a picture

[GDRRiley]

Just now, emosun said:

does a camera need a lens to take a picture

yes it does but I don't know if you are coming from another camera, your first ever or what you do.

 

I can buy a decent set of lenses for the 100$ a canon 18-55$ costs.

50mm prime and a 75-300MM III. for some people this would be better others not.

 

For some vidoe guys I'd say go grab a bunch of primes and by a body only.

first timer, get a kit lens or maybe 2 included.

Moving from a camera on the same mount, no need for cheap glass.

 

my point was there are too many use cases that will dictate if it makes sense.

[emosun]

2 minutes ago, GDRRiley said:

my point was there are too many use cases that will dictate if it makes sense.

is there any use case where someone could use the camera with no lens at all

[GDRRiley]

1 minute ago, emosun said:

is there any use case where someone could use the camera with no lens at all

yes, beat someone up with it.

most bodies would work well as a hammer

[Letgomyleghoe]

4 minutes ago, GDRRiley said:

yes, beat someone up with it.

most bodies would work well as a hammer

@emosun you could also use it as an eating utensil

[Slottr]

Regarding the poll, I think once you get up into the higher priced bodies, the only focus could really just be the body itself.

If you're paying upward of 1-2000$ on a camera, you'll probably know what type of lens you'll need

[GDRRiley]

1 minute ago, Slottr said:

Regarding the poll, I think once you get up into the higher priced bodies, the only focus could really just be the body itself.

If you're paying upward of 1-2000$ on a camera, you'll probably know what type of lens you'll need

okay so the 1250$ and below categorize has lenses? above none

[ThePointblank]

I would just list the list price for the body itself, and also note the common kit lens and its price that is often bundled with the camera.

 

Sometimes, there are multiple kit lenses offered for a body, and these all can vary in price.

[Slottr]

Just now, GDRRiley said:

okay so the 1250$ and below categorize has lenses? above none

Yeah I'd say that's fair.

[GDRRiley]

1 minute ago, ThePointblank said:

I would just list the list price for the body itself, and also note the common kit lens and its price that is often bundled with the camera.

 

Sometimes, there are multiple kit lenses offered for a body, and these all can vary in price.

yes that is true.

 

1 minute ago, Slottr said:

Yeah I'd say that's fair.

okay so I've got 2 competing ideas now.

 

Lens at 1250 and below or just mention lens combos with those prices not forcing the category.

[LyondellBasell]

39 minutes ago, GDRRiley said:

First a poll, include lens costs or not?

this will all be filled in in the next day or 2.

4 minutes ago, Slottr said:

Regarding the poll, I think once you get up into the higher priced bodies, the only focus could really just be the body itself.

If you're paying upward of 1-2000$ on a camera, you'll probably know what type of lens you'll need

1 minute ago, GDRRiley said:

okay so the 1250$ and below categorize has lenses? above none

This might be an outlier opinion but I would leave the lens costs out. Put in a "disclaimer" or reminder that newcomers will need to factor in lens costs before immediately jumping into a purchase, but I don't think lens costs are part of a camera buying guide.

 

There are so many use cases, preferences, options, and cross-mount adapters that making lens recommendations is best done on a case-by-case basis.

 

I recognize that alot of people new to photography might be reading the guide.

If they're so new that they don't know what to look for, then a used starter camera with the kit lens is pretty much always the best recommendation.

If they have enough experience that they know they want to go in a certain direction, then they can absolutely make a post asking for "best next lens to get".

[Slottr]

2 minutes ago, GDRRiley said:

yes that is true.

okay so I've got 2 competing ideas now.

Lens at 1250 and below or just mention lens combos with those prices not forcing the category.

I actually like the opposing idea better. And then as @LyondellBasell mentioned, a disclaimer for lenses as well.

It's just such a big market on it's own, but hard to introduce to someone who's just  trying to get into it.

[GDRRiley]

Just now, Slottr said:

I actually like the opposing idea better. And then as @LyondellBasell mentioned, a disclaimer for lenses as well.

It's just such a big market on it's own, but hard to introduce to someone who's just  trying to get into it.

okay so body only with lens mentioned will be what I go with.

[Blue4130]

On 3/9/2020 at 10:26 AM, emosun said:

is there any use case where someone could use the camera with no lens at all

Yes, pinhole photos. 

[GDRRiley]

sorry I started it then got a little busy. I'll try to put in some time tonight and tomorrow.

plan so far is to get the cameras down and then see if you'll think they need any tweaks before my big write up.

[GDRRiley]

I've got time. later today after I sleep and do some HW I'll work on putting more in.

I'd love input before I finish the comparisons.

I know the approval won't be universal but I'd like a majority to agree.

[D13H4RD]

Here's some suggestions, mainly for the upper-class price brackets but some will apply to the lower-tier. These are mainly mirrorless as DSLR development is being put on the backburner but I will include some appealing ones.

 

Budget ($500-800)

Canon EOS M50: Not exactly the flashiest or the most advanced and it doesn't have great (or good) 4K video but for stills and 1080p60 video recording, it's a nice little package for beginners or those wanting a small camera that can take decent to good photos with the occasional casual film/vlog.

 

Fujifilm X-A7/X-T200: First Fuji bodies in the budget category that have been really impressive lately. They both deliver very solid 4K performance and feature very attractive JPEG rendering alongside a very wide selection of native lenses. Also unique in the sense that it has a gigantic touchscreen and a user-interface that's more familiar for smartphone-converts. X-T200 is basically an X-A7 with an EVF.

 

Sony a6100: The best autofocus in its price tier without question. mixed in with very solid stills and video performance.

 

Mid-tier ($800-$1200)

Fujifilm X-T30: Basically an X-T3 Lite. Has almost all of the great stuff from the X-T3 in a smaller, less expensive package. The $1199 SKU comes with the XF 18-55mm kit zoom, one of very few kit zooms that really punch far above its weight.

 

Sony a6400: Refer to the a6100 earlier, but add in a better-built body, picture profiles, additional features and a certain degree of weather sealing.

 

Nikon Z50: Worthy competitor to both the Fuji and Sony. While AF isn't quite as good as the Sony and the number of DX lenses for Z-Mount is very small at the moment, it's got very solid stills performance and surprisingly capable video performance.

 

Canon EOS M6ii/90D: The first Canon non-cine cameras that feature 4K video recording without an additional crop and with Dual Pixel AF (albeit upscaled). Also has a 32.5MP sensor that's the highest of the bunch to date, although tbh, you probably won't notice.

 

High-end ($1200++ APS-C, $2000+++ 35mm fuill-frame)

Fujifilm X-T3/X-T4: Still probably the best hybrid camera around. Stills performance is excellent mixed in with very capable video featuring HLG recording and the ability to record 10-bit 4:2:2 oversampled 4K via an external recorder. The X-T4 has all that combined with a significantly larger battery and IBIS.

 

Sony a7iii: A great all-round full-framer. Does a bit of everything pretty damn well. The Nikon Z6 is also a solid option for less money as of this time.

 

 

I've got way more but these are the ones out of my head

[GDRRiley]

wonderful @D13H4RD I'll use that info in this list when I make my big edit on Saturday or Sunday.

[DZanjo1ST]

First recommendation if you're looking to get a camera under $500 is to buy used, second is to go mirrorless and third is what do you plan to use it to do. 

[YellowJersey]

On 3/8/2020 at 8:28 PM, GDRRiley said:

yes, beat someone up with it.

most bodies would work well as a hammer

I'm reminded of when DigitalRevTV did their torture test on the 7D back in the day

[GDRRiley]

3 minutes ago, DZanjo1ST said:

First recommendation if you're looking to get a camera under $500 is to buy used, second is to go mirrorless and third is what do you plan to use it to do. 

I'm going to mention that but due to the wide variation in used markets around the world it is hard to just have 1 camera.

[DZanjo1ST]

6 minutes ago, GDRRiley said:

I'm going to mention that but due to the wide variation in used markets around the world it is hard to just have 1 camera.

Well at each price point there should be 3 options (IMO)

Photo: New | Used
Vidoe: New | Used

Hybrid: New | Used
If you need help putting the list together i wouldn't mind helping you with it ... we can talk about stuff.

[GDRRiley]

5 minutes ago, DZanjo1ST said:

If you need help putting the list together i wouldn't mind helping you with it ... we can talk about stuff.

I'm going to work on it likely sunday the 12th its all about a community created list I don't claim to know everything. nikon is my weak area.

[DZanjo1ST]

4 minutes ago, GDRRiley said:

I'm going to work on it likely sunday the 12th its all about a community created list I don't claim to know everything. nikon is my weak area.

Cool, I'll put together some information as to options and such also. D13H4RD's post here is pretty solid, with good options.