A novice photographer wants to choose the right technique so that it lasts a long time. It is also important that the quality of the photos is also good. Any person whose budget is limited asks this question: "Where can I buy a good inexpensive camera?" There are actually many criteria, you need to decide on each one.
Recommendations for selection
In order not to have to puzzle for a long time over where to get an inexpensive and good digital camera, how to choose it, it is recommended to write all the wishes for a future camera on a piece of paper:
- Is it necessary to take only high-quality photos or just clear ones?
- What is the budget, will it be possible to purchase additional items if necessary?
- Do you want to further develop as a professional photographer?
- In what conditions and what is it supposed to photograph?
Questions, of course, may arise fromeach person is different, but the principle is the same. To buy an inexpensive and good digital camera, you need to understand one truth: a quality product will not be sold at too low a price, and a very expensive device does not guarantee perfect performance. It is better to give a couple of thousand rubles more and buy really good equipment than to take it cheaper and then suffer.
Types of digital cameras
Modern electronics is such that you can choose indefinitely. Sometimes there is a phenomenon: a "soap box" or a smartphone camera makes photos much better than a semi-professional "reflex camera". An inexpensive good quality camera can be of any type, you just have to choose. The types of photographic equipment are listed below:
- digital camera - an ordinary "soap box" with a fixed lens;
- amateur SLR camera - lenses are removable, there are more functions for shooting, and the quality is higher;
- semi-professional camera - removable lenses, many different functions, settings, possibilities;
- smartphone camera - built-in digital camera in a mobile device.
If a future photographer is poorly versed in digital technology, does not like to delve into the settings, and he is afraid of a large number of buttons, dimensions, then it is better to refrain from buying a SLR camera. In a conventional digital camera, buttons and wheels are at a minimum, and its dimensions do not differ too much from the parameters of smartphones.
"Soap dishes" with high-quality shooting
BIn the last century, optical cameras shooting on film took blurry and fuzzy pictures. Modern technology has long solved the problem with unsuccessful photography. Even 20 years ago, photographers with professional film equipment could not imagine that someday simple cameras would appear on the market that shoot several times better. "Soap dishes" - they will be discussed in this section.
Currently, many companies make photographic equipment, but not all can be the best. Below is a highly rated digital camera.
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W800
This is a good inexpensive camera. User reviews are encouraging. Those who do not have extra funds can afford to buy it. It fits compactly in your hand, is lightweight, and easy to use. 5x zoom, video recording, excellent flash. People write that good photos are obtained in the dark. Naturally, good pictures also come out during the day: rich colors, clear, sharpness is excellent, does not soap.
The camera's LCD is 2.7 inches. There is a macro mode. The strap is included. It is recommended to buy an additional memory card. Warning for those who are going to take a large amount of photos at once: the battery capacity is limited to 200 shots, so it is better to carry a charger with you.
Amateur SLR
It means a camera with a mirror element, which has its own advantagesin front of the optics. The matrix of the "DSLR" is larger, the photos are clearer, all the important elements of the shooting are visible, and the background, as a rule, is beautifully blurred. Thanks to this camera, you can develop creative abilities. Beginners often ask: "Recommend an inexpensive and good SLR camera." Of course, you can advise some, but there is a significant nuance: everyone has different preferences. Someone likes one camera and dislikes another, and someone has the opposite opinion. Below are two amateur DSLRs from the most popular brands.
Canon EOS 1100D
When choosing a camera in online stores, you need to remember: kit means that it is sold with a lens. As a rule, the manufacturer attaches an 18-55 mm lens to the "carcass". If such an element is not needed, the photographer plans to use special lenses, then you need to take a camera with the inscription body. This is a good inexpensive camera with many positive qualities. It is shown below with a kit lens.
What's special about him? Matrix 12, 6 megapixels, the ability to shoot video in high resolution. The pictures come out great. Compared to the "soap box" is a serious technique. Any Canon lenses can be attached to this camera.
Nikon D3100
This camera is just as good as the Canon EOS 1100D. Matrix - 14.8 MP. There is also a video mode, but no more than 10 minutes. Unlike the previous camera,Nikon D3100 has only one mount, that is, you can replace it with lenses with only one type of safety lock.
In general, both cameras are pretty good to use. For the average amateur, this is a valuable thing. Photos can be taken in almost any weather conditions, both indoors and outdoors. In the picture you can see clear contours, soft colors. If the owner wishes, the camera turns into a working tool for various shooting genres.
What is the difference between a "soap box" and an amateur "reflex camera"? What to choose?
By size alone, we can say that a SLR camera has more advantages over a simple digital camera. The number of buttons, wheels in the SLR camera suggests that there are many functions. There are few shooting modes in an ordinary pocket camera.
You shouldn't try to shoot scenes that are difficult for the device, for example, at dusk without a flash, in bright sunshine, small objects with an approximation. Chromatic aberrations are also quite enough, especially in winter and in cloudy weather. For those who don't know, chromatic aberration is blue and purple outlines with a sharp color transition (for example, white and brown, black).
An inexpensive and good SLR camera has fewer drawbacks, but a lot depends on the lenses.
DSLR digital cameras
As mentioned above, "soap dishes" have many disadvantages compared to SLR cameras, but they win in price. As for the mirrorcameras, there are actually three types of them:
- amateur;
- semi-professional;
- professional.
What is their difference? Let's start with amateur and semi-professional cameras. For those who don’t know what the crop factor is, let’s explain in simple words: the image will not be original, but enlarged n times. For example, the Canon EOS 60D camera has a crop factor of 1.6. Let's say the lens has a focal length of 100 mm, but with a cropped sensor it will be 160 mm. Unfortunately, all amateur and semi-professional DSLRs have a crop factor. But this parameter does not spoil the shooting at all, a digital camera is inexpensive and you can always choose a good one.
Maximum number of shots at one time (Sports mode) depends on camera type. The higher the class of the device, the more series of images.
Expensive but high quality pros
HDR is an abbreviation that doesn't mean anything to ignorant people. What's this? This shooting mode will allow you to take very high-quality pictures, even if there is poor or incorrect lighting. As you can see in many unusual and colorful photographs (starry sky, twilight in the studio, parks and cities at night), everything turns out spectacularly. Even a semi-professional camera with an expensive lens will not be able to repeat such a trick, since there is no HDR. Therefore, high-end cameras cost more than 100 thousand rubles and are not included in the category of "good inexpensive camera". Most often, these devicesused by real professionals: photo studios, wedding agencies, printing houses, that is, expensive cameras are relevant wherever you need a photo of the highest quality.
Which lenses to choose?
Perhaps this is the most sensitive topic, because a lot depends on the lenses. If you decide to buy a SLR camera with the prospect of changing optics, this section will be useful. Undoubtedly, here the question will not be so much about how to choose an inexpensive good camera, but about optics. She also wants to choose a good one. First of all, let's introduce the beautiful Canon 50 mm f/1.8II lens.
This is one of the best lenses with the lowest price. His task is a portrait, a still life. The photo produces soft and rich colors, beautiful blur and a perfect transition from the subject to the background. You might even think that the photo was taken with an expensive lens.
Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR II DX is a versatile lens for owners of a camera from the same company. In stores, it is quite inexpensive, and the quality is excellent. There is also a high-quality and cheap "telephoto" Nikon 55-200mm f / 4-5.6G AF-S DX VR IF. And for cameras, Canon can offer excellent optics under the name Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM.
All the lenses listed above cost no more than 6-9 thousand rubles, depending on the store. So the role is played not only by the digital camera itself, inexpensive and good.
The user reviews of the above devices are excellent. Especially for a newbiequite enough budget models of lenses.
About different shooting styles and genres
There is no point in going into professional details, a beginner will understand little. It is better to immediately consider examples. Below are the most common ones. The main photography subjects will be listed after each genre listing. The last suggestion is which lens is preferred.
- Portrait shooting. People, animals, objects that are relatively close. Keep in mind that the focus point will be located on objects located closest. 40mm or 50mm portrait lens.
- Reportage shooting. Random footage in any situation and anywhere. Telephoto lens, universal.
- Photo hunting. Animals, birds, plants in the forest, safari. Telephoto lens.
- Landscape, panoramas. Forests, mountains, rivers, panoramas, a city from the roof, a work team or a school class. Wide.
- Night shooting. At night, in tunnels, in dark rooms. Fast lens.
- Macro photography. Insects, flowers, small parts, microcircuits. Macro lens.
There are other genres, but they use more expensive lenses. If you choose a cheaper camera and lens, then we can say that the question of which camera is better has been resolved. Inexpensive high-quality equipment can always be purchased if you treat the purchase wisely.
Should I buy another brand of DSLR?
Different types of SLR camerasit is recommended to purchase from Canon or Nikon. Why? Because they have a wide range of additional elements: lenses, flashes, cases, aqua boxes and others.
You can take, for example, a Sigma lens, Tamron, etc., but where is the guarantee that the quality will not fail? "Native" optics are always more reliable and better.
Instead of a conclusion
The article provided an approximate list of cameras, lenses, characteristics. It is recommended to read reviews about the models of interest before buying. Prices for them are different, even for a year they can change abruptly. You should never rush to choose, so as not to be disappointed. It is also necessary to consider photographs that were taken with any lens. It is not difficult to buy a good inexpensive camera, the main thing is not to make a mistake by buying a cheap and useless thing.