Wide Open. Gear

What Camera Should I Buy?

A short decision guide that matches you to the right camera by what you shoot and what you can spend — no jargon required.

By Stephen V.Last updated How we pick

“What camera should I buy?” is the most common question in photography, and it has a frustrating answer: it depends. But it depends on a small number of things, and once you know them, the choice gets a lot simpler. This guide walks you through those questions in order, so you end up with a short list rather than a spec-sheet headache.

Start with what you shoot

The single most useful thing to know is what you’ll actually point the camera at. Different jobs reward different cameras, and buying for the wrong job is how people end up disappointed.

  • Vlogging and talking to camera. You need a screen that flips forward, a wide lens, and good autofocus and audio. See our best vlogging cameras.
  • YouTube and video. Prioritize reliable autofocus, clean 4K, and a mic input. Our cameras for YouTube guide covers first-video to full-channel.
  • Photography and learning. Prioritize a viewfinder, comfortable controls and access to good lenses. The beginner mirrorless guide is the place to start.
  • Travel and everyday.Prioritize size and weight — the best camera is the one you’ll actually carry. A compact or a small mirrorless body wins here.

If you’re trying to do a bit of everything, that’s fine — most modern cameras are capable all-rounders. Just weight your choice toward the thing you’ll do most.

Then set a realistic budget — for the whole kit

Here’s the mistake almost everyone makes: budgeting for the camera body and forgetting the rest. A camera needs a lens (sometimes included as a “kit,” sometimes not), a memory card, and often a bag and a spare battery. Budget for the whole kit from the start.

A genuinely capable entry mirrorless kit — body plus a kit lens — lands in the mid-three figures, and that’s enough to take excellent photos and video. If you can, keep a little budget aside for one fast prime lens later, because that upgrade will improve your images more than spending the same money on a pricier body. Our beginner kit guide lays out complete kits at three budgets.

Sensor size: APS-C is the sweet spot

You’ll see three main sensor sizes: 1-inch (in compacts), APS-C, and full-frame. Bigger sensors gather more light and give shallower background blur, but they cost more — and full-frame lenses are much pricier and heavier.

For the vast majority of people, APS-C is the sweet spot: a large, capable sensor in a smaller, cheaper body, with affordable lenses. You may never feel the need to move up. Full-frame makes sense when you have a specific reason — professional work, extreme low light, the shallowest possible blur — and the budget for the lenses it demands. Don’t let anyone talk you into full-frame as a beginner; it’s rarely the right first step.

Don’t agonize over brand

Sony, Canon, Nikon, Fujifilm and Panasonic all make excellent cameras. There is no single “best” brand, and the differences between comparable models are smaller than forums suggest. What actually matters:

  • How the menus and grip feelin your hands — if you can, hold a couple in a shop.
  • Which lenses you want down the line, and what they cost in that system.
  • What fits your budget today.

Pick a system you’re happy to grow into and stop second-guessing. The photographer matters far more than the badge.

Mirrorless, not DSLR (for a new buyer)

If you’re buying new, buy mirrorless. Every camera maker has moved its development to mirrorless cameras, so that’s where the new lenses, autofocus and features are. A DSLR can still be a great used bargain, but you’d be buying into a system that’s winding down. We explain the full trade-off in our mirrorless vs DSLR guide.

Putting it together

Answer three questions — what do I shoot, what can I spend on the whole kit, and do I care more about size or capability — and the field narrows to a handful of cameras. From there, pick the one whose controls feel right and whose lenses you want, and start shooting. The gear matters far less than the habit of using it.

When you’re ready for specific picks, our camera guides break it down by use: vlogging, YouTube, beginners and budget. And when you want to understand the specs behind them, read how to choose a camera next.

Frequently asked questions

Should my first camera be a phone, a compact, or a mirrorless camera?

If your phone frustrates you in low light or you want to change lenses and get real background blur, a mirrorless camera is the upgrade. If you just want something pocketable that beats your phone's zoom, a premium compact is simpler. For most people who are serious about learning, an entry mirrorless camera is the sweet spot.

Do I need full-frame?

Almost certainly not, especially starting out. APS-C cameras are smaller, cheaper (in bodies and lenses) and take excellent photos. Full-frame gathers a little more light and gives shallower blur, but the cost — including much pricier lenses — rarely makes sense until you have a specific professional reason.

How much should I spend on my first camera?

Budget for the whole kit, not just the body: camera, one good lens, a memory card and maybe a bag. A capable entry mirrorless kit lands in the mid-three figures. Keep some budget for a fast prime lens — it improves your photos more than a pricier body would.

Which brand is best?

There's no single best brand — Sony, Canon, Nikon, Fujifilm and Panasonic all make excellent cameras. Choose based on which menus and grip feel right to you, which lenses you want, and what fits your budget. Don't overthink it; you can take great photos with any of them.

Should I buy new or used?

Used can be great value, especially for an older but capable body or lens. Buy from a reputable seller with a return policy, check the condition and (for cameras) the shutter count, and make sure lenses are still available for the mount. New gets you a warranty and the latest features.

Keep reading