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I get asked this question a lot, so I thought it would be helpful to have a resource on my website to point people to when they ask. I will periodically update this post as new information, technology, and camera models become available to consumers.

Canon EOS Rebel t8i

This is the line of cameras that is usually my #1 go-to when I am asked this question. This current newest model is currently out of stock on Amazon, but you can get last year’s model (the t7i) instead.

Nikon D5600

If you’re brand loyal to Nikon (and happen to have Nikon lenses), the D5600 is a great choice. Note: the link to the right is for this camera body ONLY, no lens).

Nikon makes great consumer cameras well, and my hesitation about suggesting them before was solely due to the fact that they didn’t have video, but they do now! Granted I believe that Canon’s video capabilities are still better than Nikon’s but they are definitely improving every year!

Now, LENSES. I mentioned lenses above, and it’s important to know that lenses are body/brand specific. You can definitely get off-brand lenses, but for example, you can’t put a Canon lens on a Nikon body. Some brands that make lenses for different body brands are Sigma, Tamron, and Tokina. Just be sure that whatever lens you buy, you choose the correct mount (Nikon, Canon, etc) for it.

Also, many consumer cameras come with what we call “kit” lenses. This means they are cheap, slow glass that are decent, but they will not give you much of the professional quality to your photos that many hobbyists and amateur photographers are looking for. I recommend ordering the camera body only, and then upgrading by adding a “nifty fifty,” the 50mm 1.8 version of your camera’s brand lens, or a “pancake” lens, usually a 40mm 2.8 or similar. These lenses will give you much better results!

Sony Alpha 6100

Sony mirrorless cameras are all the rage right now! They have superior image quality and are much lighter for people with hand/wrist issues.

This camera has a built-in lens, so no need to buy any extra lenses to get great photos!

Fujifilm XF10

I rented a Fuji camera for a family vacation to Mexico a couple years ago and I was very happy with the results. The model (similar to this one) had full manual control, but with built-in lenses. It wasn’t quite the image quality I was used to, but for not having to take my “big” camera on an international flight, it was well worth it!

GoPro Hero 7

I may be shunned from the photography community by saying this one (haha, kidding), but I LOVE my GoPro camera. I will say I don’t really use it for stills, though you can! But the video quality is phenomenal! The GoPro Hero 8 just came out as well, but any of the models from the 6 on up are great choices.

When in doubt — rely on your phone! A friend of mine always says “the best camera is the one you have on you.”

The newest iPhone models take phenomenal photos, especially if you have portrait mode, which mimics the bokeh of DSLR cameras. And I have also heard GREAT things about Samsung phones and their photos. There are also phone photo apps and presets you can buy to edit your phone photos. I use Lightroom mobile since I use Lightroom for my regular photo editing. Some other popular apps are VSCO, Afterlight, A Color Story, and Snapseed (some of these are free and some cost a few dollars a month). Try out a bit of oomph on your photos, and I promise you’ll be happy!

Post cover photo by Emily Donohoe