Photographers: What cameras do you recommend?

Question

I like to do a lot of landscape photography. But I also want to incorporate some night time shots. So I definitely want a camera that does well in the dark. I’m not extremely experienced with cameras and photography, but I do have some experience and practice. What do you recommend that’s under $1000?

Answer 1

Any DSLR will be a good choice. Canon's T series like the T5, T6 and T7 are all excellent cameras within your budget.



I'd avoid the Nikon D3xxx series and go for a D5xxx or D7xxx instead. The D3xxx series don't have internal AF motors, so you're limited as to which lenses will still provide you with auto focus. Buying used lenses is a real pain since Nikon has 5 different iterations of their F mount; many of which don't have internal AF motors.



You mention low-light photography, but you don't mention if you need a system that will allow you to use the camera hand held in low light, or if you plan on using a tripod. If you need to hand-hold your camera, then I would strongly recommend the Pentax K-70. Pentax is the only brand of DSLR that has in-body image stabilization or IBIS. IBIS moves the sensor which allows you to take shots as slow as 1/2 second hand held. Because the sensor is doing the stabilization and not the lens, which is what canon and nikon do, any lens you use with a Pentax will be stabilized. This provides you with a huge advantage because many of the lenses that have large apertures within Canon and Nikon's lineup do not have any kind of stabilization. There are a lot of reviews on the Pentax K-70, most put the K-70 at the top of the rankings of cameras under $1,000. It's also weather and dust proof, too. At it's price, nothing from Canon or Nikon beats it in terms of image quality and overall performance.



Other cameras have IBIS such as the mirrorless cameras from Sony. Sony's mirrorless cameras are every bit as good as a traditional DSLR.

Answer 2

14mm f2.8 lens is really good for night photography, because it has such a low apeture and can capture a lot of light.

Answer 3

You want to shoot landscape. That almost always need a wide angle lens. You also want the lens to do well in the dark means you need a low f/numbered lens preferably one that is less than f/3.5. One lens comes to mind - the Pentax 14mm f/2.8. The camera that fits it? A Pentax Kp.

Answer 4

There is a common misconception that certain cameras are better for specific things. In general, this is absolutely false. If you are a paid sports photographer, you can justify a camera with a high frame rate. For portraits and landscapes and "night photography" and 99% of what most people do... any camera can do the job.



There is a misconception that certain brands are better at specific things than others... again, absolutely false. This also ties into the "I bought the wrong brand, if I buy the other brand my photography will improve". No, it won't.



You have a budget of $1,000. If that is for an entire kit, that limits your options slightly. If that is for a camera body, you have more options.



Basically, you take your $1,000 to your camera seller of choice. Peruse the models within your budget. Play with them. Hold them. Does the Nikon D3400 fit your hands better than the Canon T7i or does the Sony A68 feel better? Don't pass on the mirrorless models either, look at them too. Once you find one with the feature set you require, the ergonomics that suit you, and the kit that fits your budget... you have found your camera. Some people will tell you that this model with this sensor is 0.073% better than that model with that sensor.. but you won't see any difference at all.



They are all tools, and they all do the same thing in the same way. Image quality is not an issue with anything on the market now from any major brand. Lens quality is, and always will be, but again even the included kit lenses these days are perfectly good for most uses. Once you reach the limits of any included lenses, you can then decide on a replacement if necessary.

Answer 5

Just use your phone's camera

Answer 6

Try and find a used dslr with a full frame sensor. Then buy a decent tripod - essential for low light photography.