Your camera is your most important tool as a photographer. It’s not just about the quality of the images it produces, but how it fits with your needs and skill level. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the factors to consider when choosing a camera for your photography business—from what you shoot, to how skilled you are, and what you hope to accomplish with your work. We’ll also offer some suggestions on cameras that might be right for various types of photographers.
Stop motion photography
If you like to create stop motion movies using your camera, one of the primary factors you’ll need to consider is what type of shots you’ll be taking. For example, if you need access to an intervalometer (which lets you program timed exposures), make sure your camera has this feature. Also, pay attention to how many images it can take before having to clear its buffer. If you are looking for cameras designed for stop motion, the Canon EOS Rebel T8i and Nikon D3300 are well-liked by stop motion videographers. This is due to their high-resolution sensors and ability to capture up to 300 shots using a fast UDMA 7 card.
The number of megapixels (MP) in your camera can also help you determine if it’s ideal for stop motion photography. For example, the 6D only has 20 MP, while the 5D III has 22.3. The 7D II has 20 MP, while the 6D only has 10.2. Generally speaking, more is better for this type of photography, but if you are on a budget, don’t worry too much about it because all of these cameras produce great images—just some produce slightly larger images than others.
Consult someone who has experience
Talk to someone who is already working as a photographer, whether it’s someone you know or a colleague at your local camera store. They can help you make an informed choice based on the type of work they do—or that you hope to accomplish one day. You may also want to read online reviews from other photographers who have owned the cameras you are considering. This will help give you an idea of how well they can handle various lighting situations, and if you should consider a manual or automatic mode.
Get to know the gear
One of the most important things to keep in mind no matter which type of camera you get is that knowing your gear inside and out will make it work better for you, giving you more time to focus on taking great photographs instead of fumbling with your equipment. Plus, you’ll be able to answer questions from your customers about the equipment you use.
If you learn how each of the features works and understand its capabilities, you can maximize its potential for your photography business. For example, if you know how to work with manual controls, this will help take better control of your lighting and settings in less than ideal situations.
Cameras for specific purposes
Sports Photography
If you’re used to snapping action shots, you’ll want something that can handle continuous shooting at high speeds, like the Nikon D4 (12 FPS) or Canon EOS-1D X (16 FPS). Plus, if your camera has “more frames per second” than your flash can keep up with, you won’t need to use high-speed sync mode.
You may also want to invest in a camera that can capture more than one shot at a time (e.g., burst mode). The 5D III and 7D II take bursts up to 7 FPS, while the 1DX can go up to 12 FPS.
Landscape Photography
Larger sensors tend to be better for low-light landscape photography, giving you the flexibility to shoot in a wider range of lighting conditions and produce large prints more easily (e.g., as long as you don’t need more than 22 MP). Panorama mode makes it easier to shoot large, high-quality panoramas where you keep the same focal length and share information between images.
This is one of the most popular types of photography these days, so if this is your main focus, looking for a camera that can handle landscapes well will be paramount. The 5D III and 7D II take panoramas up to 28 MP, while the 1DX does a slightly lower 25.5 MP.
Street Photography
If you find yourself taking pictures on the go, a smaller DSLR will allow you to easily carry it with you at all times and capture candid shots as they happen. Plus, if you’re shooting in low-light situations frequently, a smaller camera will allow you to move more easily and get shots that might be impossible with a bulkier DSLR.
If you’re looking for something small and lightweight, the Nikon Df (14 MP) is perfect for street photography. However, if you need more than 36 shots at once in burst mode, you’ll need to go with a camera that can handle up to 51 shots, like the Nikon D750 (24.3 MP) or Canon 5D Mk III (22.3 MP).
Portraits and Studio Photography
If your main focus is shooting portraits, look for a camera that has good low-light capabilities so you can shoot indoors without having to deal with flash synchronization issues or large, expensive studio strobes. The sensor size is one of the most important things to look at when it comes to low-light capabilities—a larger sensor means more information will be captured for each pixel, so you can compensate by turning up the ISO setting without worrying about noise levels.
The Canon EOS-1D X (16 FPS) is an excellent choice for portraits, as it has the largest sensor on this list at 20.2 MP and can do 12 FPS without blackouts. The Nikon D4 (12 FPS) also takes great shots with its 16 MP sensor, though you may need to turn down your ISO in low-light situations.
Choosing the right camera for your photography business is an important decision. Whether you are a hobbyist or professional photographer, it’s essential that you choose one that meets your needs and helps to make your work easier on yourself. We hope this article has helped provide some insight into how to go about choosing the perfect camera for any type of shooter.
