Collection: Cameras

How to choose a camera in India

Most people searching for a camera price already have a rough budget. Fix the job first and the budget will follow. A camera for family trips, a camera for YouTube and a camera for paid wedding work are three different purchases.

Start with what you will shoot

• Travel and everyday photos: a compact body with a kit lens, or a point and shoot camera if you never plan to change lenses.
• Video and vlogging: look for a flip-out screen, a microphone input and reliable face or eye tracking.
• Sports, birds and wildlife: fast autofocus, a quick burst rate and a long telephoto lens matter more than megapixels.
• Parties and gifts: an instant camera hands out a print on the spot.

Mirrorless or DSLR

New models from Sony, Canon, Nikon and Fujifilm are almost all mirrorless cameras. They are smaller, show the exposure in the viewfinder before you press the shutter, and track faces well in video. A DSLR still makes sense if you already own lenses for one, or you prefer an optical viewfinder and long battery life.

Sony camera or Canon camera?

Both make good bodies at every level. The bigger decision is the lens system, because lenses outlast bodies. Sony uses the E mount, Canon uses RF, Nikon uses Z and Fujifilm uses X. Check which lenses you want over the next few years, then pick the brand whose mount offers them at a price you can manage. You can browse each range on the Sony and Canon pages.

Budget tiers in plain terms

Entry level bodies usually have a smaller APS-C sensor and come bundled with a kit zoom. They suit beginners and casual video. The middle tier adds weather sealing, better autofocus and stronger video features. Full-frame bodies cost more, handle low light better and give you a wider choice of fast lenses. Professional bodies add speed, dual card slots and tougher builds for daily paid work.

Accessories to budget for

• A fast memory card rated for the video mode you plan to use
• At least one spare battery
• A padded bag, a lens cleaning kit and a screen protector
• A tripod or a microphone if you shoot video

Set aside part of the budget for these on day one. A camera with one battery and a slow card will let you down on the first long shoot.