Finding your first camera can be tricky. You can spend thousands of dollars only to realize it's not for you, or go for a cheap camera and limit your creative capabilities. I’ve used every standard of camera there is; from entry-level to built for the pros. To help you get started with photography, I’m dropping my knowledge and sharing the best camera for beginners.

About the Best Camera for Beginners

I want to preface this selection by stating there is no wrong choice. If you want to drop all the cash on a pro system that’s fine. It’s also totally okay to save the pennies and invest in an affordable used camera.

The main objective is getting the right camera for you as quickly as possible. With that, I encourage you to do your research, but don’t get hung up on making the perfect decision.

That’s because most cameras available today (and those from the past) are good enough for you to start learning the fundamentals of photography and develop your photographic voice.

At a Glance: The Best Camera for Beginners

• Fujifilm XT-5 - Excellent manual controls that help you grasp the basics of exposure.

• Nikon ZF - Old School ergonomics with a large full-frame sensor.

• Ricoh GR III - Small, pocket-sized camera that can do most of the work for you.

• Nikon D3500 - A compact, affordable DSLR with superb image quality.

• Leica Q3 - A luxury camera for those who enjoy the finest things in life.

• Pentax K1000 - Reliable, durable film camera for analog lovers.

• Fujifilm X-T50 - More affordable XT5 alternative with the same image quality.

Bitesize Opinion: Best Camera for Beginners

For me, the Fujifilm XT5 is not only the best mirrorless camera for beginners, it's the best in every category. It removes the maze-like systems that can come with digital cameras, by offering much of what you need on the camera's exterior. The XT5 makes it easy to learn manual mode, and its tactile feel makes it easier to understand how cameras function.

Despite having a smaller APS-C sensor, its image quality is on a par with many full-frame alternatives. Fujifilm also offers beautiful film simulations that can reduce time spent photo editing, allowing beginners to focus on what’s really important; making photographs.

The Best Mirrorless Cameras for Beginners

I’ll now go deeper into my selection. I’m going to start with the best mirrorless camera for beginners, as that’s where leading manufacturers focus most of their attention.

Fujifilm XT5

The Fujifilm XT5 is Fujifilm’s flagship camera. Professionals use it, as do enthusiasts. It’s also the best camera for beginner photography because it's so easy to use. You can change your ISO and shutter speed by simply switching the dials on the body of the camera. Partner it with a Fujifilm lens and you can adjust your aperture without ever going into the menu settings.

It has a 40 megapixel APS-C sensor. Despite not being full-frame it still produces exceptionally good image quality, even in low-light situations. The camera itself produces beautiful JPEGs, especially when you use one of the film simulations. The simulations are filters that change the look of your image. You can shoot in RAW for more creative control in your editing software.

Unlike some cheap Fujifilm cameras, the XT5 is weather resistant. While I don’t recommend dropping it in water, you can have peace of mind it will survive harsh weather conditions like heavy rain and snow. Giving it a more professional touch, the XT5 has two SD card slots - you can use one of them to back up the first, or use them both independently to shoot more photos.

The biggest improvement Fujifilm has made to its XT line pertains to stability and battery life.

The XT5 (like the XT4) has built-in image stabilization. In the real world this means you can enjoy sharper images at slower shutter speeds, and more stability when using a telephoto lens.

As for battery life a single charge gets you 740 frames, that’s more than double the amount on older models.

What makes the XT5 special is that if you progress into professional photography, there’s really no need to change your camera. I use the XT line for my portrait photography and my clients love the outcomes.

The camera is also cheaper than other professional-line systems, and it’s built to last for many years. It’s available to buy on Amazon.

Nikon ZF

Upon its release, the Nikon ZF sent the camera world into a frenzy. It was the first camera from Nikon’s mirrorless lineup to add that retro feel to its camera bodies. You can control the ISO and shutter speed on the body. However, none of the Z-Mount lenses let you manually adjust the aperture, so you’re not getting a truly tactile user experience.

One plus point is the camera is full-frame. This means you can produce better image quality in low-light situations and have more scope when printing your images thanks to the level of detail available. The sensor itself is 24 megapixels. This may seem like a lot less than the XT5, but it’s still plenty and, to the naked eye, you won’t notice a difference in detail.

Having a larger sensor, the Nikon ZF has a bigger body than most other options in this selection of the best camera for beginners. That means it's heavier, so perhaps not ideal for those looking for a lightweight camera. It’s 710g (1.57 lb) without a lens. It’s also weather sealed and built with durable materials.

It comes in a range of colors and also has its own pre-built filters so you can play around with the aesthetic of your images. It pairs well with the Nikkor Z 40mm and a host of other Nikon lenses. It’s ideal for street, travel, portrait and more. It’s worth noting it has a fully articulating screen, useful if you go on to become a YouTube photographer and create videos.

Depending on where you buy, it can be a little pricer than my number one pick. You can find good deals and it’s available to buy on Amazon.

Ricoh GR III

The Ricoh GR line is a cult classic, especially for those in the street photography community. It’s a fixed-lens point and shoot camera that is small enough to fit in your pocket. Despite its conservative build the Ricoh GR IIIx has an APS-C sensor that produces extremely high-quality images.

The lens is 28mm equivalent on the 24 megapixel crop-sensor. You can also digitally crop to 35mm and 50mm. This is why it’s amongst the best cameras for beginners. 28mm is a good focal length to experiment with a range of genres; from street, portrait, travel and even landscape photography.

The Ricoh GR III does have manual modes, but it lacks the external ergonomics that you’ll find on the Fujifilm XT5 and Nikon ZF. Instead you can adjust either aperture or shutter speed with the slide buttons.

You can look at this camera two ways. Skip it if you want to enjoy a more tactical experience, or make the most of its automatic modes and focus on making images. The exposure triangle is useful, but it’s not the only thing beginner photographers need to focus on.

In fact shooting in automatic is totally fine, and learning things like storytelling are more beneficial for progression.

The Ricoh GR III is good value and you don’t have to worry about spending more on a separate lens. It’s available to buy on Amazon.

Leica Q3

Normally, the best camera for beginners should be an economical purchase. But, I know there are people who just enjoy the finer things in life, regardless of their experience level. Leica is the luxury camera manufacturer, and this reflects in the price.

I’m recommending the Leica Q3 because it has a fixed lens that’s best-in-class and it has autofocus, something lacking on Leica’s flagship M series cameras. Despite being a fixed lens, you can digitally crop up to 90mm inside the camera.

In-camera cropping often results in more pixelated images; but this isn’t the case with Leica Q3. That’s because of its 60 megapixel full-frame sensor that produces detailed images with that patented Leica look and feel.

This camera is the perfect travel companion, but I’ve also seen portrait photographers like Connor Wells do exceptional work with the Q3. It’s versatile and a good option for those who like to experiment with their photography.

Build wise, it’s the best. The Leica Q3 has a full metal body and is hand made. All Leica cameras go through rigorous quality control, so you’re really getting a premium built camera that can last a lifetime. It’s IP52 rated and you can use it in harsher environments.

Will some say the cost is overkill for beginners? Perhaps. But you live once and if you want to go all in, then I say do it…but only if you can.

You have two options. You can get the Leica Q3 28mm or Leica Q3 43mm.

Fujifilm X-T50

The Fujifilm X-T50 is the XT5’s younger sibling. It’s smaller, lighter and yet packs equally good image quality. It also has less external buttons, which, for someone new to photography, may be less overwhelming as you don’t have to worry about “what everything does”.

Fans of Fujifilm film simulations should gravitate towards the XT50. It has a dedicated dial that allows you to quickly change between the 20 simulations available. Remember, these are JPEGs, but you can still shoot in RAW if you wish.

Even though it’s the budget alternative to the XT5, you’ve got some flagship features. It has the same 40 megapixel APS-C sensor and you get seven stops of IBIS. It’s not weather resistant and there’s only one SD card slot, so keep that in mind if they’re important to you.

For me, this is a fun camera. And in the beginning of your photographic journey, that’s all you want to be having; fun, learning a new artform. It also allows you to interchange lenses so you can build your Fuji lens lineup, which you won’t have to change if you decide to upgrade to a flagship model.

It’s cheaper than the XT5 and you can buy on Amazon.

The Best DSLR Camera for Beginners

One of my first cameras was the Nikon D3200. And, although I would love to recommend it, there’s a better camera for beginner photography - the Nikon D3500. It’s an entry-level camera that’s perfect for learning the craft

It’s a 24 megapixel crop sensor camera that can produce far better quality images than your smartphone camera. You have a range of DX lenses to partner it with, and even Nikon’s super budget 18-55mm kit lens can produce quality images.

Being a DSLR, it’s old. This is a good thing because you can pick one up for a relatively cheap price, especially if you buy used. It has a much better battery life than pretty much all mirrorless cameras, offering 1550 shots on a single charge. That means you don’t need to invest in extra batteries, really making it the best budget camera to enter photography.

You’ll struggle to find it new. But you can buy used on Amazon.

The Best Film Camera for Beginners

Film photography is as popular as it's ever been in the digital era of photography. The cost of film can be pricey, so this can put off a lot of beginners from picking up the medium. But, for those that have the cash, buying the best film camera for beginners is a good idea.

For me, that camera is the Pentax K1000. I handled one recently, and the build was impressive. Keep in mind, this camera was released in 1976 and you can pick one up today and expect it to be fully functioning, which is awesome.

Its build is very simplistic and this is ideal for those new to loading up film and using it. It has that classic look too, the kind many digital cameras are aiming to emulate with their systems.

You can pick one up for a few hundred dollars and it’s a cool way of learning photography like the masters of photography did back in the day.

You can buy used from Amazon.

The Best Camera for Beginners: Buy Used

By all means, purchase a brand new never touched camera if you wish, but don’t overlook buying used. Most of my investments came from the used camera market, and to date, I’ve never had an issue with any of my purchases.

You can look for local stores in your area, which I like to recommend because it’s good to support local businesses. You also have the option to handle the camera you’re looking at before making the commitment.

If you want something easier and prefer to buy online, I recommend using MPB. I’ve bought two cameras from them and not had an issue. They also have an excellent customer service department that’s quick and supportive. You’ll find great prices too, so give them a go.

Signing Off

Stop reading about the best camera for beginners. Go out and buy your first camera! You can read and read until your eyes begin to sting, but the right thing to do is make it happen and start practicing photography.

Photography changed my life, so let me tell you it can be a worthy investment, and a very fun one at that!

Remember, I recommend the Fujifilm XT-5 above all else, but every option in this article is a good one.

Think about your budget, the style of photography you want to do and what extra features matter the most. If you’re buying for a child, then I recommend checking out my best camera for kids article, as the options are slightly different than those for adult beginners.

Which one will you go for? Let me know in the comments. Thanks for reading.

FAQs

What is the best camera for beginners?
The Fujifilm X-T5 is an excellent option for beginners. It has superb image quality and the external controls make it the perfect camera to learn the fundamentals of photography.

Which camera is best for beginners, Canon or Nikon?
Both manufacturers have excellent entry-level cameras that are perfect for beginners. There is no wrong option and choosing one largely comes down to personal preference. I recommend giving each a try before purchasing.

Should I buy an expensive camera as a beginner?
If you’re totally new to photography, it’s best to purchase a more budget friendly option. This gives you the opportunity to see if photography is for you, without having to break the bank. Most budget cameras are still just as capable and even more suited to those starting out.

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