A friend recently asked me for some digital camera recommendations, and I’m sharing the information I gave him in this blog post to hopefully help others looking for a new camera!
His requirements for a new camera were simple: under $1,000, beginner-friendly, a system he could grow into.
His objective? Take better family photos so he could chronicle his daughter’s milestones and all their family memories! (Sound familiar?)
Skip to the recommendations: Olympus O-MD E-M10 Mark III, Sony Alpha A6000, Canon EOS M6, Canon EOS Rebel T61, Nikon 5600, bonus recommendations
Here’s what I sent him – amended with photos for this post!:
Smallish mirrorless Micro 4/3 and APS-C sensor size Camera recommendations
Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III
I have an older version of this camera, and I like it quite a lot. Lenses are interchangeable with other micro 4/3rds systems (including the popular Lumix), so I’d say it’s fairly versatile. That was my main reason for getting this one over Sony or Canon (the recs that follow).
Sony Alpha A6000
Super well-reviewed, well-loved camera! The only thing I don’t love about this system is that you can only use E-Mount lenses, so that’s something to consider- lens compatibility going forward. That said, Sony image fidelity is seriously gorgeous.
Canon EOS M6
Also quite popular and well reviewed! Same as Sony, you’re buying into the proprietary lens system (EF-M in this case). But it’s a great, great camera, and Canon in particular has excellent customer support and overall usability.
Entry Level/Prosumer DSLR recommendations
If you’re looking to get into photography with a DSLR as opposed to a mirrorless, you can’t go wrong with either of these.
Canon EOS Rebel T61
Nikon D5600
Bonus recommendations for waterproof cameras
There are only two waterproof cameras that I recommend for families:
Grab yourself a GoPro!
GoPros are a great option for family trips and everyday adventuring. We have a GoPro Hero5 and subscribe to the monthly GoPro Plus service, which lets us automatically save our photos and video to the cloud, plus includes a GoPro replacement benefit.
Your waterproof smartphone’s camera.
If you have waterproof smartphone like an iPhone X or a Samsung Galaxy S9, you’re golden! You can’t beat the convenience, plus the cameras on these phones are simply amazing. Last but not least, the best camera is the one you have with you. Take the shot!
