One of the most common questions I’m asked by moms who are wanting to purchase a nice camera is “what kind of camera should I buy!?”
Today I’m sharing my top camera picks for moms!
Before we dive into the exact cameras I love, let’s talk a little bit about what’s on the market and what you should be looking for!
The two most popular camera types for those interested in a “fancy” camera and taking their photography game up a notch are DSLRs and Mirrorless cameras. So, what’s the diff? Which one should you be looking at? Let’s take a deeper dive.
DSLR CAMERAS
DSLR stands for Digital Single Lens Reflex. I know, I know, it sounds complicated. The most important takeaway for this type of camera is that the system uses a mirror, which reflects the light and scene up into the viewfinder. When you press the shutter button, the mirror flips and the camera’s sensor is exposed to the light, recording the image to your digital memory card. The bulk of professional photographers use professional grade DSLRs (or even film cameras – but that’s another topic for another day!) for their day to day work.
MIRRORLESS CAMERAS
So what’s a mirrorless camera? You guessed it – a camera that does NOT use a mirror to reflect light into the viewfinder. A mirrorless camera’s sensor is exposed to light at all times, and has a digital viewfinder, rather than one reflected by a mirror. Why does this matter? Well, because mirrorless cameras don’t require the mirror mechanism in the camera, they are often less bulky and smaller, making them more practical to carry around for every day use.
INTERCHANGEABLE LENS SYSTEMS
Both mirrorless cameras and DSLRs offer what’s called an interchangeable lens system. This means that you can create different looks and artistic styles by changing the lens on the camera. You can have a close, tightly cropped focal length to create beautiful portraits, or a wide angle lens for landscapes and tight spaces. The beauty of the interchangeable lens system is that the same camera can meet changing needs, and you can also slowly add to your collection over time.
MY Preferences
All technology is trending towards the mirrorless camera systems, and if you are shopping for the camera that’s right for you, I’d recommend going Mirrorless! The technology is truly incredible, and even lower priced entry level options have great features like eye tracking auto focus.
Mirrorless cameras are also SMALL and compact, making them lightweight and easy to carry around. The truth is that your camera is bulky and heavy, you aren’t going to want to toss it into your bag in addition to ALL the other stuff you need to take with you as a busy mom.
The truth is that the best camera you can have is the one you have with you, and the mirrorless camera is just easy to have with me!
There are mirrorless camera systems at many different price-points, but I’m going to give you my FAVORITE recommendation for an entry level, affordable, awesome quality camera.
SONY A6000 Series
I LOVE the Sony A6000 series of cameras (paid link). There are a range of options within this lineup, and I love each and every one of them. I personally own the A6500 and love it. The below images were captured with an A6500 I bought used from KEH Camera. I paired it with a super affordable Sigma 30mm 1.4 lens and the results are stunning.
Even though I have top of the line professional equipment that I use in my own professional photography business each week, you will 100% find this camera in my bag as I capture my own kids on the go. It’s small, lightweight and it delivers. It also has eye autofocus which is a WONDERFUL feature.
You can get an amazing deal on a used version of this camera. If the A6500 is not in your budget, the A6000 is the most basic model and also an awesome option. I have a ton of students using this camera with great success!
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