How to Choose a Digital Camera

Getting into photography? Thinking of upgrading?
Here’s everything I know about cameras (of the digital variety) so that you yourself can make the most informed choice as you dive deeper in the world of photography.

Already know more or less what you’re after? Dive straight to the recommendations.

First Question: What are you trying to achieve?

Buying a camera can be overwhelming. Choosing a camera that allows you to capture the photos you’re actually after is the most helpful place to start. Some thing to consider:

  • Purpose of the photos – Social media, prints, personal documentation, professional work.

  • Subject matter – Landscapes, portraits, travel, wildlife, street photography, or a mix.

  • Level of control – Do you want a camera that just works out of the box, or one that gives full manual control?

  • Frequency and context – Will you carry it daily, take it on trips, or use it in a studio?

Defining your goals early will immediately help rule out a large portion of the vast range of cameras on the market. If none of the above resonates, don’t worry, there are options that can be tailored to any approach, and we’ll cover those below.

Second Question: Form Factor?

No matter what your answer was to the first question; the size, weight and feel of your new camera will impact not only whether your able to achieve what you’re after - but whether your enjoying it enough to go out and actually do it.

A quick example:

You love hiking and you want to start documenting the spectacular views:
don’t pick up what might at first be the obvious choice - the ultra high resolution, landscape focused rather large camera.
You’ll simply leave it at home due to size and weight constraints. You’ve forgotten your primary purpose of your trip - the hiking. Pick a form factor that actually allows you actually achieve your goal.

Here are the most common choices I’ll run through with you:

  • Compact

  • Point & Shoot (a smaller, simplified compact)

  • Professional Mirrorless (Cropped & Full-Frame)

  • DSLR

  • Medium Format

As I got through the formats and my recommendations, work out which allows you to achieve the goal you’ve worked out from above.

Compact Cameras

Compact cameras in this context are small, lightweight, and highly portable — their primary advantage. Many feature a fixed wide-angle lens, but unlike casual point-and-shoot models, they offer meaningful manual control, allowing photographers to engage deliberately with exposure, focus, and composition.

This category is aimed at those who want to take their photography seriously, whether by prioritizing creative control or appreciating the camera itself as a well-designed, stylish object.

The segment is well-populated with capable models, and for many photographers, one of these cameras is sufficient to handle a broad range of photographic goals. Popular examples include Fuji’s X100 series, Nikon ZF, and Ricoh’s GR range.

    • Travel

    • Street

    • Casual/Social

    • Landscape

    • Documentary/Holiday

    • Portability and convenience

    • Full manual control - differentiates this category from casual point-and-shoots.

    • High-quality fixed lenses - wide-angle versatility for landscapes, street, and general photography.

    • Stylish design / tactile experience - often desirable to own as an object in its own right.

    • Ready-to-go image quality - minimal post-processing required for most purposes.

    • Often fixed lens - limits flexibility compared with interchangeable-lens systems.

    • Smaller sensors than DSLRs or high-end mirrorless - sometimes affects performance.

    • Not ideal for highly specialized photography (super-telephoto wildlife, macro work, etc.)

    • Accessories / expandability are more limited than mirrorless or DSLR systems.