Lesson 02: Different camera segments

Sony, Nikon and Canon are the mammoths of the photography industry today. You also have Fujifilm, Leica and Pentax that has rather small market shares compared to the mammoths. You can roughly divide camera houses into three segments; beginner / entry-level, enthusiast / semi-professional and professional cameras.

Camera bodies aimed for beginners are designed for people who are learning photography or want something better than a phone without complexity. The controls are simplified with automatic modes and fewer buttons. The sensors are also somewhat smaller. Canon EOS R100, Nikon Z50 and Sony A6100 are examples of such cameras.

Enthusiast / semi-professional cameras are the “sweet spot” for many photographers who want pro-level results without pro-level cost. These cameras offer much more control and performance without the price of pro gear. They have larger sensors and allow more manual control of the process. They often have faster autofocussed and burst shooting. Burst shooting is when you continuously press the shutter release button, and by doing so the camera will “fire away” and take lots of pictures until you release the button again. Note that most cameras have settings for if you want to do burst images or not and using this function easts memory for breakfast. This can be a handy function in sports and wildlife photography. The build quality of enthusiast / semi-professional cameras is often better as well compared to the entry level cameras. All of this gives more creative control if you have the interest and motivation for it.  Examples for cameras in this segment are Canon EOS R6, Nikon Z6 II, Sony A7 IV and Fujifilm XT5.

Professional cameras are built for reliability, speed, and image quality in demanding environments. They often have full frame or medium format with exceptional dynamic range. They also have full weather sealing, magnesium bodies, long shutter life and the fastest autofocus. These cameras can be very expensive and unless you work with photography on a professional level you probably have to sell your first-born child to be able to buy one. Some examples are Canon EOS R3 / R5, Nikon Z9 / Z8, Sony A1 / A9 III and Fujifilm GFX series (medium format).

The table below compares camera segments, type and gives other relevant information.

If you look at cameras in the same segment from different brands, there really are not that much of a difference between the camera houses. One brand can be a tad better in specific situations or have lenses that are somewhat better in certain situations. When or if you upgrade your camera house and stick to the same brand that you had before you can most often use your lenses on the new camera house. If you must buy new lenses in addition to a new camera house it can get really expensive. Putting your money in a good lens means you can continue to use the lens on newer camera houses. If you buy a camera body where a lens is includes that lens is normally not that great. This lens is often called “kit lens” and they are often slow and does not have a super-duper image quality. If you just bought one and the lens has a zoom function, you may use it to get an understanding of what focal length you like to take pictures in. This can be used as a reference before you buy a better lens.

My advice is to do some research before buying your first camera house as it can save you some money down the road. Beyond megapixels and marketing slogans, a handful of core features determine how a camera performs. ISO performance tells you how well the camera handles low light without drowning your images in noise. Shutter speed defines whether you can freeze fast action or create smooth, artistic motion. Autofocus speed, buffer capacity, dynamic range, and image stabilization all shape how versatile the camera is whether you're shooting sports, landscapes, portraits, or everyday moments.

How a camera is to hold in your hands and how easily it is to navigate the buttons and menu system on the camera is almost as important as the brand or technical aspects of the camera. A technically good camera is not really that great if it is annoying to hold or use. If you have the possibility, you should visit a store and get a physical feel of a camera before you buy it. Buying a camera you in turn may dislike so much you end up replacing it can be costly. I am willing to bet an ice cream that even if you have realised your preferences in photography several models, proband from several brands, may suit you.

Most brands make lenses for their own cameras, but there are also third-party manufacturers of lenses. Sigma is probably the most famous one and the Sigma art-series are very good. But more about lenses in the next article.