As promised, here are my suggestions about what to get (or not get), if you're interested in buying a camera in the near future. My computer guide is here. You will likely note some similar formatting.

Notes and Disclaimers

• THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT THAT STUDENTS HAVE TO HAVE CAMERAS AT HOME TO DO THE WORK IN THIS CLASS.
  • Sorry for all capital letters there, but I am strongly against imposing financial requirements for success.
  • I made this guide because parents (and coworkers) (and students) frequently ask me what kind of camera they should get. Now I have a link I can share.
• It should go without saying, but I have no financial stake in any of these recommendations.
• It's in the title, but everything listed below is based on my opinions. My opinions are based on facts, but someone else with different priorities may come to different, yet valid, conclusions based on the same information.
• The suggestions below are made with longevity in mind, but "future proof" is a myth. You can get cameras that remain useful long after a computer (and especially a phone) bought the same year needs replacing, but no device will last forever. Those that have been running for decades are now, sadly, less relevant.
• Never buy the most expensive thing. There are cameras that cost over a thousand dollars that are worth every penny... to the professional photographer with years of experience. For most, people, I would not suggest ever spending more than $500. For a first camera, I wouldn't spend more than $300.
• Never buy new if you can help it. You don't have to scour thrift stores like I do, but open-box and refurbished cameras are usually still under warranty and a few hundred dollars cheaper.
  • My favorite camera was purchased used from Amazon and it has been a joy to use. I saved a significant amount of money in this way.
  • My 2nd favorite camera was purchased new and cost more than my favorite camera, even though it has fewer features.

Why Not A Cell Phone?

In the past, I have been an advocate for cell phone use in my classroom. We've had videos win awards after being made entirely on phones!

There are two reasons why I no longer endorse this:

1. Dollar for dollar, you will get a better image from a dedicated camera than you will from a phone camera. This isn't to say phones have bad sensors or optics. Some are amazing! But a $400 camera will have a bigger sensor, better lenses, more storage, and possibly better battery life than a $400 phone will ever have.
2. Enough students have misused phones in (and out of) school to make our school administration decide we need to enforce a tougher policy. My arguments against this seem no longer valid due to some of the choices students have made. Yes, this is a case of some ruining it for all, but it's still ruined.

Video or Photo?

In our computer lab we have cameras that are meant for video and cameras that are meant for photos. Some will do both, but they will usually do one of those things far better than the other. Our cameras are also quite old, with many models long since discontinued.

If you're getting a new (to you) camera, a good investment is one that does both reasonably well. Most prosumer, mirrorless, and DSLR cameras made in the past few years record remarkable video, making a dedicated video camera less important.

• Both of my favorite cameras record decent video in addition to taking great photos, though the built-in mic on my DSLR is ... sub-optimal. Fortunately, I can connect an external mic to that one. I have not used my own dedicated video camera in years because of this.

Camera Features

Cameras can have a variety of features, depending on the model. Here's some of the ones I look for:

Flip-Out LCD Screen: Most digital cameras will have a screen on the back, but having the ability to turn it around makes it easier to frame yourself in your own shots. This is more common on higher end cameras, but I've seen it on cheaper ones as well.

Viewfinder: On cheaper models this is not nearly as useful, but on DSLR and mirrorless cameras, what the sensor can see is what you see through the viewfinder. This format is easier to use than an LCD in bright settings, less distracting to others in dark settings, and allows you to hold your camera up against your head while taking photos - a technique that helps to stabilize your camera and avoid camera shake in your shots.

Shoe: This mounting bracket is usually used for an external flash, but external mics (and wireless mic receivers) will sometimes have a foot to go into the shoe as well.

You may hear that a camera has a "hot shoe." This is a shoe that allows for an electrical signal to be sent to the flash that's mounted on the camera, so the flash will go off when you press the shutter.

I have a cheap bubble level that fits into mine when I'm not using a wireless mic. Speaking of which...

External Audio Input (Mic Jack): Not all camera microphones are created equal. Many have passable quality, but this is not always for more expensive models as it's assumed someone paying that much for a camera is also going to pay a bit more for a nice microphone.

I like having the ability to import my audio from something dedicated to recording audio vs. something dedicated to taking pictures, so having a mic jack on the camera is a selling point for me.

Manual Settings: Most cameras will have some level of Scene Select, and this is useful, but students who have used the photo cameras in my lab have already had to think about aperture, and shutter speed. A camera that allows for these settings to be adjusted manually will be more versatile than others.

Optical Zoom: The best way to zoom in on a subject is by walking closer to it, but this can't always be done. A digital zoom will guess at what the picture should look like if enlarged, and this is frequently done poorly. An optical zoom will adjust the lenses in the camera to "move" closer to the subject without loss of quality.

Camera Designs

Cameras come in all shapes and sizes, and with them their own benefits and drawbacks.

"Point & Shoot"

Pros:

• Usually (not always) comparatively inexpensive.
• Super portable, will fit in most pockets.
• There's a sub-category of point-and-shoot cameras that are "ruggedized" to be shock proof and waterproof up to certain amounts. This makes the camera more expensive, but far more likely to survive accidents.

Cons:

• Usually no shoe or mic jack.
• If it has a viewfinder, it won't be a good one.
• Smaller form factor means a smaller lens, which makes faster and low light shots more difficult.
• More likely to have gimmicks like a built-in printer or 360° recording. This adds to the price but rarely to the quality.

"Prosumer"

Pros:

• Larger form factor usually means a larger lens and sensor, improving the quality of the shots in low light or if things are moving quickly.
• More likely to have a shoe and/or mic jack.
• More likely to allow for manual settings.

Cons:

• Larger form factor makes it less portable, a camera bag or case is recommended.
• If it has a viewfinder, it likely still won't be good.

DSLR & Mirrorless

These designs have a lot of differences, but most aren't relevant here. Mirrorless cameras will have a slightly smaller form factor and be a bit cheaper, but they're relatively new to the industry so it will be harder (not impossible) to pick up a used one.

Pros:

• The "best" cameras all fit in this category, with better sensors, lenses, and accessories.
• WILL have a decent viewfinder.
• Most likely to have a shoe, mic jack, flip-out LCD screen, and other features. (Check first! Not all DSLRs are created equal.)
• Additional lenses can be purchased for special shots, including wide angle, zoom, telephoto, macro, and so on.

Cons:

• "Best" is synonymous with "most expensive." You shouldn't spend $10,000 for a first (or fifth) camera, but you could.
• Might not come with a lens! Most DSLRs under $400 will come with a stock lens, but some will not. Check to make sure the lens is included!
• Those who buy a DSLR or mirrorless often find themselves wanting to get more things that will work with their new camera. Every hobby is a bottomless pit that you try to fill with money, and the companies that make these cameras are happy to provide a shovel. (I've placed this in the "cons" section but I'm not 100% sure it goes here.)
• Larger form factor makes these cameras far less portable. A larger camera bag is usually needed to transport not just the camera, but all the accessories.

Storage

Almost all digital cameras these days will require an SD card to store the photos, and you will likely need to get a card reader to move the photos onto a computer.

I could go on about SD cards enough to double this guide's length, but instead I will summarize very briefly:

• If your camera comes with an SD card, use that.
• If your camera doesn't come with an SD card, a 32GB or 64GB card should be more than enough storage provided the photos are moved onto a computer regularly. We've had students record hours of video and hundreds of photos on 32 GB cards without filling them up, because we wipe the cards before each performance.
• It is possible to buy a card that's larger than your camera will recognize, and this is more likely when buying used. I have done this. Yes, they make 1TB cards. Don't get one for a starter camera.

Where Do I Buy A Camera?

The absolute best place to buy a camera is a store where you can walk in and hold it in your hands to try it out. The buttons should mostly be intuitive, but you won't know if they are unless you can play with it.

I bought my first DSLR from K-Mart, of all places, because they had a display and I could actually see what the camera could do. (I paid too much for it, even understanding that it was new, not used, but I don't regret the purchase.) My favorite point-and-shoot camera came from Best Buy, because again I understood I would be happy with the purchase before I bought it.

I bought used SLRs (like a DSLR, but not digital) from hole-in-the-wall camera shops for the same reason.

If you have no stores nearby where this is an option (or you tried them and didn't like the choices), online is an option I've done before. I won't list all the options here (you likely know most of them already), but I will say that B&H Photo is on the PGCPS Bid List. If it's a camera purchased by PGCPS, it likely came from B&H.

I personally have not shopped B&H because I haven't found many used cameras in their selection and that's what I prefer. This doesn't mean they're a bad store, but I prefer used whenever I can find it.