Top 7 Things BEFORE YOU BUY a CAMERA

If you are someone who is looking to ask for a camera or pick up a camera for someone then there are some things to consider BEFORE you make this purchase.
As a Professional Photographer who has been using a camera since I was 11 years old I have been through alot of them.I actually saved up and bought my first one a Kodak Instamatic point and shoot. How I choose it I do not honestly remember but I do Remember how proud I was of making this purchase. After that it became cemented that I LOVED this Direction and for years would ask anyone remotely interested in photography to tell me THEIR opinion of what was the BEST camera I should buy.
As I have learned over the following years using everything from Canon to Hasselblads to Nikon is the following:

1.TAKE YOUR TIME CHOOSING...Do Not Rush into this no matter what "imagined" Need you have. It is a BIG decision that will set the course of what you will build on with lenses so take time.
There is no This is Better than That one ( Canon vs Nikon etc). IT is as personal as some people Like Macs and others PC, Androids vs Apples.It has to meet your needs ( and pocketbook).

2.HOLD AS MANY CAMERAS as you can and I mean really HOLD Them. See how it feels in
YOUR hands as this is going to be YOUR camera and how it fits in your spouses hands and yours is entirely different. Do your fingers reach them with ease or do you have to go searching in the menus to change the ISO/APERTURE/SHUTTER Speeds ( and if you do not know what these mean I suggested you learn before buying one)

3. SEE FOR YOUR SELF HOW IMAGES LOOK  If you already have a camera and you are not entirely happy with it then bring your card from your camera to other cameras and take some photos with it in the shop or wherever you are and take those pics back to your desktop to see how they look. You might find you see things you couldn't see on the small screen.

4. IF YOU ARE GIVING A GIFT...Consider giving a loaded visa or money as you will find it alot easier to support their journey to find the perfect camera for themselves then hear all about the limitations of the Camera YOU Got them! If you get a something for only one shop that really restricts them. There are lots of places to look on line which can be ship. London Drugs (Prince George)   Beau Photo( https://www.beauphoto.com/)  (  Vancouver )   The Camera Store (http://www.thecamerastore.com/ ) ( Calgary)  Vistek (https://www.vistek.ca/) ( Toronto) B&H (https://www.bhphotovideo.com/) (New York)

5. WEIGHT/SIZE OF EQUIPMENT. Are you planning to travel with these? Hike? Drive ? Have your spouse carry your equipment ( cause they are too heavy for you?) Do you need to consider a smaller point and shoot or DSLR ( want lens for or do not want to bother ). Look at other brand cameras ( ie Fuji Film) Or do you only want to expand on your current Line?

6.ACCESSORIES what do you want?  They already have a camera but you know that giving them a new ____ would be super, but what is the ___ they need? Maybe they don't know either.
That is harder. Is it to learn the camera they already have ? Or a new lens? If so which one?
Here comes that cash solution again but maybe also be creative and research a couple options out for them and make them something with ideas and give them the cash to cover it.

7. TAKE A CLASS..ok yes this is a plug for me..but there are other classes and online options out there. Be Honest. Will a new lens solve your problem..when really you aren't sure which one to get or how to use the ones you already have (or were given). Learning along side others that also find photography fabulous  ( unlike your spouse/family) is more valuable than you might think. It is a real call to action but if you REALLY want to make a wise investment learning with others could be for you.  Check out the local night classes/workshops/photo clubs and see what's for you . ( and yes check out my classes .they are small and 6 classes, not too long so  see our website for more info http://www.phughesphotography.ca/#!/PHOTOGRAPHY_Courses)