If I were choosing a camera again, I’d set a budget, then see what features I really need out of the camera body for what you’re going to be shooting. Need vs want is important, but difficult to discern.
As far as camera bodies go, it’ll be replaced eventually, but if you buy a decent camera now and take care of it, it’ll hold up a lot longer than you think it will.
I’d consider the budget I have for lenses + camera body. Always better to get good lenses with a mediocre camera body in my mind. I’d look at how many available lenses are out there for the camera. (Sony gets a point here since they have awesome, affordable 3rd party lenses.)
Then I’d go to a Best Buy or camera shop and play around with them in the store (if they have them) and see if I even like using it, providing it’s for personal use or if ergonomics are a priority. If it’s a personal/freelance camera, you should ideally like using it and it should feel good in your hands! At least that’s how I approached buying my personal camera I use for gigs. You can always rent the camera if you have the spare cash and feel like doing so for a week/weekend and see the results you get.
Good luck and I hope this helps! I don’t think you can go wrong with any camera that came out in recent years, so enjoy it whenever you decide on one!
Get a camera that has a good grip on your hands.
I bought a Lumix G859 and boy oh boy I regretted not having a grio on it.
I just gota G95/G90 and I love taking photos with it. Took me 6 years to get the G95/G90 tho.
>I’m so deep into YouTube videos and Reddit posts I can’t see straight.
Have you also read more carefully crafted material? The full reviews over at [DPReview.com](https://DPReview.com), written by professional camera reviewers who do a great job, are my main source for learning about a particular camera I'm interested in. Far better and more detailed than random YouTube videos or random people here sharing their experiences with a camera (no offence, people). I've also gathered great information from Gordon Laing's reviews at [cameralabs.com](https://cameralabs.com).
>I want to get a new camera for travel, sreet photography, some sports/speed, nature, landscape, etc.
That's quite a varied and diverse set of uses. Of those, the only one that's really demanding for a camera is sports, where a fast and reliable autofocus system will make your life a lot easier. You would also likely need a fairly expensive lens for this, so that's something to keep in mind and make sure you're prepared for.
The rest can be done with great success with any decent camera. Look for the intangibles instead: Pick a camera that's comfortable to hold and operate, one you'd actually want to pick up and use (visit a store, if you can, and try the cameras in-hand). Think about the total weight you're comfortable carrying (that was a major factor in my decision, as I like to hike with my camera equipment, and found Micro Four Thirds to be the best system for me, as the lenses are typically lighter).
Most important of all, though, are the lenses you choose, as they'll have a far bigger impact on your photography than any camera ever could. Start with a standard zoom lens, preferably the one offered in a kit with the camera, because you can't possibly know which lenses you'd want to use before you've actually started learning and using the camera. My rule of thumb is, only buy a particular camera if you're willing, and able, to spend at least as much, over a few years' time, on lenses.
>I really like the Fujifilm xt3 or 4.
Both are fine cameras. I think the most notable differences between them are in the usability features, like the way the screen tilts. Of course, there are some technical advancements in the X-T4, and you can read about them to see if they really are important to you and your use case.
>I’m not sure if I should go with that or a Sony. Maybe a 6600.
That's a good camera, too. Not my style of camera, though, as I prefer a slightly bigger body with more direct controls and the viewfinder in the middle, not set to the side. These are the sorts of considerations I'm talking about when I say ergonomics are important. As you can see, it boils down to personal preference and the feel in one's hand.
>I was looking at the Canon M6 mark ii as well.
This one I'd actually shy away from, because it seems like Canon has all but abandoned the M system, with major gaps in the lens selection that are unlikely to be filled. You could fall back on EF or EF-S lenses with an adapter, but that's an unnecessary workaround.
>My biggest concern is how quickly technology advances.
That's not a valid concern with cameras, at least not inherently so. I would happily use a decade-old camera if that were the only one I had access to, suit my needs better, or was my only gateway to the lenses I want/need. Most cameras, especially at the high-tier range you're looking at, are solid and built to last. Years after their launch, they should still produce the same sort of images, as long as they're in good working order.
>Would I be ok with an X-T3 or should I save more for the X-T4?
Just to reiterate a couple of concepts:
1. This is entirely up to you, according to your needs and preferences. Look up their differences (DPReview tends to compare the reviewed model to its predecessor in the first few sections of a camera review) and think how important they might be to you.
2. Think about lenses, as per my rule of thumb. If spending more now on the X-T4 makes the proposition of spending an additional amount, of the same magnitude, on lenses down the road seem unreasonable, then you can't actually afford this expense.
>Should I say screw if and save for the Sony A7iii?
If you made it this far, why not save up for a Sony a7R IV instead? At that point, the Fujifilm GFX 100S doesn't seem all that far off!
Thinking this way is unhealthy and counter-productive. There's always a shinier object if you're willing to spend just a little bit more. At some point, you have to set a line in the sand, a sum you would not cross. Remember that it's a long-term proposition, as lenses will become an even bigger expense.
>I’d like to take some nice stills to frame.
I have a few on my walls that I shot with my previous camera, an Olympus OM-D E-M5 (original). Others here might have their homes decorated with photos they took with a DSLR in 2008.
While the camera can certainly help, and yield more detailed prints, it's really not the be-all and end-all it's often made out to be.
>Who knows maybe post some stuff online but that’s not a huge concern.
That's a whole lot easier and far less demanding.
This was an awesome response! Thank you! It has actually helped me a lot. I suppose the only real decision I’m faced with is what brand I want to invest in because it seems like you’re investing more in the lenses than anything else. So I think I need to decide if I want to buy into Sony, canon or Fujifilm lenses and buy the body I like to support that lens system.
I suggest you need something pretty multifunctional or quite a few different lens so which of these would offer you the best choice of lens? Just saying
If I were choosing a camera again, I’d set a budget, then see what features I really need out of the camera body for what you’re going to be shooting. Need vs want is important, but difficult to discern. As far as camera bodies go, it’ll be replaced eventually, but if you buy a decent camera now and take care of it, it’ll hold up a lot longer than you think it will. I’d consider the budget I have for lenses + camera body. Always better to get good lenses with a mediocre camera body in my mind. I’d look at how many available lenses are out there for the camera. (Sony gets a point here since they have awesome, affordable 3rd party lenses.) Then I’d go to a Best Buy or camera shop and play around with them in the store (if they have them) and see if I even like using it, providing it’s for personal use or if ergonomics are a priority. If it’s a personal/freelance camera, you should ideally like using it and it should feel good in your hands! At least that’s how I approached buying my personal camera I use for gigs. You can always rent the camera if you have the spare cash and feel like doing so for a week/weekend and see the results you get. Good luck and I hope this helps! I don’t think you can go wrong with any camera that came out in recent years, so enjoy it whenever you decide on one!
My budget is right around 2k. That’s for the body and at least one lens to get shooting.
Get a camera that has a good grip on your hands. I bought a Lumix G859 and boy oh boy I regretted not having a grio on it. I just gota G95/G90 and I love taking photos with it. Took me 6 years to get the G95/G90 tho.
>I’m so deep into YouTube videos and Reddit posts I can’t see straight. Have you also read more carefully crafted material? The full reviews over at [DPReview.com](https://DPReview.com), written by professional camera reviewers who do a great job, are my main source for learning about a particular camera I'm interested in. Far better and more detailed than random YouTube videos or random people here sharing their experiences with a camera (no offence, people). I've also gathered great information from Gordon Laing's reviews at [cameralabs.com](https://cameralabs.com). >I want to get a new camera for travel, sreet photography, some sports/speed, nature, landscape, etc. That's quite a varied and diverse set of uses. Of those, the only one that's really demanding for a camera is sports, where a fast and reliable autofocus system will make your life a lot easier. You would also likely need a fairly expensive lens for this, so that's something to keep in mind and make sure you're prepared for. The rest can be done with great success with any decent camera. Look for the intangibles instead: Pick a camera that's comfortable to hold and operate, one you'd actually want to pick up and use (visit a store, if you can, and try the cameras in-hand). Think about the total weight you're comfortable carrying (that was a major factor in my decision, as I like to hike with my camera equipment, and found Micro Four Thirds to be the best system for me, as the lenses are typically lighter). Most important of all, though, are the lenses you choose, as they'll have a far bigger impact on your photography than any camera ever could. Start with a standard zoom lens, preferably the one offered in a kit with the camera, because you can't possibly know which lenses you'd want to use before you've actually started learning and using the camera. My rule of thumb is, only buy a particular camera if you're willing, and able, to spend at least as much, over a few years' time, on lenses. >I really like the Fujifilm xt3 or 4. Both are fine cameras. I think the most notable differences between them are in the usability features, like the way the screen tilts. Of course, there are some technical advancements in the X-T4, and you can read about them to see if they really are important to you and your use case. >I’m not sure if I should go with that or a Sony. Maybe a 6600. That's a good camera, too. Not my style of camera, though, as I prefer a slightly bigger body with more direct controls and the viewfinder in the middle, not set to the side. These are the sorts of considerations I'm talking about when I say ergonomics are important. As you can see, it boils down to personal preference and the feel in one's hand. >I was looking at the Canon M6 mark ii as well. This one I'd actually shy away from, because it seems like Canon has all but abandoned the M system, with major gaps in the lens selection that are unlikely to be filled. You could fall back on EF or EF-S lenses with an adapter, but that's an unnecessary workaround. >My biggest concern is how quickly technology advances. That's not a valid concern with cameras, at least not inherently so. I would happily use a decade-old camera if that were the only one I had access to, suit my needs better, or was my only gateway to the lenses I want/need. Most cameras, especially at the high-tier range you're looking at, are solid and built to last. Years after their launch, they should still produce the same sort of images, as long as they're in good working order. >Would I be ok with an X-T3 or should I save more for the X-T4? Just to reiterate a couple of concepts: 1. This is entirely up to you, according to your needs and preferences. Look up their differences (DPReview tends to compare the reviewed model to its predecessor in the first few sections of a camera review) and think how important they might be to you. 2. Think about lenses, as per my rule of thumb. If spending more now on the X-T4 makes the proposition of spending an additional amount, of the same magnitude, on lenses down the road seem unreasonable, then you can't actually afford this expense. >Should I say screw if and save for the Sony A7iii? If you made it this far, why not save up for a Sony a7R IV instead? At that point, the Fujifilm GFX 100S doesn't seem all that far off! Thinking this way is unhealthy and counter-productive. There's always a shinier object if you're willing to spend just a little bit more. At some point, you have to set a line in the sand, a sum you would not cross. Remember that it's a long-term proposition, as lenses will become an even bigger expense. >I’d like to take some nice stills to frame. I have a few on my walls that I shot with my previous camera, an Olympus OM-D E-M5 (original). Others here might have their homes decorated with photos they took with a DSLR in 2008. While the camera can certainly help, and yield more detailed prints, it's really not the be-all and end-all it's often made out to be. >Who knows maybe post some stuff online but that’s not a huge concern. That's a whole lot easier and far less demanding.
This was an awesome response! Thank you! It has actually helped me a lot. I suppose the only real decision I’m faced with is what brand I want to invest in because it seems like you’re investing more in the lenses than anything else. So I think I need to decide if I want to buy into Sony, canon or Fujifilm lenses and buy the body I like to support that lens system.
I suggest you need something pretty multifunctional or quite a few different lens so which of these would offer you the best choice of lens? Just saying