Congratulations Alex Vincent, March 2024 PFRE Photographer of the Month! The theme this month was "Kitchen". Alex Vincent - #906 Yvonne Raaijmakers - #909 Peter Wingfield - #902 Here's what Alex has to say: Thank you for the award of Photographer of th ...
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With the best DSLR camera for beginners, you can capture sharp and bright photos even in low light conditions like an expert. The following are some of the top cameras for beginners that can automatically focus even if you need to learn how to use the manual focus ring.
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The best DSLR camera for beginners comes with a flexible ISO range that allows beginners to shoot handheld in low light without lowering the shutter speeds. The following cameras are advanced enough to shoot sharp photos and smooth videos in varying lighting conditions.
The Pentax K-1 is a premium camera that features the SAFOX 12 autofocus system, providing a fast and precise focus for capturing moving subjects.
Unlike the Canon EOS Rebel SL3, it features a weather-resistant magnesium alloy construction, making it a perfect option for capturing real estate exterior photos in moist conditions.
Like the Pentax K-7, it comes with a built-in GPS and compass, allowing you to include the compass bearing and geographic position of the real estate property in your images and videos. With a 36-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor, this camera collects enough light, making it ideal for shooting in low-lighting conditions.
It comes equipped with a 5-axis image stabilization functionality that helps compensate for the unwanted camera shake by up to 5 stops for enhanced video sharpness, even when capturing without a tripod.
However, the camera doesn't come with a headphone jack, limiting your ability to control and monitor the audio quality when recording videos.
The Canon EOS Rebel SL3 is a versatile DSLR camera that comes with a 24.1 megapixel CMOS sensor and a 4K video resolution capability, allowing you to capture crisp and detailed videos and images.
The camera comes with a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery that offers about 350 shots per charge when using the live view mode and 1630 shots per charge when using the viewfinder, allowing you to capture a large collection of photos in remote areas without the fear of the camera shutting down.
Like the Canon Rebel T7, this camera comes with a 9-point phase detection autofocus system that allows you to achieve fast and accurate focusing, making it an ideal option for capturing fast-moving subjects.
Unlike the Pentax K-70, this camera features a smooth skin mode that gives you five levels of skin smoothening, making it a great option for capturing aesthetically appealing portraits. However, it lacks weather resistance sealing, making it unsuitable for use in harsh weather conditions.
The Pentax K-70 camera is a high-quality camera compatible with the O-GPS1 GPS module, making it suitable for beginner photographers who love geotagging photographs and sharing the location where they took the shots.
Keeping in mind that beginner photographers might not be able to capture stable videos when capturing handheld, unlike the Canon Rebel T7, the Pentax K-70 comes with a sensor-shift image stabilization mechanism that helps compensate for the unwanted camera shake effect.
This allows you to capture blur-free images and stable videos even when shooting without a tripod at high ISO settings.
With the PRIME MII image processor and a 24.24 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, this camera delivers fast performance and high ISO sensitivity, allowing you to capture sharp photos of subjects in motion.
Unlike the Canon EOS Rebel SL3, this camera features weather resistance sealing, making it ideal for shooting in dusty or snowy weather conditions. However, the camera cannot geotag your images and videos if it cannot access at least three satellites.
If you are looking for a camera to shoot distant subjects, you can't go wrong with the Canon EOS Rebel T7. Like the Canon EOS Rebel T100, this camera comes equipped with an 18-55mm zoom lens, allowing you to capture both wide-angle and normal perspectives.
This lens also provides a flexible 3x optical zoom capability that allows you to shoot high-resolution images of far away and nearby subjects.
With the 24.1 megapixels APS-C CMOS sensor paired with the DIGIC 4+ image processor, this camera has improved speed, video sensitivity, and resolution, allowing you to capture sharp videos with minimal noise even when using high ISO.
Like the Pentax K-70, this camera features weather resistance sealing, making it ideal for use in adverse weather conditions such as snowy mountains or dusty jungles. However, without the image stabilization system, there are higher chances of image blurring when shooting handheld.
The Canon EOS Rebel T8i is a high-quality camera that comes with a 24.1 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor that collects enough light to produce clear and crisp video and stills even in darker interiors.
When paired with the DIGIC 8 image processor, this camera's sensor provides a native ISO range of 100-25600 that improves its performance in poorly-lit conditions, allowing you to capture sharp and clear images using faster shutter speeds.
Its physical design employs a 3.0-inch 1.04m-dot vari-angle LCD screen, making it suitable for photographers who love taking videos and photos from unusual positions.
Like the Pentax K-70, the camera has built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing you to set the camera and then control it remotely using your tablet when capturing camera-sensitive subjects.
However, with physical dimensions of 3 x 5.16 x 4.04 inches and a weight of 2.9 pounds, it is the second heaviest on my list, making it unsuitable for handheld shooting.
If you are looking for a high-quality camera that you can use in remote areas without the fear of shutting down in the middle of recording, you can't go wrong with the Canon EOS Rebel T100.
Like the Canon EOS Rebel SL3, it comes equipped with a rechargeable LP-E10 Lithium-ion battery that provides you with a long battery life of around 500 shots per charge, making it suitable for nature
The camera comes with a 9-point autofocus system which incorporates the AI Servo AF system for improved focusing on fast-moving subjects.
Unlike the Pentax K-70, the camera features the Scene Intelligent Auto mode, which helps analyze the scene and adjust the settings for the best exposures, making it an ideal starter camera for those who don't know the right settings to use.
However, the camera has a single SD card which might inconvenience you if the storage fills up in the middle of a video recording.
Although DSLR cameras have a reflex mirror that helps to reflect light to the optical viewfinder, they vary in sensor size and image stabilization systems depending on the brand and model, and all models might not suit your
The following features can help you choose a camera that can capture sharp and bright real estate interior and exterior photos in a wide range of lighting conditions. Additionally, the table below breaks down the key features for easier understanding.
| Camera | Resolution (Megapixels) | Sensor size | Image Stabilization? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canon EOS Rebel SL3 | 24.1 | APS-C | No |
| Pentax K-70 | 24.24 | APS-C | Yes |
| Canon EOS Rebel T7 | 24.1 | APS-H | No |
| Canon EOS Rebel T8i | 24.1 | APS-C | No |
| Pentax K-1Â | 36 | Full-frame | Yes |
| Canon EOS Rebel T100 | 18 | APS-C | No |
It can be challenging to set up a tripod when taking real estate interior photos, especially when shooting in tight spaces. There are also chances that the interior lighting is not good enough to allow you to capture bright photos using faster shutter speeds.
As a result, you might need to shoot handheld using slower shutter speeds, increasing the chances of image blurring due to camera shakes. Fortunately, you can solve this problem by getting a camera that comes with a built-in image stabilization system, such as the Canon Rebel T7.
This system helps to compensate for the tiny camera movements and vibrations introduced by the hands, helping you capture smooth videos and sharp photos. However, if you are taking photos using a tripod setup, it’s advisable to disable this system to prevent camera shake hunting that might introduce shakes.
A camera sensor is made of small photoreceptors that collect the light signal, known as pixels. Resolution generally refers to the number of these pixels on the sensor's surface. Keeping in mind that images are formed using these pixels, a higher number of pixels makes the image look smoother.
On the other hand, a lower number of pixels makes the image look pixelated and low-quality. If you are taking photos for large-format printing, you should go for a camera with a higher number of megapixels, such as the Pentax K-1.
Note that the camera's resolution also affects the images' file sizes. That means you can quickly fill up your SD card storage when using a higher-megapixel camera. Also, some real estate sites might limit the image file sizes you can upload, and you might need to use a lower-resolution camera.
A digital camera sensor is electronic hardware inside the camera body that receives the light signal from the lens and converts it into a digital image. Usually, camera sensors come in varying sizes, such as full-frame, APS-h, APS-c, and micro-four-thirds.
Full-frame sensors are the largest, with APS-h being slightly larger than APS-c and smaller than full-frame. Full-frame sensors allow you to capture images with a shallower depth of field, giving your photos a pleasing bokeh quality. Typically, this is the effect you will want in your portraits and close-ups.
On the other hand, APS-c sensors give the photo a deeper depth of field where everything in the frame is focused. Usually, this is the effect you might need when shooting real estate exterior photos or landscapes. For versatility, consider using a camera with APS-h sensor size, such as the Canon Rebel T7.
If you are shooting sports such as car rallies, the best compositions might be around the track's corners. However, these spots are risky, as the car might skid off the tracks and run on you. Fortunately, you can reduce the risks by getting a camera that you can control remotely.
A camera with WiFi and Bluetooth wireless control, such as the Canon Rebel T8i, allows you to activate the shutter remotely. Usually, the wireless connectivity links with your mobile device, allowing you to remotely monitor the camera.
You can also use wireless connectivity to transfer the images and videos to your mobile device, allowing you to instantly share your recordings with friends or post online. However, wireless connectivity can significantly increase power consumption and might not be the best feature to use when shooting in remote places.
Generally, every real estate photographer aims to capture sharp and crisp photos. Although most cameras come with a manual focus ring, most beginners might not get the right focus, and you might end up focusing on an element in the foreground or background rather than your main subject.
Fortunately, most modern cameras come with an autofocus system that can detect the main subject and automatically focus. Advanced autofocus systems like the one in the Canon Rebel T100 can even analyze a subject, detect whether it’s a human or an animal, and then automatically focus on the eyes.
However, most focusing systems require sufficient light to analyze the subject and focus and might not work well if you take real estate interior photos in poor lighting. That means you might still need a camera that comes with a focus ring for a full-time manual override so you can fine-tune the focus.
Although many beginners overlook the camera’s weight and size, it’s an essential feature to consider, especially if you will be shooting handheld. In most cases, the camera’s weight and size vary depending on the construction materials and sensor size.
For instance, a camera with a metal alloy casing tends to be heavier than one with a plastic casing. If you are walking around taking real estate exterior photos handheld, consider going for a lightweight and compact camera, such as the Canon Rebel T100, as it won’t exhaust you.
On the other hand, if you plan to use a tripod, consider going for a heavier camera, such as the Canon Rebel T7. Usually, the heavy weight of the camera body counteracts the weight of the attached lens, reducing the risks of the camera toppling over.
Generally, a digital camera is made of electronic hardware, and exposing them to water or moisture can damage them. This can be a major limitation if you want to use the camera in applications such as wildlife
Cameras with weather sealing, such as the good-quality Pentax camera K-70, are designed with waterproof materials, allowing you to use them in trying conditions, such as taking landscape photos in snowy or dusty mountains, without worries about the elements destroying the components.
Remember that weather sealing means more construction materials, translating to more weight. That means you might need to trade between a lightweight design and a weather-resistant one. Also, weather sealing doesn't necessarily mean you can use the camera underwater.
Although the battery life of a camera can vary widely depending on the camera settings, such as using the camera flash, enabling wireless connectivity, or shooting in burst mode, some batteries tend to last longer than others depending on the mAh rating.
If you are shooting real estate exterior photos, landscapes, or wildlife, there are chances you won't be connected to the electricity grid. At the same time, you don't want your camera to shut down amid a photo shoot.
Considering that some cameras can consume more power than others, consider going for cameras with higher shots per charge rather than a higher mAh rating. For instance, the Canon Rebel SL3 has an impressive battery life that can take up to 1630 shots when using a viewfinder.
DSLR cameras are heavier than mirrorless cameras due to the reflex mirror that bounces the light from the lens to the optical viewfinder, which mirrorless cameras don't have. Instead, a mirrorless camera reproduces the image from the sensor and displays it on the electronic viewfinder.
You need to get a lens for your DSLR camera before using it, as DSLR cameras are interchangeable lenses and don't come with a built-in lens. However, there is a high chance that your camera will come with a kit lens such as 18-55mm, which you can use for basic photography applications such as shooting portraits and wide-angle shots.
Yes, beginners can use a DSLR with a gimbal for more smooth footage. Generally, you might have shaky footage when shooting at complex angles, especially when shooting handheld for the first time. A gimbal can help reduce this shakiness. However, most gimbals are made of metals and might be bulky and exhausting when shooting for a prolonged time.
If you are a beginner in real estate
