Since the start of Pretty Little Details, I have shot all of my blog photos with the same camera.  But after 4 years of using our beloved Canon T3i, we felt it was finally time for an upgrade. Since I am a typical A-type personality, of course that meant I had to do tons of research about what camera’s were currently available and all of their specs.  Along the way, I learned a few things about what makes a camera great and exactly what you should look for when choosing a camera for blogging.

So today I’m sharing my guide for choosing a camera for blogging.

– What to Look for When Choosing a Camera –

The Sensor Size

So why would you want a camera with a bigger sensor?  Well, the bigger the camera sensor, the more light a camera can let in.  That means your photos will be brighter and be better quality with a larger sensor than with a smaller one.  It also means your camera can capture more information from a scene and produce a wider angle of view without causing the image to warp.  The only down side to choosing a camera with a large sensor is that the bigger the sensor size is, the bigger the camera physically has to be in order to hold the sensor.

Here’s a quick break down of the most common sensor sizes and how they compare against each other.

Full Frame: This is the type of sensor that is inside most professional cameras.  Examples of cameras that have this sensor size are the Canon 5d Mark iv, or 6d Mark ii (which is the camera I currently use!)

APS-C: The APS-C sensor size is very popular among starter DSLR’s and mirrorless cameras.  It is usually found in more affordable but still high quality cameras such as the Canon Rebel T6i or the Sony a5100.

Micro Four Thirds: This is often the sensor size for mirrorless cameras such as the Olympus Pen-F.  While it’s a bit smaller than an APS-C sensor it will still produce great photos.

1″: I personally wouldn’t recommend purchasing a camera with a 1″ sensor for blogging, but there are some video cameras that are great for taking video that have this sensor size.  The number one vloging camera, the Canon G7X Mark ii produces great video and only has a 1″ sensor.

1/3″: This sensor size is very small, but because it is so little it can fit inside very small devices.  This is the sensor size you will find inside your Iphone 6, 7, 8 & X.  While cameras with small sensors can still take decent photos, you need to have lots of light in order to produce images that aren’t super grainy.

The Number of Megapixels

I remember when my first smart phone camera shot at 2 megapixels.  I don’t think I even realized at that time how pixelated the photos I would take were.  Since then though, technology has improved immensely!  Many cameras now can shoot up to 50 megapixels!  When it comes to resolution, it has always been thought that more is better, but technology has improved to the point where more megapixels won’t make a difference to the average photographer.  Unless you are blowing up large scale images to print for your wall, you won’t notice a difference in quality.  A camera that produces images over 16 megapixels is plenty sufficient, especially if you are shooting photos primarily for posting online or on Instagram.

Also, the more megapixels a camera has, the larger the file size.  If you want to take super high resolution images, be prepared to upgrade your computer and buy extra hard drives in order to store and process your images.

The Camera Lens

The lens is undoubtably the most important part of the camera!  I personally recommend only choosing a camera that has interchangeable lenses.  Not only does this allow you to purchase the best lens you can afford but it lets you upgrade your camera body as technology gets better without having to repurchase the most expensive part of a camera, the lens.

Since there is a lot involved in choosing the best lens for your camera (and for the types of photos you want to take!), I’ve decided to cover lenses in a separate post of it’s own.  Click here to find out exactly what you should be looking for when purchasing a camera lens!

Camera Size & Weight

They say the best camera is the one you have with you!  There is no point in owning the most amazing camera, but then never actually using it because it is too heavy to carry around. I personally think it’s worth carrying a heavier camera in exchange for being able to take amazing photos, but not everyone would agree with me.

Other Factors:

• Articulating or tilting screen: I personally think this is an absolute must have.  Not only is it great for taking selfies or filming yourself, it is essential when taking above head shots for styled photos such as flatlays.
• Wifi or bluetooth capabilities: I’ve lived without a camera with wifi or bluetooth for years, but having these features is a total game changer.
• Ability to shoot in RAW: In order to get the most from your photos you need to shoot in RAW format instead of JPEG.  While this format requires editing, it allows you so much more flexibility and the ability to fix photos if they turned out too dark or too bright.
• Video resolution: If you think you might be interested in creating video content, you will want to choose a camera that can at least shoot video in high-definition or at a resolution of 1080p.

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– The Best Cameras for Bloggers –

 

Sony a5100 – $532

APS-C sensor // 24 megapixels
Likes: small & lightweight
Dislikes: no 4k video & limited lens choices
–> recommended lenses: Sony 50mm f/1.8 or Sony 24-70 f4

 

Canon Rebel T6i – $649

APS-C sensor // 24 megapixels
Likes: high quality, affordable & lots of lens choices
Dislikes: large & heavy
–> recommended lenses:  Canon 50mm f/1.8 or Canon 24-70 f/2.8

 

Olympus pen F – $1200

4/3″ sensor // 20 megapixels
Likes: classic look, small & lightweight
Dislikes: no 4k video & limited lens choices
–> recommended lenses: M.Zuiko 12-40mm F2.8 or M. Zuiko 25mm f1.8

 

Canon 6D Mark ii – $2300 

Full frame sensor // 26 megapixels
Likes: amazing quality & lots of lens choices (this is my personal camera of choice!)
Dislikes: expensive & heavy
–> recommended lenses:  Canon 50mm f/1.8 or Canon 24-70 f/2.8

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Did you find today’s post helpful?  I’m sharing even more blogging tips and tricks as part of my new blogging & photography series.  Make sure to read last week’s post about how to start a blog here!

Here’s a sneak peek of what’s coming up next:  How to choose a camera lens, How to style and photograph flat lays… and so much more!