Cameras and Photography Gear: Where to Begin

Pick the camera type before the accessories

This department starts with the camera body and fans out into accessories, and the body decides most of what follows. Mirrorless Camera Bodies & Kits cover the current mainstream type, while DSLRs, action cameras, camcorders and film cameras serve narrower jobs: optical viewfinders, rugged footage, long recording or analogue shooting. Sensor size matters too: APS-C bodies are smaller and lighter, full-frame bodies gather more light, and either way the lens mount fixes which lenses you can use.

Mounts, memory cards and battery codes: the accessory traps

Accessories are model-specific more often than they look. Lenses must match the body's mount, which differs between makers and between DSLR and mirrorless systems, and adapters exist only for some pairings. Memory cards come as full-size SD or microSD, in speed classes such as UHS-I U3 or V30, and 4K video needs a card rated for sustained writing. Batteries carry model codes, so match the code printed on your own battery. Browse Camera & Camcorder Accessories for each.

Questions about Cameras and Photography Gear: Where to Begin

Mirrorless or DSLR: which should I choose?

Mirrorless bodies are lighter, show the exposure live in an electronic viewfinder and are where most new lenses are developed. DSLRs offer an optical viewfinder and long battery life. Choose by the lens system you want to build.

What is the difference between APS-C and full-frame?

Full-frame sensors are larger, so they gather more light and give a shallower depth of field at the same framing. APS-C sensors are smaller, which makes bodies and lenses lighter and gives a lens a narrower view than on full-frame.

Which memory card do I need for 4K video?

Check the camera's manual, but a UHS-I U3 or V30 card is the usual minimum for 4K recording, while high-bitrate modes may need V60 or V90 UHS-II cards. Match the size too: full SD for most cameras, microSD for action cameras.