The question I get asked most often when people learn what I do for a living is, “What camera should I buy?” That’s a pretty loaded question to ask right off the bat, but more importantly, it’s the wrong question.

Asking me “What camera should I buy?” is like going to the gym and asking the trainers “What fitness machine should I use?” You’ll probably get a funny look from the trainer as they try to figure out what you mean by that. Do you want to burn fat? Do you want to gain muscle? Are you training for a 10k road race? Will you be riding your bike across country? Once the trainer shakes off that dumbfounded look, he’s going to ask you a question—the very same one I’d ask you about the camera.

What are your goals?

Do you want a small, lightweight, and portable camera that you can take with you to trade shows and use with minimal effort? There’s a camera for that. Are you planning a huge marketing push that includes video for multiple distribution points, including broadcast TV? There’s a camera for that too. One will cost you around a hundred dollars. The other…well, let’s just say you’re better off hiring someone else to use that one.

Narrow down the choices.

There are literally hundreds of cameras on the market today, aimed at users of all skill and budget levels. Begin narrowing down your choices by asking yourself these questions:

• Where will I use the camera?
• What is the final output going to be?
• How will I distribute the video or photos?
• Do I realize that there is more to buying a camera than just the camera?
• How much will I spend on a camera and all the accessories needed to make it work?
• How much time and effort am I able to put into producing video or photos?

When you’ve written down your answers, click on the Contact link and we can talk about which camera is right for you.