What kind of camera do I need to take the photos I want?

.
The world of photography seems to exist between two extremes. On one side, you hear the message of “It’s not the camera, but the photographer,” and on the other, there is a constant stream of new camera bodies, lenses, and other gear. So, which is it?

Simply put, it depends on what kind of photography you want to pursue. Buying the most expensive camera and gear won’t make you an instant expert, but not having the right kind of equipment may also cost you the shot you want.
Nothing is a substitute for understanding how your camera works and developing your sense of composition and framing; but for many of the “take a great photo with any camera” articles, heavy-post processing in Photoshop is the “secret.”

You can take a beautiful shot with almost any camera, but the problem lies in that it may not be the shot you want. If you interested in shooting sports or events, low-light, or macro photography – then you’re going to need something specific.
What is a “Pro” Camera?

Speed is the number one factor that makes a pro camera. Pro cameras, like the Nikon D6, Sony A9, etc., are optimized for sports and action photography. They have extremely fast auto-focusing systems and throughput to their storage media. The quick-moving subject? These are your cameras. Gradations of professional exist, the “prosumer” models, for camera makers with a large range of products.

ISO is the next major pro camera differentiator. When we talk about ISO, we’re talking about the digital sensitivity of the camera to light, and as a rule, this increases the higher-end you go when selected a camera. ISO factors come into play when you’re shooting in dark lighting conditions, such as a bar or a night scene. For the average photographer under daylight conditions, the normal ISO range from 100-400 is perfect for great results. In darker conditions, lower-end cameras produce an unacceptable amount of ISO noise, leading to poor quality images.

So what else? Professional and prosumer cameras tend to be more weather-resistant, have more options to customize controls, and may have physical control inputs that are optimized for shooting on the fly.

Let’s do a Q and A:
• I want to shoot my friend’s band. They’re playing in a bar. Which camera? A: Pro/prosumer
• I want to shoot my daughter’s soccer match. Which camera? A: Pro/prosumer
• I want to take pictures of construction equipment on a sunny day. Which camera? A: Any camera will do

The main thing is to get the gear that will meet your needs and not overspend on any one thing. Photography requires the right combination of body, lenses, and accessories to get the shots you want, without having to rely on Photoshop.