Camera Types you should know
In this article, we will discuss the most common camera types that you can consider while buying a camera for your photography and videography work. These will be discussed in terms of their construction as well as their typical uses. Let’s dive in!
Photography has never been as exciting as it is today, thanks to the advancements in camera technology for the last couple of years. If you are a photographer or creator, one of the choices you will have to make when buying a camera is the type of camera. Different cameras are designed for specific purposes, and you need to know what they are for before purchasing.
DSLR Camera
DSLR cameras are among the most popular and the go-to for most creatives, including professional photographers, bloggers, and YouTubers. This camera is ideal for beginners and professionals, thanks to its straightforward UI and advanced manual settings that pros can make good use of.
When it comes to construction, DSLR cameras come with either a full-frame sensor, 35mm, or an APS-C (crop) sensor (learn more about full frame and crop-frame sensors here).
Mirrorless Camera
Just like DSLR, mirrorless cameras are also rather popular. Creators love them thanks to their compact and much lighter design compared to DSLR cameras. Unlike DSLRs, however, mirrorless cameras lack the mirror that reflects light to the sensor; instead, the light goes directly to the sensor.
These cameras are also ideal for both pros and beginners since they are very easy to use and have plenty of manual settings that pros make good use of. They also have full-frame sensors of 35mm and crop sensor options, just like DSLR cameras.
Compact / Bridge Camera
The name of these cameras says it all; they are compact and designed to be easy to use on the fly for both professionals and amateur photographers. Often referred to as point-and-shoot cameras, These cameras can be used by professionals, beginners, street and travel photographers.
They usually come with crop sensors that are smaller than the full-frame options in mirrorless and DSLR cameras. However, these sensors are way larger than sensors in most smartphones.
Action Camera
Typically, they are small, compact cameras designed for outdoor photography and harsh environments. They will ordinarily be weather and shockproof, and their lens is protected by durable glass. Action cameras are typically used for adventure and sports photography, as well as other outdoor leisure activities.
Action cameras have small crop sensors, making them the least favourite for professionals who want to take and record high-resolution photos and videos. Although, it should be noted that their sensors and image processing technologies are advancing rapidly, allowing for more details, higher resolution images and video.
360 Camera
360 cameras feature back-to-back lenses, allowing them to record and capture 3600 footage. 360 cameras are also usually water-resistant and can be mounted on surfaces such as drones, helmets, cars, etc. These cameras are ideal for travel photography, real estate, virtual tours, and general adventure photography.
As with action cameras, they also have small crop sensors, making them ideal for situations where high resolution is not a big priority.
Medium Format Camera
These are cameras designed with huge sensors similar to the 120mm film that older versions of these cameras had. They are not as popular as DSLR or mirrorless, thanks to their high price points that are accessible to a small niche. Their high resolution and near-perfect colour reproduction makes them suitable for professionals, portraiture, and advertisers.
Medium format cameras have large sensors, usually larger than a full frame camera’s 36mm sensor, but smaller than larger 100mm sensors.
Film Camera
Film cameras are not dead, and many people still use, and prefer them. Unlike digital cameras, these do not have a screen, so you won’t know how the photos will look until you get your film back from the lab. These cameras use 35mm film, and are ideal for beginners and professionals who want to familiarise themselves with vintage technology.
Final Thoughts
Those are the seven common camera types that you will find on the market today. If you are a pro photographer or creative, you may find yourself buying more than one type because each of the above cameras has a different use case. For the ordinary person, getting a compact, mirrorless, or DSLR camera will be good enough for most of your photography needs.
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