One frequently asked question concerns what camera is best to start out with. The answer is subjective at best, because everyone has their own unique tastes, artistic abilities, and even though many may classify themselves as being "beginners," some start with more basic knowledge than do others. Generally speaking, most people have that "techie friend" who informs them as to what the best product is to purchase, which is occasionally beneficial, but sometimes...not so much.
Throughout my years in graduate school, I worked for a major electronics retailer where, for part of the time, I was a cellphone salesperson. Every single day multiple customers would come in with a smartphone in mind that they wanted to purchase. A large percentage of the time, they had no real reason for having chosen that particular model other than the fact that they had heard that it was "the best smartphone ever" from their "techie" friend. In every instance, I would bring out the major demo smartphones, both Android and iOS, and have the customer actually use both. While an Android may be the best choice for their "techie" friend, that doesn't necessarily mean that it is right for that particular person. Sometimes, the customer found a phone they liked better than their "techie" friend's choice, and sometimes after using the phone, they agreed that it was the right decision for them as well. The difference was, they had made the decision for themselves.
Discounting advice, on the other hand, isn't wise. Asking advice on quality and even specs is a great idea, particularly if you are asking advice from an experienced photographer (which, I had the great luck to have readily available when I purchased my first DSLR, then again I was lucky enough to get personal critiques over the last 3ish years from an amazing photographer friend of mine).
You can read consumer reviews, which can be greatly beneficial, and ask advice. If at all possible, however, get your hands on your perspective camera models and try them out. For the most part, if someone owns a Canon, they recommend a Canon, and the same goes for both Nikon and Sony. Personally, I am a Canon guy and I often give users of either a Nikon or a Sony a really hard time, but the truth is that it is just good-natured fun. Both Nikon and Sony make great products, but their menu options and even physical setup are unique to their respective manufacturers. Getting your hands on a Canon, Sony, Nikon, and don't forget Pentax, will help you discover what setup works best for you.
In the spring of 2011, I purchased my first DSLR. My budget was very limited and my skill set was..........nonexistent. Luckily for me, I did have a "techie" friend who had just completed a degree related to filmography and was, at that time, selling cameras. As a beginner, he recommended the Canon Rebel T3, which ended up serving me very well until I upgraded to the Canon 5D Mark II in 2014. If you are a Canon person, that line of cameras provides some great features to get a budding photographers feet wet (I believe that Canon recently released the T6). While this was a great choice for me, it may not be great for someone else...so try them out!
Budget is obviously a significant contributing factor to what camera you choose; while you want to choose the camera that is right for you, you may also want to take into consideration reputable dealers that sell inspected used DSLRs. One such dealer, B&H Photo, has the reputation of offering great customer service and inspected used equipment (B&H Photo - Used Site). Even manufacturers, like Canon, offer refurbished DSLRs that are rigorously inspected before being retailed again. If you are considering a Canon, then perhaps Canon Price Watch could be a good source for you.
Hopefully, this little blog post will at least help you realize that you need a camera that is right for you. Note, however, that professional grade DSLRs can be pretty intimidating if you are just starting out, so perhaps an "entry" level device would be the way to go. Also, I've provided a couple of links, particularly Canon Price Watch, for those interested in Canon cameras, but I am not familiar enough with Sony, Nikon, and Pentax to provide similar links (although all three of those major manufacturers are available through B&H). If you have used a link that is more specific to those brands, let me know and I'll happily include it!
