November 2019

The best cameras for Christmas…

Amazing Christmas family photography gifts from Venture Studios…

Christmas is gradually approaching and many of us are giving some thought as to appropriate gifts to buy for our loved ones.

One gift that often gets overlooked these days is a camera. Because most people have mobile phones, and phone cameras are getting better and better, we tend to think that no-one needs a camera any more. In a recent article – Do you need a camera as well as your phone? – we explored this topic in more depth, and listed the four main types of camera available on the market for those who are still interested in having one:

• Point-and-shoot cameras: compact and portable. They are usually fully automated so are easy to use.
• Mirrorless cameras: also known as either compacts or micro four thirds. Combine reasonable portability with a superior image quality.
• DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras: use interchangeable lenses that attach to the camera body, enabling a range of different shooting options. Feature a viewfinder that enables the photographer to see exactly what they are about to shoot through the lens.
• Bridge cameras: bridge the gap between point-and-shoots and DSLRs/mirrorless cameras, and share some features of both.

Let’s take a look at one example of each that you might want to consider as a special gift this Christmas. There are many other cameras on the market, so you also need to do your own research, but these are good examples of cameras in each of the above categories that come highly recommended.

Point-and-Shoot

One of the most consistently recommended point-and-shoot cameras is the Sony Cyber-shot RX100 IV. Priced from around £500, it is not cheap, but for the price it is an excellent all-rounder that offers a wealth of features. These include a large sensor – which, according to Sony, is literally years ahead of the competition – a good quality pop-up viewfinder, and also a tilted LCD screen providing excellent visibility.

Image courtesy of Curry’s

This camera has both 4K video and HD recording capability, plus 16fps continuous shooting speed. It also has inbuilt Wi-Fi and NFC communication to enable easy and cable-free communication between the camera and other devices.

Mirrorless

The Nikon Z6 is currently proving to be a popular choice of mirrorless camera. It is an extremely versatile full-frame mirrorless camera with a compact and lightweight body and easy grip. It has a very sharp electronic viewfinder and a tilting touchscreen, enabling you to capture consistently high quality images. It also features 4K video.

Image courtesy of Nikon

The Z6 has its own native lens range and can also accommodate any other F-mount optics via an additional adapter. It is priced at around £1500.

DSLR

One of the consistently favourite DSLR cameras on the market is the Nikon D850. Two of the main reasons for this are its unbeatable battery life and its comprehensive array of features. These include a 45 megapixel full-frame sensor, a 7fps continuous shooting option and 4K video recording options. The D850 also has a robust weatherproof body that makes it a joy to carry around without worrying about damage. It is priced at around £2500.

Image courtesy of Nikon

Bridge

If you are looking for a bridge camera then start by checking out the Sony Cyber-shot RX10 III. This camera has a large sensor, great zoom lens, impressive 4K video capability and 14fps continuous shooting speed. An ideal alternative to DSLR, priced from around £1200.

Image courtesy of Jessops

We hope that the above information is helpful in making your Christmas gift decisions. Remember that now is a good time to be making such decisions because Black Friday will be here at the end of November – Friday 29th November. If you know in advance exactly what you are looking for then you could get a real bargain.

Needless to say, here at Venture Studios we are also planning some fabulous deals for Black Friday! So do keep checking back to Venture Studios photography Black Friday page to find out just how much you could save on a family photography experience. We are already offering a brand new Family and Friends photography experience that includes two vouchers for gold family photography experiences. It is currently priced at only £142 for which you will receive two experiences with a combined value of £1100.

So whether you want to have your own family photographed, or give the gift of a family photography experience to someone else, with our Family and Friends photography experience you can do both!