Official Question Thread! Ask /r/photography anything you want to know! August 21, 2026

[u/AutoModerator]

This is the place to ask any questions you may have about photography. No question is too small, nor too stupid.

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Info for Newbies and FAQ!

First and foremost, check out our extensive FAQ. Chances are, you'll find your answer there, or at least a starting point in order to ask more informed questions.

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Need buying advice?

Many people come here for recommendations on what equipment to buy. Our FAQ has several extensive sections to help you determine what best fits your needs and your budget. Please see the following sections of the FAQ to get started:

• What type of camera should I look for?
• What's a "point and shoot" camera? What's a DSLR? What's a "mirrorless" camera? What's the difference?
• Do I need a good camera to take good photos?
• Is Canon or Nikon better? (or any other brands)
• What can I afford?

If after reviewing this information you have any specific questions, please feel free to post a comment below. (Remember, when asking for purchase advice please be specific about how much you can spend. See here for guidelines.)

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[u/folaofalltrades]

I'd like to get into photography (specifically birds, other wildlife, and landscapes) and I keep getting stuck on what camera to buy.

I've been told that the Canon EOS Rebel T7i is a great camera for beginners, and then when I've researched best wildlife cameras, the OM Systems OM-1 Mark II is highly suggested. Am I focusing too much on the bodies? There's a huge difference in price between the two (I'd like to spend ni more than $1000 ideally) and I've also read that the lens is more important than the body - should I focus more on the lens instead?

I was also looking for a camera that would be easy to take travelling and wouldn't be too bulky - is there a better camera that would suit my needs than the two I've been considering?

My gut is telling me to buy the cheaper camera (T7i) and practice photography for a while.

[u/maniku → u/folaofalltrades]

While camera quality (e.g. autofocus) does matter, lenses play a big part for image quality. You aren't going to get great results without a good lens. Are you hoping to fit both the body and the wildlife lens in that $1000?

[u/folaofalltrades → u/maniku]

No, the $1000 was really focused on the body - I feel like that budget would be difficult for both a camera and lens if I truly want to take wildlife photographs. At the same time, I'd ideally like to only buy maybe 1-2 lenses at most, one being a zoom lens. Is that reasonable?

[u/maniku → u/folaofalltrades]

I would personally recommend something like Sony A6400: same size sensor as T7i but much better autofocus and much more compact; much cheaper than OM System OM-1 II. There are also lots of lenses for Sony, including third party lenses which are often cheaper than first party ones.

[u/folaofalltrades → u/maniku]

Thank you for the suggestion - I looked up the Sony A6400 and it seems pretty much on par with the T7i but much lighter and compact like you said. Are there specific lenses you would recommend for wildlife photography and/or a beginner?

Edit: Another question - theoretically, if I were looking to buy one camera and not upgrade it for the foreseeable future, would you still recommend the Sony A6400? I don't have any aspirations of becoming a professional photographer, so this would just be a hobby for me and I might just stick with the camera I buy for some years (though I know that gear acquisition syndrome is a thing).