Camera

Hi~ I don't know enough about cameras to make a recommendation, but I think if you include things like your basic budget and your main purpose (whether you'll be taking pictures of dolls or other things, and the main size of the dolls, and whether you'll be shooting indoors or outdoors will also help with lens selection), it will probably help me recommend a suitable device. Other little tidbits like you don't like heavy things, ease of operation is a priority (for example, in my country, Canon's 100D is a popular entry-level camera, but it's an old model, has a fixed screen panel, and doesn't have wifi, so you have to use a memory card with a separate function or use a card reader), and whether you prefer DSLRs or mirrorless always seem to help me get camera recommendations. I hope you find a camera that works for you!

 

There’s a thread here that might be helpful /threads/dslrs-owned-by-members.69765/

 

I have a Canon EOS with a 1.8/50mm lens for that sweet bokeh. I use Canons entirely because they have a cheaper low aperture lens. My first Rebel many years ago was a pretty big expenditure but they’ve come down massively in price since then—my current camera cost about a third of what its predecessor did.

Anyway, here’s an example of why I still lug it out even though it’s bulky—my yard is in that unattractive muddy pre-spring phase right now, but you’d never know it here. (I stuck Daphne here in a tree at sunrise.) Phone cameras have gotten so much better in recent years but they can’t do this.

 

I was last shopping for a camera a good while ago but I think pricing still follows the trend where DSLRs are getting cheaper next to mirrorless cameras - even though they're bulkier, it's easy to find a good deal and there's a lot of choice for affordable lenses, especially for Canons and Nikons (for what it's worth, they are also cheaper to get fixed if need be). The kit lenses can give you a lot of variety already but a 50mm fixed lens is really nice for portraits, just like Amet said above. You can also get adapters and use all kinds of old lenses from film cameras - they are really cheap to buy second hand and for still subjects like dolls, very fun to use! If you get a camera with the AF motor inside the camera body, your can also use autofocus with most manual lenses.

If you can go to a store that sells cameras, it's also good to try what feels good in your hand in person - sometimes the weight can be a deal-breaker or some buttons can be at a spot that makes them not very ergonomic to use.

Good luck finding something you like!