The Toyota Corolla of Cameras

Bear.'s featured comment (he uses the period in his commenter handle, and I reproduce commenters' chosen handles as they are written) on the "16 Easy Steps" post made me laugh (out loud, which is how laughing works). You can read the whole comment for yourself, but I'll excerpt a few sentences from his four easy steps—the topic, as of course you remember, is buying a camera:

Step 1. Research, consider, make comparison tables, worry about necessary and unnecessary features, bug camera stores for trials, make up my mind but constantly change it about everything from sensor size, to type, to lens and accessory range, to brand, etc.

[...]

Step 3. Wholly disregarding everything at Step 1, impulse-purchase a new camera / system based on a wholly irrelevant consideration....

He really got that right. In fact, that's the very reason that I stopped making purchase recommendations for friends and relatives years ago.

I used to take such requests very seriously. They were usually spending what for them was a lot of money; they knew little about the camera landscape, and I knew a lot; and they were my peeps, and had asked me for help. I wanted to do good by them.

So I'd work at it. I'd question them extensively, really find out about their budget intentions; ask about their level of experience, expectations, and intended uses; then I'd think about it, narrow the contenders to two or three, and make a recommendation based on what I thought would be the ideal match for them. Then I'd send them off to a local camera seller (whichever was the most advantageous place to buy whatever we'd chosen)...

...And they'd come home with something completely different.

Completely different, and sometimes wrong for them, too—in my view at least.

Why had they bought it? Not rational reasons, usually. "The clerk said your choice was junk and that this one was much better." (Truth: the "better" one had a higher profit margin for the store and a higher spiff for the salesman. Hey, I've worked retail in my life.) "This one looked nicer." "I remembered my uncle used to have a Nikon." "They gave me 15% off." And so on.

I actually stopped making camera recommendations. I realized I was just part of Bear.'s Step 1!

The Toyota Corolla of cameras, and we mean that as a compliment

Well, no, I didn't stop. I just stopped expending so much time and care on figuring out what would be best for people—and stopped expecting that people would actually take my advice. What people were doing, time and time again, was just Bear.'s Step 3.

The one exception that I can remember (I think there must have been others) was my friend Dan. He was going to Europe—Ireland, I think it was—on a family trip and wanted a better camera. I recommended a Canon entry-level SLR in the Rebel T[x] series, whatever it was as the time—(it's currently the Rebel T7 and 18–55mm kit zoom, $372 / £279)—the Toyota Corolla of cameras.

He went off, entirely on his own, controlling his own money like, you know, grown adults do, and actually bought exactly that. Sure surprised me!

I actually felt a little taken aback...a little responsible, maybe. Like if something went wrong on his trip or he ended up hating the camera, I'd be on the hook for it. But all was well. He liked the camera and took a bunch of nice pictures of Ireland or wherever it was. I don't think he used the camera a whole lot after that, but mission accomplished.

In general, though, people do what they want to do...for reasons even they don't completely understand. It's nice to give advice when you're asked—what else would a friend do?—but it's best not to do so with the expectation that it will be of any use.

Mike
(Thanks to Bear.)

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(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:

robert e: "On a related note, while it's more a shopping Rule than a Step, I've always found it much easier to recommend a camera for someone else than for myself. I've realized that it has something to do with my ability to adapt to a wide range of non-idealness in a camera, but more so the fact that I get a kick out of such mismatches and solving the puzzle. Also, I happen to be camera curious--the less I know about a camera, or camera type, the more intrigued I am. Which of course identifies me as a certain species of camera hobbyist (or perhaps more accurately: junkie).

"But now that I understand at least some of my hidden 'irrational' motives (or pathologies), I can use them for rational ends. The best camera for me at any given time, or for a given purpose? That's the camera that, after exhaustive research, I find most boring—the least likely to present a fun puzzle to solve. In other words, the 'Corolla' camera. (Or the slightly posher Camry. 'Camery,' anyone?)"

Mike Plews: "So if a Rebel is a Corolla, what cameras would you assign for the following?

Ferrari Dino 246
69 Camaro SS
Yugo
Kenworth sleeper cab rig

"Just curious."

Mike replies: Respectively: Minolta CLE w/40mm M-Rokkor, Nikon D1, Holga, Sinar Norma with 8x10 back.

HR: "Same here. Over the years I have been asked many times for a camera recommendation. Like you I spent a lot of my (valuable) time researching and considering everything. Almost every single time the person would totally ignore it all. For the last 15 years or so I just tell them good luck with their decision and that ends it for me. I sometimes send them a link to Google or Bing and tell them those search engines are a good start for finding the answer.  :-)

"I say it all in a friendly, polite way, but I have wasted too much time and effort over the years providing free work for people who then ignore it and often do not even thank me for the effort. No more!"

Rob Spring: "I also have labored exhaustively to understand the needs and desires of many friends and friends of friends, only to be shocked at the choices they made. The most amazing and time-consuming was the daughter of a good friend who was heading to Machu Picchu for a month vacation, who also wanted to be able to do quality portraits when she returned. She said she wanted to take quality pictures much better than her iPhone would take. I met with her several times along with numerous emails to ensure I understood her needs and budget. I gave recommendations from Micro 4/3 all the way through full-frame. I set up a meeting allowing her to have hands-on experience with each system (I borrowed camera systems I didn't own).

"Some time later I ran into her mother and asked how her daughter's vacation went and what camera she had chosen. 'Oh she took the most amazing photos with her iPhone. It was all she really needed.'"

Henning Wulff: "I've often been asked for camera advice, and generally had the same experience. As an architect, I've often been asked by friends and relatives about renovations and building. Also the same experience. Mind you, this advice was given for free, and its value was treated as such. When I gave similar advice to clients at my hourly rate, they mostly took it. Somewhere, there's a lesson."

Brian Stewart: "Ain't that the honest-to-goodness truth? Which is worse—to have all your carefully-researched advice completely ignored, or to have it blindly and unquestioningly followed? Tough call.

"Shopping is supposed to be fun. Impulse buying is. The scientific approach isn't."

bruce Alan greene: "I had a friend ask me my advice for a camera to shoot a YouTube vlog. I told him I didn't know anything about a camera that would be good for vlogging. So, I googled "best vlogging camera" and found the most popular models and sent him a link to Amazon. I did look at the specs and reviews and it seemed a reasonable choice. He bought the camera and is very happy with it.  :-)  "

[Ed. note: Bruce is a professional cinematographer.]

Comments

[Dave]

Did Step 3 to myself recently. I spent the last year looking, considering cameras along a certain path and then did a heavy and quick backtrack to something else.

And even that got botched when I picked up a mint model even older than anticipated from FB Marketplace.

The irony is that it turned out to really be a "Step 1" choice, being what I needed and not what I "wanted." I'm happy ... but check back in a few months of course.

[Craig]

My first DSLR was a Canon Rebel XSi ten years or so ago. Nice little camera. No longer competitive for a number of reasons, including noise at ISO 1600 that would be unacceptable at ISO 6400 today, but I got a lot of use out of it.

The main reason I wouldn't recommend a Rebel, or any DSLR, today is that for most purposes a mirrorless camera with a good EVF is better, IMHO. You get full-time DoF preview, and you also get exposure preview, which is impossible with an optical finder. And while I've never actually measured the timing, I would think that the absence of a reflex mirror would make a mirrorless camera faster to shoot after you press the shutter release button.

[Robert Roaldi]

It has only happened a handful of times to me for photo newbies to ask me for camera buying advice. I always tell them the same thing, 'it doesn't matter.' The thinking is that if they stick with one of the known brands, the camera will work just fine. If they use it a lot, a rare thing, then they will soon figure out if they need something else. I am starting think this about cars too.

[s.wolters]

Attractive discounts on this Toyota line today:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Corona

[Al C.]

I would buy a Camry or Accord if I have no interest in cars, and all I want is to get from point to point, reliably. I would buy a Canon Rebel with a kit zoom if I have no interest in cameras or photography, and all I want is to take good looking snapshots, reliably. However, if I love cars or cameras, why would I buy a Camry or a Rebel? Come on, YOLO!

To your point of making recommendations, the problem is, it's a mismatch. You are a camera nut. Why ask a nut to recommend a practical, passable camera? Now, if I am looking for the very best 35mm 'cron, you know you da man.

[David Brown]

About 9 or 10 years ago, I emailed you saying something to the effect of all I wanted was a Minolta SRt with a digital sensor. (or the equivalent) You actually recommended a Sony a900. I bought a Sony a850 and have never regretted it. However, the a850 is much more analogous to my Maxxum 7 than my SRt.

[Stephen Scharf]

I can assure you I understand exactly why I buy the cameras I do.

[Jim Arthur]

I really loved my little 450D back in the day (2008). The body alone was too small for my XL hands but when I added a Canon grip, the size was just perfect. Because it was made of lightweight plastic the combined weight of the body, grip and two batteries was only 29 ounces and when combined with a 26 ounce EF 70-200mm f/4L IS it made for a nice critter rig. I eventually added a 1.4X Canon extender for even more reach.

The 450D (XSI) was the fourth generation of the Rebel and Canon finally made some nice improvements (12MP, SD Card, Stabilized Kit Iens, Live View, Spot Metering, My Menu, ISO Button, etc.) that really sold be. While I loved the size, weight, and reach of this rig its 1600 ISO limit eventually pushed me to full frame where I opted for a small body with no grip to keep the size down and the weight the same.

Even though that old 450D was an entry level camera with one control wheel, no video, cheap plastic construction, and no weather-sealing, it was probably my favorite in terms of size and weight. Having a lightweight rig with vertical controls was really nice.

[Sroyon Mukherjee]

Well in a sense some these reasons may, as you say, be irrational, but "irrational" reasons can be more important than we think, especially for amateurs/enthusiasts like myself. In particular, if a camera looks nice and feels nice, I find I am more likely to want to use it and carry it everywhere, which makes it more likely that I'll take better photos (and also just enjoy the experience more) compared to a camera which, "rationally speaking", may have been a better match.

[Dave Rogers]

About a year ago, a friend of mine asked me about an entry level Nikon DSLR that was on sale at a local Navy Exchange. He and his wife were about to go on a trip, and he also has a backyard that is often visited by Florida wildlife. He would post pics from his mobile phone, all pixelated from cropping to zoom. He knew I had a lot of cameras, so he asked me about the Nikon.

I told him it was a good camera, and the price made it a good value. Then I suggested that he consider the Panasonic FZ1000, because I knew he wasn't going to be interested in changing lenses. I went through all the features and compared them with the Nikon, giving the advantage to the Nikon is most areas except convenience.

Well, he bought the FZ1000. I didn't hear much from him about it after that.

He recently told me he realized he hadn't told me that he really liked the camera; and that two of his sailing buddies liked it so much, they each bought one too.

I'm not often asked for camera advice, most folks seem happy with their phone. But I was glad this instance turned out well for everyone.

[Rick in CO]

The Rebel cameras are great within their limitations. I took one to Africa for a less valuable if lost/damaged, autofocus APC camera that would increase the focal length of a long zoom lens. A drawback of cameras in that class (inexpensive DSLR's) is that the shutter lag makes them problematic for sports photography. I found them frustrating for lacrosse and hunter-jumpers compared to a 5D series camera. It is the type of camera I have observed many tourists in Europe using, they must sell a lot of them.

[Steve Rosenblum]

The Paradox of Choice:
https://www.ted.com/talks/barry_schwartz_the_paradox_of_choice?language=en

[Gaspar Heurtley]

The first DSLR that I bought brand new from an actual store was a Canon Rebel XSi (up until then I shot with a Pentax that I got from a friend).
I’ve moved on to mirrorless, but that Canon is still on a drawer and still use it a little from time to time with the lovely 50mm f/1.8II.
I think that combo (or its modern equivalent) is a no-brainer for anyone starting in “serious” photography: the new iteration of that lens is the cheapest way to get big aperture with autofocus, and the EOS mount is old enough so there are lots of old lenses that cost next to nothing.
That will let you play around and try different focal lengths to learn what you like and are comfortable with.

[Dave Jenkins]

I could make my living with a Rebel and the two-lens kit if I had to.

[mark b]

ctein's Tesla: the gold comemerative Leica of automobiles?

[hugh crawford]

Step 1: Figure out exactly what I want.
Step 2: Determine that it either does not exist or is mind bogglingly expensive.
Step 3: Sometimes make it myself which often is a subset of mind bogglingly expensive.

Occasionally it turns out that someone makes what I want, but then immediately goes out of business. My wife used to say that computer companies should pay me to not buy their products. Amiga, Be, Dauphine, Zeos, General Magic, and so on. A couple went out of business the week I placed an order.

A Lotus Seven should be the cheapest car in the world, yet it is not. I always seem to be looking for either the Lotus Seven or the Mercedes Benz Unimog of cameras.

[Rob de Loe]

I actually have to do this every year for a course I teach. The students need a good camera, but it doesn't have to be the newest or fanciest. This is our starting point:

First and foremost, you should have a good camera, but it can be an older camera if it was a good camera when it was new. A brand new camera that isn’t a good camera isn’t necessarily better than an old but good camera.
https://uwaterloo.ca/scholar/rdeloe/what-kind-camera-will-you-need

That sounds a bit cryptic, so I spell it out for them at the above link. Over the years they've also found this used camera buying advice to be helpful:

https://uwaterloo.ca/scholar/rdeloe/used-camera-buyingborrowing-advice

[Michael Plews]

CLE brilliant

[Nick]

I've had people follow my purchase suggestions on several occasions; Olympus owes me commissions on at least 3 m4/3 systems! (To be fair, when I told my brother to get an E-M1, he said he already had it picked out, but asked for my opinion in the dark to check his conclusions.)

[Steve Justad]

I have a great deal of difficulty understanding the high opinion of the Leica CL.

I actually owned one and used it often for a time in my newspaper job when I needed flash, thinking the rangefinder would offer benefit over the SLR. While the lens was good, the body was a complete, total POS. The worst camera I ever owned for reliability. In over 50 years.

The first problem was the rangefinder kept going out of wack. The main problem was a person did not know that until the film was developed and then discovering the subject of the photo was out of focus. I sent it in to Marty Forscher (then the god of Leica repair) a couple of times and the problem would quickly repeat. I eventually figured out how to make the repair but the longevity of the repair was no better than Forscher's. By the way, the flash used was a Visitor 283.

I never sold the camera. Could not stand the thought of dumping that POS on somebody. Eventually got tired of coming upon it in the bottom drawer of a desk and sent it off to the Boulder, MT, landfill.

[Yes, the CLE was much better. Although it did inherit a few of the CL's quirks. --Mike

P.S. I also have trouble selling anything substandard. Doesn't seem ethical.]

[Arg]

D5600 with Nikkor 18-300G = Toyota Corolla with roof-top tent.

[almostinfamous]

nowadays if someone asks me for a camera and they are a beginner i direct them to the previous generation just-above-entry level dslr from canon or nikon. based on my previous recommendation experience most of the time that's what they end up buying anyway. to the ones who already shoot a lot with their phones i am recommending the fuji x-t100 or x-a5 as they are available for excellent prices and work better with their phones.

[John Robison]

Maybe ten years ago I was asked for camera buying advice quite a bit. But in the last few years, as cell phone cameras have become so much better these type of queries have all but stopped.

Now, occasionally, someone will ask what film camera they should buy, but digital? Not for a couple of years.

[psu]

This is one of my favorite threads about the Canon Rebel...

https://www.photo.net/discuss/threads/how-does-xti-perform-in-harsh-climates.271961/

The money quote is:

"Some where around 15-20 times per weekend, I strap my xti to a helmet, walk it across the tarmac and through the prop wash of a turbine aircraft, haul it to 14,000' above ground level, open the aircraft door, which hopefully does not hit my camera but sometimes does, in anywhere from -15F degrees and up, hurl myself, and camera, towards the earth at around 120 mph, taking over 100 images of my free fall student / subject as the conditions around me go from cold to extremely warm, dry to moist, sun shine to falling thru a cloud, then deploy a parachute, createing a 3g force worth of brakes, then land in to what is hopefully a nice stand up in the grass, but may be a hit drop and roll in the unknown, then return to a open-air, dusty packing area where my xti sits on a table, waiting for the parachute to be repacked so that it may ride my head for another adventure. It does great. One of the major things about a rebel that has always made it suitable for freefall photagraphy is its weight, or lack there of, however it light construction has never been a problem for me, or any of my peers."

[emptyspaces]

I probably have some two-page emails in my archive from when I would try to answer this question conscientiously (and comprehensively). Really, they just wanted to know which Canon or Nikon to buy. In hindsight I should have just asked if they like twisting their zoom lenses to the left or right.

[Kalli]

Yes, but which camera is a champagne '98 Corolla?

[David Jacobs]

Mike, as a professional photographer and admitted gear-nerd I enjoy reading about cameras as much as anyone—indeed it’s why I started coming here almost the moment your blog began. But you seem to be a man with at least one eye on the bigger picture, and if ever there were a moment when many of us I’m sure would prefer to hear you discussing our current crisis, not Canon Rebels, cars, or billiards, now is that moment. As of today my family, and every other New Yorker I know, is self-quarantining for two or more weeks in a desperate voluntary attempt to “flatten the curve.” So you’ve got an especially captive audience, with an enlarged craving for content! Please, let us hear your voice.

[MikeR]

Are you okay? Any coronavirus instances near you?

[BG]

I have been incredibly blessed that no one has asked me anything about photography...

Sometimes I get stink eyes when I'm out shooting, though...

[Bear.]

I'm happy to know someone laughed! Thanks, Mike.

[Ludwig Heinrich]

Just FYI: Warranty Direct Reliability Index ranks the Corolla at No 39.
Meanwhile it drives like a wheelbarrow and is as comfortable as a pushbike. It's amazing what marketing can achieve! (To be fair it was a reliable car in the 1980s—but still uncomfortable and not at all nice to drive).
I don't think the Canon Rebel is that bad :-)

[Dillan K]

Your answer to Mike Plew's question was brilliant.