Yep. I got a camera.

Here’s what we’ll be getting into:

What I was looking for and why.
Camera Specs.
Overall Review.

Just to be 100% clear, I have absolutely NO previous knowledge about cameras beyond webcams. :)

I’m a newb. BUT, this camera is considered Mark I. The upgrade is Mark II.

What I was looking for.

I’ve been looking for a NICE (kind of expensive) Camera for a long time. Not a WEBCAM, a Camera. Let’s just say it’s been about 3 years of searching and I’ve never found anything that fit my qualifications until 3/7/2022.

I came upon it while doing my basic, CLASSIC, search for a camera that at LEAST had 4k video and a flip screen. You’d be surprised how hard it was to find just those two together. It was rather pathetic.

So here’s my full list of wants. Anything in blue, we acquired.

Good Low Light
4k Resolution
Auto Focus / Eye Tracking
Good Battery Life
Flip Out Screen
Decent Stabilization
Mirrorless
Canon (Novice)
Depth of Field (Better lens)
Under $1k USD

The last two we’ll see. I feel like I’ll need a lot more time to really be able to upgrade and get more acquainted with the camera. So far this is all based on what I’ve read about this camera from marketing info and reviews.

Specifications

Amazon Link

Since I’m giving the direct link I’ll skip the copy and pasting of every technical specification on this camera and point out the best features in my opinion.

First, it comes with an overall great beginner’s lens. 15-45mm as I’m told is perfect for just starting out. Although upgrades should be made to allow varied types of shots. I plan to add something in the 28-80mm range. Just some food for thought. It’s good for zooming in across a room but no further.

Next is that it happens to shoot in 4k video. Most people would complain at this stage about the cropping, but let’s be real it’s a beginner camera and I’m very aware I’ll have to design and shoot with this knowledge. But I won’t take a camera that does less than 4k. I want quality despite how difficult it may be to adjust for this problem.

Mirrorless. This in the most basic sense means that I can get a live preview of my shot. It’s not required, but nice. If you use older cameras that aren’t digital you’ll appreciate it. I took pictures years ago for a professor and got a quick rundown of it. It had a mirror and used film.

It’s got Built-in Wi-Fi, NFC and Bluetooth Technology. Cool? We’ll see how well that works… So far it’s been a pain in the butt to set up but now that it is, I can easily transfer pictures to my phone or computer without wires!

Flip Screen! My favorite part. How else can you check your video if you’re vlogging? Psh.

Overall Review

What it came with:

$650 USD for everything in the kit.

Digital Camera, Zoom Lens 15-44mm, Neck Strap, One battery and charger.

What I bought separately:

I spent in TOTAL: $815 USD.

Because I also acquired Extra Batteries x2 ($30), a Selfie Stick ($20), Sandisk 256GB ($50), and of course a Camera Bag ($14).

How I feel about the Product:

Honestly there was much to be considered because I’m new to professional cameras. However with the wide range of things I wanted from a camera it seemed perfect. A great starter for someone who wants to do both video and photography. VLOGGING on the other hand with the flip out screen was a major importance, but I’m so glad it had nearly every single feature I wanted in my made up “perfect” camera list. Perfect does exist. You just gotta look long and hard.

The automatic settings are pretty solid for a beginner. I’m excited to read more of the manual later, but for a quick try I was surprised at the low light adjustments and face-tracking. Ahsoka is my darker cat and she NEVER sits still. I managed to snap a good picture which would normally seem overly blurry on my iPhone.

It feels perfect for me. I’m usually very reserved in saying that word, but truly it is.