I’ve done a MASSIVE update to my “Stuff You Need” page, which is repeated in part over on the “Camera Reviews” page. This is THE most common question I get: “Which camera should I buy?” Because there are thousands of cameras out there, I like to boil it down to Good, Better, and Best. And here we go…

Good Camera

Olympus E-PM1

Priced at about $499, this Olympus camera is highly recommended if your budget is keeping you at around the $500 level.

• Check current price of the Olympus E-PM1 on Amazon
• Check current price of the Olympus E-PM1 on B&H

If budget is not a concern, I suggest you jump down to the “Better” or “Best” recommendations. However, if budget is your principal concern, then no worries! This Olympus will serve you well! It has a 12 megapixel sensor and is based on something called the “Micro Four Thirds” standard. This means that there many different lenses you can attach to this camera, which is something you can add over time. If you’re just getting started, there is no need to worry about lenses, since it comes with a serviceable 14-42mm lens that will allow wide-angle shots and a little bit of zoom.

Better Camera

Sony NEX-7

Starting around $1,300 which includes an 18-55mm lens.

• Check current price of the Sony NEX-7 on Amazon
• Check current price of the Sony NEX-7 on B&H

See my full Sony NEX-7 Review. In short, this is really a great camera. I carry it! It is compact and powerful. It can be used it almost any photographic situation and is one of the best models available in this class. I use it to take photos of everything, from kids to landscapes to architecture to objects. This tiny 24 megapixel beast has a thousand other features that those clever Japanese crammed inside… see the full Sony NEX-7 Review for more information and sample photos.

Best DSLR Camera

Nikon D800

Starting at $3,000 for the camera body.

• Check current price of the Nikon D800 on Amazon
• Check current price of the Nikon D800 on B&H

See my full Nikon D800 Review. This is currently my main camera. I also carry the Sony NEX-7 above as a second camera to get quick shots here and there. But this Nikon D800 is a bigger, traditional DSLR camera. It shoots a massive 36 megapixels and has all the professional-level features associated with high-end DSLRs. For me, I prefer this over the Nikon D4 which is almost twice as expensive. You can see many sample photos and read more in my full Nikon D800 Revi