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Abstract

video that gets me thinking maybe a different one would be better.</p><p id="aa7a">Sigh.</p><h1 id="70b9">What I need in a camera</h1><p id="0bde">My hope with my camera purchase is two-fold, and maybe this is a mistake. I want to be able to record high-quality 4K video for YouTube and some more advanced artistic videography and also take some great-looking stills as well and hopefully get my foot in the door of freelancing in the near future.</p><p id="3f88">(That’s something I could write about too, in the side hustle space.)</p><p id="56c5">I’m not looking to spend six grand on a camera at this point in my life, but I also don’t want to go for the “entry level” model that’s going to feel limited shortly.</p><p id="5658">My needs, I think, are pretty simple:</p><ol><li><b>Interchangeable lenses.</b> I don’t want to be stuck with a single lens, so it’s important to be able to swap them around.</li><li><b>Use as a webcam. </b>Ideally, I’d like to be able to use the camera to record directly into OBS and to use it for Teams and Zoom calls without much friction. I know I can do this with my iPhone, but as much as I love Continuity Camera, it can only go up to just over 1080p. While that’s fine for Zoom calls, I’d like to shoot in 4K when I record video.</li><li><b>Minimal rolling shutter issues.</b> I know that unless I go for something with a global shutter, I’m going to have to deal with a camera with a rolling shutter. For my purposes, this probably isn’t going to be as big of a deal as I think it will.</li><li><b>Ability to take great photos and high quality 4K footage too.</b> I know there are dedicated photo cameras, and there are cameras that are better suited for videography, but I’d like to find something that is a reasonable mix of both for one price tag if I can.</li></ol><p id="a1b8">I don’t think I’m asking too much, am I?</p><h1 id="2957">What I’m considering so far</h1><p id="fbee">Reading and watching reviews, I’ve narrowed my options down a bit, but I’m still not sure which of these I’ll go for — or if I’ll wind up with something entirely different.</p><p id="7d42">If you have some experience and have thoughts on the subject, I’d love to hear.</p><h2 id="f24e">Option 1: Sony ZV-E10</h2><p id="23a1">This is a good vlogging camera, but it seems

Options

pretty basic for what I want to do, and I don’t know that it would really be ideal for anything resembling professional photography — even for the occasional freelancing gig. So while this is a strong contender for the home office video / YouTube setup, it’s not really what I’m looking for on the photography side I think.</p><h2 id="d348">Option 2: Sony A7C</h2><p id="5cb1">The A7C is a nice step up for the ZV-E10, but the price tag shows it. It seems like a great mix of video and photo features at a price point that’s not <i>too</i> terrifying, but it’s enough to give me pause.</p><h2 id="5712">Option 3: Sony A7 IV</h2><p id="7515">This is the most expensive of the cameras I’m seriously considering. It checks a lot of boxes for me and seems great for professional photo work. I like that it has a full frame sensor, which is nice, but am a bit annoyed that it shoots 4K 60 with a crop and reportedly has some noticeable rolling shutter issues. At over $2k, I’m not sure if that’s something I’m willing to put up with. (I know all you professional photographers are probably laughing at me there telling me to get over it.)</p><h2 id="c64e">Option 4: Sony A7R V</h2><p id="ff9a">Clearly the most powerful camera of the four, this monster has an eye watering price tag that I’m not sure I can justify — at least not until I have quite a few paying clients and more savings in the bank. But it looks really cool and would be a good investment toward the future. Do I need it though? Probably not.</p><h1 id="3ed7">What do you recommend?</h1><p id="9964">So, dear reader, what do you think? Should I go for something like the ZV-E10, wait for the A7R V, go for the mid-range A7C, or maybe the A7 IV?</p><p id="2b7c">Should I just get the basic vlogging-oriented ZV-E10 for video and then pick up something else for photo work, or should I bite the bullet and go for something more expensive like the A7C, A7 IV or even the A7R V? Or is that overkill?</p><p id="54bf">I’d really love to hear some thoughts and input from the photgraphy community, and if you’ve used any of these cameras what do you think of them? Would you buy them again? Or, do you have another brand and model of camera you’d recommend to someone like me who wants to do a mix of video and photo work?</p></article></body>

Buying a Camera Is a Lot More Complicated Than I Thought

So many options. So many reviews. Yikes.

Years ago, I did a bit of photography and wedding videography. It wasn’t anything professional — just a hobby really. But I’d like to get back into that field. Maybe not shooting weddings, but definitely some sort of freelance photography gig.

I’ve always loved the creative side of taking photographs. Even on my iPhone, I love getting into the hidden settings of the camera using something like ProCam. But as cool as an iPhone is, it’s not even in the same ballpark as a good professional level camera — nor can it be.

What started the search

I’ve wanted to start a YouTube channel for a while to talk about various side hustles for Side Hustle Road, but I just haven’t been happy with the quality of what my iPhone can provide.

Yes, I know my iPhone can shoot in 4K at up to 60fps, which is nice, but it can’t really come close to a real camera with a nice blurry background and good multi-point autofocus. Really, as much as Apple might protest, it wasn’t meant to.

So, knowing that I would need to invest a bit in a dedicated camera for video work, I started my search.

The reviews. So many reviews.

The good and bad thing about the tech space on YouTube is the fact that there are reviews for days. Literally. Go to YouTube and type in the name of any device or product + “review” and you’ll be greeted with pages and pages of videos.

That can be a great thing for someone like me who isn’t sure what to buy, but it’s also a lot to sift through. I think I’ve changed my mind at least three times now. I’ll have in my mind that I’m definitely going to buy one camera in particular, and then I’ll watch another video that gets me thinking maybe a different one would be better.

Sigh.

What I need in a camera

My hope with my camera purchase is two-fold, and maybe this is a mistake. I want to be able to record high-quality 4K video for YouTube and some more advanced artistic videography and also take some great-looking stills as well and hopefully get my foot in the door of freelancing in the near future.

(That’s something I could write about too, in the side hustle space.)

I’m not looking to spend six grand on a camera at this point in my life, but I also don’t want to go for the “entry level” model that’s going to feel limited shortly.

My needs, I think, are pretty simple:

Interchangeable lenses. I don’t want to be stuck with a single lens, so it’s important to be able to swap them around.
Use as a webcam. Ideally, I’d like to be able to use the camera to record directly into OBS and to use it for Teams and Zoom calls without much friction. I know I can do this with my iPhone, but as much as I love Continuity Camera, it can only go up to just over 1080p. While that’s fine for Zoom calls, I’d like to shoot in 4K when I record video.
Minimal rolling shutter issues. I know that unless I go for something with a global shutter, I’m going to have to deal with a camera with a rolling shutter. For my purposes, this probably isn’t going to be as big of a deal as I think it will.
Ability to take great photos and high quality 4K footage too. I know there are dedicated photo cameras, and there are cameras that are better suited for videography, but I’d like to find something that is a reasonable mix of both for one price tag if I can.

I don’t think I’m asking too much, am I?

What I’m considering so far

Reading and watching reviews, I’ve narrowed my options down a bit, but I’m still not sure which of these I’ll go for — or if I’ll wind up with something entirely different.

If you have some experience and have thoughts on the subject, I’d love to hear.

Option 1: Sony ZV-E10

This is a good vlogging camera, but it seems pretty basic for what I want to do, and I don’t know that it would really be ideal for anything resembling professional photography — even for the occasional freelancing gig. So while this is a strong contender for the home office video / YouTube setup, it’s not really what I’m looking for on the photography side I think.

Option 2: Sony A7C

The A7C is a nice step up for the ZV-E10, but the price tag shows it. It seems like a great mix of video and photo features at a price point that’s not too terrifying, but it’s enough to give me pause.

Option 3: Sony A7 IV

This is the most expensive of the cameras I’m seriously considering. It checks a lot of boxes for me and seems great for professional photo work. I like that it has a full frame sensor, which is nice, but am a bit annoyed that it shoots 4K 60 with a crop and reportedly has some noticeable rolling shutter issues. At over $2k, I’m not sure if that’s something I’m willing to put up with. (I know all you professional photographers are probably laughing at me there telling me to get over it.)

Option 4: Sony A7R V

Clearly the most powerful camera of the four, this monster has an eye watering price tag that I’m not sure I can justify — at least not until I have quite a few paying clients and more savings in the bank. But it looks really cool and would be a good investment toward the future. Do I need it though? Probably not.

What do you recommend?

So, dear reader, what do you think? Should I go for something like the ZV-E10, wait for the A7R V, go for the mid-range A7C, or maybe the A7 IV?

Should I just get the basic vlogging-oriented ZV-E10 for video and then pick up something else for photo work, or should I bite the bullet and go for something more expensive like the A7C, A7 IV or even the A7R V? Or is that overkill?

I’d really love to hear some thoughts and input from the photgraphy community, and if you’ve used any of these cameras what do you think of them? Would you buy them again? Or, do you have another brand and model of camera you’d recommend to someone like me who wants to do a mix of video and photo work?