Choosing the right camera as a beginner photographer is daunting, especially if you’ve only ever used your smartphone before. DSLRs have become much more accessible in recent years, making it easier for creatives to make their dreams come true. However, you shouldn’t discount the instant camera.
Instant cameras, such as Polaroid, have made a comeback and offer several unique picture-taking opportunities. With that in mind, should you opt for an instant camera or stick with the DSLR? We’ll compare both options from a creative standpoint today.
What Type of Photographer Are You?
While researching camera specs is useful, the truth is that the best camera is one that you’ll actually use. With that in mind, you must think about the type of photographer you are—or want to become.
If you only want a camera to quickly capture memories on holiday, an instant camera will often be good enough. Similarly, you might be fine with an instant camera if you don’t want to take large quantities of photos in your everyday life. You can always considergetting a used point-and-shoot digital cameraif you want to upgrade later.
On the flip side, photographers who produce higher outputs of work should consider getting a DSLR. And if you have dreams of becoming a professional photographer, the DSLR is the better option for you.
DSLR cameras are also better for versatility. You can often change your lens for landscape photography, portraits, and many other genres. Photography that needs a longer lens, such as wildlife photography, will be very difficult with an instant camera.
Winner:DSLR
How Much Space Do You Want Your Camera to Take Up in Your Bag?
With so manytravel photography items you can take with you, deciding on the most important ones is essential for saving space in your bag. This is especially true if you don’t want to purchase extra suitcases, and it’s also essential if you plan to take your camera with you on your daily commute.
Although DSLR cameras are a powerful entry-level photography tool, they’re often notoriously bulky. As a result, you might be less motivated to take your camera with you—which means that your purchase wasn’t particularly worthwhile.
On the flip side, many instant cameras are very easy to carry around. However, you should consider that you may need to bring extra equipment with you—such as additional film or paper if you run out of those. Even then, you often won’t need to worry about as much space being consumed in your bag.
Winner:Instant camera
What’s Your Aesthetic?
Finding your own unique photography stylecan take years, but you probably have some kind of idea of what you want to capture. When deciding between an instant camera and a DSLR, understanding the aesthetic you want to portray—along with the route you may wish to take in the future—is a good idea.
Instant cameras are an excellent choice if you’re aiming tocreate more of a vintage look in your photos. And if you think that you’ll stick with that kind of style later, you can get an instant camera for now and accompany (rather than replace) it with a digital camera later. Some brands also have different film and paper for instant cameras that change the colors in your pictures.
However, it is worth noting that you can also create a film-style aesthetic with DSLR cameras—though you will likely need to use editing software. DSLR cameras also offer more versatility in switching aesthetics and exploring different genres, making them a better choice if you want to be more experimental.
Where Are You Going to Use Your Pictures?
Another thing to consider when choosing between a DSLR and an instant camera is where you’re going to use your photos. If you plan on using your pictures in a photo album or having a physical copy for non-commercial reasons, an instant camera will be your best friend.
you may also use instant cameras for posting your pictures on social media networks like Instagram. Some apps let you scan your photos to your smartphone, and another option (albeit less practical) is to take a picture of your printed shots with your phone.
If you plan to use your pictures across multiple digital platforms, a DSLR camera will be your best option. You can transfer files directly to your phone via Bluetooth, and it’s also possible to resize your photos for different platforms more easily.
Winner:DSLR (digital), instant camera (non-commercial print)
What Types of Conditions Will You Shoot In?
If you live in a region where the weather isn’t clear skies and sunshine year-round, you’ll need to think about the types of conditions you plan to use your camera in. Some cameras can deal with rain, snow, and cold better than others—and the last thing you want is for your device to stop working after a few uses.
Many instant cameras are water-resistant, and some are even usable underwater. But if you need a camera that’s capable of regularly withstanding extreme weather, you’re better off picking a DSLR device—more specifically, a weather-sealed DSLR camera and lens.
With that being said, you might want to try using a cheaper instant camera in the rain or snow. While you may risk damaging your device, you could also get impressive results.
Do You Want to Edit Your Photos After Taking Them?
Tools like Adobe Lightroom are excellent for fine-tuning the pictures you’ve taken and ensuring that they meet your preferred aesthetic. You can evencorrect common camera problems in Lightroomif something goes wrong during the production phase!
In Lightroom, you may edit both RAW and JPEG files. But since you’ll be editing from your computer or smartphone, having a DSLR or mirrorless camera will make it easier to transfer your files.
you’re able to edit your pictures from an instant camera if you manage to get them onto a computer or smartphone, but your options are nowhere near as plentiful as they would be with a DSLR.
Winner:DSLR (unless you don’t want to edit your photos)
Instant Camera vs. DSLR: Which Is the Winner?
If we only looked at DSLRs and instant cameras from a technical standpoint, such as image quality, DSLRs would’ve been the clear winner. But when thinking about the creative aspects of each device, things aren’t so cut-and-dry.
DSLRs still offer more creative flexibility, but instant cameras are great for photographers who want to take outside-the-box photos. And for those who don’t want to deal with processes like picture editing, you can get a lot of use from an instant camera.
Choose the Best Camera for Your Needs
When choosing a new camera, you should think about more than just the specs. It’s essential that you look at things from a creative standpoint as well. Instant cameras and DSLRs have their own unique strengths and weaknesses, and it’s a good idea to think about the types of images you want to capture.
Now that you’ve read this guide, you should be in a better position to pick the best camera type for your needs.
