Skip to content
UdemyPhotographyPaid courseBeginner levelCertificate

Photography for Beginners: The Ultimate Camera Guide (Udemy.com)

Buy your first or next camera with confidence. Learn how to choose the perfect camera for your photography journey.

Created by: Video School

Last updated September 2026

icon
What you will learn

  • A Step-by-Step guide to Buying a Photography Camera
  • Understand what camera and lens will work best for you
  • Confidently make your camera-buying decision no matter what your budget is

How it compares

Against the other 275 rated Udemy courses in Photography on CourseDuck:

  • Rating4.5 out of 5higher than 44% of them
  • Reviews26#268 of 276 by number of reviews
  • Length1.7 hoursshorter than 71% of them
  • Last updatedSeptember 2026more recently than 90% of them

icon
Course Description

Are you ready to buy your first camera or upgrade to the camera of your dreams and are confused about what camera to buy?

This is the perfect course to learn all of the steps you need to figuring out how to decide what camera is best for YOU.

There's no perfect camera that fits every single persons needs. In this course I will give you the tools to figure out how to decide what camera to buy for your specific needs. I'll take you through 3 steps with a work sheet that will help you determine YOUR next steps on camera research and what equipment will work for your budget, style, and future. We are not going to tell you exactly what camera to buy, but we are going to give you the tools to help you figure it out yourself.

Enroll now, and you'll get instant access to:

  • Easy-to-watch lectures

  • Premium support if you ever get stuck

  • Lifetime updates to the course content

What will you learn in this course?

  • How to decipher the things needed when considering a camera to buy.

  • Breaking down your intentions for different genres of photography shooting.

  • You'll learn all of the key factors that go into buying a starter or upgrade camera.

  • You'll hear 2 small case studies from Will and Phil on why they chose the cameras they shoot.

  • You'll get a mini workbook to help you visualize your camera purchasing variables.

  • Lastly, you'll gain the confidence to help make a smart camera purchase for your individual self.

We believe this is a perfect first step into your camera buying process.

Key course topics:

  • Are you ready to buy a camera/ do you need one?

  • Basic photography terms when looking to buy a camera

  • 3 variables for buying a camera for yourself

  • Making a decision on budget, style of photography, and your future

  • Case studies on what and why Will and Phill bought specific models of cameras

Who are the Instructors?

Will Carnahan - a professional photographer, cinematographer, and instructor. Will has been purchasing cameras and making money from photography and film making for over 20 years.

Along with Phil Ebiner and Sam Shimizu-Jones we've created some of the world's top-rated photography courses taken by millions of students around the world. Many of our students have gone on to make money with their photography skills as a side hustle or full time business.

You'll get premium support and feedback to help you become a better photographer!

We can't wait to see you in the course!

Will

icon
Udemy Discount

The discount is applied through our link. Open the course from here and Udemy's current promotional price is applied at checkout on most courses, no code to type.

Some courses are excluded from Udemy's promotions. If the price does not drop, clear your browser cookies and use the button again.

icon
Instructor Details

Video School

Learn creative skills, from absolute beginner to advanced mastery. 

Video School exists to help you succeed in life. Each course has been hand-tailored to teach a specific skill from photography and video to art, design and business.

Whether you’re trying to learn a new skill from scratch, or want to refresh your memory on something you’ve learned in the past, you’ve come to the right place.

Education makes the world a better place. Make your world better with new skills!

Our courses can be watched 24/7 wherever you are. Most are fully downloadable so you can take them with you. You can also view them on mobile devices with the Udemy mobile app.

All courses have a 30-day money-back guarantee so that you can check it out, make sure it’s the right course for you, and get a refund if it’s not!

icon
More courses by Video School

$124.99

$159.99

$16.99

$24.99

$19.99

$10.99

icon
More Photography courses

$39.99

$24.99

$24.99

$19.99

$19.99

$12.99

icon
Reviews

4.5

26 ratings on Udemy

Select a bar to show only those reviews.Select the bar again to show every rating.

By Sergejs on 8/14/2024

It is a good course to start thinking, but too much the same sayings, I was expected to hear a bit more technical details like lens differences, battery life and so on

By Diane Carlson on 7/27/2023

Great decision making course with essential information. Now to find which mid level cameras shoot the best video. I do dance portraits and dance videos. I am 5'2" and plan to scale down. Great energy! See you at photography school.

By Judith sahagun on 12/19/2022

Because I like that he’s explaining about the budgets and different cameras . It’s good to know !

By Marcel Kapfer on 4/29/2022

A great course for getting you on track to choose a new camera. It helped me a lot to focus on the decision process about the different models that fitted my budget and needs. Although some additional information would have helped me: tips to take into consideration when buying a camera for macro photography, some notes regarding kit lenses and a few words about different sensor sizes.

By Xueqing Chen on 7/4/2021

The content is a little self-repetitive. The list is a good reference.

By Joshua Breakfield on 6/22/2021

I thought the course was very informative about most options one may have had when choosing a camera. It helped me think more about what I actually want to shoot and how to tie the camera body, sensor, and equipment with right price for where I was at in the fields I am most interested in. I did wish it gave more info about the camera body like if you were interested in doing video as well and not just photography. For example is there a camera that can handle both pretty well or will the video get into a whole new set of camera options when it comes to video professionally compared with photography. This would probably be more for a different course I would assume. Overall the course was great and in depth for what some would be looking for in their field of interest and budget. Also don't expect the exact answer as it is ones own personal choice, this course just helps narrow down the options in your field of interest which in my opinion helps.

By Ewa Znamirowska on 5/28/2021

only very basic knowledge. a lot of talking but nothing concrete. all course content is in the sample video. there is nothing more there. not worth the price

By Laura Cole on 5/25/2021

The information was great, it helped me narrow down budget and subject. I have a clearer picture of what I want in a camera.

By Larry D Bechdol on 5/25/2021

I first bought a point n'Shoot for about $95.00. I used it for bout 6 months, then boutght a Casio XILIM point n shoot. I wore it out. Some of the buttons no longer work, but it still takes good pics. As the Casio began to wear I also decided I wanted a camera with a better lens. I bought my first Mirrorless--a GS85 from Panasonic along with one lens--the 20mm prime lens. I always have snapped landscape, in particular flowers and shrubs. The 20mm works well most of the time. I enrolled in a good in-person photography course to learn more. I wanted a waterproof setup so purchased a G9 Panasonic with two professional lens--12-35.and 35-100. That gave me the entire spectrum of wheat I like to shoot. These two lens have a constant aperture of 2.8 maximum, that is the aperture doesn't vary as I zoom so I can use them for door shots as well as outside. The I still have the GS85 and use it as my 'travel' camera. It is light compared to the G9 and has most of the fates of the G9,just not as conveient to find/use. Both are from Panasonic so all the lens fit each. I also bought a DC-270 form Panasonic, a point n shoot with a long zoom lens. It is good outside. but not a good indoors or poor light camera. I thus started cheap--the first point n shoot cameras were $95 and $250. The GX85 was $450 and the G9 ws on sale at $899. I still snap pics of plant life, some wildlife, whatever scenes I find interesting. The G9 is not full frame but I don't need (nor can afford) a full-frame camera as they typically cost minimum of $1200 + the Panasonic lens for GX85 and G9 won't fit. Larry

By Paula Saneaux on 1/7/2022

Showing all 10 reviews on CourseDuck

Read all 26 reviews on Udemy

icon
Quality Score

No CourseDuck member has rated this course yet. Taken it? Give each part a thumbs up or down.

Content Quality
/
Video Quality
/
Qualified Instructor
/
Course Pace
/
Course Depth & Coverage
/

Overall Score : 90 / 100