I’m totally new to photography and want to get my first camera. I’ll mainly be using it for nature photography while hiking and traveling.
My only focus is on photos of the highest possible quality.
My budget is around $600, and I’ll also need essential accessories, but don’t know what I’d need, like a lens?
Not open to refurbished, as I’m buying in Vietnam.
Don’t focus on the equipment. Any dslr, be it mirrorless, full frame, or traditional format, will be more than enough to get started and learn how photography works.
Force yourself to use manual mode and learn how fstops, shutter speed, iso and everything else tie together to make an image. I know you said no refurbished, but the used market is ideal for beginners. I went to school for photography (not my current career) but I still use a 20 year old nikon with the kit lens and a couple nice prime lenses I added along the way. The equipment rarely holds you back. With that said, once you have your feet wet, lenses are where you want to invest. An entry level camera with a nice lens will take better pics than a high end camera and shitty lens.
Could you please recommend a specific model and specific lens? I’m totally clueless.
Perhaps Canon EOS R50? Or Canon EOS Rebel T7/2000D? But what lens?
The 2000d doesn’t have a flipping screen
Do not buy a camera without a flipping screen under any circumstances
If you are starting out, I promise it doesn’t matter. As far as lens, any kit lens (one that’s included, typically a “zoom” lens) that has a starting mm range in the 20s would be a good start. After you get used to the camera, look at getting a faster prime lens. This is a lens with a fixed mm, like 24mm and aprime lenses are generally better quality and sharper than zoom. The f-stop with as low a number as you can afford. The lower f-stop will allow better low light photographs, if that even matters to you. As a lens rule, 50mm is usually what our vision sees, anything less is considered wide angle. Anything more, and your zooming into be close to the subject.
My advice is to get an entry level mirrorless (you mentioned the r50) Canon, nikon or Sony. They have the largest lens catalog without needing adapters. Mirrorless will give you a more compact camera. You can save a few bucks and go traditional dslr (like the t7) or buy used and save yourself a ton of money.
For your budget, this is the best deal new I could see for what you mentioned.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1461735-REG/canon_2727c021_eos_rebel_t7_dslr.html
This is the r50 mirrorless https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1748811-REG/canon_eos_r50_mirrorless_camera.html
Or go used and spend half the money
https://www.ebay.com/itm/286249160060?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=aiczwwzdtj6&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=t9Q_b0GsRUi&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
Thanks! Unfortunately, eBay has issues shipping to Vietnam and I’d rather not risk it. I wish I could find a reputable seller of used cameras here but I can’t.
Check around at local universities. Some students upgrade along the way, or the professors might point you in the direction of local photography stores that deal in used.