Have you been wondering how much longer you’ll keep your little point and shoot camera? Are you getting tired of trying to take that shot only to realize that the camera was too slow to capture the image? Maybe your birthday is coming up so you’re looking to get yourself a nice birthday present. So where do you start? What do you choose? Here’s my take on this loaded question and hopefully you can use it when you’re considering what to buy.
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So what brand?
Well I suppose it depends on who you ask right? The first and most important thing you need to know is that there aren’t any really bad digital SLR cameras out there. If you ask your photographer friend, of course they’ll tell you to get the brand that they have because it’s the best. If you ask me, of course I’ll tell you to go and buy a Canon because they’re great. Generally speaking, brand shouldn’t really matter. What matters is what you want to do with it, how patient are you at reading the manuals, or perhaps, how many friends you have that have the same camera so you can swap lenses.
So what do I get then? Do your research or maybe you can ask a friend if they would be willing to show you the ropes if you bought the same brand camera that they have.
Go to your local store and play with the different brands and buy the one you think is the easiest to use.
Don’t fall for the megapixel hype!
Most cameras these days have at least 12 megapixels. Most people fall into the category of those shoppers wanting to get the largest megapixel camera they can get for their money. The truth is, you don’t really need all that much unless of course you plan on printing your images larger than 30″x40″. Most people just settle for printing 8″x10″ at the most. Do you even print at all?
Do I need video?
I think one of the best things that has developed in recent years is the ability for a dSLR to record video. It’s a great improvement over static photos for sure. Do you need it? Sure why not! If you can spring the extra money to buy a dSLR that has the ability to record video, then go for it. Here’s where it gets tricky – when someone asks me which one to get after they realize they want the video capability. My response is in a form of a question: “Between Nikon and Canon, who has more experience in video”?
It’s not about the body.
… the camera body that is. Trust me on this one folks. Think of it this way, how often do these manufacturers upgrade their cameras? If you look at Canon’s program, they usually introduce new models every two years. So what do you do then? Do you wait for the newer models to come out or do you buy the one that’s on sale right now? I recommend buying the model that’s on sale and save your money on a better lens.
Every major brand offers camera kits which usually includes a “kit lens” around the 18-55mm range. They are decent lenses but won’t offer the same sharpness and clarity as an expensive lens. However, if you’re simply one who enjoys just taking photos of your kids and family, then you’ll be satisfied with the standard kit lens. if all else fails, see my first point above regarding ‘borrowing” lenses from your friends.
Amazon or local?
Always buy locally if you can. However, Amazon and other big online stores offer great deals that are sometimes really hard to resist. My suggestion is to ask your local store if they would be interested to “price match”. Pay the taxes but at least you won’t have to pay for shipping.
Click to Buy.
This is probably the hardest thing to do – either swiping that credit card or clicking “Buy” when purchasing online. It’s normal to get cold feet. If you’re not ready, go home and sleep on it. Think about it. Research once again if you have to. Remember, you’re spending a lot of money on a camera so it’s never easy but just take a deep breath and go for it!
Congratulations!
Welcome to the dSLR world! The next step should be practicing with your camera and mastering it’s controls. Don’t expect to suddenly take great photographs soon after you buy your camera. It takes time but at least now, you have the tools to use to photograph great images. Avoid buyer remorse. Be happy with what you have and don’t look back. Remember, you’r in the big camera club now.
Be on the look out for future articles on this site. If you’re new to the dSLR world, you’ll need to read up on articles like this so you can boost your knowledge and techniques.
My Recommendations:
Nikon D3100 14.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens
Either way you choose, I think you’ll be happy. As I said before, your investment are in the lenses and not the camera bodies. Spend your money on lenses, not camera bodies. If you anticipate investing quite a bit on lenses, I suggest going either Canon or Nikon. Just keep this fact in mind when you’re making your purchase.
Good luck!
1 comment
Nicely done. I still don’t know what to get though. It’s a lot of money for an amateur person like me. Thanks!