Why buy a DSLR Camera & Which One?

When the time comes that you want to take control of your photography, when you want to stop taking snaps and start taking photographs, you have to decide which camera is going to be right for you.

A DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera is the ideal type to start your photography career. You have all the control of a film camera, but you will gain confidence and ability at a rate that would be virtually impossible otherwise.

This hub will guide you with tips on what to look for when you are trying to decide which DSLR to buy.

Why choose a DSLR? Why not film?

A DSLR camera gives you all the creative control of a film camera, but with the added benefit of being able to view your photographs instantly. You can see what went wrong and try another technique to improve the shot.

You can delete the poor image without wasting time and money on processing a film full of bad shots.

Why choose a DSLR and not a point & shoot digital camera?

You won't have anywhere near the same amount of creative control over your photographs with a point & shoot camera than you will have with a DSLR.

You have far more choice of exposure settings, meaning you can create beautiful photographs in any conditions without losing details like the sky, for example. Yes, you will get photos with blue sky from a point & shoot camera, but it's very hit & miss... because you have no control, the camera decides!

With a DSLR, YOU decide what and how you want to take the photograph. The camera does what YOU tell it to do. YOU are in charge!

You have so much more control when you are mastering difficult techniques such as low light photography, macro photography, wildlife photography, etc if you are using a DSLR.

You have the options of many different types of dedicated lenses: wide angle, macro, fish eye, tilt-shift, fixed prime, extreme zoom, and so on. You are not restricted to the limited range of the lens on your point and shoot. Even with the 10x and 12x zooms available on the market, you are still restricted by the capabilities of the lens.

You can change the lens on your DSLR simply by unclipping and unscrewing it and replacing it with any other from a huge range that will fit your camera.

Manufacturers such as Nikon have used the same lens mounting from the beginning and so many lenses that worked on Nikon film cameras will also work on their DSLR's. There will be a few that aren't compatible, and some that you will have to use manual focus only, but it does still mean that you have a huge choice of lenses... even old Uncle Albert's that he has stashed away somewhere in the loft!

OK, so I want a DSLR but which one?

The simple answer is the one that does the job you want it to!

Do you want to take photographs of people, landscapes, sports, wildlife, extreme close ups? Do you want to take all sorts of photographs with no real preference for any particular type?

Another thing to consider is whether you have an old film camera with lenses that may be compatible with your new DSLR... or maybe old Uncle Albert does, or your ex-boyfriend or ex-wife, whoever... maybe worth speaking to them again and saying hi after all. No harm in asking is there?

DSLR cameras that are good all-rounders

Technology moves pretty fast these days and camera manufacturers are moving with it. Entry-level DSLR's from all the major manufacturers are pretty good all-rounders and will be more than enough for anyone starting out in photography.

Which one you choose will depend on which one feels right in your hands. If you go along to any photographic store, you should be able to pick up the cameras, try the buttons and see how it feels. Is it awkward to change the dials or manually focus the lens while you have the camera up to your eye? Is it too heavy for you? Is it too light for you? These are questions nobody can answer for you, and are all important considerations if you are going to be spending a lot of happy hours out and about practising with your new camera!

Don't buy a camera while you are there. Walk away and think about it first. If you want to support your local shops and they can do you a good deal then go for it. Just don't fall for any sales patter until you are absolutely sure what all the alternatives are.

Come back and read this page again if you have to. Have a look on the internet to see if you can get a better deal. What kind of warranty are you getting at the shop? Can you get better elsewhere?

This is a list of cameras that I consider to be good all rounders, but this is just my opinion and you are fully entitled to have a different one! All should be available for reasonable money on the second hand market, as people upgrade to the expensive professional cameras, or the latest ones with all the gadgets and gizmos and whistles and bells! Ebay is definitely worth a look or even your local camera club where someone always knows someone who is selling something!!

Nikon D40, D40x, D90

Canon EOS 450D

Pentax K100D Super and K200D

Olympus E-410 and E-520

Have a look at what each camera offers... a google search will reveal hundreds of reviews as well as all the specifications and technical data you could possibly want. I started with the Nikon D40x and I still use it now as a back-up camera. It's perfect for me, but that's just me. Make sure you choose a camera that will be perfect for you!

Best DSLR's for Landscape Photography

If peace and solitude and being out in the fresh air is what you love to do, you may well find your niche with landscape photography.

Any DSLR will be useful for landscape photography and the lens choice is probably more important here than camera choice... but, if you think you may be able to sell your prints and you want the best digital camera for the job, then you have a few other options.

You ideally need a DSLR with a full frame sensor and a nice wide angle lens as part of your purchase kit or bundle. The full frame sensor means that you get a nice wide view of the landscape and not the cropped format that was usually standard with early the DSLR's. Look for:

Canon EOS 5D or 5D mkII, and EOS 1Ds mkIII

Nikon D700, or D3 and D3x

Sony α-900

An alternative to the full frame sensor is a DSLR that has an in-built panorama mode, where you can pan the camera while taking several exposures which are then stitched together to create an ultra-wide view. Look for:

Olympus E-510

If you want to be really serious about landscape photography but want to stay digital, you can look for medium-format and larger format digital cameras. This is serious though, so if money isn't a problem and you think you will be a professional landscape photographer on a grand scale, then it is worth looking into. Mamiya and Hasselblad are both manufacturers that specialise in medium and large format.

Best DSLR's for Sports Photography, Photo Journalism, and Wildlife Photography

Again, a good fast lens is possibly more important than the camera body, but you will need a camera that can handle low light, changing light, and fast speeds. Look at and compare iso range, frames per second rates, and autofocus speeds capabilities.

Nikon D3, D700, or D300

Canon EOS 1D mkIII, or EOS 5D, and 5D mkII

That was a very quick guide to what is out there at the moment, but with such a huge variety of needs and such a fast-moving technology, it is impossible to be any more specific here. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask and I shall do my best to answer them.

Thank you for reading, and please check out my other hubs for more tips and advice.

Aunty.