The Most Practical DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) Camera for Beginners

I have two rules whenever someone asks me what DSLR camera to be. I am not an expert myself but I have the knack (at least that's what I think) of understanding electronics. So I ask them only two questions.

1. Is this going to be your first DSLR camera?
2. What is your budget?

Most of the time the answer to the questions above is a resounding 'Yes. this is my first' and 'Yes. I'm on a shoestring budget'. Obviously most people are beginners in DSLR photography. That includes me... Ahahahahahah!!!

So a beginners camera must be one of the following:

• It must be very easy to use. Idiot proof if possible.
• It must be relatively inexpensive

Fortunately easy to use cameras are also inexpensive. Although they have less features than the so called professional or pro-sumers digital cameras, they do their function (take pictures) very very good. From this a beginner has two alternatives on getting a DSLR.

1. Buy a used DSLR camera. Learn and master the functions and features. Sell it and buy the advanced camera with all the features you can handle.
2. Buy an inexpensive DSLR with limited features. Master it and upgrade to a more advance DSLR camera in the future.

USED DSLR CAMERA

What do you get if you opt for a used camera? Well for one you can get a DSLR camera with an advanced feature set. Sometimes the fastest way to learn how to swim is getting thrown in the water. Questions then will arise on what you really intend the camera for. Questions like:

• Do I really need all these features?
• Will I really be using the manual mode? Adjust the shutter? The aperture? Change lenses? Or just use it for point and shoot?
• Is this camera to heavy to carry around?
• etc... etc... etc...?

I usually tell my friends that a lot of used and feature packed cameras floating around because people who have once been beginners are shifting to the newer models. I've know some lucky people who were able to buy Nikon D300's for one fourth the price. But there is still a downside in choosing this path. You'll miss out on the new features built into current entry level DSLR cameras. What features? Well features like: Dust Control, Live View LCD, HD Movie Capture, Extended Dynamic Range...

But the truth is... if you're just taking your first step in photography, you really don't need this features. What a novice photographer needs is to understand the relationship of light to the shutter, aperture and lens of the camera. Because no matter how advance your camera is, if you do not understand the basics... then you might just as well be holding a point and shoot camera.

BRAND NEW DSLR CAMERA

There are also really good reason to get a brand new camera. For one... it is brand new with of course a warranty. Since beginners don't really know much about handling DSLRs there are chances that it they will be handled roughly. This is where the warranty comes in handy.

Inexpensive cameras may suffer from the following limitations:

• Less Customizations - truth is as a beginner this not that important than it is to a professional
• Less Autofocus Points - also not that important unless you go into speed photography which unlikely since you are after all a novice
• Slower Burst Shot - well buy a video camera. But getting a proper single shot is your primary concern as a beginner
• Worse Low Light Performance - Not a n issue at all since you will be learning in daylight not at night. Ahahahahah!!!

The DSLR cameras listed below are what I recommend for beginners. Inexpensive but with all the features a novice photographer can handle. Some professional photographers stand by the Nikon D40 with there life.

I highly recommend buying a new one (the warranty alone justifies this recommendation) and these are my choices for you...