So you feel it's time to upgrade your point-and-shoot to something more sophisticated, like a dSLR. With professional-looking designs and myriads of buttons being built in, such cameras may come across as difficult to use, or are they? Lately, dSLR manufacturers have been incorporating user-friendly features such as Live View and creative automatic controls to ease the learning curve for first-time users.
But, with so many brands and models on the market, it can be tough making a choice. Each manufacturer touts its shooters with the latest imaging technology and bombards you with mind-boggling jargon. If that confuses you, the good news is we've compiled a list of pointers to keep in mind when buying a dSLR.
The first thing to consider when purchasing a dSLR is which brand you should consider. Take note that accessories such as lenses and flash are proprietary, meaning you won't be able to use Canon peripherals on a Nikon dSLR body and vice versa. Therefore, you may also want to take into consideration the cost of future purchases such as optics. Often, a photographer may spend as much on peripherals as he does on a dSLR. So, depending on what subjects you will be shooting most of the time, do a bit of research online to find out what kind of addons are available for your snapper, and how much they cost.
Image stabilizer
dSLR manufacturers like Sony and Olympus employ sensor-shift image stabilizer (IS), while brands such as Canon and Nikon opt for optical IS. The former allows you to use any compatible lens with the camera body and you'll still get IS benefits, while with Canon and Nikon, you'll need to purchase image-stabilizer optics to achieve the same effect. The good news is that these glasses are getting cheaper, though premium ones (such as Canon L lenses) will still burn a hole in your pocket. That said, some shutterbugs still swear by optical image stabilizer, claiming that it works better than sensor-shift IS. At the end of the day, it is really up to individual preferences and the ability to hold the camera still. For shooting at shutter speeds lower than 1/8 second, we recommend using a tripod regardless of the type of stabilizer your camera has.
Video-recording feature
In the past, only point-and-shoots allowed for video recording, but that changed last year when Nikon announced the D90 and Canon followed up with EOS 5D Mark II and EOS 500D. So do you really need such a feature? Sure, it is good to have, and video recording-enabled shooters are priced in the same range as its lesser siblings. But do note that the video files produced are usually of higher quality and you probably would require a fast computer to process and render these clips if you're thinking of shooting a short film. For average users, a cheaper alternative would be to plug the dSLR to a compatible HDTV to view the videos.
Prosumer shooters are often seen as the bridge between compact digicams and dSLRs. However, they don't offer the flexibility of interchangeable lenses, which is why most models come with a long-zoom range of up to 26x. But for photographers who want better picture quality, a dSLR is still the way to go as it has a larger sensor than most prosumer-class snappers, and this typically equates to better image quality, especially at high ISO sensitivity settings.
Last year, Olympus and Panasonic announced the Micro Four Thirds system, which reduces significantly the size of cameras with interchangeable lens. Will Micro Four Thirds snappers be suitable for you? Find out here.
After spending so much money on your equipment, you'll want to give them the best protection possible. Invest in a sturdy bag to ferry your gear when you go outdoors to shoot, but take note that it should be comfortable to carry even after extended periods. Shoulder bags are great if you need to have access to your camera quickly (like photojournalists), but if landscapes are your niche, then you might want to consider getting a backpack instead.
Buying your first dSLR can be a daunting or exhilarating experience, depending on how well-prepared you are. Before paying for the camera, have a quick hands-on with it to see if you are comfortable with the grip and weight. Try to make friends with the salespeople--most of them are avid shutterbugs themselves and should be able to give you some advice on how to fully utilize the shooter. And who knows, they may just give you a discount the next time you want to buy a new lens.
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