Five things you should know about dSLRs

by CNET Asia staff | 20 April 2012 2:30pm SGT

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.

Choice of brand

The first thing to consider when purchasing a dSLR is which brand you should consider. Take note that accessories such as lenses and flashes 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 stabilizers (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 stabilized lenses 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

In the past, only point-and-shoots allowed for video recording, but that changed a few years ago when Nikon announced the D90 and Canon followed up with EOS 5D Mark II and EOS 500D. These days, every dSLR comes with a Live View mode and full-HD video recording features. So whether you're a budding filmmaker or someone who only takes photographs, you'll always have the option to shoot video. However, do note that the video files produced on dSLRs are usually of a higher quality than those from compacts, which would take up some space on your computer. Moreover, many entry-level dSLRs tend to have a shorter battery life when shooting video as compared with capturing still images.

Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V

What about advanced compact cameras?

Advanced compact cameras (or prosumer cameras) are often seen as a 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 42x. 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.

There have also been a new class of camera to emerge in the past few years, the mirrorless interchangeable lens camera or ILC for short. These cameras also allow the flexibility of changing lenses but lack a reflex mirror, making them smaller and lighter than the most compact dSLRs. You can read more about ILCs here.

National Geographic camera bag

Protect your investment

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 may want to consider getting a backpack instead.

Also, if you live in the tropics, you should seriously consider storing your photography equipment in a good dry cabinet or an airtight box with some moisture-absorbing silica gel. This will help protect your lenses and camera bodies from getting a fungus infestation.

Conclusion

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.

If you need more help, you can read our "Smart camera guide for first-time dSLR users" as well as this roundup of affordable entry-level dSLR cameras.

Latest comments

thees five things are the perfect for every person , when anyone buy a DSLR .

Posted by Rohit yadav

Apr 24, 2012 Reply

If you live in humid countries like Singapore, it is best to invest in a dry box as well. After spending so much, the last time you want is it being ruined by mold.

Posted by taurusan

Apr 8, 2009 Reply