Choose a DSLR Camera

How to choose a DSLR Camera: Top tips for choosing the right DSLR camera for you. With so many DSLR cameras on the market, these top tips will help you make your decision.

Steps

  1. Think about what you plan to use it for. What do you need it for? Fun, general or professional use? I would suggest writing your individual needs down to ensure the camera you choose best fits your requirements.
  2. Determine your budget. What is your budget? You have to remember it’s not just about the camera body, lenses are equally important. So consider this when budgeting along with additional batteries, memory cards, filters, flash, tripod and camera protection such as bags and cases. Buying a DSLR means buying more than just the camera body so take this into account when looking at your budget. There are some great deals and package ‘Kits’ out there where you can buy the body + lenses + tripod in a Kit so it is worth looking into these options as well.
  3. Check when the camera was released. You don’t want to spend hard earned money on a product, only for it to be upgraded next week. Many cameras now have firmware upgrades, which is a great help in prolonging the life of your DSLR.
  4. Look at is the camera’s Mega Pixel. These days Cameras have so many mega pixels. Only four years ago 8MP was considered high - it’s actually what Canon 1D started off with and that camera was used for incredibly high-end work. Now the Canon 5D Mark II has 21.1 MP. In all honesty, anything above 10MP is fantastic. Requirements depend on your individual needs, if you want to create large professional prints then high resolution is essential. For small images to email to family, then it is not essential.
  5. Consider a full frame sensor. Do you need a Full Frame Sensor? A full frame sensor means that you get the exact same frame size as you would with a traditional 35mm film camera. This means that you get the true angle of view from the lens you are using – this is good for wide angle architectural or landscape work. They also perform very well at a high ISO. Many people have gotten used to the crop size of a smaller sensor and having that little extra on their zoom – this is good if shooting nature, wildlife or sport to get tighter shots. The Canon 5D Mark II has a full frame sensor, whilst the Canon 1D Mark IV does not even though the 1D is more expensive.
  6. Find out what format the camera uses. Do you need to shoot in RAW? RAW is what many professional photographers shoot in. RAW captures large files that can be non-destructively graded and manipulated in the post stage without an image quality loss. Many Cameras now have the option to shoot in RAW and it can dramatically improve the quality of your final image and your digital dark room experience.
  7. You should look at size and camera weight as this could be a factor to consider. This again comes down to use. Will you be running around shooting wildlife or travelling a lot? If so, then a small and light model would be best.
  8. Do you require a video function? Personally, even if you are a Stills Photography purest and never think you will use it, if you are buying a new DSLR today I would suggest getting one with a HD Video function, simply because they are so good. People are shooting high-end commercial work on them. Even if you don’t think you will ever really use it, having a HD Video Camera to hand built into your DSLR is never a bad thing.
  9. Find out what video abilities (if any) it has. If you require a video function, is it important to be able to shoot in slow motion? If so this will narrow your choice of DSLR’s that can do this.
  10. Choose Lenses: If you have lenses from another manufacturer, it doesn’t mean you have to stick with the same manufacturer for your camera body, as there are so many adaptors available on the market. You can use a Nikon Lens on a Canon camera by simply using an adapter; this helps widen your choice. For more information on choosing a Lens, please read my article on Top 7 Tips for choosing a Lens for your DSLR.
  11. Find out about Compatibility. Some models of cameras are compatible with each other, in terms of using the same batteries, chargers, battery grips and so on. If this is important to you this may affect your decision. Previous gear and accessories that are compatible with your new DSLR can help reduce cost and save you having to buy all new gear again.
  12. See if it is upgradable and updatable. At the end of day, you want your DSLR to last as long as possible and not be outdated next month. Spend as much as you can afford and getting the model that best suits your needs whether as a consumer, pro-sumer or professional. It might be worth spending a little more on a model that will keep up with future upgrades and allow you to grow and learn with it, rather than buying a cheaper entry level model which will soon be out of date and although cheaper might not be beneficial in the long run.



Tips

  • Essentially, any camera that has a detachable lens and lets you work in full manual mode to express your creativity as a Photographer is a winner.
  • Higher-resolution sensors and faster shutters can be expensive due to exotic materials and expensive research. But simple image-processing functions and mechanical processes such as mirror lockup (raising a period before exposure) are, in modern electronic cameras, just a matter of the manufacturer putting in or omitting simple computer code that is impractical to add on one's own; omitting them can be just a gimmick to get some customers to also pay for other features they don't really need. Some manufacturers such as Pentax are good about including a comprehensive set of features on their cheaper cameras.
  • Remember lenses are very important too.
  • Lenses don’t suffer from going out of date and each manufacturer’s range of lenses do fit across their camera models if and when you upgrade, plus adaptors are available which allow you to use lenses and camera bodies from different brands and mix and match across DSLR brands (some auto functions may not be active). Consider an open standard such as "Four Thirds" to avoid overpaying for lenses, bodies or both over time due to vendor lock-in.
  • Good Luck and Happy Shooting with your Digital SLR
  • For more free top tips, killer secrets, insider knowledge, reviews, tutorials and much more, subscribe to http://www.directorofphotographyblog.com today. DOP BLOG is a great resource for Cameramen, DOP's, Photographers, Camera trainees, Film students, and everyone who loves to get behind the lens and shoot! Check out the HDSLR blog posts which give away free tips and advice on how to shoot video with your HDSLR.
  • http://www.digitalslrcamerareviewsite.com is a great site, giving you honest reviews on cameras, accessories and more. All products on the site have been tried and tested by the reviewers. Digital SLR Camera review site only sells what we highly recommend. We are all Canon users. Love Canon. Live Canon.

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