Today’s dSLRs offer more creative shooting modes and scenes than ever before.
❯❯ 4K Video: Today, all new dSLRs shoot Full HD movies, and the new trend is 4K video, which quadruples the resolution of Full HD (or 2K video, depending on the camera you’re using).
❯❯ Articulated monitors: More cameras feature articulated monitors that swing out from the back of the camera. This feature gives you greater flexibility in how you hold and position the camera. See Figure 1-22.
FIGURE 1-20: Increased Wi-Fi support is a positive dSLR development.
FIGURE 1-21: Selecting a photo to view from the index view.
FIGURE 1-22: Pull the monitor out from the back of the camera and position it.
Shopping for a dSLR
Shopping for a dSLR doesn't have to be stressful. In fact, it can be downright fun. I offer you this general guide as someone who has “been there and done that” many times over the last several years. Be honest with yourself about your budget, what you want out of a camera, and the type of photos you want to take. Brush up on the dSLR categories and general specifications so that information about different features and capabilities is fresh in your mind before shopping.
Understanding the system
When you buy a digital SLR, you’re buying into a system from a specific manufacturer, such as Canon, Nikon, Pentax, or Sony. You can't mix and match lenses (other than third-party lenses that are compatible with your system), camera bodies, flash units, or other accessories produced by different camera manufacturers. If you have already heavily invested in a specific brand, you’ll have a harder time switching and gearing up with your new camera.
Going shopping
To shop for a digital SLR, follow these simple steps:
1. Set a budget.
There’s no sense in looking at a $3,400 camera if you can’t afford it. Seriously, you will read accounts and people will tell you how much better that $3,400 camera is than the $800 model you’re looking at until you’re sick of it. Though they may be right in terms of some capabilities and technical details, their advice is entirely irrelevant to you and your decision. Your budget depends on you and is probably based largely on factors unrelated to photography.
Therefore, set an initial budget. It will save you time and frustration. Your budget will help you identify the cameras you should look at in the next step. Look for a sweet spot where your needs meet the price you can afford and the performance you want. Don’t forget to factor in lenses, bags, tripods, filters, flashes, extra batteries, and remote shutter releases. Those things all add up. If money is no object, look instead at the dSLR categories I listed earlier and decide what level of camera you want to buy. This will narrow your search to more manageable proportions.
2. Check out cameras that are in your price range.
If you can, go to a store where you can handle cameras in your price range. Check out two or three models. Pick them up and hold them in your hand. Assess how they feel and whether they seem comfortable, too light, or too heavy. See if you can easily take the lens off and put it back on. Does one lens feel better or worse than another? Open the battery compartment. Take a look at where the memory card is stored. Press buttons. Go through the menus to see how they are set up and see if you find anything you dislike about them. Do they make sense to you or will you find them a constant source of irritation? Look through the viewfinder to see how the view is. Test out live view. Take a few photos, if possible, and look at them on the monitor.
If you can’t get to a store to handle cameras, the next best thing is to go online and look at the cameras in your price range, read reviews, look at manuals, and watch videos. See what other people think, and get second and third opinions. You may be able to rent the camera you are interested in and give it a practical road test. That’s money well spent.
3. Make a decision.
Based on what you learned from the prior step, weed out cameras that aren’t what you want. Review features and specifications to compare models and break ties.
Finally, decide on which camera to buy. It’s been my experience that getting the least expensive camera that you like and saving money for accessories and lens purchases is a solid approach. If there is a clear winner and it costs more than others, however, don’t hesitate to buy it. You can always pick up more lenses later.
Investing in accessories
One of the great things about digital SLRs is the tremendous number of different types of accessories designed to help you out. While a camera and lens are all you really need, over time you’ll discover things that you want to add, change, improve, or fix. I’ve put together a little list of accessories for you to think about:
❯❯ Lenses: Of course lenses are the number one dSLR accessory. They come in all sizes and price points. Aside from the camera body, lenses are the most important component of digital SLR photography. They help determine the type and quality of shots you can take with your camera. Book 1, Chapter 3 has more information about lenses, as does Book 2.
❯❯ Filters and filter accessories: Filters enable you to deal with challenging lighting conditions and create artistic effects. They screw on the front of your lens and affect the light coming into your camera (as opposed to being a software effect). Read about them in Book 3, Chapter 5.
❯❯ Focus-alignment tools: These tools enable you to check whether your lenses are focusing properly or not.
❯❯ Built-in flash accessories: These accessories modify the built-in flash. Some block the light, which is useful if you want to use your built-in flash as a wireless trigger but don't want its light contributing to the scene. Others soften and diffuse it.
