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[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]When I mention to someone that I am a photographer, or if I’m at a social event and I have one of our cameras with me, I often get questioned about what camera I have, how much does it cost, and then “oh I’m looking to buy a digital SLR, what do you recommend”. I’m often more than happy to help, but it’s like asking what car to buy. Having used Professional gear for a number of years, I’m pretty biased towards the more expensive end of the spectrum. Just like a car or a house, there are a few ground rules or criteria you should set yourself before settling on a purchase.
- How much money do you want to spend?
It’s easy to get carried away with spending a lot of money on gadgets. For some of us it’s the geek inside us that wants to play with technology, have the latest and greatest. For others, it can be down to inexperience or lack of knowledge of a product area and the lure of higher megapixels and high ISO this and video mode that. So, unless money is no object, set yourself a budget that you want to spend.
- What are you going to use is for?
For the average consumer, almost every Digital camera on the market today offers more than what you need. Cameras are turning into smart devices with touch screens, record full HD video, upload to flickr and Facebook and have all sorts of creative presets built in. Do you really need all of these? Or are you simply going to take some snaps of the family and the kids on holiday so you can print them out when you get back and upload online to social media. Another thing to consider is what is your subject matter? Are you going to be photographing people or birds and wildlife, and do you need to buy that super long 300mm zoom lens because the sales man says so.
- How does the camera feel in your hands?
After all your going to be holding it a lot (i hope) so you need to feel comfortable holding it and like where the buttons are placed on the body. The easier you find using the camera and pressing buttons, the less thought you have to put in to operating the camera, and the more focus you have on taking photographs.
My first DSLR was a Sony A200. We bought it for our honeymoon, and to be honest I didn’t have a clue about cameras. My main criteria was money, and at £220 with a lens, it was the main selling point for me, that and it was sony, so I knew it was going to be of a good quality for what we wanted. I didn’t want any bells and whistles, i just wanted a camera that would take nice photographs that I could save on the laptop when we got home. As technology inevitably evolves now though, there are far more options on the market for digital cameras, and the smaller non DSLR’s are very quickly catching up in terms of image quality and versatility. Bigger definitely isn’t always better in todays market, and with Professionals opting for smaller and lighter camera systems, the rule of thumb is changing with the likes of Olympus, Sony and Fuji bitting at Canon and Nikons heels.
Once you have narrowed it down a bit as to what you need from your camera, take your time and try different cameras from the various brands and take a memory card along with you so your can take a look at the images and video at home on the big screen.
Now, we shoot with two Nikon D700’s (having a backup is paramount for us) and a Nikon D200 for our photo booth. The D700’s are a “mere” 12mp are 2008 tech and the D200 with just 10mp 2005! Under normal lighting conditions you would be hard pressed to tell them both apart. They’ve got no bells or whistles what so ever, but they do an absolutely fantastic job for what we need them for. They are weather sealed, made from magnesium alloy and can take a beating. Could I upgrade them and get better camera’s? Sure with a few £k I could, do I desperately need to? Simple answer, No.
And then there’s lenses…….now thats another can of worms for another day.
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This is a helpful post, I know nothing about cameras! For me a simple bridge camera is perfect x
Josie’s Journal
Well I’m glad we could help!
First thing first, I adore you guys! and you’ve got mad skills for photography and I really love your blog, anyway haha Thanks for posting this because I’m in this situation on really wanting to move past all the digital camera and getting more pro camera, it’s really great guidance on how to help me decide what I’m gonna get xx stay awesome you two!
Intan Thalia
http://thewishingdust.blogspot.com
Thank you so much 😀 Its easy to get caught up in the megapixel game and all the bells and whistles, there always seems to be a bigger and better camera around the corner. I’m guilty of fanning over other equipment but you have to weigh up if its really worth it.
Wow this is very detailed. Its sure to help everyone wanting a new camera!
Were glad we can help!
Fab tip to take a memory card with you when you try out the cameras. I’ve just upgraded form an old Nikon D80 to a new D7100. I still rate the D80 as one of the dslr best cameras Nikon have made. The file size of the newer cameras is crazy. I also use my ipad to get some fantastic shots and have a small handbag sized Lumix for out and about. I find the Lumix the hardest to use as it doesn’t have a view finder!
We used to have the D7000, so the newer D7100 must be a great body to use. I’m considering the D800 in a year or so as i would love to try video and i miss the custom options of the D7000 that the D800 also has, but like you say, file sizes are crazy, but the D4 is just wayyyyy outta my price range.
I have a Sony DSLR A100 camera and really love it but it is a little heavy.
I’m not a professional photographer though. I was think that as it is doing the job I might just invest in more lenses. I do food photographs for my blog what lenses would you recommend? Or do you think I should think about changing? Great post and really glad I found your blog.
Heavy, try hand holding a Nikon d700 995g and a 70-200mm lens 1540g! Its killer on a wedding day. I found a cheap camera strap which spreads the weight across your body like a messenger bag strap. The original ones (and expensive) are black rapid straps, but i found an cheaper alternative for £10 which my be useful if you hold your camera for long periods of time. If your happy with the camera and plan on sticking with it then i would recommend either a sony 50mm f1.8 lens, great for blurry backgrounds, or a 30mm f2.8 macro lens which is very reasonably priced. It will let you get so much closer to the food for detail shots and still maintain focus. Just be careful that your not blocking the light from your subject. Thats why sony also make the 100mm macro, but its pricey, but lets you stand further away and still get a close up.
If however your playing with the idea of upgrading at a later date and find that say a flippy screen would prove very handy, i would switch before you invest in lenses and build on a system to last.
Hope that helps!
I would love to know what you think about bridge cameras?
Many bloggers seem to pick them due to price?
Good buy or save money and get something better?
If I’m honest I’m not very familiar with bridge cameras as i have never owned one. I went straight from a point and shoot to a DSLR. It depends on how far you wish to take your photography skills and integrate into blogging. Bridge cameras are very capable, have a huuuuuge zoom which may prove useful to a few, but I’m doubting many actually use the full zoom, and have a lot of the same features as dslrs. Their main downfall is clarity of photographs in low light and focus accuracy/speed. They are a great camera to pick up turn on and shoot right away and will come close or even match a DSLR in every day situations. The average person who buys the affordable DSLR’s probably doesn’t get past using the kit lens and getting out of auto mode which to me is a waste of a camera. For blogging, a nikon D7000 with a 50mm lens is a killer combo. It does video and is a great stills camera.
Your first camera is like mine! I still have my first camera and it’s a Sony A3000 (I think) but it does the job! 🙂
Too true, you can have the best camera and crappy lenses and you’ll get crappy pictures. Bad thing is there’s just to many awesome lenses to go for! So far were at 16-35,24-70,70-200 and 50mm. Debating some faster primes…..
Great tips! I think people tend to forget though that all the camera body is to an extent is a lightproof casing – it has a lot to do with the quality of your lens
Laura x
Such a helpful post. I have a Canon EOS 1000D and have just about managed to get to grips with it x
Beautyqueenuk xx
Great advice! I just got a new lens for my birthday that is perfect for food photography. I am still trying to get my head around it though.
Great tips. I just bought myself a Nikon Coolpix P340 and I am delighted with it, but still utterly confused by all the options. My objective at the moment is to play with the aperture and get a nice shot where the foreground is in focus and the background is fuzzy. Not quite there yet 🙂
Ah great, I bought Chantele the P300 a few years back, great little camera. For blurry background remember, the wider the zoom, the less blurry the background. Use the smallest aperture value, zoom in, use the macro mode. Also the greater the distance of object/person from background the better.
hey this is wonderful and helpful for those who are looking for one! 🙂