This article is a part of a series about choosing a digital SLR camera:

• Choosing a Digital SLR Camera – Part 1: The basics about a Digital SLR Camera
• Choosing a Digital SLR Camera – Part 2: Resolution
• Choosing a Digital SLR Camera – Part 3: Auto Focus
• Choosing a Digital SLR Camera – Part 4: Sensor Size
• Choosing a Digital SLR Camera – Summary

Today’s digital SLR market is flooded with choices ranging from relatively affordable models to high-end models that cost as much as a used car. Which one will be right for you? We’re here to dissect the primary features of most DSLRs and hopefully clear-up the sugar-coated marketing claims of some camera ads to help you make a sound decision on your investment.

Most cameras are listed with the following key features as selling points:

• Resolution (in Megapixels)
• Auto-focus points
• Continuos burst speed (in frames per second – fps)
• ISO sensitivity range.

We will concentrate on the four specifications above as they have a direct relationship with our resulting photographs than the other more physical feature differences such as size, weight, etc.

A DSLR package usually consists of a camera body (where all the image capturing, saving, viewing are performed) and a lens.

Before we move on to the key features, it’s best to do our homework when we are considering our first (or replacement) DSLR. Knowing the difference between what you need, want, and can afford is important, but so are the other incidental costs of owning a DSLR.

We need to sort out three factors before we even look at what’s available in the market:

• Frequency of Usage
• The Budget
• Choice of Subject

Frequency of Usage

How often are you going to use the camera? Remember that DSLRs are relatively large, bulky, and heavy. You certainly cannot slip one into your pocket easily or stash it into a ladies handbag compared to pocket digital cameras, so if you’re not the type who likes to bring a kilogram of equipment often, then a DSLR may not be your cup of tea.

If you don’t plan to use your camera extensively, it would be unwise to invest so much on a DSLR system when cheaper portable digital cameras are readily available.

The Budget

How much can you afford to spend on a DSLR?

Most first time DSLR buyers are confronted with the issue of cost, and the camera companies strive to make this first leap into the DSLR work as painless as possible by offering us entry-level cameras that are packed with features, small size, and affordable prices that are ready-to-use, right out of the box.

The price difference between entry level camera bodies and high-end professional camera bodies is gigantic. A top-of-the-line camera from the same company can cost 10x more than the entry level camera.

Unfortunately, a lot of people assume that the price of the camera dictates the quality of output, thinking that a more expensive camera will yield better photographs, which isn’t the case. Both ends of the spectrum have their own pros and cons, but in practice, cameras function in a similar manner. The higher-end cameras are designed for a more specific genre of photography while lower-end models aim to satisfy the most number of users needs.

In short, if budget is an issue, get the camera you can easily afford as you’re bound to spend a little more for the associated costs of owning a DSLR. Which brings us to the next issue of “system cost”.

System Cost

Unlike purchasing a compact digital camera where the camera itself is the only purchase, DSLRs are not as simple. Owning a DSLR often opens a big can of worms of what is available in the market to “upgrade” your camera, whether it is for function or aesthetics. From lenses to flash, bags to tripod, humidity-controlled cabinets to underwater casings, the options are virtually endless.

In reality, all we need is a camera body with a battery, memory card, and lens attached. Most enthusiast-level cameras are equipped with some form of a “kit” zoom lens that cover the focal length that most photographers tend to use often. It’s no accident that the lens included is a zoom lens that covers a wide angle to standard focal length in most cameras, and with solid knowledge in photography fundamentals, this really is a sufficient lens to use until you have more stringent and specific needs in your photographs, and when you finally reach the stage of upgrading the accessories for your camera, the issue of system cost comes into play.

Almost all major DSLR manufacturer offers myriads of lenses, flash, and accessories that fit their camera bodies. In most cases, an lens, flash, or accessory unit will only work with the same brand of camera. For example, you cannot directly use a Canon lens on a Nikon body as the physical mount where the lens meet the body are totally different, not to mention that the electronics cannot communicate between manufacturer’s products.

This is somewhat of a stranglehold by the camera manufacturers to keep you loyal to a particular brand and as a budget -oriented photographer, you must consider the cost and availability of accessories as switching brands can be very costly as you’ll have to start from scratch once again in hardware purchases.

Cost of Accessories

The cost of accessories involved in owning a DLSR is usually ignored but can pile up rather quickly. An extra memory card or two, extra batteries, protective and effect filters, tripod, camera bags, and flash units are usually not included with an off-the-shelf camera and these are not exactly cheap relatively speaking.

Another reason why entry level models are the best options for beginners as retailers usually package the cameras with extra accessories that are sufficient for light photography requirements. These accessories may add up to a couple of hundreds of dollars but are packaged at a very minimal add-on cost to the camera package.

Higher-end cameras usually won’t include any accessories as manufacturers assume that you either already have some of these common accessories hence you’re after a more advanced model.

Choice of Subject

Finally, the most important question that you must ask yourself would be “what am I going to shoot”? The hardware specification of each camera dictates its pricing and market segment, as cameras move up the price scale, the more technical and specific its purpose usually is. If you plan to photographs just about anything under the sun from family members to sweeping countryside landscape, most of the time, even the most basic offerings of a camera manufacturer will be more than capable of serving that purpose.

If you know you’ll be shooting high-speed events most of the time, you should consider a camera that can shoot at a fast pace with a highly responsive auto-focus system. If you know you are shooting fine art or photographs that will end up as a large print, then get a camera that has a lot of megapixels, and so on.

It’s utterly pointless to get a high megapixel camera if all you plan to do with your photographs is to print a small 4×6 print or sharing it on the internet. It’s a waste of money to get a sports camera that can shoot ten frames per second if you only plan to shoot macro or studio shots, for example.

Just like buying an automobile, you wouldn’t buy a compact 2-seater sports car if you need to carry a family of five everyday, nor would you buy a family van if you plan to race your car every weekend.

In summary, do your homework by being honest to yourself first. Ask yourself questions about total budget for the camera and associated accessories, subject preference, and physically go out to a store and hold the cameras before comparing the specifications.

About the Author