Photography Tip #1 (Continued) DSLR Cameras

The other day we looked at the ever-popular question of "What kind of camera should I buy?". After discussing the pros and cons of point-and-shoot cameras, let's now look at the other option: The DSLR.

DSLR's, or Digital Single Lens Reflex cameras are a digital adaptation of the ever-favorite Single Lens Reflex (SLR) camera that's been around for years. Without going into the geeky-specifics, DSLR's are considered by most to be an advanced camera option. Let's look at some of its strengths and weaknesses:

Pros: Better overall image quality, flexibility of manual controls, typically rugged construction, interchangeable lens options, larger controls and buttons (usually).

Cons: Heavier and bulkier form-factor, more expensive, slow adaptation of common point-and-shoot features such as live view and movie mode.

One thing to keep in mind with the above pros and cons, is that some of those are subjective to the photographer. I personally could care less about some of the movie and live view features, but for others, this might be a big consideration.

DSLR's have been becoming more and more affordable for the casual shooter than ever before. Almost all of the major manufacturers have an entry-level dslr category with a dslr between the 500-700 dollar range. The appeal that most people find in these cameras is their almost instantaneous shutter response. DSLR's use a mechanical shutter which can respond very quickly (fractions of a second) compared to the usual electronic shutter found in most point-and-shoot cameras.

Another appeal to DSLR's is the flexibility to change the lenses. Many point-and-shoot cameras offer a specific range of zoom on the camera. There is usually no way to change it. If you find that your point-and-shoot does not have enough zoom or wide angle, then your only option is to buy a new camera. With a DSLR, you can purchase lenses in any range that you need, and switch them out when you need to.

Some common misconceptions that beginners make with DSLR's is the notion that if its bigger, its got to be better. Not true. In fact, I'd argue that the equipment has nothing to do with taking good photos. I've seen a quote saying that 90% of all cameras are better than 95% of all photographers. The truth in that quote is that good photography doesn't require a professional camera or fancy equipment. It may make the job easier for some, but the real photographer is going to have skill. I've seen people take amazing photos with simple point-and-shoot cameras, while others with thousands of dollars of equipment couldn't take a decent photo to save their life.

So what camera should you buy: The best one that you can afford that will enable you to achieve your goal as a photographer.