I bought my first DSLR a few weeks ago, a Canon EOS 450D. From my limited experience, here i list a few tips i feel is important for any amateur or rookie to think over and be prepared for before buying a DSLR .
1. Understand how a SLR camera works, and how it is different (and better) from point and shoot. This is very important. I’ve seen few buying an SLR without knowing much about it.
2. Be ready to spend a lot of money, not just in buying a camera body and a lens or two. As you learn, you will always feel a need to upgrade to better lens or a set of lenses (macro, wide angle, telephoto, super telephoto). So, if you are not passionate about pursuing photography, even as a hobby, at least for a few years then don’t buy a DSLR.
3. Be prepared to invest a lot of time, not just for clicking pictures but also for post processing and digital work flow. It’s unlikely that you’ll capture the pictures as you wanted right out of the camera, and hence you need to spend considerable time learning and improving your skills of post processing using Photoshop or GIMP or similar software. If you are not interested in doing post processing or don’t have enough time for it, DSLR is not for you.
4. Learn about technical aspects of photography as much as you can either by playing with a P&S camera or by reading about it. Knowing these things will make your buying a DSLR that much easier as you will be able to decide what exactly you want.
5. Camera is 10%, lens is 90%. Lens is almost everything. Good lenses will cost lot more than good cameras, no wonder. So, it’s more important that you have a clear mind in deciding as what you’d like to photograph and the lenses you’d buy.
6. Live view , a newer trend with DSLRs, is not as important as one might think. I wanted to buy DSLR with live view feature as i thought it as an important feature, but have now realized it is not very important. Shooting with viewfinder is a lot of fun too, but live view is very helpful for macro photography.
7. Easy of use, and handling are equally important. Go to the store, use a few models you have shortlisted, get the feel of using it. Some pro models can be bulky and heavy. If you are a first time buyer, it is better to avoid these cameras, not just for their exorbitant price.
Thanks! i was just thinking of whether to go for a SLR one or not… well do have sony cybershot and is perfectly fine for my routine use, but was just thinking… now, with your post, i think i will wait and see whether this urge to go for a SLR goes off! :) :)
Have bookmarked this page for future reference in case I plan to buy an SLR :)
now you are making me feel bad…i have been wanting a DSLR for a long time…still stuck with a 3.2 MP 4 year old camera
good informative post mr.techie blogger :D
I disagree with your opinion on post processing. Photography is an art in itself and post-processing it using photoshop etc spoils the beauty.. you cane make it look as good as you want.
A lot of good freelance photographers I know don’t post process.. and post-processed pics are not respected in the community as a whole.
no … i disagree with u.. post processing is neccesary ..
i used do to adjust histogram and scurve . also filters gives best colors…
@Sakhi
There are so many very good P&S cameras… close to DSLRs.. You can take at least as good pics as in a dslr :)
You need lots of time and money for dslr photography
@Nova
haha.. :)
@Vishesh
You can buy a good P&S camera.. almost an slr kind..
@Reema
Thanks for your expression :P
@Madan
I agree that photography is an art in itself..
Post processing is used to get the beauty as you saw but the camera, due to its technical limitations, failed to capture as it was.
Also, it depends on what kind of photography you are into. You can avoid it if you are into street photography. I guess the freelancers you know are of that kind.
But, if you are into bird and wildlife photography post processing is almost necessary.
I don’t know any wildlife photographer who doesn’t post process his pics.. Look into any course in photography, post processing will be an integral part.
This is true not just with digital cameras, even in film cameras, the use of chemicals at various parts of a photograph will give different effects like you get in photoshop or any such tool.
More important: its the person behind the lens who clicks. I have seen some amazing captures even with the mobile phones.
Along with the lens or photoshop, what matters is great eye for the camera.
Just my 2 cents.
I am in dearth of both, i.e. time and money ;) so i think i will let it be, at least for time being! :)
good post. thanks. I think I should be ready with point 2 before I start thinking of the rest. :(
@Manasa
I’ve assumed you’d have an eye before you buy any camera
Definitely a very important :)
@Sakhi
Sure :)
@Xylene
That’s the most important factor.. :)
nice post sandeep
i have a Nikon D80 dslr which i got few months back, and its amazing what u can do with the camera (though i havent explored any post processing options).
do you have any album you have created with ur nikon?? would love to see it!
@San – I realised I am not a DSLR kinda guy when reviewing the tech specs of your cam on Amazon – when you 1st sent me the link.
This post now assures my belief. If I wanna get some good pics clicked I will come & bug ya :)
Nice techie post – are we done with cameras, pics, photography yet? :D j/k
@Neha
Nikon eh? :)
Post processing is important for wildlife photography.. and will give some artistic effect in street photography as well.
Few pics i’ve taken are here on my blog, in my previous posts.
Btw i’ve a Canon, not Nikon.
Will give you my flickr album link
@RJ
Hmm ya.. it’s not for guys who’d buy Infinitis, BMWs and Audis :)
It is for others, who can’t afford those :D
We are almost done, but not completely yet :P
@San – :) post some *nice* pics. You know what I mean ;)
hmmm…
Your post reminded me of VTU answers…
@RJ
haven’t taken such pics yet :)
@wasshappening
get over vtu :P
Lo maga, don’t make me so jealous! :D
Hehehe…
I want to buy one, but I don’t know if I can afford it right now… so, all i can afford to do is to be jealous of u! :D
@Nikhil
fewer beers and parties.. you can have a DSLR :D
nice article sandeep. herez my two cents:
3. while its nice to know a li’l abt gimp or photoshop, its not must. i’d been using gimp a lot until recently but nowadays totally avoid post processing. getting what u want form the camera / lens gives a lot more kick than achieving it via s/w. even for wildlife / bird photography, i doubt if its a must. may be u wud just do a touch sharpening / brightening / darkening … only if u failed to do it well with the camera
5. dont u think, the hands / eyes are more than the camera / lens :)
6. live view can become important when u want better control over DOF, especially with macros. mine (400d) doesnt have one and i miss it many times
@usandeep
3. Ya i agree with what you said on post processing
5. if you are planning to buy a DSLR, you should have some sense of using camera :D
6. i was particular on getting cam with live view, though a battery hog it’s good to have..
Hi , sandeep , i am interested to buy a good dlsr camera .i have least knowledge about these models of camera, but passionate in photography. i need your advice to select a good piece . can u sugest some one good models
@rama krishna
first and most important: learn as much as you can about a DSLR camera, and models. Everything else will fall in place.
Best place to start:
http://www.google.com :)
Very informative post! I think the digital cameras are the best thing that happened since since sour dough bread. But I’m glad to have come across this post as most of the stuff I read else where is too wordy and not to the point. This list is just perfect. I’m sure there’s more to photography with DSLRs but this is a great start for me. Thanks for sharing.
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Hi Sandeep, I’m taking liberty to point another blog pal of mine, Ami to this post for DSLR suggestions. Hope it’s alright. Thanks much. :)
Not a problem Kanan!
Many many thanks Sandeep! Am thrilled to see the pictures on your blog and flickr and am drooling :)
450D, it is! Cant wait!!
Hi Sandeep,
As you have done lot of research and study while Buying ur First DSLR need your help.
I got a offer from friend to buy His 400 D at around 17000.
One yr old dslr is it Good? and how is 400d.
currently i am using Pansonic FZ28 (18X optical and 10 MP)
Waiting for reply.
(yaa and forgot to tell i will be using it for Bird Photography.)
Thanks
Vivek
Before buying a used camera make sure the condition is good and the previous owner hasn’t dropped it any time (don’t ask me how to find this :)
400D is a decent camera. You can start with this and maybe later upgrade as you feel the need.
Since you want to photograph Birds, get the best of the lenses you can afford. As i said, Camera is 10%, lenses are 90%. But, photographer is 100% :)