Choosing your first photography camera can be likened to picking an institution or a university. There are a number of factors that should be considered before making that important selection. Factors like proximity, curriculum, alumni benefits etc will influence your final choice for a suitable university; similarly for a person picking his/her first camera a lot of factors come into consideration. In this post I will highlight these factors and suggest a formula that will help you avoid regrettable decisions in this regard.
The term entry-level DSLR camera is used to describe cameras designed basically for beginners. Individuals graduating from the use of point-and-shoot cameras as well as mobile phones for taking photos, to a more advance equipment which are DSLR cameras. They are relatively cheap and with lesser features as compared to DSLR cameras designed for professional use.
Getting an entry-level DSLR camera shouldn't be taking lightly because of compatibility issues: like your mobile phones DSLR cameras come with a whole lot of accessories which will only be compatible with the brand you are ‘buying into’ except and unless you purchase a generic component which is unprofessional and not always advised, take time to compare and decide since going back or switching to a different brand is usually expensive.
I for one just got my first DSLR Camera, trust me it wasn't an easy pick, but I am confident that what I got is worth the effort. This post will also benefit anyone contemplating the possibility of owning a camera either for leisure or professional purpose, I'm ready! Are you?
Should you get a DSLR camera?
Yes! Everyone and anyone can own a DSLR camera; don't let anything or anyone tell you otherwise. If you have a hand load of cash at the moment; yes! Why not go for it, I call it an investment, well maybe not but I think it's a lot better getting a DSLR camera than spending all that cash on booze and other non profitable activities. One day it'll come handy. Trust me.
What camera brand is the best?
After deciding to get a camera, a DSLR preferably, picking a brand comes naturally as the next hurdle, the correct answer to the above question is: none is the best brand. Every DSLR camera comes with its unique feature and specifications, it depends on the aspiring user to match those features to suit his/her expectations from the camera, so do not go about looking for a best camera brand, because there isn't any! Instead focus on the suitable Brand or series that best delivers what you would want your camera to do, you should ask yourself: what do I want my camera to do? What do I expect from it? Make a list of things that come to mind, yes, get up! Get a pen and paper, and write. Make a list of what you want from your camera. Hold up! Before you go off writing all those futuristic and unrealistic features remember this is 2014 our cameras still have limitations, except you manufacture cameras there isn't much you can do about those limitations, Keep it simple!
Unfortunately, not all of those juicy features you've penned down will be found on just one camera type, yeah, sorry didn’t mean to burst your bubbles, but that’s a business strategy the camera manufacturers adopt so they don’t run out of business. It is like the old saying do not put ‘all’ your eggs in one basket, and they are smart enough not to. Therefore to make that list purposeful two options are available to you.
1. Prioritize: Pick out the really important features you know you can’t manage without them.
1. Prioritize: Pick out the really important features you know you can’t manage without them.
- Disintegrate: well, maybe not the right word for it, but some compatible standalone components can be purchased separately, and when plugged into your camera they work just fine.
Say your list looks like this:
Important features for my camera
- DSLR (with interchangeable lens capability)
- Should be able to take HD videos at 1080p (30-60 fps)
- Touch and rotatable LCD
- Take crisp/clear pictures in both JPEG and RAW format
- Immediate picture retouch/edit
- Make nice bokeh
- Long Battery Life (rechargeable)
- Wireless remote control capability as well as ease of file sharing
- Easy to use menus (intuitiveness)
- Moderate Cost
- Good customer support/care and accessible service centers.
I will go ahead and shuffle the above list to best suite MY needs in a camera.
Shuffled List of important features for MY camera arranged from top to bottom order based on priority
- DSLR (with interchangeable lens capability)
- Take crisp/clear pictures in both JPEG and RAW format
- Should be able to take HD videos at 1080p (30-60 fps)
- Long Battery Life (rechargeable)
- Moderate Cost
- Wireless remote control capability as well as ease of file sharing
- Easy to use menus (intuitiveness)
- Good customer support/care and accessible service centers.
- Make nice bokeh
- Touch and rotatable LCD
- Immediate picture retouch/edit
It holds true that the manner in which I prioritize the list above might be different from how you think it should be shuffled, that is the issue with prioritizing it is unique with every individual. For example, the ‘Long battery life (rechargeable)’ feature was placed fourth on my list that is because I live in a seemingly remote part of India and power is not always readily available. For you that slot might hold some other feature more important to you. Take a look at the list you have made and prioritize it. Some camera type might pack a bunch of these features but they are usually expensive (above the $1000 mark), which wouldn't fit for an entry-level range camera.
Another option available to you is getting standalone components manufactured by your preferred brand: A DSLR camera is an assembly of different components that are fused together to give it its various features, interestingly you can get some of these components as standalone device and plug them into your camera they add more functionality to your camera at reduced cost.
| Components | Nikon | Canon | Sony | Pentax/Samsung etc |
| Remote control | ML-L3 (wireless)MC-DC2 (wired) | RC-6 (wireless)RS-60E3 (wired) | RMTDSLR2 | X |
| Wireless module | WU-1bWU-1a | WFT-E6A 5756B001WFT-E7AWFT-E2A | X | X |
| GPS module | GP1 | GP-E2 | X | X |
Table 0.1 showing standalone components from different brands. All components are available on Amazon
For example if you want a camera capable of sharing images via Wi-Fi to your smart device and do not want to get a camera designed with an inbuilt Wi-Fi functionality because they are expensive, interestingly you can purchase a camera from one of the brands in the table above having a standalone Wi-Fi module then get the compatible standalone Wi-Fi module separately, plug it in when you need to share images remotely and share! Nikon does best in this regard.
Now that you have made a prioritized list that best suit your camera needs, the next step is choosing YOUR best brand. Part 2 will cover that part.
