1.
Read and Research
People often ask
me which DSLR camera to buy. I wish I could simply say
buy a 'Brand X' - they're the best. The thing is, provided
you buy a well established make when buying a DSLR camera,
I'd say they're all excellent! These days it's not so
much asking which DSLR camera I should buy, but more,
which DSLR camera fits you - and preferably like a glove.
So a bit of time spent on reading and research through
magazines and online is a worthy investment which will
pay dividends when you go to spend your money.
Something it's worth remembering when reading an advertorial
feature or even a straight write-up, is they'll be heavily
extolling the virtues of a camera because...
a) manufacturers have given a pro a camera to test.
The pro wants to be asked again and the copy is vetted
by the manufacturer anyway
b) Even an 'unbiased' magazine reviewer doesn't want
to be too harsh because 'Brand X' cameras will never
advertise with them again!
Now I'm not suggesting there's anything underhanded
or dishonest going on here, but a reviewer will often
be looking for the positive aspects.
So, curb your enthusiasm. Get some knowledge yourself
about what's going on and the price it's going on at.
Whilst researching don't get all over excited and buy
a camera on impulse just because it looks like a great
deal. I'll explain why in a moment.
2. Go to a proper camera
shop
Yes, I am suggesting
you go out to town, and trudge around the shops (which
may well be over-priced) when you could click a couple
of times in the comfort of your own home and have a
camera delivered by tomorrow morning.
Why do I say this? Let me share a little 'emotive buying'
story with you at this point. A couple of years ago
I set my heart on super new pro DSLR made by one of
the world's leading companies. I'd used its predecessor
and loved it. I devoured all the online write ups and
reviews until I had actually fallen in love with the
idea of using one of these cameras in my daily business.
This paragon of photographic excellence wasn't yet available,
so I put my name down on the list for one and the three
month wait seemed an eternity.
But when I got it, all shiny new and lovely to look
at, I found I hated the colours! Resolution, tonal range,
menus, functionality and feel, all scored eleven out
of ten, but try as I might there was a colour cast in
certain lighting conditions that to me was enough to
put me off my dinner - and trust me, I do like my dinner!
Now I know loads of pro photographers using this very
camera most successfully - but I didn't like the colour.
You see, photography is subjective so one person's meat
is another's poison.
The cameras I use now, are big chunky man-style DSLRs
which look cool, feel great in my hand and do everything
I ask of them superbly. They're all that a rough trouser
wearing motorbike riding chap like me could wish for!
But for my lovely partner Jayne they're hopeless. Because
she's petite and ever so girly (down boy!) she can't
reach the controls because the camera's too big for
her hands. She also has problems with camera shake because
they're too heavy for her - particularly when there's
a long lens on the front.
So, make sure you like how the controls feel and are
laid out. How heavy is it? Does the menu make sense?
Is the flash card slot too fiddly? Is it easy to change
the battery? And don't forget to take a couple of test
shots inside the shop in artificial light, some outside
in daylight and a couple of flash shots as well. Take
the test shots home with you, put them on your computer
and make sure the colours, tones etc look how you want
your images to look.
3. Where to buy a DSLR
camera
So you've spent time
choosing a DSLR camera and it's time to buy. Yep, this
is the fun bit. All I want to say here is, don't automatically
assume the web's the best and cheapest place to buy.
I checked out the price of a £500 ish semi pro
DSLR camera both online and in the shops and the price
varied by £65 max. And the web wasn't the cheapest!
One big advantage of a shop is you can go back in if
ever there's a problem. About two years ago I congratulated
myself on buying a photo printer online for £100
less than anywhere else, but when it arrived all the
instructions were in Turkish, which, as a Brit, was
no use to me at all!
Price isn't everything;
remember there may come a time when you need a bit of
help and then a nice friendly face that speaks your
language is invaluable. Especially if you trash your
camera and need a new one - but there's another story...
Author
information
Mike Browne has been a full
time award winning photographer since December 1993
working in the UK and overseas on both social and commercial
shoots. Now developing photography courses with his
TV producer partner Jayne, their first course was reviewed
by 4X Kodak Photographer of the year Kevin Wilson FMPA.
FRPA. FBIPP who said
"This photography course
covers everything you'll need to know. I wish it had
been available when I started because it's completely
un-putdownable.
I highly recommend it"
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