Depending on your photographic objectives, a DSLR may be a perfect fit.
While compact point and shoot cameras can help to plant a seed of photographic interest in the novice shooter, budding amateurs may be ready to move on to a more serious set of equipment. Limited by a fixed medium-speed lens and a small digital sensor, point and shoots are entry-level in comparison to the affordable professional-level DSLRs (digital single lens reflex) available in today's market. If you're ready to upgrade your photographic kit, follow the steps below to choose the gear that's right for you.
Instructions
1. Determine your price range. If you're just testing the waters of DSLR photography, affordable camera bodies (excluding lenses) can be had for as little as $400 to $500. If you want to make your upgrade more of an investment, expensive bodies top out at around $5,000. The factors that attribute to this range in cost are megapixel count, sensor size and variable features (maximum shutter speeds, ISO ratings and connectivity settings).
2. Decide if you will be purchasing only the camera body or the full kit. Choosing just the camera body requires that you provide your own lens. You may use lenses from an older SLR camera if they have the same mount thread as your new DSLR body, or you can purchase a new prime (single focal length) or zoom lens of your choosing. A kit will arrive with the body in addition to a zoom lens often ranging from wide to normal length (18-55mm zoom is a common focal range for kit lenses).
3. Choose a warranty that is relative to the cost of your DSLR. If you plan to dish out $6,000 for the Canon Mark III kit (or equivalently priced camera), investing in the company's extensive warranty is advisable. This will cover the cost of any problems related to manufacturing error as well as any accidental damage, often including theft.
4. Use your new camera often. DSLRs can be intimidating to first time users, especially if you've become accustomed to the analog controls of a 35mm film SLR or the simple LCD interface of a compact point and shoot. Explore the camera's menus and shooting modes, and take note of the results you achieve while using different settings. The more time you spend behind the lens of your DSLR, the closer you'll be to mastering it.
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