A few years ago, somebody said to me that I wasn’t really a blogger unless I had a DSLR Camera in my blogging gear.
No, it isn’t true that you actually need a DSLR to take good photos because your iPhone or your Smart device is just as good and I have personally taken great photos with mine. There is an advantage to Digital SLRs, though. You can manipulate them better and yes, the photographs pass the ‘acid’ test and you are considered ‘professional’ by many standards but that is just that: Standards. We don’t set them. God knows who does but, they do the perfect job of judging someone!
Blogger or not, I believe, a DSLR is a good investment. I got one for my birthday last year. As always, as all my birthday gifts are, it was a well thought, debated, mused, stressed over affair. I did a ton of research. Yes, a ton, really. It took me three months to get all my facts straight and to decide which one and where to get it from.
The reason why you need a DSLR is not just to take great photos but for the sheer fun of it. The adventure… the feel… the joy of holding something so precious! Yes, precious. You will hold one very dear to your heart and will actually let yourself get injured trying to keep it safe and healthy. No kidding.
Buying a DSLR, always remember:
- When you buy a DSLR you are buying into a family. Whatever brand you buy, you will be buying accessories that will fit another camera in the same brand. For example, if you bought a Nikon, whichever model, the lenses that you buy, the flash guns, the filters, whatever… will fit other Nikon models. If it is a Canon then it will fit all other Canons.
- Try the camera out before you buy. I honestly feel that you should try the models out before deciding which to buy. Especially so, if you are a beginner. You can never be sure if you will like it better or even if DSLR photography is suited for you before you buy it. Don’t blindly choose a model.
- Yes, don’t blindly choose a model. Research. Compare the models that you find interesting online. Talk to people who have the model that you have or any of the similar ones in the category. Read all the reviews and all the criticism if you can find too. You don’t want to be the one who got something that doesn’t work for your lifestyle or style of work.
- Let someone show you how to use a DSLR. (This is tip #2 again but I couldn’t stress enough.) This is especially true if you are a newbie and have never handled a DSLR before. I got the guy at the counter who sold me the camera to show me how. I had been to him quite a few times to do my research and had asked him so many questions. That guy clearly knew everything there was to know and he was all too happy to teach me his skills. He knew he was selling it to me well and that I was impressed too!
- Read the Manual. (Again!) If you can do it before buying it, then that is even better. You can easily download the manual to almost everything online. Just type in the brand, the model and manual into your Google search bar. Download it. Read it. You will know a lot more about what you are buying.
- When buying Camera Lenses, don’t be greedy. Honestly, you don’t need all that there are. Find out what you will be working with and what kind of photography you are interested in. Most of the time you can do with just two lenses, I believe.
This post was supposed to be about my gear. But… I guess, that will have to be another post. Clearly, DSLR photography will need to be a series of posts here.
Do you own a DSLR? What is one tip you would give a newbie?
photo credit: Khánh Hmoong via photopin cc