Photography basics – Choosing your first camera

This is a first in a series of articles regarding photography basics which many people are looking for answers that are based on real-life experiences compared to articles that are overly general and fail to provide for a more personalised touch. Such content may not be readily available in books and magazines.

This, and future articles, might come in useful for individuals who are new to DSLRs (but not necessarily with photography) and are looking for some sort of guide when taking their first steps in familiarising themselves with DSLRs and other related equipment. Articles range from choosing your first DSLR camera, basic functions of a DSLR, how to select lenses, detailed explanation of features and much more. Content will focus more on the practical side of the HOW to use, and the WHY certain features are there. On top of that, most of the content here are based on first-hand experiences and I hope you will benefit and gain a little more insight into photography after reading.

First of all, it is common to see many first-timers to photography trying to find that “perfect” camera, especially so in the normal consumer digital camera market. In this article, we will discuss about what to look out for when purchasing your first DSLR, and how to select a camera based on your needs.

Selecting the brand and model

First of all would be to decide on the brand of the camera. There are many brands out there in the market, from Nikon, Canon, Olympus, to Sony, Pentax etc. Some tend to go with the bigger names like Nikon or Sony, while others tend to go along with recommendations from friends and colleagues. I suggest that you read up on the basic functions of each brand, particularly the entry-level ones, to get a rough idea of what each brand has to offer. For instance, Olympus used to support only xD cards and Canon had only Compact Flash (CF) cards which might be a little overwhelming for users new to DSLRs.

Next, visit some camera shop and get a feel of the camera by trying out the functions that you have read about. This is quite important as it may be the deciding factor (it was for me) when choosing between 2 very similar models. Here are some features that you might want to pay attention to when selecting a particular brand or camera model.

Things to look out for during selection

• Number of megapixels (10-12 megapixels is good enough)
• Number of AF points (The more the better, but anything between 5-9 should be good enough)
• Type of media (SD card, xD card, CF card)
• ISO range (The larger the range, the faster the shutter speed, meaning you can shoot in darker environments; normally range from ISO100-3200 for entry-level models)
• Continuous shooting (The higher the better, but normally between 3-5 frames/sec)
• Live View mode (Most models nowadays has the option of using the main LCD to compose shots just like a consumer digital camera)
• Weight (Light models are usually around 500g is considered lightweight)

The above few points should get you started. If you are planning to go far with the first camera you buy, it is worth considering other more advanced features such as the type of lenses it supports, the Depth of Field (DOV) preview button, whether it supports commander or slave mode for flash, noise reduction (NR) functions, colour depth for RAW files etc. Most people tend to look for much more features without thinking and finding out what they are for, or if they will ever use it. Most of the time, if you do not know how to use a certain feature, chances are it will never come in useful.

What I would suggest is to look for one that has the basic functions, and learn more about the basic techniques of photography such as lighting and exposure before deciding if you want to upgrade and proceed further. Give yourself some time, say a year, before asking yourself if the current model you have is limiting you in certain ways. For instance, within this period of exploration, try and find out which genre you would like to shoot the most, people, wildlife, landscape, architecture etc.

Certain models/lenses provide more flexibility for certain styles but not others so it is important to identify your interests and strengths before proceeding further. As you can see, basically speaking, there is no “perfect” model for the masses. You have to decide what are your needs and what are the features or equipment that suit such needs.

For the beginner, it is good to start with a general-purpose entry-level model, before proceeding further and deciding the type and style of photography he or she would like to adopt. Even if you do not have a particular style, the time spent with using the general-purpose camera will give you a better picture in helping you decide what type of equipment you might need, as well as whether or not you should consider upgrading your equipment.

Related posts:

1. Photography basics – Choosing your first lens (Part 2)
2. Photography basics – Choosing your first lens
3. Photography basics – Crop sensor vs Full frame (DX vs FX) Part 1
4. Photography basics – AF-A autofocus type
5. Photography basics – Crop sensor vs Full frame (DX vs FX) Part 2