How do you choose a camera?

[CEK40]

First let me say that I am not really asking for specific camera model recommendations. Hopefully these answers could help someone else out there like me trying to make the same decision.

Right now I am a Canon SLR Canon digital P&S user. I am in the process of narrowing down my search for a DSLR. I am just so confused with everything that I have read in regards to digital cameras. I have already invested in several nice Canon lens and flashes so will stay with the Canon line. Don't get me wrong my first love is film and I will continue to use it, but I feel that a new DSLR addition any DSLR will be a huge improvement from the digital P&S camera I now use.

So, if you are not a "professional photographer" and only a so called "hobbyist" and use your camera for taking photographs of your life...vacations, children, important events, holidays, landscapes, night/low light etc, I guess a little bit of everything and not anything specific, how do you choose when switching or adding a DSLR to your equipment.

Do you look at an entry level, since it is your first DSLR or do you go mid-range since you do have a basic knowledge of photography? Do the entry level cameras do the bacic same things as the mid-range line? Or is there an advantage that one has over the other? Do you save money on the body, get the basics, and put the savings into a better quality lens? What are the most important things you look for when choosing a DSLR? How long can you expect your DSLR body to last? I know the basis of photography is the same but with all the computer type additions a DSLR have built into them, what things are the most important?

 

[YesDear]

I am not a Canon user so I can only answer in a generic fashion, I cannot give you a specific model

My observation of camera models as you move from basic to advanced is first the sensor. The more expensive the camera the better the sensor. That will give you better and higher ISO's and lower noise. You also are given more control of your camera. More individual controls over most aspects of the camera. More presets and special settings so you can select them when you need them and quickly. The more advanced cameras will have a broader shutter range and larger LCD screen and FPS for continuous shots.
This is why you will see some "newbies" to digital and photography frustrated with their new expensive camera because they do not know what to do with it and do not understand how to set it. My Nikon D300 as an example even has a favorites page in the menu so I do not have to scroll through multiple menus to get to where I need to be to set the camera.

One general concept to remember when moving from film to digital that you have more things you control from the camera. With film, after you select the film and film speed the only things you control is composition, shutter speed and aperture. With digital, you then gain control over white balance, color saturation, contrast, etc. that you can control from the camera or in a computer afterwords.

The basic DSLR will select a lot of these controls and prepackage them similar to a P&S by having a sports mode, portrait mode etc. The more advanced ones let you control all settings.

I am a big believer that you get the one you understand the best and fits your pocketbook. I also agree that then glass is king! I would rather have better glass and lower technology as long as that glass will fit the better technology as I move up!

Canon users can help you understand which Canon does what!

Hope this helps!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

You might find this thread from a few weeks ago helpful.

From what I've seen, people buy based on what they think they'll like and get the most use out of. If it's too heavy or cumbersome, too advanced, too whatever, you might not want to use it very much, so it should be one that feels very comfortable to you. It would be nice to borrow or rent a couple that you think you might like to try out, but even then it's somewhat different than actually using it for real over time.

People sometimes buy with one thing in mind, but then realize they prefer something else, or want to keep up with the latest technology, or aren't happy for whatever reason, so they switch, and there's nothing wrong with that, either (and kind of reassuring that you can if you want to - just look on your local Craigslist to see how many do). So make the best decision you can and take the leap. Once you narrow it down, you can always ask about those specific cameras - there are lots of Canon users (of all skill levels) here who are happy to share their knowledge.

Good luck.