© 2011 Aaron Atkinson

Camera Commentary

Every couple of weeks, people ask me for camera advice. And while I’m always more than happy to help give them my opinion, I always tell the same story, so I thought I’d put it out here and let you read my perspective as you’re so inclined.

If you’re in the market for a point-and-shoot, you know, the small handheld camera with the oversized viewfinder and built in flash, that runs less than $300, just buy the best one that you can afford. One feature to watch out for is the lag between when you press the “shoot button” and when the camera responds by snapping a photograph. The longer the lag, the less chance you have of actually capturing what you’re looking at.

Now, if you’ve already got the point and shoot figured out and you’re interested in upgrading to something a little more serious, this is where I get excited. First, let’s talk about the category. Digital (no more film!) SLR (dSLR) cameras are larger than point-and-shoot cameras, the mechanics are different and with a dSLR when you press the button, the camera takes a photograph, but one of the biggest advantages with most dSLR cameras is that you can purchase and utilize removable lenses. I once heard, and place a fair amount of stock in this advice, “buy the best camera you can afford, but then buy lenses that you cannot.” It’s the lenses that add variety and expertise to your photographs.

With the category explained, let’s move on to the players. While there are a number of dSLR manufacturers, by and large the majority are sold by either Nikon and Canon. I shoot a Nikon D80 and it’s big brother, the Nikon D90. With that said, I’m a Nikon guy. And while I love the way they work, feel and interface, I do have a number of photographer friends who love their Canons like I love my Nikons.

If you’re serious about making the investment of $600-$1200 in a new digital SLR you owe it to yourself to do more research. Read online reviews, visit the manufacturers website, and while there are often better places to buy, make sure you visit your local camera shop.

Now that I’ve advised a number of friends on which camera to buy, they’re starting to come back for advice on lenses an on photography itself. But those are posts for another day.

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