If the process of finding your first digital camera seems confusing, take heart, you are not alone. In this article I will simplify the process for you, and help you select the digital camera that is best suited to your needs.
If you already know what model of digital camera you are looking for, you can likely find it now by looking through our pages of Digital Camera Deals, or use the search engine at the top left of our site.
Deciding on your first SLR Camera for Serious Photography
The selection of an SLR camera requires a good deal more care than for a point-and-shoot model. The reasons for this are 3-fold:
- Digital SLRs can be very expensive, so your options are constrained by your budget.
- You are buying an SLR for its extendability as a photographic system, so you want to be sure you have picked a solid foundation for your platform.
- Digital SLRs can be very robust, and you may still be using the camera twenty years from now. So keep in mind that you are probably choosing a model for the long haul.
Unlike point-and-shoot cameras, the lens on an SLR can be detached, and replaced with another. This allows for specialty lenses to be used to capture close-up images, wide-angle views, and telephoto (or long range) shots.
(Body Only) Warning. If you are purchasing an SLR for the first time, make sure to take notice of whether the offer is for a Body Only (no lens included in the kit). The kit lens is cheap when included with a camera body, and expensive to purchase separately.
Sometimes the product image will show a kit lens, even though it is not included. Check the product title to be sure. You should only consider purchasing the (Body Only) offer if you already have a second camera, and you can use the lenses from your existing camera(s).
Another benefit to having an SLR is that the camera response times are much better than for point-and-shoots. Turn the camera on and you can start shooting immediately. If you need to do low-light, high-speed, or rapid succession photography, an SLR is the only way to go.
One downside to using an SLR, for those more familiar with point-and-shoots, is that most SLR models do not allow the LCD screen to be used to compose the image. This is due to the fact that the reflex mirror is used to divert the image to the viewfinder. The LCD is used for menu functions, and to display the image AFTER it has been taken. Some of the newer digital SLR models have started to incorporate the "live view" feature. However, this is not yet widespread, and you will pay more when it is present.
Another thing to keep in mind if you are used to handling point-and-shoot cameras, is that SLRs are much heavier, at about 1.5 to 2.0 pounds compared to 0.3 to 0.5 pounds for a point-and-shoot. Professional grade just weighs more.
Because an SLR system can be loaded with features, and the lenses themselves are not cheap, a basic digital SLR will generally cost anywhere from $500, all the way up to several thousand dollars. If you want to get started with a great "entry-level SLR", take a look at the compact cameras features in these Canon Digital Rebel XT reviews, and Nikon D40 reviews. For an in-depth overview of 6 top-rated digital SLRs, check out our page on recommended digital SLRs.
How to Find a Great Deal on a Digital Camera
Hint. Browse our pages for current deals, starting at our page of digital camera categories.
The amount you will pay for a given camera model will depend somewhat on who you buy the camera from, and whether or not there is an existing surplus of the model. It is possible to see a great deal on a particular camera model one day, and then the next day the offer is no longer available, and the lowest price you can find anywhere for the camera is $50 higher.
At Best Digital Camera Discounts we poll merchants daily and display the best offer currently available for a particular camera. How long a given offer will remain available is never known, though it probably depends largely on the number of units the given merchant currently has in stock.
To read the other two-thirds of this article please visit Best Digital Camera Discounts.
Stephen Carter runs Best Digital Camera Discounts, where, if you find a great price on a camera, there is a very good chance that the offer represents the lowest price you are likely to find anywhere. If you are not inclined to follow one of the recommendations for a camera made on this page, try browsing our digital camera categories, or use our search engine to find currently available offers.
More Resources for Digital Cameras
