Buying your first DSLR? here are some pointers… | | Resource Centre by Reliance Digital
Home > Buying Guides > Buying your first DSLR? here are some pointers…

Buying your first DSLR? here are some pointers…




Share This Post

Everyone is busy clicking photos these days. We use our phones to capture photos, add effects on Instagram and then to put them up on Facebook. Photography is an obsession, but mobile phones may not be the best way to indulge in it. Mobile cameras keep getting better by the day, but they rarely match the quality or creative flexibility you get from a DSLR. DSLR cameras are the way to go for any budding photography enthusiast! If you haven’t been out shopping for a DSLR before, then there are a few things to consider before you pull out your wallet to pay.

Why should you consider a DSLR?

DSLRs have better picture quality than point and shoot cameras or mobile phones and that's because of their larger sensors. While ‘megapixels’ are popularly associated with image quality, sensors dummy have an equally important role to play.

Resolution (megapixel count) is only important as far as you're looking to print large photos. Any camera with a 10 MP sensor and above is more than capable of handling this. An added benefit of using a DSLR is the ability to switch lenses, something that's unheard of in mobile phone cameras or point-and-shoots. The switching of lenses lets you click better photos in specific scenarios. Take for example, photography at a wildlife park. A zoom lens on a DSLR lets you click photos of distant subjects, which a phone simply can't. There are also plenty of lens options available for DSLRs which can enhance the quality of photos as well as the capabilities of your camera. DSLRs have a lot of controls and settings which let you set your camera up for the perfect photo. This is not available on mobile phones and P&S cameras, to the same extent as in DSLRs. There's also a perception that DSLRs are complicated to use. This is untrue as every mainstream DSLR comes with an Auto-mode which lets you take photos easily as you would on a phone, without having to use all of the controls. This makes it easy for practically anyone to use. DSLRs are also really affordable these days and they make for a good long-term purchase. So, there has never been a better time to consider buying one.


What to keep in mind when you’re looking for a DSLR?

When you're out looking for a camera, pay close attention to the latest generation of models available as there have been a lot of improvements over the past few years. Besides the improved picture quality, and enhanced controls, two important features that can be seen on modern DSLRs are the ability to shoot HD videos and Wi-Fi connectivity. The Wi-Fi feature lets you control your camera using a mobile phone and even transfer images back to your phone to upload them to Facebook or any other social media service. There are also some core hardware specifications that you should keep in mind.

ISO range

 

Every camera has an ISO range and it denotes how well the camera can click photos under low light. Higher the ISO number, the better the low light photography. Lower the number, the sharper and more detailed the photographs turn out. Look for cameras which have a wide ISO range for the best performance.

Shutter speed
 
The shutter speed of a camera determines whether you can click photographs of really fast-motion objects or of scenes with really low lighting. Having a wide range means that you can click some really precise photographs.
 
Burst mode

The burst mode feature on a DSLR lets you click multiple shots in seconds, by holding down the shutter-release button. Thus, look for DSLRs that have a higher burst speed capability. Most entry level cameras start from 3 frames per second and can go up to 5 frames per second or higher. This is useful when you're clicking moving objects and need to click several photos allowing you to pick out the best.

Focus points
 
A camera that has more focus points can focus on the subject faster and more accurately. Cameras can have focus points from as low as 9 up to 51 and beyond.

What's the most affordable DSLR? What do I get for my money?

Prices of DSLR cameras can start from as low as Rs. 27,000 and go up to a few lacs. If this is your first DSLR, something priced between Rs. 25,000 and Rs. 40,000 is a good starting point. These cameras will come with everything you'll need to enter the realm of enthusiast photography. Unlike other consumer electronics, even lower end DSLRs tend to have all the features that you find on cameras priced several fold higher. It's the extent of the features that improves as the price goes up. A camera in this price range buys you the actual DSLR (called the body), a kit-lens (a single lens, sometimes two, depending on the bundle) and the freebies which includes the strap, the manual and sometimes a memory card as well. A camera such as this has all the features, the ability to change the aperture, the shutter speed, the ISO, focus points, light-metering points, shoot videos and more.


What does a more expensive DSLR get me?

If you don't mind spending a bit more on your first DSLR, you're probably wondering what more you would get for the additional cost. The sensor we spoke of earlier, offers better performance on the more expensive cameras. The image resolutions may be identical but the photos look crisper, more vibrant and clearer.

These cameras also perform better in low-light so you may not need to use a flash. Although these are not drastic differences, they are definitely noticeable. Some of the other features that we spoke about earlier are also enhanced in the more expensive cameras. The shutter speeds cover a much wider range, as does the burst speed. This means that you can expect shutter speeds ranging from 30 seconds to 1/8000th sec, instead of from 30 seconds to 1/3200th sec. Some cameras also support a Bulb mode which lets you keep the shutter open for as long as you’d like. The number of focus points in such cameras is generally higher, ranging from 39 to 51 and more, in comparison to 9 on entry-level DSLRs. This means your camera can focus faster and better. Video recording capabilities also improve. While entry-level DSLRs might shoot at 720p (1280x720p) resolutions at 30fps, expensive models may shoot at full HD 1080p (1920x1080p) or even 4K (3840x2160p). More expensive cameras run faster and new processors, so your camera operates faster and you don’t have to wait for images to be processed. The screens used are of better resolution and thus more detailed and brighter than the ones on affordable DSLRs. These are features you might not need right when you get into photography, but you'll find them very useful once you've gotten the hang of it.


Do I need to know anything more?

Don’t forget to go and try out the cameras in person. You’ll also be able to gauge some of the finer details, such as how easy the user interface is and how heavy or light the camera is. You’ll get a good feel for the camera and also the build quality. Look for cameras that come with bundled bags, memory cards and possibly free online storage for your photographs. Buying a printer that lets you take large photo prints might also be worth considering along with a digital photo frame. With the buying advice out of the way, you could also look at planning for some fun photography outings. There are groups on Facebook where photographers meet up once a week to go on photography tours. Flickr is also a good service to register on, considering you get a ton of free storage to host all your photographs at the highest quality and also your videos. You'll find a lot of interesting photos shot by photographers from all around the world for inspiration and also a vast community which can offer constructive feedback and tips on how to get better.