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General discussion

If I move on to a dSLR camera, what am I getting myself into?

Jul 1, 2011 5:11AM PDT
Question: If I move on to a dSLR camera, what am I getting myself into?

My wife's friend recently went on a trip to Yellowstone National Park
in Wyoming and she shared her online photo album with us of her trip.
I was just blown away by the beautiful photos she took! Her
landscape photos, closeups of foliage and flowers, geysers, and rock
structures were just incredible--so full of life with such details and
vivid colors that it made me feel like I was physically there. Now I'm
no shutterbug and only have a point-and-shoot camera that is pretty
decent in taking photos, but seeing these photos of hers got me
seriously thinking of moving on to a bit more sophisticated dSLR
camera, which will allow me to take photos like hers. I know it takes
quite a bit of patience, practice, and a learning curve to take great
photos, but to start, I do need the tools first, right? What do you
recommend I start with? I'm green to dSLR, but I want to know what I
am getting myself into in terms of cost--from the camera to
miscellaneous equipment to get me going. Should I invest in something
basic or middle of the road or go all out? What would you recommend
for a newbie like me. Any tips or advice for someone like me who wants
to get into dSLRs will help out greatly on my decision. Thank you.

--Submitted by: Steven O.

Here are some member answers to get you started, but
please read all the advice and suggestions that our
members have contributed to this question.

It depends on you. --Submitted by: kekolohe
http://forums.cnet.com/7726-7593_102-5158598.html

It's all about the light --Submitted by: MightyDrakeC
http://forums.cnet.com/7726-7593_102-5158611.html

A new camera won't make you Ansel Adams. --Submitted by: dxjanis
http://forums.cnet.com/7726-7593_102-5158652.html

DSLR what am I getting in to? --Submitted by: markainsworth
http://forums.cnet.com/7726-7593_102-5159032.html

Tools aren't everything --Submitted by: liguorid
http://forums.cnet.com/7726-7593_102-5159522.html

Digital SLRs - It's about the lenses --Submitted by: drdoolittle2800
http://forums.cnet.com/7726-7593_102-5158589.html

Thanks to all who contributed!

If you have any additional buying advice, recommendations, or suggestions for Steven, please click on the reply link below and answer away. If you are referring to any specific camera model or camera equipment, it would be great to provide a link to the product specification or a link to a picture of the equipment would be helpful. Thanks!

Discussion is locked

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DSLR
Jul 2, 2011 4:28AM PDT

<font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3">
</font>
<font size="3"><font face="Calibri"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> If you want a DSLR
I would recommend the Canon Rebel line. They are good entry DLSR camera. You
can get kits which contain the camera body and 1 or 2 lens for $800.00 to
$1200.00 depending on the kit. I would watch sales online as well. My first
DLSR was the Canon Rebel XT I used it for about 4 years then upgrade to the
Canon Rebel T2i because it has better low light abilities then the XT did. <?xml:namespace prefix =" o" ns =" "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"" /><oSilly></oSilly></font></font>
<font size="3">
</font>
<font size="3"><font face="Calibri"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Now as far as lens
go the quality of the lens plays in to how good your photos turn out. This is
where most (90%) of the cost of owning a DSLR comes in. the object here is to
balance cost vs. quality of the lens. There are different manufacturers out
there that make lens for all makes and models of cameras, but you need to be
careful you choose the lens that fits your camera as the lens mounts deferrer
from camera manufacturers. DLSR lens can be pricy you can spend $200.00 to
$10,000.00 (that is not a typo) for DSLR lens. There are lens that are called
zoom lens and they are a great multi-purpose lens, they can take close up and
you can zoom in on distant objects. My opinion these are the best lens for
beginners since you don't have keep switching all the time.</font></font>
<font size="3" face="Calibri"></font>
<font size="3"><font face="Calibri"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> As others have said
there are crossover type cameras they have some of the features of a DSLR, but
don't cost as much. These don't have interchangeable lens so you are stuck with
what is on the camera just as you are with a point and shoot, although they
crossovers have much better lens and a bigger image sensor</font></font>
<font size="3" face="Calibri"></font>
<font size="3"><font face="Calibri">The next thing you have is the image sensor size. Most DSLR
cameras have a sensor that is almost the same size as 35mm film, the pro grade
DSLR's have sensors that are the same size as 35mm film, most point and shoots
are the size of a number 2 pencil eraser.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> This also affects the quality of your pictures the smaller the sensor
the more noise in the picture. This is why DSLR's take far better pictures then
point and shoot cameras.<oSilly></oSilly></font></font>
<font size="3">
</font></font>

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DSLR What am I getting in to?
Jul 2, 2011 5:35AM PDT

First, as a couple of posts have indicated, you need to ask yourself some questions: Some good questions to ask yourself are:

1. What is my objective in upgrading my camera (Make photography my hobby or Just take better pictures or something in between.

2. How much am I willing to spend (short term and long term)?

3. How important is portability to my goals?

Since you are contemplating the purchase of a DSLR, I assume you are intending to become fairly serious about your photography (even if you are not going to adopt it as a hobby). There are a dizzying array of great DSLRs to choose from (check out Digital Photography Review's web site. -- more on this later)

Unless you are planning to spend several thousand dollars on a Nikon D3S or Cannon EOS 1D, you may want to peruse the entire line of cameras and accessories offered by the brands you are considering. I say this because DSLRs, like their predecessors, SLRs, support a large array of accessories. The most important accessories are the interchangeable lenses, which are arguably the raison d' entre for DSLRs. The point is that should you decide to upgrade at a later date, you'll want to leverage the investment you make in the lenses and accessories for the camera you buy now.

Also like their predecessors, DSLRs are bulky and relatively heavy. Plus if you amass a collection of lenses, you will be carrying around a bag in those instances where you do not know up front which one you will want to use or if you will want more than one. (Happily there are some very versatile lenses for available for most of these cameras, so you may well find one lens that you will use almost all of the time. Keep this in mind when evaluating camera kits (body and lens combinations) If the lens you want is not offered as part of a kit, you might be better off buying the body only version and adding a lens.) To get started, plan on spending between $600 and $1200. I like the Nikon D5100 (or D3100 if the budget is tight, or the D7000 in case the budget is not so tight) I also like the Canon EOS 600D With a Nikon or Canon DSLR, you'll have available a very wide range of high quality accessories, especially lenses and flash units, but as I said before, there are a lot of excellent cameras out there.

Relatively new to the market are the new mirror-less cameras (like the Panasonic Lumix GH2) which often use the larger APS-C sensors, which are commonly called Four Thirds sensors because they are 33% larger than those found on most compacts. These cameras are somewhat more compact than a DSLR, but still take outstanding photos. Sony uses a stationary mirror in it SLT series (Check out the SLT35, for example) which are also smaller than a DSLR and use the APS-C sensor. An advantage of these Sony alpha cameras is that they accept Sony A mount and Konica-Minolta AF mount lenses, so there is a good selection.

Another thing to think about is whether you want to shoot video. Most digital cameras these days take some sort of video. All of the cameras I have mentioned above take high def video at 1080i or 1080p. Some do a better job on video than others. If you are interested in shooting video pay attention to the video sections of the reviews you read of the cameras you are selecting. Do read reviews.

Notes about the links: All of the links above are to dpreview.com This is a web site provides in depth reviews of digital cameras (lots of them). Once you have narrowed your search check if dpreview has a review of your candidates. Don't be put off by the technical nature of the review. Gloss over the parts that are incomprehensible to you. You will still learn a lot about the cameras (and the technology behind them). [My apologies to CNet. I love CNet's tech reviews -- including their camera reviews, but they can't match the depth found at dpreview]

If the budget is tight, consider buying used. People upgrade for a number of reasons
(sometimes just to get the latest version), and sell the old body on
e-bay. Tip: most digital cameras are rated for 100,000 or more shutter
releases, so a camera with just a few thousand is virtually new. Ask
how many clicks if that information is not advertised, and check the seller's return policy.

Good luck and happy shooting.

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Go to a Camera Store
Jul 2, 2011 10:25AM PDT

My advice is to go to a reputable camera store - not Walmart or an electronics store. Talk to the salesperson and explain the kind of photos you intend to take. There are so many good DSLR cameras on the market that you need expert help to find the right camera system to fit your budget. Keep in mind that accessory lens, flash unit, batteries will all take up more room in a camera bag than a point and shoot.
Check out the mirror less pocket size cameras like the Olympus PEN series. These cameras use a DSLR sensor and processor but in a much smaller body that still takes interchangeable lens. The PEN series have their own series of lens or you can mount an Olympus adaptor and use ANY OF the full size Olympus DSLR Professional lens. They also take HD video.

Good luck

Glenn

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Bridge Cameras
Jul 2, 2011 11:00AM PDT

I have read all responses. Many raves about DSLR and many outdated opinions about compact cameras of years past.
The latest new technology BRIDGE cameras are all most people need. Eg Panasonic FZ100 or Canon SX30.
The FZ100 has a quality Leica zoom lens 25mm - 600mm and has all the features anybody would want. Up to 200 frames/sec for freeze motion, HD movie taking, all the manual settings of a DSLR, a very intellegent auto from macro to tele, anti shake, articulated viewer display, support for remote control and powerful external flash hot shoe. It is a TTL camera (Through The Lens).
The speed to first shot and between shots is compatible with a DSLR, it will do 5 shots /sec with auto focusand faster without.
The great advantage is that the lens has sufficient zoom range to cover most needs, if not all. There is no missing a shot because a change of lens is required and no risk of dust introduction through lens changing.
Best of all the cost is moderate, it is lighter that the DSLR and super simple with intelligent auto.

Many professionals push DSLR for their good reasons, one being that they have a huge investment in lens. Takea look at the latest bridge cameras. The two mentioned above have the best Test reviews by Camera Labs. http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/digital_camera_and_lens_reviews.shtml

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Start with a long zoom point and shoot
Jul 2, 2011 2:44PM PDT

Try an intermediate camera, a brand name long zoom, point and shoot, before you invest more than you can stand in a dSLR. I use a Canon SX20 IS with a 20x zoom lens. It has a lot of settings, like a dSLR. It will shoot from macro to zoom without changing lenses. It has the shape and heft of a dSLR as compared to a small point and shoot. It's a 12 MP camera, so there are plenty of pixels to work with in PhotoShop or the GIMP. It's not a pro quality dSLR, but it doesn't carry the pro dSLR price tag, either.

A brand name long zoom camera will move you closer to a dSLR at a reasonable investment, around $500, and let you see if you really want to go all out. You can take very good photos with it, you can experiment with all the settings, you can find out how good a photographer you really are. But mostly you can find out if you really want to move up to a dSLR and all that comes with it.

I find that I would rather be a participant, than a photographer. As a photographer, I worry too much about the shot and miss the experience. I've been to one Space Shuttle launch, and I missed the experience because I was looking through a viewfinder or trying to change lenses in the dark.

Bob Meyer.

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Go for a good beginners DSLR in a set !
Jul 2, 2011 11:34PM PDT

I hear your question already:
What is a good beginners DSLR?
The best beginner series that exist on this planet is Canon 3xx to 6xx
(in the US they are called the "Canon EOS Rebel" series).
I bought my 400D - 5 years ago and it was a fantastic start in the DSLR world.
The latest version is the 600D, which is an excellent beginners DSLR,
(has a lot of state-of-the-art beginners features),
but also with extra features of the 60D (which is an advanced DSLR).
Buy the kit, it includes a stabilized lens (approx. $800).
The minimum extras you need as a beginner:
* Fast Memory card (minimum 8 GB)
* Photo bag
* UV-filter (to protect the lens)
* polarizng filter (to shoot fantastic skies and avoid glare and refleactions).
This means for less than $1000, you have a fantastic machine (and the extras)
that will give you pleasure for many years to come!
Have fun, ---Fred2u

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Tools aren't everything
Jul 3, 2011 5:17AM PDT

In David Busch's after-market guide to the Nikon D700--a very fine and rather expensive DSLR--he reports a user asked him how to turn off the shutter sound. Apparently this person didn't realize the sound is a real shutter and real viewing mirror, not an electronic sound effect you can turn off.

I don't want to come off as patronizing, but in my opinion a person with such limited knowledge wasted a good deal of money.

Your goal is to take better pictures, which is a good place to start (as opposed to, say, a love of gadgetry). Figure out what it is in the pictures you are taking now, versus the ones you admire taken by your wife's friend, that you find lacking. It may be just a matter of accessing capabilities in your current camera that you don't yet understand. Easier still, maybe your wife's friend could give you some tips on composition.

Assuming a better camera is indicated--and remembering that any camera has limitations which, in a given situation, may be worked around--the next step is to determine whether a DSLR is really the right type for you. I know someone with several Nikon F-series SLR's, an MFA degree and published photos to his name, who owns only one digital camera, a Canon south of $1000 and non-interchangeable lenses. Not all great film cameras were SLR--Leika comes to mind. There's a definite size and weight penalty to be born with a DSLR. There are other types of cameras besides DSLR's that have interchangeable lenses, if that's what you need.

My arsenal of cameras includes a pocket-sized digital that I carry constantly. It is decent quality, far better than a phone. I've taken pictures of which I am proud, including of someone who requested extra prints of her portrait. It's lousy in low light or with motion. My biggest gripe with it is that the LCD screen is almost useless in high ambient light situations, leading me to shoot wide and hope what I wanted can be cropped later. As I said, limitations to be worked around. Truly great photos have been taken (by others) with very modest equipment.

Assuming you've studied and critiqued your photography, pinpointed what it is you want to do and decided a DSLR is what you need, then go for the best Canon or Nikon body you can realistically afford, and a basic mid-range zoom lens, or even a prime (fixed focal length) if you haven't been spoiled by the zoom capability of your current digital. You can always spring for better lenses later as your appreciation grows. Vibration reduction is nice but you don't need it, except for tripodless telephoto shooting.

As far as what "mid-range" is, one tedious technical detail: in film SLR terms, 50mm is considered "normal", similar to your eye's field of view. There are two DSLR formats, DX and FX. DX is not the same as 35mm film, a 50mm lens has a narrower field on a DX digital than on a film camera. FX has the same field as 35mm film, but an FX body is going to set you back a lot more, probably 2 grand and up without the lens. You should probably go for the DX, especially if you haven't had 35mm SLR film experience to temper your expectations. But, understand some lenses are only suitable for the DX format, so do the research and avoid them if you might later get an FX body. I hope all that makes some sense.

As far as what to expect: assuming the bug bites you and you do, indeed, become a "shutterbug", expect a major source of leakage of your discretionary income. Also, hopefully, a major source of joy in your life.

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Why not something like a Nikon CoolPix 500 or similar?
Jul 3, 2011 7:08AM PDT

I'm considering this camera and I have lots of Nikkor lenses (16mm-500mm + zooms)! It has a 24x optical zoom and a viewfinder. Cannon and Sony have similar models. Optical zoom is what matters and the viewfinder is really a necessity in my book.

My wife has a great Olympus Point and Shoot but it only has the LCD panel which can be very difficult to use in the sun. My guess is that the lens quality of the CoolPix 500 is not as good as the Nikkors for a dSLR but the cost is isn't outta sight either.

The one drawback to the CoolPix 500 is that it uses a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery. For digital pix, I currently use a Kodak P/S SLR(?) that has Li-ion batteries and it's a pain! My wife's uses 2 AA's, a nice feature. Nikon makes an accessory grip that allows you to use AA's on the dSLRs but that's more money!

Another consideration is weight and bulk. My Kodak and 3 batteries is easy to carry. My film Nikons, flash and lenses aren't. I also tend to be concerned about leaving my Nikon stuff in the car(theft and heat) but not the Kodak.

If you're serious about photography as a hobby then get a dSLR. If you want better vacation pix and shots of the kids, consider a P/S with a good lens and a viewfinder.

Bob

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What will you get?
Jul 3, 2011 11:14PM PDT

Hi Lee, first of all you need to answer on one question - Why would you do?
To have DSLR camera it is like have Mercedes Benz. You need to have a lot of skills to use this camera. The common DSLR camera has at least one hundred options and functions. To get started, try to buy semi-professional (pseudo professional) camera or amateur photo camera, and know all abilities of this camera , such as aperture, diaphragm, time of exposure, sharpness and more other functions. You should to learn how to buy objective or lens for your DSLR body. Sometimes the price of lens is higher then price for body of DSLR camera.
After all you will get fantastic results and photos from your professional DSLR camera. I had Canon A590 IS, now I have Canon D300! I'm happy! Silly

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Moving to a DSLR
Jul 4, 2011 1:30AM PDT

Hi there Stephen O,

My name is Roy and I live in England. I have been an Amateur Photographer for over 50 years having had a large variety of Cameras both SLR in 120 Roll film,35mm format and Digital. The first advice I would give you is decide how much you are going to spend on a Digital Camera and the necessary zoom lenses, then check out the websites that review each model and lens very carefully. There are so many Digital Cameras and Lenses available these days from the main manufacturers with varying specifications and prices that the choice is simple mind boggling. The next decision is having read the reviews on line is think exactly what you are going to use the Camera for. Will you be doing large prints from the images - say 10 x 8 inches or larger then you will need around 14 megapixels or simply downloading the images to your PC. You can spend up to $20,000 on a digital SLR and lenses, but will you be wasting you money. My only problem with Digital SLR's is not to cost but the weight. Then if you see a good shot either landscape or action then it is a case of putting the right lens on your Camera and perhaps missing the moment. I have recently bought a Bridge Camera, which has the properties of a SLR as it has both an eye-level viewfinder and a screen. The results are excellent. So finally it is up to you what you buy. Just check it out first as hindsight is a wonderful thing. Let us know what you decide. Happy snapping.

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Get a dslr if you're serious
Jul 5, 2011 11:31AM PDT

OK I've blown through most of the replies and I'm sorry, a dslr beats a PS in almost every way except weight and cost. Literaly everything in life is about compromises and PS cameras just have too many of them if you want to get serious. For sure there are some great PS cameras out there like the Canon S95 and Olympus XZ-1 but they in no way have the capability of even an entry level dslr. Heck I have one and love it, but there are brush hogs and lawn mowers. Use a brush hog in the field and a lawnmower in the yard. You need both if you have a farm and most serious photogs still carry a PS in addition to their slr.

Yes everyone can show the great picture in sunlight from any camera, but dim the lights, turn up the action, or try to achieve subject isolation and ........ crickets chirping for a PS. Others have mentioned, and I'll second, lurking at dpreview.com. I'd start with a trip to your local big box electronics store just to handle several models without taking too much time from a salesperson at a photo only shop. You really will (ususally) prefer brand x or y just by the way they feel and then you can read to your heart's desire on the various forums devoted to that specific model within a brand.

I'm a Nikon shooter myself, but frankly Canon is equal if not better. We're fortunate as photographers to have such good competition between the major brands. I personally would choose between Canon or Nikon just because their systems are so much more complete than the "other" guys like Sony, Pentax, etc, but everyone makes a good product now.

Bottom line is that you witnessed first hand the quality capable from an slr; so go out and get one! And then play and read and learn. Auto modes are OK to start with and are a wonderful crutch in learning, but do learn to use the various modes, especially Aperture Priority, so you can control what the camera delivers, instead of wondering why you got what you got.

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It is the difference between 'Snapshots' and a "Photograph"
Jul 6, 2011 7:21AM PDT

I started with an SLR (Single Lens Reflex) about 40 years ago with a Cannon ftb. In those days, you needed a light meter and some time. Today's dSLR can operate just like my old ftb, or they can be point and shoot, and a few things in between. All in the same camera.

Point and shoot will focus the lens, set the shutter speed and f-stop, check if a flash is needed then take the photo. All of this produces a time delay from the moment you push the shutter button to the moment the shutter is open. As you learn, you will want more and more control over those functions. Today, you can do this all with the same camera.

If you make the investment, remember to buy filters for your lenses. An infrared filter is cheap and will protect your valuable lens from scratches. A polarizing filter will produce those beautiful landscape shots with deep blue sky and green foliage. Zoom lens prices have also come down over the last 4 decades.

Small point and click digital cameras can produce fantastic photographs. We visited a Japanese garden a few years ago with our 7th grade son. He was bored out of his mind. I gave him a small digital camera and turned him loose. One photograph was impressive enough to print and frame. It hangs in our living room. The 8th grade art show came along and he took it to school. Long story short, it won 1st place for 8th grade in the tri-state fair and $100. Not bad for a cheap camera.

Those 'photographs' come along more often with better equipment. You can pick up a mid range SLR and a pair of zoom lenses (15-85 and 85-200) for about $800. It is an investment, but it is also a lot of fun. Every now and then, you will frame one. When a guest comes over and ask at what gallery you got that beautiful photo. You will say. . . 'Oh, I took that. I used a star burst filter. Shot it at 1/60 and f5.6. . . printed it at Walmart. Not bad for $3.75.'

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Books you may want to read before hand
Jul 7, 2011 8:08AM PDT

I bought my DSLR about a year ago and have not regretted it. Some books you may want to look into are by Bryan Peterson. Start off with his book Understanding Digital Photography. He explains things in a simple way that everyone can understand. He gives examples and even little tests you can try with the camera.
I have purchased many of his books and found each and every one more useful then the last. Good luck and hope you do join the work of DSLR.

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Patience and Practice
Jul 22, 2011 11:00AM PDT

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I have been shooting SLRs and DSLRs for several years.
It's not the old point and shoots. You need time to focus on what you are
taking as well as having the camera focus on what you are taking (patience). You also need to get very use to what your
camera does and how it works in your hands (practice). One of the photos on my wall here is shot on
the Great Wall of China. At the moment,
my family was distracted and I was able to follow all the procedures correctly
and got a great photograph. Others, my
family is saying, just shoot the picture and let's go, that's when I don't get
that great of a shot. Make sure your
family knows that what you need to do to get a great picture. No matter what the camera or cost, if you don't
have the time to shoot the good one, you might as well shoot it with your point
and shoot (I take both the DSLR and the point and shoot with me for getting
good shots). The other point is, while
there are those who will argue with me, make sure that you get a sky filter (or
UV filter), put it on your lens and keep it there. I was taking a picture of some fireworks when
one kicked up a few small pebbles and broke the filter. It was a lot cheaper to replace the filter
than the lens.

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RTFM first. :)
Jul 22, 2011 11:39AM PDT

Well you have to bear in mind you're in for a STEEP learning curve. If you aren't willing to spend a lot of time reading and testing you'll end up leaving it on auto and have a really pricey Point n' shoot.
Even reading the manual that comes with most can be quite confusing. You'll be hard pressed to find something decent under $600 so I have a suggestion.
I shoot mostly with my fav K20D pentax. (yes I have a nikon and an olympus) I'm sure others have an available aftermarket manual that's a lot clearer but there are some amazing manuals for the pentax series of cameras. That is one manual for each model of camera they make. And there is also a dvd set that makes everything pretty much as clear as a bell. Or at least as clear as it can be without the camera in your hands. They go fairly in depth about what to do when. And explain some of the terminolgy that makes absolutely no sense to a new user. Happy
So, if you can figure out which brand you'd like, search for a manual and dvd to teach it to you. Spending about $40 on a manual and dvd is a lot better than spending $1000k plus for a dust collector.
Just remember, which ever one you choose you'll likely be stuck with that brand forever since lenses are pretty much proprietary for each brand. Big three are Pentax, Nikon and of course Canon. I've been shooting Pentax since the 70's when they were king of the hill. Most of the technology used in the others were invented by Pentax. So don't think of it as a "lowly" brand. They just don't advertise like the rest do.

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It's all about the shutter...
Jul 22, 2011 11:47AM PDT

I take a lot of photos while driving. Every point & shoot camera I've had (make it 4-5) had a delay between pressing the button and the actual taking of the picture; with those cameras I get a lot of pictures of the car door frame and steering wheel because of the picture snapping after I take the camera from my eye. I have never had that problem with my Nikon D70; near instant response on pressing the button. Although my D70 is only 6 megapixels, it has always recorded sharper and more detailed pictures than any of my other P&S cameras of higher Megapixel rating. Must be the lens. My D70 is now 7 years old, and a few of the LCD characters in the info panel are starting to fail, but the rest of the camera is going fine. I rarely use the flash and battery life has been outstanding.

I come from years of purely mechanical cameras; the thousands of settings available thanks to microchips seems like overkill to me. My biggest peeve with digital photography is having to go through so many button-presses while watching the menus to change settings. I'd be happy with manual setting of the shutter speeds and F-stops, or at least shutter speed priority - auto F-stop setting - without having to read the LCD menus.

As for the issue of DSLR over point & shoot, there is no real difference in operating the cameras except for camera bulk and weight. If you got reasonably good pics with your simple cameras, you will get the same from your DSLR, except with more sharpness and clarity.

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addendum to my post - lens selection
Jul 22, 2011 11:55AM PDT

I should add that with a decent zoom lens you will never need to change lenses. The typical 18-55mm lens should be good for everybody except professional wild life photographers who may need long telephoto lenses. My camera came with a 18-70mm zoom, a bit more telephoto than is usual these days, and it is perfect for 99% of my picture taking. I have several film cameras to fill in what the digital doesn't cover.

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DSLR Camera
Jul 22, 2011 12:07PM PDT

I'm an old-time film camera guy, going back to the days when you had to adjust your own f Stop and shutter speed, using a hand held meter vand really am not a big fan of the completely automated, idiot-proof digital method of photography. Remember, the basic engineering of DSLR is similar to HD Television cameras as used in broadcast, which are designed to get a so-called perfect picture as long as you have enough light, and it doesn't even matter what kind of light (natural, incandescent or fluorescent, because the compensate automatically). There simply isn't enough imagination or creativity allowed to the operator. If you want to be a serious photographer, go to the web and buy yourself a good TTL (through The Lens metering). Nikon F-series of any age is good, and I prefer Pentax to Canon. Also, lenses for them are dirt cheap compared to the digital ones. I THINK some camera stores still sell the better brands. If you are REALLY serious, get a Hasselblad or Mamiya 2 X 2 format. They should be about 1/2 the price of their DSLR versions.

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dSLR substitute?
Jul 22, 2011 12:51PM PDT

You may want to investigate the Olympus ZX-1 digital p&s with f1.8 lens. A large number of DSLR owners have acquired them. They enjoy not being burdened bay a bag full of heavy expensive lens.
Go to www.dpreview.com and look in the Olympus forum.

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DSLR? Not necessarily...
Jul 22, 2011 12:57PM PDT

I have a fujifilm s9000 DSLR and it does get great pictures! But you really have to spend a great deal of time to learn it, which I still am. These DSLRs are pro cameras and have tons of features that you have to learn. But once you get the hang of it, then its shooting time! But just like the rest of the people here say, the lenses are quite expensive. And DSLRs are big to lug around, and heavy too, especially if you opt for more accessories. We have the DSLR which we only use every now and then, road trips and nature trips. Due to its size, we bought a small point and shoot and though they are limited, a little light and good positioning does the trick. I also recently bought myself a megazoom bridge camera, not quite the DSLR but better than a regular point and shoot, so we have 3 cameras for different occasions (lol)! If I were you, go for the bridge one, it takes great pictures too, plus it can give you a great zoom feature that a DSLR with no attached additional lens can. Since I have a very good experience with fujifilm, I opted for their megazoom camera, the S4000, with 30x optical zoom. Its cheaper than most, and many consider it better than the Olympus SP800UZ, which also has 30x.
But if you really want to go all out, then consider the s9000, its a lot cheaper. Though I really want that Canon rebel...or a Nikon D80 or D200...but those are twice or 3x or even 4x the price of my s9000. Then again, you do no need a DSLR to get really great pictures...

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A lot to consider
Jul 22, 2011 1:02PM PDT

After reading the first couple dozen responses, I see you've already gotten a wealth of good advice.

A DSLR can do a lot that a simple point-and shoot just can't do, or at least it does them more easily. You usually get much greater battery life per charge, and you can buy lenses that outperform those with P&S cameras. And there is no denying the cachet that comes with carrying and using a larger, more professional-looking camera. But there are always tradeoffs. A DSLR is bigger, heavier and perhaps more awkward to carry than a P&S; carrying an extra lens or two, and other accessories, just adds to this. DSLRs are generally more expensive, and more tempting targets for thieves. And just having a more capable camera won't automatically make you a better photographer; for that you'll need lots of practice and perhaps even a community college course in photography.

While you probably would benefit from upgrading to a DSLR, I don't know if you need more than an entry-level setup right now; you'll be amazed at how "professional" consumer-level DSLRs can be. I suggest you keep your P&S camera and carry it too; being simpler, smaller and lighter, it will be faster to use when sudden opportunities present themselves. (You're also more likely to carry it at times when you'd rather not lug around the bigger camera.)

What brand/model? I'm partial to Canon and Nikon, but in truth all the major camera companies' DSLRs are pretty good. Compare features carefully, read as many reviews as you can stand, get opinions from people whose photographic ability you respect -- by which I mean, people who take great shots, not just someone who owns a lot of gear -- then decide on a camera and get to know it well. Keep in mind that it's just a camera; if you decide you don't like what you get the first time, you aren't stuck with it forever.

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Class First
Jul 22, 2011 1:46PM PDT

Before you buy anything, take a class on photography or digital photography. Look for a community education class, community college class, or something similar. Ask how many students are going to be in the class. A dozen or so is a good number for what you are looking for.

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Art, Science, and Technology Evolved
Jul 22, 2011 2:56PM PDT

I have read through the submissions here, all great advice. As an experienced photographer coming from the chrome world and slr, remember, you are merging art, science, and technology. The advances are phenomenal today, scientifically and technologically with both camera and lenses, but also with digitization of the camera capture and the ability to manipulate the image after capture both in the camera and on the computer. That said, there is one point which must be remembered: ART.

The difference between a photo and a well visualized and captured piece of art is just that, art. In the old days, for financial reasons and to understand light, balance, composition, how to work with apperture, depth of field, parts of and the functions of the camera etc, we worked in black and white. Practice, practice, practice.

It wasn't until you understood and could work well with those compositions in black and white, did you advance to color. Today, because you can just discard what you don't like, and it costs nothing more than a battery charge and transfer to your computer, many people skip those crucial steps of beginning with black and white, then advancing to color.

That said, it is still important, as it was then, to have a well functioning camera, and a good lense with enough features to in the digital cameras to come out with a good quality capture. Nothing beats a very good lense. My suggestion here is to begin with a mid-range used camera, such as a Nikon 8700 or 8800. (This is what I did for my son when he showed an interest in photography.) These are good quality cameras, good lenses, and lots of feature to learn, and they are fairly inexpensive on ebay, and photo sites. Take all your compositions in black and white to begin with. Keep a log of your settings, or record in RAW so you have to settings available to refer to. Learn, practice, study art both art and photography Learn to look at your world through the lense and see what is there, and what is not there. Study light. You will find once you adjust to a good size camera, that you can steady the bulkier camera better than the little tiny cameras. Tripods are a necessity. Learn to breath. Learn to compose. Learn to study. And above all learn patience.

Once you have learned to look at your world through the eyes of an artist, and make that connection to science and technology, and are passionate, then moving to a professional nikon or cannon professional maybe even a leica or hasselblad, will be natural and worth the expense and offer you many rewards. But for now, my advice is to move to a used good quality mid-range and invest your time into learning. Take it with you, just like you do your cell phone. Get good size memory cards, and start composing everything you see......in black and white.

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You're getting into a world of awesomeness!
Jul 22, 2011 3:08PM PDT

With the current DSLR's on the market, you actually can begin taking pretty good pictures right off the bat. Most have fully automatic settings that take most of the guess work out. You can use the automatic settings as you wish while you're learning and experimenting with the manual settings. Digital cameras can actually be a very good way to learn about photography because they give you instant feedback. You can see your results immediately and learn what you did right or wrong.

Like most things, there are always the hidden costs you don't think about. Camera, lenses, flash, memory cards, tripod, camera bag, software to process your digital negatives, new computer to run that software, cleaning equipment, misc accessories, etc. But this doesn't have to be all at once. You can go a long way with just a decent camera and a single moderate zoom lens.

Whether you start out middle of the road or top end is really more about the type of person you are. I tend to buy high end from the start because it's cheaper in the long run. And you're never disappointed with "high quality." But I know myself pretty well and am pretty accurate at predicting whether I am going to really get into something new. If you're not sure that you're going to like photography or stick with it, then it might make sense to invest more conservatively.

Another thing to remember is that digital cameras are like computers with respect to how quickly the technology improves. This might be a reason to also go middle of the road. And this isn't to say that your camera will be obsolete in six months or even six years. It will still take great pictures. But newer cameras will always be bigger, stronger, faster, etc. On the other hand, lens technology doesn't seem to be changing as dramatically as camera technology. So you could go middle of the road on the camera and high end on the lenses without too much worry.

As for brands, I would really stick with either Canon or Nikon. This isn't to say that there aren't other good brands out there but these are the two big ones and you can be sure that there are plenty of options and accessories available, and that the quality is good. It will also help you narrow your search. Sometimes too many choices is...well...too many. The argument over which one is better is much like the Ford vs Chevy argument. See which brand you like and which one speaks to you and go with that. But know that you are likely making a lifetime commitment to that brand. This is due to the lenses. Replacing a camera body is one thing but after you acquire a few lenses it gets much more expensive to swap them out for another brand if you decide to switch. The other thing about sticking with Canon or Nikon is that you will have a much easier time selling your equipment if it turns out to not be your thing.

Both Canon and Nikon have essentially three different levels in their DSLR line. Level 1 is Consumer. What most average people buy. Level 3 is Pro. As the name implies, this is what the pros shoot. Level 2 is obviously in between and is often referred to as Pro-sumer. Many pros will use these as their backup cameras and even their primaries. They're not cheap by any means. But they're fantstic cameras that aren't quite as expensive as the pro level.

Cost...like most things you can spend a little or a lot. You can probably get a decent camera and lens in the $500-800 range. Or my Canon EF 70-200mm F/2.8L zoom lens with image stabilization can cost up to $2K. That's just one lens...and is by no means the most expensive lens that Canon sells. That's crazy expensive...at least to me. But it's chok full of awesome! Laugh

Here's a tip on buying. Figure out what you want. Then find the best deal you can on the internet. Then call Dell's Small Business group, not their consumer group. They sell EVERYTHING. Tell them what you found and ask if they can match or beat it. They usually will. You get the best price and you're buying from a reputable company as opposed to some no name store you just found on the internet. If you do buy on the internet, make sure you are getting US models with US warranties. There's a huge grey market out there for cameras.

As for learning, a junior college can be a great and cheap place to learn. Check around and see if any in your area offer an "Introduction to Digital Photography" course. They can be a lot of fun too.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

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Digital cameras forum: If I move on to a dSLR camera, what a
Jul 22, 2011 5:35PM PDT

Money! Its always better with 8-12 mega pixel d SLR.Canon or Nikon. 300mm lens to start and lots of compact flash drives. If u have a tripod even better. Play with depth and color and soon you will so photo addicted and life will be bliss!

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Hurray! The long wait is over! Nikon had us wait for such a
Jul 22, 2011 5:49PM PDT

Hurray! The long wait is over! Nikon had us wait for such a long time
for its newer models (D3100 and D7000) and it was just when we started
thinking if Nikon will ever have an answer, anytime soon, to Canon's
T2i, 7D and 60D) they released these two wonderful cameras - D3100 and
D7000. Let's focus on D3100, shall we?
So I finally had a chance to get hold of this D-SLR at Best Buy
today. I am not a pro by any means but I have used many different
D-SLRs including Canon (40D, T2i, XSi) and Nikon (D90, D5000). When I
picked-up the camera for the first time, my initial reaction was, "whoa
- this is so small and light weight"! It wasn't that I wasn't aware of
the specs - I knew them beforehand but I was still blown away by how
small and light it felt when I held it in my hands. Then, I thought,
the grip would not be very comfortable but I was wrong as holding and
operating the camera is just fine - thanks to Nikon's well-thought-out
design and grip. For the size and feel, it's very similar to D3000 but
has more goodies from the higher versions. So from an initial wow
factor, I quickly moved on to focusing on features and capabilities.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http://www.amazon.com/gp/site-directory?ie=UTF8&ref_=topnav_sad#&tag=free.shipping.at.amazon-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957

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You need to be serious
Jul 22, 2011 7:10PM PDT

What you are probably getting yourself into is a couple of grand in expenses (at least) if you are serious about doing this and a waste of money if you are not. You can get a perfectly good camera kit for under $1,000, but then you will want a nice case, more memory, more batteries, and most of all more lenses, which can be more than the camera body. Of course, you can spend thousands just on the body but I wouldn't. It is mostly about the lenses. That said, if the bug bites you, then you will never go back to a point and shoot. A DSLR takes the photo immediately so you can get shots like sports and action that were impossible otherwise. You can get started knowing very little because most of the cameras have special modes for whatever you want to take - just dial it in. Eventually, however, you'll want to know how to choose settings yourself, learn composition, lighting, etc. because the modes can't deal with everything. This can be a pretty endless hobby. When picking a body you also need to decide if you want it to take video. I would probably go with a Canon or a Nikon just because there are more lenses, accessories, and information on them than any other brands. Once you pick a brand you will want to stick with it because the lenses and batteries usually don't fit on another brand if you decide to move up to a newer and greater body in a few years.
All of this said, if you try to take photos in bad light with a shaky hand and stand too far away from people, then you will have rotten photos regardless of how much you spend. Like anything, the equipment is important but won't make up for an incompetent operator. I run the yearbook and school paper at my high school. We have 8 DSLRs - that's all we use - so I'm kind of experienced.
The biggest issue for me, though, is "Are there a lot of photos you want to take?" Do you travel a lot? Do you have kids or grandkids you want to take photos of. Do you want to be "the photographer" at every family gathering, event, or little league game? Do you want to go out shooting scenic or artsy things nearby? An old fence, a flower, or your cat can make a piece of art if you can get a good angle, lighting, etc., but I have friends who buy DSLRs because it's a cool new toy and then hardly ever use them because they have very little they want to photograph.

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Nothing has changed, really ...
Jul 22, 2011 7:18PM PDT

Amazing - if I look back at when I bought my first SLR around 1972 or so, nothing has changed. Then - like today - there are those that believe they first need the greatest equipment they can afford before they can make great pictures and there also are those who warn you that a Stradivarius doesn't make you a great violinist. And both are right, in a way.

Maybe the best way to start explaining it is that the guy with the Stradivarius didn't get it before he had established his credentials as a musician on lesser equipment first.

So I would suggest following a dual strategy:

First of all, educate yourself about all the photography themes in a course, via a book or online reading. Learn about composition, lighting, the creative use of colour, and a bit about the properties of cameras and lenses (wide angle versus telephotos, macro lenses etc.) - none of this has really changed since the days of the first Leica. Consequently, books by such luminaries as Andreas Feininger (my first choice) or Anselm Adams still have a huge amount to offer (just don't go overboard with Adams' "Zone System" - it is still a very valid principle, but we implement that totally differently with today's computerized cameras.)

Secondly, get on some (almost any) digital camera soonest, so you can practice what you have learned. Start discussing photos with other people - yours, theirs, anybody's. Consider joining a camera club, You will find friends there that are on the same journey you are on, some ahead of you or even way ahead of you, some behind. A spirit of give-and-take should prevail.

Then, once you understand what all the features of a camera can do for you in your quest for the greatest photo of all times you can go out and shop for the best camera for you. It may be a dSLR, but it may not be. If you are like me you may end up with several cameras, each for a different reason.

Also bear in mind that if you choose a system with interchangeable lenses the quality of the lenses may be more important than the quality of the camera body. And you may upgrade to a better body later without having to also swap all your lenses.

I bought into such a system in 1979 and I upgraded to a more advanced body around 1990. That kit is still around and - especially - some of the finest lenses I ever owned are from that first day. Unfortunately for me, when my manufacturer introduced autofocus lenses they were no longer compatible with their older system, and no adapter possible (experts can now tell my house brand.) It didn't bother me then - who needs autofocus, right? But obviously, I wanted to go digital eventually and I had to make the break.

Today I still use all my old gems of lenses, but on a different brand of camera now. The industry came out with a sort-of standard called "micro four thirds" which has interchangeable lenses, but without the mirror and prism that characterize SLRs. As a result these cameras are much smaller and more lightweight, and the can use my old lenses with an adapter quite nicely. Now I find that when I travel the compact micro four thirds kit - without the old lenses - is what I take with me most of the time.

Ideally, there should be four types of camera in my life: the one in my mobile phone that is always there and should not be too shabby, please, the SLR for serious jobs, the micro four thirds for casual holiday trips and for serious work using my old lenses and, finally, a compact point-and-shoot of what I call the 10x10 category: at least 10 megapixels and at least a 10x optical zoom range. That one will be coming with me when I am expecting to take pictures that my phone isn't up to but I can't even afford to carry even the micro four thirds kit.

Having said all that, to try a direct response to your question "what am I getting myself into?" here goes:

It does of course depend on what sort of camera you currently have - is that point and shoot digital already or are you still using film? If you are already on digital and you use a computer to store and process your photos, possibly even printing one every now and then, then you are already a long way down the road to understand what will become of you. By and large, things are infinitely easier than they were in the film days, once you have familiarized yourself with the "computer business."

But photography has always been a game of accessories - SLRs and other "system cameras" much more than your self-contained point & shoots or bridge cameras. So expect to find a "need" or "craving" for an extra lens, filters, a separate flash unit, a tripod, more memory cards, etc. You will have to decide which items you need and you will want to ensure up front that "your system" will offer all of these.

That gets us to the difference between a dSLR and a dSLR. Contrary to what someone else said here there are vast differences in quality and features. Again, you will need to decide what level of functionality you will need, possibly up front. But then, when you choose a major name brand you can get an entry level camera and rather decent lenses and later upgrade to a more advanced body. Consider the speed of development in this market - there is a new range of cameras out roughly every year. So you may want to upgrade from time to time - but the lenses stay relatively stable, so you are well off if you can stay with the same brand.

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dslr camera
Jul 22, 2011 8:37PM PDT

You can pay for a camera. from £50 to what ever you wish. you got them on phones, anywhere now, but look at what you get. a reasonable camera on the £100 mark can give just as much as a camera worth 10 times as much, especially if you know ****** all about the damn thing. so go find a cheap mid range camera, with around 10 million pixels and a load of controls on it. then go play.
Better still go get one with a film, there is bound to be a dead cheap one around, costs for the film though, but it will have all the functions of a dslr.
Its what you need. the person more than likely has had experience. So you need the same. do you drive a car, it is just like that, a pushbike was point and peddle, then you got into motor power, its the same, you got to learn.
So look for a medium priced camera. ask if it had the functions, but the dslr needs extras. think a old camera. a 200mm lens, a 400 mm lens, a dead steady hand as well. sorry, they are brilliant cameras and yes, i would love one. but i am not a camera man, i got a point and shoot, but hell, its a damn good one.
Another is software, go get a good art program. i use one that is a good 10 years old and still works so you can play with the picture some.
If you know what you are doing, get one and have deep pockets. or go get one with a 50 x lens and point and shoot.
I would go for the point and shoot.

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Equip not as important as composition, light & how it's held
Jul 22, 2011 10:06PM PDT

Having spent years at it I can say that knowing how to frame your shot, what's important to shoot and what to leave out are the most important elements of great photographs. If you're serious about it make sure you practice before the trip to Yellowstone or wherever, try different exposures, different angles and different lenses so that you have a great sense of what to do when you really want to get that great shot.