Photography Basics 2: DSLR selection

Up till now, if you notice i have yet to mention anything regarding the camera selection. I shall cover in this topic.

With the advance technology nowadays, the gap between various models of dslr is narrowing. Unless you wanna print out your photos in really GIANT size, you will not need cameras with over 16 megapixels!

When selecting a dslr, i will like to share with you some of the tips. You need to know the following:

1) What sort of photography you like?

If you like sports in particular like i do, you need to consider the fps i.e. frames per second. The higher the fps, the more likely you are going to get that expression on the sportman's face in milliseconds!

2) Noise level at high ISO

Certain brand of camera is particular good at this. For example, Canon dslr tends to perform better at high ISO comparing to other brands. Having said that, this gap is dimishing with newer models of cameras like Nikon D3 etc.

3) What is the largest size of print you need?

As i mentioned above, i will say all the dslr is capble of giving quality prints up to A3 sizes. Unless you are into advertising and related industries, the extra megapixels is not necessary.

4) Note the size of the sensor used in the dslr!

More megapixels do not necessarily mean good! This is a misconception that is imprinted via advertising nowadays. You will need to take note of the size of the sensor in the dslr. Every dslr has a sensor size giving you a crop factor of 1, 1.3, 1.5, 1.6, 2.0 etc. The bigger this crop factor, the smaller the sensor! When we have more megapixels in a small sensor, it means more noise and your picture quality will be degraded! Do not fall into this trap!

5) Weight

One of the more important factor to consider when you are going for travelling. I am currently using a Canon 1D Mk2N. Wow, this camera suits my needs very well, but when comes to travelling.... It weighs like a brick! I am not joking! You will appreciate a smaller camera during travelling!

6) Many picture modes..

To me, i find the modes such as landscape, portrait, fireworks etc a kind of gimmick. Really, if you are going to use a dslr, you will want to explore to obtain the photos. These picture modes are simply pre program into cameras so that your photos will look good. However, you will lose the joy of experimenting! Can be frustrating in experimenting at times. I know, but keep trying!

Most IMPORTANT tip!

Always search online for feedback and reviews on the camera you wan. Try them out in the shops and see if you like the 'feel' of it. Ultimately, you are going to use it. Dun be afraid to bring a memory card such as a CF or SD card so that the images you shot at the shop can be viewed in your computer. Many times, the images look so good on the camera LCD, but when you view it on your PC, its not to your liking!