How To Buy A DSLR Camera – A Complete Buying Guide

By Louis Cook

How To Buy A DSLR Camera

In this modern era, DSLR cameras are increasingly becoming a type of camera which wins the hearts of all the people, especially, the youngsters nowadays.

Point and shoot cameras are a matter of past now. As the technology advances the taste of the people also changes, DSLR cameras became popular now, because of its amazing performance and ability to produce a life-like picture/video.

DSLR cameras are not only used by professionals beginners also use it now.

Point and shoot cameras, smartphones’ snaps fail to satisfy people’s interest in this days. But it is hard for any beginner to sort out a perfect DSLR as there are too many models from different manufacturers with different features and price.

So to choose a right DSLR for you is really a challenging job, that’s why in this post I am going to share with you a complete DSLR buyer guide.

I will talk about what you should consider before buying a DSLR camera.

How To Buy A DSLR Camera

Decide the Purpose you use your DSLR for:

Before going to buy a DSLR you should decide at first what will be the purpose for your buying the DSLR?

You want to use it for fun, general use or professional use. After sure about this, you have to make a list of the purposes you will use your DSLR for.

Do you want to use it for recording nature, life?

Do you like traveling?

And want to record things at the time of travel?

Are you interested in making short-film or a feature film?

You have to sure about your purpose. There are various types of DSLRs available in the market with a different kind of specialty so it is hard for beginners to decide what will be a perfect DSLR for him/her. My article may help you to take the right decision.

How much can you spend?

Money is obviously a problem for an entry level cameraman. DSLRs are not cheap gadgets at all.

So before going to buy a DSLR, you should decide how much money you have in your pocket. There are various types of cameras available in the market, from lower range cameras to extremely higher range cameras, for both common man and professional level cameraman. The prices of the cameras depend on the camera’s capabilities and the size of the image sensor.

So, the more you can spend the best you will get.

To buy a DSLR is not just buying a camera body, accessories are also important.

If you want a perfect piece of work you have to buy some accessories, without accessories help you will face a number of a problem at the time of the shooting.

So, you have to add the accessories’ amount in your budget. Accessories can not only help you to take a perfect shot but keep your camera performance better.

A photographer whether he/she is a professional or beginner must have these accessories the list include:

Lenses:

Camera Lenses

Some manufacturers offer ‘kit lenses’ but according to my opinion for your betterment, you must have an extra and better lens.

Batteries:

Every DSLR nowadays should come with a battery but if you like to travel from place to place or want to spend hours on photography then you need an extra battery.

Flash:

Flash is one of the important parts of a DSLR. Many DSLRs have an inbuilt pop-up flash but I suggest you buy an external flash if your camera supports external flashes. It will change the standard of your photography.

Filters:

For your Lens’ long live you must have filters. If you don’t have enough money in your pocket then at least buy a UV filter for each lens you buy.

Tripod, Monopod:

If you are a beginner you must have a tripod or monopod. Even professionals also use these tools to perfection. These tools will help you in your photography or videography in many ways. You can keep your camera steady for a long time by using any one of them. If you are nature, wildlife or sports photographer or a cinematographer you should have one.

An advanced DSLR:

Everyone wants a perfect DSLR, a perfect DSLR or an advanced DSLR is what professional personal use mainly.

If you are a newcomer and decide to buy an entry-level DSLR, then hold on some course and rethink about the matter that will you be in a position in future to buy a professional level DSLR when you become an expert?

The entry-level DSLRs also perform well but when we compare the features the later wins because it will give you not only more features but also quality pictures. So, if you want to take your photography to another level then consider these matters before purchasing a camera.

Sensor size and its various aspects:

There are various types of cameras available in the market with different sensors. The most important fact to remember is that larger sensors are better than smaller sensors. When you take a snap from your DSLR, it is the sensor that records the picture.

Larger sensor DSLR can beat easily point and shoot cameras, expensive mobiles or even smaller sensor DSLRs. It is a sensor which decides the image quality.

A Larger sensor can create better quality pictures. A larger sensor or full frame sensor gives you the true angle of view from the lens you are using at the time of taking a photograph.

You can shoot easily in the low light if you have a full frame DSLR as full frame sensor works very well on high ISO. If you are a travel, Nature, wildlife, sports, wedding photographer then you obviously need a full frame DSLR because in those cases you need speed and ISO performance and a full frame DSLR works perfectly on high ISO and high burst speed.

Now, I am going to tell you about the two sensors. Among them, APS-C is the smaller one, which is very effective for the entry-level photographers. The cameras, with APS-C sensors, are easy to use and also cheap, that’s why those cameras are too much popular among the newcomers.

Full frame sensor or 35 mm sensor is the larger sensor. This type of sensor is only used in high-end DSLRs.

Previously I discussed its ability and performance. Only professional cameramen use this type of DSLRs better. High-end DSLRs are not user-friendly and also expensive so beginners avoid this type of cameras.

Megapixels of the DSLR:

There is a misconception among people about megapixel of a camera. People think that higher megapixel cameras can give them better quality pictures but it is not right Megapixels only determine the resolution of your camera.

Sensor size determines the camera’s image quality, not megapixels. So, having more megapixel in your camera does not mean having the better image, more megapixel means higher resolution images. If you have at least 10MP camera, that is enough for a good picture. So, if you have APS-C sensor camera, you don’t need a higher megapixel camera.

According to my opinion, buying a high megapixel camera is just waste of money. You may face problem while storing your works in SD cards or your computer’s hard drive.

The size of the DSLR:

Not only in features but there is also a huge difference in size of the DSLR cameras. Manufacturing companies launch different types of DSLR day by day. Some DSLRs are big, some are small. There is also a difference in the weight of the DSLRs. Some people don’t care about the size and weight of the DSLR. But if you like to travel or if you are a nature and wildlife photographer then a lightweight camera would be best for you.

Compatible Accessories:

In many cases, DSLR cameras accessories are compatible to each other, so, if you have already some accessories like lenses, batteries, chargers etc. then you would be stay conscious at the time of buying your DSLR.

If your old accessories are compatible with your new DSLR’s accessories then you don’t have to spend money on those accessories.

For example, if you have a point and shoot camera then maybe your camera’s memory card can support in your DSLR. Sometimes other camera lenses can work perfectly in your new DSLR so; if you have already a lens then you should look into the matter if you don’t have enough money in your pocket.

LCD:

A better LCD is a plus point for any DSLR. People who like Nature photography, wildlife photography, sports photography, videography or Cinematography always prefer a large and high-resolution LCD. This type of LCD can not only help you to check your photos and videos perfectly but you can also check but you can also easily eliminate the worse shots.

AS a large LCD displays the entire camera’s menu in larger fonts so you can easily change and adjust the settings of your DSLR.

Video Function is it important for you?

We live in the era where social networking dominates the world. Today we share every valuable moment of our lives in the social networks through photos or videos. As the science and technology progress, our taste also changes. In these days we don’t want to capture our precious moments with mobiles or low-end cameras, that’s why DSLR become so popular. With the help of DSLR, we shoot high definition photos and videos and share it with our near and dear ones. Besides photography, DSLRs are also used in commercial works. In these days people especially young stars become interested in making short films and they prefer DSLR for their job. If you are interested in cinematography then undoubtedly DSLR will be the best option. If you are not interested in making any kind of video even so an HD video functions in your DSLR would not be a useless thing.

Camera’s Speed:

Speed is one of the essential matters for any kind of photography. If you are a wildlife photographer or sports photographer you must have a camera with good speed. Even we need speed while taking family photographs. We know it well, how tough it is to take a perfect picture of kids of our house. A fast DSLR can also capture every emotion of mankind. How fast your camera can shoot? You can understand this by checking the burst speed or FPS of your camera. The highest number of photos your camera can shoot in a second is the way for you to understand your camera’s speed. According to my opinion, 3-5 FPS burst speed is a normal speed and you should avoid those DSLRs. 8-10 FPS burst speed is an excellent speed and those cameras could be the best option for you.

Our Buying Guides & Reviews:

I hope my article will help you to choose the right camera you want. Thanks a lot for reading my article. Wish you have the best camera you want.

2 thoughts on “How To Buy A DSLR Camera – A Complete Buying Guide”

  1. Interesting article and quite useful to camera buyers. I am sure there are others out there but you explained important points pretty well.

    What I would like to suggest is that if anyone is serious about real photography and is planning to purchase the first camera, some technical terminology like ISO, aperture, megapixels, shutter speed etc. needs to be understood. Also one small point I would like to add is that, there are lenses from companies like Sigma and Tamron that could fit in Canon and Nikon.

    Anyways, great info. People who would like to go Pro will need this. Thanks for sharing this information.

    Reply
  2. I want to buy DSLR camera for photography, can you suggest which brand DSLR is good for photography. Because I never buy a camera like DSLR so, I little confused about the lens model resolution etc.

    Reply

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