It seems that more and more people are becoming a part of the DSLR community. I often get asked by people starting out, Can you help me pick my first DSLR? I usually say you can’t go wrong with Canon or Nikon. They both are used by the pro’s and have been around for a really long time. While you will certainly get arguments from both camps, I suggest they make their choice first by handling the products from each manufacture’s offernings. That means getting your hands on one at the store, from a friend or even renting one.
Why? This is the interface between photographer and camera, the artisan and their tools. I love the way Nikons handle. But that’s just me. It’s really your choice. So what if you’re really not touchy feely and both camps will do just fine? Here some other things to consider.
You should next consider that you are not just buying a camera but a camera system. You are subscribing to their product line, their lenses, flash units, product release cycles and the way they position themselves in the market. You will find that one year Nikon is on top and the next maybe Canon and so on. The thing to remember is that both camera systems are very capable.
I’m not going to go into how to evaluate imaging systems; there are tons of debates on Nikon vs. Canon on the web, so knock your self out. One thing that I will say about Nikon is that my D300 can mount all lenses going back to 1950’s and Nikon has been conscious of protecting the photographer’s investment in glass. As they say past history doesn’t insure future performance but they’ve done pretty good so far.
As technology advances, newer is generally better. The features that were presented in the top of the line cameras eventually find their way into the entry level cameras. So you maybe better off buying a newer camera that is one tier lower than the camera that is at the end of its’ product cycle.
My suggestion: Buy enough camera so you won’t loose a ton of money when you want to sell it to get the next step up, or have to wait until the next camera release. The photography bug can get very expensive. It is better not to have to buy twice.
So to make things simple consider buying the newest camera in the middle of the manufacture’s offering, if you can afford more great. If you have to go entry level, try to go with a model that is still relatively new. Today, even entry level cameras are quite capable. One final note: It’s not the camera that makes great images it’s the photographer.
Understand, this writing is geared toward the beginning photographer looking to get their feet wet with their first DSLR. When it comes to indoor and evening sports, weddings and concert photography, pro gear is required tools of the trade. Don’t expect pro performance from non-pro gear.
Welcome to the DSLR community and happy shooting !