Choosing the right Digital SLR camera

Will Cheung

If you want to take your picture taking further, buying a digital SLR is definitely the way to go and there is plenty of choice. The good news, though, is that even a modest modern digital SLR will give film quality photographs, so you cannot really go wrong.

There are several factors to consider before buying a camera and while many people would put resolution top of their shopping list, I am not one of them. Of course the number of megapixels is important but it is not as critical as it used to be and even the most budget digital SLR has a resolution of 10-megapixels and, with good camera technique, that is plenty enough for film quality poster-sized enlargements.

The first things to decide is how much you have to spend and what you want to do with the camera.

A digital SLR with a kit zoom lens will cost in the region of £350, so that it is good starting point. That would buy an auto focus, automatic exposure camera with a lens that would enable you to photograph most general subjects easily. Spending more on a camera would give even more features, better build quality, fast shooting speeds and more resolution.

If you have the budget by all means invest in a more expensive camera, especially if you want features like Live View, Face Detection and Movie mode, but before making that commitment just think about what you are going to use it for. You might prefer to put the money towards an extra lens or two or some specific accessories like filters, a flashgun or a tripod. In other words, consider using your budget to buy a photographic outfit rather than choosing the right digital SLR than just a camera and lens. Of course, if you prefer to invest in the best camera you can and then add extra items as you gain experience that is fine too.

So, if you simply want high quality family pictures, a digital SLR with a standard kit lens would be perfect and you would not be disappointed with the results. However, if you want to photograph a broader subject range you will be frustrated with having just one lens. For example, for taking travel pictures having a telephoto zoom lens will help you make more of the wonderful sights. Or you might have a specialist interest so, if you enjoy photographing flowers or insects in the garden, a macro lens would be a sensible buy and will let you focus closely enough on these small subjects.

Once you have made a shortlist of the products you like, it is really important that you get in-store and see how each camera feels in your hands. All cameras are basically similar but size, placement of controls, the handgrip and so on differs from model to model. One camera might feel 'right' and another might not, and that is why it is important to try each camera for size.

The highly trained team at Jessops are happy to demonstrate products, and help you with lens options and what is best for your needs, so please ask.

Expert Tips

It might sound strange, but get used to your camera by spending a few minutes each day at home adjusting controls and taking pictures. Spend some time with the instruction book setting up the menus to suit your needs. Buy an extra battery so you always have a spare, just in case. Check out the range in Jessops stores.

Essential Accessories

Camera bags
Cameras are robust pieces of equipment but sensitive too, so you need to take care of them. Jessops has a massive range of pouches, bags and photo rucksacks for every conceivable type and size of camera outfit. Ideally, you want a bag that will hold your camera, lenses and accessories like spare batteries, memory cards and filters, so to make the right decision take your outfit in-store to make sure everything fits.

Flashgun
Almost every DSLR has a flashgun built-in, but while they are marvellously convenient, they are not powerful. Shoot within three metres and it is fine but beyond that they are limited in their effectiveness. So if you do a lot of flash photography a separate flashgun, especially one that can be used off-the camera, is worth a look. Invest in a model that is dedicated to your camera so you get automatic flash exposure control ease of use.

Tripods
Not every photographer needs a tripod, but if you like the idea of shooting landscapes and doing close-ups or low light photography, a tripod will soon pay for itself.

Tripods come in all sizes from and can cost a great deal of money for the best models made from lightweight carbon-fibre. The best advice is to buy a tripod that you will use. That sounds strange, but you can buy a brilliant tripod but if it does not leave the house or the car boot, you might as well not bother. So buy one that is light enough to carry, stable enough in the typical situations you are going to encounter and comfortable to use.

Recommended

Canon EOS 550D Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm IS Lens

£544.00

Nikon D90 Digital SLR Camera + 18-105mm VR Lens Kit

£656.95