by OuttaHand » Sun Jan 01, 2012 12:59 pm
A few years ago I decided I wanted a digital SLR. So I started reading and reading and READING all the info I could find online.
What it boiled down to (for me) is that it truly is as was mentioned above: It's a Ford / Chevy / Dodge thing. When I was racing I used to say "It's not the factory that builds the car, it's the garage." Meaning: I don't care if you are racing a Ford / Chevy / Dodge, or whatever. The real performance comes from the guy who puts the vehicle together and operates it.
I'll admit that there's a lot less customization you can do with DSLR's, but I think the principal still lives. Whether you end up buying a Canon, a Nikon, or some other big name, the end results (the photos) are going to be more a function of your photographic eye.
I ended up choosing a Canon EOS. It was a used 6.2 megapixel model that claimed to be in like-new condition. It was. I have been extraordinarily happy with it. At 6.2 megapixels the prints are great up to about 8"x10" or so. Higher megapixels mean the ability to go to larger prints, but how often is that really needed.
There are lots of lens choices available for the Canon (as I'm sure there are for the Nikons and others). Also, the lenses are threaded for the use of filters. Although, with the power of Photoshop, you really can do most things on the computer that you used to need a filter for. So don't let that be a guiding decision-maker.
In short, most of the DSLR's that are currently out there are going to allow you to do the things you want to do.
One note: It was mentioned that many point-and-shoot cameras can take pictures that are just as good as a DSLR. For many things, that is true. But keep in mind that manual control over your photo is nice. Being able to adjust the aperture and focus manually can get you a lot of options with depth-of-field, etc.
I love my DSLR but I don't use it a whole lot. I have an iPhone that I use for 99% of my picture taking. That's good enough for me. But I do grab the EOS for special events, or for when my wife and I go out hiking with the express purpose of looking for photo ops.
Have fun with your quest for the perfect DSLR! Remember that pretty much any DSLR you choose is going to take fantastic pics. Perhaps the biggest thing is to price out and look at the accessories that will work with the body you choose. You are going to want to get extra lenses, filters, etc. to go with your neew toy!
Teardrop newbie but camping "oldster"