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Wants vs. NeedsAug 09 '02 Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line Know what kind of photography you're planning on getting into, then choose wisely. A little bit of background ... Let me first state that I'm not a professional photographer, I'm not an artist, nor am I a photography student. My only goal is to capture images that are pleasing to me, so my standards may be a little subjective. Throughout the last 20 years (Yes, I'm getting old.), I've dabbled in photography from time to time, both with rangefinders and SLRs. I've used both conventional and digital photography. Either way, I'd consider myself an amateur. I recently purchased an SLR, and while I didn't formally went through a list, the following questions played an important role. What kind of photography am I interested in ? Probably the most important one of all. SLR's have the main advantage of interchangable lenses that do not require viewfinder adjustment. If you are planning on using a lens at the end of the spectrum of focal lengths (extreme wide-angle, far reaching telefoto), an SLR is almost a must. Photography that requires very delicate focusing (macro photography) or through the lens (TTL) light metering are easier to execute with an SLR. For candid photography, I prefer digital rangefinders. Mine is relatively inexpensive, so I don't have to worry about theft and damage. I can easily re-shoot a frame, and the highly automated camera is very easy to use. For travel, the choice between my SLR and my digital rangefinder is never an easy one. Is this going to be my only camera ? If this is going to be your only camera, make sure that the whole system is lightweight and compact enough to fit all your needs. Why do I want an SLR in the first place ? This may sound like a stupid question, but I've seen many people buying an SLR because they read reviews in photography magazines or listened to a photography student trying to convince them that a manual SLR is the only way to go. Make very sure that the kind of photography you have in mind matches the camera, and not the other way around. My mother's SLR has never left the fully-automatic mode, and her one lens has fully satisfied her needs. While the pictures she took were halfway decent, she spent too much and carried too heavy of a camera. It might have impressed her neighbors, which may actually be a perfectly valid reason to buy an SLR. What kind of SLR should I buy ? Again, I would take the photography to camera approach here. Maybe the library has a decent "how-to" book on photography. While they are usually slightly outdated, the technical data (and technique) associated with the photos gives one a good idea what kind of equipment was used for a specific kind of photography or a specific effect. I would also make sure to 'try before you buy'. Handling a camera at the store and listening to the sales clerk is not enough. You may be able to borrow a similar camera from a friend or colleague. Without shooting a single roll of film (or SmartCard if you will), it is hard to determine if a camera is right for you, if it may be too heavy, has not enough features, or is too complicated to handle for you. Keep in mind that photography magazines are usually targeted toward the serious amateur or professional. Many recommendations may be for cameras or equipment going beyond your needs. (And often beyond your means, also.) New or used ? A new SLR can be expensive, ranging from around $170 to a second mortgage. Used equipment can be a good option, but I would only recommend buying a used camera you are familiar with. Some cameras have a history of specific problems, and some components are actually designed to fail after a certain amount of time. (On Minolta's early Maxxums, the LEDs are targeted to work ten years before starting to bleed.) There are also some technological advantages that are important. A first time SLR buyer may not be so much concerned with higher shutter speeds and faster flash sync. times of the newer cameras, but progress in autofocus and metering technology are something one can appreciate on a daily basis. Can I take good pictures with junk ? I clearly started with a junky camera. (Praktika) Every semi-serious amateur will probably laugh at such a piece of equipment. Was I able to take good pictures with it ? Yes, they were good pictures, not excellent, but good. If you have access to such a camera, I would take advantage of it to get started. You will probably want something better relatively soon. On the other hand, it is clearly a creative challenge to create some excellent pictures with inadequate equipment. As photographers are notorious equipment snobs, make sure that you upgrade because you really need to, not because your friend's (camera) is "bigger than yours". What camera make should I pick ? The bigger question is actually, what set of lenses am I going to use ? If you read this review, you're likely not a professional photographer looking for a specific feature in a high-end camera. There are distinct differences in lenses that are offered for each manufacturer. This ranges from focal lengths, autofocus support to vibration reduction features. And as I stated before, the type of lens is directly tied to type of photography you're having in mind. Also, if you are considering moving from a conventional to a digital SLR later on, the possible reuse of your existing lenses varies greatly. Somebody here wrote that you are likely to get "married" to your camera manufacturer. I think it is more like religion. I strongly believe that people change their spouses more often than the manufacturer of their camera systems. It is also interesting to see how "religiously" people will defend their choice. I recently got an earful from a Nikon user for being a Minolta person. Film or Digital ? This is almost a philosophical question at this point of time. There are easily 20 pros and cons on each side. It mostly boils down to price, storage media, availability of computer equipment and a myriad of details. This is one case where I would clearly recommend buying a photographic journal to read up on the differences before making any decision. Summary In the end, I decided to buy a relatively inexpensive conventional SLR. Realizing that my own abilities as a photographer would likely be the more limiting factor, I didn't choose to upgrade to a semi-professional model. I futher decided against buying a digital SLR, as the digital imaging is still maturing, and I would hate to blow $2000 on a technology that may be outdated in a couple of year. But in the end, this was my personal decision, you have to make your own.  |
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