First off, what in the heck does DSLR mean? You don't really have to know this, but it stands for "digital single lens reflex". Take note of the D for Digital - this is important. While shopping for a camera, you will probably come across SLR cameras. Those are the ones that take film, and while they may be tempting to buy because they're cheap, don't get them. Film these days is expensive because they are coated in precious metals. Also, unless you have a readily available darkroom to develop in, they're not the most convenient things to get prints from.
Alternatively, when asked "what is a DSLR?", you could be like me and respond "expensive" and then get a laugh out of your class.
I don't understand camera workings enough to explain the different camera types. At this point in time, just feel good knowing what those letters stand for.
But just knowing what a DSLR is does not mean you know which one to get. When I had to go camera shopping, my professor offered a list of types, which I jotted down and subsequently forgot about. I can give you some tips:
- The two major brands of cameras are Nikon and Canon - yeap, same as the point-and-shoots. These two companies dominate the professional scene and consequently have a huge variety of lenses and accessories for them. Sony and Olympus are also contenders, but not as popular.
- As far as which one is cheapest, I found that you can get a newer Nikon for less than a newer Canon. There are reasons, of course - entry-level Canons, while more expensive, tend to have more bells and whistles.
- The older the camera, the fewer the fancy things it'll have, and most obviously, the smaller the megapixel amount. Which it is true that megapixels aren't everything, there is a certain range you want to stay within. I was told to go no lower than 6 megapixels in order to still get good-quality prints. Cameras that are this low in MP came out in 2006 and earlier.
And while this is all fine and dandy, it's not exactly a starting point. So let's just do this: "Kat, what camera did you buy?"
