Things to watch out for!
- DSLRs usually come with the camera body and a lens. When purchasing your camera, read the title/description thoroughly and check to make sure you are getting a lens! If you think the price is unusually cheap, it's most likely because you are just getting a camera body and not a lens. Without a lens, the camera is useless. If the seller is not going to give you a lens, they'll most likely sell the camera as "BODY ONLY". A 18-55mm lens, typical of DSLRs, is going to run you around $100 if purchased separately.
- There are some cameras that look like DSLRs but upon closer inspection are, in fact, not. Things like this seem like they'd be okay as stand-ins, but they're really just overgrown point-and-shoots. Zoom does not a good camera make.
- There's also a new type of camera being put out, namely the Nikon 1, that are essentially point-and-shoots with swappable lenses. If you were to tell me this six months ago, I'd think it's the greatest idea ever. But then I wondered...what's the point? I figure they're trying to make a new niche in the camera market, but I've played around with one and found it to feel cheap and rather, well, useless. In any case, these still aren't DSLRs.
And finally, some things you should know before venturing in:
- You'll most likely need memory cards in order to use your camera (some even have functions where they won't take pictures if there's no card inserted). SD is the most commonly used format.
- Buy online. Do your research on the manufacturer's website, but ultimately, buying off of Amazon/the Amazon Marketplace is your best bet for a good camera and a good deal.
- Consider buying a camera bag. You really want to keep this equipment safe and give it a nice home.
- DSLRs have a longer and steeper learning curve than point-and-shoots. It took me at least two weeks to even somewhat understand my own. You're going to want to read the instruction booklet in order to figure out what everything means, what mode does what, and what certain buttons are for. Give yourself time, and don't quit if you don't get it that fast. Most importantly, take pictures! You're not wasting any film, so you might as well get some practice in!
While I don't plan on writing any sort of "so, now you have a DSLR" guide, I do hope I gave you an idea of what to look for in case you're interested in obtaining one of these cameras. If you have any questions, feel free to drop a comment or send me a PM, and I'll be happy to help.
