Photography Gear Advice

Posted by jason on Mar 11, 2010 | 2 comments

If you’re looking to purchase your first DSLR in the near future here’s something to consider.  Don’t worry so much about what brand of camera you’re going to get, but rather, ask your friends who already own a DSLR these questions:

1. Do they like the DSLR they currently own.
2. If they answer yes, ask them if you purchased a camera body from the same manufacturer would they be willing to let you borrow lenses.  If they answer yes, then I would recommend that brand for your first.  Having a friend who owns the same brand that you do will allow you to ask questions.
3. If they answer no, find out why and how a different manufacturer might solve that problem.

Borrowing lenses is a great way to figure out what you want for your own.  Better to do the research first and not regret the purchase of a wrong lens.

Something else to consider is to buy a used DSLR body.  Ebay is great for this.  Why buy used?  Well, cameras are like cars.  They go down in value fairly quickly, especially compared to lenses.  Lenses will hold their value much longer.  This also works to your advantage because last years camera will probably produce extremely similar results to this years hot off the presses camera.  Better lenses will help you get better photographs.  Newer cameras will only produce slightly better results.

My recommendation:

1. Buy a used Nikon D80 (or Canon equivalent) — body only (no kit lenses) — try to get one with few shutter clicks.
2. Buy a slightly used (but still in mint condition) f2.8 lens (I’d recommend the Nikon AF 24-85D f2.8-4.0 that I own.)

If you buy a Nikon or Canon lens it will be more expensive but it will yield better results.  If you buy a Tamron, Sigma, Tokina, etc lens the results usually aren’t quite as good but still better than your kit lenses.