Don't Dump Your Compact or Budget DSLR/EVIL Just Yet!

    Okay, so I'm finally getting back to the topic of what camera is right for you, and working around issues we have with the cameras that we have now. I'm hoping to wrap up this subject this week, so just a warning that is a long post!

A Star Just Above Ground

    So what are some ways to overcome perceived, or real weakness in the camera that you have? Now to start, a few tips for people who have not bought a higher end DSLR or EVIL camera yet. Thom Hogan gave a great tip in his post on July 21, reminding users to get the camera they need the first time, rather than buying a bunch of different cameras along the way. I agree with that statement as well, but we don't know what we need right away. So what can you do to avoid getting a camera that will not meet your needs? That is a tough question, which I think it best answered in two parts.

    When I first started getting serious about my photography a few years ago, I didn't know that I would need a camera with the abilities of the D300, which I use as my main camera today. The first thing to look at, to prevent yourself from running into needing to buy something better in 18 months is, get the camera that suites what you tend to photograph the most. Entry level cameras will generally meet the needs of the average consumer, because generally speaking they wont use the advanced features of their cameras. Example, my sister has a D40, which allows her to get the photos she wants, but the camera is in auto or program auto 90%. Some of you might think, wow, what a waste of a good camera! Hold on now, in today's market, where EVIL (Electronic Viewfinder, Interchangeable Lens) cameras are smaller and lighter, that might seem to be true, but a few years ago small DSLRs like the D40, D60, Rebel Xs and XSi offered consumers great image quality in a somewhat small package.

   So you bought one of those entry level DSLR cameras a year or two ago and now you think that it is about time to upgrade. First question, what aspect are you looking to improve? Are you wanting the latest and greatest, or are you willing to think about how you can use the camera you have now to take better pictures? There are a few ways to get better pictures from what you have right now, but neither is cheap! The question is, what is better, buying a new body or buying things that will not just improve the look of your images, but your photography overall? Start thinking about getting a tripod or monopod if you want to shoot in low light conditions. Clean high ISO sensitives are nice to have, but unless you are buying a D3s, shooting in low light without a tripod or monopod is going to be a challenge. There are some cases where improved high ISO performance is a must, such as if you shoot action in low light, no amount of VR/IS/OS or a tripod can help with that. So what else can you do?

    The second thing you can do is buy a flash or faster aperture lenses. A flash can literally brighten your day! If you have the time to learn to use a flash properly, you can take photos in which it looks as if you never used one! The other solution is faster aperture lenses, (in this case I'm going to use Nikon gear as examples) such as the Nikon 35mm F1.8G for crop sensor cameras, or a 50mm F1.8D. Do you shoot sports in low light, consider saving for the Nikon 70-200mm F2.8 VRII. The right lens is the one that helps you get the photos you need. The wider aperture helps, because you can get faster shutter speeds without bumping up the ISO as much, until it gets dark.

I have a few more idea, that I will post on Friday or Saturday.