Lessons Learned from Buying Our First dSLR Camera

Our digital camera buying decision was simply done by trimming our choices into one category - that which fits our budget limits, plus the consideration that we are newbies in this moments-capturing hobby.

According to the photography mentor of a friend, the ideal dSLR camera for photography beginners are either Nikon D60 and Canon EOS 450D. Some say that if you want durability, go for Nikon; if you want quality shots, go for Canon. With this, we decided to buy Nikon D60, not just because it would save us a few thousand pesos, but also because of the attested durability. This trait is very important for us photography beginners because we would be experimentally tinkering the new digital camera. At least it can hopefully withstand our experimental errors.

But when we were actually in the camera shop already, the shop owner, sensing that we are photography newbies, sweet-talked us to buy the Canon EOS 1000D instead, a model which we did not know about until then. He emphasized the Canon EOS 1000D's Live View feature and offered us freebies and a not-so-attractive camera bag but we took his deal anyway. This is where the importance of really knowing what you want, knowing your camera preferences, and studying the different digital camera models in advance (by reading many reviews by expert photographers) before making the purchase. It would also be helpful if you can windowshop and check the actual dSLR cameras first before buying. But in our case, it was our first time to visit that camera shop. It is not located in accessible malls. We really set aside time to go there because the price difference between mall shops and the shops there is really substancial. (In my next post I will narrate our experience in going there.)

When we left the camera shop, we were in a quandary as to the judiciousness of our camera purchase. First, we were overwhelmed by our first ever dSLR, being used to the camera phone and compact digital camera. I found it monstrously huge and heavy, hehe, really showing my greenhorn exposure to this hobby. We were doubting if such a camera was what we really needed. This is where the importance of knowing your purpose and needs for buying a digital camera comes in. We were really not so clear as to what level of photography we want to expose ourselves.
As I have said in one of my previous posts, "know thyself, then know thy camera."

Then we were also bugged by the idea that we were just sweet-talked. But Mr. Owner looked sincere. Anyhow, after resolving our photography goal issues, and reading favorable reviews, we have become quiet satisfied with our digital camera acquisition. Afterall, we have no set standards to benchmark the new dSLR with. The good thing is that we became even more resolved to begin dSLR photography seriously. This blog helps me note down things I learned along the photography highway, including this digital camera buying experience.

My learning and notes-taking continue with my succeeding posts. And I hope you also continue learning and following my virtual notes in photography...

Awarded Digital Cameras for 2009

TIPA Awardee as Best Digital SRL Entry Level: Olympus E-620

Like other gadgets of today, the evolution of the digital camera has been faster than ever. Looking at a timeline of digital cameras by dpreview.com, there were more than a hundred new models and variations of digital cameras introduced to the market this year from January to September 9 with Leica X1 as the latest offering to the photography enthusiasts. This vast ocean of digital camera brands, models and variations will add to the headache of an undecided camera buyer.

To trim down the choices for the prospective digital camera buyer, I have included a list of digital cameras given the TIPA Awards 2009. TIPA Awards are recognized as the most coveted photo and imaging awards in Europe.

TIPA Awards 2009
Best Digital SRL Expert: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Canon EOS 5D Mark II is a full-frame DSLR camera with a newly designed 21MP Canon CMOS sensor, DIGIC 4, ISO 50-25,600, Live view mode, HD Video Capability for recording video at full 1080 resolution at 30fps, 3.9 fps continuous shooting, 9 AF points + 6 Assist AF points, GPS Compability, and a 3.0″ VGA clear view LCD.

Best Digital SLR Advanced: Nikon D90
Nikon has launched the D90 (27 August’08), the world’s first DSLR camera with movie function allowing you to shoot HD720p (1,280 x 720 pixels), 640 x 424 pixels or 320 x 216 pixels movies at the professional smoothness of 24 frames per second in motion JPEG format. This 12.3 effective Megapixels DSLR also features 12.3 effective megapixels newly designed Nikon DX-format CMOS image sensor, Live View mode, IS0 200-3200, 4.5 frames per second continuous shooting, 11-point AF system, Image sensor cleaning, and a 3.0-inch 920,000 pixel (VGA x 3 colors) TFT-LCD.

Best Digital SRL Entry Level: Olympus E-620
Olympus E-620 is a 12.3 megapixels SLR digital camera features 7 Point Twin AF system, Live-MOS sensor, In-Body Image Stabilization, Shadow Adjustment Technology, Supersonic Wave Filter, TruePic III+ Image Processor, 4 frames per second continuous shooting, 13 Scene-Select Modes including two new underwater modes, dual memory slots, 96% field-of-view viewfinder, six in-camera Art Filters, Multiple Exposure Shooting, On-screen Autofocus with Live View, and a 2.7 inches swivel HyperCrystal LCD (transmissive TFT color LCD).

Best Expert Compact: Canon PowerShot G10

Canon PowerShot G10, Best Expert Compact

Canon PowerShot G10 is the successor of PowerShot G9 features 14.7 Megapixels CCD sensor, 5x optical zoom (35mm film equivalent: 28-140mm), DIGIC 4 for better Face Detection, capability to shoot RAW just like a DSLR camera, ISO 80-1600, and a 3.0-inch TFT color LCD with wide viewing angle.

Best Compact D-Camera: Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR
Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR is a 12 megapixels point-and-shoot digital camera features Super CCD EXR sensor provides superior picture quality, enabling a “3-in-1” sensor combination of “Fine Capture Technology” (High Resolution), “Pixel Fusion Technology” (High Sensitivity & Low Noise), and “Dual Capture Technology” (Wide Dynamic Range). The camera has 5x optical zoom lens (equivalent to 28 - 140mm on a 35mm camera), Face Detection 3.0, Newly Evolved - Film Simulation Mode and a 3.0-inch, Approx. 230,000 dots, TFT color LCD monitor.

Best Rugged D-Compact: Olympus mju Tough 8000
Olympus Stylus Tough-8000 is a 12 megapixels point-and-shoot digital camera features 3.6x optical zoom (28-102mm in 35mm photography) with dual image stabilization, shockproof up to 5 feet, waterproof up to 10 feet underwater, freezeproof up to (14F/-10C), on-screen manometer, Tap Control, smile shot, and a 2.7″ (6.9cm) HyperCrystalTM III LCD with Backlight.

This list was taken from DPHOTOJOURNAL. To see their reviews and sample photos, click here.

For serious photography beginners, it may be too ambitious to buy a Canon EOS 5D MarkII or Nikon D90. As the TIPA Award label implies, the Olympus E-620 may be the best digital SLR (2009) for newbies like me. This Olympus E620 is also priced competitively at around $600. But we have to keep in mind that a photography starter may not necessarily buy the latest if other not so new and not as expensive models are available.

DSLR Shoots Point-and-Shoot Digital Cameras

During the humongous photoalbums age when we cannot see our poses before we have the so-called film developed, we used to take pictures only during birthdays, weddings, vacation trips, christmas and other special occasions.

But in this era where we can practically carry our family album or self-portrait albums in our pockets everyday, people take pictures with or without a special occasion. Or should I say, everyday is a special occasion, and take pictures, we must. This is especially the case today in the Philippines where almost anyone has a camera. Cameras in cellphones, or digital cameras, or even digital SLR cameras have become an ordinary everyday phenomenon.

The internet has made it a "necessity" for people to document their daily lives by providing for them venues to publish their photographs such as social networking sites and blogs where anybody can be his or her own publisher.

Thus the need for a decent camera...

A modern day camera prospective buyer is usually confronted with this first decision to make: a point-and-shoot digital camera or a digital SLR camera?

In Photofocus' discussion of Why DSLR over Point-and-Shoot? in "What Camera Should I Buy Part II?", Scotte Bourne mentioned these areas to consider:

Shutter lag is the interminable span of time between the moment you trigger the shutter and the moment the camera actually captures the image. You won’t face this problem on a high-end SLR but point-and-shoot cameras are commonly slow. Click here to read more...

TTL or through the lens is the term used to describe what happens when you look through the viewfinder of an SLR. You’ll see the actual composition recorded on the sensor. With point-and-shoot film cameras (most digitals have an LCD view screen), you’re usually looking through a viewfinder and not through the lens itself. Click here to read more...

Lenses – With SLR cameras, you have a wider range of lenses available. Whether you need a macro lens for close- ups or long telephoto lens to pull in wildlife, you’ll be able to attach one to your SLR body. This is something you can’t do with a point-and-shoot camera. Yes, there are macro attachments and digital zoom available on point-and-shoot cameras, but they are almost always for appearance sake and are quality compromises due to low- quality optics.

F/stops – By using a variety of interchangeable lenses, you’ll have a wider range of available f/stops to work with, giving you greater creative control with depth of field.

Shutter Speeds – SLR bodies also offer a wider range of shutter speeds, often from 30 seconds to 1/8000 of a second, as well as bulb setting. A wide range of shutter speed settings is a requirement for good general photography. Most point-and-shoots have a very limited shutter speed.

Metering – SLR bodies have more sophisticated metering systems. They also give you the choice between different metering patterns such as matrix metering, spot metering, and center-weighted metering. Many even permit you to shift the point of focus.

Auto focus – SLR bodies will give you faster auto focus. This is especially useful if you want to include fast-moving subjects in your photography. Most point-and-shoot cameras won’t permit manual focusing, something that is essential for landscape and close-up photography.

Filters – Lenses on many P/S cameras don’t allow for the use of filters. At a minimum, you’ll need to be able to attach a polarizing filter.

Flash – A modern SLR camera body gives you much greater creative control when using flash. You’ll be able to use more than one flash, and you’ll have other creative controls, such as rear-curtain sync and repeating flash.

Depth of Field Preview Button – A main reason I recommend the SLR camera over a point-and-shoot camera is the depth-of-field preview button. The DOF preview button shows the effect of your chosen f/stop on your image. You see what the film or sensor will see. This way you can fine-tune your image before pressing the shutter and avoid unpleasant surprises in the final image. I don’t know of any point-and-shoot camera that features a depth-of-field preview button, but most midrange to pro-level SLRs offer one. If you’re serious about any sort of outdoor or nature photography, I don’t recommend buying a camera without this feature.

In my plain photography beginner's point of view, a dSLR camera is suited for the pro photographers and serious photography beginners while the point-and-shoot digital camera is for those who want to conveniently carry their camera with them wherever they go and for those who do not want to dip their fingers into the more technical operations of the dSLR camera. Although somebody mentioned that pro photographers usually also own a point-and-shoot digital camera because it is handy wherever they go unlike the heavy dSLR's.

Similarly, this is what Scrapjazz's advise in choosing a camera.

Find a camera that fits your lifestyle. Your level of photography interest and your lifestyle will ultimately make this decision for you. Size, ease-of-use, and price will all play a major role in whether a digital SLR, high performance point-and-shoot, or compact point-and-shoot is right for you.

In conclusion to the prospective camera buyer's dilemma, taking in consideration what the experts suggest, my advice is: know thyself, then know thy camera.

In our case, even if we are not really pro photographers, we decided to buy a photography beginner's digital SLR camera. We will tinker with it in our next post. Until then...

DIGITAL CAMERA BUYING GUIDE

And so came the day the financial book read: "You may now buy a digital camera."

If you are reading this line from your financial book too and you are in the middle of the camera buying decision process, then our dSLR camera buying experience may help you.

Our Online Digital Camera Buying Guide
Relatively unacquainted with cameras and photography, we rolled up our sleeves to dig up valuable insight in choosing and buying a camera, including the "what", "where", "how" and "how much". These were our useful research materials:


1. In What Camera Should I Buy, Photo focus mentioned budget and your goals of why you are buying the digital camera as the first few things to consider. The website also pointed out the following considerations for a photography beginner in buying a digital camera:

Regardless of budget, you’ll need to start with some basics... I am assuming you are looking for a digital camera. Few film cameras are sold these days. And the focus of our show is digital photography, so I am not going to cover film...

Now if you are serious about producing quality photography, you’ll need to invest in a 35mm single-lens reflex camera with at least one lens. Commonly referred to as DSLRs, these cameras offer speed, choice, and control. The convenience of smaller format SLRs, combined with their ability to work with affordable lenses, make 35mm SLRs the a good starting point for most types of photography.

Point-and-shoot cameras USUALLY don’t deliver enough control or digital data to deliver professional quality photos. You can get some decent images with the higher-end digital point-and-shoot cameras, and as time goes by, you’ll see more published images come from these cameras, but generally, they don’t have sufficient focal length, response or image quality. Another problem with point-and-shoot cameras is that they are often too slow for some types of photography.

Therefore, I highly recommend 35mm format DSLR. Medium and large format cameras are also an option, but not a practical one. Digital 35mm cameras offer a wider range of lenses, are usually less expensive, easier to carry, easier and faster to operate, and provide the most flexibility to photograph a wide range of subjects.

2. Top dSLR Camera Picks under Php40,000 by Yuga, who was included in T3 Magazine’s list of influential people in the Philippine techbiz, lists the following dSLR digital cameras with their features and prices:

Canon EOS 450D
12.2 megapixel
3″ LCD screen with Live View
3.5fps continuous shooting
EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens
Kit Price: Php34,000

Olympus e-420
Zuiko 14-42mm ED lens
10 megapixel
2.7″ LCD screen with Live View
3.5fps continuous shooting
Kit Price: Php33,000

Update: the Olympus E520 kit w/ 14-42mm lens is Php 30,800 at jdGoneMad

Canon EOS 1000D
10.1 megapixel
2.5″ LCD
3fps continuous shooting
EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens
Kit Price: Php29,500

Nikon D60
10.2 megapixel
2.5″ LCD screen
3fps continuous shooting
18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens
Kit Price: Php26,500


As beginners with a limited budget and a not so telephotographic photography ambitions, we decided that the Nikon D60 would suit us. But the Canon EOS 1000D just would not keep quiet. So we tried to compare and contrast them by reading their reviews.

In my next post, I will lead you to helpful reviews of the Nikon D60 and Canon EOS 1000D and you can also check out how they look like.

But if you have not decided yet in choosing between a point-and-shoot digital camera and a digital SLR camera, in the succeeding posts, we will also compare and contrast their pros and cons.

Also coming up in later posts will include locating the best place(s) to buy digital cameras at cheaper, if not, the cheapest prices in the Philippines and, of course, learning the basics of digital SLR photography.

So please, check out shootandtelldslr.blogspot.com next week for more useful information on photography.

LIFE WITHOUT A DIGITAL CAMERA

A few months ago, hubby and I were planning to visit Banaue and Sagada to celebrate our wedding anniversary. My endless Googling about these places was a sign of my excitement of the planned trip. But a realization hit me and dampened my enthusiasm: we had no camera anymore, except for those which are better known by other names - cellphones, PDA, and webcams. We sold the oldest version of Sony Cybershot years ago because we think it is the digital camera with the smallest LCD screen, not to mention that it is the Cro-Magnon man of digital cameras.

I thought the trip to these scenic spots would seem a waste if we only rely on our phone cameras, innate retina, human memory cards and my inaccurate contact lenses. So instead, sans the need for a waterproof digital camera, we jammed the memories of our phones with awkward and at times blurry images of the Buhay na Karagatan, Ang Kalaliman, Pating, Stingrays, and a lot more Manila Ocean Park inhabitants.

That was when we decided we should get a decent camera when our financial books allow.

In my next posts, I will be relating to you how we decided on what digital camera to buy, which will include:

1. Research resources that served as our digital camera buying guide
2. Matching the digital camera features and benefits versus our needs
3. How we located the best place to buy digital cameras at cheaper, if not, the cheapest prices?
4. Deciding on how to learn photography
5. Getting to know the parts of our digital SLR Camera, and so much more...

So please visit shootandtelldslr.com next week to learn and explore digital SLR photography together with me.