So, here I am again, and this time around I will be responding to a question that a few people have contacted me with. That question is the same one you will see on countless Photography sites all over the net … “Should I shoot Nikon or Canon or maybe something else?” Well, unfortunately this isn’t such a clear cut issue. The first thing that a person needs to know is they are buying a photography system, not just a camera. Each brand has things it is particularly good at, things it fails at, and various pro lenses that might be better suited for certain things. Hit the jump for a few basic tips as well as my take on this burning question. First off, let me say this, I AM a Nikon shooter and ,as of this writing, I don’t plan on switching. As such, you might find this post a little bias, but I will try my best to remain fair and balanced.
The first thing I tell people is about the fact they are buying a system, not a camera. In fact, I just said that, but let me explain a little further. When you go out to buy a DSLR it is kind of like buying a car, you don’t jut pick a brand and pick the first one in your price range. You test drive it, you find the one that you feel good driving, the one which handles the best for the type of driving you plan on doing, and you look at how much it will cost you in the future. You should do the same thing when choosing a camera. Go out to a camera store and see about renting the camera you are considering purchasing. You might end up spending a $100.00, but as they say you don’t want to be penny wise and dollar foolish. By going this route you get a good feel for the camera in your hands, and its operation. You may even find that a camera you hadn’t even considered turns out to be the best choice for you.
Next, you should look at the types of lenses available for the brand you ultimately chose PRIOR to purchase. What many first-time buyer don’t understand is that the camera body you buy is disposable. In 2 years, maybe less if you’re like me, you’ll be on the hunt for a new camera body. However, you’ll still use your collection of lenses. The other thing most beginner don’t realize is that lenses can be expensive, and by expensive, I mean EXPENSIVE. Some lenses can cost as much as 2x any of a line’s camera bodies. Hence why I say lenses are your primary investment when choosing a brand. Be sure to see which brand of DSLR have good quality lenses for what types of photographer, and be prepared to pay god money for them. They will last you a long time.
Third, and I can’t stress this enough, forget Megapixels. Unless you plan on blowing up images beyond 20″ x 30″ 6MP is more than sufficient for the average print. Invest in glass (aka lenses) over megapixels. I could wax long on sensor types, brands, and sizes; but, that would really miss the mark on what I want to get across here. So, let me sum it up in a nice neat package. If you buy a non-Professional level camera you’ll be buying an APS (or close) sized sensor. For professional grade cameras they will have a 35mm sensor, or what is known as a Full Frame sensor. Just like film, larger sensor areas leads to sharper pictures, more contrast, and a larger image size.
In short, test drive the camera you are planning on getting to really make sure it is what you want. Ensure the brand you choose has suitable, quality, lenses for the type of photographs you plan on taking, and don’t let any salesmen try to get you to buy a camera based on more megapixels.
As for Nikon verses Olympus verses Pentax versus etc. I generally like to keep it in the realm of Nikon and Canon and Nikon.
Now, I am going to give my personal opinion on this matter. I shoot Nikon because they fit my hands well, and I feel like it is a better made camera. Perhaps this is just a bias remark, but it is how I feel nonetheless. The build quality also extends into the higher end Pro level cameras were, personally, I think Nikon’s offerings are leaps and bounds beyond Nikon to be better suited to the photography I choose to do.
I did a lot of research when I first decided to purchase a DSLR. I also took the time to visit several retail stores to feel the cameras in my hands, and to get a real feel which one was best for me. This is honestly the best suggestion I can pass on to those who are looking to entry into the exciting world of Digital SLR Photography.