The Philippine Online Chronicles

Every quarter, camera manufacturers pump out their newest and latest models with all the new techie features, higher megapixels, art and scene modes, and other bells and whistles that make us drool. So whether you are a person that is looking for your first camera or someone that is planning to upgrade to the newer model because you feel your creative juices are hindered by your obsolete digicam or DSLR, we all get bothered and confused which one to buy with our hard-earned cash.

Brand Confusion

We all have moments of frustration. Sometimes I can't help but think, "my brand is not the best and I  only have an entry-level DSLR, the reason for the lackluster pictures that I produce". However, the real question to ask is, “Is it the camera or is it the way I used the camera that made this happen?”

Brand confusion aside, there is still the choice of compact, prosumer, entry-level DSLR up to pro-level DSLR that can make us even more dizzy. I'm sure the fanboys of the big two - CaNikon (Canon and Nikon) will mark their brands as the best, and users of the minority like Pentax, Sony Alpha, Olympus, and others would have a natural tendency to be defensive with their system. As a matter of disclosure, I for one am a fanboy of Olympus.  That said, I will not go into a brand war, as I have read too much of the debate and discussion on the Internet and I respect each and everyone’s choice.  Each camera has its own strength, but basically, it will not matter whether your camera is the most basic of them all or the most technologically advanced model out there.

The first thing to consider is to determine what kind of photography you are going into.

Simplest gear

You have to ask yourself, "Would you like to be lugging around a heavy camera when you want to travel?"  Because if you are going to use your camera for your occasional travel, social gathering, and other simple activity, then a compact digital camera is what’s best for you.

For people who would like to make the art of photography a hobby, then a nice prosumer camera with a built-in superzoom lens or a basic DSLR is more than capable of capturing those sweeping landscapes and beautiful portraits of loved ones. Having a basic or mid-level DSLR does not prohibit you from doing great stuff and even get some paid assignments. I know a lot of fellow photographers who contribute to magazines and do wedding and events coverage with just the simplest gear.

Going up a class into the top level, or shall we say pro bodies, would only be best if you really are at the top of your game, or are willing to burn some serious cash. The usual advantage of these top-level model cameras and lenses, to name a few, are the very high shutter life (150,000 actuations above), weather sealing, and maximum compatibility with the jungle of accessories that you can use. But using these top-tier models when you have inadequate experience may make you more frustrated, as the pro level wouldn't have scene modes and art modes that you can easily use on the basic to mid-levels.

Photography knowledge vs camera type

Take for example this situation.  In one forum that I moderate, a fellow user made a comment on his photo saying, "I don't have an expensive camera and software to manipulate my images" in reply to a critique on his photo. The faults I spotted were basic exposure and framing. These things you could get right on the most simple of cameras with a bit of care and attention.

This is why my advice is to research on the camera that you are interested in. Try to go to camera shops and feel the actual unit in your hands. Choose what you are comfortable with. Play around with the menu and check which one would be the easiest for you to control. Also, choose what you can afford. As I mentioned earlier, you won’t be a better photographer just because you have the most expensive gear.

 No matter what other people may try to persuade you, neither Nikon nor Canon or any other brand for that matter have any special magical qualities that make them supreme (comparing them by class); it is your basic photography knowledge and artistic eye that will take you a long way before you outgrow your camera.

I'm not saying that a basic DSLR can out perform a top pro DSLR model, if you have extensively exhausted all the potential of your camera then there is no way but up. In my experience, only after fully exhausting your camera’s capabilities should you consider an upgrade.  If you're operating at a learning level, each brand’s model and lens are just as good and will produce amazing images once you use it to its fullest potential. So, the best camera is the one you own and the one you have with you when you need to take a photo. Maximize it and learn how to use it properly. If you don’t have one yet, buy the one that most fits your personality and your budget.

___

Subject of Image is Randy Rivera. photo credit: shot by Francis Tuason.