In light of the holiday season, I thought I would write a couple articles on camera gift giving. You might want to begin by reviewing my previous post on what you should think about when buying a new camera. The post will help you think about the type of features you need (or want) and will help you understand terms like "megapixels" and "sensor size" that are often throw around.
One thing to note, in this post, I will only touch upon entry-level DSLR cameras. All of these cameras have a cropped sensor meaning if you have old lenses from an old film camera, those lenses will produce a different sized image when used on any cropped sensor camera. Nikon uses the letters "DX" to identify a camera with a cropped sensor. I will write another post on full frame cameras, but be aware, full frame cameras are really geared more towards the semi-professional to professional photographer. In the meantime, check out this article if you are interested in learning more about the differences between a crop sensor and a full frame sensor.
DSLR - Nikon D3300, D5500, D7200
Now, let us begin this gift-giving guide by thinking about entry-level DSLR cameras. I am a Nikon girl -- always have been. I love the quality of the cameras, the lenses are amazing and I believe they offer a good value for the money.
Congratulations on your new camera! I am sure you are so excited to have your newest toy. If this is your first camera then let's shout out a big "WooHoo!" Your excitement, however, might be somewhat short lived as you now ask yourself, how exactly do I use this thing? If this is your first new camera in longtime then there may be some new features that you need to learn how to use. And, if this is your very first camera, then there are more than a few new features you need to learn how to use. Your first inclination might be to just take the camera out and start taking pictures. However, I recommend starting with a slightly different approach -- while you may not receive the instant gratification of being the "ultimate photographer" that you so desperately seek, you will receive the long-term benefit of actually knowing what you are doing.
Rather frequently I receive a text message from a friend or family member that reads something along the lines of "Hey, I was thinking about buying this type of camera, what do you think?" or "I'm looking for a new camera, what would you recommend?" When confronted with these questions I often start by asking another question "How do you plan to use your new camera?"
When entering the market for a new camera it is important to first think about how you plan to use the camera and what you want to take pictures of. For example, if you are looking for something relatively easy to use that will work well in most situations, then you might choose a point and shoot camera. If you are in need of a well-rounded camera that offers some advanced features and an interchangeable lens system, but do not want the bulk or price of a DSLR, then you might choose a mirrorless camera. Then again, if you are looking to delve more seriously into photography and require a camera with more specialized features that will grow with you over the years, then you might consider a DSLR.
