Digital SLRs

Here’s a summary of what I recommend to anyone considering buying a digital camera. It's not intended to be a comprehensive technical review, as there are many, many excellent sites that specialise in that kind of thing. I will link to some of them in the post below.

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A warning
First of all, a reality check. The majority of photographers, including many amateurs but also professional wedding and portrait photographers, buy cameras that far exceed not only their personal skills and needs.

A more expensive /  the latest / newer / higher resolution camera won't make you a better photographer.

 

Mastering and understanding your camera's main functions, perfecting your lens (or indeed focal length) choice, and being aware of how to use LIGHT and COMPOSITION effectively in your photography WILL make you a better photographer.



So read the following if you're researching buying your first DSLR or considering upgrading your current camera.

 

But remember that in practically all cases, from amateur to professional use, you're far better off spending your money on extra lenses than the latest camera body or the camera one notch up from yours in your manufacturer's marketing plan, or better still, spend the money on holidays or trips to get you out there and take the ****ing pictures in the first place!

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Buying your first DSLR
I use Canon cameras and lenses for professional photographic work (read the box on the right to find out exactly why!).

If you've just bought a new Nikon, Olympus or other digital DSLR, don't worry, you probably haven't made a terrible mistake. There are high quality and well built cameras and lenses made by all of the major digital camera manufacturers, and certainly at an amateur or enthusiast level, the performance of many of the cameras and lenses is fairly equal.

The differences between the various brands' models and the choice between which camera to buy often comes down to features, ease of use, or whether you have access to older lenses or camera equipment from a particular manufacturer.

 

And often people will consider the option of buying a higher spec but second hand camera or lens too. But more about that in due course.

Here's my list of the current best choices for buying your first DSLR.

 

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• Canon 760D

​My top choice for the best buy as a new first DSLR camera. Canon has upgraded the pixel count on its mosts popular entry level series of cameras to 24MP - for more details, visit the Canon site.

 

 

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• Canon 550D / 700D

​My top choice for the best buy as a first, 2nd hand DSLR camera. Canon stopped production of the 550D in 2011, but it still offers practically the best available quality for a Beginner's first DSLR.

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Why the 550D and not 600D or 650D? The 550D has a more robust body construction -  and pretty much the same (18MP) sensor, resolution and video features as the subsequent three camera models. The main difference with the older 600D /650D is the fold-out rear LCD which is handy for video work, but the 600D's body feels more plasticy and less substantial than the 550D. The 700D has a more robust finish (similar to 7D), higher ISO capability, higher shots per second and improved digital noise at higher ISO.

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Remember that both the 550D, 600D, 650D and 700D magnify the power of any lens you use by 1.6 times - so a 20mm lens has a similar perspective and angle of view as a 32mm, an 18mm that of a 28mm, and so on.

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If you have professional aspirations, however, you may find that your 550D/650D/700D may become a 2nd or reserve camera body as you get more experienced - the cameras don't have top-panel LCD screens, which means it's more of a pain to work with them on tripods, and if serious action subjects interest you, the 550D and 600D can take fewer pictures per second than the 60D or 7D. (The 700D has a spec of up to 5 frames per second, so this is a great improvement over previous models).

If you're seriously considering a 550 / 600 / 650/ 700 D, consider also a second hand 5D  Mki - as of Oct 2014, these can be found 2nd hand for approx 2/3rds cost of a new 700D, and will deliver higher quality, sharper images.

If you're considering the 1000D / 1100D bodies, or even the tiny 100D I'd say think again, unless your budget is severely limited. Remember that this series of cameras lacks key features like a depth of field preview button - for a relatively small increase in budget you'll get these on the the 700D.



The 1000 series is marketed at those who want a 'user friendly' DSLR but whose previous experience is limited to compact cameras. I don't advise buying these cameras for serious amateurs. However, if budget is a a big issue, buying into DSLR phtography for under £300 for the 100D on the UK highstreet (there are of course better places to buy!) is a tempting prospect.



550D or 700D bodies are available for hire at any PhotoSchool workshops in London.

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• Canon 7D

​My top choice if your budget is about double that for buying a 550D or 700D body. The 7D body has 18MP resolution and a practically bullet-proof metal alloy body. It's bigger and heavier than the 550D/600D/700D, so consider that too and perhaps go into a camera store and handle both before buying cheaper online! The 60D(also 18MP) might be a tempting choice at roughly half way between the 600D and 7D in terms of budget, but the 60D shares the same body construction as the 600D, which to me feels very flimsy. If you're considering a 60D, I think you're better off saving up some more and buying a 7D.

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• Second Hand Canon DSLRs

For the most robust and rugged small-sensor bodies, consider Canon's 'prosumer' series of cameras, all of which you should be able to find all in good condition from trustworthy sellers on Ebay. Avoid the 60D because of its plasticy body, though, and go for a 50D or 70D or 7D instead.

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60D (18MP launched 2010). Takes SD / SDHC / SDXC cards.
50D (15 MP launched 2008). Takes CF cards / micro drive.
40D (10MP launched 2007). Takes CF cards / micro drive.
30D (8MP, launched 2006). Takes CF cards.
20D (8MP, launched 2004). Takes CF cards.
10D (6MP, launched 2003). Takes CF cards.
EOS D60 (6MP, launched 2002). Takes CF cards.
EOS D30 (3MP, launched 2001). Takes CF cards.



The predecessors of the 550D and 600D were 'Rebel' series of DSLRs. They have composite bodies which are strong and lighter than the prosumer series, but FEEL less sturdy and are probably ultimately less robust than the metal allow bodies. The 600D's body is closer to the material found in the cheaper 1000 series, for me, the 550D was the last of the 'strong' Rebel bodies.

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550D (18MP, launched 2010, also known as EOS Rebel T2i in US and EOS Kiss X4 in Japan). Takes SD or SDHC or SDXC cards.
500D (15MP, launched 2009, also known as EOS Rebel T1i in US and EOS Kiss X3 in Japan). Takes SD or SDHC cards.
450D (12MP, launched 2008, also known as Digital Rebel XSi in US and EOS Kiss X2 in Japan). Takes SD or SDHC cards.
400D (10MP, launched 2006, also known as Digital Rebel XTi in US and EOS Kiss Digital X in Japan). Takes CF cards.
350D (8MP, launched 2005, also known as Digital Rebel XT in US and EOS Kiss Digital N in Japan). Takes CF cards.
300D (6.3MP, launched 2003, also known as Digital Rebel in US and EOS Kiss Digital in Japan). Takes CF cards.

If you are heavily into landscape photography, you may want to consider Canon's series of full-frame DSLRs (they don't magnify the power of any lenses you use by a factor of approx 1.6, and consequently it's easier to find affordable, high quality wide angle lenses).

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5D MkI (13MP, launched 2005). Takes CF cards. Build quality of the 5D Mk I is professional level and it's my top recommendation if you want to buy into full-frame cameras on a budget. Remember too that 13 'full-frame' mega pixels = a sharper, higher quality than 18MP (APS-C, or those sensors found in the Canon's smaller, 600 and 1000 series) cameras. I've done numerous tests with a 550D and a 5D Mk 1, and vouch for the fact that the 5D produces sharper and higher quality images than the 550D.

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5D MkII (21MP, launched 2008). Takes CF cards. Along with the 1D Mk IV, it's my own current choice for my professional catalogue and small-scale commercial work (larger scale work like images for large (billboard) poster use are almost always shot on Medium Format digital equipment.

 

 

 

 

Going mirrorless and using The Force

If you've read other parts of this site, you'll know that I'm not a great fan of many of the new mirrorless camera designs.... HOWEVER.... and there's always a 'however'.... there is one notable exception to the current design craze for mirrorless digital cameras:

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• Fuji X100s

The latest version of Fuji's X100 digital camera is the only non-DSLR (with the exception of Leica's digital rangefinders) that I think you should consider.



What's good: Build quality, lens and image quality (16MP and a fast 23mm f/2 lens, which is the equivalent of a 35mm in full-frame cameras), the new 'digital' split-image manual focus aid, the fixed focal length zoom.



What's not so good is the price, at almost double the cost of a body-only beginners' DSLR.



The fixed focal length lens and living without a zoom or even the ability to change lenses can be a scary prospect for some, but if you've read taken my course you'll know that there are MAJOR benefits to having to shoot with a fixed focal length lens, and in fact I believe doing so will make you a better photographer.

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If you spare cash and fancy a high quality, 'photographer's' camera, I have no hesitation in saying you should seriously consider the X100s, if only for the fact of the fixed focal length lens and how much you'll learn from this camera. Of course, make sure you do the sensible thing and play with one in a camera store next to your top choice DSLR before buying!

 



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