Here’s a question I frequently get asked: I want to get a good camera. Should I get a point and shoot that I can upload directly or go for something better? I want it for a hobby and find photography very interesting. My camera phone is not cutting it.
The vast majority of you reading this already carry a camera in your pocket or purse everywhere you go allowing you document (and share!) everything from your adorable new puppy to the “present” some bird left on your windshield. Ah, what a time to be alive! But eventually, most shutterbugs are going to start itching for something more than what a camera phone can do.
Truth be told, I use both the camera on my phone and my DSLR regularly. There are times, for example, when my daughter is doing something adorable that I want to capture, but I’ll miss if I have to get out my DSLR, put on a lens, and adjust the settings. For those times, I simply whip out my phone and document the spontaneous moment.
At other times, I want to create a piece of art. I want to blur the background, bathe my subject in dreamy sunlight, and still get a great exposure. For me, only a DSLR will deliver.
I’ve put together a list of questions to ask yourself if you are wondering if you should buy a DSLR. If you answer yes to most of these questions, then, in my humble opinion, you should consider investing in a DSLR:
1. Do you feel like your current camera is no longer cutting it?
2. Photography is an expensive hobby; are you willing to put money into it?
3. Are you wanting to create art?
4. Do you have the time/ability to really learn how to make the most out of your camera?
5. Are you okay with carrying around a heavier camera?
6. Do you want to shoot in low-light conditions?
7. Do you need to capture action faster than you’re currently able?
8. Do you want better optics?
9. Do you want to order large prints of your photography?
10. Do you feel a passion/developing passion for photography?
If you’ve determined that a DSLR is for you, than you’ll also want to learn how to make the most of your camera. After all, a DSLR left on auto mode is little more than a glorified point-and shoot! Shooting in manual and learning how to use natural light are crucial elements to improving photography. To learn more check these out:
Capture My Life: Learn to Shoot in Manual Mode and Unleash Your Inner Photographer
Light Up My Life: Your Essential Guide to Natural Lighting in Portraiture