You’ve decided you want to buy a DSLR.

But where do you start – not sure?

Don’t worry, this guide will take you through the questions you need to answer to help you choose the DSLR that’s right for you.

Buying your first DSLR is a big decision, lets face it photography is not a cheap hobby, and DSLR’s are expensive, so you want to make sure you make the right decision.

I know I did when I bought my first DSLR.

The thing is it’s different for everyone. Why? Because photography is individual. Whether it’s what you like to shoot, how you like to shoot it or what you like to shoot it with!

So what I’m going to do is lead you through the information that you need to know to help you make that decision. And tell you how I made my decision when I bought my first DSLR. Oh and I’ll leave the high tech details out, and go for the plain english keep it simple route, because if you’re overwhelmed with info overload you’ll never know which one to choose!

Why do you want a DSLR?

When I decided to upgrade to a DSLR from my point and shoot it was for these reasons, but these reasons also turned out to be the features that I needed to look for in my new DSLR:

1. I had a point and shoot but felt limited and wanted to be more creative = want full range of camera modes
2. I was already familiar with a point and shoot’s settings = want a DSLR to reflect this
3. I don’t want a camera that fits in my purse I’m more bothered about image quality = want best camera for my budget
4. I want more flexibility and to be able to change the lens = want great choice of available lenses
5. I want more control over the photos I take = want to try different types of photography: depth of field, macro, night, travel, sports, portrait or landscape

These are all great reasons, and make a great wish list, but with all the different choices out there to buy it can become a little overwhelming, don’t you think?

Jargon busting?

One of the first things you’ll notice when buying a camera is the amount of tech info and photography jargon that comes with it. What does it all mean? Here’s the main ones that I think you need to know, to understand the sales assistant or what the camera review is going on about:

• DSLR – digital single lens reflex eg. what you see is what you get
• megapixel – digital images are captured on image sensors made up of pixel elements (light absorbing), a million of these elements is a megapixel (determines how large you can print your image)
• image sensor – digital ‘film’ sensor made up of megapixels (DSLR’s use CMOS sensors)
• image processor – the brain of the camera converts the light caught on the sensor into an actual image on the lcd screen
• image stabilisation – either by the sensor or in the lens, it compensates for any movement while the image is being taken (hand shaking)
• memory card – you’ll need a memory card that will fit your camera to save your images on – beware they don’t come with the camera!

Still with me?

Which Camera do I go for?

Let’s start to narrow this down.

First of all you need to decide which make of camera you want to buy. I’ll explain later why it’s so important to decide on a ‘make’

You’ve got these main choices of cameras: Canon, Nikon, Sony, Pentax, Olympus, or Panasonic.

All these ‘makes’ make good cameras. And so it’s easier to choose a camera (and to also stop this post turning into a book) I would recommend that you narrow it down to 2 companies. Why?  Because there’s no way you can realistically choose from all the entry level models from all 5 companies – your head will end up as mush!

When I did this I chose the 2 companies below. Because I’d used Canon products before and thought the image quality was very good. And also both have huge experience in making imaging products, literally decades of it. Which means they also make alot of accessories for the cameras, which can only be a good thing. And let’s face it they are giants in the camera world:

• Canon
• Nikon

So why is the ‘make’ of the camera so important?

To realise why this question is so important you have to look at the bigger picture.

Ok, so you’ve decided you want to improve your photography and buy a DSLR, but you’re quite rightly a little worried about figuring out all the buttons and new features that your new DSLR will give you. You want to see if you like it before you go too mad on gear?

Now when you learn to ride a bicycle you don’t start off with a full suspension mountain bike do you? You start off with a normal bike and if you’re a kid you’ve got training wheels on it, when you gain your confidence and experience you get the full suspension mountain bike.

Same with a DSLR. If you start out with an entry level DSLR and really enjoy it you’ll probably buy a few lenses for it and a flashgun etc… but then you want the full suspension mountain bike, like a semi-pro or full frame camera?

But you’ve spent a fair bit of money on accessories and you don’t want to have to start all over again and buy new ones, you want to be able to still use your beloved (and possibly expensive) lens on your new bells and whistle camera.

So it makes sense to start off with the camera ‘make’ that you’re going to stick with, because then you can just upgrade your body and all your old accessories will still fit it! Make sense yeah?

Canon or Nikon?

The age old question. I’m not getting into that one!

To be honest they’re both great cameras, and there’s not much between them so this is where it comes down to personal preference.

Lets compare their entry level models so you can see what I mean:

Canon 1100D/T3

• 12.2-megapixel image quality
• Feature Guide Mode: Yes
• HD video: Yes
• new 18-55mm IS II kit lens
• 9-point Auto Focus system
• 2.7-inch Live View LCD screen
• Use with all EF and EF-S lenses (60+)
• 14-bit DIGIC 4 image processor 3.2fps continuous shooting

Nikon D3100

• 14.2 megapixel DX-format image sensor
• Feature Guide Mode: Yes
• HD (full) Video: Yes
• 18-55mm VR kit lens
• 11 point Auto Focus system
• Large 3-inch, high-resolution LCD monitor
• Extensive in-camera editing functions
• EXPEED 2 image processing engine with up to 3 fps

Stalemate?

The best advice I can give you (and what I did) is to go to a shop (yep they still have them) and pick them up. Try each model out, hold them and see how they feel in your hands, look through the viewfinder and see how it feels, press a few buttons, how do the menus work?

Once you’ve done that you’ll know which one you want!

Its all about the glass

The camera is only one part of the equation when it comes to taking great images. If you’ve got a fantastic camera, but a really cheap low quality lens, then you’ll never get the same great quality shots than if you use a really good quality lens with a cheaper camera. The lens makes a big difference. Lens quality ranges from very cheap to very expensive. While cheaper cameras are getting a lot better. That’s the advantage of spending money on getting decent lenses and not a very expensive camera body.

And being able to use different lenses is what you want a DSLR for in the first place, right? It’s where things start to get really interesting…

What do I use?

I decided on a Canon camera. At the time Canon didn’t make the 1100D/T3 series, so the best entry level camera I could afford was the Canon 450D/XSi, and I still use that camera today.

I love it!

Conclusion

I’m not telling you to go out and buy a Canon or Nikon entry level camera (although they are very good cameras for the price).

I’m showing you the process I went through to decide on a Entry Level DSLR, so it can help you decide.

It doesn’t matter which camera you choose as long as you are happy with your choice.

So get out there and start shooting and having fun!

And don’t forget to pop back to The Photographer Blog to pick up some more tips to help you with your photography…

See you soon!

Mandy

If you enjoyed this post then you may like to read more at my blog

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The Insider Series to Travel Documentary Photography

The Rabari – Encounters with the Nomadic Tribe by Mitchell Kanashkevich is the new ebook from Lightstalking.

First off, you don’t have to be a travel photographer to make use of this book.

The composition, lighting and post processing tips will help any photographer improve their portrait photography.

Who’s Mitchell

Mitchell knows what he is talking about. He is an award winning travel and documentary photographer, with his work appearing in top photography and travel magazines as well as Getty and Corbis to name but a few!

This ebook is a fantastic chance to take a look behind the scenes at one of his actual photo shoots.

The Gear

The thing that most impressed me about this ebook was the gear that Mitchell used. A 400D, and one of the lenses he used was a 50mm f1.8.

Rabari Tribal Leader

Why is this so special? I have a 450D and a 50mm f1.8!

Which means… That the gear is on our level, it’s not a 5D or 1D.

It shows what an entry level DSLR can do! And it shows if he can do it so can we – with the help of his tips!

What’s inside

It’s laid out like a story and Mitchell takes you through the steps he uses to create the images, including:

• background information
• objectives
• light
• moment/pose
• composition
• biggest challenge – how I managed it
• ‘what’ and ‘why’ of post processing

3 main points that stand out to me when I read this book:

1.  Any photographer can learn from these tips – composition, lighting and post processing.
2.  The equipment Mitchell used is easily accessible. He used a 400D and one of his lenses was a 50mm f1.8 (I have a 450D and a 50mm f1.8!)
3.  The story that the book takes you on, he breaks down 10 photographs into how, why, what and when.

Click here to view more details on the ebook

Mandy
P.S. I think it’s that good it’s got my affiliate link!

If you enjoyed this post then you may like to read more at my blog

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I know I’ve just looked at 14 photography gift ideas for the photog in your life, but I couldn’t help myself when I came across these while Christmas shopping (ok I got sidetracked).

I just had to share them.

If you’re wanting to buy something completely different for the photog in your life, or you want a fun alternative to the real thing then these really hit the mark.

They’re going on my list that’s for sure…

1. Lens Coffee Cups

Yes, you heard right you can pour coffee into a lens and get away with it!

They really look like the real thing, check out the image above. But they are Camera Lens Cups and you get a lens cap for a lid. And if that’s not enough you can buy a Canon or Nikon lens, depending on which one’s your cup of tea! (sorry couldn’t resist).

These are my favourite. Well if I can’t afford a real 70 – 200mm lens then hey… I’ll buy one of these and pour coffee in it!

Guaranteed to put a smile on any photogs face.

2. The F-Stop Watch

This F-Stop Watch is definitely unusual. The hours are marked with Aperture numbers, with a bright red second hand and the middle of the watch looks like a shutter.

I love how Photojojo put it: ‘You’re a little fuzzy around 2, start feeling better around 8, but at 11 you’re sharp, focused and ready to party’ (photographer joke!).

3. Camera Lens Bracelets

Well there seems to be bracelets for just about everything these days so why not a lens? You can get a 50mm or 24-70mm Camera Lens Bracelet.

Another great stocking filler idea.

4. Keep Calm and Snap On Print

I love Keep Calm and Carry On (I have the mug), it was actually created in World War II as an information poster to be used if Britain was invaded by the Germans – So it was never used.

Well it seems the theme is expanding… Having one of those days? lost your lens cap, can’t find that memory card - Keep Calm and Snap on!

5. Instant Camera iPhone Decal

Do you take photos with your iPhone?

This is a nice bit of fun for those photographers that do, or iPhonographers. Go retro with this Instant Camera iPhone decal. Goes on and comes off easily.

6. Photo Fabric Dye Kit

This Photo fabric dye kit is really easy to use. Just paint it onto the fabric – t-shirt or whatever, then put a negative or anything else you feel like on top, and put it in the sun (maybe not a good idea for Britain!).

I’m actually going to let my kids paint on clothes… that can’t be right?

7. DSLR Bank

Are you saving up for some new gear?

This DSLR coin bank is a great way to help you save for it. It’s a realistic Canon DSLR replica with a 24-105mm lens – the lens I’m saving up for right now (it could be a sign!).

I think these gift ideas are all absolutely fabulous. And would make a great fun gift for any photographer.

Happy Shopping…

Mandy

P.S. There are some Amazon affiliate links in this post so you can easily add to a wish list.

If you enjoyed this post then you may like to read more at my blog

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What do I buy them?

Are you stuck on what to buy the photographer in you life for Christmas?

I know we’re not always the easiest people to buy for…

You need to either know what your photographer wants (safe option) or else you need to know what camera gear they already have (or it’ll be 3 tripods for Christmas?) and make an educated guess (not so safe option) as to what they might like. Well I’m here to help…

Note: You may also find 10 Must Have Accessories for your DSLR gives you some more ideas.

But whether you’re buying for Christmas, birthdays or anniversaries here are some great ideas to help with that Christmas shopping (oh and if my husbands reading this that includes me!):

1. Remote Shutter Release

If you are wanting to shoot remotely then there are two solutions. 1. Either a Remote Shutter Release Cable for shooting long exposures from behind the camera eg. night photography, eliminating even the slightest bit of camera shake that could affect your image. 2. Or an infared Wireless Remote Controller for shooting in front of the camera eg. self portraits, for when you don’t want to set the timer and run around the camera.

2. Filters – UV, ND, or Polarizing

There’s a huge range of filters available but how about these for starters:

• UV (Ultra Violet) Filter: great for lens protection and reducing haze.
• ND (Neutral Density) Filter: full – reduce the amount of light passing through the lens so that a longer exposure can be used eg blurring waterfalls. Graduated Neutral Density Filter - allows proper exposure for landscape photography for both background and foreground.
• Polarizing Filter: removes unwanted reflections from surfaces such as water, it rotates on the lens for adjustment.

* Remember check the size of the end of the lens (it can be different with each lens) where the filter will screw onto, it will be printed on the end of the lens, eg Canon 18-55mm IS kit lens has 58mm written separately to the focal length on the end of the lens, so would need 58mm filter.

3. Digital Photography book

There are a huge range of digital photography books out there, but for me I’d recommend the Digital Photography Book 1,2, and 3 by Scott Kelby. I think they’re a great place to start, and I’ve got and use some really great tips from these books. I only have the last one to get…

4. 50mm 1.8 II lens

A cheap lens but wow can it deliver! One of the cheapest lens you can buy (Canons cheapest) but the best for having lots of fun with it. I have the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens and I think it’s great for still life and portraits. The image of the purple flower at the top of this post was taken with my 50mm 1.8 lens.

5. Camera bag

If it’s climbing over fences, fields or beaches time then I use a Lowepro Slingshot, I have the 100AW and that fits my Canon 450D with kit lens and one other lens, memory card, battery, etc. Although a Lowepro SlingShot 202 AW would be better as it can fit 3-4 lens and a flash unit and that would give me more space. For around town on a day out when I need a handbag as well but don’t want to take one, then I use my Hama Cutline that can take all my camera gear plus my purse and phone.

6. Tripod

A sturdy well made Tripod is an essential part of a photographers kit. I use a Manfrotto 785B (this tripod is similar), that is up the cheap end but is well made and works fine for me. If I had longer lens (which would make the camera lens heavy) I would probably upgrade for more stability.

7. Memory cards

You can never have enough memory cards. A 4gb, 8gb or 16gb SD or a CF (compact flash) memory card (check what the camera uses) would always be well received by any photographer and a great stocking filler.

8. Spare battery

Another must, if your battery dies you’ve officially had it, a spare can save your life! And Santa will be made up with another easy to fit in a stocking filler. This car charger  is another great idea!

9. Lens cleaning kit

It’s like buying your Dad a car cleaning kit or your Mum the obligatory smellies. A lens cleaning kit or a fancy lens cloth like this Spudz one,
is the photographers equivalent, and lets face it, I like getting smellies for Christmas! Or maybe a nice fancy lens cloth or lens pen etc…

10. Print or Canvas

Why not take one of their favourite shots of this year, and have it made into a canvas or framed as a print. And there are lots of sites that can help you with that eg Adorama. Get those photographic triumphs off the hard drive and on the wall and enjoy them.

11. External hard drive

Storage, storage, storage, the thought of losing your images when a hard drive fails is a photographers worst nightmare. Keeping your images safe and sound is top priority. I know I’ve been there and lost them! So something like a Clickfree Automatic Backup 500GB External Hard Drive would back images up nicely or you could stick an Epson P-3000 40GB Multimedia Storage Drive in your camera bag and backup your images while on location. Either way they would help a photographer sleep a lot sounder.

12. Camera strap

After a day of lugging a camera around it can start to get a bit heavy, so a decent camera strap can be the difference between a visit to the chiropractor or a neck that you can actually still move! (ok slight exaggeration!). But there are some good ergonomically designed ones out there like the Black Rapid RS-7 Camera Strap

13. Magazine subscription

How about something a little different like a years magazine subscription to their favourite magazine. Here’s a few for some ideas:

• Photography Monthly
• Amateur Photographer
• Digital SLR Photography

14. Off Camera Flash

Starting out with using off camera flash can make a whole new range of camera accessories available to the budding Strobist. A good place to start is a camera flash unit, for my camera a Canon 450D/XSi then a Canon Speedlite 430EX IIwould be a good place to start for instance.

Happy shopping…

Mandy

P.S. Yep you’ve guessed it those are affiliate links (some not all). Click a link to find out more, or if you’re a photog then maybe add a few to your Amazon wish list to drop some bigger hints?

If you enjoyed this post then you may like to read more at my blog

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‘The step-by-step secrets for how to make your photos look like the pros’!

Photography books are not dead.

It’s still nice to have a tangible useful reference at hand that isn’t electronic!

The way The Digital Photography Book works, which I think is different to a lot of others is this – imagine you are out on a photo shoot with Scott Kelby, as you walk around you ask him questions, and he gives you tips and advice in plain english

- just like he would in the flesh.

Who is Scott Kelby?

So who is this Scott Kelby who’s going to give me this advice?

He is a bestselling award winning author of multiple photography books, he is editor-in-chief for Photoshop User magazine and president of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals to name but a few of his achievements.

So I think that’s got the ‘is he any good’ question sorted don’t you?

What’s in the Book?

The chapters are split up into bite size chunks of tips, pretty much one on every page.

Concise and to the point, they allow you to use the tip and see the results very easily, you don’t get bogged down with lots of info.

It’s ‘do this and this will happen and you’re set’.

I reach for The Digital Photography Book on a regular basis to go over some tips before I shoot or post process my images.

What’s the Bottom Line?

This book may not be for everyone. Scott puts a lot of his personality into his writing and not everyone likes that?

I do, he does write like he’s talking to a friend that he wants to help. And who wouldn’t want a photography pro with that kind of experience as a friend!

Also this book isn’t new it’s actually book 1 of a 3 book collection (I have 1 and 2 getting 3) but the fundamentals haven’t changed so it’s age isn’t a problem.

And that’s why I’m recommending The Digital Photography Book to you, as a very useful collection of dslr tips that are easy to implement with the beginner in mind.

Mandy

If you enjoyed this post then you may like to read more at my blog

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That’s a big question and will change depending on who you are and what you like.

But what I can do is tell you my experience as a beginner DSLR user, and hopefully that will help in your own decision making process.

You may also want to check out The Ultimate Guide to buying an Entry Level DSLR.

*Update at the bottom of this article…*

A Beginners DSLR – Canon Rebel XSi/450D Review

I bought a Canon Rebel XSi /450D in August 2008, it was my first DSLR, and I’m still as happy with it’s performance today as I was when I bought it. I think that speaks volumes about it’s build quality and performance as its an entry level DSLR. Since it was launched Canon has released the 500D, and the 550D will be available from April this year.

Although the XSi/450D is not Canon’s latest model in the entry level range I won’t be rushing out to change it. I’m not even tempted by the HD video on the newer models, I want to explore my photography, video can wait. Of course that’s one of the questions I asked myself before I bought it, will it last me for a while or will I want to move on quickly and upgrade?

I’m happy to say I haven’t felt that, I’m learning more and more about my camera and still have some way to go. It is an entry level camera but it has lasting features that keep me busy.

Future Proofing

After deciding I wanted a Canon DSLR camera the next question was which one, and a huge influence on my decision was budget. Lets face it digital photography is a very expensive hobby and as much as I lusted after a 40D or even a 5D I just didn’t have the spare cash that those cameras demand.

That doesn’t mean I don’t have options for the future, I can buy a new Canon body and my exisitng lens’ will still fit it. So I can happily save up for a 5D Mark II (aaaahh…dreaming…) and keep my XSi/450D as a spare body, because of its compact size compared to the larger higher end bodies like the 5D.

The Camera

The XSi/450D has got a 12.2 megapixel CMOS sensor which is well enough to enable me to print poster sized pictures, and it includes the EOS integrated sensor cleaning system.

I bought the camera body with the Canon’s EF-S 18-55mm, f3.5-5.6 IS zoom lens. I’ve read a lot of talk about kit lens’ being poor quality, but I came from point and shoot land so to me its fantastic, my images are sharp and full of rich colours.

Ok it’s plastic, and I agree when you look at the kit lens compared to other Canon lens’ then it’s not the best lens in the world, but its not meant to be.

The camera has a Digic III processor so its fast and can shoot up to 3.5 frames per second and that’s fun to try out.

It’s also one of the first Canons to use SD or SDHC memory cards instead of Compact Flash.

The camera body is constructed in plastic instead of metal and is small in size, so very light and portable. While the 3″ LCD screen is large and I can see images really well, and zoom in nicely while still in camera to check what I’ve just taken.

I still need to try out the Spot Metering and Live View modes as I haven’t got that far yet.

The XSi/450D has got a lot in common with the 40D that came out at the same time, and although its been out a while it’s still no slouch.

They say it’s all about the ‘glass’

The one other element that can seriously effect the images that you can take is the lens or ‘glass’.

Investing in better lens’ than the kit lens that comes with the camera, can drastically increase the quality and type of images that you can take.

So I will look at expanding my lens collection before thinking about changing camera bodies!

In Conclusion

If you are on a tight budget and you want a DSLR that delivers, has great features and you want some money left over for an extra lens or tripod. Then the Canon Rebel XSi/450D is the right camera for you.

Also if you have just bought a DSLR and want some great tips to get you started then take a look at our DSLR Tips section.

Update:

I am still very happy with my Canon 450D and I’m looking at investing in some more lens. But if you are looking for a more recent model, then Canon have developed an excellent entry level DSLR range. Why not check out the Canon EOS Rebel T3/1100D or the Canon EOS Rebel T3i/600Dboth have HD Movie Mode!

Mandy

P.S. Some of the links in this article are affiliate links so you can easily add to your Amazon wish list, if you so wish!

If you enjoyed this post then you may like to read more at my blog

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I love gadgets especially cameras so I really enjoyed spending time looking at which DSLR I wanted to buy. And now I have my very own Canon 450D/ XSi, that I’d like to introduce to you and share some of the first shots I took with it. If you’d like to know why I upgraded to a DSLR, then take a look at my 7 Reasons to Upgrade to a DSLR. You may also be interested in how I went about choosing a DSLR and how I got my short list down to the final 3.

Beginner DSLR

As this is my first DSLR it was important to me that it was easy to use, and the Canon 450D is definitely that. Obviously it is very different to my point and shoot, but it still has the functionality of a point and shoot camera through it’s automatic mode. This was great for me becuase it meant that I could go out and shoot straight out of the box, without worrying about all the different settings.

I’ve actually read a lot of advice from professional photographers saying that for the first couple of months at least, it can be a good idea to keep your DSLR in automatic mode, to get used to the camera before trying to figure out the more indepth controls. The idea being that it’s best to get a good grounding with the camera to start with, and get to know how it works. So you can focus on the composition of your shots and learn the rules of photography, like the rule of thirds. This way you can get to the point with your camera where you can set the shot up looking at the composition and lighting without thinking about it, and therefore you will find it easier to then turn to the more technical side of the camera.

Getting to know the Canon 450D – What are all these buttons on the back for?

And that’s what I’ve been concentrating on for the last couple of months, getting to know my 450D. Getting used to the feel and weight of the camera. Finding out how the 9 AF point focusing system that the 450D uses works, and looking at my composition of shots and where the light is coming from when I’m shooting. Looking at shooting in Manual mode, aperature priority, shutter priority, fstops, focal lengths etc can be very daunting and overwhelming for a beginner. Once I’ve had more experience trying different composition and lighting techniques, and learned how I can use them to enchance and improve my photography then that’s when I will move onto the more technical side of the DSLR.

I’m really enjoying my photography now I use a DSLR, and lots of different shooting opportunities have become possible. The shots I’ve added are actually some of the first shots I took with my new Canon 450D Camera - straight out of the box!

Mandy

If you enjoyed this post then you may like to read more at my blog

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This is a list of the top 10 items on my digital photography wish list (I have a Canon 450D) and possibly should be on your list too.

Every photographer has a wish list, and the items on the list tend to range from the affordable and practical, to the absolute dream.

I’m a gadget fiend so I love researching and adding to my list (actually writing this post is making me drool). So lets get straight into it, here are the top 10 accessories for your DSLR:

1. Remote Shutter Release Cable

If you are wanting to shoot remotely then there are two solutions. Either a remote shutter release cable for shooting long exposures from behind the camera eg. night photography. Or an infared remote controller for shooting in front of the camera eg. self portraits. I am going for the remote shutter release cable.

2. Sturdy Tripod with a Ballhead

I have a Hama Star 61 that I was given (not going to argue about that!). But on my wishlist I would like a really good sturdy tripod, like a Gitzo tripod or Manfrotto tripod maybe and a Ballhead to give better movement.

3. Canon Speedlite 430EXII

My Canon 450D Camera has an integral pop up flash that will do for now. But I would like to experiment and learn how to use a flash unit properly, I’ve never used one before. That will definitely take my photography to the next level, after all they say lighting is key…

4. Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Lens

The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens and lens hood is the first prime lens that I want to get, and is definitely the cheapest Canon lens that you can buy. It’s great value for money, and a prime lens that everybody should take a closer look at. Also known as a ‘nifty fifty’.

5. Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM Lens

I’d like to upgrade my kit lens an 18-55mm EF-S IS F/3.5 – 5.6 lens, for a more substantial everyday zoom lens. The Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM lens would give me just that and would be a good upgrade from the kit lens. It’s slightly faster with USM and has a nice range, basically a good all round everyday lens.

6. Light Tent/Kit

It’s one thing, and essential to learn how to use natural light effectively when taking photographs, and another to learn the same for artificial lighting. Once I learn how to use a flash properly I can see myself wanting to experiment more with artificial lighting. This is where it can start to get expensive so buying a Light Tent would be a good place to start.

7. Aperture 2 software

I use Photoshop Elements at the moment for post processing and Canon Image Browser to organise my photo library. Which is fine but I really like the look of Aperture, it gives the ability to organise your photos extremely well and also has some powerful editing tools. And reasonably priced as far as photo editing/organising software goes.

8. Macbook Pro

Ok I’m thinking big! But I’d really love one…My poor old iMac 400 is ageing. And although it has done me proud I would really like to retire it soon and bring in some new big guns in the shape of an  Apple MacBook Pro. This would make a huge difference to my photography and workflow. And is a dream that could really do with coming true…

9. Canon Powershot G10

For when one is just not enough…No wishlist would be complete without having another camera on it. If I was going to buy a ‘point and shoot’ camera for those times when a DSLR is a bit bulky, then the Canon Powershot G10 would be it. It has an impressive list of features, including full manual controls and the ability to shoot in RAW to name just two. And a really nice retro design.

10. Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Eventually… Oh I’m dreaming now… The Canon EOS 5D mkII a full frame 21MP DSLR with a High-res 3.0” VGA LCD with Live View and ISO range expandable to 25600. And if that’s not enough it has Full HD (1080, 30fps) movie recording . By the time I could afford this I would have all the lenses I need, so I could just buy the body – what a bargain!!!

I could go on and on (but I wont). And I’m sure your list will change and evolve as you gain more experience in digital photography.

But what’s on the top of your list? What would you like to get your hands on? Let me know by leaving a comment below…

Mandy

P.S. Yes, there are Amazon affiliate links in this article, so you can easily add any of them to your Amazon wish list!

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I hope everyone had a good Christmas and a happy New Year (if you celebrated them!). Before I move completely into 2009, I can’t help wondering what Santa brought you all for Christmas? And was it photography related?

From my point of view Santa brought me a lovely new camera bag for my DSLR, a Canon 450D. It took a good amount of research before I decided on a Lowepro SlingShot 100 AW. And I have to say that I am really pleased with it, in fact I love it! The build quality and features of the bag are fantastic, it holds a DSLR and 1-2 lenses comfortably and has loads of handy pockets as well. One really nice feature is a built in weatherproof cover that just pulls out and covers the whole bag if it starts raining. It was the unique design of the Slingshot bag though that made me chose it, I can have it on my back and when I see something I want to shoot I just swing the bag around to the front, unzip it and voila! It really saves a lot of messing around taking bags off and getting cameras out and then putting them back on etc..

So what did Santa leave for you? Let me know in the comments….

Mandy

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So I’ve been scouring the internet looking at DSLR’s and reviews on them, even with a budget of £500 there’s still a lot on offer from all the big names like Sony, Olympus, Pentax, Canon and Nikon.

The task I set myself was to narrow it down to a shortlist of 3 camera’s that I liked, not an easy task! But I got there in the end and here’s what I found:

note: All of the camera’s below work on a Mac which is very important as I am a Mac user.

Sony A350

The Sony Alpha DSLRA350K comes with a 18-70mm kit lens and was the cheapest of the 3 camera’s I tried. It’s a really nice camera especially for an entry level model, and has some nice features like the funky 2-way tilt LCD and a very large 14 megapixel sensor which is the largest of the 3 camera’s. I’ve listed some more features below. Sony also has a range of 26 lenses available for this camera and it uses a Compactflash memory card.

Canon 450D

I’ve owned other Canon products before and have been very pleased with them but I’ve never owned a camera, although I don’t want my preference for Canon products to sway my decision. The Canon 450D (Rebel XSi) is the mid range for price of the three (also has cashback available from Canon at the moment), it uses SD memory cards and has the largest LCD screen aswell. There’s also over 70 Canon lenses to choose from. The kit lens is 18-55mm and has image stabilization, and this model also has spot metering.

• 12.2 Megapixel CMOS sensor
• 3.5 frames per second continuous shooting
• 9-point wide-area AF with f/2.8 cross-type centre point
• EOS Integrated Cleaning System
• 3.0″ LCD with Live View mode
• 14-bit processing and DIGIC III for enhanced speed and image quality
• Large, bright viewfinder
• Customisable Picture Style image processing options
• Compact and lightweight body
• Digital Photo Professional RAW processing software
• Compatible with all Canon EF and EF-S lenses and Speedlite EX flash

Nikon D80

This is the most expensive of the 3 cameras and is actually a little over my budget (there had to be one), but I think it’s most comparable to the Canon. The kit lens for the Nikon D80 is an impressive 18 – 135mm and that makes it the largest of the camera’s kit lenses, and it also uses SD memory cards.

• High-resolution 10.2 Megapixel DX format CCD: Superior sensitivity and low noise performance for stunning prints up to A3 size
• High-speed 3 fps continuous shooting: Up to 100 JPEG [Large, Normal] or 6 NEF (Raw) consecutive shots
• High-performance image processing engine: Faithful reproduction of vivid, natural colors with rich tonal graduations
• Fast, precise and flexible 11-area AF system with a newly developed easy-to-use Auto-area AF mode
• Instant response and ultra-short shutter lag: Ready to shoot whenever the decisive moment arises
• Creative and easy-to-use in-camera effects: In-camera editing with D-Lighting, Red-eye correction, monochrome, filter effects and image overlay

My Decision

This was not an easy decision to make all 3 camera’s are excellent entry level DSLR’s, but a decision had to be made. What hits me when I read the specifications above is how close they all are, it’s really going to be down to personal choice as each has it’s own lure. The two heavy weights of the photography world Canon and Nikon deserve their reputation, as they do stand out from the Sony for experience, support and quality of their products as specialists in imaging.

So it is between the Canon and the Nikon.

This is where it gets a lot trickier, on paper they are very close. The Nikon comes with a larger lens 18-135mm but the Canon has a larger sensor at 12 mp. The Nikon has an 11-area AF system and the Canon has spot metering. So it comes down to personal taste, and it’s got to come down to how they handle. I went to a camera shop and handled both camera’s to see how they felt in my hand and how they felt to use. From that experience I’ve got to say the Canon just edged out the Nikon and came top, it was more comfortable to hold and the buttons were nicely positioned, but it was very close. It just shows how important it is to try a camera before you buy it, on paper the Nikon probably had the edge but in real life the Canon came through…

Mandy

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