I quite often get questions about equipment and especially buying digital SLR camera gear. It is a confusing bunch of hyperbole and marketing mis-information when you go and talk to the guy behind the camera store counter.
When it gets right down to it, any digital SLR that is currently for sale is capable of delivering superior results compared to any 35mm camera or any point and shoot digital camera. That statement makes buying pretty easy doesn't it?
Here are some of my myth-busting, bet you didn't know statements.
- A six megapixel camera will deliver a beautful 24x36 print. Anything more than six megapixels is overkill for most people.
- You don't have to buy an expensive lens to get good results - the 50 f1.8 lens that runs less than $100 can give you fantastic images. However, a good zoom isn't cheap.
- Buying a good camera won't make you a better photographer. Um, sorry about that. It will improve your ability to control things and not put a limit on the quality you can receive.
As for specific equipment suggetions, it really varies depending on what you want to photograph. For most general purpose photography, I would recommend a Canon Rebel XT for the camera body. Need something tougher or shoots faster, try the Canon 20D or 30D.
Then add a Tamron lens (17-50 f2.8 or 28-75 f2.8). The reason I suggest Tamron is that they are small, light, capable of excellent quality and inexpensive. Where they fall down is on build quality. I wouldn't use one for my main lens because I use it so much, but most normal people don't take 75,000+ images every year! If you want a really great lens, I am currently in love with my Canon 17-55 f2.8 IS. The perfect lens for me. Another favorite toy is the Tokina 12-24 f4.
The next thing I would recommend would be an external flash that you can tilt and swivel the flash head. Once you try bounce flash, you do your best to avoid direct!
My final recommendation is that once you buy the gear - learn how to use it. Learn how to improve that photograph you wanted really badly, but it didn't turn out. Making mistakes shouldn't be frustrating, it's instructive. Have fun!
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