Why a DSLR?
DSLR stands for Digital Single-Lens Reflex. The larger size of a DSLR camera, combined with its manual controls, can sometimes intimidate shoppers and first-time owners. In reality, however, a DSLR can be just as easy to use as a point-and-shoot digital camera.
Most DSLRs feature full auto and scene modes just like the compacts. The difference is a DSLR offers far more flexibility in terms of the lenses, flashes and filters you can use, all of which help give you far more creative control over how your pictures will look.
Depth of Field
A DSLR lets you vary aperture settings, which affects depth of field – or how much of your photo will appear in focus. A low aperture setting (e.g. f/5.6) will focus primarily on your subject and cause a blurry background effect. A higher aperture setting (e.g. f/7.1) will keep more elements in focus. DSLRs allow you to control depth of field more than any other type of camera.
Shutter Speed
To capture action in your shot, you need to control shutter speed. Higher shutter speeds (e.g. 1/1600) allow you to freeze fast-moving events like sports and dance recitals. Low shutter speeds (e.g. 1/2) are great for subjects like fireworks and running water that may take a while to develop.
CCD or CMOS Sensor
The sensor is what records an image when you shoot a picture or video. Its size affects its ability to detect and record light accurately. Compared with compact cameras, DSLRs have larger sensors that enable them to produce images with superior detail and colours. CMOS sensors capture incredibly clean image data while reducing power consumption.
Slow Light Photography (ISO)
ISO is a term used to describe how sensitive a camera is to light. If the sun is out and there’s a lot of natural light, a low ISO setting (e.g. 200) will give the best results. If the sky is overcast or you’re shooting indoors or at night, a high ISO setting (e.g. 6400) will capture as much available light as possible.
Interchangeable Lenses
One of the main benefits of owning a DSLR is the ability to change lenses according to your subject. From standard to portrait to telephoto, there are DSLR lenses to suit nearly every purpose and budget. So whether you’re taking a photo of a person, a picturesque city skyline or wildlife, there’s a lens that will get you the best shot. Throw an extra lens in your camera bag and you’ll be equipped for almost any situation.
Portrait Lens
A good portrait lens will accurately depict the human face. Unlike a wide-angle lens, it won’t emphasize one facial feature over another, in effect creating a distorted image. Neither will it compress space like a telephoto lens will, thus rendering a “flat” image of the face. When shooting portraits, you don’t want any distracting background. Portrait lenses will softly blur it out and put the focus on what matters most to your shot: the face.
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Telephoto Zoom Lens
A telephoto lens is essential if you want to photograph subjects at a distance (like concerts, sporting events and landscapes) or that you cannot otherwise approach (such as wildlife). Telephotos are the most common type of long-focus, narrow-angle lenses.
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Macro Lens
A macro lens enables you to take close-ups of small objects and uncover details that are impossible for the unaided eye to see. Even when you’re extremely close to your subject, a macro will let you focus at 1:1 magnification or 100% lifesize.
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Wide-Angle Lens
A wide-angle lens can fit more of your subject into the frame than a standard lens. This quality makes wide-angle lens the best lens to use when you’re trying to capture vast landscapes or snap large group shots.
A wide-angle also has the ability to exaggerate depth and relative size in a picture (causing perspective distortion), making it a very powerful creative tool.
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DSLR Flashes
Any photographer will tell you that light is the most important component of a great picture. An external DSLR flash allows you to add light in situations where you may not have enough, or alter the existing light you already have. Entry-level external flashes help you enhance your built-in flash while higher-end flashes allow you to operate remotely from the menu screen of your DSLR camera.
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Here are some of the reasons you may want to use an external flash:
- To minimize shadows and enhance natural skin tones for professional-looking portraits
- To produce even lighting across your photo by «bouncing» light off a wall or ceiling
- To dramatically reduce the chances of red eye in photos
Customize and personalize
Owning a DSLR or Compact System Camera is all about customization – making your camera unique to you and your personal photography style. The following accessories provide budding photographers and seasoned professionals alike with a complete solution.
Tripods
Tripods help to provide blur-free images so they should be in every photographer’s toolbox.
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Height
How does the tripod extend? What is its maximum, minimum and folded height? All of these factors will affect portability and the kind of pictures you can take.
Weight
Make sure the tripod can carry the total load it is going to support. And don’t be fooled: heavier doesn’t always equal stronger. Carbon fibre makes for great tripods because it’s both lightweight and strong.
Stability
Always check the tripod’s stability when its legs are fully extended. If it’s stable, it will remain firmly in place even with weight on it.
Tripod Heads
Heads come with either a pan and tilt or ball and socket design. Pan and tilt heads move up and down; ball and socket heads let you position the camera in any direction.
Filters
It’s always a good idea to have a selection of filters in your camera bag. Hoya filters help your camera capture your subject exactly as your eye sees it. Two essential Hoya filters are the multicoated UVC and the polarizer.
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Multicoated UVC: Hoya multicoated filters prevent UV rays from making your outdoor photos look hazy. They preserve the vibrant colours of your images. And left on your lens, they can help protect it from dust and from getting scratched.
Polarizer: Hoya polarizing filters eliminate unwanted reflections from non-metallic surfaces such as water, glass and plants. They help keep colours looking richer, more vibrant and with better contrast.
Specialty bags
A good bag should at the very least feature durable, waterproof material, a fully padded interior, removable/adjustable straps and sturdy snap hooks. For over 40 years, Lowepro has been making purpose-built camera/video bags for all kinds of photographers. Lowepro products combine durability and ease-of-use with sensible innovation. Some of Lowepro’s innovative features include: SlipLock™ attachment loops for adding extra bags, a patented All Weather AW Cover™ and Hideaway Tripod Mount™ that attaches to the bag to secure a tripod or monopod.
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