Buying an SLR Camera + Lenses

I get asked this question a lot: “Chelsea, we are looking to buy a new camera; could you recommend one for us?” It feels like such a loaded question because there are so many ways to answer it, so I thought I would do a little post about my recommendations on a great starter camera, as well as list some quality lenses you should consider.

 

NAME BRAND

 

First, for me, it always comes down to Canon or Nikon. They are hands down the two best brands for SLR cameras (in my opinion) and you really can’t go wrong with either of them. I cannot emphasize this enough though: whichever brand you go with, you have to stick with it. Many camera accessories, particularly lenses, are made for their specific camera brand, so unless you want to spend a truckload of money switching your gear over in the future, you are better off picking a side and sticking with it. If you are unsure, head to your local camera store and test out both kinds (I highly recommend Arlington Camera in Arlington, TX or Houston Camera Exchange and Camera Co-Op here in Houston). Hold each camera and see how they feel, check out the user-friendliness of the menu, compare specs, and gauge opinions of the pros. I don’t think it’s possible to do too much research before you make a big purchase like this 🙂 I am a Canon girl (despite Ashton Kutcher’s strong efforts for the other team), so my recommendations for you will always be Canon since that is what I am most familiar with. And since I chose Canon, here are my opinions on what to consider:

 

CAMERA BODY

 

Canon makes many body types, starting from about $600 and going up from there depending on the specs. So even when you choose the brand you want, finding the actual camera can be overwhelming. The Canon Rebel series (T2i, T3i, or the new T4i) is a great option for a starter SLR camera in a moderate price range. I know that this still leaves you with a few to choose from, so some of the most important things to weigh when trying to decide between each of the bodies mentioned here are: ISO sensitivity and performance at high ISO settings (how well they do in low light situations), sensor and image quality, and continuous shooting speed (how many frames you can shoot per second). There are obviously more advanced camera options out there, but this post is for my beginner SLR users, so for their sake, I am going to keep the buying options (and subsequently, the amount of mind-numbing info) to a minimum, if possible 🙂 But which one should I get, Chelsea? Just pick one for me — it’s too hard to choose! It really depends on you — your camera needs and your budget — but if I were shopping for say, my sister-in-law, I would probably go with the T3i.

 

WHAT’S IN A LENS?

 

When people ask me about investing in a good camera, they usually don’t discuss lenses. At least, not initially. A common misconception with SLR buying is that you should spend your hard-earned cash on the actual camera (especially if it comes with a kit lens), but lenses is really where it’s at, folks. My two cents: buy a great camera body that fits your needs, but put the bulk of your money into purchasing quality lenses. The higher-end lenses can last a lifetime and rarely have upgraded models, but even so, a great lens will always be a great lens — regardless of  its successors. Mine are in it for the long haul, folks! Cameras come and cameras go with all of the competitive upgrades and features being added, but quality lenses are a solid investment in your picture-taking future. I have upgraded my camera twice now (about to do it for a third time!) but my lenses remain safely in my arsenal because I invested in quality lenses.

 

My name is Chelsea and I pretty much hate kit lenses.

 

I know how tempting it is to just buy a camera with a kit lens — it’s like getting a little bonus. You think “that will surely give me the shots I want to capture, right? Right?” Chirp chirp. Crickets on this end. If I’m being totally honest, the answer is no. Will the ‘free’ kit lens allow you to snag some decent shots? Of course. And if this is the only option for you to get a lens, then by all means do it (you can’t shoot without a lens, and this option is very affordable). But if you have the chance to purchase the camera body without the kit lens, I highly suggest doing that. Kit lenses are made to be sold to the masses at low prices, and they just aren’t that great of quality. But the number one reason that I say to forego the kit lens option is really suitability. Suitability to you. My experience has shown that beginner SLR users get bored with their kit lens really fast because they are so generic. They do a little of this and a little of that, all the while doing none of what you really want. Choose the lens(es) that perfectly fits you and your photography needs. If you opt to buy just the camera body when shopping for your SLR, you’ll save a little chunk of money, so consider putting that toward a great lens that will give you more of what you want. Just think about it: If you are going to be hauling around your bulky new SLR camera (they are bulky!), you should at least have a decent lens for optimum image quality and achieving the desired results, shouldn’t you? Invest in one (or a few) great lenses that will last, that will help you capture great images, and that will enhance your camera’s capabilities instead of hinder them. Otherwise, the more affordable and easy-to-carry point-and-shoots are on aisle 6…

 

 So now that you’ve totally insulted my kit lens, which lens(es) should I get? 

 

Lenses can be just as expensive as your actual camera, oftentimes more, so it is important to pick the right one for you. Like I mentioned above, consider what you want in a lens and go from there — do you need a great zoom/telephoto lens for your kid’s football games, or a portrait lens for everyday moments? Are you a fan of capturing the tiny details as with a macro lens, or do you want to shoot landscape with a wide angle lens? Only you can decide what will work best for you, but I highly recommend testing out different lenses in person so you can get a good feel for them, either at a camera store or a camera/lens rental location. Any of the locations I mentioned earlier have fantastic customer service who will tell you the truth about your lens options. I feel that camera stores are much better for testing gear and asking questions because they are experts in this field. Anything you need to know about cameras, they can help you with it. If you go to a store that sells SLR cameras alongside refrigerators and car stereo systems, you’ll likely get a staff member who knows a little about each thing, but not a whole heck of a lot about cameras. I personally don’t want someone like that selling me a pricey camera.  Just a thought.

 

Since most of my questions come from people who are ultimately looking for a good portrait lens that create sharp images that oftentimes have that awesome blurry background (aka depth of field and/or bokeh), I recommend buying a prime lens (focal length cannot be adjusted; the only way to take in more or less of the scene or “zoom in and out” is to walk closer to or further from the subject). They usually produce sharper and brighter images with better contrast and beautiful backgrounds. For me, there are really great prime lenses, and oh-my-gosh-how-did-I-live-without-you?! prime lenses (part of the Canon L Series lenses). The L Series lenses are not what you would call affordable, but the good news is that Canon has variations of some of my favorite L’s so you can start out with a one of the really great lenses and then possibly upgrade to an OMGHDILWY lens if you can/want to. A perfect example is one of these two rock stars: the Canon 50mm f/1.4 or the Canon 85mm f/1.8. Even though I shoot with the L Series version of these lenses, I still have these as part of my collection and Troy uses them all the time. They perform really well, are super durable, and are really well-priced (less than $400 a piece). I have even heard that they are easier to control than their more expensive L Series counterparts — BOOM! I highly recommend buying one of them as an investment lens for your SLR camera.

 

Whatever you do, just make sure you are getting QUALITY lenses. I don’t care if it looks super cool in all of it’s giant paparazzi-ness, not every lens is a good lens, folks. It’s true, you get what you pay for. Big jumps in price = big jumps in image quality though, and that’s just the cold hard truth.

 

For information on pricing and what to expect when shopping for a lens, Consumer Reports has a fantastic article full of useful information. This article from Tested is also a great resource — and it even advocates a bit for the kit lens 🙂

 

I hope this helps you when you decide to buy that SLR. I know it is a big investment, but it’s definitely one worth making if you are serious about capturing quality images. Any questions? Leave me a comment!