And now that prices for DSLRs are in the affordability range of many consumers, the larger camera format is being bought up at the fasted pace in history.
This "tip list" will provide some pointers for shopping for both new and used digital single lens reflex cameras, DSLRs.
TIP #1: Buying used means be thorough. Do not buy DSLRs without chargers, and inspect cameras and lenses for defects. Don't buy foggy lenses or gear that is dirty. Test equipment and make sure everything works correctly. Check battery compartments for corrosion. Inspect viewfinders and shutter mechanisms. Inspect the sensor.
TIP #2: Buy gear you need, and avoid impulse buys. If you know you need a telephoto lens and you own, say a macro 60mm, then don't buy a macro 100mm. Get the gear you need to enhance and expand your photography.
TIP #3: Researching reviews is a great way to gain knowledge about camera, lenses, and gear. Websites like B & H Photo Store and Photozone.com, offer reviews and expert analysis of the gear you want to purchase. YouTubers such as Karl Taylor have informative videos about all sorts of gear. View these platforms diligently. Cameras with high ISO capabilities, or lenses with macro, are often reviewed regularly. Flash units and diffusers are in "how-to-use" format, and offer simple lessons. These videos can expand your consumer knowledge, use them.
TIP #4: Ebay and Amazon are great outlets for bargain shopping DSLR gear. From closeouts to refurbished specials, these sites offer many outstanding deals. Camera manufacturers and superstores like B & H and Costco also offer awesome bargains. Search excessively and find deals that have good warranties.
TIP #5: Craigslist is the best local advertising market for camera gear. Be ultra-picky as this site is very good but with some kooks thrown in. Be a smart consumer...
TIP #6: DSLR cameras are getting more compact and with more features. The Canons and Nikons that used to dominate the DSLR landscape are now accompanied by Sonys and Sigmas. Test these cameras at your local camerastore to see which one you like best. Different ergonomics and user interfaces may provide the answers to questions like, "What should I buy?"
TIP #7: Features are a dime-a-dozen. But the cameras these days are built for many specific uses. A person who wants to shoot sports or wildlife, will want to choose a camera that has a fast burst rate for the shutter. Cameras such as Canon's 7D, that shoot eight frames per second, are the most logical choice for the consumer who can afford the 7D's $1500 price tag. But if that is out of your budget range, knowing that the 70D, at almost half the 7D's cost, shoots six frames per second. Not bad...
TIP #8: Understand that any DSLR is a complicated tool, and that a camera such as the Canon Rebel series, has "auto" settings for the consumer market. Cameras like the Canon 7D and the Nikon 600D, are professional cameras and do not have settings like "Sports" or "Close-up" macro.
TIP #9: Renting gear can be a great way to test lenses and even camera bodies. A potential buyer who has wide-angle lenses on that wish list, can test Sigma's 10-20mm, Canon's 10-18 and 10-22mm, Tamron's 10-24mm, and whatever else is out there, Testing telephoto lenses will let the photographer know about quality and long zoom ends, and how these big lenses act on a tripod. Testing gear is an essential part of the buying process.
TIP #10: Prices vary sometimes greatly for the DSLR market. Just a few months ago, I was printing some jpeg 4 x 6 photos, and Fred Meyer had a Canon T3 on clearance for $269. The kit lens is of course the EFS 18-55mm IS, but what a deal. Search every camera outlet, from Walmart to Costco to The Shutterbug. The results can be spectacular.
All photos COPYRIGHT Ronald Borst
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