Based on what I know what dslr camera should I get?Ten points best answer?

Question

Well I am only sixteen but want to get a dslr camera. I took photography last year and so far this is what I've learned. Aperture is measured in f/stops the larger the aperture, the smaller the number. The shutter speed and aperture balance an image and in order to get a small depth of field so the background is blurry set your aperture large like f/2 and if you want it crystal clear throughout the whole photo set it to a a small aperture like f/22. And if you want motion to be completely frozen set it to a fast shutter speed and a slow shutter speed if you want the photo to blur the motion. So this is what I learned and so i want to know if I am still in the beginner range?? Should I get a beginner dslr because i still have a lot to learn or should i get a intermediate one?? Any suggestions would be good, i just don't want to get a high tech dslr camera and then have no idea what i'm doing.

Answer 1

What camera do you have now?  See if the camera company makes a DSLR that will use the lenses you have now to save yourself some money

The skills you have now can be transfered seamlessly to the DSLR body

The major differences you will like is you can change the white balance in the middle of a shoot as well as the ISO.

If you don't have a 35 mm SLR, then you can look at the Nikon D40 with 18-55 mm lens for under $470 on Amazon

Answer 2

Well, you know the right stuff - it's just about all you need to know in order to begin doing creative photography, as opposed to snapping. Now it's time to learn about composition and lightning, and metering and so on. You know how to do it technically, so it's time to learn what to do with your technical skills...

As to the camera - you absolutely definitely need to get an entry level camera? Why? Very simple - dSLR cameras - all of them have all the controls you know about and all the ones you are going to learn in the near and far future.

The difference between entry level and intermediate dSLR is the way you access those features, plus some little improvements in performance. These are the little things like extra buttons to change settings without a trip to a menu, or extra display to show the shooting mode off the main LCD or it takes more shots per second. These are really important to professionals and those who need to operate the camera really fast. For example a wedding photographer moves along with the ceremony from the street and into a darker hall, and needs to quickly adjust the camera to the new settings - without going through menus, just by pressing a few buttons...

So, you should go for entry level camera not because of what you know - don't worry, you won't grow out of it too fast. You should get it because you really won't need the extras of the intermediate dSLR. Instead - get the cheaper body and a good lens(es). The lenses are indeed important. Much more important than the body. After all when and if you do decide to get a more advanced body (more likely because your old one will become obsolete with technology advances, than because you grew out of it) - you will keep all your lenses and will use them with a new body.

So think about it this way. You are not buying a camera body and a lens to go along with it. You are buying a really good lens and a camera body to go along with it.

Good luck, and enjoy your great hobby!

You have lots of fun and excitement ahead!

LEM.  

Answer 3

The Nikon D40 or D60 would work great for you. They will not break your bank account but they will give you great pictures and let you use what you know now and be flexible enough to grow with you.. do not let the lower MP count on the D40 concern you. If you are not going to be blowing it up to very very large prints you will never notice. The D60 does give you dust control, active D lighting, a newer image processor and a better meter than the D40. The D40 dollar for dollar gives you more than any DSLR on the market so its a best buy and could let you get more lenses and such.

Either one you will enjoy I have both a D40 and a D300 and even though the D300 has more features I often grab the D40 just because it is so fun to use and gives great results

If you can use a film SLR you can use a digital. You will have some learning curve on the post processing end as you will probably do your own digital darkroom work so you will have to learn your photoediting software

One thing I should ask since you have an SLR is what brand do you have now ? If you already have lenses and accessories you may want to go with the same brand as your film SLR so you can use those.