DSLR camera with low MP count or Normal camera with high MP?

Question

hi, i am interested in nature photography but my budget is limited to Rs. 20K (Indian)

i have chosen Nikon D40 which is a DSLR camera with 6 MP

so should i go for it? it is enough? or should i take a normal digital camera with 10 or more MP?

please suggest any models if u can within the budget...thank you :)

Answer 1

Can't go wrong with the Nikon.

Answer 2

Always go for the DSLR as you can put any size lens on it, there is no 'shutter lag' and the larger sensor gives better, less noisy results.

The Nikon D40 is a very low speced camera, look at the Pentax range these have anti shake built into the camera so every lens you fit has anti shake, (very useful for telephoto lenses), there are thousands of Pentax lenses made in the last 50 years available cheaply and you can use them all. The D40 is limited to the lenses it can use and they are all expensive.

Lots of Mp just means you can print bigger, some of the Mp size quoted on cheaper cameras are 'interpolated' the actual optical size of the sensor is the only spec that matters.

Chris

Answer 3

Unless you are planning to do enlargements or very detailed editing work, just about anything over 2 MP will work just fine.  Most people cannot see the difference between a 1MP and a 10MP photo unless you enlarge it.

You need a camera with a Macro setting for getting really close to things such as bugs, flowers, leaves, etc.  

You need a zoom lens with a range from wide angle to moderate telephoto for Nature Photography such as landscapes, flowers in general.  IF you decided you would be photographing things such as Eagles nesting high on a cliff, you might want a longer telephoto lens.

DO NOT do anything with a digital zoom.  Go with as large an optical zoom as you can afford - it's probably more important in the long run than the Megapixels.  If you go with the DSLR with interchangeable lenses, you can get the basic wide angle to telephoto zoom lens and then if you decided you really need the stronger/longer telephoto lens you can add it later.

One caution about the telephoto lenses -- the stronger the lens, the more you need a tripod.  It magnifies the tiniest flutter and many of you photos may be slightly out of focus (even with image stabilization feature being offered).

The Nikon is a good camera.  

If you want to go with a "point-and-shoot" camera, I recommend one of the Canon ELPH cameras with a view finder.  Do NOT get a camera without a viewfinder -- it uses up the battery quicker, is harder to frame the picture you want, and often is impossible to see clearly in bright sunlight.

Also, no matter what anyone tells you about interchangeable lenses, try a lens with the camera before you buy the lens or the camera.  Even if you aren't buying the extra lens at the time you buy the camera, you want to know for certain that the lenses actually will work with that particular camera.