Buying a new digital camera or camera lens can be rather confusing for most amateur photographers. Digital cameras are certainly far more often used than film cameras these days. You may hear professionals or semi-professionals raving about the latest slr cameras and insisting that an slr camera is the only kind worth having.
For really professional, top notch photography this is pretty much true. SLR cameras very simply provide the photographer with more speed and more control over the camera. The only problem with them is that they can be very expensive, even without the lenses. A good slr camera lens can cost you as much as the camera itself! If expense is not important then you can really go to town with developing your photographic skills.
Having decided to purchase an SLR camera you will probably want to get one or more lenses to go with it. Depending on the type of photography you enjoy you may settle for something like a wide angle lens for such things as landscape photography. A good telephoto lens is a must for most wildlife photographers. The biggest thing to remember when selecting a digital slr lens is that it needs to fit your camera mount. Lenses and cameras ‘speak’ to each other electronically. This means that there is no point buying a Nikon lens to go with your Canon camera, they just won’t talk the same language. You can however use third party lenses from companies such as Sigma, so long as you get a correct one for your mount.
If you are just starting out in photography and are not sure if SLR is the way to go, or can’t afford the cost there are ‘SLR-like’ digital cameras available. These are more like slr’s than the general pocket cameras but generally don’t give quite the same level of results as a genuine SLR. They can make a great mid-way point though.
Whatever kind of camera and lens you opt for in the end, it always pays to read as many reviews as you can before making a final decision. Digital cameras and lenses are not created equal and not everyone wants or needs the same features in a lens or camera. Take your time to find the one that is just right for you.
