Buying a digital camera

When buying your first digital camera, it is perfectly natural for a person new to this craft to be overwhelmed. Electronics stores are simply full of new models, each of which is in some way better than the previous or different from the others. SLR digital cameras with optical zoom, increased memory and improved processors, sleek lightweight silver models or solid black ones, a Nikon 17-55 lens or a Canon 17-40... To be frank, you are unlikely to be able to quickly get your bearings in this flow of products. And you don't need to.

As those who know advise, when choosing your first camera, choose an entire product line. Even if you manage to stay at an amateur level without buying extra lenses or expanding your collection of digital photo equipment, accessories and optics, the habit of using certain models will make itself felt later — a different button layout on the body, a different weight distribution in the hand, even a different control interface will simply feel inconvenient.

Nikon digital cameras have become something of a legend in the world of photographic equipment. Although they do not treat the market to new models very often, each successive one is distinguished by excellent design, ergonomics and reliability. Cameras like the Nikon D3000 and Nikon D300s can certainly be called examples of excellent solutions in their respective classes. Among the brand's loyal followers there are many professional photographers as well as ordinary people who do not chase hyped brands but value quality and convenience. However, there is a fly in the ointment — the network of official service centers is not very well developed. This is especially noticeable in outlying areas — often you have to send equipment to another city for repairs. And, accordingly, wait.

In this respect another major manufacturer — Canon — stands out quite favorably. Its service centers exist in almost every city, and its marketing and advertising are superbly organized. A powerful production and research base allows it to release new equipment frequently. True, this policy occasionally affects quality, but models are refined fairly quickly. The company's cameras have proven themselves well across all classes — from amateur to highly professional. In addition, Canon digital cameras are represented in a fairly wide assortment in the most remote regions of the country, which naturally has a positive effect on the brand's recognition.

However, for a non-professional all this rather resembles a debate about "Who is stronger, the tiger or the bear." The fact is that when buying expensive models it's good to have a clear idea of what exactly you are buying it for. After all, someone needs a significant amount of memory, while someone else needs, for example, portrait quality. Some value a dignified appearance; others, on the contrary, prefer the compactness of a model.

And don't think that cheap SLR digital cameras are radically worse in quality. For example, even among budget Nikon models you will often find optical quality worthy of professionals. The range of functions is simply reduced compared to what "professional" models can offer. The whole question is whether you consider it worth paying for unused functions. All that can be advised in this case is to soberly assess, first, how much you can afford to spend on your hobby (and how permanent it is), and second, what you will roughly be photographing (friendly gatherings, landscapes, or stormy skies).

In any case, remember that no matter what, a beautiful photograph is made by the person, not the equipment.