How to buy cameras and lenses

Buying new cameras and lenses should be fun but most of the time can be a big headache. The problem seems to be the "Brand Name" with many buyers, especially beginners. If you are a regular visitor to my site and have read my other pages, you know I have given suggestions on camera systems and features before. I have also discussed brand names, so I'm not going to go over this again. What I'm going to do here is to help you learn how to shop for your next camera or lens.

Buying a camera

First thing you should do is to ask yourself what type of photography do you want to do and how much do you want to spend? Do you like portrait or nature photography? How about architectural or close-ups? May be you like all types of photography. A top of the line camera with high continues film advance and fast autofocus with tracking is a good choice for wildlife and sports photographer, but if you are going to do only landscape photography, a less expensive and lighter camera might be a better choice.

 Look for cameras that have the features you want and are within your price range. Keep in mind that you'll need extra money for lenses and accessories. You can search this site or the web to learn more about cameras currently being made. You should definitely look into photography magazines to read reviews on different models. Contact each manufacturers and request brochure on the models you are considering. Compare specifications and system accessories to see what each manufacturer offers. What type of lenses, flashes, teleconverters, etc. Do they offer choices in lens speeds? You may not need a fast single focal length 85mm f-1.4 or 135mm f-2 lens for portrait photography right now if you believe an 80-200mm f-4.5-5.6 zoom will be enough. However, as you grow, you may want to purchase one of these lenses. It is better to choose a manufacturer that offers  lenses in different speeds and focal lengths.

Next step is to drive to your local camera store and see the models for yourself. Hold the camera in your hands. Make sure you feel comfortable with the camera and like the way its controls are designed. Look through the viewfinder. Does it display all the information you need? Is it easy to see through the viewfinder? Check the autofocus speed if you are considering an autofocus model. The weight of the camera is very important. Keep in mind that you may add heavy long telephotos to the camera. Hold the camera in vertical position and operate the focus ring and fire the shutter. Does it feel comfortable in vertical position. Controls that you use frequently should be easy to operate and quick to access. Aperture and shutter speed select, exposure modes, exposure compensation, etc.

One last thing is to make sure you really like the camera, otherwise you won't enjoy using it no matter how good and sophisticated it might be. Every manufacturer currently has models that I absolutely love and some that I simply don't like. I have seen and operated almost all newer and many of the older discontinued cameras. Many of them included everything you can possibly ask for, except I didn't like some of those models. Don't ask me why. I don't know.

Before you make the final decision, it is a good idea to rent or borrow the camera if you know somebody who has one. Many camera stores also rent cameras. You should rent the camera you want to purchase especially if it is a high price model. Test it for a day or two to make sure it is what you want. I love renting. Not because I want to buy, but just to play. Some of the test reports I have done on this site were done with rented equipment.

No matter which model you end up with, a newer and more sophisticated camera will hit the market sooner than you think. Don't feel bad or regret your purchase. Learn to use your camera and most importantly, enjoy it.

Buying lenses

Before you buy a new lens, think carefully what it is you want to do with the lens. You will probably trade your camera in a few years for a newer model since camera technology is growing so fast. Newer models come out every few months with more features and
at lower prices. Lenses however, will last you a long time. Buy the best you can afford so you won't have to upgrade it soon. First decide on the focal length and lens speed depending on the type of photography you do. If you shoot a lot of sports for instance, a 300mm f-2.8 is a better choice than a 75-300mm f-4.5-5.6. The faster aperture gives you two additional stops of light for freezing action. On the other hand, if you mainly need the 300mm focal length for some distant landscape shots, then a 75-300mm f-4.5-5.6 zoom is enough. Lens speed and focal length are also important for controlling background. Portrait photography for example, usually requires short telephotos between 85mm and 135mm. Any zoom lens covering these focal lengths will give acceptable results, but faster single focal length f-1.4 or f-2 models create more pleasing soft focus background.

Know also what additional lenses you will need and how fast your lenses have to be. I have gone through many different lenses to come up with what I own right now. Another consideration is the lens' close-focusing ability. I'm not talking about macro photography at life-size, but a wide-angle lens that can focus down to a few inches or a telephoto lens to a few feet are ideal. Variable aperture and constant aperture zooms are another consideration. A 20-35mm f-3.5-4.5 has a maximum aperture of f-3.5 at 20mm setting but f-4.5 at 35mm length. A 20-35mm f-2.8 constant aperture zoom gives you f-2.8 wide open aperture at any length. Do you need this speed at all focal lengths? If so, spend the extra money and buy the faster lens. Faster lenses are also sharper at open apertures. A 300mm f-2.8 is much sharper than a 75-300mm f-4.5-5.6 zoom when used wide open and any lens produces sharper images when stopped down one or two stops from its maximum aperture.

Once you decide on the lens focal length and speed, check the models available for your brand. Check both your own camera manufacturer and independent lens makers. I highly recommend shooting a test roll with the lens you want to purchase. Go to your local camera store with your camera and tripod. Ask the dealer to let you shoot a roll with the lens. Any good dealer will let their customers do this. Step outside the store and mount the camera and lens on your tripod and shoot a series at different f-stops and focal lengths if purchasing a zoom. Process the roll and examine the shots for sharpness and color. If you are happy with the results and like the lens, buy it. Just make sure you won't have to replace it soon, especially if it is an expensive lens. You can always trade a 150 dollar 70-210mm f-4.5-5.6 for a better zoom without loosing too much money, but replacing a 1500 dollar 80-200mm f-2.8 zoom can be a big loss. Buy the best lens you can afford and learn to use it to its fullest capability. This is more important than buying more lenses.

 One last thing. Don't rely on the sales person to teach you all about cameras or lenses. If you have a few questions, ask. Otherwise, learn all you can about the equipment before buying.

 

Recommended Equipment Normal Zooms Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 EX DG This is the world's smallest, large and constant aperture zoom lens and is ideal for digital SLR cameras. The power layout of the lens is specially optimized for digital SLR cameras, and Super Multi Coating gives superb color performance whilst cutting down flare and ghost. Two SLD elements and four aspherical lenses provide the ultimate correction against distortion as well as all types of aberration, especially spherical aberration. Its advanced optical design ensures high performance throughout the entire zoom range. The use of aspherical lenses in the construction of this lens not only corrects aberrations but also produces a very small and lightweight lens design. Its compact, yet robust, construction has an overall length of 87.2mm (3.4in.), maximum diameter of 74mm (2.9in.), filter size of f67mm and weight of 510g(18.0 ounces). It has a minimum focusing distance of 33cm (13 in.) at all focal lengths and a maximum magnification ratio of 1:4.4 which is very convenient for close-up photography. The inner focus system allows the lens to be focused without rotating the front element, therefore a Petal-type hood and circular polarizing filters can easily be used. For Canon For Nikon for Pentax Telephoto Zooms Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX HSM Sigma's Hyper Sonic Motors (H.S.M.) provide silent, responsive autofocus action with Canon, Sigma, and now Nikon AF cameras. H.S.M. also permits manual adjustment of focus without the necessity of switching off the autofocus function. Focus Free mechanism keeps the manual focus ring from spinning when the camera is autofocusing. This lens features apochromatic optical design and four elements composed of Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass for high image contrast, resolution and color saturation. The front barrel does not rotate during focusing, due to internal focusing system. Internal zooming mechanism allows the lens length to remain constant during zooming. For Canon For Nikon for Pentax