BEYOND IMAGININGS

Digital SLR Cameras

The Digital SLR (single lens reflex) cameras today are what most people consider serious cameras. By looking into the viewfinder of an SLR, you can get a good idea what you are going to capture in your picture, and when you press the shutter release, the picture is captured immediately. If you see a well-lit scene that you want to shoot, instead of using an on-camera flash and washing out the scene with harsh white light, you can capture the scene easily with a Digital SLR camera.

The more popular SLRs - Canon and Nikon - even allow you to use those older lenses that you've held over from the 35mm film days, on the digital SLRs.  Keep in mind that if you are just out to capture some family moments with a camera ready in your pocket, the SLR will be a bit cumbersome. They are larger and heavier than most point-and-shoot cameras.  But if you are desiring a specific photographic moment, like catching that fleeting smile on the newest member of the family, you will find that the SLR's controls and fit allow it to be convenient, responsive - able to capture that one-of-a-kind shot on a moment's notice. Digital SLR manufacturers install fast computers and better autofocus systems on their cameras. The sensors are typically larger than found in point-and-shoot cameras, a feature that provides better performance in different situations, like low-light conditions.

Someone just starting out with digital SLR focus more attention on the camera body, its external features, and its ability to autofocus. But more seasoned photographers look at the SLR's 'internal' features - pixels, CMOS sensors, LCD displays, etc.  This also includes multiple lens use, flash units, and the variety of cords necessary - for accessories, etc. The cost in lenses will far outweigh the cost of the camera body, therefore it is essential to choose a Digital SLR whose manufacturer makes lenses that support your potential photographic projects; or, who is popular enough that you can rent lenses for special situations. These lenses are not interchangeable between brands of cameras. If you have some Canon and/or Nikon lenses from your film days, you may want to purchase that respective brand of digital SLR.

A novice photographer uses a zoom lens instead of having to move forward or backward, as opposed to visualizing the scene, choosing the focal length, and getting into the appropriate position to capture that scene with that focal length. The more inexpensive zoom lenses that come bundled with the Canon Digital Revels or Nikon D50's are not advantageous for building skills or creating compelling images. These lenses also come with additional drawbacks - lower aperture settings, which forces the use of the on-camera flash - resulting in a scene that looks entirely different than that seen with the naked eye (flash photography is its own area of camera expertise).

And then there is image quality - sharpness and contrast quality is reduced with a cheap zoom lens, even if attached to a heavier, more expensive digital SLR.

Wide-Angle Lenses

A wide-angle lens allows your pictures to encompass a focal object surrounded by its environment. The focal object should ideally fill about 1/3 of the frame, therefore you would move in toward the object until it does. What you will notice is that your object has a wide swath of background encircling it.

The larger/heavier digital SLR cameras use Compact Flash (CF) memory cards. Many cameras do not come with a CF card, or the supplied card will only hold a few images. Depending on what photographic project you are working on, you may want a fast card. How would it look to have your wedding subjects positioned in a pose waiting for a few seconds for you to take your next shot, or do you think a creature out in the wild is going to wait for your camera to catch up?  There are a variety of CF cards to choose from.  SanDisk is one example.

Tripods

Human beings are not able to keep still long enough to take a picture that requires keeping the shutter open for several seconds. The use of a tripod will allow the 30 second or longer exposures. Another optional accessory, but one that gives an added benefit, is the remote switch - a fixture that attaches to your digital SLR camera via a side panel. This switch allows you to stand apart from your camera, whether setting on a surface or affixed to your tripod, and prevents 'shutter jerk' - human movement while pushing the shutter - especially during low-light or dark-of-night shots.

Image Editing Software

For some tips on what to look for, click on the above link.  There are so many to choose from, and it depends on what you want in your picture taking and in what you will do with your images.

As you become more than a budding photographer and your camera system grows, you will find more and more interesting objects to fill your eyepiece and/or viewfinder. You'll find yourself moving forward, moving backward, climbing, crouching, or just standing away from your camera - testing out new shots, lighting, subjects - you name it. 

A great resource for you budding nature photographers is the Nature Photographers Online Magazine - a network of amateur and professional photographers devoted to nature, wildlife, and landscape photography.

Other accessories: telephoto lens, macro lens, camera bag.

Point And Shoot! OR Compose Focus And Shoot! Whatever suits your fancy!