What is truly the best DSLR camera?

The best DSLR camera is the one you choose!! Obvious? Not so much it seems.

It’s time to find your best camera. When I did my first search I almost made a huge mistake. I almost bought a professional camera. Fortunately one of the sales guys asked the right questions and I learned that I should stay with a high end consumer camera, saving myself several thousand dollars in the body cost alone!

Thank you Josh! Needless to say he became my trusted advisor.

I also changed the way I look for a camera. I was doing a search and comparison of all the technical information, thereby completely overlooking the real variables in choosing my best DSLR camera.

The way I now conduct my search includes little actual technical studies. You’ll notice the lack of in depth technical information on my site.

There is lots of technical information everywhere you look. When you read the technical information you are still left with the chore of deciding which is the best of the best of the best of all! With technology that so closely matches the competition how can you ever know you are making the BEST choice? And what if you choose the one that is a little lesser? Is that really a mistake?

Thus, using technical information how do you arrive at the one and only camera that is best suited for you? I'll treat you like I'm your friend standing at your side in order to guide you to your own personal “Best DSLR Camera” choice. Not the choice of those with the most convincing words.

Rather than technical comparisons, I will point you in the direction whereby you can make your own choice. How's that?

The other thing you’ll notice about this page is its simplicity. It actually is a rather simple matter to choose the one camera that best suits you! I’ll step you through it.

This page is about consumer grade cameras. I will not be discussing professional grade cameras. Nikon and Canon are, by far, the two brands in contention for the lead in consumer DSLRs.

As far as the latest and the greatest of each, there is an entire array of possibilities available from each. The bad news is the shear quantity available. The good news is one can break down the numbers into smaller groupings in order to come to a conclusion as to which is truly the best DSLR camera for you personally.

There are three basic categorizations.

First, is entry level DSLR. For Nikon this would be something like the D40 (which I own and love) The Canon equivalent is the Rebel XT.

Second, is mid level. Nikon, D80 or D90. Canon, EOS40D or EOS50D.

Third, is high end consumer cameras. These are one step shy of being a professional camera. Nikon D200/300 and D700 fall into this category. Canon 5D. I own a D200. I have had it for several years.

I would not step up except that Nikon, blast it, has come out with what’s known as a “full frame” camera. The D700. As of now, that's the best DSLR camera for me!

For many people, full frame may make no difference. For some of us it is preferable because it allows us to go back to shooting like we did with film cameras.

Here’s an example of the same picture taken with each a crop and a full frame camera. The red rectangle resembles how the picture looks when taken with a camera that has a smaller sensor.

The picture will still be what you see in your viewfinder. The difference is in how wide an area a given lens shoots and how far back one must be in order to get an entire building, or the like, into a shot.

The amount a camera crops the picture, varies with the different cameras. This shows just about the worst case scenario. But, you can see how much advantage there is in the full frame shot.

Full frame is the standard by which all camera sensors are measured. It is the sizing of a 35mm film camera. It offers more latitude when is comes to shooting, cropping and enlarging our pictures.

Of course, technological advancements in the last 2 years make a world of difference in capturing low light shots as well. I would not step up just for the low light shots, but I will for the full frame capability. That means by default I get better low light photos.

To most it would not make sense to get a full frame camera just because it is full frame. Most people will never miss the extra portion of the picture but will definitely notice the extra $ going out of the pocket! From now on when someone talks “full frame” you will know what they are talking about.

When I step up to the full frame camera I will also have to get all new lenses. Most of the time, if you plan right, you will not have to get new lenses when you add a body to your collection. This is an exception to the rule.

The general rule is, build your collection around your lenses, not around your camera body.

If you do that you can use the same lenses on many different camera bodies. You only have to buy one set of lenses and they will last for many years.

Investment versus wants will undoubtedly weigh heavily...

in your choice. As expected, the entry level cameras are smaller and lighter. Step up in ability and you, by default, step up in size and weight.

I understand that nearly 3 out of 4 buyers these days are choosing a DSLR over either a point and shoot, or an advanced point and shoot. These 3 buyers include all 3 levels of consumer grade DSLR. Must be a reason for it, huh!? I think so.

Let’s start with the entry level cameras.

They will, like all DSLRs, have interchangeable lenses. They will be able to shoot in continuous mode. That means they can shoot one or more pictures per second as you hold your finger on the shutter release button.

And they will be faster than the simpler point and shoot cameras. All DSLR’s also have superior optics to the point and shoot, which means better quality pictures.

D40 vs. Rebel. I don't even know how wise it is to enter the Canon Vs. Nikon debate. I will say I see information that is not accurate. In the forums, I'm sure you know, people speak that of which they know not. Be careful when you read something negative about any of the popular models.

If you are looking at a relatively unknown brand, then be a little more skeptical, but don't believe everything you read. Google D40 or D60 versus Rebel and you can read about these plus other models that people feel compete with them. Then narrow it down depending upon what benefits you decide are for you.

Above I suggested to build your collection around you lenses, not around a camera body. This is an excellent example. If you start your collection with an entry level body, you can feel free to invest in any number of lenses you choose. You will use the same lenses when you add a body to your collection.

Two times this doesn't apply. When you buy a different brand body and when you step up into a full frame camera body. That's why I mentioned full frame above. Something a little more advanced to keep in mind if you are like me.

Of course I realize you have so much money that you don't have to worry the least about trashing all your lenses each time you buy another body! Do ya!?

The mid level...

is a little faster so you can capture more of those precious moments. By faster, I mean both, going from 0 to 60 in firing off that split second shot, and the shots per second you can shoot.

Of course they will have more mega pixels than their smaller counter parts. Remember to bring your lens collection along to use on your new, "better" body.

When comparing DSLR to DSLR you are comparing apples to apples for the most part so, all other things being equal, you can expect better results from the mid level than from the entry level DSLR cameras.

You are trading size and price for performance. Pretty obvious, huh!? There are different levels available so that each person can choose just what fits their lifestyle best.

Once again, Google one of the mid range Nikons vs. Canon EOS40D and read several different places about the comparison. This will allow you to see what others think about each before you fit one to your hand for the final decision.

To me the most important things to consider are how it fits my hand and the buttons I think I will use most. How accessible are they? Can I easily make adjustments?

High end consumer DSLRs.

Many professional photographers choose a high end consumer DSLR as their primary camera. These cameras are very fast and offer excellent quality photographs at a fraction of the price of professional cameras.

Unless one has a specific reason it makes no sense to invest in a professional camera. For anybody who wants great speed and excellent quality high end consumer cameras are typically within financial reach, unlike a professional camera.

I’m not the first one to suggest making up a short list of cameras then just see which fits your hand best and which “speaks” to you, so to speak. Generally I’m not one to apply human traits to non-human objects. But there is a lot to be said for just going by the feel in your hand and your intuition once you have narrowed the field of possibilities.

Between Nikon and Canon there are many people who say Nikon is more user friendly when you reach this level of body. I agree with that sentiment. That is the main reason I choose to stay with Nikon. Check it out for yourself and see if you agree.

I prefer Nikon. I started with a Nikon many years ago. That may be one of the reasons I prefer Nikon. I'm sure you know I'm going to say Google a D300 or D700 against the Canon.

D700 is quite a step up from the D300. It also equally steps up in price. If you are settling on a Nikon of this caliber, you may want to do a complete comparison of the D300 with the D700 and see which makes most sense for you.

In the end, if you compare apples to apples your choice will probably boil down to a single benefit or two that one camera offers over the rest. Or how the camera you choose fits your hand. That seems to be a most popular way for people to choose where to invest their hard earned coinage.

People will tell you that you can use older, film lenses and less advanced lenses of types on a DSLR. They are right and they are wrong. Right in the respect that there are lenses that, for the most part, "will work."

Wrong in the sense that digital lenses are specifically designed for the digital bodies. If there were no reason to change, the manufacturers would not have wasted precious time developing the digital lenses.

I use exclusively digital lenses and highly recommend you do the same. Any deviation from this recommendation can cause you untold headaches and heartaches. Please don't do it.

If you choose to anyway, make certain you do an in depth study of the specific lens to the specific body you will be using. And make sure you know exactly how they will respond to each other before you try. Thank you.

That’s pretty much all I can come up with and still avoid all kinds of in depth technical stuff. I say don’t worry so much about the technology. First find out what is most popular. Then boil it down to what “speaks” to you and fits your hand nicely.

You will undoubtedly want to get some camera accessories with your camera. Be sure to read this page to help make those decisions.

Oh! Always remember to budget about $99 for Photoshop!

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