Buying Your First Digital SLR Camera - Part II

When you buy a digital SLR kit, it will come with the camera body, battery, manual, software, and a few cables. It will also come with a starter lens, which is usually 15-55mm. Be sure that the kit you get has a lens that has image stabilization (IS) for Canon or vibration reduction (VR) for Nikon. This feature will help stabilize the image and prevent blurred photos. This especially comes in handy when you’re shooting in low light situations. There are a few digital SLRs that do not come with this type of lens (such as the Canon Rebel XT), so I would recommend passing those up and spending the few extra bucks to get the better lens. It’s all about the glass!

The speed of the camera body is measured in frames per second (fps), and determines how many photos you can take in one second. Remember that delay with your point-and-shoot camera? No more! Some digital SLRs are faster than others, and if you are shooting sports and action photography, then speed is what you need. Most SLRs start at around 3fps, which should be fast enough for most beginners, especially if you’re shooting portraits or landscapes. If you need faster, jumping up to a camera with 6.5fps (like the Canon 40D) may be a worthy investment. Remember, these faster speeds will cost you, so make sure that you identify whether or not you really need the extra speed. Unless you are shooting sports, weddings, or action, 3.5fps should suffice.

Buying a new camera is always an exciting experience. It's always a good idea to do your research before going to a store to buy. Many stores have very knowledgable sales associates, but it's best to make sure that you have your facts straight in case you are given inaccurate information. Keeping the above five ideas in mind will help you make an informed decision concerning which camera is best for you. Upgrading from a point-and-shoot camera to a digital SLR camera is one of the greatest decisions a photographer can make - you'll never regret it!