> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://back2basicsphoto.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Which Camera Should I Buy? - URL: https://back2basicsphoto.com/which-camera-should-i-buy/ - Published: 2010-09-30T16:32:05.000Z - Updated: 2010-09-30T16:32:05.000Z - Author: Dan Cabral - Tags: Difficulty, Foundation, gear, photography, camera, Canon, capabilities, college, component, consumer, cost, Does, dollars, DSLR, equipment, ergonomics, example, factor, factors, Flashes, hours, investment, lengths, lens, lenses, limitations, manufacturer, manufacturers, money, Nikon, Olympus, Pentax, People, photographer, photographers, product, purchases, science, selection, Sony, system, systems, texture, theory, tool, websites, whether, #Migrated-1790414487459, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-09-26 05:21 ![Nikon-D3100](/content/images/wordpress/2010/09/NikonD3100.jpg "Nikon-D3100") VS ![canon_eos_rebel_t2i_3q](/content/images/wordpress/2010/09/canon_eos_rebel_t2i_3q.jpg "canon_eos_rebel_t2i_3q") By far, the question I’m asked the most by friends, colleagues, and acquaintances concerns which camera they should buy as their first DSLR, given a choice of two or three models from competing brands. In truth, brand matters far less than most people think. There are certainly the fair share of brand loyalists out there, and their voices can often be overwhelming. However, instead of blind brand loyalty, I prefer to subscribe to the theory that **a camera is a tool** (you might see this mantra repeated by me often), and like any task in life, the most important thing is choosing the right tool for the job. A good carpenter can get the job done with any brand saw, as long as the saw cuts wood. Likewise, a good photographer should be able to get the shot, whether the camera is made by Nikon, Canon, Sony, Pentax, Olympus, etc. To me, two factors matter above all others when it comes to buying your first SLR: ergonomics and system. When buying their first SLR, the biggest mistake I see people make is buying solely based on lowest cost. People will pore over product reviews on websites, spend hours reading web forums, scour the web looking for the lowest price, and ultimately make their purchase based on the best deal, often without ever actually holding any of the cameras they’re thinking about purchasing. In my mind, the single most important thing you can do before purchasing a camera is to hold it in your hands and check the ergonomics. > [*er·go·nom·ics*](http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ergonomics?ref=back2basicsphoto.com) \- an applied science concerned with designing and arranging things people use so that the people and things interact most efficiently and safely Here are some important ergonomics-related questions you should be asking yourself when evaluating a new camera body for purchase: - How does the camera feel in your hands? - Is it comfortable to hold? - Is it too big or too small? - Does the grip fit your hand nicely or are you forced to grip too tightly to make sure it doesn’t slip out? - Does it feel solidly built or plastic-y? - Does the grip have a good non-slip texture? - Are the control buttons and dials in easy-to-reach places, or do you have to contort your fingers and thumbs uncomfortably to reach them? - Is it well-balanced, top-to-bottom and side-to-side? This is paramount for the simple reason that, if you’re not comfortable holding the camera, you won’t be using it as often to make photographs. If holding your camera fatigues your fingers, wrist, and forearm, you’ll avoid using it, or at the very least, make an excuse to not take it with you. While cost is an obvious factor when purchasing, especially with the current economic climate, ergonomics should be a higher priority. Which is the greater waste of money: spending more on a camera, or spending less on a camera you don’t use? The other factor I mentioned is system. When you purchase an SLR, you’re not just purchasing a fully-functioning camera, as you might have in the past when purchasing a point-and-shoot camera. You’re purchasing a component in a system, consisting of compatible camera bodies, lenses, flashes, and other accessories. This is an important point, because you not only need to consider what you’re buying now, but what you also might need in the future, and evaluate whether the system has the ability to grow with your needs. Look at the manufacturer’s websites and product catalogs. See if they have a good selection of lenses and flashes. Look for things like having lenses to cover focal lengths from ultra-wide angle to super-telephoto. See if they have these ranges covered in multiple product lines ranging from consumer to professional. See if they have 3rd party support from other manufacturers. All of these things can help to “future-proof” your initial purchase. Also important in this regard is whether you already own any lenses, as that might influence your choice of which system to buy into. If you have an old Nikon or Canon lens, for example, laying around from an old film camera you might have used for a photography class in high school or college, it might be worth it to use that as a starting point so you’re not needlessly replacing equipment you already own. Most of the major systems that were around 20, 30, or even 50 years ago are still supported in some fashion (although possibly with partial functionality) by the current major systems. As a final touch on the point of cost being of relatively low priority, one thing which many photographers will quickly learn when starting out is that the first camera body they buy will be one of the least expensive things they buy in relation to the camera system they buy into. Lenses can range anywhere from $100 to tens of thousands of dollars each. Flashes can range from $200 to $500 or more. Once you figure out the limitations of the kit lens that comes with your initial purchase, you’ll likely buy 1-2 extra lenses right out of the gate, and possibly a flash, already dwarfing your initial investment. And while entry-level camera bodies are significantly better than what was available just a few years ago, they are still fairly limited. Don’t be at all surprised if you find yourself eyeing a new mid-level or prosumer body after 2 years because you’ve outgrown the capabilities of your entry-level camera. Maybe somewhat selfishly, I hope my future posts help to accelerate that timeline.