Four non-technical things to consider before you jump onto DSLR bandwagon

[Gaurav Prabhu]

Most passionate photographers(including me) are tempted to make a move from their point & shoot cameras to the more flexible DSLR's systems. Though upgrading to an DSLR camera will not necessarily mean that a good photographer becomes a better photographer. It will only help you to work without some hindrances(low light shooting, better DOF, versatile accessories etc) that plagued you when you were shooting with your point and shoot camera. Before you invest in your dream DSLR do note the following things which come camouflaged. If you fail to keep them in sight during your DSLR purchase they can become a thorn in your path later on.


1) Baggage of making Good Photographs – Now that you've got a shiny new DSLR better polish yourself to match the level of the new equipment. Now you can't blame the camera(like you do to your current one) for not giving a good photograph. You don't want your neighbor photographer to put you to shame by snapping a good photograph with his not so good camera(when compared with yours) while you're still struggling to get a grip on your new DSLR & your photography techniques. So beware of this psychological baggage before you jump on the DSLR bandwagon!

2) Surplus Expenses – You first empty your monthly salary to buy the DSLR body & then are thrown into the vicious circle of upgrading to better lenses & accessories in form of flash guns, faster memory cards, tripods, wireless transmitters etc. So you need to decide before hand & take into account all these things before you make a budget for your DSLR. You would be in a spot of bother if you just run & grab the DSLR and later realize you have no more money to get better lenses. Lens lust(Desire to upgrade to better lens often) as they call is highly infectious once you own a DSLR camera. Hence ponder whether you have money for all the upgrades. If not then it would be better if you jump onto a super-zoom bridge camera which doesn't cost a bomb yet offers most of the features you will need.

3) Learn More – By working with your current point & shoot/bridge camera you will learn photography techniques much better. Why? Simply because you'll be pushed to the wall as you find a way to overcome the limitations imposed by your P&S camera. For e.g. You will try to find a way to get noise free images with your P&S camera which increases noise even at ISO 400. On the other hand, with DSLR you will not encounter such problems & hence you'll never have to think of such a scenario. Eventually, you learn less & that makes your journey to become a better photographer slower.

4) Surprise People – Which photographer doesn't likes his work being appreciated & praised by his colleagues & the common folks? This point can be thought like an amalgamation of point no 1st & 3rd. First you're not bogged down with the psychological baggage & even are adept with most of the photography techniques as you've been using your P&S camera. Go ahead, make use of all what you have & make photographs which will make people drop down their jaws when they learn you took it with your simple P&S camera. You'll definitely feel a lot proud of your camera when somebody says this & get goosebumps too.

The point of this article was not to scare you away from buying an DSLR camera but it was to inform you of the perils which need to be taken into consideration before you get one. Ponder over these four points & then ask yourself whether you're really need an DSLR or you can satisfy your photography thirst for more time on your current P&S camera. I would like to know more on what you think. Put your comments below & lets begin with a good discussion.

[TheDarkReaver]

Alternative Thread Title: Four non-technical things to justify why I don't have a DSLR



But seriously...

All your points are all pretty subjective and slightly hollow since you don't have the experience to back them up. Sure, these things could be the case, but if you yourself haven't decided to go for a DSLR then how can you warn people about some of the negatives that you yourself have no experience of. Basically, all these pitfalls are only there if you put them there. If you want to use a compact then use a compact, if you want to use a DSLR then use one of those.

For instance, you're only going to get psychological baggage if you're the kind of person who's going to worry that some guy who's been shooting photos for 10 years is better than you, the guy who got his camera yesterday. If you really know what you're in for and are, as you say a "passionate photographer", then you can surely recognise that there is a learning curve involved. Not to mention that the same phenomenon can happen with point and shoot users who are operating at different levels.

Gear lust can also occur with point and shoot users. For instance I would like a new p&s because I don't really like the one I've got. After having a go with my Mum's unit I realise that hers can focus a lot better. Why be satisfied with what I've got when it is out performed by a new model. It's not going to help me learn to focus better because there's no manual focus option.

Which leads on to the learning bit; there are things you can't learn on most P&Ss (like focusing manually). You're also pretty screwed if you want to do anything that would involve telescopic lens.

Since I've gone on for longer than I meant to I'll also address the surprising people thing. Who cares about surprising people? The only benefit is to inflate your ego. You could use this point to justify sticking to a camera phone over a point and shoot. Hell why not throw away the camera, pick up a pencil and learn how to draw in a photo-realistic style. Now that would surprise people. Come to think of it studying traditional art would make you learn more about composition and all that jazz. Should I consider studying painting before I pick up a camera? Would my prowess in the traditional arts impress people more?

[Gaurav Prabhu]

Originally Posted by TheDarkReaver

Alternative Thread Title: Four non-technical things to justify why I don't have a DSLR



But seriously...

All your points are all pretty subjective and slightly hollow since you don't have the experience to back them up. Sure, these things could be the case, but if you yourself haven't decided to go for a DSLR then how can you warn people about some of the negatives that you yourself have no experience of. Basically, all these pitfalls are only there if you put them there. If you want to use a compact then use a compact, if you want to use a DSLR then use one of those.

For instance, you're only going to get psychological baggage if you're the kind of person who's going to worry that some guy who's been shooting photos for 10 years is better than you, the guy who got his camera yesterday. If you really know what you're in for and are, as you say a "passionate photographer", then you can surely recognise that there is a learning curve involved. Not to mention that the same phenomenon can happen with point and shoot users who are operating at different levels.

Gear lust can also occur with point and shoot users. For instance I would like a new p&s because I don't really like the one I've got. After having a go with my Mum's unit I realise that hers can focus a lot better. Why be satisfied with what I've got when it is out performed by a new model. It's not going to help me learn to focus better because there's no manual focus option.

Which leads on to the learning bit; there are things you can't learn on most P&Ss (like focusing manually). You're also pretty screwed if you want to do anything that would involve telescopic lens.

Since I've gone on for longer than I meant to I'll also address the surprising people thing. Who cares about surprising people? The only benefit is to inflate your ego. You could use this point to justify sticking to a camera phone over a point and shoot. Hell why not throw away the camera, pick up a pencil and learn how to draw in a photo-realistic style. Now that would surprise people. Come to think of it studying traditional art would make you learn more about composition and all that jazz. Should I consider studying painting before I pick up a camera? Would my prowess in the traditional arts impress people more?

You've made certain valid points but then again I don't agree with all of them. Even though I've don't own a DSLR but I've handled them for a long time & I'm pretty much capable of getting one(I'm not confused whether to go for a DSLR or not. I have decided to go for them). In fact its been around six months & I already have fixed even the model which i would be going for.

Gear lust is on higher side if you own a DSLR system. Not many would upgrade their P&S cameras besides most P&S cameras won't even allow enhancements in form of filters, hotshoe etc.

On the third point, I've NOT defined P&S camera in my article & so I assume users to own superzoom(which come in anything from 10x to 30x), or even the DSLR like cameras which offer RAW shooting, high ISO sensitivity etc. Offcourse you're right that one cannot learn certain things on DSLR but anyway this article doesn't cater to DSLR owner. It caters to users using P&S & currently are thinking of moving to a DSLR system.

Now on fourth point, better keep the pen & pencil out of the scope. I agree with the mobile phone and P&S comparison. Its not about inflating your own ego but instilling self confidence in yourself to excel.

On the alternate thread title, you're completely wrong. Infact I want to move over to DSLR system but can't due to some personal issues. It was nice to know your viewpoints. Thank you.

[Photologyst]

Many of today’s high-end P & S cameras take excellent photos—if the photographer knows what s/he is doing. Their downfall is often in low light and of course, wide angles.

They cannot be compared to cell phone cameras. Learn the P & S first, as well as PS processing and then go for an SLR.

As for “gear lust.” Well, that’s like wanting the newest computer, software or whatever new electronic toy comes out, when the old one still works perfectly fine. Manufacturers and developers are in the business of selling. Lots of people get suckered into buying for no good reason.

I tend to keep my stuff, computers included, about 5 years these days—even though I consider myself and early adapter. Because, DSLRs are good enough now. My old Pentax Spotmatic still works great and I can take wonderful film photos with it if I wanted to do that.

[Jim Bryant]

This is a never ending black hole

[TheDarkReaver]

That's dragging my sanity into it's inky gravity well.

Originally Posted by Gaurav Prabhu

On the alternate thread title, you're completely wrong. Infact I want to move over to DSLR system but can't due to some personal issues. It was nice to know your viewpoints. Thank you.

Yet that is how it reads because you left out a lot of context. You can't just arrive at completely subjective conclusions without any sort of insight into why people should watch out for them.

[ravncat]

Course gear lust is a problem If you jump in with the most eqpensive high quality kit too.

The two things needed to avoid gear lust are,

A an understanding of what you shoot and what you need to best shoot what you shoot, not what you think you need.

B a realistic expectation of what the new gear will provide, I would wager most neophytes to early advanced overestimate what a certain lens will do for them. ( I was here for a long time too).

I reckon more study of how any single lens interacts with different kinds of light can help you more than a second lens, in the beginning. I also think shot discipline and equipment mastery will lead a photographer to where s/he wants to go, more than a second lens. Once on that path, it's easier to know what one needs.

I find it funny how many want to know what camera or lens was shot and what the iso shutter and aperture were. As if it will magically make someone else capable of such a shot, the reasoning, and kind of light and personal style are far more important


This is how to combat lens lust, and how to be a better photographer, but the discipline required is tough, I had to take the "long road".

[Photologyst]

Originally Posted by Jim Bryant

This is a never ending black hole

Only if you have no personal discipline or are a shopaholic.

[Izzy]

Originally Posted by Gaurav Prabhu

Lens lust(Desire to upgrade to better lens often) as they call is highly infectious once you own a DSLR camera.

I don't have a problem, I can quit anytime I want.