If you plan on making money as a news stringer a Digital SLR camera is a must have. DSLR’s speed, quality and technology is a required tool to have in your bag. Can you pick up a point and shoot camera and make a sale from the image? Yes, but that would be something you do if you didn’t have your DSLR with you, and you should always have your DSLR with you! Most of you who are reading this are already accomplished photographers and are just looking to make additional money with gear you already have. Some of you are starting from scratch and would need to buy all of your gear now. So most of this lesson will focus mostly on people purchasing a new DSLR.
There has been a Nikon vs. Canon debate for years and I agree that they are both excellent cameras with pros and cons to both. The technology bounces back and forth with one having the edge over the other but it changes every year. As of me writing this Nikon currently has the low light high ISO quality edge with their D3. Canon is cranking out new cameras and trying to compete with Nikons popularity.
I am a Canon shooter and since I have a lot of money invested into the Canon system I plan to stick with them but Nikon has a lot of nice stuff that has recently grabbed my attention. Canon always seems to come back with something that keeps me a Canon shooter. When choosing a DSLR system it is usually a matter of personal preference as to how the equipment feels in your hand or other features you must have. I have been shooting Canon for so long that a Nikon body feels weird in my hands, and my Nikon friends say the same about Canon. So which do you choose? Nikon or Canon? Well I suggest you visit a camera shop that carries both brands and try them out. Let the clerk know you are planning to start a photography business and would like to see how the equipment feels in your hand. [private_pro]
So now that you have decided what feels more comfortable in your hands, it’s now time do some more research. There are a lot of factors to consider when buying a new DSLR and not just who has the most megapixels! Price is usually the number one concern when first starting out but things to really look at are image quality, frames per second, high ISO performance, video, auto focus etc. There are many resources online that do extensive reviews and tests on new cameras but one is my favorite. Digital Photography Review also known as DP Review is my go to place when it comes to camera research and reviews. They have everything you need to know about the latest cameras from point and shoot cameras to the most expensive DSLRs out there. The forums at DP Review are also a great place to get info from experienced photographers, check them out.
When buying digital camera gear, a thing to remember is camera bodies will be improved yearly sometimes even twice a year but your lenses, and flashes will be compatible with the news bodies that will be developed for years to come. So when choosing your first camera don’t spend all of your money on the latest body and none on lenses and flashes, focus on quality lenses that will last forever also. I will cover lenses, flashes and more in other lessons coming soon for now let’s talk about DSLRs. Like I mentioned before I am a Canon shooter and am more familiar with Canon equipment so most of what I will discuss will be related to Canon gear but I will try to fit in some Nikon stuff as comparison.
Choosing a DSLR for news can be expensive, you can go from as low as $500 to as much as $8000 for a body. The difference between the two extremes is mostly build quality, better weather sealing and more durable internal mechanics that can endure many photos shot. The entry level Canon is the Digital Rebel which is an amazing camera can be purchased for under $600. If you are getting started in photography and would like to find a camera that is within most budgets then the Rebel is the camera for you. I am not saying the Rebel is the best choice but in my experience the lenses and flashes are a better investment than a camera that will be almost obsolete in 5 yrs. I much rather buy an entry level DSLR so you can save some money and purchase quality lenses and flash. Now if you have deep pockets and a larger budget I would go with a better camera body such as the Canon 7D or 5D MK2 which are superb cameras.
But take a look at some getting started costs:
The Digital rebel kit which includes a 18-55mm lense, a 70-200mm f2.8 lense and a canon 580exii flash which will run you about about $2,800 brand new. With this kit all you would need to do is upgrade your body but be able to keep your lenses and flashes as you upgrade through the years. This is a smarter choice than focusing all of your money on the latest camera body with no flash or lenses.
Lets take the great full frame sensor body such as the Canon 5D MK2 body with no lense will cost you $2,500. The cost of that body alone is almost the same as the entire started kit mentioned above. If you purchased the 5DMK2 kit including the 24-105mm lense, 70-200mm f2.8, and the 580 flash it would cost you about $5,600. That is a big price difference but if you have the money, then by all means buy it! If you have the money, by all means buy the best you can but looking at the numbers above you can see that starting off with a good quality camera body at a low price can free up money to buy nice lenses and flash that will last you for many many years and be with you as you upgrade your body to the latest technology.
Like I said before the DSLR camera technology gets better every year, but no need to buy the latest camera every year, your starter camera should be more than enough for 2-3yrs before needing an upgrade. The key is to start making money first before you go out and spend all your money on the latest gear every year. If you current system is working for you and making you money, no need to upgrade, keep making that money!
Eventually you will want to get rid of your Rebel or starter camera and buy the latest DSLR, be sure to do your research first as features change every year. Most new DSLRs now have HD video capabilities which is a whole new topic that will be discussed in a later lesson but keep that in mind when planning to upgrade. When upgrading your gear you should resist the urge to sell your old body unless you absolutely have to. Using your old body as a backup is far more valuable than getting rid of it for some extra cash. In an ideal setup you should have two bodies one with a short-medium lense and one with your long lense 70-200mm, so keep that in mind when deciding to keep your old camera.
I purchase all of my gear from B&H Photo in New York, these guys really know their stuff and sell EVERYTHING you can think of related to electronics, check them out.
Here is a list of my recommended DSLRs From B&H:
Canon
Canon EOS Rebel T1i Digital SLR Kit w/EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens : $769.95
Canon EOS 7D SLR Digital Camera with 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens : $1899.95
Nikon
Nikon D5000 Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm VR Lens : $749.95
Nikon D300s SLR Digital Camera with 16-85mm VR Lens: $2,114.95
Now there are other camera manufacturers such as Sony doing a great job developing DSLRs but I would stick with either Canon or Nikon as they have a long proven line of quality. [/private_pro]