How to Choose and Hold Your DSLR Camera

My first DSLR camera (Canon Rebel Ti1) was given to me as a Mother’s day gift 13 years ago.  The camera had many features but it wasn’t until last year that I began to learn how to take control of my camera rather than shoot only using the presets of Auto, Sports, Close-Up and Portrait.  Learning how the camera operates will allow you to take control of your images.  Recently, I purchased a new 60D Canon camera.  I was very happy with my Ti1 but I wanted something faster when shooting sporting events.  This leads me to my topic of how to choose the right camera for you. 

There are several factors to consider when purchasing your camera.  Factors I took in consideration were:

Price - Although I really wanted to purchase the Canon 5D it was not an option for me due to the price of the camera, so I needed to find the perfect fit within my price range.  

My current equipment - I owned multiple lenses for my Canon Rebel therefore; I wanted to stick to a Canon camera since the lenses would be adaptable on my new camera.  I did not want to have to reinvest in new lenses since they are so expensive.

What type of Photos will you be taking – Since I knew my shutter speed and ISO on the Rebel Ti1 was not performing to my liking, it was important for me to find a camera that was quick and had a higher ISO. 

The above three factors are what helped me choose my new camera; however, there are other factors that may influence you such as the size, weight or whether you may want a video function in your camera. 

I found the following website (www.snapsort.com) helpful when comparing the features of the two cameras I was considering purchasing.  The website does a side by side comparison of each camera feature that is very helpful. 

http://snapsort.com/compare/Canon-Rebel-T4i-vs-Canon_EOS_60D

Lenses

There are many different lenses you can purchase for your camera.  Each lens will display a set of numbers on the lens (i.e, 35-115mm) this is called the focal length.  There is another set of numbers on your lens (i.e., 1.8, 3.5-5.6) which pertains to the maximum aperture of the lens.  I will be discussing the aperture in a future blog post.  Just keep in mind that the smaller the number, the better the lens.

Below is a table that will give a brief description of some of the lenses.

Fixed/Prime Lens	Only displays one focal length (i.e, 55mm).  There is no zoom capability therefore you need to reposition yourself. This type of lens gives a sharper image.
Zoom Lens	Has the ability to change the focal length (i.e., 35-115mm).
Wide Angle Lens	This lens takes a broader picture which is great for large group photos (i.e., 24mm, 28mm, or 30 mm
Standard or Normal Lens	Great for portraits (i.e, 50mm or 85mm)
Telephoto Lens	Great for distance shots such as sporting events (i.e., 135mm, 200mm, 300mm, 400mm)
Macro Lens	This lens lets you take pictures at a closer view and remain in focus

Once you purchase your new camera the following weblog from SLR Lounge is a great resource on how to properly hold your camera to eliminate camera shake. 

http://www.slrlounge.com/how-to-properly-hold-your-camera

I would love to hear your comments and recommendations below.  What type of Camera and Lenses do you prefer?