It's 2010 and hobby photography is becoming more popular by the day.
Digital SLRs are becoming cheaper and cheaper, and everyone from high school kids to soccer moms can be seen snapping high-quality photos.
Nikon, Canon, Sony, Pentax. Vibration reduction, image stabilization, tripods, megapixels, interchangeable lenses, filters.
It's difficult to know where to begin.
When choosing a camera body, lens and accessories, it's important to begin with researching different brands to understand the pros and cons of each.
John Oliver, owner of Camera graphics on East University Drive, recommended Canon and Nikon.
"Canon and Nikon together own 97 percent of the digital SLR market," Oliver said.
Oliver said Nikon is generally less expensive and has better optical quality and ergonomics.
Chris Walker, photojournalism professor, prefers Canon.
"In general, I trust Canon products," Walker said. "Canon's got a better chip and it gives you better color and contrast." Canon has a wider selection of faster, flatter and sharper lenses, Walker said. The price of Canon products is much higher, he said. Walker said Nikon cameras are good for beginners because they have interchangeable lenses and are cheaper.
"I don't think the perfect camera exists for any one user," Walker said.
Aaron Pierce, junior in industrial design, has a Nikon D40x.
"I've just always had a Nikon," Pierce said. "I've just always used it and I'm more familiar and accustomed to using those cameras, whereas if I have a Canon in my hand, it's really different and foreign to me. It's really just brand loyalty, honestly."
Pierce said he likes that the lens from his film Nikon camera can be used on his digital SLR.
When buying a digital SLR, Oliver said beginners should focus on the resolution of the camera and the quality of the lenses.
"Buy at least a 10 megapixel digital SLR," Oliver said.
The Nikon D3000 and the Canon Rebel XS are good entry-level models, Oliver said. With a lens, these models cost about $500.
The quality of the lenses a photographer buys is extremely important, Oliver said.
"If you get an average body and a kick butt lens, you're gonna get a sharp picture," Oliver said. "You can get the nicest body and put a piece of crap lens on it, and you're not gonna get anything." To help in low-light situations, Oliver recommended buying lenses with what Nikon calls vibration reduction and what Canon calls image stabilization. This feature compensates for vibrations in the camera, which cause blurring in low light photographs. Oliver said photographers should eventually purchase some other accessories.
An external flash eliminates red-eye, Oliver said. External flashes start at about $250.
UV filters, which protect the lens from damage and provide sharper images for higher sun angles, are also a good addition, Oliver said.
Tripods and a basic photo editing software like Photoshop Elements 8 are also helpful, Oliver said.
"Get yourself educated," Oliver said.
He recommended visiting www.dpreview.com and taking a photography class.
Camera graphics offers classes in photography and Photoshop, Oliver said.
"We find that people will buy these nice cameras, and if they come in and take just one or two classes and get themselves interested in photography, they can get good," Oliver said
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