Phone or DSLR- Know your camera need

The objective of this post is to help people choosing the right camera

I have often seen people buying a DSLR just because their friends have it or fellow bloggers use it. Most of the times, instead of an actual need, it's become a status symbol. So, before you think which camera is good, you must understand your real need.

First let’s understand the kind of cameras or devices available in the market.

1. Cell phones- Are quite advanced these days and can take good pictures.

Advantage- Small, easy to carry, not-expensive, small picture size which are easy to edit and share. 

Disadvantage- (Only if you are serious about photography)- Limited zoom, not good for portrait shots, print version is not sharp and lacks low light capability.

2. Point and shoot digital cameras- Small and easy to carry. With features to learn basic photography

An entry level point and shoot camera 

Advanced level point and shoot camera 

Advantage- Good battery life, compact and easy to carry, sharp pictures, no post-processing of images required. 

Disadvantage- Limited functions and fixed lens, fixed zoom (in most cases)

3. DSLR- For advanced, professional and high-quality photography.

Advantage- Can click very sharp and unbelievable images, top notch low light capability, long battery life, advanced features like extra flash and microphone attachments, interchangeable lens, extended zoom with telephoto lenses and upgraded in all aspects of photography.

Disadvantage- Expensive, heavy to carry, cost of extra lenses will burn a hole in your pocket, you need to learn post-processing and maintenance, huge image size- not easy to share or edit. 

DSLR has some different categories like crop sensors, full frame and mirror less camera. I am not covering these because this will confuse the reader.

Hence, coming back to the topic which one you should buy. If you have deep interest in photography, start with a point and shoot camera because the functions are easy to learn. There are some advance products available in the market which you can start with. Once you overcome the limitations choose an entry level DSLR with the kit lens (lens comes along with the camera) and a zoom lens. These days there are many options where companies like Nikon offer a combo deal. I used my SONY DSC-H7 for 5 years before switching to Nikon D3300.

If your need is just to take a good picture in close range like selfie, group picture and travel pictures without much hassle, your cell phone camera would be good enough. This is also an added advantage for those people who want to share their pics instantly from anywhere.

If you are a blogger or vlogger (Travel, food, fashion and all kind) where the objective is a good picture or video for the vlog or blog, I would suggest an entry level or an advance point and shoot camera. Vloggers also need a good Bluetooth enabled microphone for clear sound and they should be aware of video editing.

It’s totally upto you what camera you want to buy. The choice will depend on your interest, need and budget to begin with.  

PS- If you have any questions or doubts, please feel free to ask in comments. :)

Nikkor 50-300MM lens

After using my new Nikon DSLR for nearly 6 months I encountered a small limitation "ZOOM". Yes without a medium range zoom I was not able to click some long distance images, eg. birds, sunrise, moon etc. I was aware that lens is the soul of any DSLR camera and without a proper lens I will not be able to use my camera to its full potential.

My existing 18-55 mm is for short range and macro images but as a backpacker I needed more than that. Lens could be very expensive and can go up to Rs. 6 Lac, but I am not a professional and photography is not earning me by bread and butter, so I was looking for a basic zoom lens which can satisfy my need and at the same time not very heavy on my pocket.

 















As an intermediate I was not looking for a very long range lens and decided a medium range lens will do the. After dong some research my choice is Nikkor 55-300 mm VR lens.

The reason I choose this product is because of the Nikkon brand name and second is compatibility with my existing DSLR. I feel it is very important to buy a compatible product or else the product will not sink up 100%. There are other lenses available with low price from different brand but they were missing the very important function VR. VR means vibration reduction which helps stabilizing the image in the absence of tripod or in case of moving objects like birds. The lens also has an auto focus capability which will give a peace of mind when you are struggling with other functions like ISO and shutter. The lens comes with a very durable plastic cover for front and back and this will save the lens from dust and moisture. It also has a very good pouch to save the outer body from scratch when the lens is not in use. It’s really very easy to attach the lens to the camera and same with the detachment. The VR technology works very well and I never had any complaint; this is a very important part because the lens is heavy and while focusing on a distant object, it is natural that hands will shake. Without a good VR it is impossible to shoot without a tripod. Now I am able to click very long distance images without any problem.

 

The only small issue which I am facing is the lens is little heavy and I can feel it while holding it for some time, but this is not an huge issue as zoom lenses will have some weight. I will recommend this lense for any intermediate users like me