If you're like many recent amateur photographers, you interest in photography may have been sparked by a point and shoot digital camera. Maybe you realized you liked to take pictures when handed the camera. You probably started realizing that you took picture taking more seriously than other people. You started paying attention to composition, color, and contrast. Eventually, you picked up a book on photography, and began to learn the technical aspects. Once this happened, you probably learned what an SLR is and why they are so great. You're now ready to buy your first digital SLR, but are unsure of what to look at. For this article, I'm going to discuss some of the entry level options, and compare them to help you out with the decision making process.
To keep things simple, I'm going to stick with the two biggest brands of DSLRs, Canon and Nikon. There are other worthy contenders out there, but I really prefer sticking with Canon and Nikon due to the broad support you can get with them. Professionals all over the world use these systems, so support and accessories are always available.
Let's start with Canon. Canon offers an entry level series of cameras known as the Digital Rebel series. These are very popular cameras. They are compatible with all Canon autofocus lenses, and offer high resolution and good image quality for the money. Definitely an option to check out.
Nikon offers several lower end cameras, all based on the D40 body. These cameras are generally considered to have better ergonomics than Canon. I myself think they also look a little more professional than the wildly styled Rebel series. One disadvantage of these lower end Nikon models is that they cannot use all Nikon autofocus lens. They can only use lenses with the motor built into the lens. These are common and popular, but its something to think about.
When it comes to choosing between these two systems, you can't go too wrong. Remember that when you're buying an SLR, you're really buying into the system, and Canon and Nikon systems are both world class. The best way to choose is to try out each camera and see which one feels better to you. See if the controls feel intuitive or not. This will go a long way towards your satisfaction with the camera.
Overall, though, you really can't go wrong with any digital SLR if you're coming from the point and shoot world. SLRs are loads of fun, and offer amazing control over the image. If you're a serious amateur, you definitely need to be looking into these as soon as possible.
