What makes a DSLR special is it’s interchangeable lenses and total control over the picture. This is my kit and gives me everything from extreme wide angle to telephoto. The 50mm is very fast for low light, the extension tubes let me take a picture of a fly’s eye and the multiplier lets me take a picture of a birds eye in flight.
1) It gets me out into beautiful places: If I’m going to take beautiful pictures, I have to travel to the most beautiful places in the country and find the best of the best in those places. I’m not looking for snapshots that are okay, I’m looking for photos that will make the viewer stop and say “Wow, that is so beautiful, I wish I were there!” Finding those places means I have to get off my butt, and get out there myself!
2) It involves my whole person. At the moment of taking the picture, every facet of my being is tuned in at a heightened state and working at its full potential. My body mind and spirit are at their peak:
- My body: Usually getting to the great photos means a hike or enduring some physical discomfort. Often it’s early in the morning, late at night or in bad weather. It also means months of planning to get to that spot and driving some distance to be there.
- My Mind: There is a steep learning curve to taking full advantage of a DSLR camera so I’ve spent years reading and studying the technical aspects of how they work hoping to take nature photos that will make me go “Wow!” When I’m looking through the viewfinder, my mind is fully alert
- My Creativity: Like most of you, I’ve always believed I’m not a creative person, so this has been by far the hardest part of learning Nature Photography for me. It’s taken years of practice to awaken the dormant creativity that I believe lies hidden in all of us even if we are unaware of it. Wouldn’t you like to find that part of yourself and bring it to it’s full potential?
3) I can re-live the experience months, years or decades later. When I review my old photos, I become a time traveler and I’m transported back to those decisive moments of taking them. I can’t even begin to describe how incredibly vivid those memories are to me. Soon, I’m going to do a post filled with pictures from 1979, when I was looking at those pictures, and writing that post, it was like I was actually there, and I’m amazed at the number and intensity of 36 year old memories that came flooding back to me.
Why You Should Consider a DSLR
The reason I’m posting this is because the price of DSLR cameras from Nikon and Canon have dropped to exceptionally low levels and if you are interested in nature photography, now is a great time to get one. I know many of us are on a tight budget and it’s not even a possibility, but if you are in a position to afford it now would be a good time. You may be wondering why you would spend so much money on a new camera when your cell phone or point and shoot takes very good pictures already. The answer is that the unique attributes of a DSLR let it do many things your cell phone or point and shoot can’t:
Picture Quality: With its higher-quality and interchangeable lenses, larger sensor, and lower noise, DSLRs have far better picture quality.
Total Control: Going beyond snapshots to “Wow-shots” requires total control over the exposure and focusing of the camera. For that reason DSLRs have full-manual controls over both. You make the creative decision about every aspect of the photography process instead of letting the camera, with its very limited abilities, make them for you.
Filters: Very few cell phone or point and shoots allow you to attach filters like a polarizer and that’s a major loss. In my opinion no software can duplicate the effect of a good polarizer so there is nearly always one on my camera.
Depth of Field: Depth of field allows you to control what is in-focus and out of focus in the picture. Sometimes you want just the main subject in-focus and everything else to be blurry. At other times you want everything in the frame from front to back to be sharp and in-focus; with a DSLR you have total control and you get to make that decision based on your creative vision. You can’t do that with a cell or most point and shoots.
Low Light: Again, total control allows you to take pictures when no cell phone or point and shoot can. A DSLR will allow you to focus manually and expose for any amount of time from a few seconds, to minutes, to many hours. It also has drastically less noise at higher ISOs which opens up low-light photography at dusk and dawn and astro-photography at night
Astro-Photography: The only way to take pictures of the Milky Way, night sky or star trails is with a DSLR. Those require total control over the camera and nothing else will give it to you.
Macro: For taking pictures of tiny or small things a DSLR excels. It’s true you can do macro surprisingly well with cell phones or point and shoots–up to a certain point–but you’ll soon exceed their limits and wish for a better camera with macro lenses or even extension tubes which cost very little but get you down to the macro level.
High Speed: If you’ve ever tried to take a picture of a sporting event, your dog running, or birds in flight, you’ve run smack dab into just how slow cell phones or point and shoots are. They are slow to turn on, slow to focus, slow to save the picture and slow between shots. This is one area that a DSLR blows all those cameras away, and the better the camera body, the faster it is.
Flash Photography: The word photography means painting with light, and the advanced flashes available to DSLRs allow you to create your own light, greatly expanding your ability to paint with it. Once you learn how, the external flashes available to DSLRs will totally change your photography, giving you even more control over every nuance of shadows and form of your subject.
A DSLR will let you take total control over light, even allowing you to create your own with a flash attachment.
The Big Disadvantages of DSLRs
There are many advantages of a DSLR, but they also have several major disadvantages and I want you to be well aware of them before you consider buying one:
- Cost: While the camera itself is surprisingly cheap, once you start adding on lenses and accessories it’s cost skyrockets. You can end up spending a lot of money and if you don’t, you’ll miss out on a lot of their abilities which can be frustrating.
- Size: Your cell phone fits in your pocket so you always have it with you. I carry a Nikon point and shoot in a bag on my belt at all times because it’s so small. That’s not true of a DSLR! They’re big, heavy and cumbersome and you just can’t carry one around all the time. Because of that some people buy them and soon give up on carrying them around because they’re so big.
- Complexity: If you set out to learn to do everything a DSLR is capable of, you are in for many year of frustrating learning. Many people never do and all they get is mediocre pictures so the camera ends up collecting dust in a drawer.
Even with all those drawbacks I consider learning and using a DSLR one of my greatest joys. If you’re thinking one might be for you then you’re in luck, right now they are remarkably cheap! You can get an introductory model from both Canon and Nikon for less than $400 that are remarkably capable and come with very good lenses.
Canon T5 with 18-55 IS lens: This is a good, solid introductory camera but don’t take that as damning with faint praise. By today’s standard it’s introductory level, but even a few years ago this would have been an amazing camera. Buy it from Amazon here: Canon EOS Rebel T5 with 18-55mm Lens
Nikon D3100 with 18-55 VR lens: Like the Canon T5, this is a great first camera capable of taking those “Wow” pictures you are looking for. Find it on Amazon here: Nikon D3100 Digital SLR Camera & 18-55mm Lens
I was using my Canon DSLR to photograph these bears when the guide asked if I wanted him to take my picture. So I handed my Nikon AW 110 to him and he took this shot and I think it’s a great shot. My point is that point and shoots are very capable cameras and they’re fairly cheap. Only consider a DSLR if you have a very specific need, like art photos, macro, astro, wildlife or bird photography.
Who should and should not buy one:
Because of their cost, size and complexity most people are better off sticking with their cell phones or if you’re really interested in photography stepping up to a good point and shoot. Probably 90% of the pictures on my blog are taken with my Nikon AW 110 which cost $250, is waterproof and takes great pictures. Because it’s small, I carry it with me nearly 100% of the day.
The only reason you should buy a DSLR is if you have a specific need that the other cameras can’t meet or if you specifically want to unleash your creativity and make works of art with a camera and are willing to pay the price to do so. The price will be in time spent learning and practicing your new art and in purchases to expand your cameras abilities.
If you’re ready to do that, either of these cameras will delight you!
Can you recommend any tutorial websites?
Why are you standing so close to those bears?!?!?!
use search function. “bear photos”. scroll down it’ll come to you.
ice cream. raz
Marie, I was in a fly-in bear viewing trip into Katmai NP. Everything we did was NPS approved and perfectly ethical and legal. You can read all aout in this post and the two that followed it:
http://www.cheaprvliving.com/blog/fly-bear-viewing/
Bob
Bob, I was just concerned for your safety! They seemed awfully close…
Thanks Marie! They got a lot closer than that, we were with 6 feet of one mama bear! Check out the post and the two after it!
Bob
I love my Canon Rebel and 300mm E lens. That’s all I use, no filters or anything (except a haze filter), and it takes great photos. I agree that photography is the best hobby ever for outdoor living, and it can be combined with other loves, like bird watching, geologizing, etc.
And you really don’t need a fortune to get into it, nor a lot of technical knowledge.
Desert Rat, Canon got an early jump on digital cameras and they are still the leaders in my opinion, great cameras! 300mm is a great lens for outdoors!
Are you still in Moab? I’m probably headed up there in the next week. I’m going to stop at Monument Valley and House on Fire on the way.
Hope to see you there!
Bob
Nope, over in W. Colorado for awhile, but will be heading that way soon. I’ll follow your progress and if I’m there, I’ll get in touch. Kind of hiding out from the crowds right now. 🙂
Desert Rat, soemtimes you just gotta get away and recharge!
Bob
Thanks, Raz! I was kind of worried on Bob’s behalf. I’ve spent time living and camping in the Yellowstone area, and have a healthy respect for bears. By thy way, the “bear” posts were AWESOME!
(Make that “by THE way”)
Thanks to you, Bob…it is my new hobby and what wonderful pictures I can take here in Cottonwood/Sedona…Right eye done and go to clinic tomorrow to schedule the left. Can you imagine what pictures I will take when my left eye is fixed?…Thank you Bob! ! ! !
I’m glad you’re enjoying the camera Sameer and what a wonderful gift modern science is to give you the gift of renewed eyesight!! I’m really happy for you!
Bob
…sigh… I almost never use my DSLR anymore. I love my Nikon D5100 but for my lifestyle it just is too cumbersome! I tend to rely almost exclusively on my iPhone + my GoPro. I did haul it up a 13er last November to take Christmas card photos (much to Sprocket’s chagrin!). I would like to use it more but I have a really hard time justifying the space it takes up in my pack + its weight on summit hikes.
I borrowed a friend’s Fujifilm X-Pro1 for my Baja trip and LOVED IT. It’s not light but it has interchangable lenses, is a lot smaller than the DSLR, and still has a lot of flexibility for adjusting parameters. ‘Cause every blogger needs FOUR cameras, right Bob? 😉
I think yours is a common story Beth. Most people just don’t need a DSLR and then their size and complexity works against them so they get left behind. The only time I use mine is for what I consider “art” photos. In a rare showing of restraint I only have three cameras, the Nikon AW110 for everyday and water use, the Canon for art and the Go-Pro for adventure video. I need to get me some more cameras!!!
Bob
I started out my vandwelling life using an 18-135mm zoom lens. After a while, I began paying attention to which focal lengths I was actually using most. It turned out I was shooting more with the shorter focal lengths. So I got an 18-55mm zoom lens. It’s much lighter and more compact, and I rarely wish I had a longer lens (and when I do, I wish it was a 400mm).
When I took a photography class in college, the instructor said he wanted us to use only one lens the whole term. He didn’t care what focal length it was, just stick with it. He wanted us to concentrate on seeing, not the equipment. That was back when zoom lenses were rare and outrageously expensive, so we all had fixed-focal length lenses. We learned to take better shots within the limitations of our equipment. I think that’s important. What can your camera do? How can you best exploit that? How can you use it to capture what you envision?
I agree Al, I work more with the wide angle than I do telephoto. My Nikon is only 4x but I can always crop to get closer. When it comes to cameras, smaller is better!
Bob
This is where my Dave buys and sells his cameras. I thought I would share it so those looking to buy used equipment could have a reliable source. I promise these are good guys who really know cameras. When I went in to buy one for traveling abroad they asked if I could wait a couple weeks because a new one was coming in that I would like. They were right and I’m still using it many years later. http://www.natcam.com
Thanks for the link Linda, I’ll check them out! I have a couple of used lenses and have been happy with both of them.
Bob
This is interesting timing. Just yesterday I was thinking about how I have outgrown my point and shoot. I want to be able to do more! I previously owned a non-digital SLR and it was great.
Living in a Prius C, I have literally no spare room. So this is a big decision. I would need to get rid of some stuff to make room for it.
Hmmm!!!!!!
Thanks for posting this! 🙂
This truly is a great hobby for a van dweller. I have a digital SLR but use my point and shoot that I have on my belt more. I like to photograph found abstract images in just what I run into. That’s where having a camera with me pays off. Bob, your photography is really well composed and thought out and many of your images are gallery quality. Looking forward to seeing more of your work.
Thanks Garry! I appreciate your kind words! Sounds like we are a lot alike!
Bob
Jim, the Canon SL1 is a very small DSLR and get just the body and a super zoom like the 18-200. It would be a tiny package and still leave you with a lot of flexibility.
Bob
I looked through my car to see what stuff I could discard to make room. It is either actual parts of the car, such as stowed away head rests, or perhaps nostalgia such as souvenirs from overseas or old family photos. I decided I need to hold off on the purchase for now. Besides, it is hard to rationalize spending a month’s worth of living expenses on this right now. So I will try to keep going with my point and shoot. Thank you for your suggestions.
Jim, nothing wrong with a point and shoot, I’ve taken many great photos with one as I’m sure you have. Keep using it until you’re certain it’s not good enough anymore.
Bob
Wow, when you do something you really do it up right! You have way more gear than I do and I make my living with nature photography.
Photography has gotten me through some tough times…I find it has a very calming effect. I think travelling and photography are a natural combo. Enjoy!
Peggy, it’s a character flaw of mine, I go nuts on my hobbies! But having all the equipment I wanted has been a dream of mine for 40 years and so when I got a workman’s comp settlement I kindof went nuts and bought all the stuff I’ve anted all these years! I don’t regret it all!!
Bob
I’m also an equipment junkie. At one time I had a Pentax medium-format camera and lenses, plus a pro-quality video camera (I actually went to filmmaking school at one point) – I finally realized I’m too lazy to learn how to really use all that gear and just want to take landscape and wildlife shots, so I sold it all. I love the simplicity of just one camera and lens, even if I don’t use them to their max potential. I just do it for fun. And I agree that Bob’s shots are pro quality.
Thanks Desert Rat!
Bob
Desert Rat, I had the same camera! What a beast! I used mine for vintage automotive photography and loved the results, but then found that I was occasionally getting more interesting shots using a 35mm, while the big, heavy Pentax was relegated to a sturdy tripod. It was nice to be considered by onlookers as either an “artiste” or “pro” during the 10 minutes it took to set up just the shot I wanted, but in the end, the 35 proved the “better” camera despite the inferior resolution. The $3 per exposure cost didn’t help, but it did force me to slow down and shoot purposefully, something that digital works against. Once I finally went modern digital, my ratio of “keepers” dived from about 70% to well under 10% for the same type of work. I could now afford to fail!
Doug, I can relate. I hiked into the Wave with a pro-photographer friend, I had my DSLR and he had Pentax 6×7. I took over 1000 shots and he took 32!
Bob
Hey Desert Rat, I went to film school too! I’m also too lazy to learn all that gear and don’t want to carry it around. I pretty much rely on one camera and lens when I’m out and about but take two lenses when I go on a trip.
Bob I can get a bundle deal, a Canon – EOS Rebel T5 DSLR Camera with 18-55mm and 75-300mm Lenses for $450.00, bur not from Amazon. Could you help me get something like that at Amazon and let them know you help me because you have in the past with other items. I do have to ask if the camera lens are the same as Binoculars, like when it says 15×70 Binoculars are the 75-300mm camera better than the binoculars because I can take a picture of the bird, moon, stars things in a distance instead of just looking through and not having pic. I know it cost more but I would like your opinion on that also because you don’t talk about binoculars. Just when you have time to answer because I know you are busey traveling and blogs also. Take care and have a safe and wonderful travel. Ronnie
Ronnie, that is a great deal on that Canon Rebel, I’d grab it up right away! I can’t help you get it from Amazon, but they aren’t always the best price so get it from wherever is cheapest.
It’s hard to classify camera lenses but the best I can do is say it is about 8X power. But, remember that you can always crop it in software to easily double that again. I nearly always crop my photos a little bit. I use Picassa which is a free download from Google and it is very easy and amazingly powerful for free. It makes cropping and most editing amazingly easy and fun.
However, I think binoculars are easier to use than a lens because it is both eyes and they are so much smaller and lighter. But of course they don’t give you a picture!
Bob