Maybe it was your love of posting stuff on social media. Or perhaps it was having your smartphone camera handy and at the ready at all times. Whatever the reason, you have officially become a photo-snapping, Photoblog-reading photography buff. And now that you’ve admitted this (or at least allowed me to admit it on your behalf), perhaps it’s time to do what everyone does as soon as they upgrade their photography interest from just another thing into a full-on passion: invest in a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera.
You may be a beginner, but the super-sweet Nikon D5200 will have you looking (and shooting) like a pro
Purchasing your first-ever DSLR camera can be a daunting experience. Even the cheapest ones will run you a few hundred dollars, and the selection and number of different features available between different brands and models ranges somewhere between innumerable and infinite. That’s why—particularly for first-time buyers—I definitely recommend speaking to someone who is both knowledgeable enough to answer all the questions you should have when making such a purchase and respectful enough to understand how overwhelming such a first-time purchase can be. The good news is that you’ll find plenty of such people at your local London Drugs Camera Department.
In researching this post I was fortunate enough to speak with Ashley at the Georgia & Granville location. Not only did she make the process 100% less intimidating, but she could also immediately recommend a number of entry-level models from both Nikon and Canon that each featured different ways of addressing a number of needs that the newbie may have.
Ashley’s first recommends were Nikon models: specifically the D3300, D5200 and the D5500. Each of these comes standard with a helpful ‘Guide Mode’ that helps you select the best settings for the kind of image you want to capture. Best of all, at the bottom of each menu is a ‘?’ icon that provides a definition of each option in the menu. It’s basically like having a built-in manual right there on-screen.
Ashley also recommended the Canon T5 and T5i, suited for beginner to mid-level photographers. She noted that, while these didn’t offer on-screen features like the Nikon models, their lower price point (at least at regular price) made them a good choice for beginners to wet their feet. She then pointed out that many locations also offer workshops for novice photographers to learn the basics of DSLR photography—free with any London Drugs camera purchase. Check with your local London Drugs to see where they are offered in your area.
Whether it’s for yourself or as a gift for someone this holiday season, if you do your research and buy from a knowledgeable seller who’s focused on your needs, your first DSLR will be something you always remember fondly. A word of warning, however: as your skills improve, DSLR photography can become downright addictive. Your first camera may soon have you looking for your first lens, flash, maybe even your first studio kit. Don’t worry though—no matter how consumed you become, the LD Camera Dept. will always be there with friendly, helpful advice.
