Buying a dSLR- Part 1
Before you launch yourself into the wonderful world of dSLR ownership, you're going to want to do a little research because, in a sense, you're not just buying yourself a camera, but buying into a whole photography system. But maybe you're not even sure that you want a dSLR, or why you'd want to spend the extra money on a photography system. Or maybe you'd just rather get the latest, greatest point-and-shoot camera - it's easier to use and takes decent photos, right? Before you make up your mind, let's take a look at what a dSLR actually is and how they compare with the various point-and-shoot digicams out there. We'll also take a look at the differences between a dSLR and a traditional film SLR, and take a brief look inside a dSLR to see what makes it tick. Finally, we'll explore the wide range of dSLR's currently available on the market, and try to help decide which one may be right for you.
I know a dSLR when I See One
Generally speaking, you can usually spot them in a crowd - you know - the ones with the big, long lenses, bulky camera bodies, usually with a thick strap around the photographers' neck, accompanied by a large bag full of other photography gear. Ok, yeah, but what actually is a dSLR? Well, dSLR is short for Digital Single Lens Reflex, although all it really means is that, when using a dSLR, you are looking at the subject though the lens, seeing exactly what the sensor is seeing, instead of an image that is pretty close to what the sensor is seeing. It gets its name from the fact that there's a mirror that sits behind the lens that directs the light up to the viewfinder for you to compose your photograph. If you're picturing that in your head, you might be thinking "Why isn't the image upside down, then?" Good question. 
There's actually something called a pentaprism on the viewfinder (remember playing with prisms in elementary school - changing the direction of light and making cool-colored images on the walls?) that flips the image right-side up. When you "click" (release the shutter), the mirror quickly moves out of the way, which blacks out the viewfinder for a quick second, allowing the light to travel past where the mirror was and hit the sensor, which hangs out behind the mirror. The other, usually more obvious aspect of a dSLR is the fact you can equip a dSLR with a multitude of lenses and accessories. We will discuss this in more depth later on.
Do You Want a Camera or a Photography System?
Just like in the auto industry (is that a car, or an SUV or both?), we are seeing some blurring of the lines between your standard point-and-shoot cameras and the professional dSLR camera systems. Just a couple of years ago, in fact, there were a total of 0 (yes, ZERO) dSLRs under a thousand bucks. Now there are a handful of them. In addition, there's a new generation of point-and-shoot cameras coming along that look and even, in part, act like dSLRs. This makes camera shopping that much more difficult. As you probably already know, one of the main features of buying a dSLR is all the fun stuff you can buy to improve/change your camera (lenses, filters, flashes, etc). Even with the advanced point-and-shoot cameras, however, the "taking-the-photo" lens has to match the angle of view with the "composing-the-photo" lens (viewfinder). This is why you can see the image on the LCD screen to compose your image. But with a dSLR, this is never a problem, because the "taking-the-photo" lens is the same as the "composing-the-photo" lens (remember? Single Lens Reflex!). This ability to change lenses from a telephoto lens to a wide-angle lens, and everything in-between, is why serious photographers prefer SLR cameras. That, and the fact that dSLRs offer more control, better performance (think: more pictures, better and faster) and almost always better image quality. Of course, point-and-shoot cameras have their advantages as well. They are lighter and easier to use (a dSLR is not going to fit in your pocket), while dSLR's are heavier (though more durable), and are complicated (it will take a while before you are comfortable using all the numerous controls). The one thing that will obviously jump out at you when shopping for a camera is price, and certainly a point-and-shoot camera will cost less (with the cheap end dipping well below $200) than a dSLR (which currently range in price from around $650 to upwards of $10,000 - not including lenses and accessories).
Another big advantage that people soon discover when using a dSLR, is the lack of shutter lag. If you've used a standard point-and-shoot digicam before, you know what I'm talking about. Imagine you're out on Lake Okanagan, BC, in search for a good photo of the Ogopogo (Canada's version of the Loch Ness Monster). You have along your trusty point-and-shoot camera, and suddenly, the Ogopogo jumps out of the water. You hold down the button to take a photo, and your point-and-shoot camera starts to do its thing - tries to auto focus, and a second or two later, the camera fires. Of course, by that time, the Ogopogo has gone back underwater, and you're left with blurry photograph of a splash of water. Maybe that's why there are so many "almost" photos of the Ogopogo and the Lock Ness Monster - maybe all the previous photo-attempts were taken with point-and-shoot digicams. BUT, if you had a dSLR along with you, the instant you "click" (release the shutter), the photo is taken. Now you have the only photograph of the Ogopogo, and you will no longer have a large collection of "almost" great photographs. With a dSLR, the only reason you'll have some "almost" photographs is if you're slow on the draw.
Now we have a better understanding of what a dSLR actually is, along with some of the advantages of having a photography system instead of just a camera. Next week, we'll take a look at traditional film dSLRs, as well as some of the "buzz" words in the photography industry like "megapixels!"
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