Let’s look at these 15 mistakes one by one with their reasons.
1. OVERPAYING FOR THINGS YOU DON’T NEED
Overpaying for a camera you don’t need is one of the most common mistakes photographers often fall for. Although you are able to get incredible photos with almost any SLR camera you find in stores, it is very easy to fall into the temptation to go out of your budget to get a camera with higher specifications but that you really do not need.
The best way to get the most out of the investment made in a camera is to pay for what you are actually going to use . And do not spend a fortune on functions that you will not use.
Taking time to analyze what use you plan to give can save you a lot of money. Money that you will need to get the objectives with which you will take your best photographs . We will see this in more depth in error 11 😉.
2. PAY MORE TO HAVE A CAMERA THAT WEIGHS MORE
Another common mistake that many make is relating the weight of a photo camera to its quality and performance. And, worse still, with the final photographic result.
IMHO, there is no relationship between the weight of a photo camera and the quality of your photos. I can not imagine anyone looking at a large photograph of these that leave you speechless, putting his hand to his chin and saying, as a good understanding of the subject: «Man, it is clear that this photo was taken from a very serious and serious camera. I tell you there is a lot to see how the colors look, what they contain, but what a professional skill in light is. GOD! In fact the photographer had a great camera, believe me, I understand that, you know?».
I POINT OUT
It is true that professional photographers (those who are engaged in photography as a profession or trade) often invest money in very expensive photographic equipment. But they require very specific benefits, for professional purposes, that you cannot find in any SLR camera.
It is also true that these cameras, from 2,000 to 3,000 euros, and even more, usually have a body and disproportionately large dimensions. But from there it should not be deduced that fat camera = good camera. Each camera is designed for a specific type of user and specific needs.
Professional camera in the hands of a photographer
DIFFERENT USERS FOR DIFFERENT CAMERAS
A professional camera requires a completely different performance than that of an amateur user. If you hurry me, the amateur photographer makes varied use of his SLR camera, one day at home, another day on the street, on an excursion or at a family event. You need, as a hobbyist, a light and versatile machine , something that you can carry on your body without being too bulky and, above all, without unnecessarily tiring you.
Remember this when choosing your next SLR camera.
3. CHOOSE THE CAMERA ONLY FOR ITS MEGAPIXELS
Not always the characteristics that manufacturers highlight as fundamental are really important when it comes to getting a DSLR camera.
The way in which cameras are promoted according to their megapixels, to refer to their image quality, is an excellent example of this. Remember that megapixels mark the print size that the photograph will have. But they have nothing to do with the quality of these, as is usually promoted.
WHY DO WE GIVE SO MUCH IMPORTANCE TO MEGAPIXELS?
There was a time when you had to look at the number of megapixels that cameras had because most offered a very low amount. This was reflected in images that, shortly after you wanted to enlarge them, lost resolution ending in the famous pixelated photography effect.
But today, looking at megapixels (excessively) is monumental nonsense. Any current SLR camera offers more than enough megapixels to deliver incredible print quality at a reasonably large size.
4. IGNORE THE NECESSARY “EXTRAS”
Keep in mind that the world of SLR photography is not only limited to the camera and that there are many accessories that will be essential for you to take full advantage of the potential of your camera. In fact, in many cases the camera may even be the most economical of the entire photo kit.
Lenses, filters, extra batteries, high-speed memories, backpacks to transport your equipment, external flashes, diffusers and tripods are part of the endless accessories and tools necessary for you to take your photographs to the highest level.
Eye, again, you must be careful to know your photographic needs well in order not to oversize yourself.
Complete photographic equipment placed in order on the ground
Be careful not to overload yourself
5. DON’T LISTEN TO (OR READ) COLLEAGUES
When buying, not taking advantage of the Internet to get to know the opinions of other colleagues, it borders on the irresponsible.
Before launching in search of your next SLR camera, take some time to compare the different alternatives available on the market. And also to know the opinions of those colleagues who have already taken them.
6. DO NOT INFORM YOURSELF BEFORE BUYING
Okay, when you go to buy your first SLR camera, it is understood that you do not dedicate much to photography. And chances are you don’t know the ins and outs of the photographic material. But beware, this does not exempt you from spending a little time, before buying, to inform yourself a little of the basics of the matter. You don’t need to do a Master or anything like that, but you do need to search for information in blogs and forums and rationalize your purchase.
An informed purchase, beyond the opinion of the users, is always a useful purchase.
7. DO NOT INVESTIGATE THE CAMERA THOROUGHLY
In line with the previous error, although the opinions of colleagues can help you, it is useful to download the user manual and take a look at it. This way you will get to know all its functions and characteristics in depth. And, along with the opinions of colleagues, you can get a more concrete idea of the camera you want to buy.
8. UNKNOWN TERMINOLOGY
Not taking time to study the terminology used by vendors and manufacturers when offering their products is a mistake that can cost you dearly, and not just in money.
It is very important that, to find the perfect SLR camera for you, you understand the terminology used by sellers and online sales sites . In this way you can interpret the specifications of the SLR cameras and make the best purchase decision. For this, I recommend that you read the references in the following article to choose better .
9. BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE ONLY “TOP BRANDS”
If you are someone who believes that the world of digital photography is limited to Nikon and Canon, you are making a mistake. Every day more, second-rate brands , such as Sony, Pentax , etc., launch cameras, lenses and accessories onto the market that have nothing to envy to the supposedly first-class products , so you should not overlook them.
10. PAY MORE TO HAVE MORE LENSES OR ACCESSORIES
You have informed yourself and finally you already know which camera you want. You go to a physical or online store to buy it and, suddenly, you find 7 different packs of the same camera model: without a lens, with a lens, with a lens + another extra lens, with a transport bag and without it, with a carrying, tripod and memory card etc. A real mess.
The fun thing is that, for all these extras, you have to pay. It is not that they give it to you as a courtesy gesture, what’s up. They offer them to you as an unbeatable price offer, but most of the time they charge you within the price you pay for the camera.
MY RECOMMENDATION
My recommendation on these types of occasions is that you do not buy anything that you did not intend to buy before seeing these packs. As much as you think that they are useful accessories and that you would end up using them, two things happen:
First, many times you will be wrong. This is marketing. A good marketing job makes us, as consumers, want to buy things that we were not initially looking for and we do so convinced that they will indeed have some use. Most of the time they don’t have it, and …
Second, regarding the accessories that they will offer you, they will never, never include the best tripods, memory cards or backpacks in the promotion package. The best products in their category are already having the sales they want, they don’t need to get rid of them with a promotion. The promotions are worth precisely to take inventory from the store and give out products that no one else would buy.
That is why I advise you, when buying, to forget about any unnecessary accessory and focus all your attention on buying the camera. If it comes with a serial lens that’s fine, you’ll need a lens anyway the first few days. But don’t spend money on more items. Later you will have the opportunity to invest in a good lens, tripod, backpack and whatever you need.
11. DO NOT LEAVE MONEY FOR A GOOD GOAL
And speaking of lenses, did you know that buying a good camera is only half the way? Even if you have a lens or two included. You still need to buy a lens. I already know what you are thinking «How is it possible, if it already comes with a lens or two built-in? Why would I need to spend my money on more objectives? »
Here the important thing to know is that the lenses that usually come with standard SLR cameras are generic lenses. That is, they are made for a very general type of photography.
You, like most of us, will be interested in one type of photography or another, and there you will need a specialized lens. For example, if you like landscape photography, you will need a wide angle lens; And if you are more of portraits, you will want the famous king of objectives.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE OBJECTIVE
If you think this is bad news, luckily you’re wrong 😉. The beauty of reflex photography is to be able to exchange lenses and use one or the other, depending on the circumstances.
This allows manufacturers to bring extremely specialized lenses to market, with spectacular optical results in the type of photography they are designed for. Photographing a landscape with a good wide angle has nothing but nothing to do with photographing it using the typical standard lens, the 18-55mm. The same goes for any other type of lens.
As I was saying, buying the camera is only half the way, the other half is buying a good lens. Of course, you don’t have to buy everything at once, start with the camera, obviously, that’s how you try and fiddle with it, but instead of investing money in an expensive SLR that you won’t give 100% use to, why Why not buy an SLR of your level and save the rest to invest in the objective you need?
12. DO NOT TEST THE CAMERA IN PERSON
If you have the chance to meet your next SLR camera before buying it, do so. In this way, you will be able to evaluate live and direct those characteristics that caught your attention regarding it.
Note not only its physical appearance, but also its functionality, that is, that its weight, size, location of the buttons, etc., fit your needs and wishes. Experiment with your future camera before buying it. When you have it in your hands, you will know if you are the ideal couple 😉.
13. LET OTHERS DECIDE FOR YOU
It is very common that sellers or colleagues want to convince you to buy a different SLR camera than the one you have in mind.
Most sellers are honest and will advise you well, but some will try to take advantage of your uninformed appearance and will do their best to get you the camera that sells the least. Or the one with no way to get rid of it or the one with the highest profit margin.
COMPARING IS THE KEY
Nor do I want you to be suspicious of everyone. Just compare , ask the seller for their opinion, and compare it with that of another seller. And then with someone else’s, and contrast it with what you have reported in other media. Only then can you draw a definitive conclusion from yourself.
You shouldn’t buy a camera just based on the opinions of third parties, however valuable they may be, but based on your own needs. Of course, in order for you to do it, you must be clear about what use you intend to give the camera.
14. NOT KNOWING WHY YOU NEED (REALLY) A SLR CAMERA
The only way to ensure a responsible purchase is, first of all, to ask yourself and try to find the real reason why you want to buy a reflex camera. It sounds strange to hear this from someone who has a photography blog, but there is nothing in the world that detests more than seeing an idle SLR camera, thrown in a drawer without being used in months and months.
If you are going to buy a reflex camera I want you to use it and give it a useful life. SLR cameras are a wonderful instrument for communicating, moving and transmitting stories. But I have seen so many users buy one because they did not know what to do with 700 euros that burned their pockets, and then did not use it for months, which makes them angry.
15. BELIEVING THAT THE CAMERA MAKES THE PHOTOGRAPHER
If I asked you, why do you want to change cameras? I am sure one of the reasons for doing this is “because I want to take better pictures . ” When you are not involved in the world of cameras and SLR photography, but you only look at it from a distance, you think that compact, small and tiny cameras, the ones you have had all your life, those are amateurs, that’s clear. The others, big and black, with a lens that you can turn with your hand and such, those are the professionals and those who take good photos. Error!!!
Professional would rather be a range within SLR cameras. If you go to a photographic store you will see that it has many SLR cameras. Of these, a few will be professionals, but many others will be semi-professional or even for the beginning photographer.
THE CAMERA IS THE TOOL
What you want to buy in reality, with almost total security, is a reflex camera for beginner or amateur user level . There are cameras so they are real wonders, affordable and with very advanced features , but they do not have to be considered professionals.
The camera is just a tool that you will use to transform your ideas into photographs, but under no circumstances should the camera stop being a means to become an end in itself.
The real magic in this wonderful art that is photography happens inside you, thanks to your creativity and your desire to turn your ideas into a photographed reality.