Camera's aren't cheap, and investing in a DSLR will be a big step in anyone's (blogging) life. They're definitely not a necessity, despite what you may believe and there are several things to take into account before making your first purchase.
Can you afford it / Finding deals?
As mentioned before, splashing out on a DSLR isn't something to be taken lightly, and when added to the cost of extra lenses and bits that you will have to pick up too, you can end up spending a small fortune before you can even use the camera properly. If you can ask for money for your birthday that's a great way of saving up or doing jobs or working for those of you who can. You also want to make sure that you have extra money saved up on the side so that you have extra for other things that you will inevitably need and you don't bankrupt yourself in the process.
Leading on from this, there are sometimes ways to get you camera for cheaper. Sites like Amazon and Argos often have great deals running or looking at eBay can be a good (although more risky) way to grab a bargain. I was lucky enough to find mine ex-display from John Lewis, which basically means it was used as a model camera in the shop for a while, but this meant I was able to get it significantly cheaper - well worth looking out for.
What are your reasons for wanting it / Are you going to learn to use it properly?
If it's solely for your blog then I'd almost recommend against immediately forking out for a big fancy DSLR. The chances are that with the right set up you can get the same quality photos with a standard digital camera and a little bit of know how. However, if you know you can use it for other things such as holidays and maybe art/photography projects (for example if you take one of these subjects or want to further your knowledge) then it could end up being well worth the investment. If it is only for blogging, you want to make sure that you're committed enough that you aren't going to give up next week and it will end up collecting dust.
DSLR's are very different from digitals in that they offer a lot more control over how the final image turns out. It may be an easy option to leave it on AUTO but if that's your plan, there's really no point in the upgrade. There are loads of great guides online and books that you can use to educate yourself, but it will take time to make a difference.
How do I choose?
I can't stress enough how important research is before buying a DSLR. There are so many out there so think about what you want out of it and look at what other people have and recommend too. For example, I knew that a flip screen was going to be important for me because of taking makeup photos and a lens with silent focus during filming was also something I really wanted. If you're spending that much money, you want to makeup sure that it's going to work perfectly for you so definitely take some time over this. Branding is also important to some, Canon and Nikon are the main brands, and if a family member has one you may want to think about going for the same so the extra bits of kit will work and you can share.
So that's all the points that I can think of know to decide whether a DSLR is really right for you. For me, it's made an amazing difference, and if blogging is a big thing for you then I would really recommend them, but they definitely aren't the be all and end all as some people say - sometimes an iPhone can be just as good.
What do you think? Do you have a DSLR and or want one?
