Post 34

Back when I first wanted a dSLR, I did what a lot of people probably do. I went to a website, and I sorted the items from lowest price to highest price. I had been begging my parents for one for months, and I finally decided that if I really wanted one, I'd just have to buy it myself (even though my younger sister got a dSLR for Christmas).

One of the first dSLR kits I came across was made by Pentax. It was considerably less than the Nikon or Canon kits that seemed to be pretty much the same thing. The Pentax even came in colors like red, white, green, and black.* I had my mind set on the Pentax, and I began saving my money. I figured for $200 or so less, the Pentax must be a steal.

Eventually, the money I was saving for the Pentax got spent on something else. I most likely spent it on something I needed, like another bass, or a guitar. I'm glad I never got around to purchasing the Pentax, though. There are a lot of people out there who are very proud that they own a dSLR that isn't a Nikon or a Canon, and that's great! Most likely, though, the people who don't own a Nikon or Canon dSLR probably aren't professionals, or at least don't plan on becoming professional photographers, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.

However, if your end-goal is to become a professional photographer, or to take the best photos possible and you don't have a dSLR yet, go with Nikon or Canon.** There is a reason these two brands are the biggest in the world of dSLRs. Aside from having a rich history in camera and lens manufacturing, these two companies offer you something that companies like Pentax and Sony can't; lenses.

On Adorama.com, there are currently 57 Pentax lenses, and 55 Sony lenses. Compare that to the 209 Nikon lenses and the 228 Canon lenses available. Not only is this a huge difference in the amount of options you'll have if you go with Nikon or Canon, but Nikon and Canon are both known for their professional glass. I don't remember ever hearing about Pentax or Sony being praised for their lenses, and there's probably a reason for that.

*If you want to be taken seriously as a photographer, avoid colored cameras.

**Try to avoid buying your dSLR with the kit lens, too. The kit lenses are usually junk, with poor optics, quality, and plastic mounts. Trust me, I started with a D3100 with the kit lens. Save the money you would have spent on the kit lens and get something better that you won't end up replacing in a few months.