Neil Guy, more widely known as N. K. Guy or NK Guy, maintains a comprehensive set of frequently asked questions and answers for new photographers using the Canon DSLR system. He covers:
- General questions;
- Cameras;
- Lenses;
- Flashguns; and
- Filters and other items.
Unless you’re a veteran photographer, I’d highly recommend a read through these documents. For those of you who’ve only really been shooting in the digital age, some of the notes on film photography might be of interest from a historical perspective.
As someone with an interest in the English language, I was amused to see this note in Part 5:
“Why is this FAQ full of spelling and grammar errors? It isn’t. … It does, however, generally use Canadian spelling and grammar, which may be confusing to those more familiar with US or UK conventions, since Canadian writing tends to be a random hybrid of both.”
In my experience, many people seem to be aware of US (American) and UK (British) spelling conventions, but not Canadian conventions. Here in Australia, there are some differences in conventions. For example, over the years, I’ve noticed more frequent use of “jail” (American) rather than “gaol” (British).
There are many other articles of interest on Guy’s website, and the following comment from his “Why did I choose Canon EOS?” article rings true for me (though I shoot with Nikon):
“Whatever you do, don’t decide on a particular system because one camera you tried has a particular feature you like, unless you really need that one feature. The one thing I would double-check, however, is if the camera you’re thinking of getting feels right to you. The subjective feel of a camera – its shape, positioning of controls, heft and size, etc, are critical in regular use and you have to be sure that the camera you choose works for you.”
When I was choosing my first DSLR, I researched both the Canon and Nikon systems thoroughly, as well as considering the other manufacturers. I didn’t have any particular preference for either Canon or Nikon, and went into Plaza Cameras to try handling the two bodies I’d narrowed the choice down to—the Canon EOS 20D and the Nikon D70S. I remember walking into the shop expecting to come out with an EOS 20D. It was the more expensive camera body, but it was also more capable for low light action photography.
After handling both bodies, I actually ended up buying a D70S. The control system and the hand grip felt tangibly better to me, and the shutter sound was much subtler and more pleasing to the ear than that of the EOS 20D. Those of you who remember the EOS 20D will agree with Michael Reichmann’s comment from his Paris field test of that body:
“I was less happy with the sound of the 20D’s shutter. It has a harsher pitch than that of the 10D and its predecessors, and thus can be more audible in undesired situations. … The above photograph was taken before dawn on a Sunday morning, and in the narrow confines of a quiet Parisian street the shutter sounded like a loud clap, immediately attracting the attention of at least two of the three people I was photographing. (The third one wouldn’t have heard the trumpet of the angel of death if it had been blowing in his ear.)”
Yes, you do need to visit Reichmann’s article and look at the photograph to make sense of the narrative, but it will be worth the trip, as it were!
Obviously, the shutter sound was not a reason in itself to go with the D70S, in my case, but it was a point that I still remember. (It also didn’t hurt that the D70S came with a highly regarded Nikkor 18–70 mm f/3.5–4.5 DX lens, which has turned out to be a real gem.) Do note that the point of my purchasing anecdote isn’t to criticise the EOS 20D or praise the D70S, but simply to support the veracity of Guy’s recommendation to handle the camera before buying it.