Brian Auer recently posted a comparison of the specifications of the recently announced Canon 50D and the Nikon D90 on his Epic Edits Weblog. The specifications of these cameras are fairly close, and both are targeting the advanced amateur photographer.

Brian then asks users to indicate which body they would choose, assuming they didn't have any existing brand loyalty or lenses suitable for either body. At the time of writing, the poll was quite close, with less than 10% difference between the 50D and the D90.



I believe Brian's approach to choosing a DSLR body is flawed. Someone buying their first DSLR shouldn't look at the specifications of camera bodies from different manufacturers to determine which one to purchase.

Instead, you should look at the lenses available for each brand (and to a lesser extent, also look at other accessories, such as flashes, etc). Once you decide which lens series you want to use (based on lens price, features, range, availability, etc), you then pick a body to suit those lenses, based on your budget at that time.

Camera manufacturers typically release updated bodies every 18 months or so (with the 50D being only 12 months after the release of the 40D). Updated bodies will have better performance and additional features that make them desirable. You can always upgrade to a higher-spec body and/or newer model of the body at a later date.

Even though one brand of DSLR body may have a minor edge over another brand at the current time, that could easily change when each manufacturer releases new versions of their bodies.

If you look after them, good quality lenses will last you for many years, and don't become obsolete. Lenses should last you through multiple camera bodies, although there are certainly situations where you may want to upgrade a lens to a better and/or faster lens.



For those readers who have an SLR (not necessarily a DSLR), how did you decide which brand to use (ie, Canon/Nikon/Pentax/etc), and how did you decide which body to purchase?

Use the comments below to submit information about your decision process when you purchased your first SLR camera body.