When people ask me for help to buy a DSLR, the first thing that I do is ask them to do some research about lenses first, instead of doing research for (aka Google for) camera bodies.

Find out a good lens in your budget and then go for a DSLR with the remaining amount.

You see, a new DSLR body is released almost every year. So you will usually upgrade to new body every two or three years, but the lenses will work for the life time.

Secondly no amount of sensor technology can improve the light falling on the sensor. For that you need a good lens.

So, the big investment should be on lenses and the smaller investment should be on camera body.

Specially for a beginner dSLR user, if you have to choose between buying better body or better lenses, I always suggest to go for better lenses.

For example, if you have to choose between buying Nikon’s latest D5000 or the low cost D40, I advise to first find out which lens you like in your budget and then if you have sufficient funds to go for D5000 otherwise go for D40.

For example, if you do low light photography i.e. shoot indoors, parties, birthdays, families and friends, then you should get the affordable Nikkor 35mm f1.8 DX lens.

So if I get d40 with kit lens + 35mm lens in the same price as that of d5000 with kit lens, then I would always go with the D40 with the two lenses instead of D5000 with one kit lens.

You will never be able to get the same photo with with D5000+kit lens that you can get with D40+35mm f1.8 lens in low light situations.

Next Question: How do I go about finding a good lens?

You find good lenses in the same way you find good camera.

1. You visit various forums (A Google Search will give you lots of sites)
2. Ask questions about a suitable lens by mentioning your general requirement i.e. what kind of photos you want to take,
3. Read other people’s posts and find out what lens they are using and what problems and benefits they have,
4. Also check the sample photos released by the camera companies to see what lenses they have used.
   Usually they use the best lens to create the best possible photo for their marketing purposes.
   For example, check out the sample photos taken by D90 at http://www.nikonusa.com/Assets/Digital-SLR/25446-Nikon-D90/Video/digitutor/eng/d90/gallery/index.shtml
5. Read the reviews by authority sites
6. See the samples of photos taken with that lens
7. Do a search for alternatives to the lens that you have in mind e.g. if you are planning a 50mm f1.4 nikkor, see whether there is an alternative provided by Sigma, Tamron, Tokina etc.
8. Do the research for these alternatives too and shortlist a lens based on your budget and requirement.
9. See if you can borrow that lens from your friends and try it out yourself. That is the ultimate test.
10. Check out the price of the lens from ebay, amazon, and your local sellers etc
11. Buy the lens.

I hope this helps you get a great gear.

This is part of the series called 101 tips to make you a better photographer.

Happy clicking…
~Gunjan