My DSLR

Up until this point, I’d been looking into so-called Autofocus points, which were dotted all over the camera screen or viewfinder. While both the Nikon’s had them, most of them were single type, not Cross-type.

At this point, I was researching why Cross-type AF points were important, and their advantages over single type AF points. I came to the conclusion that more cross-type AF points would ultimately help me.

• I should note here that as an amateur, with little to no DSLR experience, nor understanding of the photographic lexis, that cross-type AF points alone does not guarantee better photos. In fact, I’d bet the Nikon’s (D5300 and D5600) can take better photos than the DSLR I eventually chose, but what I wanted was a camera that could take me from simply fiddling with Manual mode (on the mode dial), to fully understanding Manual mode and reaping the benefits.

The Nikon D5300 and D5600 both had 37 AF points, but only 9 of them were cross-type AF points. That, for me, pitted them against the Canon 200D, which also had 9 cross-type AF points. The advantage the Nikon’s had over the Canon 200D was the aforementioned 37 AF points, of which 26 were single type – the 200D had only 9 AF points altogether, of which all were cross-type.

I came to the realisation that, in the long run, it meant the 200D was great for beginners, and while some pro’s have spearheaded it as ‘the’ best DSLR for vloggers, none of them seem to rate it similarly highly on pure still photography. And to me, that said one big thing about a camera I was alrwsy having second thoughts about due to the small physical buttons on the rear of the camera body.

I then started looking at the 750D (or Rebel T6i if you’re in the USA). It looked perfect on paper, with all 19 AF points being cross-type. It was at just the right price, too.

Then I saw the 800D. 45 cross-type AF points. The flair of the 200D with lots of extras. Surely, surely, this was the camera for me?

It wasn’t. The camera was perfect, but the price wasn’t. It was too expensive, and in the end, my budget was more important. I could’ve kept on going, maybe spending a bit more and getting the 70D, or better still, save money and get the 7D… 5D… 1D.

But I didn’t think a more expensive camera would do any good.

I’d heard an analogy, which went along the lines of good camera/crap photographer vs crap camera/pro photographer that seemed to stick in my mind. I could’ve bought the top model, but still be a rubbish photographer; or, I could start at or near the bottom, with a budget or mid-range DSLR, learn the ropes, and become a better photographer than I was before.

The 800D, while perfect, made me re-realise why I wanted a DSLR in the first place: to up my photography game. I was also planning to keep my camera for a similarly long time to my Canon A610 – around 11 years – so it had to be capable and versatile enough to last that long.

So, with that, here’s the cameras I crossed off my shortlist:

• Nikon D5300 – X
• Nikon D5600 – X
• Canon EOS 200D – X
• Canon EOS 800D – X

So, what was the DSLR camera I went with?

• Canon EOS 750D

The perfect DSLR for me.