I’m often asked to help people pick out cameras and don’t always have the time to respond personally, so here are five camera-buying tips:

1. How much camera do you need?  For some people, and advanced point-and-shoot gives them all the creative flexibility they need.  If you’re looking at a DSLR, you may not need the most expensive model unless you’re shooting ultra fast-action subjects or in very low light.
2. The best camera is the one that you will use.  That $2,000 DSLR will do you no good if it’s gathering dust on the shelf because it’s too heavy for you to carry comfortably.  Try out a camera in person to make sure it feels good in your hands before you buy it.
3. If you go with a DSLR, buy a less expensive body and dedicate more of your budget to lenses.  Camera body technology changes constantly, but a bright, sharp lens will look just as beautiful five years from now.
4. Are pro zoom lenses too expensive for you?  Try out “prime” fixed focal length lenses.  They cost less and have fewer moving parts to break.
5. Still not sure what to get?  Try before you buy with an equipment rental service.  For a couple hundred bucks, you can spend a weekend trying out various cameras or lenses without the commitment of purchasing them.

My partial equipment list is posted here, if you’re curious.

My favorite repair shop, Pho-Tech, has some great advice on buying camera equipment posted on their website.