I need information on DSLR's?

Hi, i'm looking to get a good and cheap DSLR, i have the Nikon D3000 in mind maybe for my birthday? I'm only 14 and learning photography in school (australia) and i want to get a good camera that isn't one of the compact girly ones.

I don't have much knowledge on DSLR's so if you could explain what to look for and simple defintion of camera terms.e. G shutter speed is…

Nikon D3000
Nikon D3100

Canon XS
Canon XSi
Canon T1i

http://www.dpreview.com/...com/learn/?/Guides/dslr_buying_guide_01.htm" rel='nofollow' class='ext_link'>http://www.dpreview.com/...ide_01.htm

http://www.dpreview.com/learn/

All DSLR cameras have the same basic functions, and they add more as the price goes up. The Nikon D3000 is excellent for anyone starting out, but also look at the models that Hondo pointed out, as they are also excellent and have different features, if they matter to you.

Shutter Speed is just that, it is usually measured in 1/x seconds, so when you see 1000 shutter speed, that means 1/1000th of a second, which is enough to stop helicopter blades without motion blur. It dictates how long the light hits the sensor. The longer the shutter speed, the brighter the picture under the same conditions, but more chance for blur

this page contains a table of common terms
http://en.wikipedia.org/...hotography

I suggest you pick up a photography book and start reading.

Don't leave Pentax out of the question! Nikon is an excellent brand, but Pentax is known for their excellent entry level DSLRs. I own a Pentax K-x, it takes stunning pictures and is packed full of software. And at it's price, it was practically a steal. I'm not telling you to buy a Pentax, but keep them in mind when choosing.

http://www.pentaxwebstore.com/detail/PTX+16302

This is the official store, there are most likely better prices on amazon. (where I got mine)

DSLR = Digital Single Lens Reflex
Digital just means no film, all stored on a memory card. Photos viewable on the LCD screen.
Single Lens Reflex means there physically is a shutter. There's a mirror behind the lens, pressing the shutter will cause it to move back and let light onto the sensor.

The ENTIRE reasons SLRs exist are
- interchangeable lenses (most brands have over 100 lenses available)
- control over aperture, iso, focus, bokeh, etc
- expandability (flashes, remotes, etc)

There's practically no task you can't accomplish with an SLR, as long as you can pay for it. A lens costs about 300-600 dollars (US) on average and can easily exceed 1000 for weather sealed, telephoto, and others. Many photographers argue this is the only reason SLRs exist but I disagree. I think the control you have in an SLR is fantastic and far superior over a point-shoot.

Once you have control over your camera, it is no longer a camera and simply a tool. It becomes part of you. An SLR with a decent lens should be able to capture the exact photo you want. Blurred background, white balance, zoom is no longer guesswork - it's in your hands.

Terms

Aperture size/f number - Essentially, the size of the hole that is letting light into your camera. Larger number means smaller hole.
Shutter speed - How much time you are allowing light into your camera - shorter time, less blur, greater time, more blur. Sometimes blur is desired.
Lens mount - The kind of lenses your camera can take. Nikon cameras can only use Nikon lenses. Canon cameras can only use Nikon lenses.
AF - Auto focus. When you point at an object, the camera focuses for you so you don't have to.
Crop factor - The size of your sensor. If your camera (the D3000 is) has a cropped sensor, the images you capture will be smaller than a full frame camera - like your photo was cropped.

Let me know if you want more terms, these are all I can think of.

Http://www.illustratedphotography.com/basic-photography