It’s probably one of the most commen questions asked in the photography forums - “I’m just becoming interested in photography, and my point-and-shoot camera/camera phone/other camera just isn’t cutting it anymore… So what’s the best beginner dSLR?” It’s the gateway question into the wonderful world of photography. The answer the budding photographer receives could shape their photographic purchases for years, even decades, to come. For those of us that participate regularly in photography forums like the Corner, it’s a question we come across frequently, and one we (hopefully, at least) answer with some thought.

For many, it usually comes down to choosing the (usually) newest and cheapest dSLR that’s made by _____ or _____ (fill in whatever company names you want - but it’s almost always Nikon and Canon these days). Several times a year, the answer will change - the Canon Digital Rebel, the Nikon D50, the Canon 550D, the Nikon D40, the Nikon D5000, and the list goes on. I asked on Twitter and our Facebook Fan Page, and almost every response I received was different - literally dozens of different answers with no real clear winner.

What it really comes down to is personal preference. If you’re in the market for a good, beginner dSLR, there are several to choose from, but before you make up your mind, head down to your local camera shop and hold them in your hand. Some cameras simply “feel right” in your hands, and that may be enough of a tie-breaker to pick one. Sure ‘camera X’ has slightly different features than ‘camera Y’, and ‘camera Z’ has more megapixels than ‘camera X’, but a smaller LCD screen - they all are a little different. But when it comes down to it, a good learner camera for me could be different from a good learner camera for you - we may have different photographic tastes and expectations, different sized hands, different subjects, different feature requirements. So the answer to the question “What is the best beginner dSLR?” is “whatever one seems to fit your photographic needs.”

I guess it’s kinda cheating, though, if I tell you “to each his own” without giving you my opinion - so here goes (I’ll give you a “used” option and a “new” option). If I were a beginner photographer, and were to purchase an dSLR today, I would probably shop my local camera shop or an online auction site for a used Nikon D40. It’s relatively inexpensive (can easily get one for less than $400), it’s light (weighs just over a pound), the kit lens (18-55mm) is a good all-around lens, max image size is good for any beginner photographer (3,008 × 2,000 - 6.1 megapixels) and it contains an ample feature set controlled by a simple and easy-to-undetstand menu system. It doesn’t have a boat-load of megapixels or tons of neat features or video or anything like that; but as far as the basics go, the Nikon D40 is a great place to get started. Hands-down the best (and most affordable) entry-level dSLR - nothing fancy - just everything a beginner photographer needs in a dSLR.

If you’d rather go the “new” route, not surprisingly I’m picking one of the most recently-announced, soon to be released, “entry-level” dSLR cameras: the Nikon D3100 (which should start shipping mid-September). Technology-wise, it’s several steps up from the D40 with a better CMOS sensor (14.2 megapixels), a dust-reduction system, larger image sizes (up to 4,608 × 3,072), a nicer viewfinder, better auto focus and, of course, full 1080p HD video recording. One of the best features, though, which is missing from the Nikon D40, is Live View - just like with point-and-shoot cameras, you can actually see what your photographing in the viewfinder (unlike most other dSLR’s). For those that are starting in photography, especially now that digital cameras have been around for a decade or so, it can be a hard adjustment to using an eye piece instead of the viewfinder. Live View makes for an easier bridge from a standard point-and-shoot camera to the wonder world of dSLRs.

Of course, after choosing two Nikon cameras, the Canon community (and Pentax and Sony and Leica, etc, etc) will want to voice their own opinions. Let us know what your choice would be here in the comments. If you’re a beginner photographer trying to figure out which dSLR to start out with, at least for the next couple of months until something newer and better comes along, check out the Nikon D40 or Nikon D3100 (and for those in the UK, I just noticed that Vouchercodes.co.uk have some offers for money off at Comet).

But honestly, don’t base your purchase solely on my opinions, or even on the thoughts of the whole community. You really need to go and hold it in your hands - push some buttons, play around with the menus, focus and zoom in and out, hold the camera different ways. Sometimes a camera will just feel right - because really, when it comes to beginner dSLRs, they’re not all that different from each other. Pick the one that will use the most - the one you will play with and learn how everything works. If you can find a camera that will help you learn the in’s and out’s of photography, then that’s the best learner camera for you.