10 Tips for first time SLR buyers

1. Mega Pixels: MP does not matter anymore, at least not for people who print postcard size or even A4 size (tell me honestly how many digital pictures have you printed and framed on your wall). Anything above 6 is good and all SLRs today are well above that. If you are turning pro you might worry about it but then you wouldn't be reading this
2. Canon or Nikon: Don't worry both are excellent. Once you start using them you get used and intuitively move your fingers while still looking through the viewfinder. Both offer a plethora of lenses and independent manufacturers like Sigma, Tamron, Tokina and even Zeiss makes lenses with Canon or Nikon mounts
3. Zoom: This was the "in thing" in the 90s. First of all no SLR comes with in built zoom, only point and shoots do. Select your zoom according to your need. For example if you shoot a lot of landscape select 10-22, 12-24 or 18-55 and if you shoot wildlife select among 70-300, 200-400. For zoom lovers Sigma makes a 50-500 lens. And now the dampener-Prime (fixed focal length lenses) lenses are almost always better than zoom lenses but again if you are reading this you do not need to know why and trust me you won't know the difference
4. The zoom lens that comes with the camera: If you can buy body only, buy it. The lens with the camera is almost always a dud, especially with amateur SLRs. You would be better off buying the body only with the 50mm f1.8 (Rs 4000) and then save money to buy a wide angle and a telephoto zoom. And i know none of you will listen to me on this one
5. Live View: Ok you got used to it in your point and shoot and want it in your SLR. Even if the SLR has the option please shut it. My personal experience is that good composition comes with looking at the composition through the viewfinder and not at a screen which is a fraction of what your eye can see, along with all other disturbances. Moreover the LCD screen eats a lot of battery. If you are intending to become a pro, tell me how many pros have you seen using a Live View?
6. Can I buy Used: Yes, yes, yes. Remember these cameras do not have great 2nd hand value and the manufacturers keep upgrading every 2 years or so and a lot of people fall for those extra 5 megapixels and some sale gimmick feature which will never be used so there will be a lot of cameras available. Lenses are a safe bet as the only things you need to worry about is fungus, which is visible when you inspect it and auto focus which you can test with a camera at the store itself
7. Where to buy: If you are in the US: www.bhphotovideo.com, www.amazon.com, www.adorama.com. these guys almost always offer the least prices and if they ship it, there is NO tax and they are extremely trustworthy, even for used. In India www.jjmehta.com offers a good range of cameras and lenses
8. Third Party Lenses: Yes you can buy the Sigma, Tamron, Tokina lenses for much lesser prices than Canon or Nikon but Caveat Emptor. I have a Sigma 105mm f2.8 Macro 1:1 which beats all my Canon Lenses on sharpness but the auto focus stopped working. Similarly my Tamron 200-400 auto focus also stopped working but Tamron repaired it for free even though it was out of warranty and they even cleaned a spot of fungus inside. That's customer delight
9. Accessories: First get a good bag, a big bag, a sturdy bag as you will add to your kitty and you do not want to expose all this to dust and if something falls you don't have to weep. I have dropped my Pelican case with all my equipment at airports from the push cart and still nothing is broken. Get polarizers for your lenses. You don't have to buy one for every lens. Just buy one or two matching the circumference of your lenses. Buy bigger sizes and you can buy adapters to fit it into smaller size lenses. Google about how to use a polarizer and what it does, you will see a marked difference when you use it. Get a tripod, you won't regret it.
10. Do I need an SLR: If you are asking yourself this then you obviously do not because you do not know what it can do so first read about it, google and gain knowledge and then you will not ask