I DO not own a DSLR.
And after four years of reviewing cameras from dinky blings to ones that cost more than a shiny new scooter, I know that DSLRs give the best pics – bar none.
So why don't I have one?
The thing is, owning a DSLR is like a marriage. Buy a DSLR and it is yours to have and to hold - and that's the easy part.
It can be a plasticky (I mean, made of polycarbonate) budget buy or one that is as formidable as the Death Star – the battleship in Star Wars that is the size of a small planet.
Besides the lush colours in its photos, a DSLR is just pure photographic adrenaline because of its responsiveness – especially if you have been on a diet of compact cameras.
But once you buy one, it is for better or for worse.
If you buy a high-end model, you can sniff at the owners of lesser cameras. But only for a while. Soon enough, an update will be launched. There will be an extra X to the name or a Roman numeral will be added – like from a I to a II.
You may not be stirred. Or you, at least, you'll try your darnedest not to be.
But isn't that the essence of a marriage, you commit to your chosen as an act of the will.
For richer or for poorer?
Forget the former. A DSLR will deplete your bank account as surely as prolonged haemorrhoids will give you anaemia.
You will need accessories. Think of them as children – in terms of resources required.
First, you build a collection of lenses to cover the usual focal lengths – from wide angles to telephotos. Then, you "need" lenses with wider angles – they get more expensive as the lenses cover more.
Soon you will want faster lenses – nothing to do with morals, but pricier lenses that have bigger apertures so you can shoot with less light and get prettier bokeh (the character of the parts of the image that are out of focus).
As your lenses get more upmarket they also grow in size and weight, so leave aside a budget for sturdier tripods and larger dry cabinets.
Also, like a marriage, a DSLR needs devotion.
Like cleaning your camera – especially after exposure to the elements. Trips to the workshop for cleaning and servicing are de rigueur for any self-respecting photog.
So you have to see your camera through sickness and in health.
You will continue to love and to cherish your camera because its performance depends on your commitment to its well-being.
Sure you can have a fling. Buy a DSLR and chuck it in a cupboard when you tire of it. Or sell it when the new model comes out.
But, hey, I am not that kind of a guy.