There are many reasons why professional photographers fork out thousands for highend DSLRs like the Nikon D5, or equivalent options from Canon and other brands, with benchmark speed, tank-like build and direct, intuitive controls topping the list. But, when it comes to the process of actually taking pictures, a beginner-friendly DSLR (such as the Nikon D3400) isn’t that far behind. In manual mode, both pro and budget bodies offer control of the aperture, shutter speed and ISO. Both enable you to use pro-grade lenses, and both enable you to shoot raw files for optimum image quality.
Entry-level cameras have some distinct advantages over pro models too. They’re much smaller and lighter, which means that you’re more likely to want to carry them around all day. And although a flagship…