Taken with an ASUS Zenfone 5, this picture shows a reflection of my dreams.

Gone are those days when just being able to snap a picture, in itself, was an absolute joy.

I used to have to convince my mom to convince my dad to pull over and allow me to take a picture of the countryside with a Kodak camera like the one shown here. It used to be an extraordinary experience indeed!

[Photo was taken with a Samsung S2]

Today, most people have smartphones and taking photos seems to be an ordinary thing. Because of exposure to online media, anyone can attest to the fact that it already takes a whole lot to impress and 'wow' people. We have seen them all – from one end of The Great Wall to the other, from the inside of the Statue of Liberty to the underwater caves of Palawan. The television took us to the moon and beyond.

Despite the fact that taking pictures has become as natural as pulling out your purse, a large number of netizens still take pleasure in producing original photos and videos. Providing 'input' takes more work but is usually more rewarding than just enjoying (watching/browsing) others' 'output'.

Providing great output is my goal.

Here are the reasons why a DSLR is worth every penny:

Passion

As I have said in my self-introduction, I'm a photography enthusiast. I appreciate the high contrast and vivid images produced by skilled photographers. -It’s this kind of burning desire within me that kept me writing and revising this article for several evenings although it's getting late and I had other important things to do. Are you as passionate about producing stunning images? If your answer is yes, money spent on a professional camera is money well-spent!

Even simple subjects like a small grass flower will look gorgeous if the shot was composed artistically. Without enough aperture size though, I had to edit the photo below to create blur and vignette the background.

[Photo was taken with a Samsung S2]

Quality

Those bulky lenses coupled with thumb-sized (up to full-frame) sensors have definite purposes. I can go on and on with other technical advantages (like a larger aperture, longer focal length, less light aberration, narrow depth of field, etc.), but the purpose of this article is to encourage me and other beginners to just go for it and start learning professional photography. Very simply put: A DSLR is a luxury for someone who just wants 'photos'. It's a necessity for someone who wants world-class photos!

Versatility

You can always buy a better lens for your specific shooting situation. Although they're hefty investments, you don't usually have to have multiple camera bodies to use in different situations. Without a zoom lens, I had to very carefully approach the subject and snap multiple shots to make sure I could take the best close-up shot.

[Photo taken with a Samsung S2]

For example:
I just learned that you can shoot macro
images (close-up shots of tiny things) by reversing the lens. You can, of course, buy a macro lens for better results.

Image Credit

Professionalism

Def. -The qualities connected with trained and skilled people:
Carrying a DSLR in a party or event easily separates one from other party-goers and attendees (also snapping away with their gadgets). Being an official photographer also allows you to enjoy the best vantage points when watching a show and attend an event (like a concert) for free!

Pride
-A feeling of pleasure and satisfaction that you get because you or people connected with you have done something good:
We take pride in the high quality of our end-product. In fact, every piece of equipment @j-alhomestudio will be upgraded as soon as possible.

Ease-of-Use

Convenience takes on a different meaning since it doesn't necessarily mean pocket-sized portability. A full-sized DSLR is heavier and more stable. Its large shutter button will allow you to release the shutter without easily yanking the device, causing blur. It's more convenient to shoot steady videos off-hand since it gives you a larger surface area for better grip as well (compared to a smartphone).

[Mic Stand and Pop Filter Mount Doubles as Phone Holder]
-This is my setup for the meantime.

[Photo was taken with this old GE point-and-shoot]
(I hardly ever use it since the lens was scratched and the buttons are only still there because of scotch tape. LOL!)

Definite Purpose

Each piece of equipment in my studio, of course, has a purpose. What will be the DSLR's role?

a. shoot at least 720p videos for Steemit, DTube and YouTube tutorials/tips
b. produce higher quality photos for succeeding Steemit articles
c. help aspiring singers and artists produce HD music videos and demos to attract better opportunities.
d. Zoom in and capture more rare moments like this (without too much pixelation):

[Photo was taken with a Nokia 5230]

e. ...and the list goes on.

This article was specifically written to raise funds for a quality entry-level DSLR, just like the Canon EOS 1300D in the video below. Please upvote, share and resteem it if you want to help me buy my first DSLR.
You can also follow @j-alhomestudio to get notified when I write a review after I get my hands on one.

Thanks for reading!

And to those who inspire me: @hiroyamagishi, @eastmael, @kennyroy, @smokinglems, @skyleap, @trafalgar, @progressivechef, @sweetsssj, @gringalicious, @hendrikdegrote, @anwenbaumeister, @kushed, @boombastic, @kevinwong, @surpassinggoogle, @velimir, @cryptopie, @linuslee0216, @doitvoluntarily, @Curie, and others that made my brain (and browser) crash and burn trying to reload/remember. - Thanks for your votes and valuable articles most of all.

[Credits to the Author of Life]