NIBRS, or the National Incident Based Reporting System is a part of the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program administered by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) – Bureau of Justice Statistics. NIBRS is designed to standardize the reporting of crimes by American law enforcement agencies and allows public safety agencies, academic institutions, and communities to gain a better understanding of criminal involved incidents within various communities. The NIBRS replaced the Summary Reporting System (SRS) which was created in 1929.

When you master the kit lens and push it to its limits, you will know what lens you need next. I still use my kit lens because it’s light for travel photography, and I know how to take great photos with it based on my experience!

It’s hard when you haven’t held the camera in your hands. I went to a camera shop once and saw the Fujifilm XE-4. I thought it was a really cool entry-level mirrorless camera but the size was so small for me. I felt like I was holding a point-and-shoot camera!

What are you struggling with, or what would you like to know before buying a new camera? Let me know in the comments section below.

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Buy a camera based on the technology it offers. I suggest starting your photography journey with a mirrorless camera for the following reasons:

Depending on the camera you buy, you must support it with the proper hardware and software. New cameras save their photos mostly in JPG or RAW files.

Community is everything! I was blessed to have friends and meet photographers who shoot the same brand as I do. When this happens, you can share your knowledge and experience, increase your skills, know your camera better, and exchange lenses without purchasing or renting them.

New entry-level DSLR cameras cost around $400-USD 550. Entry-level mirrorless camera prices start around $700-USD 800. You can get cheaper mirrorless systems, but I wouldn’t suggest them just because you don’t have too many options on lenses and gear, and their sensors are smaller than APS-C or Full frame.

Restrictions: Restricted to current employees of public safety agencies, private business (which serve public safety agencies), and accredited academic institutions (as recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and/or the U.S. Department of Education).

Buying your first camera has to be an awesome experience, but remember to follow the steps I mentioned so you can make the right choice. Don’t rush! Be patient, learn about prices and new deals, and know what you’re buying. I’d also like to hear your thoughts.

Most common cameras, like Sony, Canon, Nikon, etc., have a different philosophy, and you can change the settings mostly via the menu. Which one would you choose?

This instructor led course is designed to give participants the knowledge and skills to understand the history of UCR (SRS and NIBRS), NIBRS crime classifications, data collection elements, NIBRS certification processes and requirements, and various additional resources vital for every NIBRS certified agency.

The kit lens (15-45mm, 16-50mm, or 18-55mm) teaches you many things about photography! At 16mm, the kit lens is useful for wide-angle shots (mostly landscapes, streets, or architecture), and when zoomed in at 50mm, it becomes a portrait lens and creates a more blurry background!

NOTE: This course is open to current employees of public safety agencies, private business (which serve public safety agencies), and accredited academic institutions (as recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and/or the U.S. Department of Education).

The use of this site, as well as the course offerings, all content, and contained teachings are restricted to current employees (sworn and civilian) of Local, State, and Federal public safety agencies.

It is difficult to find such people initially, especially if you don’t live in a large city. However, searching Google or Facebook for websites or groups near your town may find fellows who own the same brand.

After successfully completing the course, attendees will be able to know, discuss, use, and execute the following fundamentals:

All cameras have different bodies, grips, buttons, and settings. For example, a Fujifilm mirrorless camera has traditional buttons like an SLR film camera on top, so it feels like you’re holding an 80s camera with today’s technology.

Many people buy cameras and lenses without doing any research. This can cause different problems, such as buying the wrong lenses, spending way more than necessary, or even buying the wrong camera!

So, my point is, if you want to buy a new camera, head over to the nearest camera store to hold the camera, press the dials and buttons, and see how it feels in your hands. That feeling will ignite your desire to buy the camera and start documenting your world!

When I bought my first mirrorless camera, I didn’t know about lenses, so I chose to buy the camera with the kit lens that came in a bundle. Then, I watched a YouTube video about the “Top benefits of the kit lens,” while every other article or video didn’t praise it that much!

This course is hands on and will deliver course objectives through various exercises including incident classification, data collection, exploration of the limits of NIBRS, law enforcement agency case studies, and how the NIBRS intersects with the Clery Act (20 U.S.C. § 1092 (f, g, h))

I’ve heard and read terrible reviews on kit lenses, but you must learn not to listen to everyone. The people who tend to write bad reviews don’t usually have the patience and ability to learn and adapt.

Students will need to have access to a laptop (personal or employer issued/assigned). The host agency is unable to provide students with a laptop for use within the course.

If you want to get into photography, you need to dig a little deeper, find information online, or take advice from photographers who use those cameras and select the right one for you.