Deciding which digital SLR camera
is “best” depends on what kinds of photos a photographer likes to shoot. How quickly does the camera need to operate? Does the photographer concentrate on mostly family photos, or take night shots? Does she take macro shots of flowers? A photographer can save money if he or she shops based on needs, rather than on the splashy ads in camera magazines.
The number one reason to even consider getting an SLR
is the ability to switch between lenses of different focal lengths. If the desired images can be taken using a fixed zoom lens available on dozens of non-SLR digital cameras, a photographer should save the money and stick with a non-SLR camera.
If a photographer is moving from a film system to a digital SLR, and already has a substantial investment in lenses, she will probably want to stick with the same brand. But check to be sure the existing lenses will work with a new digital SLR. Some lenses won't work, even on the same brand camera body, because, for example, their rear elements stick too far back into the camera body, and can be slapped by the mirror.
The conversion factor for lenses should also be considered. The majority of the lower-priced digital SLRs have charge-coupled-devices (CCDs) smaller than a 35mm film frame, so only the central portion of the lens exposes light to the CCD. This results in a conversion factor, typically around 1.5. For example, an 18mm wide-angle lens on a 1.5 factor body will have the angle of view of a roughly 27mm lens. Not so wide any more.
Pixels aren’t everything
Most camera buyers harbor the belief—driven by ad copywriters—that more pixels result in better photos. It ain't necessarily so, but it's a fight that will rage for some time to come. Read Ken Rockwell's excellent article on pixel counts and image quality.
Printers don’t care how many megapixels a camera has; it cares about how many pixels per inch make up an image. If a photographer rarely makes prints larger than 8-inches x10-inches in size, six megapixels will be plenty.
Digital SLR meters, autofocus, and capture speeds
Like pixel count, metering is another area where the advertising copy writers really excel. All digital SLRs have multiple metering setups, such as programmed, averaging, and spot settings. Most photographers will leave the camera on the "program" or "smart" mode, and let the camera meter do the calculating.
When considering autofocus and capture speeds, a photographer should again think about the kinds of shooting he or she will do most often. The fast movements of young children make fast autofocus handy, but landscape photographers rarely need a camera that can focus quickly.
The capture rate determines how quickly the camera can take and store images. If a photographer is shooting team sports, he'll want a camera that can quickly take and store images. Capture rates can be anywhere from two frames per second (fps) to ten fps on current SLRs. If shooting sports images aren’t the primary concern, two or three fps is probably fine.
Pencil out the needs, THEN read the reviews
Most digital SLRs in the $400 to $999 price range will provide quality images and prints up to around 11x14 inches...maybe even 16x20 inches. The camera features to be used should drive the decisions of what to buy. A photographer who is careful while shopping can save hundreds of dollars on a digital SLR camera, and won’t buy more camera than necessary.
By writing down his needs before reading the glowing reviews and camera specifications, a photographer can choose the best digital SLR camera. Three of the most respected digital camera review sites on the Internet are the Digital Photography Review, Steve’s Digicam Reviews, and Ken Rockwell’s site, mentioned above.
Author Sunil S.
is “best” depends on what kinds of photos a photographer likes to shoot. How quickly does the camera need to operate? Does the photographer concentrate on mostly family photos, or take night shots? Does she take macro shots of flowers? A photographer can save money if he or she shops based on needs, rather than on the splashy ads in camera magazines.
Lenses and the Digital SLR Camera
The number one reason to even consider getting an SLR
is the ability to switch between lenses of different focal lengths. If the desired images can be taken using a fixed zoom lens available on dozens of non-SLR digital cameras, a photographer should save the money and stick with a non-SLR camera.If a photographer is moving from a film system to a digital SLR, and already has a substantial investment in lenses, she will probably want to stick with the same brand. But check to be sure the existing lenses will work with a new digital SLR. Some lenses won't work, even on the same brand camera body, because, for example, their rear elements stick too far back into the camera body, and can be slapped by the mirror.
The conversion factor for lenses should also be considered. The majority of the lower-priced digital SLRs have charge-coupled-devices (CCDs) smaller than a 35mm film frame, so only the central portion of the lens exposes light to the CCD. This results in a conversion factor, typically around 1.5. For example, an 18mm wide-angle lens on a 1.5 factor body will have the angle of view of a roughly 27mm lens. Not so wide any more.
Pixels aren’t everything
Most camera buyers harbor the belief—driven by ad copywriters—that more pixels result in better photos. It ain't necessarily so, but it's a fight that will rage for some time to come. Read Ken Rockwell's excellent article on pixel counts and image quality.
Printers don’t care how many megapixels a camera has; it cares about how many pixels per inch make up an image. If a photographer rarely makes prints larger than 8-inches x10-inches in size, six megapixels will be plenty.
Digital SLR meters, autofocus, and capture speeds
Like pixel count, metering is another area where the advertising copy writers really excel. All digital SLRs have multiple metering setups, such as programmed, averaging, and spot settings. Most photographers will leave the camera on the "program" or "smart" mode, and let the camera meter do the calculating.
When considering autofocus and capture speeds, a photographer should again think about the kinds of shooting he or she will do most often. The fast movements of young children make fast autofocus handy, but landscape photographers rarely need a camera that can focus quickly.
The capture rate determines how quickly the camera can take and store images. If a photographer is shooting team sports, he'll want a camera that can quickly take and store images. Capture rates can be anywhere from two frames per second (fps) to ten fps on current SLRs. If shooting sports images aren’t the primary concern, two or three fps is probably fine.
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Pencil out the needs, THEN read the reviews
Most digital SLRs in the $400 to $999 price range will provide quality images and prints up to around 11x14 inches...maybe even 16x20 inches. The camera features to be used should drive the decisions of what to buy. A photographer who is careful while shopping can save hundreds of dollars on a digital SLR camera, and won’t buy more camera than necessary.
By writing down his needs before reading the glowing reviews and camera specifications, a photographer can choose the best digital SLR camera. Three of the most respected digital camera review sites on the Internet are the Digital Photography Review, Steve’s Digicam Reviews, and Ken Rockwell’s site, mentioned above.
Author Sunil S.
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