Up until recently I have always used my mobile phone for taking pictures. I was happy enough with the quality of the pictures, but then I upgraded to the iPhone and decided that I wanted a better quality camera. I thought that the options were simply compact or SLR camera, I didn’t realise there was such a difference between the run of the mill compact camera and an SLR digital camera. I thought that it was all about megapixel, but it turns out I was a bit wrong. While it is important, you are also better off with a camera that has a good frame rate and iso and the ability to add extra lenses.
So what is SLR?
SLR stands for Single lens reflex
Why choose a DSLR?
With a DSLR you can take a higher quality image than your normal compact camera. The reason for this is the size of individual mega pixel (not the number of), the wide choices of lenses, filters and flashes.
So what options do you need to consider for the type of shot you will be taking?
Speed – a camera with a fast shutter speed and a good burst mode will help
Low light – max adjustable white balance
Close up – If taking close up detailed images you will need a camera with a macro lens option
Landscape – you will require large sensor, so can work with wide lenses.
Is sensor size important?
A small sensor will give you less detail, so the larger the sensor the better the image capability. You will also be best to look for a camera with a self cleaning. This will save you a lot of time and also hassle when taking your shots.
Should you get a DSLR with a large LCD screen?
Unlike normal compact digital cameras, the LCD on a DSLR is only used to view the image after the picture has been taken and you will need to use the view finder to compose your image before. It is still important to have a large clear LCD screen though so that set up options and viewing of images are clear.
Jpeg V RAW format
If you are moving up from a normal compact camera to a DSLR this is something a number of people will not realise. Most DSLR’s will offer you the option to take a picture in both formats. The difference is that you will need extra software to convert RAW images in to Jpeg and the RAW image will also be larger, as it will hold more detail for editing. With this in mind you will need a large memory card and we would recommend one over 1gb.
Mega pixel
Most people believe more pixels the better quality the image, but it is important to consider the size of the pixel that is being used. The larger the pixel the more detail it will be able to pick up, which is why a DSLR camera will pick up more information than a normal compact camera.
Lenses
This is another important feature of DSLR’s. Reading round I see that most people are saying that a high quality lens on a mid range camera will produce and better image than a mid rage lens on a high end camera. Also the type of lens will help you capture the image you want.
Given all this there is a wide range of DSLR’s out there and can range from a few hundred pound all the way up to a few thousand pound.
Entry level DSLR cameras
This is where most people will be making their first purchase and is the first step up from their compact digital camera. It will offer more features and a better image than your compact camera, but with addition of being able to buy additional lenses for style of shots.
Entry level DSLR cameras we think are worth a look are:
- Nikon D60
- Canon EOS 450D
- Sony Alpha 300 (normally same price as A200, but has Optical stabilisation)
Mid range DSLR cameras
For people that are taking more of an interest in cameras and are professional hobbyists who enjoy taking a wide range of pictures. May of the features of these cameras will be a lower end then the professional cameras, but will give more functionality than the entry level cameras.
Cameras in this range include:
- Nikon D90
- Canon EOS 40D
- Sony Alpha A700
High end DSLR cameras
These are normally used by the top photographers looking to take the all important shot, regardless of what that shot is. They will have many more options and lenses, which will all add the extra fine quality picture. In this range you will find high end number of mega pixel, large number of fps (frames per second) and the ability to take High Definition video footage.
Mid to high end DSLR cameras worth a look are:
- Canon EOS 5D MKII or 1DSmkII
- Nikon D700 or D3X
- Sony Alpha A900 is the highest Sony and to be honest is more high mid range
