Archive for the ‘Digital SLR’ Category
The Best Nikon SLR Digital Cameras This Year
Considering you can spend between $400 and $3500 for a good Nikon SLR camera these days, it would behoove, any potential buyer to do their homework, and understand what they are getting. There are obviously quite a few differences between the bottom of the Nikon SLR line D40, and the top of the line D3, currently selling in the mid 3K price range. I’m obviously only referring only to the realm of digital cameras here. So, if your looking for film only camera gems like the Nikon F2, you’ll have to look elsewhere.
Two of the biggest determining factors in the price of the digital SLRs from Nikon (or any camera manufacturer), are lens quality and image sensor size. Pretty much everyone is familiar with what a lens is, but image sensor is perhaps not so obvious. An image sensor is inside the camera, and replaces the film of old school cameras. Larger image sensors collect more light, dynamic range, and will result in less image noise. Don’t confuse image sensor size with megapixels, as they are two completely different specifications. A 10 megapixel compact camera may have a 7.19mm x5.27mm image sensor, while a 10 megapixel SLR camera may have a 28.7mm x 17.8mm image sensor. The SLR will obviously take a better picture.
Camera lenses are much more tangible, and we can at least, quite literally get a feel for them. A well constructed heavy lens, is simply going to feel better than a cheap light, plastic lens. While weight is obviously not the main factor to be considered here, you can get a good feel for the lens you’ll be buying, and how it works by holding it.
The biggest factor in good pictures, however, has nothing to do with the camera, and everything to do with the person holding the camera. You! It’s good to look around, do your research, and see what cameras are out there before making your actual purchase.
By: Chris Campbell
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Getting the perfect camera, is never an easy thing, especially with the way digital technology is constantly changing. Fortunately, there are plenty of helpful websites online, that can narrow down your search and help you find the camera with all the features important to you.
Simply The Best Digital SLR Camera – Period
So, you’ve decided to make the jump from simple point and shoot cameras into the realm of SLR photography. If you’ve done any sort of research, your mind and eyeballs are probably reeling from an overload of information. Digital SLR photography, is one those hobbies that is rich with technological jargon. It gets worse, if your one of the perfectionist type that really likes to minutely analyze any major purchase . . . intent on getting the best digital SLR camera for your money. You could be in for a long bumpy ride. Today it’s time to shorten that ride and smooth out the bumps.
Lets get right to it. It’s very true, that the immense popularity of digital cameras (SLR and otherwise) and rapid technical advances have produced a glut of choices and features that can be bewildering to the average consumer. Those same trends have have also pushed manufactures and retail establishments to be highly competitive in both design and pricing. That’s something that can only benefit the consumer. In a couple of ways actually. Not only do you have a bevy of choices, but the vast majority of those SLR choices are really good cameras. Long story short . . . it’s hard to go wrong in this category. I’ll make it even simpler for you. Pick any one of the following three digital SLR cameras, and you won’t be disappointed. They are the Canon Digital Rebel XTi, the Nikon D40, and the Olympus Evolt E510. As of this writing, the 10 megapixels flavors for these cameras are all available for about $600. That includes a basic kit lens. That feels like highway robbery, compared to the $1000 I paid for a good point and shoot digital just a few years back.
When looking for the best digital SLR camera you can find, the important word to remember is “YOU”. Ask a dozen camera enthusiasts why they their favourite camera is their favourite, and you likely get a dozen answers. Every photographer takes pictures for different reasons, values different attributes in the finished pictures, and handles a camera differently. And so will you. A good hands-on exercise before making your final selection, would be to go to a speciality camera store with lots of models on hand, during a non busy time. Try out as many models as you can, taking pictures of people, things, shadows, and any odd lighting areas of the store you can. Try different lenses to. Have lots of questions for the sales people, but take their answers with a grain of salt. They are sales people after all. The actual experience of handling and using the camera should be your final factor in making your decision. Not specifications like burst mode, megapixels, ISO, or sensor size. The best digital camera, is the one that enables YOU to take the best pictures you can.
By: Chris Campbell
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Still feel a need to look some more? That’s fine. Like I said there are a crazy number of choices when it comes to digital SLRs. It never hurts to take a peek into what Canon, Nikon, Olympus and others are offering as the latest and greatest SLR cameras. Just remember, the more time you spend looking for a camera, the less time you spend taking pictures.
Digital SLR Camera Tips
I have been using a digital SLR camera for quite a while, and have learned many things along the way. I am going to share some of the basics, which I feel are important. These are my opinions, and I am sure there are others who will disagree. Nonetheless, that is the beauty of photography. Everyone has their own definition of mastering photography.
1) ISO. One of the most important features on SLR cameras, many beginners have no idea about it. It stands for International Organization for Standardization, and it used to have to be based upon film speed. In general terms, ISO will allow you to improve your photos in poor conditions. For example, in a dark room, you can improve the quality of your photo greatly by increasing the ISO setting. SLR cameras generally allow you to increase the ISO setting to 1600.
Many of us have experienced those photos taking at night, which you can barely see a thing, or if you can, it is very blurry. This is because the camera lens is opened on an automatic setting, which takes too long avoid movement of the user’s hand. This produces a blur. When you increase the ISO setting, the amount of time the lens is open is reduced, therefore reducing the blur. Every time you move slightly, your photo will be blurred. ISO helps overcome this problem. Experiment a bit and find the right ISO setting for different scenarios.
2) Mount the camera. Well, I don’t exactly mean mount, but place it on somewhere. If you find yourself in a situation where the photos are blurry even after increasing the ISO setting, put the camera on something. You can put it on a table, chair, etc… This will improve the stability of the camera, thus creating a much less blurry picture.
3) Buy a good tripod. Never try to save money when buying a tripod. Cheap ones will break fast, and you will be out buying a new one in no time. Furthermore, cheap ones will not function properly. By this I mean that they will not put your camera at the correct angle, will move due to wind, and so on. Pay good money for a tripod, and you will see that you will get your moneys worth. Manfrotto is known for making some of the finest tripods, so definitely have a look at those. A good tripod should have a ball head, should be quite light, and would be best if it is easy to store (possibly in your backpack).
By: Chris Campbell
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Getting the perfect camera, is never an easy thing, especially with the way digital technology is constantly changing. Fortunately, there are plenty of helpful websites online, that can narrow down your search and help you find the camera with all the features important to you.
The Best Digital SLR Camera Review
Have you heard about the best new digital SLR camera to hit the streets? How about the worst? As the prices of digital SLR cameras have been plummeting like crazy, it’s become more important then ever to be able to distinguish the best from the worst. Don’t assume that a low price is indicative of a low quality SLR. It could just be the deal you’ve been looking for. Let’s review a couple of worthy contenders in the ring of digital SLR cameras.
It’s pretty hard to review digital SLR’s without bringing up the Canon Rebel XTi digital SLR camera. The XTi, and it’s predecessor the XT has been a solid value for anyone looking to make the move to SLR technology. A consistently strong seller with a solid base of existing users makes the Canon Rebel a worthy for best general purpose SLR camera ever.
With a current price under $600 including a lens kit, it will continue to be popular for some time. The latest model to share the Rebel crown, is the XSi, which is currently scheduled to be on the shelves mid 2008. It brings more megapixels, a better battery grip, a larger LCD, “live view”, and a plethora of other new features to the Rebel lineup.
No digital SLR camera review would be complete, without the inclusion of the Nikon D40 digital SLR camera. An equally robust competitor with the Rebel lineup from Canon. For those making a purchase based purely on the Nikon brand name, there’s no reason to look much further. The D40 is a great camera for those looking to make the leap from simple point and shoot cameras to the more sophisticated and versatile SLR world. The D40 still has numerous auto settings, so newbie users won’t feel rushed up the learning curve of SLR with it’s countless manual tweaking options.
By: Chris Campbell
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Just for the sake of making sure three is a crowd, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Olympus Evolt E510 digital SLR. Just a few dollars more, and perhaps not as well known as our previous models, the E510 makes a great third option to consider. While some users have had problems with the auto focus of the E510 under low lighting conditions, if your more of a manual focuser, then it’s not a concern. Be sure to get your hands on each of these cameras for a test run, and you’ll understand why their so popular.
Digital SLR Camera Settings Tips For The Beginner Using A Digital SLR Camera
Shooting your photos digitally can be fun and easy but to get constant and consistent results you will need to learn how to sett up your camera properly. If you just starting out in with digital slr cameras we suggest starting out with a used digital slr camera, the cost to entry is more less and you get a better options than your traditional point and shoot digital camera. Every digital SLR camera is different but they all have camera setting as a menu items. We have created eight general tips that should help you start towards to road of constant and consistent results with your photography. So if you want great shots out of your used digital camera learn these seven tips backwards and forwards.
Adjust white balance manually to account for lighting conditions (especially fluorescent light) Carry a small gray or white card with you to help you set the white balance. Use a higher ISO rating to account for lower light conditions (Be careful not to go to high because the higher the ISO the higher/more the noise/grain) Use Aperture and Shutter Priority modes to keep backgrounds in focus (aperture mode) or freeze fast-moving action shots (shutter priority) Use Full Manual Mode to set both aperture and shutter modes together (though this can get complicated, use your histogram to judge the sweet spot) Try burst mode to capture a bunch of shots, rapid-fire Use histogram displays to quickly check if you have overexposed a shot Use exposure bracketing to try the same shot at different exposure levels to find the one that ultimately looks best. These tips will take some time to master. Be patient, persistent, and experiment you will be happy that you did.
By: Scott Karcich
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Why Buy A Digital SLR Camera?
The digital single lens reflex technology has improved the image quality. With the compact digital cameras, you have a lag time between taking pictures causing many photographers to miss some interesting shots. The flash time for recycling is also another concern with compact cameras. With digital SLR cameras, there is no problem with light sensitivity as there is with the compact cameras. The ability to take quality pictures without a flash is done with the SLR cameras.
Photographers that want to have different lens for capturing different images the SLR camera is ideal. If the user wishes to have a blurred background with a properly focused subject, the digital SLR camera achieves this purpose. The camera also offers a faster shot-to-shot time, which means the user can capture more actions shots as they happen. The ability to change lens to a telescoping lens means the user can zoom in on objects that are further away without disturbing the subject by moving closer.
Because the camera has different lens, the photographer can use the macro lens to magnify tiny objects so the detail can be seen. The SLR cameras are better for digital photography, but the size is larger than the compact cameras. The bulkiness of the camera does present a problem for some users, but it makes up for it in image quality and the ability to change lens and capture images in a natural way.
If your serious about wanting to improve your camera skills, but still retain some of the simplicity of point and shoot camera technology, there are plenty of entry level digital SLR cameras on the market. Improving your photography skills is an excellent response to the question: “Why Buy A Digital SLR Camera?”.
By: Chris Campbell
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Before buying a digital SLR camera, one has to consider the need for the camera and the amount of use the camera will receive. If the user is going to use the camera regularly, the SLR is the best camera to have for photography. There is going to be more editing of the images before the final proofs are ready for printing. All in all, the digital SLR is a great camera.
SLR Digital Cameras – Why Have A SLR Digital Camera
In the modern day of point and shoot digital cameras, it has to be queried as to whether there is any place for the SLR digital camera any more. Well for the fans of SLR rest assured as SLR cameras are still being made by companies such as Canon, Minolta and Olympus to name but a few. As you are already probably aware SLR cameras are bigger but have more options, and for this reason SLR cameras tend to be more expensive than point and click ones. But what exactly is an SLR camera
SLR stands for single-lens reflex. This means that the composition and metering as well as the actual film exposure are being done through a single lens. Another way that these types of camera are known is TTL (through-the-lens). As cameras go, SLR has been the favoured type used by professional photographers for decades. The reason for this is that SLR cameras offer a direct view between your eye and the target of your pictures, which ensures a photo reflecting your vision. One thing that you do have to be wary of though is that, unlike the old fashioned more robust film versions, digital SLR cameras are quite sensitive and easily broken.. The reason for this is because there are a lot more electronic components to a digital SLR camera than there were on film cameras, and once these are damaged, you probably will need to get a replacement, although repairs may be possible. But do not let that deter you from buying one, as if you look after it properly then the vast majority of digital SLR cameras sold work perfectly well for a long time, and give you good quality images for years to come.
One of the qualities and even an advantage of using a digital SLR camera, is that it is generally easier and faster to shoot and it tends to be more flexible than a normal camera. This is because it generally allows you to be able to change your lens as a feature. And quite often with digital SLR you will get an Auto focus feature. This feature enables automatic focusing and will help to give you superb image quality even in situations with low light availability . If you really push the boat out and invest in a really professional digital SLR then you will find that these use the best sensors the camera manufacturer can produce, resulting in exceptionally clear, vibrant images. But even if you just get a standard camera, you will find that the lenses made for SLR cameras are generally of a higher quality than those found in most point and shoot cameras, so you are always going to get a better final image.
By: Brad Burns
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So where is the best place to buy a SLR digital camera? Well there are many arguments about this. Some would say to go to a bricks and mortar shop where you can get advice over the counter. Others would say shop online where you can get it cheaper. Both have their pros and cons. One you can get advice at but have to pay premium prices, the other you can get cheaper but get no advice. Personally I would go somewhere like http://www.cheapdigitalcamera4u.info/Digital-Cameras/Digital-SLR Here you can get cameras at good prices, and you can also email the seller lots of questions to make sure you are getting the right camera for your needs. Also at http://www.cheapdigitalcamera4u.info/Digital-Cameras/Digital-SLR there is a wide range of cameras from the cheap to the expensive, so whatever your level or budget, you are bound to find something to suit you.
Digital SLR Camera Review – Choosing Between SLR Cameras Or Compact Digital Cameras
When purchasing a digital camera, it is often a tough decision to choose between a SLR digital camera and a compact digital camera. With this digital SLR camera review, we will cover the most important aspects in the decision making process.
SLR Cameras are your best choice among digital cameras if you want to do more than take family vacation, holiday, and birthday pictures. Despite the fact that many point-and-shoot compact digitals have increasingly higher megapixels, the SLR is the choice for serious photographers and photography hobbyists. This digital SLR camera review will cover the importance of purchasing a SLR camera if you are serious about your photography.
The most obvious reason for choosing a SLR camera is that you have the capacity to produce photography that is much more artistic. With SLR cameras, you have manual options that you don’t have with point-and-shoot cameras and this is what makes the biggest difference in how you can use your SLR camera artistically.
When trying to get that perfect shot, your camera must be ready in an instant. SLR cameras have instant start up and minimal shutter lag. Most point-and-shoot compacts have a 2 to 3 second shutter lag which means you are going to miss that shot. The shutter lag in SLR cameras is a fraction of a second so you get the shot you want.
Another plus in SLR cameras in that they can take interchangeable lenses. This is very important for those nature and sports photos when you often can’t get close to your subject. With a SLR camera, you can change to a zoom lens and get those close-ups. Great battery life, large image sensor, fast continuous shooting, and the ability to store RAW images are other pluses of SLR cameras.
Some of the not so good qualities I would like to point out in this SLR digital camera review is that these cameras are large. So, if you want to be able to fit them in your purse or bag, they’re not going to fit – not so good on vacations. They are also much heavier than subcompact digital cameras and compact digital cameras weighing in at about
Best SLR Digital Camera For 2009
Digital SLR comes from digital single lens reflex, which is named this way because of the mirror that sits behind the lens of the camera and sends the light to the viewfinder.
The digital SLR’s are designed in such a way that you can use a lot of different lenses, with different focal lengths. This versatility is the reason why digital SLR cameras are so popular among professionals. When you’re using a camera that is not a SLR, you need to match the angle of the viewing lens with the angle of view. If you’re doing short-range zoom or you have a fixed lens, then it’s OK, but at different focal lengths it can be much more difficult. The SLR is better because the viewing and taking lens are the same.
While entry level digital SLR cameras don’t always have Live View, advanced models usually do, and they let you compose the photos just like you do with a snapshot camera. The basic models will lock the mirror, and the prism will divert the image towards a sensor that is small. Then, instead of sending it to a capture sensor, it will be sent to the LCD screen, which can take down the performance a bit. If you’re getting an older model you might need to focus on the image manually when you are in Live View, though contrast autofocus is available in newer digital cameras.
Digital SLR Camera Types
Digital SLR With Interchangeable-lens
These models are those considered as SLR’s by most people. They’re also the ones that we’ll be talking about in this article. Just like the name says, in these SLR cameras you can change their lenses. This way you’re able to switch from a supertelephoto lens to an ultra wide angle.
Examples: Basically, most digital SLR cameras that are sold today belong to this type.
Digital SLR With Fixed Lens
On these digital SLR’s, the versatility is limited by the fact that you can’t change the default lens. The mirror that bounces the light towards the viewfinder is nonmoving and semi-transparent in most of these models.
One example of a camera with fixed lens is the Olympus E-20N
Camera similar to SLR’s
Cameras that look like digital SLR cameras are usually digicams that have either an optical finder or a small LCD. You can’t consider them as digital SLR cameras since the mirror is missing, and the quality of the photos isn’t even close to what you can do with a true SLR. Usually, this type of camera has a very long zoom, and another name for them is magazooms or ZLRs.
By: Chris Campbell
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Getting the best SLR camera, is never an easy thing, due to the constantly changing technology. Fortunately, there are plenty of helpful websites online, that can narrow down your search and help you find the DSLR camera with all the features important to you.
Understanding Digital SLR Megapixels, Lenses and Resolutions Digital SLR Camera Features
When you’re looking at the specs of a DSLR camera, the list can be overwhelming, full of technical details and specifications. If you tried looking for reviews and ratings of digital cameras, you will feel very confused trying to make heads and tails of all the opinions that customers are sharing.
But if you do take the time and manage to sift through all that information, you will be able to make the best choice.
What Is It?
What exactly is the difference between a SLR and other digital cameras? Why are you looking to buy a SLR and not a compact or a subcompact? You should ask yourself these questions before you spend the money.
For example, you should know what a megapixel does before you buy a SLR digital camera based on the number of megapixels alone. The number of megapixels indicate how big is the camera’s resolution (the number of light pixels in a given space).
The bigger the number of pixels, the clearer and sharper is the image. They can get pricey though, so the key is to find one that has a good price and a sufficient quality image.
Just because a digital camera has a lot of pixels, it doesn’t mean that the photo quality is guaranteed. If there are too many pixels, and the sensor isn’t big enough, the photos can look over-pixilated or unnatural.
An example could be the shadows from the picture, which could be too detailed if the pixel rate is high. Every time you look at a different camera, make sure you check the pixel rates and the resolution.
You might be curious what exactly does SLR means. SLR comes from “single-lens reflex”. This digital camera has a small mirror that moves between the film and the lens. Then it uses the lens to project the image on the focusing screen. There are a lot of SLR digital cameras available, from all manufacturers. Two examples of SLR cameras are Nikon D70 and those from Canon.
By: Chris Campbell
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Buying the Best SLR
Since you know a few things about SLR digital cameras now, you can start your search for that new digital camera. You should start by checking out the reviews and ratings of different digital cameras.
Try comparing the resolutions and megapixels of a number of different digital cameras. Know what it can do before you go into that shop and buy it. It can be a great investment buying a SLR camera, but considering how much money you’re spending, you should really do your research.