Once the photography bug bites, it is not long before a
novice photographer makes the jump into the SLR camera realm. When film
reigned, SLR (Single Lens Reflex) stood for one type of camera. Now that
digital is king, there are DSLR cameras. The DSLR models range from
entry-level, which start at a few hundred dollars, to high-end professional
models priced at several thousand dollars. Some might consider the most
expensive model to be the best however, when it comes to cameras, the
"best" model for one photographer may not be the best for another.
Why Get an SLR?
The leading feature of a Single Lens Reflex Camera is a
prism and mirror that permits the photographer to see what the lens sees. Other
viewfinder types are offset, which causes the photos to vary considerably from
what was seen in the viewfinder. The SLR mirror flips out of the way when the
shutter is released to expose film or a digital sensor depending on the type of
camera. The other great feature is the variety of lenses that can be mounted to
the camera body.
The Digital Sensor
There are full-frame sensors and APS-C sensors. Typically,
full-frame sensors allow for better photos on a professional level. However,
APS-C sensors allow for lighter and smaller camera bodies, a greater depth of
field, and possibly better image border clarity due to the sensor looking at
the center part of the field of view of the attached lens. Optically, the
center of the lens is usually the best part. Due to how an APS-C sensor works,
this is the area of the lens the sensor sees.
Lens Choice
Most pro DSLRs are sold as a camera body only. Camera kits
are often entry-level models. The lenses are usable out to the level of
advanced novice only. They provide superior results over point-and-shoot
cameras, but the lenses often have quite dramatic limitations. Image sharpness
is the most noticeable issue with kit lenses. Though initially a former user of
point-and-shoot cameras will see dramatic improvement in images shot with an
entry-level DSLR with a kit lens, the limitations of kit lenses will soon
become apparent.
Pixel Wars
Pixel warring should be irrelevant. A digital camera is much
more than its pixel count. The sensor, image processor and the lens are all
critical components of how an SLR camera works. Choosing solely based on pixels
is not a good idea. Pro level cameras vary in pixel capability, but all take
excellent photos. If a photographer is planning on printing photos the size of
a wall or larger, then a large-format camera is a better choice rather than a
DSLR with the highest pixel count.
Each manufacturer of DSLRs offers everything from an
entry-level model to its flagship model. However, the ones in between usually
have specific technical capabilities better suited to specific types of
photography. There are models better suited to wildlife, portraiture, celestial
and even journalistic photography. The photographer needs to figure out the
specific needs for their type of photography and get a camera body and lenses
to match.
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