12 Megapixel Digital SLR Cameras |
Page updated: July 2008 |
|
A 12 megapixel digital SLR camera is the right choice for you if you want a lot of flexibility when it comes to cropping and printing your photos. At the full 12 megapixels, you can make beautiful crystal-clear prints all the way up to 18x24 inches. If you're not overly fanatical about image quality, you can push that print size all the way up to 28x42 inches. You can also crop your photos agressively and still make large-scale prints. Even if you cut out a whopping 50% of your original photo, you've still got an image with 6 megapixels, which is more than enough to make a nice 11x14 or 8x10 print if you so desire. |
|
Latest 12 MP SLR Guide
|
More Space, More Power
12 megapixel photos take up a lot of "digital space", and require:
- Larger memory cards when the photo is taken
- Larger hard drives for more permanent storage
- More powerful computers to view and edit
While you might have a fantastic time taking photos with the camera, if you then try to view them on a five year old computer with a relatively small hard drive the experience will be less than satisfying.
Make sure you've got a nice powerful computer and plenty of clear space on the hard drive FIRST (or better yet, a dedicated external hard drive for photos) and then get yourself the 12 megapixel digital SLR of your dreams.
Latest 12MP Camera Models
Here's some good news for those who hate to comparison shop: there are currently only a handful 12 megapixel digital SLR cameras you can buy.
That makes deciding which one to get pretty easy doesn't it?
Canon EOS Rebel XSi 450D |
 |
Release Date | April 2008 |
 |
| Key Features | 12 megapixels, dust control, live view LCD | |
| Uniqueness | Compact and light | |
| Great For | Parents, travel | |
| Level | Beginner to Intermediate | |
| Avg. Kit Price | $900 | |
| Competitors | Olympus E-510, Nikon D80, Pentax K200D, Sony DSLR-A200 | |
| The latest offering in the Rebel line is a bit of a departure from the Rebels of old - it no longer uses Compact Flash memory cards. Instead, the XSi has made the switch to the smaller and lighter SD memory cards. The standard kit lens offered with the Rebel XSi is the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Image Stabilized lens: this means that the XSi has all of the top three features currently available in digital SLRs: dust control, live view and image stabilization. | ||
| Compare prices for the Rebel XSi at Amazon or Adorama | ||
Nikon D300 |
Release Date | November 2007 |
 |
| Key Features | 12.3 megapixels, 51-point autofocus, dust control, live view | |
| Uniqueness | Fastest consumer SLR | |
| Great For | Action | |
| Level | Advanced to semi-professional | |
| Avg. Kit Price | $1,800 | |
| Competitors | Canon 40D, Sony DSLR-A700 | |
| If you're looking for ridiculous speed in a digital SLR camera, then look no further - the Nikon D300 is the camera for you! With its standard EN-EL3e battery the camera zips along at 6 photos per second up to a maximum of 100. If you add the optional MB-D10 battery grip, that speed increases up to 8 photos per second. This speed is paired with a new dust control system, a new live view mode, an advanced autofocus and metering system (called Scene Recognition), enhanced dynamic range (active D-lighting) and weather resistant seals. | ||
Compare prices for the D300 at Shopzilla , Amazon or Adorama
|
||
Sony ALPHA DSLR-A700 |
Release Date | October 2007 |
 |
| Key Features | 12.2 megapixels, dust control, image stabilization | |
| Uniqueness | High speed | |
| Great For | Action | |
| Level | Intermediate to advanced | |
| Avg. Kit Price | $1,500 | |
| Competitors | Canon 40D, Nikon D300 | |
| The A700 is Sony's second digital SLR camera, and sports a larger sensor and a faster shooting rate than the A100 (5 photos per second). A new 11-point wide area autofocus is designed to focus quickly on any subject. The A700 includes the built in image stabilization and dust control that are also available on the A100. The camera body is dust and moisture resistant, and the magnesium alloy frame makes the camera lightweight but sturdy. | ||
Compare prices for the DSLR-A700 at Shopzilla , Amazon or Adorama
|
||
Related Links
 10 Megapixel SLRs |
Digital SLR Home | 14 Megapixel SLRs |
Latest SLR News
