Digital SLR Buyer Guide

Page updated: December 2007

An Introduction to Consumer Digital SLR Cameras

This digital SLR buyer guide will give you a high-level introduction to the world of digital SLR cameras today. You'll find out about the latest trends, technology innovations and camera models that are available. I'm going to keep this SLR buyer's guide fairly high-level, but will include lots of links to more in-depth content here at the Digital SLR Guide so you can dig into details if you really want to. Let's kick things off with a quick analysis of how an SLR camera differs from a compact model, and the most common reason people make the switch from compact to SLR.

Table of Contents SLR vs. Compact Advantages of an SLR Tech Trends Canon Digital SLRs Nikon Digital SLRs Olympus Digital SLRs Pentax Digital SLRs Sony Digital SLRs Fuji Digital SLRs

SLR vs. Compact

Here's the summary of the 5 key differences between SLR and compact digital cameras:

1. You can change the lens of an SLR
2. The viewfinder of an SLR is optical not electronic
3. Most SLRs will not let you compose photos using the LCD screen
4. Digital SLRs are larger and heavier than any compact camera
5. There is no digital SLR camera that takes movies

Read more about the difference between SLR and digital compact cameras.

The Digital SLR Advantage

In this previous section, you might have noticed that there are some disadvantages to owning a digital SLR: they are big, heavy, don't let you take photos by using the LCD and don't capture movies.

So what's the big deal then? Why are so many consumers leaping into the digital SLR market and why are camera manufacturers churning out new models?

I can sum it up in one word: speed.

If you've used a compact digital camera for any long period of time you've probably become more than a little frustrated by the number of shots that you've missed.

Even with your camera at the ready, compact models are slow to focus, and there's a delay in between the moment you press the button and when the camera takes the photo.

It's these small delays - and missed photo opportunities - that make many people yearn for something better.

Enter the SLR. SLR cameras turn on in an instant, never hesitate when you want to take a photo, and have lighting-fast autofocus systems (some moreso than others).

Many SLRs can capture continuous shots at a rate of 3 photos per second, and it's a rare day that you'll have to wait for an SLR to process an image before it's ready for the next shot.

All of this adds up to a seamless photography experience and a lot less cursing at your camera because it missed the shot of a lifetime.

Read more about the advantages of digital SLR cameras.

Do You Really Need an SLR?

Before you continue on with this digital SLR buyer guide, I'd like you to be 100% certain that an SLR camera is what you need.

Today there are many high-end compact cameras that mimic many of the features available on digital SLR cameras but without the ability to change lenses.

These types of digital cameras are dubbed SLR-like.

While SLR-like cameras don't include all of the advantages of true SLR models, they do come with two massive benefits: price and portability.

If you are considering an SLR-like camera with a 12x zoom in it, you'd need to get an SLR with TWO lenses to cover the same zoom range.

Imagine the difference between carrying around one compact camera on your next vacation vs. an SLR body (which is already larger than the compact and its lens) PLUS two large lenses.

Furthermore, you can pick up a 12x zoom SLR-like camera for about $300, whereas a digital SLR with two lenses will run you $600 or more.

Technology Trends

When it comes in innovations in digital SLR technology, there have been four recent developments:

1. Dust Control Systems - these prevent dust from settling on your camera's sensor which is exposed to the elements every time you take the lens off
2. Built-in Image Stabilization - stabilization helps you take photos of non-moving subjects in low light. When it's built into the camera body, it works with any lens you attach to the SLR
3. Live View LCD - you know how you can take photos using the LCD on your compact digital camera? Most digital SLRs can't do that, but today there are a few that can
4. Camera Tips - since not everyone is well-versed in terms like aperture and ISO, some SLRs now display tips on the LCD to help you learn more about your camera's settings

Aside from these camera "extras" improvements have been made across the board on most digital SLRs in terms of speed and performance. Cameras that were fast to begin with are just getting faster.

Also, 10 megapixel sensors are the new standard for digital SLR cameras, up from 6 megapixels in 2005.

The advantages of a 10 megapixel sensor are the ability to make large-scale prints, and the capacity to crop photos. The disadvantages are that 10 megapixel files require larger memory cards, take up more space on your hard drive and require powerful computers to process.

SLR Cameras Today

Now that you've got a high-level introduction to digital SLR cameras, I'm going to use the rest of this SLR buyer guide to present the latest camera models from the different manufacturers.

I'll highlight the key features of each camera, and will also identify the type of photographer the camera is suited for. You'll also find out what makes each camera distinctive or unique.

This will give you a high-level overview of the companies producing digital SLR cameras, what's on the market today and which new cameras are right around the corner.

Canon Digital SLRs

Canon has been and continues to be the market leader when it comes to digital SLR cameras.

There are several reasons why:

• Canon was one of the first companies to produce a true digital SLR camera (and not an SLR-like model): the D30
• Canon has always priced their cameras aggressively to make them appeal to a wider audience
• Two words: name recognition

Canon also had a lot of experience developing a line of consumer-level film SLR cameras called the EOS Rebel, and they had a strong foundation of lenses that were all compatible with the new digital SLR cameras.

Today, Canon's EOS digital Rebel cameras are always at the top of best-seller lists and they generate a lot of consumer interest.

Canon EOS Rebel XT 350D

Canon EOS Rebel xTi 400D

Canon EOS 30D

Canon EOS 40D

Canon 5D

Nikon Digital SLRs

Let's continue this digital SLR buyer guide by talking about the #2 company when it comes to these cameras.

While the Nikon line of digital SLR cameras have certainly had their fair share of press and awards, it's the Nikon lenses that really take top honors.

Nikon started out as an optics company, and Nikon fanatics will be happy to tout the virtues of their lenses when it comes to capturing images with superior quality.

Many professional photographers shoot with Nikon cameras and lenses, and there are a lot of pro-quality Nikon digital SLRs competing with those available from Canon.

In the consumer digital SLR market, Nikon offers several excellent cameras for you to choose from.

Nikon D40

Nikon D40x

Nikon D80

Nikon D200

Nikon D300

Olympus Digital SLRs

No doubt about it - Olympus is an innovator when it comes to digital SLR technology.

Take the following:

• Olympus digital SLRs were the first to include dust control systems
• An Olympus SLR was the first to have a live view LCD (like compact digital cameras)
• Olympus will be the first company to release a camera with dust control, image stabilization and a live view LCD (the E-510)

If you're not wedded to Canon or Nikon, I encourage you to take a good close look at some of the Olympus digital SLR cameras - you might find that they're a good match for your photography style.

Olympus E-410

Olympus E-510

Olympus E-3

Pentax/Samsung Digital SLRs

I'm lumping Pentax and Samsung together for this digital SLR buyer guide because their cameras are fairly identical.

This is not a real surprise - Samsung wanted to get a piece of the digital SLR pie, but needed an established company to work with. They chose Pentax.

Pentax had been producing digital SLR cameras long before Samsung entered the market, which makes many Samsung cameras hard - if not impossible - to tell apart from the Pentax models.

The distinction is even harder to make since the Samsung cameras are compatible with all of the Pentax lenses (although there are a few lenses that bear the Samsung brand).

Pentax K100D

Sample K100D Photos

Pentax K100D Super

Pentax K10D

Sample K10D Photos

Sony Digital SLRs

A late player to the digital SLR camera market, Sony jumped in when they acquired what was left of Konica Minolta.

Konica Minolta had been producing their own line of digital SLR cameras (called Maxxum), but was losing ground against Canon, Nikon and Olympus.

In 2006 they ceased production of digital SLR cameras, and sold operations to Sony. Not long after, Sony released their very first digital SLR camera, with the promise of more to come.

Sony ALPHA DSLR-A100

Sony ALPHA DSLR-A700

Fuji Digital SLRs

I've put the Fuji cameras here at the very end of this digital SLR buyer guide simply because they don't produce as many as the other manufacturers and they cater to a specialty market: professional wedding photographers.

The innovation inside the Fuji digital SLR cameras is a sensor with greater dynamic range, which is more capable of capturing detail in bright highlights and dark shadows (perfect for a white dress right next to a black tux).

Fuji has also recently added Face Detection technology to their cameras: this allows the group portrait photographer to quickly zoom in on faces (using the LCD) to make sure that everyone's eyes are open and that all the faces are in focus.

The Fuji digital SLR cameras are compatible with Nikon lenses.

Fuji S5 Pro

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