Special Features of Digital SLR Cameras

Why are so many special features of digital SLR cameras popping up these days?

It's all a matter of competition.

Early on in the digital SLR game, Canon and Nikon established themselves as the dominant players.

While the other companies were duking it out in the lucrative compact camera market, Canon and Nikon were cranking out one SLR after another.

In order to catch up and differentiate themsleves from these market leaders, other camera companies have developed a slew of "extras" that are now included on many different cameras.

Compare SLR Cameras

Introduction By Megapixels By Cost (Inexpensive) By Ratings (Top Rated) By Size (Smallest) By Speed (Fastest) By Special Features

Extra Features: an Introduction

Right now, there are three common extra features that have emerged in the digital SLR camera market:

Dust Control
Anti-Shake (Image Stabilization)
Live View LCD

Dust control digital SLR cameras have special sensors that prevent dust from attaching to the camera's sensor. This is important because dust can show up in every digital image that you take.

Cameras with built-in anti-shake help you get clear shots in low-light conditions (when you can't use a flash) and when you're using extreme telephoto lenses.

The live view LCD technology lets you preview the image you are about to take on the camera's LCD screen. While this feature is quite common in compact cameras, it is not available in many digital SLRs.

Olympus, the Innovator

When it comes to special features on digital SLR cameras, Olympus has been the front-runner in terms of new development.

Olympus seems well aware that they have to compete with companies with a lot of brand recognition, and have innovated many of the features that I have listed above.

For example:

The Olympus E-300 was the first digital SLR camera with dust control
The Olympus E-330 was the first digital SLR camera with a live view LCD screen

Konica Minolta (now replaced by Sony) is credited with the development of the built-in anti-shake system and it took awhile for other camera companies to adopt its use.

Olympus now has another first: with the release of their new E-510 - which does include a built-in anti-shake system - they have created the first digital SLR to include ALL THREE of the special features listed above.

Learn more about Olympus digital SLR cameras, and find out about the other cameras offered by this innovative company.

Cameras With Special Features

To find out more about how each one of the features I have listed on this page can improve your photos, and which cameras include the technology, follow the links below.