How Can You Buy a Digital SLR Camera? What is the Best DSLR?

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Today, digital cameras have become the norm. Specifically, digital SLR cameras have become hot items. The SLR stands for "single lens reflex." Before digital cameras came along, only professional photographers really used SLR cameras. With SLR cameras, when light enters the lens, a mirror reflects it up into the viewfinder or eyepiece. This lets the photographer see exactly what the final picture is going to look like before it's ever shot.

With digital SLR, the SLR camera has gone high-tech. It uses digital memory cards and light sensor chips instead of film. SLR cameras also use interchangeable lenses, with different focal lengths. This lets photographers do close-up photography or long distance telephoto shots.

Digital SLR cameras differ from regular point and shoot digital cameras in several ways. First of all, of course, the lenses are interchangeable. However, SLR cameras are much quicker at starting and focusing, as well as taking pictures, even multiple pictures. They also take pictures in low lighting conditions because they use higher ISO speeds for pictures that show no graininess. They also let you have more control over light, depth of field and responsiveness.

They cost more as well. For example, a Canon Digital Rebel will cost you about $1000. Professional versions cost several thousand dollars, about $3000-$4000, not including lenses. Digital SLR cameras are usually heavier and larger than typical point-and-shoot models, so that they're more difficult to carry with you and less likely to be tucked in pocket or purse simply to carry along. (Usually, you carry these cameras around your neck with a strap; think "professional photographer.")

However, they also have some advantages over standard film SLR cameras. You can see your shot on the LCD screen immediately after you take it. You also don't need to buy or develop film anymore. Instead, if you wish, you can take 10,000 shots without having to buy reams of film. Several digital SLR camera models are listed below, both consumer and professional models.

They include:

Professional Models:

* Fuji Finepix S3 Pro

* Nikon D2x

* Canon EOS 20D

* Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Consumer models:

* Pentax *ist DS

* Canon EOS 10D

* Olympus Evolt E-300

* Nikon D50

* Nikon D70s

* Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT

Most Digital SLR cameras use a light-sensing chip that converts incoming light into a digital picture. In a digital SLR camera, sensors are much larger and have a much higher resolution than those that are point-and-shoot. This means you can take crisper, clearer pictures with better color reproduction and detail. If the camera is very high end, it will have sensors as big as 35mm film. It will also capture up to 12 megapixels of detail. The larger the sensors, the more light you capture, so that if you have a six megapixel point-and-shoot camera, you'll have lower image resolution than a six megapixel digital SLR camera that has a larger sensor.

Do you need an expensive digital SLR camera? You do if you take pictures for a living. If photography is a hobby for you and you want to take more professional and better quality photos, you might consider one. Of course, this takes into account the fact that you wouldn't mind carrying around a bigger camera that you simply can tuck in pocket or purse.

That said, most of us will do just fine with a camera costing several hundred dollars instead of several thousand dollars; we'll do just fine, too, with a five megapixel or seven megapixel point-and-shoot digital camera. With these small cameras, you can tuck them conveniently in pocket or purse, you can review your photos instantly so that you can check photo quality right away, and your images will be high resolution, easily printed at an 11 x 17 size. You'll get acceptable photos that are quite good under almost any conditions.

In addition, these types of digital cameras will get better and even less expensive over time (as most technology does), so eventually, consumers will be able to take advantage of currently professional-level features only available on much more expensive cameras at present. This means that consumers, too, will have faster response time, will be able to take up to 10 frames in just a few seconds, have an accurate autofocus, high-resolution image sensors, and so on.

Of course, you can't change optical laws, which means that even with better technology, you won't be able to get the same kinds of results from a lens as big as your thumbnail as you can from a large professional lens. Take a look at your photography needs and budget first. Once you've done that, take a look at what you've got available to you at that price. Then choose the highest quality model available in your price range.