Buy SLR Digital Camera
Digital single lens reflex cameras (abbreviated as Digital SLR) are named because of the way the mirror behind the camera lens sends light to the viewfinder.
The ability to use a variety of photographic lenses that allow access to a considerable range of focal lengths is a main benefit of digital SLR cameras. The primary reason professional photographers enjoy working with digital SLR cameras is their tremendous versatility. If you use a non-SLR camera, you have to make the angle of the viewing lens duplicate the viewing angle. For short distance zooming or for fixed lens cameras this is all right, however it can be problematic at different focal distances. The SLR is superior since the viewing and shooting lens are identical.
If you desire the ability to compose your photos in the same way you would on a traditional snapshot camera, look for a more advanced model that offers a “Live View” feature, which you typically won’t find on the most basic digital SLR cameras. The simpler models will have locking mirrors, with the prism directing the image toward a small sensor. Next, rather than transmitting it to a capture sensor, it is transmitted to the LCD display, diminishing the performance somewhat. If you select an earlier version you may have to manually focus the shot in Live View mode, although contrast AF is offered in more recent models.
Digital SLR Camera Types
Most people classify Digital SLRs with interchangeable lenses as SLR’s, sensibly enough. They are also the cameras that this article will discuss. As the name implies, with these SLR models it is possible to swap lenses. In this manner, you can swap from super-telephoto function to mega wide angle lens.
Generally speaking, most of the digital SLRs being sold today are of this type.
Digital SLR With Fixed Lens
Some digital SLRs have fixed lenses, which limits their versatility because the default lens cannot be changed. The mirror that reflects the light toward the viewfinder is stationary and usually semi-translucent.
An instance of a fixed lens model is the Olympus E-20N. Models like SLR’s that resemble digital SLR cameras are generally digicams with optical viewfinders or miniature LCD displays. Because they lack a mirror, they can’t be regarded as digital SLR models, and the images aren’t nearly as good as what a genuine SLR takes. This type of camera typically has a very long zoom, which has led them to be nicknamed magazooms or ZLRs.
SLR Digital Camera FAQ
Question: Is the Nikon D80 or Canon EOS 40D digital SLR camera a better choice?
I will soon begin doing some photography on the side and am interested in purchasing a good, quality camera. I’m new to the digital SLR cameras and need some advice on which camera is a better purchase for photographers.
Answer: A Nikon camera takes more professional pictures.
Question: What is the Best Digital SLR Camera Brand?
What is the best digital SLR camera brand out today? I’m going to college for photography soon, and I would like a good professional camera.
Answer: There is no best brand. All SLR cameras are top quality cameras. It’s true that Nikon and Canon have the largest share, mainly due to being the first to adopt digital, and Olympus is the fastest growing brand in the DSLR market. To claim one brand is better is really a matter of preference. After all some claim that since Nikon and Canon have the largest share they must make the best cameras, using the same logic, GM makes the most cars and has the best cars. Not entirely accurate, sure Nikon and Canon make great cameras, and so do other SLR makers.
There are professionals using all brands, Nikon, Olympus, Canon, Fuji, Leica, Panasonic, Sony (formerly Konica Minolta), etc. Your best option is to visit a camera store and handle some of the cameras.
I personally like Olympus because the cameras are smaller, lighter and offer more features for the money. Olympus cameras still produce professional quality, that’s why pros like Jay Dickman (Pulitzer Prize Winner Photographer) and Mitsuaki Iwago (Wildlife photographer who has had his work on the cover of National Geographic) choose them.
Question: Can anyone recommend a good telescope to purchase and use along with my Nikon D40x digital slr camera?
I recently used my Nikon D40x digital slr camera to take some photos of the full moon with a 200mm telephoto. After that experience, I am interested in purchasing a telescope that I can use along with my Nikon D40x to take even better photos of the moon and other night sky bodies. Can anyone recommend a good telescope that would be good for this purpose. I would prefer to spend well under $1000 for any telescope and gear. Thanks.
Answer: You have a wide variety of telescopes to choose from for under $1,000, however, you have a wider variety if you buy a used telescope.
You want a reputable brand such as Meade, Orion, Celestron, Takahashi, TeleVue, TEC and the likes. The telescope must have a stable mount and have tracking abilities. Goto isn’t needed though.
An equatorial mount is preferred for astrophotography but many Schmidt Cassegrains come standard on fork mounts. This is fine if you buy a wedge and a field de-rotator.
Most people are very well suited with 8″ Schmidt Cassegrains. You can buy these used for under $1000, often with accessories, on places like http://www.astromart.com and http://www.cloudynights.com
You can try eBay as well.
Question: Why use an SLR film camera rather than a digital SLR camera?
Why does Nikon still offer SLR film cameras when they are offering DSLR cameras? What makes someone still interested in an SLR film camera when digital SLR is there?
Is it because SLR film cameras produce superior image quality (being analog and capable of enlarging the photos greatly with virtually no image distortion) or is it cheaper or what?
Answer: The only two film SLRs offered by Nikon are the manual focus FM10 and the top of the line F6.
Essentially Nikon offers the FM10 for people who want an entry-level manual focus camera.
Nikon also offers the F6 for those photographers who want absolutely the best 35mm film SLR available, for those times when a professional needs/wants/desires to shoot film.
Why shoot film? With digital, every bit for bit copy of the original file is the same as the original–effectively, there is *no original*. With film, the original is the negative or slide, and thus it has an inherent value. Let’s say you take a photo of Lindsay Lohan crashing her car with your SLR. If you have a negative, that negative is worth a lot of money. If you have a digital file, every identical copy of that file diminishes the value of your file so that it ends up being worthless when it shows up on the Internet.
In addition, negative film has a huge exposure latitude–you can be off by 2 stops and still get a great image. You can’t do that with digital. And if you’ve ever shot slide film, the richness of the colors is truly something to behold.
While film is no longer superior to digital, there are still times when film offers something you can’t get with digital. So, you still need a film SLR to accomplish that, even if Nikon only offers two film SLRs.
Question: I would like to get a digital SLR camera, any suggestions?
I would like to get a digital SLR camera, any suggestions? watched the Annie Leibowitz documentary and I am inspired!
Answer: I think you should get the Nikon D80, D90, Canon 50D or Canon 5D Mark II.
I purchase a DSLR to take pictures of my 1 year old and family.
DSLR with a fast fps can capture quick reactions of my 1 year old.
Canon XSi, XS, Nikon D40, and D60 is more of a small consumer DSLR.
Nikon D80 & D90 is closer to semi-pro. or prosumer.
It feels and looks perfect.
Canon 50D is semi-professional and is weatherproof.
Canon 5D is semipro, weatherproof, and HD movie.
They do have some in common and take great photos, you can’t tell the difference.
Last year, I got the XSi instead of the D40 because it has IS and better everything except the price.
I paid $200 to $300 more.
It’s more for the beginner or a professional’s backup.
50D offers much more, but will cost twice the money.
I sold my XSi last month and got the D90 because of the HD movie mode.
The movie quality is great on D90 in turns of image quality.
However, there is no Auto Focus on movie mode from D90.
So, you will need a lot of practice.
Unless you get the Canon 5D Mark II which is 3 times the price of D90.
You will pay $2300 more for weatherproofing, better audio recording, auto focus movie, and a faster camera.
I don’t think it’s worth that much.
D80 is under $1000 with the kit lens that can zoom upto 135mm.
It’s a bit further than D90, but no movie mode.
Get the XSi or Nikon’s D60 if you are starting out and have limited budget.
Get the Nikon D80 as the best value.
Get the 50D for the weatherproof and fast 6.5fps.
Get the 5D Mark II if you want to shoot HD movie with auto focus, but will cost $3500.
My Nikon D90 is in the middle of them in turns of everything.
It has HD movie, 105mm lens, perfect grip, on camera photo editing, but no auto focus in movie and no weatherproof.
So, you need to see what’s more important to you.
Camera’s keep changing for the better, just buy what you need and can afford now.
Sell it later on ebay and get a better one 2 year later.
Go the Live.com’s cashback and get some moneyback on all your purchases. Charge it to an American Express Blue Cash and get 1 year extended warranty FREE and also some cash back depending on your annual purchases.
Question: Can a Canon EOS SLR film camera use Canon digital SLR lenses?
I’ve got an older 35 mm Canon EOS SLR. I’m seeing a lot of the 28-135mm zoom lenses on sale that come with the Canon 40D digital cameras. Can I use that lens on my film camera?
Answer: You sure can. All EF lenses can be used on both film and digital Canon cameras. The only lenses that your film camera can not use are the EFs lenses these are designed specifically for the cropped sensors on DSLR cameras. For instance many DSLR cameras come with a EFs 18-55mm lens. This would be the equivalent to the EF 28-90mm lens that comes with many film cameras.
The reason why Canon produces these EFs lenses is that because of the cropped sensor (smaller than 35mm film) the field of view is magnified by 1.6
This is great for a telephoto lens. Your 200 mm lens becomes a 320mm lens. On the wide angle end you lose out. This is why Canon has lenses like the EFs 18-55 mm and the EFs 10-22mm.
Bottom line make sure it is an EF lens and not an EFs lens and you will have no problems.
Question: Is there a Digital SLR camera that will take my old SLR Lenses?
I have an old Minolta SRT 202 SLR camera, with many lenses from telephoto to macro and lots of filters. I was wondering if there is a digital camera that will accept my lenses.
Answer: Unfortunately, the Minolta MC lens mount that the great old SRT series used, was replace by the MD mount, and then by a newer mount before Konica/Minolta abandoned the SLR market. Currently, Sony DSLR’s take recent Konica/Minolta autofocus lenses, but not the ones from the SRT era.
Question: Where can I find a good deal on a Nikon Digital SLR Camera?
I just finished a photography class and just loved it! I want my own camera now, and want either a Nikon D40 or D60 Digital SLR Camera. Is there much difference between them? and where can I find a really good deal on one?
Answer: You can subscribe to the camera feed on http://www.thriftfeeds.com and it will let you know about great deals for SLR cameras going on around the web.