Digital cameras will be at the top of many holiday wish lists this year. And photo buffs everywhere want the ultimate camera: an SLR. But before you buy, research carefully.
SLR (single lens reflex) cameras provide advanced controls. Shutter speed and aperture can be adjusted. And that's just the beginning.
Look through the viewfinder, and you see exactly what the camera will capture. A mirror inside the camera flips up when you press the shutter release. You won't get the dreaded shutter lag that plagues so many point-and-shoot models.
Some digital SLRs have fixed lenses. But I'd put my money into a camera that allows lens changes. And don't be fooled by SLR-style cameras. You want the real deal.
People tend to judge digital cameras by the number of megapixels. But that doesn't necessarily correlate to picture quality.
Megapixels refer to the size of image a camera will capture. The more megapixels, the more you can enlarge your pictures. So for large prints, you need a lot of megapixels.
Many consumer SLRs fall into the six-to-eight-megapixel range. That's satisfactory. But additional megapixels offer you flexibility in printing. So, if you find a camera with more megapixels at a good price, go for it.
Image sensors
There are two types of sensors: CCD (charged-coupled device) and CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor).
CCD sensors generally provide the best image quality, with a greater dynamic range. They also offer faster speeds. CCDs tend to be more costly and use more power.
CMOS sensors are larger than CCDs, often resulting in bulkier cameras. Some are better than CCDs.
Bigger is better when it comes to sensor size. SLRs have larger sensors than point-and-shoot cameras. Their pixels are bigger, meaning increased dynamic range and light sensitivity. The result: better pictures.
Ideally, sensors should be the same size as a frame of 35mm film. But these cameras can be pricey.
Lenses
If your photo buff has a film SLR, try to stick with the same brand. In most cases, the old lenses will work on the digital model.
However, cameras with sensors smaller than a 35mm frame magnify the focal length of the lens. This magnification is beneficial with telescopic lenses. But you may need to buy a wide-angle lens intended for the digital camera.
Image stabilization is a nice feature. It is no substitute for a tripod, but it helps offset some camera shake.
Frame rate and light metering
At the high end, SLRs take photos at 8fps (frames per second). The low end is about 2fps. You'll be able to shoot more continuous shots with a higher frame rate.
The more types of light metering, the better. Most offer center-weighted and spot metering.
But there are other types of light metering. Cameras use a formula to calculate the correct exposure. You can tell the camera to use different variables when calculating the exposure.
Modes and file formats
Mode settings are common on point-and-shoot cameras. They help the camera handle movement and light. Most photo buffs want to work with settings. But sometimes, they just want to take photos without a fuss. So look for a camera with modes.
The ability to store custom settings is also nice. Having favorites at hand saves a lot of fiddling.
The camera should be able to capture images in JPEG and TIFF formats. The ability to capture RAW images is a bonus. They're minimally processed, allowing more changes to the images on the computer. They're smaller than TIFFs, without the data loss of JPEGs.
For more on purchasing digital cameras, check out my buying guides on digital cameras in the $200-$300 range, digital cameras in the $300-$400 range, and digital SLR cameras.
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