Digital SLR Camera Buying Guide

Benefits of an SLR Camera (back to top)

While taking pictures, memories are encapsulated in the celluloid encased in the plastic body of a camera. Apart from capturing memories on celluloid, an SLR camera also functions as an extension to an artist's imagination. This includes such trades as: professional fashion photographers, an amateur bird watcher, journalists, wild-life photographers, etc. The kind of control, clarity and composition offered by an SLR camera is unmatched. For rapid motion photos, such as those required in sports events or live news coverage, a high speed camera is the best suited device. Any SLR camera offers an 'Automatic' as well as 'Manual' mode for either simple point-and-shoot photography or fine-tuned artistic imagery using manual controls. While taking photos, the most important element is often the flash device. In low light areas, captured images tend to be rather dull and hazy. The flash device helps in temporarily illuminating an area while the photo is being taken. Coupled with an adjustable aperture speed, the resulting photograph may capture finer details or altogether include only the main elements in the picture, without focusing on sharper details.

1. How SLR Cameras Function (back to top)

There are two main types of SLR cameras: the older film-based analog SLR cameras and the newer sensor-based digital SLR cameras. The most important parts of a camera are its set of lenses, mirrors and film exposure assembly. The lenses are the most vital of these components as the actual image first enters the camera through the lens. In essence, a lense take beams of light bouncing off of a target object and altogether redirects them to form a real image.

Professional cameras enable attaching different lenses for zooming and capturing panoramic scenes. The magnification power of a lens is measured by its focal length. A higher focal length number indicates a greater image magnification. Also, the main chemical component in a camera is the film negative. The film, upon exposing the film to a real image, chemically records the pattern of light on its surface.

While exposing the film to the actual event, the assembly, or 'Aperture', can be adjusted to let a variable amount of light through to record on to the film. To increase or decrease the amount of light passing in, the size of the aperture opening or the lens opening needs to be changed. Though the exposure to light is only a fraction of a second, this activity determines the amount of light passing through the lens. Simply, when the lens opening is narrower it captures less light, and when larger it captures more light. The actual length of exposure is dictated by the shutter speed.

The camera takes picture by passing light on to a film through the front lens. A slanted mirror placed between the shutter and the lens, has a piece of translucent glass and a prism situated above it. The prism flips the image on the film screen, so that it appears right side up again, and diverts it on to the viewfinder window. Upon pressing the shutter button, the camera quickly flicks the mirror out of the way, directing the image at the exposed film. The mirror, connected to the shutter timer system, stays open as long as the shutter button is pressed and hence, stays open.

2. Purchasing Criteria (back to top)

• Lens (back to top)

There are various types of camera lenses. The main function of a camera lens is to focus the target image on to the film surface. This is referred to as 'setting the lens aperture'. SLR cameras sport adjustable lenses for normal as well as zoom functionality. The default packaged lens with any camera will provide a zoom range of at least 50mm. It is mostly used for clicking personal photos, holiday pictures, parties etc. For wildlife photography, a telephoto lens is more preferable as it allows for extreme close-up shots of dangerous wild animals from far off distance. A wide-angle lens provides a wider, panoramic view of the surroundings and thereby a wider picture. This type of lens is ideal for capturing landscapes and sports events.

 

 

• Aperture Setting (back to top)

The aperture defines or regulates the amount of light falling on the film. Most SLR cameras allow manual setting of aperture size. The rule of thumb states that the smaller the aperture, the sharper the final image. A larger aperture size will thus reduce the clarity of the image. While shooting a distant object, the aperture size needs to be small, whereas for a closer object, the aperture size should be comparatively larger. Aperture is represented by "f" denotation on the camera controls and the aperture size is mentioned right next to the "f".

 

• Shutter Speed (back to top)

The speed at which the shutter opens to let the light pass through is called as the shutter speed. The shutter speed ranges between 1/2500th of a second to a second or even slower. Different shutter speeds capture various perceptions of motion. For example, to capture a running horse or flowing water, you can show the motion effect or get a clear, still, sharper image. On a slow shutter speed, in-motion photos can be captured while a fast shutter speed will freeze a motion.

 

• Metering System (back to top)

Many SLR cameras are equipped with light meters to measure the amount of light coming in through the lens. Most 'through the lens' (TTL) systems automatically set the aperture as well as manage the actual output level from a dedicated flash. Newer SLR cameras have multiple metering modes such as center-weighted, matrix metering, and spot metering, that control the amount of light reaching the film.

 

• Flash (back to top)

Shooting in low light conditions often produces images that lack clarity and appear glazed. Using a flash, usually built-in the camera, can lighten up the darker hues and shades for greater clarity and detail. External high-powered flashes can also be used to create extra bright lighting. These large peripheral flash systems can be connected to the camera through a notch called the 'hot-shoe'.

 

• Digital SLRs (back to top)

With the advent of modern computing technology, digital photography is fast making a foray into the hands of mainstream industry professionals. While the quality of digital cameras is yet to surpass the quality offered by analog film based cameras, digital photography offers convenience in number of ways. Primarily, the cost and effort of purchasing film rolls and installing them into the camera has been replaced by the ease of flash memory devices. Flash memory allows for hundreds of high quality, high resolution pictures, in contrast to film's 28. Additionally, digital cameras produce instant results that are viewable within seconds. Instant connectivity to desktop computers or workstations provides hassle free image editing opportunities on-the-fly.

 

Due to the accuracy provided by the SLR design, SLR digital cameras are significantly better than everyday point and shoot devices. Equipped with an LCD screen, a digital SLR (DLSR) camera allows instantly previewing the image before taking the shot or viewing the final result immediately after shooting the picture. This also helps in taking mini-video clips due to the instant preview feature; much like a camcorder.

 

A DSLR camera has no film on which to record pictures. Instead, it relies on a special sensor called the Charged Coupled Device (CCD) for sensing the light falling onto its surface. The sensor is manufactured with a limited number of sensing elements called pixels. The number of these pixels varies from model to model and quality offered by each such model. A CCD sensor with a pixel density of 3 mega-pixel (MP) or 3 million pixels, differs from a sensor with say, 8 mega-pixel or 8 million pixels. The underlying idea is that, the denser the pixels, the higher the resolution and hence, higher the quality of the final picture. DSLR has a rated zero shutter lag that allows for capturing high speed moments and motion.

 

3. Making the Decision (back to top)

Capturing the right moment often requires the right person behind the right kind of camera device. SLR cameras are often an ideal choice because the photographer is not required to be a professional in order to achieve amazing quality and results. Just packing the right kind of camera best suited to one's shooting style and preferences can do the trick. There are a variety of additional SLR functions and features that can aid you in your pursuit of the perfect photo. You can find and compare SLR cameras and their features on a comparison shopping site such as www.smarter.com.

Be sure to check out all the various parameters mentioned above before making a purchase. Any SLR camera, analog or digital, should provide features that allow for connecting an external flash or high powered lens for achieving exceptional quality of the photographs. You can also compare prices and features across models while checking across multiple suppliers on the internet. Additionally, you could go to a nearby store or outlet for a hands-on experience.

Buying a good SLR camera requires investment of a reasonable amount of time in researching and evaluating the various contenders. The trick is to strike the perfect balance between price and functionality and the best way to begin is to find out exactly what your needs are. Hopefully, you now have more information to help make your purchasing decision more informed, now go find a great SLR camera!