Digital SLR cameras are the standard tool for serious photographers. With the introduction of cameras such as the Nikon D40 and the Canon Digital Rebel XTi, the market for digital SLR cameras has expanded tremendously. Digital SLR cameras usually look like the old standard 35mm film cameras and may use the same lenses, and offer advantages such as fast operation and large controls, excellent image quality, and interchangeable lenses.
The same companies that made 35mm film SLRs make digital SLRs. The Canon EOS digital camera, for instance, can be used with the same lenses as its 35mm film version from the 1990s. The market leader in the professional/advanced amateur photography world is Canon. If you don’t have a major investment in lenses you will probably want to buy a Canon digital SLR. The number two spot is occupied by Nikon, which is also a reasonable choice. Fuji and Kodak have made digital SLRs that accept Canon and Nikon-mount lenses. The other more obscure companies don’t have enough market share to invest enough money to build competitive bodies. Minolta, Olympus, Pentax, and Sigma are the small vendors in the digital SLR market. Probably the only one of these brands worth considering for purchase is the Olympus, due to its innovative Four-Thirds system.
The Canon EOS 5D boasts a full-frame 12.8 megapixel CMOS sensor in a relatively compact magnesium-alloy body. It is still reasonably priced ($2,500) for a full-frame DSLR. It provides outstanding image quality, and the color control gives you superior command of color balance, contrast, and sharpness. Pictures look great from virtually any angle on the large 2.5-inch LCD screen. Its easy-to-use menus simplify shooting operations so you can focus on your vision. It also delivers full 1080p, 30 fps video with full manual control.
The Canon EOS 7D can seem even more impressive to most consumers when you consider its price tag ($1,700). There’s a lot to like on this camera, its superior image quality across the sensitivity spectrum and its super fast performance, and its 18 megapixel resolution. It also has HD video capabilities which will make it a popular choice with most consumers for a long while.
Though it has some tough competition, the Olympus E-30, which lists for $1,100, holds its own in the market and also offers some appealing features, such as its exclusive vibrating filter that eliminates dust to produce spotless pictures no matter where you change lenses. Olympus also boasts creative Art Filters which add-in camera special effects such as the Warhol-esque Pop Art with over-saturated colors, high-contract grainy Grainy Film, and the Pin Hole Camera.
The Nikon D90 is known as the king of mid-ranged DSLRs. Its list price is $900 and is geared toward photo enthusiasts looking for more flexibility and better performance than entry-level DSLRs. At this price point, the Nikon D90 is hard to beat, especially when you take into account its video capability.
If your budget for your DSLR is around a $1000, then you should definitely consider the Canon EOS Rebel T2i. It has a lot of the same and similar features of the Canon EOS 7D like the 1080p video and full autofocus. In fact, for this price, you won’t find a more full-featured or higher specified camera on the market.
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