Digital SLR Cameras | Should I Buy One?

The price of digital SLR cameras continues to fall. It is not so long ago that these were only affordable by professional photographers. Even then it was considered a major investment to buy one. As technology has advanced allowing prices to drop you will find digital SLR cameras now being owned by an increasing number of photography enthusiasts.

As the market for digital SLR cameras has expanded this has had a knock on effect in the range of compact digital cameras that are available. We are now seeing less and less advanced compact digital cameras that have features similar to those found on an SLR. These are effectively being squeezed out of the market by the cheaper SLR cameras. This in turn forces more people to buy an SLR if they are looking for a serious camera with a wide range of features. The biggest advantage from buying a digital SLR is the improvement you are likely to see in picture quality. There are two main reasons for this. The first is the size of the sensor that sits inside the camera and captures images. A sensor inside a typical SLR is far larger than one in a compact digital camera. The second reason is the quality of lenses. Those available to add to an SLR are of a much higher standard than you will find on a standard compact digital camera. You are also likely to find higher quality components and controls in general. The combination of these features all add up to better picture quality.

Another advantage is that you can build up a system of lenses over a period of time. The beauty of SLR photography is that you can buy specialist lenses for specific tasks. For example you can buy a wide angle lens for landscape shots and a macro lens for close up work. You will find that the largest part of your investment is in the lenses rather than the camera itself. This means that if eventually you would like to upgrade your camera or buy a spare one then your lenses should also work with the new camera.

It is important that you set aside a decent budget for lenses. Buying a cheap lens will lead to a reduction in picture quality. To help keep the overall costs reasonable when you are starting out you can consider buying a kit that includes a camera and one or two lenses. Always shop around for value. You will find prices really do vary from store to store.

If you own a traditional 35mm camera then you should be able to use the lenses you already have with a new digital model. This is true as long as any camera you buy has the same lens mount as your original camera. From time to time there are some restrictions that stop older lenses from working. I would always advise you to double check the compatibility of your existing lenses with the manufacturer before purchasing your camera. This is much better than being disappointed after you have spent your money.

There is one point to look out for with existing lenses or if you are planning to buy new ones. Any lenses made for 35mm cameras will have their focal length affected by the size of the sensor on a digital SLR. This occurs because the sensor inside a digital SLR is usually smaller than 35mm. This increases the telephoto capacity when the lens is used on a digital SLR and decreases its wide angle capability. New lenses have been introduced specifically for digital SLR cameras to alleviate this issue.

The leading brands are Canon and Nikon. Other established players are Fuji and Olympus. Konica Minolta has withdrawn from the market. Later entrants are Sony and Panasonic.
Source :Ezinearticles