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If you are thinking about buying a SLR digital camera there are several things you should consider in addition to reading reviews. This guide will provide you with the information you need to select the best SLR digital camera for your needs and budget.
SLR Digital Camera Reviews: Quick Summary of top features
Whether you have a bit of camera knowledge or you are just beginning, there is always a checklist that you should keep in mind when shopping for a new SLR digital camera.
- Get a kit
- Nikon or Cannon
- $450 – $1000
- Has “image stabilization” in the Cannon or “vibration reduction” in the Nikon
- 8 megapixels
- 3.1 frames per second
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Kit or Base – Are you getting a kit or just the camera?
First you need to know if you are purchasing just the camera body or if you are getting the full SLR Kit. This might sound strange at first, of course you want the “kit”, but some cameras, especially purchased online, will specifically say “camera body only,” so it is important that you understand what this means.
The term kit refers to the fact that you are purchasing the camera body, battery, manual, software, cables and a starter lens (usually 15-55mm). This is typically everything that you need to get start with your SLR digital camera right away.
Brand – Stick with the top brands
There are several reasons to purchase one of the top trusted brands such as Canon or Nikon when making your purchasing choice. When it comes to cameras, reputation is a valid deciding factor. With the Canon or Nikon there are more lenses available, both brands have an excellent reputation for picture quality, reliability and durability and they are both known for having a quality digital image sensor. You can also generally find hundreds and hundreds of positive reviews for these brands, which will help to give you some peace of mind and confidence that you are choosing the right camera.
Price – How much to spend
When pricing your SLR digital camera, keep in mind that you will most likely also want to eventually purchase different lenses based on the types of pictures you are taking. So make sure to leave room in your budget for this lens upgrade.
For a good entry level SLR digital camera you should expect to pay between $450 – $1000. If you get the higher megapixels and speed, the cost can go well over $2000, but the features can be worth it depending on the type of photography you plan to pursue.
If you are choosing the popular and most reputable brands such as Canon or Nikon you will get a lot for the money and a perfectly adequate camera for what you want to do as a beginning photographer.
Lens – Which lens features to look for
The feature that helps stabilize the image and prevent blurred photos is called “image stabilization” in the Cannon and “vibration reduction” in the Nikon. It goes by different names for different brands, but it is the same feature.
This feature is critical in low-light settings. Whether or not your camera lens includes this stabilization will have a great impact on your image quality, so make sure that the starter lens that comes with your camera has it. If you are looking at a camera that does not come with image stabilization to save money, plan to get a separate lens that will compensate or else it is likely that you will not be happy with all of your pictures all of the time.
Make sure that the camera shoots also at a high ISO. This is also important for shooting in low light situations such as indoor sports or weddings.
Megapixels – How many megapixels do you need
Look for a SLR digital camera with the highest megapixels to meet your printing needs. Note that printing is the concern here, not picture quality. Once you are at 8 megapixels or higher, your picture quality won’t actually vary much whether you have an 8, 10 or 12 megapixel camera. Higher megapixel cameras allow you to print larger photos without pixelation or other quality issues. If you plan to print 4×6 or 8×10 pictures there isn’t a big difference in quality between 8 megapixels and 10.1 megapixels. In fact these cameras can print up to 16×20 with no issues. If you want to be able to print posters, you should definitely invest in a 12 megapixel model to get the best quality.
Speed – How many frames per second
Frames per second (fps) is the metric used to measure the speed of a camera. This means the number of pictures you can take in one second. In point and shoot cameras there is usually some delay between shots. SLR digital cameras are generally much faster, and some are faster than others. the speed of camera you want to get will depend heavily on what you are shooting. Most SLR digital cameras come at 3fps. This is fine if you are shooting still shots, landscapes or portraits. You might want 6fps or higher if you are shooting weddings, sports or other action shots.
Financing your camera
Remember, if you get a nice camera, practice, and post your photos for others to see, you can probably finance your camera pretty quickly as people will begin to want to hire you to photograph their events and special occasions. If this is something that you want to do, you basically just have to make sure that your beautiful photos are visible to your network of family and friends. The job offers will likely start rolling in pretty fast.
Click below for a FREE guide on how to start making money with your photography.
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Don’t forget the accessories!
Make sure that you check your camera specifications to get the correct size, hookups, or meet other requirements.
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Batteries
Cases & Bags
Flashes
Filters
Hard Drives
Lighting
Made Camera Armor
Monopods
Photo-Editing Software
Photo Printers
Tripods
Top 12 SLR Digital Camera Photography Mistakes
SLR Digital Cameras are now more affordable and accessible than ever. Just about anyone with the interest can obtain one of these quality cameras and start taking high quality photos. However, if you are interested in becoming a really great photographer with your SLR digital Camera, it is important that you become aware of some of the major pitfalls that might impact the quality of your photos.
It does take a certain “eye” to take fantastic photos. fortunately this photographer’s vision can be learned. The more you practice, the better you will become.
Review some of the most common mistakes people make when using their SLR digital camera to start educating yourself on how to become a better digital photographer.
- Being unfamiliar with the camera.
- Not using a tripod.
- Not giving the camera time to focus.
- Using zoom too much
- Taking pictures against the light.
- Relying too much on the flash.
- Not taking enough pictures.
- Always putting the subject dead center.
- Forgetting to check the horizon.
- Selecting a low-resolution setting.
- Trying to take too much.
- Not using the camera.
Of course it is exciting when you first get your SLR digital camera and you just want to tear open the box and start shooting, but take time to review the manual and familiarize yourself with the features. this will help you make the most of your camera.
Always use a tripod when you can. They provide stability so that you can take your sharpest shots.
To get the right exposure you must give your camera enough time to focus. Always keep this in mind when you are taking pictures and allow anywhere from a fraction of a second to a few seconds. As you get to know your camera you will have a better idea of how long to wait.
When you use the zoom feature on the camera it makes the picture grainier. Instead of using zoom, get closer to your subject.
When you take a photo the light should be behind the photographer otherwise the subject appears too dark and the background is too bright.
You can get the best pictures in natural light, so try to have sunlight or other natural lighting whenever you can. The flash tends to make images look harsher than they need to look.
One great thing about having a digital camera is that you can take tons of pictures with no consequences because you don’t have to worry about developing film. Try many different angles and compositions to see what works for you.
Use the rule of thirds in composition to create more interesting pictures. Always putting the subject in the middle can be a bit predictable and boring.
Look at what is behind your subject and if the horizon is showing make sure that it is level. When the horizon is askew it can make the photo look “off”.
All SLR digital camera will allow you to select different resolutions. You shouldn’t select a low resolution to save memory space. Instead, have extra memory cards so that you can take your pictures in high resolution.
Don’t try to include a ton of subjects in one picture. A picture is much more effective when it is focused on a single subject placed appropriately.
Try to have your camera with you at all times so that you never miss a photo opportunity.
If you can master all of these tips you will quickly become a natural photographer. If you want to learn even more about digital photography check out the free report “Shoot Digital Pics Like the Pros”. This guide is packed with quality information that will have you shooting digital photos like a professional in no time.
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